Read all about it! More than 225,000 230,000 Americans have died during the pandemic. The Trump Administration admits it won't fight the Coronavirus, preferring to tout still-nonexistent vaccines and therapeutics. Europe begins to shut down as flight traffic crumbles. The last week of electioneering is a referendum on how to handle what experts predict will be a "dark" winter. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update for October 31, 2020

The United States recorded 99,321 new Coronavirus cases yesterday, according to Johns Hopkins. It breaks the previous one-day record for new infections recorded on ... Thursday. So, you know, "we're rounding the corner," just like President Trump says. By the way, 1,030 people died yesterday, Johns Hopkins adds. But fear not. That's "almost nothing," according to Donald Trump Jr. Here are today's other developments:
        Final Friday The TSA says 892,712 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is 38.4 percent of 2019 volume, well above the October average.
        New York State has replaced its state-by-state 14-day quarantine system with a national test-and-quarantine regimen. With the exception of residents traveling between New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, visitors will have to test negative before they arrive and on the fourth days after arrival. A three-day quarantine is required on arrival. Complete details are here.
        San Francisco says it will pause its reopening. Indoor pools, bowling alleys and locker rooms in gyms must remain closed. A 25 percent capacity cap will remain in effect for indoor restaurant dining and other recreational activities.
        Las Vegas has cancelled its traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display on the Strip.
        Slow down The 2021 Boston Marathon will not be run at its usual time, the third week of April. The race will be rescheduled to an unspecified date in the fall of 2021.
        Cruise control The CDC lifted its ban on cruises in U.S. waters, scheduled to expire November 1. But cruises won't resume until they meet the terms of a CDC "Framework for Conditional Sailing."
        Six bits British Airways says it will serve six U.S. gateways in November: New York/JFK, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Newark flights will begin near the end of the month. Before the pandemic, BA flew nonstop to more than 24 U.S. cities. As previously announced, BA's parent group, which includes Aer Lingus and Iberia, will operate just 30 percent of its flights in the fourth quarter, down from the planned 40 percent of its 2019 schedule.
        Air France/KLM is slashing flights as Europe locks down once again. Air France will operate 35 percent of its 2019 schedule instead of the previously planned 50 percent. KLM planned to run 55 percent of its 2019 schedule, but it will now be 45 percent.
        Belgium is going back into a second national lockdown. Nonessential businesses, including restaurants, bars and cafes, must close. Outdoor gatherings are limited to four people while indoor gatherings are barred. Schools will stay closed until at least the middle of November.

Coronavirus Update for October 30, 2020

The United States has now surpassed nine million confirmed cases of Coronavirus. It took just 14 days to go from eight to nine million, according to epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding. Here are today's other developments:
        Laboring back The TSA says 873,636 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 42.6 percent of 2019 volume, the best daily performance since the Labor Day surge.
        El Paso County, Texas, has ordered all nonessential services to close due to a Coronavirus spike that has overwhelmed local hospitals and medical facilities. The El Paso Convention Center is being converted into a makeshift health care facility and hospitals are setting up tents to deal with patients. The orders are effective immediately--and are being resisted by state officials.
        Hotel occupancy in the United States fell to 48 percent during the week ended October 24. According to lodging statisticians STR, only four major markets surpassed 50 percent occupancy: Norfolk, Tampa, Atlanta and Phoenix.
        Europe airline traffic was down to 45 percent of 2019 volume, according to Eurocontrol, the continent's air traffic operation.
        Flat as a pancake Due to falling sales and local Coronavirus restrictions, IHOP says it will close around 100 locations during the next six months.
        Slow trains to nowhere Passenger traffic on long-haul German trains fell 43 percent during the first six months of the year, according to the German statistics agency. Meanwhile, French rail service Thalys says its capacity will only be 30 percent of 2019 levels from November 2 to December 14. Weak traffic and France's newest lockdown led to the decision, the company explains.

Coronavirus Update for October 29, 2020

Forty-one states now have more Coronavirus cases than last week, according to CNN. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts "a whole lot of pain" if the case numbers continue to spike. Here are today's other developments:
        666 The TSA says 666,957 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 32.2 percent of 2019 volume, the best performance on a Wednesday in October.
        Um, business travel ... United Airlines vice president Patrick Quayle says "roughly 85 percent of traffic we were carrying [in 2019] was in London ten days or less. When you institute a mandatory 14-day quarantine, the traffic evaporates."
        Idaho says bars, restaurants and clubs in the state can only serve sit-down customers.
        Only eight of ten President Trump leaned on the Big Ten Conference to reverse its no-football decision and colleges obliged. Now Saturday's Nebraska-Wisconsin game has been cancelled because so many players have tested positive for Coronavirus that Wisconsin can't field a competitive team.
        France begins a second national lockdown Friday. Restaurants, bars, cafes and all nonessential businesses must close. Travel between regions will not be permitted. Local traffic is allowed only for school and employees who cannot work from home.
        Germany begins a second "soft" national lockdown on Monday. Restaurants, bars, swimming pools, gyms, theaters and cinemas must close until at least the end of November. Hotels cannot accept tourists, only business travelers. Schools and shops remain open.
        Switzerland says restaurants, bars and cafes must close between 11pm and 6am. No more than four people to a table are permitted during opening hours.

Coronavirus Update for October 28, 2020

There have been more than 502,000 new Coronavirus cases during the past week, according to Johns Hopkins. That surpasses the record high of 481,000 registered during the seven days between October 18 and 24. Here are today's other developments:
        Typical Tuesday The TSA says 648,517 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 33.9 percent of 2019 volume, the best performance on a Tuesday in October.
        The big hurt Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways reported third-quarter figures yesterday and they're not pretty. At Hawaiian, revenues fell 90 percent and the quarterly net loss was $97 million. At JetBlue, revenues dropped 76 percent and the net loss was $393 million. JetBlue's cash burn was $6.1 million a day.
        Trump is an airline After a rally Tuesday night at Omaha's Eppley Field, the Trump campaign abandoned hundreds of supporters for hours in freezing temperatures without transportation. Many required police attention or hospitalization. The Omaha World-Herald has the details.
        Continental drift With a 1.29 billion shortfall of passengers since January, the Airports Council International says nearly 200 regional European airports face bankruptcy. But "eight months into the crisis, all of Europe's airports are burning through cash to remain open," says Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe.
        Burnin' for you Lufthansa has reduced its daily cash burn to one million euros every two hours. "That has not changed the drama of the situation," Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr wrote this week to the airline's board. "Winter will be an even bigger challenge."

Coronavirus Update for October 27, 2020

There's evidence that Coronavirus immunity is a sometimes thing. Around three months to be specific. The BBC has the dreary details. Here are today's other developments:
        Best Monday ev-ah! (Well, relatively ...) The TSA says that 898,735 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 38.2 percent of 2019 volume, the best performance on a Monday in October. Total October volume to date has already exceeded the number of travelers in September.
        Newark ordered nonessential businesses and restaurants to shut indoor service after 8pm. The restriction is effective today, but does not affect the airport.
        The financially friendly skies The Department of Transportation says the average domestic fare in the second quarter was $259, the lowest on record. (Records date to 1995.) The average 2Q fare was down about 22 percent from previous low of $334 registered during the first quarter.
        The Year Without Weihnachtsmann Frankfurt and Nuremberg cancelled their Christmas markets, both of which draw about two million visitors annually. Cologne's Christmas market, which draws about five million annual visitors, was cancelled in August.
        Down Under is down under The Business Council of Australia says grounding domestic flights cost the country A$2.1 billion a month. International groundings add another A$7.6 billion a month. "We are talking about an enormous hit to our economy," says BCA chief Jennifer Westacott.

Coronavirus Update for October 26, 2020

Airline schedule-keeper OAG, says last week "has probably been one of the most depressing ever in the aviation industry." The loss of another one million seats, OAG says, "takes total global capacity down to 55.6 million, 52 percent ... of last year’s weekly total." Here are today's other developments:
        Pleasant Valley Sunday The TSA says 983,745 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is about 50,000 fewer than last Sunday (October 18), but exactly the same volume compared to 2019 traffic (39.6 percent).
        InterContinental Hotels says its systemwide occupancy in the third quarter was 44 percent. Its REVpar, a key indicator of lodging profit, fell 53.4 percent. Three percent of the chain's properties (about 200) were still closed as of September 30.
        El Paso County, Texas, has imposed a 10pm to 5am curfew. "All El Paso hospitals and ICUs are at 100 percent capacity," says the leader of the border community of around 720,000 people.
        Silver lining, sorta Median monthly rents in Manhattan during the third quarter fell to $2,990, the first time they were below $3,000 in nine years. Figures were compiled by StreetEasy, which tracks the city's real estate.
        Lufthansa says its global capacity in the fourth quarter will be 25 percent of 2019 operations.
        Barbados says one of its premier properties, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, reopens November 1.

Coronavirus Update for October 25, 2020

Mark Meadows, the chief of staff of the Trump Administration, bluntly admits that "we're not going to control the pandemic." Instead, Trump will promote "vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation.” Of course, none of that exists yet. Here are today's other developments:
        Moving the floor up The TSA says that 755,287 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 39 percent of 2019 volume, the best performance on a Saturday so far in October.
        The five Five members of Vice President Pence's inner circle, including his chief of staff, have tested positive for Coronavirus. A reminder: Pence is head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Yet he will continue in-person campaigning. The New York Times has the details.
        Chicago has new Coronavirus restrictions. Nonessential businesses must close between 10pm and 6am. Bars without food-service licenses cannot have indoor service. Liquor sales citywide must end at 9pm.
        American Airlines says its current largest business travel clients are FedEx, UPS and federal government agencies.
        Spain has imposed a nationwide curfew from 11pm to 6am. The Canary Islands has separate restrictions.
        Italy has tightened its Coronavirus restrictions for the second time in a week. Bars, cafes and restaurants nationwide must stop serving at 6pm, but can remain open later for takeaway and delivery orders. Consuming food and beverages in public is banned after 6pm. Museums can remain open, but theaters, concert halls and movie houses must close along with gyms, swimming pools, betting shops and casinos.

Coronavirus Update for October 18-24, 2020

Read all about it! More than 219,000 220,000 225,000 Americans have died during the virus pandemic and predictions for the next few months are dire. U.S. infection rates soar to mid-summer highs. Cruise lines consider reopening. The airlines and hotels try to imagine the future. Global lockdowns get more severe. Airlines face ugly numbers. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for October 11-17, 2020

Read all about it! More than 214,000 215,000 219,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as the second wave takes hold around the world. Cities and countries eschew total lockdowns, but restrictions on daily life return. The airlines and hotel chains warn it will be years before 2019 travel patterns return. Airline third-quarter numbers are predictably dreary. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for October 4-10, 2020

Read all about it! More than 209,000 210,000 214,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as a second wave engulfs many Western nations. Cities once past the worst of the Coronavirus begin new shutdowns. The White House Coronavirus crisis deepens. Airlines rethink international routes. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for Sept. 27-October 3, 2020

Read all about it! More than 204,000 205,000 209,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as global deaths pass one million. Airlines trim fall/winter transatlantic flights since there's little chance countries will open their borders to the United States. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for September 20-26, 2020

Read all about it! More than 199,000 200,000 204,000 Americans have died during the Coronavirus pandemic. Airlines and hotels cut back because there is little traffic to support more optimistic approaches. Europe resumes some limited lockdowns. Airline bosses expect the worst. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for September 13-19, 2020

Read all about it! More than 193,000 195,000 199,000 Americans have died during the virus pandemic as positive cases pass the 6.5-million mark. Countries that once "beat" the virus experience a dreaded second wave. Flying numbers fall as both business and leisure travel slows. Hotels are closing forever. Ground borders in North America remain closed. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for September 6-12, 2020

Read all about it! More than 188,000 190,000 193,000 have died during the pandemic in the United States. Schools and universities continue to cancel or curtail in-person classes. U.S. airlines press for another bailout, but the Senate omits it from its bill. The travel industry begins autumn cutbacks as the summer uptick flattens. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 30-Sept. 5, 2020

Read all about it! The United States has now passed 6 million confirmed cases and 182,000 185,000 188,000 dead. That's about 24 percent of the global cases and 20 percent of the death toll. We are 4 percent of the world's population. Meanwhile, more and more 2021 events are cancelled as travel dials back from a brief summer "high." And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 23-August 29, 2020

Read all about it! The death toll from Coronavirus surges past 175,000 180,000 182,000 as European and Asian nations deal with resurgences of the virus. Flying hits the wall as daily traffic sags noticeably. Airlines globally begin to pull down service again. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 16-August 22, 2020

Read all about it! As the nation begins two weeks of Zoom-like political conventions, the death toll from Coronavirus surges past 169,000 175,000 176,000. As many places open, others shut back down. Travel continues to wobble: Airline passenger volume flattens, hotel occupancy rates remain far below 2019 levels. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 9-August 15, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 162,000 165,000 169,000. There are now more than 20 million cases worldwide and a quarter of them have been in the United States. Travel continues to be in an extended holding pattern as Americans fret about schools, the football season--and the post office. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 2-August 8, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll spikes dramatically as the nationwide tally surges past 155,000 160,000 162,000. Countries that thought they'd tamed the virus are scaling back activities just as the August vacation season kicks into high gear. U.S. carriers and hotels face the wreckage of a shrunken travel industry. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 26-August 1, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 146,000 150,000 154,000 as new cases and rising hospitalization rates tax hospitals in Florida, Texas and other Sunbelt states. European countries consider requirements for returning residents to test after holidays. The travel industry worries about the fragility--and shallow nature--of the "recovery." And more. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 19-25, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 140,000 145,000 146,000 while infections rage out of control throughout the Sunbelt. Countries close their borders again and reopenings in the United States are rolled back or curtailed. The travel industry faces a hard reality: There's no V-shaped recovery. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 12-18, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 135,000 140,000 while countries such as New Zealand can declare themselves virus-free. New York City, however, said it had its first death-free day since mid-March. Meanwhile, Florida is the new global epicenter of Coronavirus. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 5-11, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 130,000 135,000 and new virus infections are rising around the nation and around the world. The question is now what a post-Fourth travel scene will look like as several states with key hubs--California, Arizona, Texas, Florida--report record-breaking infection numbers. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 28-July 4, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 125,000 130,000. As the Coronavirus rages throughout the South, reality sets in about the pace of any possible "recovery" and reopenings. Europe drops most of its intra-continental travel restrictions, but most foreign visitors, including Americans, are still barred. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 21-27, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 115,000 120,000 125,000 126,000. Deaths slowed last week, but the infection rate is growing in half the states. U.S. travel picks up. The Northeast states that suffered in earlier months now quarantine arrivals from the high-infection states. European carriers grow capacity as the continent prepares for a July 1 reopening that may not permit Americans to visit. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 14-20, 2020

Read all about it! The nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 115,000 119,000. The second wave seems to be starting in states that opened early. More airlines around the world resume service. U.S. airlines add back some flights, but traffic remains below 20 percent of 2019's totals. And more. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 7-13, 2020

Read all about it! The nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 110,000 115,000 and the number of confirmed cases passes the two-million mark. Protests around the nation overshadow the pandemic and its effects. New York City opens up just as London and Britain launch 14-day quarantines. Flight traffic jumps yet remains a small fraction of 2019 volume. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 31-June 6, 2020

Read all about it! As the nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 100,000 105,000 110,000, the nation's cities are hit with peaceful protests and violent riots. European carriers begin to fly again and the continent's major tourist countries plan to reopen to the world. U.S travel inches up from its mid-April floor. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 24-May 30, 2020

Read all about it! As the nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 95,000 100,000 103,000, holiday travel "surges" back to about 13 percent of 2019's numbers. Some international travel resumes, but new bans are instituted, too. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 17-May 23, 2020

Read all about it! As the national Coronavirus death toll surges past the 85,000 90,000 95,000 96,000 mark, all eyes are on the states that opened quickly. Will their infection and death rates spike? Asia deals with zero tourism as bans on visitors continue. European countries sweat the decisions to open to some tourism. Flying is still down more than 90 percent compared to 2019, but surges for Memorial Day. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 10-May 16, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 75,000 80,000 85,000 88,000 mark. European countries make plans for slow, phased openings. The United States is more chaotic. Airlines and airports go beyond masks to temperature checks. Travel is picking up--if you squint and squeeze the numbers. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 3-May 9, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 65,000 70,000 75,000 78,000 mark. We enter the era of the masked flyer. New York closes its subways for the first time ever. Airline losses keep piling up. Traffic doesn't. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 26-May 2, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 66,000 mark. Some states loosen restrictions while European countries will keep things closed into the summer. U.S. airline traffic begins to nudge up as airline earnings plunge. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 19-April 25, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000 52,000 mark, but progress is made in Italy, Spain, Austria and France. Governors start opening their states. Airlines begin to declare bankruptcy and the first tranche of first-quarter financial results are brutal. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 12-April 18, 2020

U.S. governors talk about when the states can reopen even as nationwide Coronavirus deaths surge past the 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 mark. Airlines whine about the terms of the bailout money they're getting from the nation's taxpayers. And only fools and self-important pundits know anything about the future of travel. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 5-April 11, 2020

Read all about it! As the world convulses with the waves of Coronavirus, the toll on the travel industry is revealed. Remaining flights are essentially empty, airports are shutting terminals and business travelers have nowhere to go--and aren't in a rush to get there. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 29-April 4, 2020

Read all about it! Domestic travel is down more than 90 percent from last year. More states impose stay-at-home orders. The death toll in Italy and Spain continues to skyrocket. And doctors and nurses are scrambling for supplies to help Coronavirus patients--and protect themselves. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 22-28, 2020

The new "new normal"? International transit airports barring transit passengers. U.S. states demanding arrivals from other U.S. states quarantine themselves on arrival. U.S. passenger volume dropping by 90 percent in a matter of days. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 15-21, 2020

Read all about it! The world is closing--and we watch in personal and transportation isolation. Countries are closing borders, airlines are all but shut and hotels are putting the keys in the door. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 8-14, 2020

Read all about it! Italy, Spain, France and Israel shut down. Other countries close their borders as the United States preps for what's to come. The Trump Administration botches the roll out of a ban on "all travel from Europe." U.S. carriers begin cutting service to the bone. Here's how it's happening. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 1-7, 2020

Read all about it! Italy emerges as the new Coronavirus hotspot so airlines begin making huge service cuts there. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines resume some flying. The chief rabbi of Israel says don't kiss the mezuzah. The travel industry starts tallying the financial damage. Here's how it's happening. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for February 15-29, 2020

Read all about it! The Coronavirus spreads around the globe. Japan, South Korea and Italy are hit hard and airlines quickly drop their flights. Tourism disappears and companies begin telling employees to curtail business travel. The Tokyo Summer Olympics may be threatened. Airlines begin rolling out gimmicky fee waivers to nervous flyers. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for February 1-14, 2020

Read all about it! The spread of the Coronavirus is still mostly affecting mainland China, but Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are losing flights and visitors, too. As Chinese tourists stay home, however, the travel industry learns how much they mean to airline traffic, cruise ships and hotels. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for January 23-31, 2020

Read all about it! As the Coronavirus worsens, airlines have reacted by slashing service to Hong Kong and mainland China. Retailers and food-service giants such as McDonald's are closing locations, too. And neighboring countries are closing their borders. Click here for the day-to-day details.