Read all about it! More than 230,000 235,000 237,000 Americans now have died during the pandemic as new cases surge beyond the 100,000-a-day mark. European cities and countries continue to lock down. Airlines and railroad follow by cutting service. After a decent October, U.S. travel interests wonder about holiday business as the Coronavirus spreads again. Retail operations wobble nationwide. And more. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update for November 7, 2020

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested positive for Coronavirus. At least three other White House employees have, too. Because what fun is a country when the people's house isn't a super-spreading nightmare? Here are today's other developments:
        Down is the new up. The TSA says that 895,091 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 35.2 percent of 2019 volume, continuing the downward trend we've seen all month to date.
        Fearful Friday Johns Hopkins says that there were 126,480 new Coronavirus infections in the United States yesterday, yet another record high. The death toll: 1,146, at least the third consecutive day above the 1,000 mark. That's the most deadly stretch since mid-summer.
        Be careful what you vote for. In 376 counties with the highest number of new Coronavirus cases per capita, the overwhelming majority voted for Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to the AP. The details are here.
        Balance Marriott International says revenue per available room (revPAR), a key measure of hotel performance, declined 65.4 in North America in the third quarter. Internationally, Marriott's revPAR declined 67.4 percent.

Coronavirus Update for November 6, 2020

The United States registered 121,888 new Coronavirus infections yesterday. It smashes the record for most infections in a day, recorded only the day before. Yesterday's death toll was 1,210 people, says Johns Hopkins. Here are today's other developments:
        The off season will be off. The TSA says 867,105 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is 34.5 percent of 2019 volume, the weakest performance on a Thursday since mid-September. It's clear the "off season," which began November 1, will be an off season.
        Back to the past The U.S. hotel industry registered a 44.4 percent occupancy rate for the week ending October 31. That's the lowest rate since mid-June, according to industry statistician STR. The Top 25 markets in the nation recorded an even lower occupancy rate of 41 percent.
        Back the future past London/Heathrow returns to one-runway operation starting Monday, November 9. The reason? Lack of traffic as carriers slash flights. In years past, of course, Heathrow's two runways groaned under the crush of traffic. Now? Not so much. The airport had switched to a single runway during the first wave of the pandemic and had briefly started using two runways again.
        None shall pass Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser says visitors to the nation's capital will not be required to quarantine for 14 days. Instead, visitors should be tested within 72 hours before arrival. Visitors who plan longer stays should be tested again three to five days after arrival. The new "advisory" is effective starting Monday.
        New York underground The drastic decline in passengers on the New York City subways--ridership is down to around 10 million weekly from 33 million last year--is taking a toll far beyond the train operator. Hundreds of businesses are located in underground stations and many already have closed their doors. The New York Times has the details.
        Tales from Oz International flights to and from Melbourne, Australia, are expected to resume later this month. Overseas flights at Australia's second-busiest destination were suspended in July.

Coronavirus Update for November 5, 2020

The United States registered 102,831 new Coronavirus infections yesterday. It's the first time the nation passed the 100,000 mark. Yesterday's death toll, according to Johns Hopkins, was 1,097. So, apparently, the corner President Trump repeatedly said we were turning led smack into a brick wall. Here are today's other developments:
        Wednesday Woe The TSA says 636,533 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is 29.6 percent of 2019 volume, the poorest performance on a Wednesday since mid-September.
        Strip slowdown The Park MGM hotel joins several other Las Vegas properties that will only open on weekends. The LINQ hotel and Planet Hollywood Resort are already operating on a weekends-only schedule.
        Cruise control The CLIA trade group of cruise lines says none of its members plan to operate to or from U.S. waters for the rest of the year. The CDC has lifted its ban on cruises, but has imposed many limitations and restrictions.
        Lufthansa says its carriers--Austrian, Swiss, Air Dolomiti, Eurowings, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa itself--will operate a "maximum" of 25 percent of 2019 capacity in the fourth quarter.
        Eurocontrol says 2021 aircraft volume may still be down as much as 50 percent below 2019 levels. It does not expect the number of flights to reach 2019 volume again until "at least" 2024.
        Herd immunity? The controversial concept of herd immunity--enough people in a community contract and survive Coronavirus so there is functional immunity--may get a boost from Northern Italy. The Economist says high-infection towns in Northern Italy ravaged during the first wave now are doing better in the second wave.

Coronavirus Update for November 4, 2020

It's the day after Election Day in the United States. We don't have final returns--or an obvious winner--but we can say President Trump was wrong. We're still talking about the Coronavirus today because there were 91,000 new infections yesterday and 1,130 deaths. Here are today's other developments:
        Terrible Tuesday The TSA says 575,829 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is 28.7 percent of 2019 volume, the poorest performance since Tuesday, September 29.
        American Airlines says its December schedule will be just 50 percent of 2019 numbers, but will be about 55 percent during the peak holiday period.
        Air Canada resumed Rouge low-cost/high-fee service with flights between Toronto/Pearson and Cancun. Given how disliked Rouge is among travelers, the resumption is a mixed blessing.
        Interjet, the low-fare Mexican airline, has suspended service. It has failed to pay for fuel, its Web site is not operating, its social media outlets are silent and no one is answering phones. After officially cancelling service on November 1 and November 2, the carrier's workers have gone on strike, claiming they haven't been paid. There were no flights yesterday and as of 11am ET today.
        European trains are sagging under the weight of new lockdowns across the continent. German Deutsche Bahn trains have closed their restaurant cars. Austrian Federal Railways has ended most of its Nightjet overnight trains to destinations in Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. In England, Grand Central trains that connect Yorkshire and the Northeast to London are cancelled through December 2. Ditto for Hull trains to London. In France, TGV and Thalys high-speed trains are running at 30 percent of 2019 schedules. Eurostar trains are running at 15 percent of 2019 schedules.

Coronavirus Update for November 3, 2020

Today is Election Day in the United States. FWIW, no vaccine was announced by the "special day," as President Trump had promised. But no one expected that because ... science. Here are today's other developments:
        First Monday The TSA says that 846,138 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is 35.2 percent of 2019 volume, notably lower than the last several Mondays.
        American Airlines resumes flights to China on November 8. There will be one weekly flight to Shanghai from Dallas/Fort Worth via Seoul/Incheon.
        Disneyland remains closed, but Hugo Martin of the Los Angeles Times offers a fascinating look at the park's employees. These are not good times for them.
        Starbucks continues to downsize during the pandemic. It confirmed plans to close 200 more stores--100 each in the United States and Canada--in addition to 600 closures that were previously announced. Starbucks says the closings mostly will be in "dense metro trade areas."

Coronavirus Update for November 2, 2020

While President Trump continues to insist that we've rounded some mythical corner, Johns Hopkins reports that there were 569,350 new Coronavirus cases during the week ended October 31. That's a one-week record for the United States. Here are today's other developments:
        November knockdown The TSA says that 936,092 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday, the first day of what is normally a travel "shoulder season." That is 38 percent of 2019 volume, a few points lower than several recent Sundays.
        Steady progress Based on TSA figures, traffic during the month of October was 35.5 percent of 2019 volume. That makes the fourth consecutive month that U.S. flight traffic grew by 3 percent points of 2019 volume.
        Make American Grubby Again The director of Women for Trump went on a long Twitter rant against American Airlines because the carrier required her to gate-check her carry-on luggage. Then, of course, the MAGAts started invented conspiracy theories. Gary Leff of the View From the Wing blog has the details.
        Still down so long ... Aircraft traffic in Europe last week fell to 46 percent of 2019 volume, a 3.3 percent decline, according to Eurocontrol, the continent's air traffic system.
        Italy will not follow the rest of Europe into a second lockdown--at the moment. However, new rules unveiled by Prime Minister Conte today will close museums and limit capacity on public transit to 50 percent. Shopping centers will be closed on weekends.
        Heir to the virus Prince William, second in line to the throne of England, was diagnosed with Coronavirus during the spring. The diagnosis was not disclosed until now. His father, Prince Charles, publicly disclosed his infection in March.

Coronavirus Update for November 1, 2020

A Stanford study makes a link between Trump's large election rallies and an increase of infections and deaths in the communities where they've been held. Here are today's other developments:
        The closing bell The TSA says 618,476 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday, the last day of October. That is 33.6 percent of 2019 volume, right about the month-long average.
        England is going back into a month-long lockdown beginning Thursday. Nonessential shops must close. Pubs, bars and restaurants will close for in-person dining; only takeaway and delivery is permitted. Schools will remain open, however. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already instituted versions of a lockdown.
        Austria is going back into lockdown starting Tuesday. There'll be an 8pm to 6am nationwide curfew, too. Restaurants can only serve meals for takeaway or delivery. Hotels can only serve business travelers. Museums, theatres, zoos and sports clubs will also close. The restrictions are expected to last at least a month.
        Italy is the country that has lost the most revenue from U.S. travelers during the first lockdown earlier this year. According to data compiled by InsureMyTrip.com, Italy lost $8.29 billion in spending from U.S. visitors, followed closely by France ($8.17 billion). Spain ($5.83 billion) was a distant third.
        Geneva is imposing stricter Coronavirus restrictions than the rest of Switzerland. Nonessential businesses must close. So must theaters and museums. Starting Monday evening, restaurants, bars and cafes will close for in-person dining, but takeaway and delivery orders will be permitted.

Coronavirus Update for October 25-31, 2020

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. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

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.