Delta Air Lines says the travel boom isn’t over. Business travel is about 80% recovered to 2019 levels. The airline expects its earnings to nearly double next year, as it forecast a 15% to 20% jump in revenue in 2023 from this year, thanks to ‘robust’ travel demand.
Transportation
Amex GBT projects global airfare hikes. Spurred by persistent inflation, labor shortages and capacity limitations, 2023 airfares throughout the world are projected to increase.
Sabre on airline distribution trends. The company expects NDC adoption to grow in the coming years because carriers want to sell as dynamically in B2B as they do in B2C.
IATA establishes modern airline retailing program. With a global consortium of leading airlines behind it, the next few years will see a comprehensive transformation of airline retailing.
Airlines will be making money again. The global airline industry is expected to return to profitability in 2023 for the first time in four years, according to the latest IATA forecast.
How Google’s Waze has changed as car travel is remade. The crowdsourced navigation app has become more in use for errand runs and travel than for commuting. It’s not just a one-way app that uses technology. It is now a two-way ecosystem where people actually contribute to help each other.
Paper-free travel in Europe. A group of 13 business travel associations is calling for the full digitization of business travel to improve efficiencies.
Airlines celebrate smooth Thanksgiving sailing. Smooth Thanksgiving travel period a good sign for Christmas flights. Even as delays mounted on the busiest day for air travel since the start of the pandemic, the number of canceled flights remained low, leaving carriers with bragging rights.
How air travel has changed in just the last three years. Several major shifts have occurred that change the way people think of air travel. Beyond the pandemic, investors have been pressuring businesses to report on ESG targets, and reducing air travel is an easy way to reduce a company's environmental footprint.
A third of US premium travelers entrust flight booking to travel advisors. Main reasons besides better pricing, is getting human support in case of sudden trip changes.
China: The elephant that isn't in the room. System bottlenecks need to be resolved before China travel demand returns. But despite some limited moves by the Chinese government recently, there is not yet a timeline for more meaningful steps to reopen cross-border travel.
Emirates forsees unprecedented travel surge once China reopens. The airline is expecting a surge in travel on a scale beyond anything seen for many years once China fully reopens to overseas flights.
Airlines face first big holiday test - and Congress is watching. Carriers forced to pay for meals and hotel stays when a travel setback is the airlines’ fault. Airlines are facing big pressure to keep the Thanksgiving travel weekend from turning into a repeat of their summer meltdowns. And Congress is ready to bring down the hammer if they fail.
European governments urged to finally agree airspace reform. The reform could cut emissions by more than 10% and make more an immediate impact than the use of sustainable aviation fuels.
Airlines’ ability to keep pace. While the summer of 2022 was certainly challenging for airlines, it can become the catalyst for a step change in performance, according to McKinsey.
Ryanair sees 'very strong' recovery. The airline posted its largest ever after-tax profit for the first half of its financial year, which includes the key summer months.
Europe’s airline merger mania. Air France-KLM wants TAP Air Portugal, but so does International Airlines Group, who also also wants Air Europa, and maybe even EasyJet.
The scrapping of one-day business trips. The proportion of one-day domestic trips has fallen by more than 25% compared with 2019 levels, according to new CWT data.
Sabre air bookings nearing 60% of 2019 levels. Total global bookings for Q3 hit 80 million, which is 57% of 2019. The company projects Q4 bookings in the low 60s percent range.
Electric planes for regional travel. For United Airlines, electric planes will be key to remaking the way travelers think about aviation as a choice for shorter distance routes.
More people on trains. From 'flight same' in Sweden to cheap train tickets in Germany to flight bans in France, Europe is trying to get people to embrace lower-emission trips.
Heathrow warns demand will take years to fully recover. The UK’s hub airport said it was on course to reach between 60 and 62 million passengers in 2022, around 25% lower than in 2019.
American Airlines developing a blended traveler product. Half of AA’s revenues come from trips that include both business and leisure aspects, driving revenue growth more than any other factor.
American Airlines ditching first class on international flights. Premium cabins were mostly occupied by corporate travelers, whereas now, 40-50% are customers who are combining work with leisure.
Airlines cash in as flexible work changes travel patterns. Untethered from desks, passengers are flying more often and in different ways.
US holiday air travel may be more turbulent. The US travel industry expects this holiday season to be busy enough to make last summer’s turmoil seem orderly.
Expedia's 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report. Travelers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 5% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights.
Travel demand stronger than recession pressures. Travel recovery continues as consumer spend shifts to experiences. United Airlines stock rallied Tuesday after the airline said it expected the travel rebound to weather a shakier economy in the months ahead and reported third-quarter results that beat expectations.
Lufthansa sees no reason for pessimism. The rising in demand for business travel will keep the aviation sector growing, though the war in Ukraine, inflation and recession may dampen the pace of growth.
Delta sees business travel fueling Q4 profit. Profit in the final months of the year is outpacing expectations, buoyed by a resurgence in corporate travel even as costs remain elevated and economic volatility lingers.
European airlines see travel withstanding consumer squeeze for now. Travel was holding up for major airlines, calming worries that pressure on household budgets could stall recovery from the pandemic.
Economic worries loom over U.S. airline earnings. Analysts and investors question how soon the good times might end as the growing risk of economic recession sparks worries about travel spending.
First class vs. business class vs. premium economy. Many industry experts see premium economy as the new business class and business class as the new first class for many airlines.
Frequent fliers are a problem for the planet. Should they pay more?. A global tax on frequent fliers could go a long way toward fixing aviation’s climate problem. A new report suggests a frequent flier tax that starts on the second flight each individual takes per year, at a rate of $9. It would then steadily ratchet up, reaching $177 for the 20th flight in a single year.
Airlines misleading flyers with carbon-neutral claims. Europe’s biggest carriers say they’re offsetting emissions, but new analysis suggests their efforts are failing. Europe’s leading airlines are misleading consumers with claims that they can fly guilt-free by using carbon offsets to neutralize the environmental impact of air travel.
Air travel demand progressing well. Domestic and international air passenger traffic in August showed continued improvement, according to the IATA.
European airlines seek cure to travel chaos. European airlines and airports are counting the cost of efforts to avoid a repeat of widespread disruption next summer.
Business class unbundled. Airlines are experimenting with new models of business class that make it more affordable but less luxurious.
Travel searches spike as East Asia eases travel restrictions. Global flight and hotel searches for Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong have surged over the recent weekend according to Expedia.
US airlines face crackdown on hidden fees. The Department of Transportation requires all fees to be disclosed at the first point in a search process where a fare is listed.
Google bringing back price guarantee program for flights. he feature is just one of several significant travel product tweaks being made by the search giant.
Dreaming of a streamlined travel future. How SITA Flex allows airports and airlines to process their passengers beyond the confines of traditional check-in counters.
Southwest forecasts slower recovery in business travel. Revenue from “managed” business travel in the quarter ending Sept. 30 will be down 26% to 28% from 2019 levels.
What to expect from Thanksgiving travel. Thanksgiving travel is very date-specific - airlines will better understand what the current system can handle versus what happened this past summer.
Europe’s aviation recovery reaches “critical juncture”. Passenger traffic in July nearly doubled compared to 2021. Air traffic across Europe surged in July driven by revenge - and still predominantly leisure - travel, as well as ultra low cost carriers expanding capacity well above pre-pandemic levels.
Airline stocks not getting the news. The dismal performance of airline stocks of late is a sign that investors are slowly coming to terms with just how bad things really are.
China discourages travel as it locks down 65 million. The country has locked down 65 million of its citizens under tough COVID-19 restrictions and is discouraging travel during upcoming national holidays.
Travel is suddenly a whole lot cheaper. Kayak reports that domestic flight prices this fall are down 19%, and international flight prices 21%.
China’s lockdowns could push international air travel rebound to 2026. China not likely changing its policy until the middle of next year. Some aviation analysts now think international air travel may not fully recover until 2025 or 2026 due largely to China’s continuation of its travel-busting “zero-Covid” policy.
Global air travel reaches 75% of pre-Covid traffic. The latest figures from IATA found that international traffic rose by 150% in July compared with the same month in 2021.
United, American Airlines play down travel demand concerns. The travel demand, however, tends to cool down after Labor Day, which traditionally marks the end of the U.S. summer.
Digital identity key to coping with surge in air travel. Providing a contactless and seamless travel experience is necessary for airports to cope with the growing demand in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Labor Day weekend travel exceeds pre-pandemic levels, making it the first holiday that exceeded travel compared with the same period before the pandemic.
Don’t get mad, get informed. If consumers vote with their feet and give more business to the airlines with the best service, that will motivate companies to fix their problems.
EU split on visa ban for Russian tourists. Suspension of visa facilitation scheme likely compromise, making Russians wait longer and pay more for their visas.
Google to shut Book on Google for flights for users outside the U.S. at the end of September, and told Skift it will likewise end the feature in the U.S. sometime after March 31.
Delta consolidates business travel tools under new brand. Delta Business brings the airline's set of business travel tools, products and services under one name.
Google on when is the best time to book a flight. From April to August this year, searches for “cheapest airline tickets” surged more than 240% in the U.S.. The Google Flights team analyzed five years’ worth of historical airfare data to look for any reliable patterns in the data - here’s what they found to guide you along the way.
Airlines may not fully catch up until 2024. As US carriers overhire and cut routes, industry experts expect that 2023 will be a better year for the industry than 2022.
Canceled flights complicate fall travel. U.S. airlines will cut hundreds of flights a day to accommodate pilot shortages and changing demand for travel.
Google 'airbrushes' out emissions from flying. The world's biggest search engine has taken a key driver of global warming out of its online carbon flight calculator.
US transatlantic travel to Europe soars. The massive 246% rise in inbound transatlantic bookings from the US to Europe is evidence, that consumer confidence has returned to the market.
Uber posted its first ever cash-flow positive quarter. The company has relied on heavily subsidized rides to gain market share and has burned through $25 billion since it was founded 13 years ago.
Lufthansa sees return to full-year profit as travel picks up. Company expects demand for short-haul flights in Europe to drive growth at its passenger airlines this year.
This is a great time to be an airline. US airlines just had one of the most lucrative quarters in history. Passengers are suffering for it.
Sabre sees 'stronger' recovery in months ahead. Forward air bookings for travel in August, September and October are tracking similar to stronger recovery months.
Pilots open up on why air travel is in chaos. Airlines are playing a role in staff shortages as well as airports, and that the situation is becoming dire enough that it could threaten safety.
International demand driving European air traffic rebound. The recovery made further gains in June, with passenger traffic closing at -17.4 per cent of 2019 levels – the strongest monthly performance since the pandemic.
JetBlue to acquire Spirit. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have signed a merger agreement for the former to take over the low-cost carrier for $3.8 billion.
Ryanair warns about ‘fragile’ market. European low-cost carrier Ryanair returned to profit in the last quarter but has warned about the “fragile” state of the airline market.
United doesn't see travel chaos dying down soon. Canceling flights most significant precautionary move airlines can make to help with the current chaos. Though passengers are sick and tired of the confusing burden that ruins the joy of flying, United Airlines warns that the headache of flying might continue till next summer.
Airlines were too ambitious chasing the travel rebound. The three biggest U.S. carriers are dialing back their flight growth ambitions. The cuts come as airlines face elevated costs, along with the possibility of an economic slowdown and questions over spending by some of the country’s biggest corporate travelers.
Extreme heat in Europe adds to summer travel chaos. Desire to travel to Europe this summer goes far beyond the inconveniences. Travelers to the continent can tack on climate disasters to a list of 2022 obstacles that include the evolving coronavirus, canceled flights, lost luggage, insane ticket prices, huge crowds and - yes - labor strikes.
Travel chaos hits demand for European flights. Dramatic slowdown in last-minute flight bookings, plus an increase in cancellations. Demand for flying has fallen significantly among some of Europe’s largest airlines, as disruption in the aviation industry shows signs of hitting people’s appetite for travel.
Airlines slow European travel recovery. While destinations are eager to welcome visitors, supply simply cannot meet demand. International departures from European countries are expected to reach only 69% of 2019 figures in 2022, according to GlobalData forecasts.
Airlines’ challenge is cutting costs, not filling seats. Higher expenses and staffing shortages are hampering airlines. U.S. carriers see no slowdown in demand, despite unease about the economy. But problems with staffing and operations are eating into profits.
The Uber whistleblower. The one-time cheerleader-in-chief for Uber in Europe looks set to become one of its sharpest critics. How Uber knowingly flouted laws in dozens of countries and misled people about the benefits to drivers of the company’s gig-economy model.
Airfares likely to rise for the next five years. Ryanair has warned passengers that fares will rise because flying has become “too cheap” to make profits as industry costs spiral.
COVID cases rising in Europe holiday hotspots. Summer holidays risk being thrown into chaos again this year as soaring Covid cases could mean restrictions are brought back.
None of this should have been a surprise to airlines. Airline executives should have seen - and thus should have known - that there would be strong demand to travel again.
Europe: Aviation sector “on the edge”. A difficult summer is expected as the staffing crisis in aviation continues to disrupt travel before stability returns in the Autumn.
Europe adds visitor fee for US travel next year. A €7 fee is expected to go into effect in May 2023 for foreign visitors as part of a new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
UK: Which? demands major overhaul of travel sector rules. The consumer group claims that airlines are “potentially breaking the law” with unfair and misleading terms and conditions.
Lufthansa CEO apologises for summer travel chaos. "We certainly made mistakes while saving our company and more than 100,000 jobs over the past two years."
Europe’s travel woes deepen as strikes add to scrapped flights. Walkouts in coming days at Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways and Aeroports de Paris will add to the turmoil.
Airline cancellations cause turbulence for hoteliers. Most hoteliers see current issues as 'short-term' disruption. The problems with reliable and affordable flights are completely out of the control of hoteliers, many of whom worry how long it will take for normalcy to return.
Why air travel is a disaster right now. The U.S. seems to suffer from chronic Nothing Works Syndrome. The major carriers JetBlue, American Airlines, and Delta canceled nearly 10 percent of their flights last weekend, creating mayhem at major airports.
U.S. complaints against airlines soar. Majority of complaints concerned refunds. U.S. consumers lodged more than quadruple the number of complaints against U.S. airlines in April compared with pre-pandemic levels as on-time arrivals fell.
UK: Despite travel chaos headlines, bookings are on the rise. New bookings for summer departures were up 33 per cent last week compared to the previous week.
Europe: Structural shift towards low-cost carriers looks set to stay. Low-cost carriers now account for 40 percent of direct air connectivity, compared with 27 percent before the pandemic. Low-cost carriers have fuelled the recovery in passenger numbers through their point-to-point services, boosting small and regional airports, which have recovered more quickly than larger hubs.
Europe’s travel chaos. It's fast degenerating into a blame game. Travelers are stressing as the summer holidays approach and politicians worry about keeping budgets in check and limiting public rage.
Break-even year possible for airlines in 2023. Border reopenings and increased demand will help the global airline industry sharply reduce losses this year, according to IATA.
Travelers willing to pay the price for post-pandemic travel. Airlines don't see travel demand dissipating any time soon. The airline industry has been hamstrung by a perfect storm of labor shortages, supply disruptions and rising fuel prices as it seeks to capitalize on a recent travel reopening.
Europe's summer of discontent reveals travel sector labour crisis. Low-cost airlines are cancelling hundreds of summer flights. The summer when air travel was supposed to return to normal after a two-year pandemic is in danger of becoming the summer when the high-volume, low-cost air travel model broke down.
End of testing rule opens summer travel floodgates. The US is lifting its Covid-19 test requirements, adding a flood of international travelers to an already chaotic summer season.
Chaotic airport scenes could put ‘handbrake’ on summer bookings. Customers reconsidering their options but vast majority determined to travel. Travel agents fear chaotic scenes at UK airports over half-term and the extended Jubilee bank holiday weekend could put the “handbrake” on further bookings for this year.
You are going to hate traveling this summer. Airlines are operating with little room for error. Canceled flights, surging airfares, a rental car shortage, record gas prices and rising hotel prices. Welcome to the summer of travel hell.
Airlines rethinking its facilities. Delta’s hubs in Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle have seen major renovations to accommodate the way we travel now.
UK tells airlines to stop selling flights they can't deliver. Airports across Europe have struggled to cope with a post-pandemic rebound in demand, but British airports are particularly hard hit.
A summer-travel survival guide. What could possibly go wrong when you travel? During the summer of 2022, it’s more like: What could possibly not go wrong?
APAC passenger traffic picks up. The region experiences a healthy increase in international passenger demand as border restrictions ease, stimulating business and leisure travel.
Amadeus: Global air search volumes reach 2019 levels. The global distribution company said that search volumes in the final week of April were down 3 per cent compared to the same week in 2019.
Is the summer vacation boom over before it even began?. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled over the past year. Analysts at Morning Consult said the travel sector "could be subject to spending pullbacks if prices for flights and hotels continue to skyrocket.
U.S. airlines trimming summer capacity, favoring reliability. Burned by high cancellations and lower-than-average on-time performance, many airlines have decided to sacrifice some summer flying opportunities.
Low-cost airlines recover 'stronger than ever.' Rising living costs, increased airfares and budget carriers’ plans to increase capacity will see the sector emerge strongly from the pandemic.
Spain back to 2019 flight numbers this summer. Flights to Spain will reach 93% of pre-pandemic levels, with Ryanair set to be the biggest carrier, followed by Vueling and Iberia.
Air travel is making a strong comeback. Asia-Pacific region lagging significantly behind. Air travel in United States, Europe and Latin America are seeing strong growth rates, hitting 60% of where they used to be in 2019, said the International Air Transport Association.
Will airlines be hotels' biggest enemy in the recovery?. Just how much tolerance for a bad experience will travelers have?. Everyone loves to go to new places and do new things, but just how far can the airlines push things before people say enough is enough and the whole experience just isn't worth the hassle?
International travelers skip U.S. because of testing rule. The inbound pre-departure testing requirement is having a “devastating” impact on travelers’ likelihood of visiting the United States.
American Airlines says Sabre had monopoly in reservations market. There’s one company in this travel business that doesn’t compete. American Airlines urges a jury to award it almost $300 million in overcharges and lost profits, arguing that Sabre Holdings illegally dominated the market for booking airline tickets.
EU to scrap mask mandate for air travel. Face masks will not have to be worn in airports or on flights in Europe beginning next week.
US airline passengers aren't happy. Passengers seem more badly behaved than ever, flight cancellations feel increasingly commonplace and airlines are hiking fares as fuel prices soar.
EasyJet to take out seats so it can fly with fewer crew. By taking out the back row of seating on its A319 fleet, EasyJet will be able to fly with three cabin crew instead of four.
We’re just robots. Flight attendants being stranded away from home with no hotel lodging, left for up to 30 hours with no answers or resolution.
Airlines opting for a simpler sales pitch: reliability. Carriers will be challenged to rebook passengers during routine disruptions. When planes are packed, airlines have fewer options to move passengers to alternate flights, setting up a game of musical chairs in the sky - with luggage.
Heathrow says travel surge is a ‘bubble’ that will burst. The UK’s busiest airport has predicted that this year’s surge in demand for air travel is a “bubble” that is unlikely to last past this summer.
Booking.com launches flight booking service in India. Travelers can now search, book and pay for their flight without leaving the Booking.com app or platform.
Back in business: are airlines ready for a summer travel boom?. Passengers are suddenly coming back so quickly that the industry does not know what to do with them. Mindful that they will not be able to fulfill their advertised schedules, some airlines in Europe start to trim the number of flights to try to avoid operational disruption running through the network.
No Chinese outbound travel in short-term. While short-term prospects are not optimistic, there are shifts in consumer sentiment that offer a brighter outlook for the long-term.
U.S. airlines bullish as bookings roar back. Corporate bookings the highest since the onset of the pandemic. Airlines are back. That's the message major U.S. carriers are sending investors after grappling with coronavirus-induced uncertainty for two years.
United Airlines: Demand environment strongest in 30 years. Fueled by booming leisure sales heading into the summer and “rapidly returning” business travel, the airline is forecasting a profit for this year.
Venice tourists will have to book their visits. Reservations will be compulsory by the end of the summer and from next year visitors will have to pay an entry fee.
Europe's airports face chaos as travelers return. Travelers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have endured long lines at airports, flight delays or cancellations, and plenty of frustration.
Much of Europe now at 'high' risk. Many European nations are now considered at "high" risk for Covid-19, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tipping point for transportation. A quarter of U.S. travelers say they chose to travel to a destination closer to home to reduce their carbon footprint, new research from Booking.com suggests.
How inflation is impacting US travel industry. Rising fares and inflation could impact travel spending. New data showed inflation in the United States has risen at the fastest rate since 1981, and the travel and tourism industries have already felt the force of the changes.
Travel problems could continue into summer. The travel industry cut thousands of jobs during the pandemic, but has struggled to recruit staff quickly enough.
Airlines, airports hope a spring travel boom extends into summer. Bookings are up as airport screening numbers approach 2019 levels, but staffing problems persist.
European airlines step up recovery. Airline capacity across Europe is increasing rapidly in April as Covid-19 restrictions are dropped and carriers launch their summer schedules.
Uber will soon let you book hotels via the app. The US mobility giant wants to become the one-stop shop for national and international travel.
Asia welcomes travelers, but Japan says, not yet. Countries across region are reopening borders to tourists, but Japan continues to turn them away. And the country is not rushing to change things.
Airlines battling for high-paying travelers as international trips return. Higher airfares have no significant effect on premium demand. With business travel demand still about 40% below 2019 levels, so-called premium leisure travelers are especially important as a way to grow revenue again.
Even with high gas prices, the open road still beckons. Itineraries may change, and less money may be spent on food and lodgings. Especially with the arrival of spring break and the expectation of summer vacation, many road trippers plan to follow through with their original itineraries - or makes some adjustments.
Travel groups want White House to lift travel restrictions. Ease testing requirement for international flights. Now that the U.S. has made it through its latest surge of COVID-19 cases, travel groups are renewing calls for the White House to ease the country’s remaining travel restrictions.
Half the world has reopened to travel. Half the world’s top 50 air travel markets are now open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine or testing, Iata research has found.
London City airport boosted by business travel revival. A revival in business travel has put London City airport on course for its busiest month since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rising oil prices will likely affect travel this summer. Prices are pinching Americans who are already feeling the heat of inflation, and it will make travel more expensive this spring and summer.
Airlines cite strong demand despite higher fuel prices. U.S. airlines presented bullish projections on revenue and demand, even as several carriers also announced capacity rollbacks due to high fuel costs.
Travel demand will let airlines pass along fuel costs. The industry “takes time” to pass along pricier fuel into higher airfares but will do so in the coming months by reducing the amount of flying available.
US airlines are redrawing the flight map of America. Pandemic redraws US airline route maps as business travel falters. A widespread reshuffling is under way, with less service to traditional business hubs and jets redeployed to holiday destinations and on-the-rise cities.
How the world of travel is responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Industry leaders say a united, industry-wide show of support is crucia. From professional sports to Hollywood to food and beverage, a wide range of industries have announced boycotts - now, the travel sector is starting to take action, too.
IATA projects full air passenger recovery in 2024. Overall air passenger numbers will reach 4 billion in 2024, about 103 percent of the pre-Covid-19 levels of 2019.
Europe’s travel rules dropping as fast as its Covid cases. Travel restrictions are quickly disappearing in Europe, with new announcements coming by the day.
IATA data reveals recovery momentum. The organisation reported an 11 percentage point increase in international tickets sold in recent weeks compared with 2019 sales.
UK open for business. The country has eased international travel measures for COVID-19 and now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world.
The coach passenger is king. As the pandemic wanes, major carriers that traditionally make most of their money off premium business travel have shifted their attention to wooing vacationers.
What would Covid being endemic mean for travel?. Concern over restrictions, not the virus. If the coronavirus becomes endemic, it would be a permanent fixture of our lives, like the seasonal flu. But that would not necessarily mean it is no longer dangerous.
As the pandemic morphs into an endemic, what does it mean for travel? Proof of vaccination or additional symptom questionnaires could become the norm.
Ryanair warns of ‘uncertain outlook’ if Covid disruption returns. Airline forecasts a strong recovery, but cautions that it will be subject to Covid variants.
US airfares surging for spring and summer travel. Airfares could reach pre-pandemic levels by April as eager travelers clash with airlines struggling to fly schedules.
IATA: International travel recovering in late 2021. The airline organization expects international travel to recover towards the end of 2021 with the exception of Asia Pacific.
Europe’s air traffic on track to recover to 70%-90% of 2019 levels. Eurocontrol’s most-recent forecast sees a recovery to 2019 levels of traffic by 2023.
easyJet losses halve, outlook more positive. Airline sees a strong summer ahead, with pent up demand that will see easyJet returning to near 2019 levels of capacity.
EU shifts to travel system centered on vaccination status. Travelers with a valid digital Covid certificate shouldn’t be subject to additional restrictions. The European Union is aiming to make travel within the bloc easier by adopting a new system of Covid-related travel rules based more on a person’s vaccination status than on where they are coming from.
Britain open for business. Coronavirus testing for double-vaccinated travelers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from 4am on 11 February.
European airports warn of 'disappointing' first quarter. The impact of Omicron is still very much on airlines, pulling out flights and capacity in response to weakened demand.
United: Bookings continue to be strong for March and beyond. But business traffic is "down substantially," even though it had improved "quite a bit" in the fourth quarter last year.
5G deployment met with strong pushback from airlines. 10 US airlines warning of massive flight disruptions. AT&T and Verizon’s 5G rollout is becoming more contentious, with airlines warning of “catastrophic disruptions” just as the industry is recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
Europe’s aviation recovery ‘will not unwind’ in 2022. Omicron is pushing many of Europe’s airlines to cut capacity by up to 30% in January, Eurocontrol reports.
IATA: Global air traffic recovery was slowing before Omicron. Asia-Pacific airlines remained the worst affected in November with international traffic only just over 10% of 2019’s level.
Omicron turbulence looms over U.S. airline earnings. The latest wave of the health crisis has caused havoc for a short-staffed industry.
Airlines flying blind on what’s driving passenger behaviour. Stress of the pandemic era may advance a long-delayed evolution in the way carriers make money.
AirAsia expects international travel to bounce back strongly. China continues to be a “big question” in terms of reopening. International travel is likely to recover soon despite the progress being slowed by the omicron variant, and will get back to pre-Covid levels around six months after borders begin to reopen.
How flying will change in 2022: One of the key challenge both airlines and passengers will face in 2022 is managing vaccination certification.
Why European airlines are flying empty planes. With an Omicron-fueled drop in demand, planes continue to fly even without passengers so that airlines won’t lose their airport slots.
AirAsia on a mission to build a regional super app. The budget airline follows in the footsteps of titans like WeChat and could blaze a path for airlines not endemic to the mobile space.
European travel shares jump as Omicron disruption fears fade. Stronger-than-expected recovery for corporate travel. Investors are betting that the Omicron coronavirus variant will cause less disruption to travel than first feared, delaying the return to significant international travel by about two months.
Europe’s airlines expected to cancel thousands of flights in January and February. Cancellations concern a travel downturn more than staff sickness.