Please Note: International air travel and summer tourism has slowly began to restart across the world. Please keep up to date on international travel advice to countries (including any quarantine upon arrival/return) and remember to observe social distancing and wear a face covering whilst travelling. Enjoy Summer Safely
Coronavirus, believed to have started in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has now spread to a majority of countries around the world, deeply affecting the aviation and travel industries. Travel Radar delves into the effects this is having and precautions to take whilst travelling
FAQs and Myth-Busting...
Can I still travel?
Many countries are now beyond the initial peak of infection and have began reopening their borders to tourists – Particularly as summer looms upon us. Travel and Tourism is being encouraged to many countries, and warned against (unless exceptional) to some other countries. Visit your government’s website for the latest travel advice and see the countries you can travel to. Some countries are deemed as ‘high risk’ still, and will require you to quarantine upon return to your home country.
Page Updated: 25 July 2020
Are airlines still operating flights as normal?
Not at present. Many airlines are beginning to restart routes between key destinations and travel hotspots, where it is safe to do so, with safety measures in place onboard and at the airport. Please check airline’s website’s before travelling. Some flight cancellations may still occur throughout August.
Updated: 25 July 2020
What safety measures are in place?
Airlines are implementing safety conditions prior to resuming operations or operating daily flights. These vary from country to country and are embedded into law (are compulsory) in some countries such as Europe and the UK. Measures include Health Declarations, Temperature Checks, Questionaires, Social Distancing onboard aircraft and inside airport terminals, and wearing a face covering during the flight. Please check the conditions of travel and do not travel if you have symptoms.
Updated: 25 July 2020
What are the symptoms I should not travel with?
For the safety of yourself and fellow passengers, it is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that you do not travel if you display any of the following symptoms:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature to necessarily notice this: Airlines and Airports may take temperature checks however)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
This list is not exhaustive and additional symptoms may be specified by your airline/travel company. Check before travelling.
Updated: 25 July 2020
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Tensions Rise Amid Qantas Vs Perth Airport Row
It’s fair to say that COVID-19 has taken its toll on the Aviation industry. There is an ongoing dispute between Qantas and…
Aircraft Engine Maker ‘GE Aviation’ Plans to Cut 13000 Jobs
In line with what we had discussed earlier in ‘The Coronavirus Effect: Airbus and Boeing have much to lose!’, the COVID-19 pandemic…
Airline Profile; SriLankan Airlines
One of the most popular airlines in South Asia, it connects 113 destinations in 51 countries – SriLankan Airlines is the national…
Chinese Aviation Market is Recovering after lifting of COVID-19 Restrictions
Months after restrictions were lifted in Wuhan, optimistic signs are appearing for the domestic aviation market in China. Just last week when…
Flight Centre Buckles and Drops Cancellation Fees
Flight Centre are no longer charging each customer a $300 cancellation fee if travel was cancelled due to COVID-19, backdated to the…
Travel bubbles: Will you soon be able to fly between these destinations?
We’ve already seen that New Zealand and Australia are embroiled in talks to open up a “travel bubble” between the two countries.…
Virgin Atlantic Woes: Plans to Cut More Than 3000 Jobs!
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought aviation around the world – both, airports and airlines – to a standstill. Airlines are left to…
‘FlightPlan’: Bold Predictions and Seeds of Optimism
Travel Radar (TR) had the opportunity last week to speak with Dominic Walters, Vice President of Inmarsat Aviation shortly after the ‘FlightPlan’…
The Boeing Blunder: Orders Plunge for the 737 MAX
In a recent article, we had articulated the effect of the current aviation cataclysm on Airbus and Boeing, and things seem to…
Pakistan gets thumbs up for first-ever US Direct Flight
Last Thursday, a PIA spokesperson confirmed that the US Department of Transportation had granted it permission for direct flights to the US.…
Full body disinfection booth: Will you have to walk through this before your next flight?
It took a while for us all to get used to the full body scanners you often have to go through at…
Norwegian Steps Back from the Edge
Norwegian Air Shuttle has narrowly avoided immediate bankruptcy after an emergency meeting took place this morning. Airlines across Europe and the world…
Easy as one two three? Hong Kong’s three-step tourism recovery plan
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted travel and tourism across the entire planet. But, there’s no doubt some countries are harder hit than…
Which Airline Will Replace Virgin Australia?
Administrators for Virgin Australia are trying to look for someone to buy the airline with nearly $7 billion worth of debt attached…
How has Turkish Airlines dealt with COVID-19?
Turkish Airlines is an industry leader in commercial aviation boasting an unparalleled global reach to 315 destinations worldwide. However, the ongoing pandemic…
Help us! Philippine airlines’ government plea
There isn’t an airline in the world that isn’t feeling the impact of Covid-19 right now. While some are starting to see…
Covid 19 and the Zero Hour Contract Aircrew
The Dark Side of Aircrew Employment in Europe There is no doubt that the aviation industry is facing a crisis of gigantic…
Millions of Jobs at Risk as European Airline Losses Increase
The turn of events after COVID-19 spread has been unprecedented. The aviation industry in Europe is a workhorse supporting 12.2 million jobs…
Australia and New Zealand to Open Borders to Each Other
New Zealand’s deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, has shared that they might be considering creating a “trans-Tasman bubble” between Australia and New…
What are Virtual Tours and How to take one?
The world is on hold because of the pandemic. You are dying to break free from the confines of your home. For…
And Now, the Lufthansa Rescue
After the €9 billion minimum (>£7.9 billion) bailout for Air France/KLM, we reported on last week, it’s no surprise that the German…
Airlines in India Reopen Flight Bookings amid Lockdown
Airlines based in India have resumed domestic flight bookings as early as 16th May despite DGCA’s advice. The aviation regulator Directorate General…
Masks on a plane: Is wearing a face mask now compulsory on all flights?
We’re all used to flight attendants handing us earphones or a blanket when we board an aircraft. But, as of now, those…
The Coronavirus Effect: Indian Aviation Estimated to Lose Almost 3m Jobs!
Among all the impacted industries globally, aviation is in the forefront and probably the most affected in the current pandemic. As the…
‘Bleeding Cash’ Airbus to Furlough 3200 Employees
Production reduction Just a few months ago, Airbus was struggling to build aircraft fast enough. The Covid-19 crisis has had an enormous…
What Travel Will Look Like After COVID-19
Travel has been one of the biggest industries hit by COVID-19: Airlines are going into administration or going bankrupt, millions of workers…
Wizz and Astana Resume Limited Service
Wizz Air has announced that it will begin a very limited service out of its base at London-Luton this Friday, 1st May…
Norwegian Predicts Grounding Until 2021
Norwegian Air Shuttle has been fighting for survival for the last few years. Due to a huge debt fueled expansion it is…
The Coronavirus Effect: Airbus and Boeing Have Much to Lose!
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected airlines, thanks to the reduced passenger demand, but, as a result, it has significantly affected…
Thousands Being Exempted From Foreign Travel Bans
Large companies have been able to avoid the Australian foreign travel ban with thousands of exemptions being given out during the early…
Are Repatriation Flights a Nightmare for Pilots?
Abandoned airports, limited flight operations and dwindling cash reserves. A grim sight for commercial aviation. But despite all the doom and gloom,…
Customers Furious with Intrepid Travel: Refund Policy Changed and Backdated
Intrepid Travel, a major adventure travel company that offers more than 1,000 worldwide escorted tours, has changed and backdated their refund policy…
Airbus Begins “E-Delivery” of Aircraft to Customers
In a bid to tackle the spread of COVID-19, Airbus will start the “e-delivery” of aircraft to its customers. The company announced in…
From Singapore with Love: BA Flight Transports Medical Supplies to the UK
Another BA cargo-only flight has taken off from Asia, bound for the UK, with vital medical equipment on board for the state…
Airline Profile; Nolinor Aviation
Nolinor Aviation has been operating specialized charter flights across North America for almost three decades now. The Quebec-based carrier offers fly-in-fly-out, cargo,…
Air Mauritius Enters Administration
Another airline reached it’s demise today, with Air Mauritius placing itself in voluntary administration amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. Distributing the news via…
Could “bok choy prices” kick start China’s airline recovery?
China was the first to be affected by Covid-19, so it stands to reason that the Chinese tourism industry may be the…
Norwegian’s Scandinavian Staffing Subsidiaries Bankrupt
While just a month ago Norwegian Air Shuttle received loan guarantees of NOK6 billion (£445 million) from the Norwegian government, the struggling…
Virgin Australia in Administration
As the world reels from the crisis, COVID-19 claims its latest victim. Australia’s second-largest airline, Virgin Australia, has announced this morning that…
AirAsia Keeping All Employees Despite Total Lack of Revenue
AirAsia have announced that they have pledged to keep on all current employees, despite 96 percent of their fleet being grounded due…
Airline Profile; IndiGo – The Largest LCC in India
Almost every low-cost carrier (LCC) in India faced an early demise due to mismanagement. IndiGo which started operations in 2006 was the…
More MAX Cancellations
If like Boeing, you have a backlog of over 4 000 orders, to have 160 of them cancelled is a mixed blessing.…
Government Subsidy Covering Domestic Flights for Virgin Australia and Qantas
The Australian government is currently discussing the potential for subsidies for domestic flights with airlines, including Virgin Australia and Qantas. To subsidise…
Norwegian Staff Furloughed Amidst Coronavirus Crisis
The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves through the Aviation Industry, and one such airline affected is Norway’s flag carrier – Norwegian.…
Covid-19 and private jets
A group of wealthy wannabe holidaymakers defied the Covid-19 lockdown to take to the skies in a private jet – trying to…
Wizz Air Fires 20% Of Its Staff
The fact that many airlines are struggling because of the coronavirus crisis is obvious. Most companies are trying to ensure that their…
“No Tourist, No Money”: Bali Economy Collapsing
Bali has become well-known by Australians as a holiday hotspot, with up to 1.2 million Australians visiting the island per year. With…
Who you gonna call? Ghost Flights!
If most countries have closed their borders, airlines have grounded their fleet and everyone is in lockdown, why then are there still…
Rolls Royce scraps targets, makes ventilators
If you’ve flown in a commercial plane, chances are you will have flown in one powered by a Rolls Royce engine. The…
BA Pilot becomes Tesco Delivery Driver after being furloughed
With the effects of Coronavirus rippling across the industry, many pilots are facing the inevitability of being furloughed and out of work.…
CANCEL Your Easter Travel Plans: Massive Fines for Non-Essential Travel in Australia
The Easter long weekend in Australia has come, and with it you may be wondering if you can still follow your yearly…
The Coronavirus Effect: Lufthansa Shuts Germanwings, Bids Adieu to Quad-engine Jets!
Desperate times call for desperate measures. In the light of the ongoing pandemic, Lufthansa Group, one of the largest airline group in…
Grounded Fleets Still Cost a Fortune
At any given moment – in a pre-COVID-19 world – there could be around 10,000 planes in the sky. Right now, the…
The Coronavirus Effect: Thai Airways Suspends Operations Until May 31
As the pandemic continues to adversely affect the aviation industry, Thai International Airways has reported that it shall ground 69 of 82…
easyJet Founder threatens to sue airline executives
Today the row between easyJet Founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and the airline executives has worsened, with the founder threatening to sue the…
Flight Centre Announces Closure of 428 Stores
Following last month’s announcement that 100 stores were closing due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the popular travel agency Flight Centre have…
Singapore-Changi Closes T2 for 18 Months
Singapore’s Changi airport is bracing itself for a long COVID-19 recovery, with the announcement that its Terminal 2 is closing for 18…
Will Flybe Be Nationalised After Airline Collapse?
Flybe collapsed on the 5th of March after failing to secure a state loan from the UK government. Despite recent rumours that…
Can You start making Travel Plans and book Airline Tickets Now?
The world has seen unprecedented travel restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. Due to these restrictions travel plans and flight ticket…
Grounded! Being an Airline Pilot in the Covid-19 World
With an industry in chaos, how are pilots coping with life on the ground? Just three short months ago our industry looked…
The Coronavirus Effect: Virgin Atlantic in Turbulence!
To help alleviate a financial crunch presented by the ongoing coronavirus cataclysm, Virgin Atlantic(VA) is calling on the British government to provide…
Heathrow Reduces to a Single Runway
London’s main international airport will reduce its operations to a single runway as from Monday 6th April. The decision comes as no…
COVID-19 Pandemic – How is it affecting South America’s Aviation Industry?
COVID-19 crisis has been hitting aviation harder than any other previously known crisis. For the past seven weeks, cancelled flights, salary cuts,…
The RFDS: Here to Help a Mate When You Need Them the Most
The Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) has long been trusted by Australian communities for ongoing medical attention where there would have not…
Who is doing the ‘Rescue Flights’?
Despite a dramatic drop in global flight numbers, many airlines continue to operate both domestic and international flights. Most are repatriation/rescue flights…
The Coronavirus Effect: Asian Aviation in Dismay
Every aviation trade association continues to push their respective governments for bailouts to keep the aviation industry from sinking under the weight…
Commercial Aviation; Repercussions of the Virus
Deserted airports, grounded aircraft fleet and only a handful of passengers; truly these are unprecedented times. In the past month or so,…
Airline Profile; Aeroflot
Aeroflot – Russian Airlines is the national carrier and the largest airline in the Russian Federation. It is based out of Sheremetyevo…
The Coronavirus Effect – Emirates Secures Government Support
In addition to the uncertainties surrounding the current pandemic, its effects in the long run and the change it would bring to…
A Double Blow for Gatwick
Following on from the announcement of the North Terminal closure at London-Gatwick (LGW) airport, British Airways has decided to suspend all flights…
If the Issue With the Boeing Max 737 Is Just Software, Why Is It Taking so Long?
New preliminary findings have emerged, saying that Boeing is concealing the truth about the software malfunction that caused two fatal crashes. The…
Amidst the Cataclysm, Air Baltic Lends a Hand!
And yet again, Air Baltic is in the news for the right thing! After being one of the first airlines to introduce…
Loganair all set to receive financial support from UK government
Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles, today, has confirmed that the Scottish airline will be seeking financial aid from the UK government to help…
Is AirAsia in a Major Crisis after Grounding its Fleet?
On 26th March, the Malaysian airline became another carrier to fall prey to the prevailing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The airline issued its…
North Terminal Closure Imminent at London Gatwick?
London. One of the largest international airline hubs in the world and home to 6 mighty airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City…
Boeing Resists Government Support and Stake: Can it Sustain?
On March 17, 2020, the American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, asked the US federal government for financial help as airlines, hotels and other…
Virgin Australia COVID-19 CRISIS: 8,000 Employees and 90% of Domestic Flights Cut
Following the travel ban for all Australians, effective Wednesday, 25th of March, Virgin Australia has had to face a stark reality for…
Icelandair forced to lay off 240 employees amidst Corona outbreak
The Corona virus outbreak (COVID-19) has forced Icelandair to take major steps in order to cope with the decreasing demand for travel,…
St Helena: A COVID-19 free island, and staying that way
St Helena is another island that has become isolated due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and thus has been directly affected by…
No Blanket Help for UK Airlines
Rishi Sunak, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer (the Finance Minister) has said that there would be no blanket rescue package for…
Etihad Halts All Flights
While we reported earlier on the final decision by Emirates to suspend all but a handful of flights through Dubai, its compatriot…
Airbus partially resumes work in France & Spain
Four days ago, European manufacturer Airbus suspended production lines in France & Spain for four days whilst adequate health and safety safeguards…
Ecuador Ground-Staff block runway
With flights around the world being disrupted and even cancelled due to Coronavirus, disruption to the aviation and travel industries have been…
Closed/Not Closed: Emirates Backtracks?
The relationship between the state and commercial aviation is always a delicate one. We’ve reported that amid the coronavirus outbreak airlines across…
Roll on the 2020 Olympics – Flame lands in Japan
Despite worldwide lockdowns and social distancing due to coronavirus , Japan’s Government continues to maintain the stance that the XXXII Olympiad (2020…
Can American Airlines Weather the Storm?
According to Forbes magazine as at January this year, American Airlines (AA) was the second biggest in the world* second only to…
Survival of the Fittest; Commercial Aviation in Crisis
The impact of the spread of coronavirus has four levels of impact in relation to the airline business. We’ll try and make…
Scandinavian Airlines Stops Operations Due To “Non-Existent” Demand
As the worldwide Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic rages on, another carrier has suspended operations following a “non-existent” demand for flights. The airline released…
US Flight Ban Now Includes UK and Ireland
Before the Trump administration suspension of flights to the US from the Schengen Area of the European Union took effect today, it…
Jet2 Flights to Spain Cancelled and Turning Back Mid-Air
As the outbreak of coronavirus in Europe continues, Jet2 flights to Spain are being cancelled and some have turned around in mid-air.…
Kuwait Suspends Commercial Flights from Today, Friday
Kuwait will suspend all commercial flights from the Kuwait City International Airport from today, Friday 13th until further notice the state news…
Trump Suspends Travel from Europe to US
In only his second address to the nation on primetime television, Donald Trump has suspended travel from the Schengen group of countries…
Richard Branson Urges Faith in Airlines
At an award ceremony hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society in Washington DC on Monday 9th, Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin…
Virgin Atlantic Ghost Flights
Virgin Atlantic flying practically empty. Virgin Atlantic admits feeling forced to make some flights completely empty but why? Firstly under European law…
All Flights to Italy from UK Cancelled
As the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread, all flights from the UK to Italy by both British Airways and Jet2 have been…
Lufthansa Group plans up to 50% fewer flights
The coronavirus is the hub of every newspaper these days. Even in aviation one can’t get away from it. Many Asian airlines…
Flybe’s collapse confirmed following financial difficulties
Within the last five minutes we’ve confirmed reports that UK based regional carrier, Flybe (Due to become Virgin Connect airlines) has collapsed…
Coronavirus; Now Emirates…
On Monday we reported that Cathay Pacific has grounded half its fleet due to the continuing drop in demand from passengers fearing…
Coronavirus: Cathay Pacific Grounds Half its Fleet
As the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread the Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific has grounded 120 aircraft amounting to half its…
Global Aviation Expected to Lose $29.3bn; Blame the Coronavirus!
As we had reported earlier, the coronavirus has substantially affected businesses, especially the aviation industry. While Asian aviation industry is the one…
Aerial Evacuation; Biocontainment of Coronavirus
The spread of the coronavirus (now officially named ‘COVID-19’) has been in the global news after it was first identified in Wuhan,…
Airbus Shuts Down Completion Plant in Tianjin, China
The Coronavirus has indeed affected a huge part of Chinese economy. While health of global citizens is a primary concern, because of…
Cathay Pacific Asks Employees to Take Unpaid Leave
The Hong Kong flag-carrier Cathay Pacific has had a torrid time in the past few months. Firstly the mass anti-government protests and…
Coronavirus; What Effect on Airlines?
Many international airlines suspend flights Chinese airlines affected the most Financial impact depends mostly on numbers infected, not fatalities Short term-impact likely…
British Airways Suspends Flights to Mainland China
Amidst reports of the spread of the coronavirus both within China and around the world, British Airways has suspended flights to the…
