{"id":9839,"date":"2021-02-02T18:06:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T18:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/?p=9839"},"modified":"2021-06-16T10:19:53","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T09:19:53","slug":"travel-industry-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/en-au\/blog\/travel-industry-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Industry Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Header: airline updates” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ background_enable_image=”off” background_position=”top_center” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Travel Industry Updates” subhead=”the latest developments to help build traveller confidence” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” scroll_down_icon=”%%2%%” scroll_down_icon_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”airline updates” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ title_line_height=”1.7em” subhead_font_size=”30px” subhead_line_height=”1.3em” background_color=”#414042″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Business-Travel-Luggage.jpg” background_blend=”overlay” z_index_tablet=”500″ button_one_text__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”content” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ custom_padding=”75px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_color_all=”rgba(255,186,96,0.6)” border_width_right=”8vw” border_color_right=”#5b8cb1″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.8.1″]<\/p>\n

From Emirates becoming the first airline to trial IATA Travel Pass to the UK introducing ‘Hotel Quarantine’; we cover the latest travel industry updates which look to build traveller confidence while\u00a0restricting the spread of the Coronavirus.<\/b><\/p>\n

Scroll down to check out these and other developments…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

> LAST UPDATED<\/strong>: 3rd February 2020<\/p>\n

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Emirates becomes one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Emirates has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass. Travel Pass is a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.<\/span><\/p>\n

IATA Travel Pass enables Emirates passengers to create a \u2018digital passport\u2019 to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination. They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel. The new app will also enable travellers to manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.<\/p>\n

Prior to a full roll out, Emirates will implement phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of COVID-19 PCR tests before departure. In this initial phase, expected to begin in April, Emirates customers travelling from Dubai will be able to share their COVID-19 test status directly with the airline even before reaching the airport through the app, which will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.<\/p>\n

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British Airways becomes the first UK airline to trial the use of mobile travel health passport VeriFLY.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

British Airways have announced that they have begun trialling a new travel health app, VeriFLY, with travellers who are eligible to travel between London and the US from 04 February. British Airways will be the first UK airline to use VeriFLY and it is designed to offer peace of mind before travel.<\/p>\n

The App checks travellers meet the entry requirements of their destination by providing digital health document verification and confirming eligibility. It follows the announcement that British Airway’s AJB partner, American Airlines, recently made regarding VeriFLY. American Airlines now allow all travellers travelling to the US from international destinations to use the app.<\/p>\n

The Use of the VeriFLY app will be optional and travellers will also continue to be able to evidence they meet the US entry requirements at check-in. VeriFLY can be downloaded to a travellers mobile device with ease from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.<\/p>\n

Countries currently on the list include: Aruba, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, Grenada, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Mauritius, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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UK travellers may face hotel quarantine upon arrival<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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During much of the Coronavirus pandemic the UK has had very few travel restrictions but this could be about to change. Since the 18th January 2020 the UK government has requested that all arrivals show that a negative test for Coronavirus has been taken within three days of departure or longer if an en route stop is involved.<\/span>
<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Government is now set to impose mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from from certain ‘high risk’ countries. The rule will apply to areas associated with new coronavirus variants with these nations including South America, Portugal and many countries in Southern Africa.<\/p>\n

There are currently 33 countries on the government\u2019s ‘red list’<\/a>, with the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda are the latest to be added.<\/p>\n

Plans have been announced to make anyone travelling to England from a red-list country quarantine in a hotel. Arrivals will be met at the airport or point of entry and taken to the hotel so that self-isolation can be enforced “without exception”. The government will set out further details of the policy next week. Hotel-style quarantine already forms part of the entry requirement in several other countries, including Australia.<\/p>\n

British and Irish nationals, long-term visa holders and residents can enter from these countries, but they must quarantine for 10 days.<\/p>\n

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United Airlines consider mandatory vaccinations for 80,000-strong workforce<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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United Airlines have recently announced that the airline will be considering mandatory vaccination of its entire workforce.<\/p>\n

United CEO, Scott Kirby, has spoken about the decision, saying that the airline may make vaccines a requirement for its almost 88,000 employees.\u00a0In a recent statement to employees (delivered virtually), Kirby said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI know the vaccines are safe. I know that it\u2019s the way to ensure the safety of our employees, ensure the safety of our customers, as we fly around the world. So, if others go along and are willing to start to mandate vaccines, you should probably expect United to be amongst the first wave of companies that do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The announcement by United came shortly after Singapore Airlines announced its goal to become the world\u2019s first airline to have a fully vaccinated workforce (on a fully voluntary basis).\u00a0A United spokesperson did clarify that the vaccination was not yet mandatory and there was no policy in place to make them so. They added that there are \u2018logistical challenges that we need to work through before we can make it mandatory\u2019.<\/p>\n

Other travel industry bodies and airline CEO\u2019s have also discussed similar policies. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce famously declared that vaccinations will be required for passengers to be allowed to board any Qantas flights. The announcement had significant implications, as Qantas are Australia\u2019s national carrier, but the Australian government has yet to officially support a mandatory vaccination policy.<\/p>\n

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JetBlue airline launches transatlantic flights with private suites at ‘economy prices’<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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American Airline, JetBlue, are launching flights to London in their Mint Suite\u2122 at what they call ‘economy prices’. The private suites will be on the first transatlantic flights for the affordable airline, which will connect the US and the UK.<\/p>\n

Although the prices for the suites are yet to be revealed JetBlue’s ambitious plans have come during a pandemic and are already without their fair share of controversy. It has been revealed that the airline struggled to get slots at Heathrow despite most airlines not currently using theirs. Although JetBlue have announced that they have successfully secured 14 weekly slots at Gatwick and 28 weekly slots at Stansted.<\/p>\n

The aircraft will feature 24 individual Mint Suite\u2122 with each of them offering direct aisle access, a sliding door for privacy, a fully lie-flat seat built with Tuft & Needle’s T&N Adaptive\u00ae Foam cushions, a memory foam pillow and a customisable blanket. The suites also feature a large 17\u201d TV, plenty of in-suite power and wireless charging, and customisable lighting with dedicated storage for shoes, a laptop and more, stowing and organizing your stuff is in the bag.<\/p>\n

JetBlue also claim that the spacious front-row Mint Studio features all the bells and whistles of their new Mint Suite\u2122, plus the largest bed and TV (22″) on a U.S. airline, a mirrored vanity, even more storage, and a guest seat and table to work, lounge and entertain.<\/p>\n

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