Coronavirus Impact on Air Travel

[Playamar2]

France and the UK have similar numbers in ICU, about 1,500. France has only tested 1.8 million against the UK 3.9 million. Both countries are some way behind Spain, Italy & Germany in ICU patients, all less than 900. With regard to 'air bridges' it seems the UK is in active talks with Portugal, as Greece doesn't want us just yet!!

[valefan16]

Originally Posted by Playamar2

France and the UK have similar numbers in ICU, about 1,500. France has only tested 1.8 million against the UK 3.9 million. Both countries are some way behind Spain, Italy & Germany in ICU patients, all less than 900. With regard to 'air bridges' it seems the UK is in active talks with Portugal, as Greece doesn't want us just yet!!

Saw something where Greece would let in higher risk nations on July 15 using a traffic light system.

if a green low risk country 2-3 pax are tested out of 150 say and amber half the pax up to red all the pax.

Not seen much expansion on that though! Cyprus now says they still expect their three key markets who are currently not on the list in U.K, Russia and Sweden to be allowed by July too.

[ATNotts]

Sadly nothing on the air bridges today, so it looks as though the ludicrous (because it is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted) 14 day quarantine is going to happen in June across the piece.

[SCFC1EP]

Emirates

Originally Posted by ATNotts

Sadly nothing on the air bridges today, so it looks as though the ludicrous (because it is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted) 14 day quarantine is going to happen in June across the piece.

At least more airlines are starting up again from 01/07/20 so I would expect this 14day quarantine only to last 3 weeks,
Emirates restart on 01/07/20 MAN daily, LHR 4 daily GLA daily all A380's that's a lot of seats , they then up frequency 2 weeks later by adding a 2nd MAN 5th LHR agian all A380's and on 01/08/20 add BHX and LGW both2 daily A380 with rest of UK ops returning 01/08/20

[mariofly12]

Originally Posted by inOban

Yesterday the UK declared over 2000 new cases, Spain and Italy 5-600, France less than 200. It what way are we not massively worse?

Unfortunately, the numbers today are far from encouraging for France or Spain..France has shot up to 3325 new cases but only 66 deaths and Spain 1137 new cases and just one death..Nordic countries, Eastern european, southeast Med (Italy apart), Austria and Balkans are faring much better on a steady basis..Even in Portugal, Madeira is one of the exceptional cases with few infections and no deaths at all...

[valefan16]

Originally Posted by SCFC1EP

At least more airlines are starting up again from 01/07/20 so I would expect this 14day quarantine only to last 3 weeks,
Emirates restart on 01/07/20 MAN daily, LHR 4 daily GLA daily all A380's that's a lot of seats , they then up frequency 2 weeks later by adding a 2nd MAN 5th LHR agian all A380's and on 01/08/20 add BHX and LGW both2 daily A380 with rest of UK ops returning 01/08/20

Even Mr Hancock seems to have eased his no holidays tone today when interviewed down to a we will see attitude.

Imagine after three weeks EU and safe countries such as the Middle East and Far East/Aus/NZ will probably be exempt and it will be just the Latin American nations that have to quarantine. Seems to be a few rumours that certainly some bridges will be up fairly quickly.

[SWBKCB]

From the BBC this morning - still some twists and turns ahead

• More than 200 schools across South Korea are forced to return to online teaching just days after being allowed back in classrooms
• On Thursday South Korea reported 79 new cases within 24 hours - its highest number in two months
• Japan has seen a new cluster of infections emerge in the south-west, just days after the PM lifted the state of emergency
• Brazil reported a daily record of 26,417 new coronavirus cases on Thursday
• Moscow more than doubled the official death toll from Covid-19 for the month of April

[ericlday]

Meanwhile Good News from Tenerife Wednesday 27th Nil new cases and Nil deaths.....

[inOban]

Croatia has opened its borders to visitors from eastern Europe including Germany, but you must show a negative Covid19 test. Obviously Italy France Spain Portugal and the UK are not included.

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by SCFC1EP

At least more airlines are starting up again from 01/07/20 so I would expect this 14day quarantine only to last 3 weeks,
Emirates restart on 01/07/20 MAN daily, LHR 4 daily GLA daily all A380's that's a lot of seats , they then up frequency 2 weeks later by adding a 2nd MAN 5th LHR agian all A380's and on 01/08/20 add BHX and LGW both2 daily A380 with rest of UK ops returning 01/08/20

That is my feeling too, the decision was a daft one on the face of it. However once it's in place globally the government will be in a position to lift it on a piecemeal basis where the risk is deemed to be low enough (or I fear where there is a political expedient - read into that what you will). On current infection rates the EU and EEA, perhaps with the exception of Sweden, most of the Far East, Australia and NZ, and parts of Norther America could be winners; South America, Russia and some other nations of the former Soviet Union such as Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan where the governments are in denial may remain under quarantine rules. So actually, although the quarantine rules put in at this stage looked perverse, it might actually have been calculated as a better way of doing things diplomatically than placing quarantine restriction only against specified nations at the outset.

[EchoKilla]

well said!

Originally Posted by OzzyOzBorn

So what I want to know before arranging any new overseas travel is:

- When can I insure myself against travel disruption relating to C-19? Purchasing this as an optional extra (like cruise cover, winter sports cover, etc.) would be fine, but travelling completely uninsured against C-19 risk is not.

- When can I be sure that either my destination country or the UK itself won't order me into quarantine for 14 days by default, even if in perfect health?

- When will the FCO rescind advice against all but essential travel to other countries?

- When can I be sure that my destination will offer a welcoming experience? Will there be any visitor attractions / restaurants / bars / pools / activities open? Excursions operating, anything to do?

- Will the locals at destination resent me as a pariah / leper importing the plague from a 'high-risk' country to kill off their grannies?

- Will I be required to dress up as an astronaut every time I venture out from my resort accommodation?

- Will I be obligated to sit so far apart from everyone that it will be impossible to meet new friends or hold a conversation without shouting? (Though everyone generally moves a safe distance away from me anyway!)

- Will I be denied boarding at the departure gate and despatched into lockdown if one of those handheld temperature measurement devices detects an element of perspiration on my forehead whilst negotiating a hot and sweaty airport environment with luggage?

- Given all these newly-introduced measures, how much extra time will I need to allow for interlining at an enroute hub airport?

I'm quite at ease with the flight element of the trip. But all the above remain concerns until proven otherwise.

[valefan16]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

From the BBC this morning - still some twists and turns ahead

There will be spikes and this Korea example will be a good case study in terms of the track and trace system we are looking to implement. Most of the cases are from one workplace so this is where the local lockdown comes into play and track and tracing which they are doing.

Hopefully that quickly stems it before it grows further (think it’s down again today) and it’s controlled. The world will be watching with interest.

[GAZMO]

BFS cutting workforce

A quarter of jobs at Belfast International Airport set to be cut - The Irish News

[inOban]

Even Denmark is opening only to Norway, and to a limited extent Germany and Iceland. And stay in rural areas. So no Med holidays.
Our infection rate is not falling nearly as quickly as predicted. It will need to fall another 90% before any sensible country should welcome us.

[SCFC1EP]

The biggest opportunity for the Airlines is that the Spanish Prime Minister confirmed that Spain will be open 01/07/2020 including the Brits, also Cyprus says open to Brits they will even refund your holiday if you get covid whilst there, so for bucket spade flights two out of 4 will be open for Brits come 01/07/20, I've been watching Easyjet/Ryanair prices over last few days for PMI/AGP and prices are going up although still plenty cheap flights for July/August

[inOban]

I said it needed to fall 90% before any sensible country would welcome us. I think what Spain etc are doing is very risky. And clearly Denmark agrees.

[Dannyboy39]

Well BoJo is now looking at scrapping the quarantine back into the U.K.

Im struggling to think of a more chaotic government in living memory.

[Playamar2]

Dannyboy39. I'm struggling to find any news report that says BoJo is looking at scrapping quarantine. I know many within the travel and hospitality industry together with some MPs are saying it must be scrapped. I have heard it may be scrapped after 3 weeks at the end of June. Pease provide a link to support your statement, thanks.

[Playamar2]

Just found this on the Daily Mirror. 'Last night, there were some hints from senior Government sources that Prime Minister Boris Johnson may get rid of the plans completely'.

[Hermite]

Interesting to see on this IATA website that the UK and Mexico seem to be the only countries with their doors wide open at the moment. It is almost as if we are trying to beat the world in numbers of deaths.

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm