general

Airports this Memorial Day weekend are likely to be far emptier than usual, but people who plan to travel can expect to encounter lots of changes and new inconveniences. Take security. As travellers wait in line to be screened, they can expect to see signs and other markings reminding them to maintain their distance from one another, the TSA said Thursday. The agents checking identification and boarding passes will be wearings masks, gloves and, in some cases, eye protection. Passengers will also be asked to scan their own boarding passes to limit contagion, the agency said. And because food often triggers alarms, travellers will have to place meals they bring with them in a separate bin so agents don’t have to handle them. “In the interest of TSA frontline workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible,” said David Pekoske, the agency’s administrator. Most of the agency’s other rules will remain in place, but one will be relaxed: Passengers can now bring up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer, up from the standard three ounces. Airlines have been adopting many changes, too. Story has more details.<br/>

Some passengers will arrive at the airport and find their flight is too full to allow for the neighboring seat to remain empty, according to data from a US airline industry group. The group maintains, however, that the vast majority of flights continue to allow for many open seats, even as the average number of passengers on each plane is growing. According to the group Airlines for America, 8.5% of flights are more than 70% full. That means about 482 daily flights are above the 70% mark. The group says US carriers are currently conducting about 5,670 passenger flights daily -- even after slashing thousands of flights from their schedules. The 70% mark is significant because on a narrow body aircraft where most seats are in groups of 3, social distancing typically means using only two thirds of seats, or 67%. When factoring in other types of aircraft and different seating arrangements, the IATA says social distancing would mean using a maximum of 62% of seats fleet-wide. There is no federal standard requiring airlines to leave empty seats and allow customers to socially distance, and the DoT recently instructed airlines that "if the passenger wishes to change or cancel due to concerns related to the Covid-19 public health emergency," the customer is not entitled to a refund or voucher.<br/>

JetBlue and Delta Thursday pushed back against accusations from a group of Democratic senators who called out the air carriers for cutting wages by cutting hours, which the senators contend is a violation of terms laid out in coronavirus rescue funding. More than a dozen Senate Democrats — including former presidential contenders Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders — released letters on Wednesday to JetBlue and Delta, accusing them of illegally cutting employee compensation via forced reduction in hours. “The CARES Act is clear that, as a condition of receiving this assistance, your company must refrain from conducting involuntary furloughs or reducing pay rates and benefits until September 30, 2020,” the senators wrote to JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes and to Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “Your decision to cut employee hours is inconsistent with congressional intent and is a blatant and potentially illegal effort to skirt your requirements to keep workers on payroll, and you should reverse this policy immediately,” the letter added. However, in a statement JetBlue said its use of the funds is consistent with the intent of the law. “Given that our flights in many cities are completely suspended and are significantly reduced in others, there are quite literally no hours for our crew members to work in many cases,” the company said. According to JetBlue, demand for air travel had contracted to 10-15% of its full schedule, and the payroll support funds it is allocated under the Act covers approximately 76% of its employee costs. Delta partly echoed JetBlue’s disagreement with the senators contentions. In a statement the airline said, “Delta’s work hour reductions, which comply with the CARES Act, ultimately protect jobs.”<br/>

PrM Justin Trudeau said the government will look into the issue of airlines providing travel vouchers instead of refunds for cancelled flights, as thousands of Canadians sign petitions calling for a ban to the practice. Trudeau said Thursday that the government is “working with all concerned parties to try to find a solution,” adding that it was an important issue for Canadians. “(We recognize how) impacted air travel and airlines are by this COVID-19 pandemic. We also recognize that many Canadians are out of pocket for tickets that they are obviously not going to be using,” Trudeau said. “I think we need to have some very careful discussions with airlines, the air travel sector and indeed with Canadians who are concerned to try to figure out a way forward where we can ensure that Canadians are treated fairly and our airline industry remains there for when our economy picks up again.” Thousands of Canadians have signed several petitions circulating online calling on airlines to provide refunds instead of travel vouchers.<br/>

Ticket pricing restrictions, protective suits and goggles for flight attendants and no food served on board planes are among the rules proposed by India’s civil aviation ministry on Thursday as it prepares to resume domestic flying within days. After a two-month coronavirus shutdown, India’s airlines will be allowed to resume flights with about a third of operations from Monday, but on domestic routes only and with rules that are among the strictest in the world. The regulations, in effect until Aug. 24, include full body protective gear for airline crew, temperature checks, face masks and shields for all passengers and a minimum and maximum fare band for airlines, the ministry said. “The rules are stringent but may be necessary as there is continuous escalation in infections. However, the fare cap is a bad and an unfortunate decision which will hurt airlines,” said Kapil Kaul, India head at aviation consultancy CAPA. India’s Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the decision to regulate fares based on the flight’s duration was to prevent ticket prices from spiking as there is pent-up demand. For instance, for a two-hour flight between the cities of Mumbai and Delhi airlines will be allowed to charge a minimum fare of 3,500 rupees ($46) and a maximum of 10,000 rupees ($132), while ensuring that 40% of the tickets sold are priced below the median value.<br/>

Air travellers will have to wear face masks throughout all stages of their journey, they could be assessed in interview booths if they show signs of covid-19, and will need to say goodbye to loved ones outside the airport, according to guidelines issued by the EU’s air safety body. Instructions issued to airports and airlines also include: restrictions on hand luggage, reserving an on-board toilet for cabin crew and no onboard duty free or food trolleys. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published 28-pages of guidelines that will radically alter the experience of flying, including physical distancing measures that Heathrow’s CE has previously said would be impossible to implement. The UK has had no role in shaping EASA policy since the official Brexit date of 31 January but remains a member until the end of the year. Airlines and airports are likely to adopt many of the guidelines, which cover every stage of the air travel process. Those travelling are expected to take precautions such as washing hands and wearing masks, with exceptions for children under six and people with a medical reason not to. Regular reminders will be broadcast through the public address system, alongside the usual security messages and flight information. EASA also recommends “respiratory etiquette”, such as covering the face when sneezing. Those who do not comply could be ejected from the airport and suffer further penalties from local authorities. Story has more details<br/>

LOT Aircraft Maintenance Services has reiterated its commitment to building an extensive greenfield facility at Rzeszow in Poland, but will implement “optimisation processes” and seek savings to deal with fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the MRO provider – a sister company of Polish state carrier LOT – disclosed a plan to establish a base maintenance complex with three hangars for narrow- and widebody aircraft at Rzeszow airport, with a target of servicing LOT and third-party aircraft from 2022. Noting that the project was launched amid predictions of dynamic aviation growth and “huge demand for MRO services”, LOTAMS acknowledges that “the current situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic changes these forecasts”, and expects to “feel negative effects in the near future”. The MRO provider’s president Aleksandra Juda foresees an economic slowdown, with the pandemic “possibly leading to recession for a short period”. But she argues that investment projects like the Rzeszow facility should have “priority” because they stimulate economic activity. LOTAMS says “it will be necessary to introduce optimisation processes and savings” to respond to the slowdown, but adds that the expansion represents an opportunity to “maintain staff and service capabilities”.<br/>

Scottish airports have described EasyJet's plans to restart some scheduled flights next month as "welcome news". The airline has announced its intention to resume some UK and a small number of international routes from 15 June. The move would see scheduled flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness airports. Edinburgh Airport said it was "encouraging to see some signs of recovery in the aviation industry". Flights have been restricted since the end of March due to lockdown measures. Inverness, which is operated by Scottish government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial), has only been open to essential flights, such as NHS passenger transfers and emergencies. EasyJet said it would initially start flights on domestic routes and a "minimal number" of international routes. Edinburgh Airport said the aviation industry played an important economic role. A spokesman said: "It's important that this fragile growth is supported by government being as clear as possible, as quickly as possible on potential quarantine, exemptions and 'air bridges.' We stand ready to facilitate travel when required and are regularly speaking with our airlines partners about their plans, and anyone who is travelling must ensure they are following travel guidance."<br/>

Changi airport will gradually allow transit passengers from 2 June, after Singapore banned all short-term visitors from entering or transiting, effective 23 March 23:59. “This is part of Singapore’s strategy to gradually reopen air transport to meet the needs of our economy and our people, whilst ensuring sufficient safeguards for safe travel,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said Wednesday. CAAS says airlines must submit proposals for transfer lanes, which the regulator will evaluate based on aviation safety, public health considerations, as well as the health of passengers and air crew. Stringent measures will be in place to separate transit passengers from other passengers at Changi, and they are to remain in designated facilities in the transit areas. Airport staff will be required to wear personal protective equipment when interacting with passengers. Existing precautionary measures, such as social distancing and temperature checks for passengers and staff, will remain in place.<br/>

Cambodia has removed its ban on visitors from France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Spain and the United States, which was first imposed in mid-March amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The Agence Kampuchea Presse news agency reported Wednesday that visitors from these countries are now allowed to enter the country, but with conditions. The AKP report adds that all passengers entering Cambodia will be required to have a health certificate, which certifies that the passenger has been tested negative for Covid-19. A health risk assessment will also be made to anyone entering the country. In addition, foreign nationals must provide proof of insurance coverage during their intended stay in Cambodia with a minimum medical coverage of not less than $50,000. Cirium schedules data show that in May 2020, just over 26,000 seats are being offered by 15 carriers on flights departing out of Cambodia for the month. This is a far cry from the 648,700 seats that were offered by 44 carriers in May 2019.<br/>