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Korean Air Lines opted to collateralize Wilshire Grand Centre in downtown LA to take out a loan instead of selling the hotel building as it tries to survive the hard times under virus pandemic. According to industry and investment banking sources on Tuesday, Korean Air tapped Standard Chartered Bank Korea to arrange new loans of around 350b won ($294m) to pay off its debts due in September backed by the 73-story skyscraper in LA. Korean Air confirmed it is reviewing such a refinancing plan but detailed terms are still in discussion. It was earlier said to consider sale of the hotel building in LA as part of its efforts to bolster liquidity. The Wilshire Grand Center is a landmark and icon of Los Angeles valued at 1.2t won. It is owned by Hanjin International Corporation, which is under Korean Air Lines.<br/>

Delta has banned more than “100 people” from flying for refusing to wear a mask, according to the airline’s CEO. Ed Bastian said that passengers who refused to comply with the carrier’s requirement that they wear face coverings at all times are being temporarily blacklisted. “If you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta,“ he said last month. Masks have been mandatory on Delta flights since 1 May. The only people who are exempt are those with a relevant medical condition, something that must be established prior to the flight, during a pre-boarding process involving a consultation with a medical profession that can take up to an hour. The airline warns passengers that ”any false claims of a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption from wearing a mask or face covering may result in the suspension of travel privileges on any Delta flight“. The airline has temporarily stopped selling middle seats to better enable social distancing on board its flights. As part of its stricter rules, Delta has also banned certain types of masks.<br/>