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American Airlines is planning to drop flights to up to 30 smaller US cities if a federal requirement to continue those flights expires at the end of next month, an airline executive familiar with the matter said Thursday. American agreed to keep serving those smaller cities as a condition of receiving $5.8 billion in federal payroll help this spring. However, the money and the requirement to serve those destinations both expire Sept. 30 unless they are extended. The move by American could put more pressure on Congress and the White House to give passenger airlines another $25b for labour costs. Airline unions and the airlines, which are struggling with a steep downturn in revenue as the pandemic undercuts air travel, are lobbying Congress for the money. American is telling the federal government that if relief money is extended, it won't drop cities, but if the money is not extended, it will, said Brett Snyder, a travel agent who writes about the industry at CrankyFlier.com. “This isn’t an idle threat,” and it “is going to happen at all the network carriers,” Snyder said, referring to the biggest airlines. “Demand for air travel has not returned as anticipated,” said Katherine Estep, a spokeswoman for the group, Airlines for America. “Without additional federal aid, US airlines will be forced to make very difficult business decisions, which could include announced furloughs and reductions in service.”<br/>

American Airlines is banning certain types of masks from its flights following updated recommendations from the US CDC. The changes will affect any face masks featuring an exhaust valve or vents and will take effect from 19 August. The airline said: “The CDC notes that face coverings with one-way valves or vents allow exhaled air to be expelled through holes in the material. These can allow exhaled respiratory droplets to reach others and potentially spread the coronavirus (Covid-19).” To comply with the updated rules, passengers must wear “a well-secured cloth or mask that fits snugly against the face and covers an individual’s nose and mouth”. The face covering must also be “made of a material that prevents the discharge and release of respiratory droplets from a person’s nose or mouth”. Face coverings featuring exhaust valves, that are made with materials such as mesh or lace fabrics, or that do not cover the nose and mouth are currently banned from flights. Passengers wearing face shields must also wear a face covering that complies with American Airlines’ specifications.<br/>

A woman struck an American Airlines gate agent after she was denied boarding at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Wednesday for refusing to wear a mask, reports the Arizona Republic. The woman was a passenger on American Airlines flight 2027 from Los Angeles, which according to Flight Aware arrived in Phoenix just before 8 a.m. She was scheduled to connect to Las Vegas. After she refused to wear a mask on the first flight, crew members flagged her itinerary to be denied service in accordance with American's policy on mask wearing. "After arriving into Phoenix and being informed that they would not be able to take their connecting flight to Las Vegas, the individual became irate and struck an American team member in the terminal," said Curtis Blessing, a spokesperson for American Airlines. "Law enforcement was requested and since this is now a law enforcement matter, we would refer additional questions to the Phoenix Police Department." Blessing said the gate agent was not injured.<br/>

BA is currently exploring the possibility of introducing pre-flight coronavirus tests through a “third party” in an industry-leading move that could significantly boost passenger numbers. A spokesperson said: “We are currently discussing the possibility of helping our customers access pre-flight testing through third parties if their destination requires this, however no plans have been finalised. We will share more in due course. We are doing everything we can to make travel as safe and stress-free as possible for our customers in these unprecedented times.” At the moment, many destinations on the FCO’s quarantine exemption list require passengers to have a recent PCR Covid-19 test showing that they don’t have coronavirus. Without the proof, travellers will not be able to enter. The tests are only free on the NHS if you’re exhibiting signs of coronavirus. They are also available from private companies, but cost upwards of GBP100, which is deterring many travellers from going to destinations that require the test. BA’s pre-flight tests are likely to be made available via Boots the pharmacy according to aviation blog God Save the Points (GSTP).<br/>

Russia’s S7 Airlines is to branch into dedicated freighters with the introduction of two Boeing 737-800BCF cargo jets within the next five months. It intends to acquire the first in November this year and another in January 2021. “These will be the first aircraft in the S7 Airlines fleet fully focused on carriage of goods on medium-haul routes,” says the Russian operator. Its S7 Cargo division will have commercial responsibility for the freight transport. S7 Cargo chief Ilya Yaroslavtsev says the freighters’ introduction is an “important step” in its cargo transport business. He says the additional capacity will be deployed on routes with high freight demand but for which the holds of passenger aircraft do not offer sufficient cargo space. Yaroslavtsev adds that the new aircraft could increase the airline’s volume of cargo and mail transport by 30%. S7 Airlines is sourcing the freighters from US lessor GECAS, which has newly increased its commitment to the converted aircraft.<br/>

Times are clearly hard at Qantas Airways. Now the airline is trying to sell its in-flight biscuits and tea bags. With all overseas and most domestic flights halted during the pandemic, the Australian airline has thousands of premium-class pajamas, moisturizers and snacks sitting idle, it said Friday. For A$25 ($18) apiece, frustrated travellers stuck at home can buy as many as 10 packs of typical freebies that include 12 chocolate biscuits, a sleeper suit, and the kind of smoked almonds that only first-class passengers normally munch. The packs are available in Qantas’s online store. Selling on-board amenities was more about recovering costs than making money, a spokesman for the airline said Friday.<br/>