Colorado’s attorney general asked the US DoT on Tuesday to investigate complaints that Frontier Airlines failed to refund the cost of flights cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak and made it virtually impossible for people to use vouchers for other flights during the pandemic. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Attorney General Phil Weiser said his office had received more than 100 complaints from Colorado and 29 other states about the Denver-based low cost carrier since March, more than any other company. People said that Frontier refused to issue them a refund when flights were canceled because of the pandemic, which Weiser said violated department regulations that refunds are due even when cancellations are due to circumstances beyond airlines' control. Others who received vouchers for use on future flights after voluntarily canceling their travel plans were unable to redeem them. Some were rejected by the airline's website and were unable to extend the 90-day time limit for using them or were limited to using the vouchers on only one flight, he wrote. Still others who sought help through the airline's customer service line were put on hold for hours and were disconnected regularly, he said. Weiser said that the DoT was in the best position to investigate the complaints and said it should issue fines of up to $2,500 per violation when appropriate. Frontier said it has remained in full compliance with department rules and regulations regarding flight changes, cancellations and refunds.<br/>
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A passenger flying from Greece to Cyprus was fined for refusing to wear his mask properly during the flight, it emerged on Monday. The incident happened on Sunday on a Wizz Air flight from Athens to Larnaca. The passenger, a young male sitting in the rear of the aircraft, refused to wear his mask properly despite repeated appeals from flight attendants throughout the flight. The cabin crew notified the pilot of the incident and as soon as the plane landed in Larnaca, at 11.40pm, it was boarded by police officers. Passengers were not allowed off the aircraft until the officers checked the passenger’s papers and issued a fine for failure to wear a mask. Those with Covid-19 tests were allowed off the plane first, with some delay. They were followed by the rest, including the youth, who gave samples for testing. Passengers eventually left the airport at 1am. Only Cypriots and permanent residents can take the test upon arrival.<br/>
Virgin Atlantic is restoring flights to Atlanta, Lagos, Tel Aviv and the Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai this month as the restructuring airline rebuilds its network amid coronavirus. The services add to its existing network of US destinations – New York JFK, Los Angeles and Miami – as well as Barbados, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The carrier resumed passenger services on 20 July following the coronavirus grounding. Virgin Atlantic CCO Juha Jarvinen says: “We’re continually reviewing our network and as countries begin to open up their borders, we’re introducing more and more flying. We’re incredibly excited to resume services to Delhi, Tel Aviv, Atlanta, Mumbai and Lagos this September as well as increasing the frequency to other destinations. We’re now offering daily flights to New York JFK and Los Angeles and twice weekly flights to Shanghai.” Cirium schedules data shows Virgin was operating to 10 US destinations in September 2019. <br/>
Ryanair may cut more flights in the Republic if tough travel restrictions remain in place, one of the group’s top executives has warned. The news comes following reports that Aer Lingus is considering moving long-haul aircraft from Shannon to one of six UK regional airports to combat the restrictions. Eddie Wilson, CE of Ryanair DAC, the group’s biggest subsidiary, said on Tuesday that other “more progressive countries” were offering the carrier incentives to base aircraft at their airports for the winter. He warned that “capacity would go elsewhere” if the Government did not at least add key EU trading partners, such as Germany and the UK, to its green list of safe travel countries. Wilson noted that these states had lower Covid-19 infection rates than the Republic, but the Government continued to exclude them. This means that passengers from there must quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the Republic. Ryanair is cutting planned schedules in the Republic for September and October by 20% as the restrictions act as a drag on demand here.<br/>
Wizz Air expects to fly at roughly 60% of capacity in the three months to the end of September, down from earlier projected levels as renewed travel restrictions in Europe and Hungary hit passenger numbers. The airline’s shares fell almost 6% lower in morning trade. Wizz said that if restrictions across the network continue, rates were likely to remain at around 60% in the third quarter, down from the 80% it had earlier expected. “Further capacity reductions remain a possibility and as a result, Wizz Air may park parts of its fleet throughout the winter season to protect its cash balance,” the company said. The airline, which has expanded from eastern into western Europe in recent years and been one of the fastest to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, in August was flying at 80% of last year’s capacity. It had said last month that 80% of capacity was as high as it could go under current circumstances, and that capacity might fall again. The carrier said on Tuesday it was still confident it would emerge as a “structural winner” from the crisis, adding that its ultra-low cost business model is a significant competitive advantage in the current uncertain environment for airlines.<br/>
AirAsia Group Bhd said on Tuesday it would begin charging customers a fee to check in at airport counters, in part to encourage them to minimise physical contact with staff during the coronavirus pandemic. Travellers who do not check in via the airline's website, mobile app or airport kiosk will be charged 20 Malaysian ringgit for domestic flights and 30 Malaysian ringgit for international flights, though some exceptions will apply. AirAsia Group Chief Operations Officer Javed Malik said the fees would help motivate travellers to make use of the airline's investment in digital technology. "In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, these self-check-in facilities have become very crucial in minimising physical contact between our guests and staff," he said.<br/>