United is joining other major US carriers in no longer allowing emotional-support animals to fly for free. United said Friday that starting Monday, it will no longer let passengers book travel for companion animals. For people who book before the deadline, free travel for companions will end Feb. 28. After that, United said, only trained service dogs can fly in the cabin while not being in a carrier. Owners will have to submit a government-approved form attesting to the dog’s training, vaccines and disposition. Therapy animals trained to visit nursing homes and other settings don’t count as service dogs, United said. Owners may be able to transport other animals in the cargo hold or in carriers that fit under a seat in the cabin. Either way, the owner will pay a pet fee, which starts at $125 per flight.<br/>
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Major airlines said Friday they will suspend more domestic flights after Japan declared a fresh state of emergency over the coronavirus crisis for Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures to stem the spread of the virus. ANA will cut 2,698 flights between Jan. 15 and 31, bringing its operation rate for January to 66% compared to 79% in December, according to its parent ANA Holdings Inc. Japan Airlines will cut an additional 3,567 flights between Jan. 13 and 31, with its operation rate for this month falling to 60% from 78% last month. Under a monthlong state of emergency through Feb. 7 covering virus hot spots Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures, people are asked to avoid nonurgent outings, especially after 8 p.m. <br/>
SIA has restarted ferrying some passengers from the United Kingdom through Changi Airport in a tweaked format, after it received a limited exemption for a ban on short-term UK travellers. Unlike the usual arrangement where transit passengers would alight at Changi before boarding another plane for flights to the two exempted destination countries - Australia and New Zealand - SIA has adjusted its offering to have a "same-plane through service". This means that its planes from the UK's Heathrow Airport would stop for about 90 minutes in Singapore, where returning Singaporeans and permanent residents would disembark, before flying on to Sydney in Australia or Auckland in New Zealand, SIA said. All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history to the UK within the last 14 days have been banned from entering or transiting through Singapore from 11.59pm on Dec 23, following the emergence of a new coronavirus strain there. But SIA said late last week that it has received approval to fly passengers from the UK to Sydney or Auckland via Singapore, with several precautions in place. These include taking a polymerase chain reaction test within 72 hours prior to their flight to prove they are not infected, and undergoing a pre-departure health assessment to ensure they do not have a fever and are fit to fly.<br/>
Singapore Airlines is considering its first-ever offering of dollar bonds, as it tries to bolster cash amid the pandemic. The city-state’s flag carrier is holding a series of fixed-income investor calls in Asia and Europe from Monday for the potential debt sale, according to a person familiar with the matter. The pandemic has devastated the global travel industry, forcing airlines to suspend flights, lay off employees and seek financial help from governments and investors. While vaccines have provided a measure of guarded optimism, the outlook for any sustained rebound in travel demand remains uncertain amid rising Covid-19 outbreaks. Last year, Singapore Airlines carried 81% fewer passengers. It expects to only be operating at one-quarter of its capacity as of March versus before the pandemic, according to an exchange statement Monday.<br/>
Flight crew who need to stay overseas during layover flights will have to wear devices that track their location in order to ensure they comply with a rule requiring them to stay in their hotel rooms. They are not allowed to physically interact with one another during the layover period. These are part of several precautions in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection among SIA flight crew and passengers, said the carrier last week in response to queries. SIA said it is committed to ensuring all precautionary measures are constantly reviewed to safeguard everyone's well-being during the travel journey. "We remain guided by the authorities and will work closely with them to make adjustments, if necessary, in order to ensure the health and safety of our staff and customers during our flights," it said. It did not disclose how many crew and pilots are taking to the skies and the frequencies of their flights. But it said there are many precautions in place to minimise any risk of infection. On measures for pilots and cabin crew, SIA said they have to complete a health declaration form and take their temperature before starting work. They must not report for duty if they are unwell.<br/>