Lufthansa will allow passengers to use new digital COVID-19 vaccination certificates at check-in for their flights, the German airline said Thursday. Lufthansa said passengers would be able to show the digital proof of vaccination either on their phones or on a printout when checking in at the airport, and the boarding pass would then be issued. "This eliminates the need to juggle different papers and proofs. It also significantly reduces the risk of misuse of fake vaccination certificates," Lufthansa said. Germany started issuing QR codes for those who are fully vaccinated last week. Germans are booking holidays again at rates higher than in 2019 before the coronavirus hit, TUI Group, the world's biggest holiday group, said on Wednesday. Lufthansa said on selected routes it would also soon be possible to use the digital vaccination certificate to check in via smartphone using the airline's app. Passengers who want to check they have the right paperwork can also contact the Lufthansa service centre up to 72 hours before they fly, which can also deal with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, recovery from the virus and also vaccinations. Lufthansa said it still recommends that passengers carry their original printed vaccination certificates with them on their journey until further notice.<br/>
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United has announced it will revise appearance standards for customer-facing employees to be more “inclusive”, offering them “freedom of gender expression”. Customer service representatives and flight attendants will get the new “relaxed standards” look from 21 September, while pilots and ramp service employees will have their standards updated later down the line. The new guidelines aim to “reflect a more modernized look, with inclusive standards that better permit freedom of gender expression so that employees can feel their best at work.” Traditionally, airlines have enforced strict ‘grooming standards’, which often mean customer-facing staff cannot have tattoos or piercings on show. United is set to allow visible tattoos, individual hair and makeup styles, painted nails and nose piercings. “We’re confident that these modernised and more gender-inclusive appearance standards will provide a more authentic representation of the people and cultures that make United the company it is today,” said Kate Gebo, United Airlines’ Human Resources and Labor Relations EVP. Gebo and her colleagues have spent several years listening to the feedback from employees and Business Resource Groups on how to develop the newly revised standards. This will be the first time the airline has drastically adapted its customer-facing appearance guidelines in more than a decade.<br/>
Singapore Airlines Group’s passenger load factor reached 14% in May, and during the month carried 119,600 passengers versus 9,600 passengers in May 2020. “The SIA Group’s passenger traffic grew on the back of a calibrated increase in passenger capacity over the past 12 months, which saw SIA Group’s passenger capacity rise to around 27% of pre-Covid-19 levels by May 2021,” the company says in a monthly update of its operating results. Owing to low activity in May 2020, the latest report shows significant year-on-year increases. Across carriers, the group’s passenger capacity, as measured in available seat-kilometres, was almost eight times the year-ago period, and revenue passenger-kilometres nearly 13 times of May 2020 levels. Passenger load factor gained 5.7 percentage points to 14%. Full-service carriers SIA and SilkAir’s carried 101,700 passengers in May 2021 versus 9,000 in May 2020. The group states that operating statistics for both carriers were combined in view of the ongoing integration of SilkAir into Singapore Airlines. Collectively, SIA and SilkAir’s passenger capacity in May was eight times that of the year-ago period, and revenue passenger-kilometres was over 12 times. Passenger load factor gained 5.5 percentage points to 15%.<br/>
Strong domestic activity and cargo revenue have given Air New Zealand confidence to signal a full-year loss of no more than $450 million while also announcing a delivery date for the first of eight new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The airline said the operating environment remains challenging and uncertain in respect of timelines for international border reopenings, progress of global vaccination programmes and recovery levels for customer demand. But it has had positive Ebitda since September 2020 and has been operating cash flow-positive since Q2 2021 financial year, largely benefiting from the Government's air cargo support schemes, wage subsidies and other aviation relief packages. The company also said all permanent employees will receive an award of $1000 worth of company shares in recognition of their efforts. Around 8000 employees will be eligible for the share award, which will be made in the last quarter of this calendar year. This will be available to New Zealand and Australian employees, and as a cash equivalent for those in other global locations. Air New Zealand CE Greg Foran says this means it is more important than ever to ensure Air New Zealand staff are recognised for the work they've done - and will continue to do - as the airline recovers.<br/>