COVID-19 News Roundup

Tracking the impact of the pandemic on travel

COVID-19 News Roundup

When the pandemic was first declared in March 2020, ATPCO understood the value of keeping track of industry-related news in the quickly changing environment. We tracked aviation news and developments from the start of the pandemic through December 2020. This page is no longer updated but remains a source for looking back on the events our industry weathered during our toughest times. We are now looking forward to recovery and a post-recovery world.

   
Region Date Organization Summary
EMEA 18 May 2020 Government Spain aims to reopen borders in June, deaths down again
EMEA 19 May 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa expects hundreds of aircraft to be grounded until 2022
EMEA 25 May 2020 British Airways British Airways planning to rehire sacked staff on worse terms, union says
EMEA 28 May 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa balks at surrendering slots in exchange for aid
EMEA 27 May 2020 Government Theatres, cinemas, summer camps to reopen as Swiss relax virus curbs
EMEA 03 Jun 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa plans far-reaching restructuring to repay bailout
EMEA 29 May 2020 Government MPs call for action to save UK aviation industry
EMEA 15 Jun 2020 Qatar Airways Qatar Airways to lay off some pilots, cut wages
EMEA 20 Jun 2020 British Airways British Airways signals the end of its 747 fleet as it cancels training
EMEA 23 Jun 2020 Government U.N. report shows Europe leading tourism comeback
EMEA 26 Jun 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa soars after top shareholder backs bailout
EMEA 30 Jun 2020 Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Agrees On $900 Million Loan For LATAM
EMEA 07 Jul 2020 Finnair Finnair’s Passenger Traffic Doubles From May But Still Down 96%
EMEA 14 Jul 2020 KLM EU Approves $3.8 Billion Bailout Package to Dutch Airline KLM
EMEA 16 Jul 2020 El Al El Al Extends Flight Suspension Until September
EMEA 20 Jul 2020 Air France Air France Pilots in Draft Deal on Low-Cost Domestic Flights
EMEA 12 Aug 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa slashes costs by shelving deliveries for 2020-21
EMEA 03 Sep 2020 IATA IATA Urges European Commission To Extend Slot Waiver
EMEA 18 Sep 2020 Qatar Airways Qatar to build network into October
EMEA 22 Sep 2020 Lufthansa What To Expect From Lufthansa’s New Airline: Ocean
EMEA 22 Sep 2020 Industry Airline industry will never be the same again -former IAG CEO Walsh
EMEA 01 Oct 2020 British Airways British Airways increases October schedule
EMEA 07 Oct 2020 Government UK government launches global travel taskforce to look at cutting quarantine
EMEA 14 Oct 2020 Government Pandemic Delays Israel-UAE Direct Flights Until 2021
EMEA 16 Oct 2020 Emirates Emirates rejects the new norm, sees robust recovery
EMEA 23 Oct 2020 Emirates Emirates Rolls Out Fully Biometric Experience In Dubai
Global 17 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus cancellations have overwhelmed third-party travel booking sites
Global 23 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country
Global 25 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Nearly 80 airlines cut capacity by 100 percent over coronavirus
Global 27 Mar 2020 IATA IATA Sends Industry SOS To G20 Leaders
Global 09 Apr 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country
Global 15 Apr 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country
Global 22 Apr 2020 Industry Once Boiling, NDC Development And Deployments Now Simmer
Global 05 May 2020 IATA IATA opposes mandatory blocking of middle seats
Global 15 May 2020 Industry Airports Look to Tech to Ensure Social Distancing of Flyers
Global 15 Jun 2020 Industry Western Europe Leads Global Air Capacity Growth This Week
Global 14 Jul 2020 Industry Visits to travel sites decline again after reports of more infections
Global 28 Jul 2020 IATA IATA’s New Numbers are Grim, Grim, Grim
Global 13 Aug 2020 Google Google adds hotel and flight availability data and 'free cancellation' filter
Global 03 Sep 2020 Industry Aviation may not recover until 2024: trade group
Global 30 Sep 2020 Industry Why COVID Testing Will Be Needed Even With A Vaccine
Global 16 Nov 2020 Government Welcome to the Hot 25 Startups for 2021
Global 17 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus Travel Restrictions, Across the Globe:
Global 19 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Remarks of Alexandre de Juniac at the IATA Media Briefing on COVID-19
Global 25 Mar 2020 COVID-19 Data Experts and Aviation Journalists Create Coronavirus Flight Cancellation Tracker
Global 03 Apr 2020 IATA IATA: Passenger Demand Plunges on COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
Global 20 Apr 2020 Industry OAG: Global Weekly Air Capacity Drops Below 30 Million Seats
Global 27 Jul 2020 Industry OAG: Global Capacity Up But Likely to Plateau
Global 12 Aug 2020 Industry Only 7% Of The World’s Airbus A380s Are Currently Operational
Global 21 Sep 2020 Industry Airlines pivot from business travelers to infrequent flyers seeking sunshine