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 This page is no longer updated but remains a source for looking back on the events our industry weathered during our toughest times.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
North America 10 Sep 2020 United United Airlines Reaches Deal To Avoid Pilot Furloughs
North America 26 Aug 2020 Government Despite restrictions, airlines maintain international U.S. flights
North America 11 Sep 2020 Government Should US Airlines Receive Additional Government Support?
North America 15 Sep 2020 Delta Delta to Avoid Involuntary Furloughs for Flight Attendants, Ground Crews
North America 15 Sep 2020 Alaska Airways Alaska Airlines “Buy One Get One” Row Promotion Returns
North America 20 Sep 2020 United United Airlines, unions call for 6-month extension of federal aid, restart of stimulus negotiations
North America 22 Sep 2020 Delta Delta delays pilot furloughs to Nov. 1
North America 03 Oct 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Airport COVID-19 Testing Trial Shows Promising Results
North America 04 Oct 2020 Delta Delta Will Continue To Block First Class Seats Through January
North America 02 Oct 2020 United United Focuses on Resuming Latin America, Caribbean Routes in November
North America 06 Oct 2020 American Airlines American Airlines cutting nearly half its November schedule
North America 13 Oct 2020 Southwest Southwest Airlines Looks Beyond the Downturn to a Corporate Travel Recovery
North America 21 Oct 2020 Westjet WestJet to Refund All Passengers on Flights Canceled Due to Covid-19
North America 26 Oct 2020 American Airlines American Airlines’ CEO Thinks It Needs Only 6 Months Of Government Support
North America 23 Oct 2020 Volaris Volaris Lost $97 Million In 3Q
North America 09 Nov 2020 TripActions Trip.com partners with global airlines to maximize customer benefits and propel travel recovery
North America 23 Nov 2020 United United Airlines offers free rapid virus tests for select international flights
North America 07 Dec 2020 United United States Airlines Still Burning Cash Amid Choppy Demand
North America 16 Mar 2020 Air Canada Drew down its US$600 million revolving credit facility
North America 18 Mar 2020 Delta Delta in talks with banks for loans
North America 31 Mar 2020 Air Canada Will reduce capacity for the Second Quarter of 2020 by 85%-90%
North America 03 Apr 2020 Air Canada Air Canada nixes April London-Toronto flights as traffic tumbles
North America 17 Apr 2020 Air Canada AC Rouge suspends Zagreb service for 2020
North America 25 Apr 2020 Spirit Spirit Airlines running triangle routes to meet CARES Act requirements
North America 28 Apr 2020 Southwest Southwest says it could take more than 5 years for business travel to get back to normal, as the airline reports its first loss since 2011 because of the coronavirus
North America 04 May 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Announces New Safety Measures While Bracing for Long Recovery
North America 04 May 2020 Southwest Southwest alters boarding procedure for social distancing
North America 15 May 2020 United United Airlines Wants Back Into China But Regulatory Hurdles Remain
North America 19 May 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Details New Sanitization Protocols
North America 24 May 2020 American Airlines Why Chatter About An American Airlines Bankruptcy Is Nonsense
North America 28 May 2020 American Airlines American Airlines CEO: ‘We are definitely seeing more demand’
North America 31 May 2020 JetBlue JetBlue CEO discusses COVID-19's impact on airlines
North America 08 Jun 2020 Alaska Airways Alaska Airlines Owes Nearly $600 Million in Credits to Travelers That Could Hurt a Recovery
North America 16 Jun 2020 Southwest Southwest extends limited seating on flights through September
North America 24 Jun 2020 American Airlines Government Urged To Buy American Airlines’ Middle Seats
North America 30 Jun 2020 Government CDC director says airlines shouldn’t allow full planes
North America 09 Jul 2020 JetBlue JetBlue To Launch 7 New Los Angeles Routes On October 7th
North America 22 Jul 2020 United United CEO: We won't be 'anywhere close to normal' until there's vaccine
North America 27 Jul 2020 United United tells two regional airlines it will continue contract with just one: union letter
North America 01 Aug 2020 United United To Cut Ties With World’s Largest E145 Operator Expressjet
North America 11 Aug 2020 American Airlines American Airlines extends window for employees to seek voluntary exit
North America 25 Aug 2020 Government San Francisco Offers COVID-19 Testing To All Airport And Airline Employees
North America 28 Aug 2020 United United Airlines Unveils New Algorithm to Help It Target Empty Flights
North America 04 Sep 2020 Government US Airlines Begin Lobbying For US-UK Travel Corridor
North America 09 Sep 2020 United United Airlines Cuts Flight Capacity. It’s a Bad Sign for Fall Air Travel.
North America 13 Sep 2020 United United CEO says travel demand unlikely to recover until vaccine is widely distributed
North America 16 Sep 2020 Delta Delta Borrows $9 Billion in Largest Airline Debt Sale Ever
North America 18 Sep 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Introduces COVID-19 Cover Following WestJet
North America 16 Sep 2020 United United CEO: Business travel will come back — eventually
North America 22 Sep 2020 Delta Delta Air Lines updates loyalty benefits and policies