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Testing BEFORE Travelling to Ireland to be Proposed to Committee


DAA are set to propose that anyone travelling from non- free list countries should be tested BEFORE they travel. The proposal is set to be brought before the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee.


DAA will propose that passengers planning to travel to Ireland from non-green list countries should be required to take a coronavirus test within 72 hours before travelling and submit proof of a negative result before departing.


Major London Tourist Attractions Reopen


MADAME Tussauds London, Sea Life London Aquarium and The London Dungeon have now reopened their doors after being forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Anyone looking to enjoy a day out at these London hotspots will have to pre-book tickets and a visiting time slot online. Cashless payments are also requested. Social distancing is in place and staff have had rigorous training in the new safety measures. All guests and team members will have their temperature checked before they are allowed to enter the attractions which now have hygiene stations and hand sanitiser at key locations.


Anyone who is aged over 11 years old will be “required” to bring and wear their own suitable face covering for the London Eye, The London Dungeon, Shrek’s Adventure! London, Madame Tussauds London and SEA LIFE London Aquarium.


Ryanair Threatens Legal Action to Force Expansion of Air Bridge List


LOW-cost carrier Ryanair has threatened to take legal action against the Irish Government if the list of of countries to which Irish travellers can visit without quarantine on return isn’t expanded.


When contacted for comment, Ryanair said the following: “We don’t comment on pending legal matters.”


Qatar Airways Seeks £3.9 Billion Arbitration


DOHA-BASED Qatar Airways has confirmed that it is seeking £3.9 Billion in arbitration from four Arab countries for blocking its flights from their airspace and their markets.


Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched a boycott of Qatar in 2017. In a statement, the airline said: “The decision by the blockading states to prevent Qatar Airways from operating in their countries and flying over their airspace is a clear breach of civil aviation conventions and several binding agreements they are signatories to. “The blockading states must be held accountable for their illegal actions in the aviation sector, which includes a failure to comply with their obligations under bilateral agreements, multilateral agreements and international law.”


The four Arab nations cut ties with Qatar in 2017 in


a political dispute. Efforts to end the crisis have so far failed to resolve it.


United Airlines to Maximise Ventilation System During Boarding and Deplaning


UNITED Airlines today announced that the carrier will now maximise air flow volume for all mainline aircraft high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems during the entire boarding and deplaning process, helping further reduce the spread of COVID-19. In combination with the HEPA filters, the air conditioning and pressurisation system onboard United’s mainline aircraft recirculates the air every 2-3 minutes and removes 99.97% of particles – including viruses and bacteria during both ground and air operations – making the air onboard a plane significantly cleaner than what people typically experience in restaurants, grocery stores, schools or even some hospitals. United pilots and ground staff are working to implement this new procedure for mainline aircraft beginning July 27. “We know the environment on an aircraft is safe


and because the air flow is designed to minimise the transmission of disease, the earlier we maximise air flow over our HEPA filtration system, the better for our crew and our customers,” said Scott Kirby, United’s chief executive officer. “The quality of the air, combined with a strict mask policy and regularly disinfected surfaces, are the building blocks towards preventing the spread of COVID-19 on an airplane. We expect that air travel is not likely to get back to normal until we’re closer to a widely administered vaccine – so we’re in this for the long haul. And I am going to keep encouraging our team to explore and implement new ideas, new technologies, new policies and new procedures that better protect our customers and employees.”


August 2020 Travel News


HIDDEN DISABILITIES SUNFLOWER SCHEME LAUNCHED AT CITY OF DERRY AIRPORT


C


ITY of Derry Airport has introduced the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme as an aid to any passengers or visitors to the airport with a disability or impairment that is not visible. As the first NI airport to launch this customer service initiative, Sunflower lanyards are now readily available at key customer points to allow anyone who would like to provide a subtle but visible sign to staff and other passengers that they may require some extra time or assistance during their airport journey.


Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, expressed his delight: “It’s fantastic that we now offer this service at City of Derry Airport. The Hidden Disability Sunflower lanyard was first launched at London Gatwick Airport in 2016 and we are proud to be the first NI airport to introduce the scheme as it’s now starting to be recognised globally, having been adopted by many UK and international airports, as well as the NHS, and a number of supermarkets, railway stations, leisure facilities, and an increasing number of small and large businesses and organisations.” To date, the Sunflower team has supplied over one million lanyards both to businesses as well as directly to the general public. With this increased awareness, Sunflower Lanyard wearers benefit more widely from help being offered to make their daily living a little easier.


The dedication to customer service excellence


is evident at City of Derry Airport as Mr. Frazer added: “Our team have undertaken training to better understand the broad ranging spectrum of hidden disabilities and how we can provide assistance specific to each person’s individual needs.


“This new initiative is in addition to the provision of our pre-familiarisation visits, and our special passports and activity books developed for passengers with Autism, following our team receiving an Impact Award for training previously undertaken with Autism NI.” As regular Ryanair services from City of Derry


Airport to Edinburgh and Liverpool and Loganair services to London Stansted and Glasgow now back in operation, there are a number of new health and safety precautions in place at the airport to ensure a safe, friendly and convenient travel experience, and as always, staff are available at all times to assist passengers through the airport journey.


Passengers Face Random Covid-19 Checks


PASSENGERS arriving into Ireland from countries which is deemed to have a high Covid-19 risk will be required to undergo random testing.


The Irish government is still in the process of setting up a new track and trace system to monitor inbound travellers.


One of the measures up for discussion is the introduction of an Electronic Passenger Locator Form. In a statement, the


Irish government said: “In


conjunction with these preventative measures, there will be a renewed communications campaign across all platforms to ensure maximum public awareness of the latest advice.


“Some random targeted testing will be carried out on those arriving from locations where the incidence of the virus is particularly high.


“The Passenger Locator Form will be put on an electronic basis by August 10, 2020. “This will allow us both to inform directly incoming passengers on the public health advice to restrict their movements and to support contact tracing in event of a passenger testing positive for Covid-19.


“Arrangements are being made for a more robust system of follow-up checks to ensure those entering the country are staying where they said they would stay per the form.


“The protocols for those entering the country with COVID-19 symptoms are being reviewed to allow for testing and arrangements for such passengers while awaiting results.”


New Insurance Cover from Travel Republic


TRAVEL Republic has become the latest company to offer Covid-19 cover, including covering cancellation and medical costs – also offering cover for holidaymakers who fall ill BEFORE they travel. The insurance will cover travellers who fall ill while


on holiday or up to 14 days prior to travel. It also covers those who are hospitalised within 28 days of the start of their trip.


City of Derry Airport has introduced a new scheme called hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme to aid passengers and visitors who have a disability or impairment that is not visable


Traveller Experience Drives Travel Counsellors Summer Campaign


THE company’s most recent company survey found that 70% of would-be travellers are seeking reassurance in advance of their journey, confirming video footage from fellow travellers, airlines and accommodation providers would offer peace of mind about their travel experience, as restrictions ease across the globe. The survey results further revealed confusion remains on the use of facemasks in resort, with over 60% seeking clarification on health and safety measures throughout the journey, and nearly 50% wanting to know more about what to expect at the airport, namely the check-in and security experience.


Travel Counsellors Global Sales Director, Jim Eastwood,


said: “Understandably travellers are


seeking routes to reassurance as the world opens up for travel. With enhanced hygiene measures being broadly similar in destinations across the globe, at these early stages we’ve seen a real customer desire to feel fully prepared for every step, and leaning on the support of a trusted travel expert in forming their plans to travel.” Despite ongoing concerns, nearly 60% of 400 respondents to the survey said they were ‘optimistic’ about booking a holiday to depart this year or next, with the latest FCO guidance on countries exempt from a ban on ‘all but essential travel’, and ‘travel corridors’ being cited as reasons to travel. When asked about the types of trip appealing to travellers this summer, customers picked ‘privacy’ as their priority, followed by ‘pool-suites’ and villa holidays enabling social distancing.


The feedback comes with the launch of Travel Counsellors summer campaign, ‘summer saviours’, highlighting high-end private product, as well as brand-new properties where the company’s customers can take advantage of being one of the ‘first in’. The campaign further features ‘flight-free getaways’ with self-drive options both in the UK and Europe, and breaks that bring families to the ‘great outdoors’ and closer to nature, inspired by customer comments craving the chance to ‘get away from it all’. UK breaks are still proving popular for Travel Counsellors customers, with July seeing more than double the domestic travel bookings made by the company’s business owners compared to June, and since its launch last week the summer campaign has driven a significant increase in bookings made by UK Travel Counsellors versus the same time last month. Eastwood continues:


“With customers turning


to their Travel Counsellor for the latest guidance, including what to expect at every stage of their journey, the role of a real, human, caring travel professional has never felt more important in supporting people as they take to the roads, rails and skies again. We’re focussed on supporting our Travel Counsellors to help hopeful holidaymakers as customers seek reassurance before making their next move.


“As we look back over recent months, we can say that through adversity comes opportunity, and after a difficult time for many people we believe a well- deserved holiday now has the power to turn their year around. By regularly commissioning customer research and creating tailored campaigns based on customer feedback, we’re putting every effort into supporting our business owners in bouncing back, as well as positioning themselves as offering expert, helping hands and first-hand travel experience from across the global Travel Counsellors community,


as travellers prepare for enhanced health and safety measures throughout their trip. “While there may still be feelings of confusion and unease amongst some customer groups, the complete care and attention shown to customers at this time sets a strong foundation for the continued business growth of individual Travel Counsellors, and looks forward to a bright future for travel professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer as customers navigate their way through the latest advice for travel across the globe.”


Recognising the call for clear, consistent information on what customer journeys will look and feel like, individual Travel Counsellors have been documenting their own experiences, and sharing real-time travel footage with fellow franchisees and their customers. To further support its business owners in creating


their own video and social media content to inspire and reassure customers at this time, Travel Counsellors is partnering with photographer, stylist and blogger Tia Talula to stage an Instagram masterclass this month. With nearly 7,000 followers, Tia is sharing tips and training on how social media is a proven successful tool to grow a small business.


Airlines UK Calls for Emergency APD Waiver


AIRLINES UK have called on the Government to allow a 12 month APD waiver to help the travel industry recover following the devastating impact of Covid-19 and the associated global travel restrictions. Speaking in support of the waiver, Advantage


Travel Partnership’s CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “We are in full support of an emergency 12-month air passenger duty waiver as proposed this week by Airlines UK. Our industry has undergone unprecedented challenges and in order to recover we must take unprecedented action to save it. “Right now APD is putting unnecessary pressure on a fractured industry. If the Government can discount VAT for hospitality, it must be equipped to waive APD for a year to support the travel industry and enable us to get back on our feet.


“This will help secure air routes and importantly thousands of jobs. All too often we have seen the Government overlook this industry and now is the time to act and provide tangible sector support.”


New Route to Montego Bay with British Airways in October Demonstrates Committment


BRITISH Airways has announced that they are starting a new route to Montego Bay, Jamaica from October 13, 2020. Demonstrating its commitment to the Caribbean,


the new flights to Montego Bay will depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays and are now on sale on ba.com, with prices starting from as low as £427 return. As a destination, Montego Bay is a tourist hotspot, famed for its beautiful beaches, water sports, resorts and nightlife.


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