Did the Airline Industry Bottom Out?

Did the airline industry bottom out? According to OAG, “after 111 days of consecutive capacity reductions, new data reveals a 2 percent increase week-over-week. While this update leaves total capacity at 29.9 million—still some 80 million fewer seats than the same week last year – it could indicate we’ve reached a bottoming-out period.”

It does appear that more people are flying as the TSA reported that “on Wednesday, May 13th, 176,667 individuals came through @TSA checkpoints nationwide. Exactly one year earlier, 2,343,675 people were screened at security checkpoints across the country.” For reference, on Wednesday (April 22) 98,968 travelers went through the TSA checkpoints nationwide so numbers are increasing.

With more people flying there’s less of a chance you will have an empty seat next to you on the plane. Don’t believe the hype from United and American when they say they’re blocking the middle seats. It’s just a PR move. Most flights are only going out with 20+ people on them but not all, as seen the other day when a Northern California doctor flew Newark to San Francisco on an almost-packed flight. It seems like Delta is the only one that’s really limiting booking full flights. As Delta is saying, “seating will be capped at 50% in first class cabins and 60% in the main cabin, Delta Comfort+ and Delta Premium Select sections.”

Just because more people are flying doesn’t mean the world or country is opened up. Here are some examples where local governments are strict:

Tourists in Hawaii could face prison time for breaking quarantine: “New arrivals must fill out documentation listing their contact and lodging information, and a signature is required acknowledging one’s understanding that violating quarantine is a criminal offense punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to one year in prison, according to the state’s transportation department. But enforcement efforts don’t stop there. Airport health officials are required to dial the cell number a passenger provides, to ensure it is valid. After verifying one’s contact information, a representative then calls the hotel where a visitor intends to stay, to confirm there is an existing reservation.”

My hometown of Los Angeles is telling locals to “avoid weekend trips and summer vacations for now.” Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County went on to say, “There’s probably very few places in the world right now that would like to see travel into their communities.” There’s no 14-day mandatory quarantine “for visitors coming to California, as is the case in Hawaii, which is punishable by a $5,000 fine and a year in imprisonment. But Ferrer requested that people coming to L.A. County ‘do self-quarantine when you come in [and] you do keep yourself away from other people … for that 14-day period.’

And the Mayor of L.A. tweeted yesterday that “We’re requiring all Angelenos to wear face coverings when they leave the house. There are exceptions in place for small children or those with disabilities.” 

–Vacationing in Rhode Island this summer? You might need to be tested first.

–Why the UK’s New 14-Day Quarantine Rule Is Particularly Troubling to Business Travel Managers

–In Vienna, you can pay an extra $200 to get out of quarantine. The $200 is for a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival. I think everyone will pay the extra $.

–Iceland plans to open its borders on June 15 without any quarantines for those willing to be tested at arrival or able to present a current and trustworthy negative COVIDー19 test result.

–Europe promises to reopen for summer tourism in wake of coronavirus

–Face masks and swimming pool reservations: What a summer vacation in Europe will look like this year