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Florida averages 1,380 daily COVID cases as concerns over omicron variant rise
Read full article: Florida averages 1,380 daily COVID cases as concerns over omicron variant riseGov. Ron DeSantis signed off on four bills Thursday to prohibit mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for Florida students and workers, calling HB 1B the “strongest piece of legislation” enacted against such mandates anywhere in the U.S.
Omicron variant already affecting flight bookings, airline says
Read full article: Omicron variant already affecting flight bookings, airline saysBritish airline easyJet says it's already seeing some impact on demand from the new omicron variant of the coronavirus in the days since it was first identified.
EasyJet rejects bid approach as it seeks to raise more money
Read full article: EasyJet rejects bid approach as it seeks to raise more moneyBritish airline easyJet said it has rejected an unsolicited takeover approach as it announced plans to raise another 1.2 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) from shareholders to shore up its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
We need to plan: UK travel urges clarity from government
Read full article: We need to plan: UK travel urges clarity from governmentLeaders from Britain’s aviation industry have joined forces to urge the British government to ensure that popular European destinations face the least onerous coronavirus travel restrictions when holidays are permitted again.
Britons rush to book holidays amid plans to end lockdown
Read full article: Britons rush to book holidays amid plans to end lockdown(Owen Humphreys/ PA via AP)LONDON – Stir-crazy Britons rushed to book overseas vacations after Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled plans to slowly ease a national lockdown, boosting optimism that travel restrictions will be removed in time for the summer holiday season. TUI, the U.K.’s largest tour operator said bookings increased six-fold on Monday, the company’s busiest day in more than a month. International travel has nearly ground to a halt globally, so the increases are a sign of hope for the beleaguered industry. Others criticized the government for failing to guarantee current levels of support for businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Johnson announced plans to ease those restrictions as the rapid rollout of vaccines helps drive down new infections and hospitalizations.
New Berlin airport opens 9 years late with little ceremony
Read full article: New Berlin airport opens 9 years late with little ceremonyBerlin's new airport opens after years of delays and cost overruns. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)BERLIN – Nine years late and far above its original budget, Berlin's new airport finally opened on Saturday with little fanfare as the aviation industry struggles with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Construction of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, named after the former West German chancellor though better known as BER, started in 2006 and it was initially slated to open in October 2011. “Finally we can put our airport into operation — finally,” airport CEO Engelbert Luetke Daldrup said at a brief opening ceremony with national and regional officials. The opening of the new airport's Terminal 2 has been delayed until early next year because it isn't currently needed.
British Airways' parent to cut flights following quarantines
Read full article: British Airways' parent to cut flights following quarantinesLONDON British Airways parent company said Thursday it will cut flights due to coronavirus travel restrictions and quarantine requirements and confirmed it is raising 2.7 billion euros ($3.2 billion) through the sale of new shares. Qatar Airways, which owns 25% of IAG, has undertaken to take its share of the cash call. Over the past few weeks, British tourists in particular have faced travel chaos after the government took countries off its safe list. Other airlines have also had to cut back on flights, including EasyJet, which earlier this week bemoaned the unpredictable restrictions. It also said it has reached an agreement in principle with the Unite union over changes to the pay and conditions of British Airways cabin crew, with a ballot expected shortly.
Italy outraged over easyJet ad referencing mafia in south
Read full article: Italy outraged over easyJet ad referencing mafia in southROME Italian officials voiced outrage Tuesday over an online advertisement by budget airline easyJet describing the southern Italian region of Calabria as lacking tourists because of its history of mafia and earthquakes. Opposition leader Matteo Salvini of the right-wing League party said easyJet should be ashamed of itself. Calabria's governor, Jole Santelli, said the text on easyJet's website was offensive, distorted and had a clear racist flavor." In the original text, easyJet wrote that Calabria offered visitors an authentic taste of Italy, even though it had bizarre houses perched on cliffs. The original intent of the text was to underline how Calabria has been overlooked overseas from a tourism point of view, the statement said.