Page 161

Coronavirus Travel News

Follow the latest news about coronavirus and its impact on hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tourism destinations, and other sectors of the travel industry.

We are over a year into the Covid-19 global pandemic, and the impact on the travel industry has been severe to say the least. Skift has been covering this on a day-to-day basis since January 2020. You can read the latest news, as well as all of our coverage, on the pages below.

Coronavirus

Japan’s Airlines Keep Flying Largely Empty Domestic Flights Despite Plunge in Bookings

Without clear government directives on the functioning of transport infrastructure in the crisis, Japanese airlines face a tough choice during a tough time.

Maki Shiraki and Tim Kelly, Reuters | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

Expect Hotels to Mimic the Airline Merger Playbook After the Last Recession

Smaller hotel chains likely face two choices coming out of the coronavirus crisis: shutter completely or consolidate into a bigger brand.

Cameron Sperance, Skift | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

Booking Holdings Applies for European Relief With Substantial Layoffs Possible

Government relief or not, if a substantial coronavirus recovery doesn't take shape by June, it's hard to believe that Booking Holdings won't execute substantial layoffs like everyone else. Perhaps the crisis, too, will spur new discussions about enormous pay gaps between CEOs and their workers.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 4 years ago

Airlines

Crisis Spurs American Airlines Into Being More Customer Friendly: Will Anyone Remember It?

American Airlines' reputation took a beating the last three years. The airline is now doing its best to take care of customers. Will they remember when demand improves?

Brian Sumers, Skift | 4 years ago

Business Travel

Airline Direct Selling Through Travel Agencies May Prove Its Worth After the Crisis

A crisis brings out either the best or worst in people. Technology is no different, and so-called New Distribution Capability could have a new lease of life.

Matthew Parsons, Skift | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

Hotelbeds Boss Isn’t Worried About the Model of Nonrefundable Rates in a Post-Crisis World

The hotel room bedbank Hotelbeds confirmed on Thursday that it had received a loan of about $435 million (€400 million), boosting its cash cushion. But will cautious travelers be as interested in the company's typically non-refundable rates and otherwise typically restricted offers during months of uncertainty about possible travel restrictions?

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

How Short-Term Rentals Are Faring Better Online Than Hotels During Crisis: New Skift Research

Many short-term rentals offer extra space and control over your living environment. Both attributed highly valued during this time of pandemic. Nothing's decided yet, but some early evidence suggests that short-term rentals might be doing less worse than traditional hotels peers.

Seth Borko, Skift | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

Virgin Australia Halts Trading as It Continues Rescue Package Talks

Should Virgin Australia fail, Qantas will be the country's only carrier. A monopoly is in nobody's interest, but as Virgin Australia is 90 percent foreign-owned, how likely is the state going to step in with aid having already refused it once? It's a complicated affair.

Jamie Freed, Reuters | 4 years ago

Coronavirus

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Was Actively Working on Going Public When Bookings Dried Up

Airbnb's Chesky undoubtably still has that S-1 document in a laptop somewhere. With the pandemic lowering Airbnb's valuation by billions, that document will need a total rewrite. And with all that's going on in the world, it's difficult to even contemplate an eventual public listing right now.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 4 years ago

Airlines

Largest U.S. Airlines Agree to Terms on $25 Billion in Government Aid

Airlines probably wanted money with no strings attached, but this is a good compromise.

Tracy Rucinski and David Shepardson, Reuters | 4 years ago