Organizations & Operators

A TUI decision to cancel all of its chartered flights from Aberdeen for the remainder of the summer has been greeted with shock and disappointment by the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA).
Flights, which included those to destinations such as Majorca, Tenerife, Ibiza, and Reus in Spain as well Turkey and Rhodes, have all been cancelled until October.
The move comes against a backdrop of a wider reopening from the company.
Joanne Dooey, president of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association said: “This is simply appalling news for Scottish travellers and travel agents alike.
“There has been so much uncertainty about when people can travel from Scotland, and where they can travel to, for weeks.

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“The omission of Spain from the ‘green light’ list of countries where Scots can travel without quarantine has led to insecurity for both holidaymakers and the travel trade.
“We have been warning for weeks about the possible loss of flight routes and the impact this will have on travellers and the Scottish economy, not just for this summer but potentially for years to come. It is questionable if, once we lose a flight route, we will ever see it return.”
She added: “The travels sector is a close knit community and we all feel for our friends and colleagues at TUI as we know this will have been an extremely difficult decision for them, however, we fear this may not be the last announcement of this kind in the sector.
“With any loss of flights like there is there is the risk of job losses too. “
The SPAA, founded in 1921, is the oldest organisation representing travel agents in the world.
It currently has 120 members and 92 associate members across the travel and transport industry.
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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called upon all travellers to don protective face masks to show they ‘wear to care’ in the new normal of travelling.
As countries transition from lockdowns to reopening their borders, the wearing of face masks helps signal the return of safer travels, while also providing personal protection for users as well as those around them.
The advice from WTTC in favour of mandatory mask wearing comes from evidence that countries which are recovering faster and avoid second Covid-19 spikes are those where the use of face masks have been widely enforced and encouraged.
WTTC has asked governments around the globe to enforce the wearing of face masks, as well as enlisting the support of the private sector to remind customers of their obligations to protect their health and that of fellow travellers.
Travellers around the world are being encouraged to join in the WTTC social media campaign which is launching with the hashtag #wear2care.

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Frequent handwashing and using hand sanitiser complement the use of face masks which can significantly reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC chief executive, said: “The safety and hygiene of travellers and those who work in tourism is of paramount importance, which is why we now strongly recommend masks being mandatory.
“‘Wear to care’ promotes the protection of face mask users and visibly shows they care about the welfare and safety of their fellow travellers, which will help save lives and encourage the return of Safe Travels.
“The wearing of masks should not be politicised. Wearing a mask needs to become part of everyday life to ensure everyone enjoys travelling in safety until a vaccine for Covid-19 is found.
“We implore the private sector and global governments to encourage their use so wearing a mask becomes the new normal.”
James Gourley/AAP/PA Images
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Walt Disney World is preparing for a phased reopening in the United States – with significant reductions in capacity.
Magic Kingdom Park and the Animal Kingdom Theme Park will reopen on July 11th, while EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will follow July 15th.
The decision has caused consternation, as Florida continues to record around 10,000 Covid-19 cases each day.
After being closed for nearly four months, the parks are reopening with what is being called a “deliberate, responsible approach”.
The company said it was drawing on experiences from the relaunch of Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disney Springs.

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Aspects of a Disney theme park day have been re-examined in light of the new global environment, with new policies following guidance from health experts and government agencies.
In addition to limits on attendance and controlled guest density, new procedures will be in place for park entry, attractions, dining, retail, transportation and more, with the well-being of guests and Disney cast members at the forefront of planning.
With all these changes, the fundamentals of a Disney theme park experience “remain the same,” the company said.
At reopening, guests with a ticket or annual pass must use the new Disney Park Pass system to make a reservation in advance for each park entry.
“Our deliberate and phased approach at Walt Disney World Resort emphasises multiple layers of health and safety measures,” said Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer, Disney Parks, Experiences & Products.
“We’re taking a multi-pronged approach to our reopening, after considering the guidance of various governmental authorities and health agencies, and recommendations from our team of health and safety experts.
“We’re also actively working with industry groups and research universities to discuss best practices.”
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American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has launched Travel Vitals, a travel briefing platform that gives travel managers a single source for all the information they need before, during and after a business trip. Data is aggregated from hundreds of sources, allowing users to search travel guidelines by destination, airline, airport, hotel chain, train operator […] More