National carrier Kenya Airways is recalling some of its former staff who were affected by restructuring last year meant to conserve cash in the wake of Covid-19 that disrupted business.

The re-hiring, which has been going on in the last two months, follows growing demand for air travel as passengers, especially on local destinations, that has seen competition among carriers increase.

Kenya Airways’ cut its workforce last year to survive the Covid-19 turbulence. It also resorted to a hiring freeze, and unpaid leaves to stabilise its operating costs.

An official at the airline said there has been a growing demand in the recent days and the carrier has added some frequencies to accommodate a rising number of passengers, hence need for increasing manpower.

“We have seen an increase in demand and that is why we are recalling some of our employees,” said an official from the airline.

Last month, KQ, as the airline is known by its international code, introduced a larger aircraft to Mombasa following high number of passengers on the route. The carrier upgraded the aircraft on the route to a Boeing 737-800 from an Embraer 190.

The airline has recently been upgrading its frequencies to match the rising number of passengers on both local and international route.

Diminishing revenue

Last week it increased the frequencies to the UK to two weekly after Britain removed Kenya from the red list of countries, which barred travellers from Kenya from going to the UK. The carrier also started flights to France after suspending the route a while back.

The airline lost 1,123 employees to close 2020 with 3,652, in a period when coronavirus-related air travel restrictions saw it record the highest loss in its history.

Half of the airline staff left through resignations or voluntary early retirements. The airline posted a Sh11.49 billion net loss in the six months ended June — a 19.8 per cent cut from the Sh14.33 billion loss it incurred in the preceding similar period, taking its accumulated losses over the years to above Sh127 billion.

Passenger revenue dropped by 17 per cent to Sh20.23 billion while cargo revenue went up 60 per cent due to increased focus on freight operations, especially Covid-19-related essentials like vaccines.

KQ says the long recovery prospects and diminishing revenue in an environment of increased costs due to tight health and safety measures mean it will require a bailout to stay afloat.

“The financial situation of the company is precarious,” said KQ chief executive Allan Kilavuka during investors briefing recently.

Source: Nation

If ever there was a sign that life is returning now to what was our normal, then some developments and milestones passed earlier this week will serve as very welcome portends. Yes, we must still be vigilant in keeping up our public health defences against coronavirus, but there is every reason to smile knowing that Dubai’s place on the global stage is approaching pre-pandemic status.

For all of us who live in the UAE and certainly for every international air traveller who has ever passed through Dubai International, the emirate and its facilities are closely associated with travel and the airline industry.

Indeed, before the pandemic hit, one third of Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product was linked to activities directly related to the aviation sector. Getting back to normal means getting that sector and everything related to it, back up and running – it is mission critical.

DXB is one of the world’s busiest airport in terms of passengers flying in and out. Covid-19 – and the pandemic essentially resulted in the virtual mothballing of the global airline industry for months. DXB is now back on its rightful perch as the world’s busiest airport with the release of the latest travel figures. Within days, the last remaining concourse at the airport will re-open – a very welcome and positive indication indeed that the airport is flying full capacity once more.

In the first month of Expo, more than 2.7 million have visited the mega exhibition, a sure driver in increasing passenger footfall at DXB. And with the UAE hosting the T20 World Cup, cricket fans too have added to the number of travellers passing through the airport. But the outlook is certainly positive, and that familiarity of a busy airport bodes very well.

Given that aviation accounted for one third of GDP in the emirate, the Dubai Air Show on the global calendar was always the key event on the global aviation calendar. It was an event where billions of dollars in deals were done as the industry and its related sectors gathered to see the latest innovations and aircraft.

The Air Show is back and set to be the largest in-person aerospace event this year. That’s a testament to Dubai’s response to the pandemic, as Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates airline has rightly noted. Yes, there is wind beneath Dubai’s wings once more.

Source: Gulf News

Research by UK Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform and the travel agent, Butter, reveals that global hotel prices are on the rise as demand surges after most travel restrictions are eased.

The global travel industry was severely wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic with airlines, hotels, and travel agents seeing their customer base evaporate overnight due to strict travel restrictions coming into force across much of the world. But through increased vaccination and a reduction in infections, governments around the world are keen to get their economies back up and running with tourism playing a central role. As such, many nations have eased most of their rules.

Consumers have, in kind, been more than happy to embrace these new freedoms and demand for hotel rooms across some of the most popular holiday destinations is now 184% higher than it was a year ago.

As a result, prices are also up 16% on the year with the average hotel room now costing GBP127 per night.

Nowhere have prices increased more than in New York, USA, where they’ve risen by 28% to an average price of GBP220 per night. This is a consequence of the demand for hotel rooms in The Big Apple increasing by 361%.

A 409% surge in demand for hotel rooms in Madrid, Spain, has forced prices to rise by 24% to an average of GBP123 per night, while prices in London have increased by 23% to GBP154 per night in reaction to a 220% surge in demand.

Rome, Italy, has also seen prices increase by 23% to GBP117 per night after a 193% increase in demand, while a hotel room in Lisbon, Portugal, now costs GBP110 per night has increased by 20% on the year alongside a 261% increase in demand.

Some global destinations have not seen such intense annual price rises. In Singapore, where demand is up 90% on the year, prices have increased by just 1% to an average of GBP116 per night, while in Cape Town, South Africa, prices are up 5% after a 140% demand increase means a hotel room now costs GBP81 per night. And Sydney, Australia, has only seen a 44% increase in demand, resulting in a small price increase of 7% to an average of GBP111 per night.

Timothy Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Butter, commented: “It’s clear that those places where prices have increased the most have also eased most, if not all of their travel restrictions both in and out of the country. America, the UK, Spain, and Portugal have all told the world they’re open for business while Australia, South Africa, and Singapore have, among others, either taken a more cautious approach to reopening or have reinstated certain travel bans having previously relinquished them.

“The resulting price hike was inevitable as holidaymakers rushed to book and hotels looked to recoup income lost as a result of the pandemic. But despite these increases in both activity and price, there remain some great deals to be had for those who look hard enough for them.”

Source: Travel Daily

Kenya’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai is projected to add USD 1.5bn immediate value to the economy through business leads in investments, tourism, and exports, the Kenya Export Promotion, and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) CEO Wilfred Marube said.

In an interview with Capital Business, Marube said that Kenya is banking on the expo to diversity its export markets, identify opportunities and create connections with importers.

“We see the immediate benefits amounting to Sh 1.5 bn in terms of what we anticipate of wide-range investment and exports. We are looking for opportunities in tourism, sales, and exports, by participating in the Expo, Kenya will enhance its profile and image in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, while at the same time push the Kenya brand to the world and increase awareness of Kenya’s tourism, trade, and investment opportunities,” he said.

As part of the medium to a long-term plan, resources mobilized and commitments from government-to-government agreements are expected to leverage up to USD 1 billion from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States Sovereign Wealth Funds.

More specifically, Kenya is eyeing the United Arab Emirates (UAE)/ GCC markets which Marube noted has ‘barely been scratched’ even as he reveals its huge potential owing to its high GDP, huge sovereign funds and it being a net importer.

Kenya is seeking to grow its exports to the GCC from USD 555 million in 2019 to USD 2.5 billion in 2022.

“The UAE and gulf council of country, for instance, is an area we want to get the maximum benefit of export, they are net importers of foods and Kenya is a high producer of agriculture products,” he said.

In addition, he said Kenya will leverage the expo to project itself as a hub for direct foreign investments through various fora including one on housing and infrastructure where Kenya will meet potential investors and showcase investment opportunities across these sectors.

The expo, Marube said has a budget of 330 million shillings which has been channeled towards marketing, publicity, showcasing the products, and facilitating logistics.

Kenya is among the 192 countries which confirmed attendance at the expo and has set aside a Pavillion measuring 400 sq meters that has so far attracted 50,000 people with a projection of at least 2,000-3,000 visitors daily.

Marube said the government projects to have at least 7.5 million visitors by March 2022.

Describing the pavilion-themed feel the energy, the KEPROBA CEO noted that it reflects and summarises the Kenyan people, whom he described as hardworking and determined.

The pavilion showcases various products highlighting agriculture potential, innovation sector, (fintech, edu-tech, agri-tech), cultural diversity, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.

Thirty-four MSMEs have already benefitted from a program whereby their products ranging from cultural artifacts, tea, coffee were freely shipped to the expo for showcasing.

In order to facilitate more business people to attend the expo, the agency has secured a position at the global village (outside the expo) dubbed Kenya house where enterprises can showcase their products and services at a subsidized fee.

“I want to encourage Kenyan businesses to participate in the expo through these avenues, we also have a website whereby those that cannot be able to ship their products, can get the opportunity to exhibit their products,” he added.

Source: Capital Business

After a challenging 18 months post the Covid pandemic, it looks like the African aviation industry may be looking at spreading its wings again and is set to revive itself and remerge stronger through mutual cooperation.

Taking a leaf out of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and SAATM or the Single African Air Transport Market in place, both of which are aimed at the liberalization of air transport in Africa and economic growth, Africa’s air carriers are now looking at forging mutually beneficial ties to boost intra-Africa air connectivity.

Intra-African air connectivity has remained a challenge for the region and developing a pan African network is becoming more imperative by the day, in a bid to connect more areas of the continent and to boost trade and economic activity and lift people out of poverty. This and more such topics were under discussion on Wednesday (October 13) at the popular CAPA Live series hosted by a leading resource for global aviation news and research – CAPA Centre for Aviation.

While speaking about mutual cooperation, recovery paths for the sector post the pandemic and how partnerships will yield increasing benefits to the region in the future- Allan Kilavuka who is the Group MD and CEO of Kenya Airways told Richard Maslen, director of Maslen Aviation Consultancy, “South African Airways is a very strong brand and so are we. And we believe that by being apart we tend to fragment the market a lot more, but by being together and by cooperating, we consolidate the market. There is the benefit of the customers to begin with and the benefit of two airlines and the economy in Africa as well. So we have signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with South African Airways to see what we can do quickly. But the long-term objective of this partnership is to form a pan-African airline that should be able to compete with other large carriers as well.”

Kilavuka added in the conversation that this was perhaps the beginning of the many such partnerships for co-creating a strong pan African airline network. Incidentally, this development is also key for South African Airways, which has recently resumed flights after it had announced bankruptcy in December 2019 after slashing hundreds of jobs and reports of widespread corruption amounting to at least $30 million having been misappropriated, leading to grounding its operations in March last year.

He further added, “So the cooperation that we have or this partnership that we have started up with South African Airways is the first of many. We had an earlier partnership with Congo Airways, which is in Central Africa; very similar, but with a slightly different objective. And the partnership with Congo Airways is to mutually support each other because Congo Airways has a lot of domestic markets and they don’t necessarily have the equipment. So we are trying to help them in that regard and support them in terms of giving them equipment and to support them in fulfilling their local demands. And then mutually cooperate so that we can connect the Central to the East, and also Central to the West and then Central to the South. So that is with Congo Airways. With South African Airways, we want to see how we can cover the African continent very effectively.”

Kilavuka’s statements become important in light of the fact both the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and SAATM or the Single African Air Transport Market have already been put in place to garner the liberalization of air transport in Africa and economic growth for the continent.

Under the AfCFTA, trade facilitation measures are slated to cut red tape, reduce tariffs and simplify customs procedures which are then expected to drive around $450 billion in income gains by 2035 and connect 1.3 billion people across 55 countries and power deep economic reforms and growth for African nations.

Meanwhile, the SAATM launched in January 2018, is the first flagship project of the African Union aimed at creating a single unified air transport market for air transport in Africa. It is slated to be a step in the direction of full liberalization of intra-African air transport services in terms of market access, free exercise of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights for passengers and freight air services by eligible airlines.

Source: Logistic Update Africa

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s aviation sector can’t find its wings even as the truth is once it takes off only the sky will be the limit. Tanzania’s aviation sector has been tied to the same challenges since the collapse of the East African Community in 1977.

Up till then the sector was under the auspices of the EAC, starting with the East African Common Services organization and then the East African Directorate of Civil Aviation. The three countries–Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda–also formed and jointly ran the East African Airways. The directorate had an oversight role on civil aviation technical activities and air transport economic issues including market access matters, provision of air navigation services. The only responsibilities left to individual states were aerodromes management and maintenance work. But the area control centre for air navigation services and air traffic control for aerodrome control was in Nairobi.

The collapse of the EAC damaged Tanzania’s aviation sector. The government had to start from zero in everything except the airports and aerodromes. To get the feel of this one has to understand that Tanzania had to depend on the Nairobi area control centre until 1998 when the government established its own in Dar es Salaam. The problems that still bedevil the sector now include inadequate investment in hard and soft infrastructure, shortage of skilled labour, inefficient regulation as well as unfavourable and rigid policy. Operators are also concerned with multiple, exorbitant fees and charges that make operational costs extremely high.

Domestic aviation holds the key

The aviation sector is sophisticated, capital and technology intensive, characterized by too much competition and slow return on investment. This is why government efforts to improve the infrastructure in the aviation sector are commendable taking into consideration the state of the sector post-1977 and the fact that the state has many priorities and limited financial resources, stakeholders say.

The importance of the sector in bringing into the country the coveted foreign currency and in its potential to transform both tourism and pan-territorial transport, however, makes it worth every dime invested in it, stakeholders add.

To enable the growth of the sector in a manner that can ensure quick benefits to the economy, Tanzania must focus on the domestic aviation industry. While investing in the international air transport is necessary to provide travellers direct access to the country, still Tanzania, like the US, is lucky in that it doesn’t have to depend on the international routes to reap the full benefit of air transport. Domestic aviation is already dynamic.

As Tanzania embarks on the journey towards the next 60 years the government must put forward both long term and short-term strategies to develop the local aviation market.

The government is clear on what is to be done in the long term, which includes construction of new airports in strategic locations, expanding and deepening aviation training centres and attracting as many operators as possible in the domestic market to increase efficiency and slash airfares.

It is in the short-term strategies where the government seems hesitant to take bold and immediate steps due unknown reasons. Stakeholders say that taking immediate actions to rescue the domestic aviation industry is important to save it from total collapse due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, stakeholders say. Foreign tourists depend on domestic airlines to move around the various destinations. Saving the domestic market from collapsing is tantamount to saving the tourism industry that is trying to shake off the effects of the Corona virus-induced slowdown in air travel.

Tanzania Air Operators’ Association (Taoa) executive secretary Lathifa Sykes says what the industry needs is short term low interest loans to assist companies to bring up their operation capacity back to preCovid-19 period as well as waiver of not only fines and penalties by the Tanzania Revenue Authority.

“Banks should also waive interest rates accumulated during the pandemic when members couldn’t service their loans,” Ms Sykes says.

Swissport CEO Mrisho Yassin says the government should foster the country economic growth in order to increase number of Tanzanians using air transport; investing in airport infrastructure; invest in technology to lower operating costs such as in self-checking systems and self-boarding; enhance regulatory framework; invest in training of pilots and aircraft engineers; and making flying cheaper to accelerate mass flying. “If we do all this, the potential of the domestic aviation market is so huge,” he says.

Taoa further says that the government needs to relook into the multiple fees that hinder the growth of the sector. Some of these fees include the radio frequency licenses ($75 per frequency for Aviation and $500 per frequency for aircraft operators). “These rates are uncompetitive with the rest of the region and duplicative in nature. Thus, the reform proposed was that the radio fee be amended to mirror the regional average while also recommending that the aviation fees be reformed into an annual registration fee for aircrafts,” Ms Sykes says.

The taxes are also prohibitive, especially the direct taxes. They include: withholding tax (at 10%) on non-resident aircraft rentals; withholding tax (at 10%) on non-resident loan repayments. indirect taxes include value added tax of 18 per cent on aircraft sale, value added tax of 18 per cent on aircraft maintenance, value added tax of 18 per cent on sale of aircraft parts among local firms, payroll taxes, skills development levy of 4 per cent.

“The main concern surrounding the incidence of taxation is that it is primarily centered on the usage of aircrafts. This strikes at the heart of many of the core operations of actors in the aviation industry and adds an extremely high-cost burden to an already costly industry,” she says.

Source: The Citizen

India-based IT and business solution company, Cargo Flash Infotech will be replacing Kenya Airways’ manifold of operations and management systems that were either have limited connectivity options or systems working in silos, in which information sharing is restricted due to systems’ limitations.

Kenya Airways’ numerous operations and management systems are currently being substituted by Cargo Flash’s single, next-generation ‘nGen’ system that includes Cargo Reservations (RES) System, Cargo Revenue Accounting (CRA) System, Cargo Handling and Warehouse Management, ULD Management Solution, and Customer Portal.

Furthermore, the new and additional systems included as a part of this single ‘nGen’ system are Mail Booking and Handling System, E-commerce (Door-to-Door) System, Target Planning System, in addition to Complaint and Claim Management System. The web-based solutions will further bolster the airline’s scope to reap a seamless, error-free and spontaneous management, accumulating several processes under one roof.

“Not only will Cargo Flash’s next-generation systems automate documentation and other cargo management processes but will also streamline Kenya Airway’s operational requirements along with boosting their efficiency and increasing revenue,” added Gautam Mandal, director – products, Cargo Flash Infotech. “We are pleased to have joined hands with Kenya Airways and deliver such an integrated solution to tackle the crucial concerns of cargo operation and administration,” he further adds.

Both Cargo Flash and Kenya Airways further see several big opportunities by coming together to discover the advanced-level experience with the new-age technology system in the cargo aviation industry.

Source: Logistics Update Africa

Kenya is among ten countries that have been invited in the formation of the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre (STGC) that will accelerate the industry’s transition to net zero.

Tourism ministers from various countries and leaders from international organizations have backed the formation of the centre which will seek greater collaboration between public and private tourism sectors to help reach net-zero – act of balancing greenhouses emission and elimination from the atmosphere, advance nature protection and support communities who depend on tourism.

Speakers at the COP26 Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland noted that tourism industry is highly fragmented, with developing countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) being most reliant on tourism for their economies.

“As one of Africa’s most popular destinations for international visitors, Kenya has felt the full impact of the global tourism downturn as a result of the pandemic. We therefore agree that there is an urgent need for a new sustainable approach to global tourism. Along with our recently launched Wildlife Strategy 2030 which will ensure a thriving natural ecosystem under pressure from climate change, we are strong supporters of the Sustainable Tourism Global Center,” said Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary of Tourism and Wildlife.

Statistics indicate that at least 40 million tourism businesses or 80% of the whole industry are small or medium sized.

The STGC which will be headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with plans to open regional offices in other countries, aims to support people and the planet by reforming tourism’s contribution to climate change, in a bid to protect the environment and support those who need it most.

“At a time where leadership is most needed to address the climate emergency, we commend Saudi Arabia’s initiative that will support the sector to achieve the global goals and ensure a sustainable future. WTTC is delighted to contribute to the Center through its unique data, research and expertise from businesses across the globe,” said Julia Simpson, World Travel & Tourism Council President and CEO.

The Centre’s strategy will be shaped by a coalition of governments, international organizations, academia, multilateral and financing institutions and industry associations.

STGC is also expected to deliver services and products across three core pillars, including knowledge creation and sharing, measurement and monitoring, and industry enablement.

Under the pillars, STGC will focus on at least in nine areas of industry support, including developing standards and resource provision for the tourism sector, capability building, and project funding and investment.

Other countries who have been invited in phase one include the UK, USA, France, Japan, Germany, Jamaica, Morocco, Spain, and Saudi Arabia who have prioritized climate, tourism and SMEs which will allow for synergies for initiative.

Other organizations which join the centre include World Resource Institute (WRI), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Internalization Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), World Bank, and SYSTEMIQ.

Harvard University will provide support to the STGC through research and capacity-building, while the UNFCCC will guide the Center to accelerate industry action on climate neutrality.

Source: KBC

The Steering Committee of the College of Commissioner Generals of Expo 2020 Dubai has held its first event-time meeting, where it applauded the UAE leadership and Expo organisers for the strong delivery and exceptional start to Expo 2020 Dubai.

The meeting of the committee, which represents Expo’s 192 participating nations, was attended by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai and Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos.

Al Hashemy said: “We are already witnessing the potential for positive change that comes with gathering 192 nations in one place, in pursuit of partnership, impact and legacy. This is global cooperation to inspire life: an opportunity to learn more about one another, and ourselves, so that we might build a brighter tomorrow.”

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the BIE said: “The UAE, Expo 2020 Dubai and all International Participants are together delivering an exceptional experience for visitors from all over the world. I am delighted and reassured by the way in which the Organiser has hosted and managed the event so far, and I am excited by the huge promise of the weeks and months to come.”

Chaired by Manuel Salchli, Chair of the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee and Commissioner General for Switzerland at Expo 2020, the committee which comprises Commissioners General from 34 countries, praised Expo 2020’s spectacular Opening Ceremony and congratulated the UAE and event organisers for a successful opening period, particularly in light of the challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Committee members stressed that the security and wellbeing of all visitors and participants remained the first responsibility, with everyone bearing a collective responsibility for ensuring safety.

Given the size of the Expo site, internal transportation for visitors and staff remains an important priority and efforts will intensify to guide visitors towards the People Mover system (Expo Explorer and buggies). Organisers and countries have also agreed that all buggies on the Expo site will be prioritised for those visitors in need in of transport assistance to facilitate movement across the site.

The committee will continue to review operational capabilities on the Expo site, and consider further enhancements to ensure that visitors from all over the world continue to explore and enjoy the Expo experience.

The committee recognised the success of the cultural events of countries celebrating their National Day at Expo, while the music and dance performances, which take place in the iconic Al Wasl Plaza at the heart of the site, were highlighted for bringing to life the Expo theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

It also commended the first two Theme Weeks. Climate and Biodiversity Week and Space Week were attended by more than 5,000 visitors, with global experts, political and business leaders, civil society activists and many others contributing to more than 40 events designed to address and find solutions to some of the most urgent problems of our time.

Source: Khaleej Times

The CEO of Delta Air Lines expects an ‘onslaught of travel all at once’ in less than two weeks, when the US government will lift COVID-19 restrictions on travelers from 33 countries who show proof of vaccination.  

‘There will be lines, unfortunately,’ said Delta head Ed Bastian at a travel conference hosted by the US Travel Association on Tuesday, adding that things are going to be ‘a bit sloppy at first.’

On November 8, non-US citizen travelers from 33 countries – including the UK, India, China, Brazil, Ireland, Iran and South Africa – will be allowed entry in to the US with proof of vaccination.

Previously, only US citizens were allowed to enter the US from those countries. 

It’s not clear how much travel volume will rise. The number of people passing through TSA has already been inching closer to pre-pandemic levels in recent months. 

President Biden announced the travel reopening on Oct. 15, citing the rising availability of vaccines and US efforts to distribute them globally, but provided more official guidelines Monday.

Airline staff will be responsible for matching the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination, according to the White House.

They’ll also have to determine that the record was issued by an official source and review that the vaccine received meets the CDC’s standards.

Children under 18 will not need to show proof of vaccination, but children ages 2 to 17 will need a negative test to enter.  

The test will have to be taken within three days of departure if traveling with a fully vaccinated adult or within one day if traveling with an unvaccinated adult.

A small amount of unvaccinated, non-US citizen adults will be allowed to enter the US, including those who are granted medical, humanitarian or emergency exceptions and those who are participating in COVID-19 clinical trials.

Unvaccinated US citizens will now have to provide a negative test taken within one day of departure.

The US will accept the three vaccines used in the US – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, along with China’s Sinovac and Oxford University’s AstraZeneca.

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine will not be accepted because it hasn’t been approved by the WHO, which cited concerns over its manufacturing practices at production plants in Russia and whether the vaccine can be produced at a consistent standard, according to the Washington Post.

Travel is up substantially compared to the beginning of the year, when it was down by more than 50 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

On Tuesday, 1,503,587 people passed through security checkpoints at US airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, up from just 648,517 in 2020 and inching closer to the pre-pandemic number of 1,910,506 on October 26, 2019.

COVID-19 cases in the US continue to fall after a late summer spike due to the highly contagious Delta variant. The US had a seven-day average of 68, 151 cases on October 26, compared to a summer high of 161,864 on September 1. 

Biden’s proclamation will undo some of the earliest COVID-19 travel bans, including the ban from China, instituted by President Donald Trump on January 31, 2020, before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic in March. 

About 90 percent of Delta Air Lines workers are vaccinated, Bastian told CNBC earlier this month. In August, the airline imposed a $200-a-month insurance premium on unvaccinated staff.

‘We haven’t done it with a mandate,’ Bastian said on the network’s Squawk Box show.

‘We have done it working collaboratively with our people, trusting our people to make the right decisions for themselves, respecting their decisions, but at the same time avoiding the divisiveness of what the mandate is posing to society.’ 

Source: Dailymail