Ovation's weekly client e-newsletter, the Informed Traveler, keeps readers updated on travel industry news and trends.
Following is a recap of February's top 5 (most clicked by Ovation clients) e-newsletter stories.
1. AMERICANS WILL NEED TO REGISTER TO TRAVEL TO PARTS OF EUROPE IN 2023
US citizens visiting certain parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union (EU) starting in spring 2023, reports Forbes. In 2018, the EU announced plans to implement a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) that would require "pre-travel screening for security and migration risks of travelers benefiting from visa-free access to the 26 European countries that make up the Schengen area." At the time, ETIAS was set to launch in January 2021, but COVID-19 delayed the process. The EU has now confirmed that the introduction of the ETIAS program will become operational in early 2023. Travelers will be able to complete an application and pay a service fee of 7 euros (roughly $8) online. Individuals under the age of 18 and seniors over age 70 will not be charged the application fee. The authorization will be valid for three years.
ETIAS registration will be necessary to enter Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Trips to the microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City are also included in the ETIAS program. Four countries — Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania — are not Schengen countries yet, but are in the process of joining. Once they are admitted to the zone, they will require travelers to have an ETIAS authorization, too. Once the ETIAS program goes live, Europe-bound airlines will be required by law to check travelers’ ETIAS authorizations before allowing them to board.
2. CANADA TO EASE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS
Canada will ease entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers on February 28, including ending the requirement of molecular tests taken with 72 hours of departure, reports Business Travel News. Beginning February 28, fully vaccinated travelers can choose between a rapid antigen test taken the day before their flight or arrival at a land or marine border, or getting tested with a molecular test within 72 hours of their flight or arrival. Previously, all travelers 5 years and older were required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test. Travelers who choose to take a rapid antigen test must do so at a laboratory, healthcare facility, or with a telehealth service. Unvaccinated foreign nationals will still be unable to enter Canada except in certain circumstances, and arriving unvaccinated travelers will be required to get tested upon arrival, get tested again on day 8, and quarantine for 14 days. Additionally, the global travel advisory for Canadians is also being changed. Previously the government recommended against all non-essential travel, and now it is only urging citizens to take precautions. International flights, which currently are allowed to land only at 18 Canadian airports, will be allowed at all airports that normally receive such flights as of February 28 as well, according to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.
3. EU RECOMMENDS DROPPING PRE-TRAVEL COVID-19 TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS
European Union (EU) member countries are recommending countries eliminate pre-departure COVID-19 testing and quarantine procedures for fully vaccinated travelers who received vaccines authorized in the EU or approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), reports Travel Pulse. Starting March 1, 2022, the European Council advised that fully vaccinated travelers should be able to enter the EU without prior testing if they received the last dose of their primary vaccination series at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival. Those who received a booster dose and those who recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of travel would also be allowed to enter without pre-departure tests. The guidance is non-binding. "The updates will further facilitate travel from outside the EU into the EU, and take into account the evolution of the pandemic, the increasing vaccination uptake worldwide and the administration of booster doses," the European Commission said.
4. FRONTIER AIRLINES AND SPIRIT AIRLINES ANNOUNCE PLAN TO MERGE
Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have announced plans to merge, combining two of the largest low-cost carriers into a unified airline, reports Travel Weekly. Under the agreement, Denver-based Frontier would become the dominant partner in the deal, controlling 51.5% of the combined carrier. The carriers said the combined airline would offer more than 1,000 daily flights to over 145 destinations in 19 countries. The merger would also make the carrier the fifth largest in the US, behind only American, Delta, United, and Southwest. “This combination is all about growth, opportunities and creating value for everyone – from our guests to our team members to the flying public at large,” Spirit chairman Mac Gardner said in a prepared remark. “We’re a perfect fit – our businesses share similar values, including our longstanding commitment to affordable travel. At the same time, we have complementary footprints and fleets, including one of the youngest and greenest fleets worldwide.” The name of the combined company, as well as its branding and the location of its headquarters, are to be determined by a committee prior to closing.
5. LAGUARDIA AIRPORT COMPLETES NEW FACILITIES AT TERMINAL B
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and LaGuardia Gateway Partners have announced the completion of new facilities at LaGuardia Airport’s (LGA) Terminal B, marking a major milestone in the terminal's $4 billion transformation, reports Airport Technology. The opening will enable every arriving and departing traveler at Terminal B to experience new facilities from gate to curb. It also makes LaGuardia the first airport in the world with dual pedestrian skybridges. Spanning 1.35 million square feet, the new terminal features 35 gates, a 3,000-car parking space, as well as new covered, convenient pickup facilities for both taxis and ride-sharing vehicles. The terminal also offers retail, dining spaces, and other amenities for travelers. “The completion of this $4 billion project will help provide a brand new passenger experience for everyone travelling through Terminal B, easing connections and creating lasting impressions,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The remaining portion of the old Central Terminal Building has also been removed from service and will be demolished this spring.
