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Weekly UpdatesMay 3, 2009
ALTA
ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) and its member airlines are continuing to closely monitor the developments of the swine flu situation and are in full support of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and IATAOs recommendations. Safety for passengers and crew is our top priority. As reiterated by the WHO this morning (see attached), there is Ono rationale for travel restriction.O The WHO advises there should be no restrictions to travel or closure of borders. OALTA and our member airlines strongly support the WHOOs recommendations and the initiatives they are implementing to educate the public on how to protect themselves rather than non-effective restrictions on flights or closing borders,O says ALTAOs Executive Director Alex de Gunten. OThe WHO is the global expert on this issue and we are calling on the regionOs governmental authorities to follow the WHOOs recommended courses of action as it relates to this situation.O ALTA also reiterates and supports comments released by IATA emphasizing that Oairlines are prepared.O (See attached; also available at http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2009-04-30-01.htm) May 1, 2009
Belize
The Belize Tourism Board said that the government has implemented several measures in an effort to protect all residents and travelers from swine flu. While the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) have not been advised of any confirmed swine flu cases in Belize, the BTB is working closely with local health authorities to monitor any new developments. Due to Belizean officialsO understanding of the severity of this situation, and as a result of the proactive measures health authorities in Belize have taken and continue to take since the first signs of swine flu in Mexico, four cases are currently under investigation by the Ministry of Health. Based on that information, the BTB is also taking a very proactive approach with ensuring that all hotel and tour operators within the country are fully educated and prepared for any questions from tourists regarding the situation, and are armed with advice for keeping their property or business as sterile as possible. www.travelbelize.org, www.health.gov.bz/moh, www.cdc.gov/swineflu. Apr 30, 2009
Frontier Airlines
In response to customer concerns about the presence of the swine flu virus in parts of Mexico, Frontier Airlines has put the following travel policy guidelines into place for all customers scheduled to travel to/from Cancun, Cozumel, San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta on April 27 through May 16, 2009, who bought tickets on or before April 27. Customers scheduled on the above dates may elect to stand by free of charge on an earlier date or time. Origin and destination cities must remain the same. For customers who have already started their travel, rules and restrictions regarding standard change fees, advance purchase, day or time applications, blackouts and minimum or maximum stay requirements have been waived. Origin and destination cities must remain the same. www.FrontierAirlines.com. May 1, 2009
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue plans to further develop its growing international route network this fall with new service to St. Lucia. JetBlue intends to serve St. LuciaOs Hewanorra International Airport with flights to and from New York's JFK International Airport. From JFK, JetBlue plans to offer onward connections to/from other U.S. cities. Flights are expected to go on sale in June at www.jetblue.com. St. Lucia is one of 13 international locations on JetBlue's expanding route map, and one of the more than 50 destinations throughout North, South, and Central America with JetBlue service. In addition to its new St. Lucia flights, JetBlue will also begin new service to Montego Bay, Jamaica on May 21 and to Bridgetown, Barbados on October 1. Apr 29, 2009
Mexico
Mexico began a five day shut to try and stop the spread of swine flu. Restaurants, bars, cinemas and non-essential government services will close for five days. In Europe, EU health ministers, after an emergency meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, warned against panic. Swine flu has now been confirmed in 12 countries, including six in Europe: the UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. There have been 168 deaths in Mexico and one of a 23-month-old child in Texas. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has moved its pandemic alert level up to five, the second highest but said it had no plans to go to level six. www.iata.org www.fco.gov.uk www.who.int http://ec.europa.eu May 1, 2009
Mexico
In the United States, airlines said demand for flights to Mexico had declined but that operations were normal. "We've seen a significant drop in demand for travel to Mexico, primarily to beach destinations," said Continental Airlines spokeswoman Julie King, who declined to provide an exact figure. Major airlines were waiving fees they usually charge to change tickets for travel to Mexico. Even without the impact of swine flu, airlines have been suffering from weak demand as businesses and consumers cut travel during the recession. World airlines will lose a total USD$4.7 billion this year, IATA said last month. May 1, 2009
Mexico
Androulla Vassiliou, EC health commissioner, April 27 warned people not to travel to parts of Mexico and the US hit by the outbreak in swine flu. She said travel should only be undertaken if it were "very urgent." The warning came as the EC called an emergency meeting of health ministers to discuss the spreading outbreak and the first European case was confirmed in Spain. EC president Jose Barroso said he was watching the situation carefully. Advice on travelling to Mexico was also updated by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). www.iata.org
www.fco.gov.uk/travel www.mexicana.com www.hpa.org.uk Apr 30, 2009
Mexico
With tour companies both here and abroad and cruise lines either halting flights and port calls or liberalizing cancellation policies, Bloomberg News is reporting that the airline industry is having a fire sale to Mexico. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and other U.S. carriers are slashing Mexico fares to as little as USD 260 round trip as demand dries up because of the swine flu outbreak. An American ticket to Mexico City from Dallas/Fort Worth sold for USD 260 yesterday from about USD 500 recently, said Tom Parsons, founder of travel website BestFares.com. Delta is charging USD 300 between Atlanta and Cancun, a reduction of at least USD 100 from a few weeks ago. Apr 30, 2009
Mexico
New swine flu infections were found around the world on Tuesday and the specter of a pandemic began to hit the travel industry as governments warned people to stay away from Mexico where 149 people have died. The United States said it now had 65 cases of swine flu, Canada announced six more infections and new cases were also confirmed in Israel and New Zealand. The United States, Canada and the European Union advised people to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico, and Cuba suspended all flights to and from Mexico for 48 hours. Carnival Cruises said it cancelled stops at Mexican ports for three of its ships on Tuesday and the Canadian tour operator Transat AT postponed flights to Mexico until June 1 due to the swine flu alert. Private companies also adopted their own travel restrictions not just to Mexico but also to countries where cases have been confirmed. President Barack Obama asked the US Congress for USD$1.5 billion to finance its response to the flu threat, and California declared a state of emergency, allowing it to deploy more resources to prevent new infections. Apr 29, 2009
Mexico
Airlines have started to cancel flights to Mexico and some are acting in response to governments trying to contain the spread of the deadly swine flu. Argentina's government has announced that passenger flights to Mexico are to be suspended until 4 May. Cuba has banned passenger flights until midnight 1 May although it has made an exception if the airline is planning to only transport Mexicans wishing to leave Cuba and return home. In Europe TUI, which also owns Thomasfly and First Choice Airways, has stopped all flights to Mexico until 8 May. Canadian carrier WestJet has announced it is suspending services to its four destinations in Mexico with effect from 4 May but it plan to resume services to three of the destinations on 20 June. Apr 27, 2009
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines today will offer Customers the ability to book flights to Mexico on Volaris via a convenient online link to Volaris' booking portal on www.southwest.com. The two airlines previously announced their plans to eventually enter a codeshare agreement that will allow the carriers to offer Customers a seamless travel experience to a wide array of destinations. While the airlines plan to announce codeshare flight schedules by early 2010, the availability of Volaris flights via the link on southwest.com is an important first step forward in the relationship. Southwest Airlines does not offer service to Mexico. To view a blog post, visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/qa-volaris. Apr 27, 2009
United Vacations
United Vacations revised its current re-booking and cancellation policies to reflect the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOs (CDC) Monday update on the swine influenza situation in Mexico. With the primary goal of protecting customersO vacation investments and providing a positive vacation experience, United Vacations is working closely with their travel agents and customers to change or re-accommodate their travel plans. OTo help, United Vacations is doing all we can to minimize penalties and the inconvenience to our customers,O said Rick Karnes, vice president and general manager of United Vacations. www.vaxvacationaccess.com/uv. Apr 30, 2009
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