Getty Images After lifting of travel warning German tourists land in Majorca as restrictions ease Excited German tourists in face masks spilled out of Majorca airport on Friday, among the first to arrive at the popular holiday destination after ...more by Reuters – Monday, March 22, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ Quarantine for all returnees discussed Germany set to extend Covid-19 lockdown Germany is set to extend a lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic into its fifth month, according to a draft proposal, after infection rates exceeded the level at which authorities say hospitals will be overstretched. ...more by Reuters – Monday, March 22, 2021
Getty Images Challenge for travel sector Covid setbacks risk another summer travel washout Europe's airlines and travel sector are bracing for a second lost summer, with rebound hopes increasingly challenged by a hobbled Covid-19 vaccine rollout, resurgent infections and new lockdowns in important destinations as wel as source markets. ...more by Reuters – Saturday, March 20, 2021
For two more weeks Extension of border control with Czech Republic, Tyrol Germany has extended border control with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region for two more weeks, Interior Minster Horst Seehofer said on Wednesday, citing the current number of new coronavirus infections and more virus variant cases. ...more by Reuters – Thursday, March 18, 2021
Imago Easter holidays Travel industry adds flights and packages for Majorca Airlines and tour operators in Germany are rapidly offering more flights and package holidays to Majorca over Easter in response to a surge of bookings after the German goivernment lifted the travel warning for the Spanish island. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, March 18, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ Destination strategies Mediterranean countries hope Germans will return Tourism chiefs in major destinations around the Mediterranean are hoping to welcome back German and other international visitors from this spring onwards despite rising COVID-19 infection levels in various countries. ...more by Paul Needham – Wednesday, March 17, 2021
FVW Medien/MAJ Virtual travel trade show 65,700 users visited the online platform of ITB Now ITB Berlin sees its status as the leading platform for the global travel industry confirmed – in a virtual format: From March 8 to 12, around 65,700 users visited the online platform of whom around two-thirds came from abroad. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Monday, March 15, 2021
Fraport February figures down by 84% Frankfurt Airport still impacted by major decline In February 2021, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) served almost 682,000 passengers – a decline of 84.4% compared to the same month last year. This low demand still resulted from the ongoing travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Saturday, March 13, 2021
Lufthansa After easing of restrictions Lufthansa doubles number of flights for Easter season Lufthansa is reporting an increase in bookings for the upcoming Easter travel season. The airline is responding to the increased demand and has almost doubled the number of offered flights. This applies especially to the Balearic and Canary Islands. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Saturday, March 13, 2021
Getty Images Improving prospects for Easter holiday Germany removes regions in Spain, Portugal from risk list Germany is removing some regions of Spain and Portugal from its list of coronavirus risk areas from Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said on Friday. This includes the Balearic islands, one of the most popular destination of Germans. ...more by Reuters And Holger Jacobs – Saturday, March 13, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ European Commission proposal Covid-19 travel certificates must prevent 'discrimination' European Union Covid-19 certificates intended to free up travel must prevent discrimination against those not vaccinated by including information on whether people have been tested or have recovered, according to a draft document seen by Reuters. ...more by Reuters – Saturday, March 13, 2021
TUI Deutschland ITB Daily German tour operators plan Majorca relaunch Leading tour operators in Germany are gearing up to fly holidaymakers to Majorca as soon as Easter as customers prove ready to pay extra to book holidays with flexible cancellation options. This was one result of a debate at ITB Now, the virtual travel trade fair. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, March 11, 2021
DER Touristik ITB Daily DER Touristik CEO Hartmann sees "fundamental changes" The tourism industry is facing fundamental changes in customer demand that will continue beyond the pandemic, according to Sören Hartmann, head of Europe's second-largest tour operator group DER Touristik with Brands such as Dertour, Meiers Weltreisen and ITS. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, March 11, 2021
Deutsche Lufthansa AG Asset disposal programme Lufthansa plans to sell Airplus unit in summer Lufthansa is planning to launch an asset disposal programme as early as summer with the sale of its €1 billion ($1.19 billion) Airplus unit as the German carrier seeks to raise cash to emerge from a government bailout, people close to the matter said. ...more by Reuters – Thursday, March 11, 2021
Ryanair Low cost carrier strategy Ryanair sets sights on further German expansion Ryanair wants to expand in Germany, Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said on Tuesday, as he criticised government bailouts of airlines. The low cost airline hopes to fly up to 70% of 2019 passenger numbers this summer, thanks to Covid-19 vaccines and more coronavirus testing. ...more by Reuters – Tuesday, March 09, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ European Commission President EU governments to start work on vaccination certificates EU governments must immediately begin technical work to ensure a COVID-19 vaccination certificate system can be introduced across the 27-member bloc in time for summer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. ...more by Reuters – Monday, March 08, 2021
Ambassador's letter Germany rejects EU executive call to ease border curbs Germany told the European Union it would uphold its latest border restrictions imposed to curb the spread of new coronavirus variants, snubbing calls from the bloc's executive European Commission, Austria and the Czech Republic. ...more by Reuters – Monday, March 08, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ Latest decisions Easing of curbs, but travel trade still on hold Chancellor Angela Merkel and German state leaders have agreed a phased easing of coronavirus curbs along with an "emergency brake" to let authorities reimpose restrictions if case numbers spike again. But for the travel trade there's no easing in sight. ...more by Holger Jacobs And Reuters – Thursday, March 04, 2021
DRV / Wyrwa Downbeat outlook DRV predicts further German travel market slump this year The German travel industry does not expect a tourism restart before May and now predicts 50% of 2019 revenues at best this year. Ahead of next week’s ITB Berlin Now, the German Travel Association (DRV) released its latest market trend figures and gave a downbeat outlook for this year. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, March 04, 2021
Lufthansa After record loss Lufthansa weighs more aircraft retirements Lufthansa may permanently ground more planes to emerge leaner from the coronavirus pandemic, the German airline group said as it posted record losses for 2020. CEO Carsten Spohr said the group stands ready to restore 70% of its flight schedule "in the short term". ...more by Reuters – Thursday, March 04, 2021
