In an effort to reduce air pollution, French lawmakers approved a plan to ban domestic flights along routes that can be reached by train in less than 2½ hours. Connecting flights along the banned routes from major airports are still allowed but are not able to be booked as stand-alone flights.
Dear Globetrotter:
"My wife, Eileen, and I left Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 12, 2020, flying to Quito, Ecuador, via Miami to join a cruise to the Galápagos Islands ... .
"Upon arriving in Quito, and because of COVID-19, passengers were greeted by airport staff in full hazmat suits checking our temperature and handing out health questionnaires, all before we entered the country."
(excerpt from John Leach's letter)
At press time, three international airports in Mexico were offering rapid COVID-19 antigen tests for outgoing international passengers. A COVID-19 test showing a negative result must be presented by any traveler flying into the US, even a returning US citizen. (At press time, the land border between Mexico and the US was closed to all but essential traffic until at least March 21.)
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 540th issue of your monthly worldwide travel magazine — our 45th anniversary issue!
The May 2020 and January 2021 issues had to be published online only (no mailed copies) due to the drop in supportive tour company advertising resulting from the COVID-caused shutdown in travel worldwide, but travelers are looking forward to the day when they can get back on the road and in the air.
Excerpt from letter submitted by Beverly Hazen (Mayville, NY) "... Upon our arriving in Seville [March 11, 2020], we heard of President Trump’s announcement that flights from Europe to the US would cease in a matter of days. While there was an underlying concern regarding COVID-19 that could not be totally ignored, the tour itinerary was keeping us moving along, and our tour director was reassuring that the tour was continuing. ..."
Dear Globetrotter:
"I wanted to give a shout-out to one of ITN’s advertisers, Flo Tours. ... I was booked with them to travel to the five ’Stans, Sept. 7-25, 2020. Due to COVID-19, they had to cancel the tour on Aug. 4. I was offered a credit to another of their tours anytime through 2022.
"I requested a refund of my deposit instead, on Aug. 6, and they graciously credited my credit card the next day." (excerpt of letter from Mary Anderson, Littleton, CO)
US airlines have blacklisted hundreds of flyers for not following mask rules on board flights. According to the airlines, they are not sharing passenger information with each other, so a passenger blacklisted from one airline may still be able to fly on another one, provided the traveler follows the rules on wearing masks.
With an American Airlines (AA) flight from Miami International Airport to New York’s LaGuardia on Dec. 29, 2020, the Boeing 737 Max passenger jet returned to service in the US after nearly two years of being grounded. The first 737 Max flight since March 2019 occurred in Brazil on Dec. 9.