We boiled down these variables into a single 5-point rating system to determine the best airlines for flying during COVID. 800 Independence Avenue, SW Please try again later. 866.835.5322 (866-TELL-FAA)Contact Us, Last updated: Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information from FAA, United States Department of Transportation, Aviation Safety Draft Documents Open for Comment, Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program, Legislation & Policies, Regulations & Guidance, Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators, Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations, The White House COVID-19 Plan and National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), Carriage of Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials, Extension of Minimum Slot Usage Requirements, Clarifying information for Airmen Using Medical Certificate Duration Relief, Second Amendment to Special Federal Aviation Regulation (, Amendment of Air Carrier Training Exemptions, New Cargo Exemption, Amendment to Existing Cargo Exemption, Amendment to Special Federal Aviation Regulation (, Exemption for Transporting Cargo on Airplane Seats, Exemption for Certain Air Ambulance Personnel, Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the COVID-19 Outbreak, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (, Additional Pilot Medical Certificate Exemptions, Use of COVID-19 Vaccines by Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers, Enforcement Discretion for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing, Updated Health Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews, Runway to Recovery: Government publishes national strategy for air transportation system recovery, Updated Guidance for Airport Sponsors Considering COVID-19 Restrictions or Accommodations, Guidance for States, Localities, and Territories Considering Air Transportation Restrictions. Vaccines reduce the chances of getting sick with COVID-19 and its severity in the case of a breakthrough infection. We considered each airline's policy. Boston Consulting Group 2023. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months. ALL / Episode #40 - Transmission indoors and outdoors, Episode #41 - Vaccines, pregnancy, menstruation, lactation and fertility. This article was edited by Jason Li, a senior editor in the Shanghai office. Not only did business trips take four years to return to precrisis levels after the attacks on the World Trade Center but they also had not yet recovered to pre-financial-crisis levels when COVID-19 broke out in 2020. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. Burdened by debt, many carriers have depleted their cash reserves. WHO is conducting systematic reviews of the scientific literature and assessing high-quality data in grey literature on the effectiveness, safety, and potential harms of various public health mitigation measures for SARS-CoV-2 transmission implemented before, during, and after air travel, including at points of entry. . For example, BCG helped one global network carrier to redesign the entire organizationincluding process redesign, organization size, and structurein four weeks. Southwest initially blamed air traffic control and weather for the cancellations, but other airlines operated as normal. The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to flight reductions throughout the airline industry. American eventually acknowledged that it had insufficient staffing reserves to help get back on track. Travel restrictions We need you to be aware there are government-mandated travel restrictions in place that impact how and where you can travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We think that, in North America, there will likely be different outcomes for a wide variety of airlineslarge network carriers (such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines), nationwide LCCs, smaller airlines, and independent feeders. So, for now, we are considering various scenarios and observing key indicators to learn which of those scenarios are most likely to occur. Long-haul leisure usually takes more time to plan, so it is likely to rebound more slowly. In nominal terms, thats the same as in 2000. HEPA filters offer a similar level of performance to those used to keep the air clean in hospital operating rooms and industrial clean rooms. Since October 2020, the WHO Guideline Development Group for International Travel and Health (WHO ITH GDG) is tasked with regularly evaluating the scientific evidence around the effectiveness, safety and impact of public health measures for reducing travel-associated spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, while avoiding . In August 2021, the airline announced that all employees needed to be fully vaccinated or request a religious or health exception. Once those criteria are met, a state or region is encouraged to consider reopening with a three-phased approach. The airline industry has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisiseven harder, perhaps, than by the events of 9/11 and the 2008 global financial crisis put together. Although winds were indeed high, other airlines such as Dallas-based airline Southwest weren't nearly as impacted. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But the forecast is not without bright spots. The Golden State was hard-hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Which airlines will survive, and what will they look like? Episode #66 - Air pollution, a public health emergency, Episode #68 - COVID-19: Update on Long COVID, Episode #71 - COVID-19 vaccines and children, Episode #77 - Hepatitis outbreak in children. Therefore, well likely see ticket prices rise. Last Updated Mar. The airline also offers easy online flight changes/cancellations and is extending travel credits through at least Dec. 31, 2022. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, No annual fee: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, About the author: JT Genter is a freelance points, miles and credit card writer formerly of The Points Guy. For small airlines and tour operators, the level of support will depend to a greater extent on whether respective countries provide support to employees more broadly and whether those countries want or need to avoid favoring one airline over another. In response to the high demand and low supply of air freight right now, carriers could investigate short- to medium-term opportunities to boost their cargo services. Prices for used-aircraft leases have plummeted and are likely to remain lower. How well airlines have done operating domestic and international flights on time during the pandemic. United led the way in requiring vaccinations for employees. Our work with several leading carriers reveals that the period of ramping up will be even more challenging and dynamic than the one for ramping down. Airlines should reevaluate the economics of their operations, especially long-haul flights. WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), Policy and technical considerations for implementing a risk-based approach to international travel in the context of COVID-19, Interim position paper: considerations regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccination for international travellers, Considerations for implementing a risk-based approach to international travel in the context of COVID-19, Public health considerations while resuming international travel, Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak, Key considerations for repatriation and quarantine of travellers in relation to the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV, Updated WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV, WHO advice for international travel and trade in relation to the outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new coronavirus in China. Airlines can work with regulators to set standards across a gamut of issues. BCG X disrupts the present and creates the future by building bold new tech products, services, and businesses. But travelers may want to factor in these incidents when considering which airline to fly. New aircraft are rumored to be available at even deeper discounts. At the same time, airlines should consider M&A and consolidation opportunities. Travel during COVID We at Philippine Airlines hope you are safe and well in these extraordinary times. As a result, cargo yields increased by about 30 percent last year. Beyond that, U.S. Government COVID-19: Interim Health Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews has been provided jointly by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and can be accessed through the FAA website and CDC website. Many of these new business processes were designed to help manage the flight cancellation process, protect crew, and minimize operational costs / maximize revenues. Airlines are scrambling to meet this recovering demand, and many are phasing out flexible booking policies. JT Genter is a freelance points, miles and credit card writer formerly of The Points Guy. Several airlines have declared bankruptcy, with some ceasing operations, while other airlines reported historic reductions in flights, as well as accelerating retirements of certain aircraft types, such as the Airbus A340 . The Delta CEO shared in recent testimony that over 90% of employees were vaccinated. Here are our picks for the. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we will update the below pages with latest information so you can be informed about your flights. All . The FAA hasamended its cockpit oxygen-mask regulationto reduce the potential for pilots to be exposed to any pathogens that may be on the masks. Even though many airlines find themselves in financial straits, we recommend investing more in IT and digitalization, not less. (AMTS) to allow greater flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure your safety and comfort, our aircraft go through regular disinfection procedures to kill infectious agents. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. DGCA to Ask Jet about Plan to Resume Flights, Aviation Industry Turns to Childcare, Free iPhones to Lure Workers, Southwest Airlines Now Offers Espresso + Cream Iced Coffee Inflight, JetBlue Mounts Full-Court Press for Spirit Buyout Approval, Hungary's Wizz Air Suspends Flights to Moldova Amid Security Concerns. This large gap between nonstop pricing and connect pricing may need to narrow. Taking this further, products may shift to better cater to premium-leisure passengers, such as growth of premium-economy cabins or development of business-class seats more suitable for traveling as couples or groups. Note that you can't use Southwest travel funds for other passengers. Finally, of course, finance teams will need to be closely involved to protect cash levels, capture revenues as soon as possible, and delay cash-outs as much as possible. It wasnt even close. An official website of the United States government Here's how you know. All of our aircraft are regularly cleaned using disinfectant deemed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as effective against COVID-19. It will take time for airlines to restore capacity, and bottlenecks such as delays in bringing aircraft back to service and crew retraining could lead to a supplydemand gap, resulting in higher short-term prices. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order on March 2020 to help control the spread, which meant that non-essential businesses were obligated to shut their doors and many transitioned to a work-from-home . or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. The Delta CEO shared in recent testimony that over 90% of employees were vaccinated. The agency previously issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) (PDF) that provides information and recommendations for airlines to evaluate regulatory implications and safety risks when transporting only cargo inside the passenger cabin of an airplane. And Delta is pushing other airlines to share their internal "no fly" lists to make sure that unruly passengers can't just take their business to another airline. Google admitted to suppressing searches of "lab leak" during the pandemic. Its difficult to overstate just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated airlines. After a judge reviewed and upheld United's policy, only about 200 of the airline's 67,000 employees were let go, and employees with exceptions were placed on leave. Holbrook was vaccinated and wearing a mask, but on day three of their family vacation, he tested positive for COVID; by day eight, his wife and one of the girls were also positive. These could include committing to reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions in return for more labor flexibility; increasing the cash-on-hand requirements to make airlines more resilient against future shocks; more balanced value sharing between airlines and other sectors such as airports; or changes in the ownership caps to allow greater inflows of foreign capital, reducing the reliance on state capital further down the road. This was already ongoing across prominent airlines; however, the speed of such migrations is more critical now to show significant cost benefit. We boiled down these variables into a single 5-point rating system to determine the best airlines for flying during COVID. This is relatively low compared with other sectors. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Episode #81 - Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Episode #82 - Older adults and COVID-19 vaccines, Episode #83 - Minimize infection at health care facilities, Episode #86 - Microbes are becoming resistant to antibiotics. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers on CDC's website. Non-basic economy fares can be changed for free for flights within or departing the U.S., and these airlines will give you travel credit if you rebook a cheaper fare. The guidelines call for public health measures to be implemented at each step in the air travel process, including before, during, and after the flight to minimize the chance for transmission of the virus. While leisure passengers fill up most of the seats on flights and help cover a portion of fixed costs, their overall financial contributions in net marginal terms are negligible, if not negative. It is important to note that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has already implemented many of the guidelines being proposed for the airline industry through their Stay Healthy. The airline eventually conceded that the operational recovery was "more difficult and prolonged" due to schedule and staffing reductions made during the pandemic. Do we expect to see any consolidation? When flying through such turbulence, its critical to focus on the horizon. Alaska Airlines. So how do we make money? Occasionally, this is linked to state-aid programs, which may reduce the incentive for much-needed measures such as cost, organizational, and operational restructuring. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. We are also monitoring indicators that measure consumer sentiment, such as internet searches. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. Our crews are highly trained in handling ill and/or . Washington, DC 20590855-368-4200. Leaders face an uncertain landscape. Travel booking flexibility: How generous (and consistent) airlines have been in offering free changes and cancellations to new and existing bookings. The U.S. Government will continually assess these measures, in close consultation with airlines and airports, as Americans begin to travel again. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly stated that the airline would comply with federal requirements about vaccine and mask mandates but were not going to fire any of our employees over this.. As a result, the FAA issuedCertAlert #20-02Temporary Parking of Overflow Aircraft(PDF), for airport operators who are working with airlines on temporary parking plans for their aircraft. Most of the airlines have reduced 30% to 50% flights from the operations to . Airlines added many flights over the past few years between hubs and smaller cities, using small-size widebodies such as the Boeing 787. If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations. Then, in fall 2020, airlines seemed to grow tired of extending these policies, and most eliminated change fees entirely. In the years before COVID-19, aircraft OEMs ramped up production in the anticipation of continued growth. McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.com. Although we strove to perform as objective an analysis as possible, these (and any) rankings have an element of subjectivity. Subscribed to {PRACTICE_NAME} email alerts. But we believe that, under any scenario, the industry will be forever changed, much as it was after 9/11 and the 2008 crisis. There will be no impact to safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proactively taking steps to help address the widespread economic and health effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the aviation industry. In addition, health concerns might initially curb passengers inclination to fly. Mirroring its impact on aviation, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on airline companies due to travel restrictions and a slump in demand among travelers. Airline Industry, There are three areas that airlines must be ready with and prepare for to put themselves in a position to succeed in the post COVID-19 era. COVID Resources from Airlines American Airlines Delta Airlines JetBlue Airlines Southwest Airlines United Airlines Other Government Resources The White House COVID-19 Plan and National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness Coronavirus.gov U.S. Government COVID-19 Resource Center Coronavirus Resources at DOT Though it is sufficiently dynamic to adapt to new circumstances, it offers stable guidance when it comes to fundamental, structural changes in the size and shape of an airline. Whats more, the time between developing and implementing the plan may be only a week or twoand will have to be accomplished despite the displacement of aircraft and staff. 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