Premium customers flying with Emirates can, effective immediately, enjoy the Dubai-based carriers signature Chauffeur Drive Service (CDS) and airport lounge at its Arab hub with the restart of these services following a full health and safety review.

Qantas will reopen an initial 11 domestic and regional lounges around the country from 1 July 2020 following the easing of travel and venue capacity restrictions.

Qantas has announced a three-year, three-pronged strategy aimed at accelerating the airline’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The plan will see the Qantas Group let go of at least 6,000 staff across Qantas and Jetstar and the immediate retirement of Qantas’ remaining six Boeing 747-400 workhorses, while the reintroduction of its Airbus A380 double-deck fleet (12) is uncertain.

Qatar Airways has extended its newest route to Australia – Doha to Brisbane – beyond the end of June 2020 until late October.

Fiji Airways will implement a new ‘Travel Ready’ program to ensure passenger health and safety is safeguarded through all aspects of air travel once it returns to international operation.

Queensland is rolling out the ‘welcome back’ mat, offering $10 million in funding for airports to negotiate with airlines to revive aviation routes to the state.

Air Vanuatu has placed on hold the delivery of two new Airbus A220 aircraft expected later this year as part of the airline’s ‘New Era, New Look’ strategy.

Etihad Airways’ regional head for Australia and New Zealand, Sarah Built, says partnerships have been crucial for the Gulf airline in its 15 years of operation, but questions the value of global airline alliances.

Singapore Airlines has scheduled its first passenger flights to Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne since March following the closure of borders into Australia and Singapore due to the coronavirus pandemic.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has begun trialling a sustainable method of taxiing aircraft to the runway at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Virgin Australia has scratched a recently proposed partnership with other Australian-based airlines, telling the competition regulator it was unlikely to assist it or its customers due to changed market conditions.

The first stage of the strategic partnership between Qatar Airways and American Airlines has commenced this month with the Gulf carrier placing its code on American Airlines’ domestic flights, strengthening connectivity and creating hundreds of new travel options for passengers.