The Week In Travel

Singapore Airlines reported its first quarterly profit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic this week. In October, it expanded its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) network to 14 cities across the globa in an effort to assist the city-state’s restoration of its reputation as a global travel hub and destination, while also maintaining strict health protocols. The scheme allows travellers to escape mandatory testing in VTL permitted airports and countries through which they pass – and has shown signs of success. The group carried 1.1 million passengers during the first quarter of 2022, double that of the previous quarter, setting an example for other Asian countries – a region that has thus far approached the reopening of borders with extreme caution – to consider alternative ways of encouraging travel.

Meanwhile in Europe, the UK government has pledged to only implement new Covid-19 travel restrictions in “extreme circumstances” – a boost to many of those in the travel industry who have been calling for a governmental commitment to stable and consistent travel rules. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said that he ‘understands the huge personal and economic costs of border measures,’ stating that the commitment was part of the government’s wider ‘Living with Covid’ plan – set to be revealed in more detail this Easter.

The Russian state’s invasion of Ukraine not only had immediate repercussions for travel in Eastern Europe this week, but it also presents long-term challenges for the international travel industry. Many airlines are currently avoiding Ukrainian and Russian airspace, while the Russian national carrier Aeroflot has also been banned from entering UK skies. Other European states have imposed similar restrictions on travel from Russia. Meanwhile, engine maker for Boeing Co. and Airbus SE jets, Safran SA, is looking to find alternative sources of titanium– Russia is a major supplier of the material.

Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will reinstate its full US network next month – for the first time since the start of the pandemic. This is in response to an increase in demand from customers.

And finally, passengers on a plane flying from Glasgow Airport claim to have spotted a UFO shortly after take-off. In a photograph taken by one passenger, an unidentified object can be seen hovering in the sky near the aircraft.The report the second such ‘UFO’ sighting in recent weeks on flights going from Glasgow to London. Is the Loch Ness Monster not enough mystery?