Business travel

Wearing a mask, social distancing, technology: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) unveils its health guidelines.

As we enter the second phase of the decontamination process, airlines and airports are announcing that business is picking up again in the French aviation sector.

On 28 May, the government unveiled the second phase of the decontrol plan, including the abolition of the 100-kilometre limit hitherto imposed on travel within France, with effect from 2 June.

This summer, Iberia will serve some forty destinations in Spain and Europe, including Paris in July and Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse in August.

Nice airport is preparing for the gradual return of the airlines that suspended their schedules during the health crisis.

In an internal letter reported by La Tribune, the CEO of HOP! Air France announces his intention to restructure the company around CDG and Lyon. All other regional airports as well as Paris-Orly would be sacrificed. An option that could spell doom for many regional airports...

The 2020 edition of the Skytrax rankings saw Paris CDG and Orly airports register a clear improvement, even if the ADP group intends to go further.

Condemned by Air France and Lufthansa for their size and fuel consumption, the Airbus A380s are making an early and definitive exit for Air France and a temporary one for Lufthansa.

Okko Hotels, the lifestyle brand with a strong business positioning, is opening its tenth establishment in France, right in the heart of Toulon.

The Lodge & Spa Collection is about to be enriched by a fourth hotel, the Incomparable, still luxurious and still in the Alps, on the shores of Lac du Bourget.

Air France has published its flight schedule until the end of June, subject to government approval. In total, the airline offers passenger flights to 84 destinations from Paris CDG and to 11 French cities from Lyon.

As the pace of decontamination in Europe quickens, airlines and airports will have to take account of passengers' new expectations if they are to regain their trust. Hygiene is at the heart of this process.

Accor has entered into a partnership with the insurer AXA in order to offer medical assistance to customers of the 5,000 Accor hotels worldwide, including teleconsultations.

Passengers on international flights will now be subject to a thermal camera system on arrival at Paris-CDG, as announced by the ADP Group on Thursday.

While the gradual reopening of borders could be accompanied by a 14-day quarantine, IATA is concerned about the impact of such a measure, and is advocating other solutions.

While the European Union has suggested that member countries reopen their internal borders from 15 June, over the last few days airlines have been announcing a timid resumption of flights from the Old Continent.

Emirates will resume flights between Paris and Dubai airports on 22 May.

Scheduled for September, the reopening of Pullman Montparnasse, the brand's future flagship with its unrivalled meetings offer, will take place later in the year.

Brussels Airlines estimates its losses at one million euros a day, and is asking for help from the Belgian government and the Lufthansa group. The Belgian airline is planning a massive reduction in its fleet (30%) and its workforce (25%), but will resume flights on 15 June.

The decontamination process has reached a new stage with the reopening of the European Union to some fifteen countries, while airports and airlines are back in service: here's a round-up of the latest news from France, Europe and the rest of the world.