Who among us has not felt at least a twinge of guilt in booking a flight to a far-flung dive destination, knowing very well that the trip will add a significant contribution of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere? Being both a keen traveller and avid environmentalist, I surely have felt conflicted.

As more people get their first shots of Covid-19 vaccine, some airline industry traditions are coming back. Airlines are slowly returning to their old boarding policies, while quietly re-adding change fees to certain tickets.

According to Travel Weekly, the majority of major airlines will go back to assessing fees on Basic Economy fares by April 1, 2021.

The global civil aviation industry has paved the way for airlines to help neutralize their climate footprint by protecting nature. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has approved two forest-carbon programs from which airlines can purchase carbon credits. Under a UN framework known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), the “nature-based” credits fund protection for forests that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere.

After closing its borders in March, the Maldives is set to reopen for tourism. According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism, a phased reopening is planned, with incoming flights to its main international airport set for July, well ahead of a planned year-end opening.

Massive decline

The scale of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact is outlined in a report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which predicts a decline in international travel of between 58% and 80% in 2020. The prediction of a 58% decline is based on the gradual reopening of international borders and easing of travel restrictions in early July; the 80% figure is based on early December.

The British company specialises in liveaboard and resort-based scuba diving holidays and had bought flights from the World's oldest travel agent.

"Thomas Cook Group has been placed into administration.

Unfortunately, Blue O Two has a substantial number of customers affected by the collapse of the group, which includes Thomas Cook Airlines. Thomas Cook Airlines were due to be the supplier of the flight segment of travel on a large proportion of upcoming liveaboard holidays to the Red Sea.

Passengers flying through Dubai International can now access vital travel information right on their smartwatch. Developed by Dubai Airports in conjunction with Amsterdam-based company M2Mobi, the app is being made available for iOS and Android software platforms. An extension of the Dubai Airports mobile app, the smartwatch app provides travellers quick access to the latest status of their bookmarked flight, including arrival or departure times, terminal, gate or baggage belt information.

Egypt’s Only Daily Independent Newspaper In English' ran a story on Wednesday 24th February 2016 stating that easyJet would be resuming flights to Egypt in May.

An official at the Ministry of Tourism said British EasyJet Airways will resume its flights from England to Sharm El-Sheikh in May 2016.

We contacted easyJet today to confirm the situation. easyJet issued this statement.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can now order some passengers to go through a body scanner, even if they request a full-body pat-down. The change comes at a time of heightened concern about aviation security and terror plots against commercial aviation.

Mandated screening for some passengers would be "warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security," the TSA said in a document updating the protocol.