Air Travel

As progress continues on approvals of vaccinations for COVID-19, more countries are working on plans for how to handle future travel. And more people in the Asia Pacific are saying that vaccines may become as necessary as a passport for international travel.

The timing of a broad return of tourism to Hawaii remains a question mark.  Some airlines are betting that by next summer demand will increase for mainland routes to the islands. But airlines around the world are struggling—and some in the Asia Pacific are announcing new plans for survival.

Chances are it will be some time before a lot of people come to Hawaii on airplanes. But in the next stage of air travel in the age of COVID-19, customers will be looking for some new developments. And a couple of companies in Asia are working on it.

All Hawaii airports that receive transpacific flights are now operating thermal cameras to screen out of state arrivals for symptoms of COVID-19.

As of August 1st, travelers coming to Hawaii will be exempt from the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine if they first get tested for COVID-19 and are negative for the virus. 

As Hawaii continues to reopen the local economy, some leaders are calling for a plan to restart the state’s $18 billion tourism economy. One lawmaker wants COVID-19 testing to be at the center of such a plan.

Roughly 99 million Americans still do not have identification in compliance with a federal law set to take effect in October. More than half of Hawaii licenses and IDs are compliant, but for those on Oahu who haven't gotten the approved identifications, the wait for an appointment now stretches to about six weeks.

Your Hawaii State ID or driver's license may not be accepted by airport security officers after October 2020. Under the Federal Real ID Act, states are required to verify certain personal information for those ID cards to be considered valid by federal authorities. Hawaii began compliance in 2014, but more recent changes mean that some ID's may still be considered invalid in 2020.

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Another Asian-based airline is stretching its wings to Hawai‘i. This one is a budget carrier, based in Singapore—and it joins a growing crowd. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Travelers to South Korea may soon be getting some help from an unexpected source.  The country’s largest international airport is preparing for some new roles to be played by robots.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

If you’re wandering around South Korea’s Incheon Airport with travel questions, you may soon be able to get help from a roaming robot.  Cleaning robots are already in use at a number of facilities…including Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

When it comes to tourism in Hawai‘i, the Asia Pacific is a growth market. Airlines are continuing to increase flights from the region---and that’s creating another challenge.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

Boeing and Airbus are fierce competitors who don’t see eye to eye on a lot…but they agree the Asia Pacific is running short on airline pilots.  Both companies forecast the region will be the world’s largest travel market within two decades.

More than 8 and a half million passengers flew into Hawai‘i last year—a record number. Most of them were well-behaved, but every airline faces a challenge in dealing with those who are not. And in China, a new program is starting to deal with rowdy passengers. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

South Korea has toughened its laws against unruly passengers on airplanes. The new measures increase fines and the possibility of jail time—and they come as complaints about passenger behavior are rising across the Asia Pacific. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The ballots are in for the best airport in the world. The Honolulu Airport was never close to making the top ten list. But six of the top ten are in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Flights have now resumed through Nepal’s only international airport. Last week, the facility was completely shut down for several days, stranding thousands of passengers. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  Next month will mark a year since Malaysian Airlines flight 370 disappeared from radar screens on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. There have been less catastrophic airplane incidents since then, from stuck landing gear to cases of air rage.  There have also been a surprising number of cases of other unusual behavior especially in China.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

    Gasoline prices are still coming down around the islands, though not as fast as they’re dropping on the mainland. But when it comes to those airline fuel surcharges, movement has been even slower. But some Asia Pacific airlines are starting to make adjustments. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Teams are working to recover the wreckage of the Air Asia plane that went down in the Java Sea. The investigations continue into what happened, on a Southeast Asian flight path that may not be familiar to many Americans. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute. 

  Travelers coming to Hawai‘i from the Asia Pacific have a growing list of airports where they can start their journeys. In fact, according to a recent study, over the next ten years several hundred new airports will be built in the Asia Pacific. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  If you’re planning any travel to China this summer, you may have some trouble with flights. It’s not because tickets are selling out, but government officials are warning of massive delays. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  The recent tragedies involving Malaysian Airlines may claim one more victim. The airline itself. Media reports indicate the company is in serious financial trouble. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  It takes about eleven hours to fly direct from Honolulu to Manila. But if you’re making travel plans for anytime soon, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

  It’s still too early for March tourism figures for the state…but statistics from February show the number of visitors fell slightly compared to a year earlier, while spending was flat. When it comes to the future of global tourism, a new report confirms much of the growth will come from Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  As the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 continues, the incident is having a number of impacts across Asia. One concerns political relations between Malaysia and China. And that is now extending to tourism. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  This is the first Aloha Friday of the spring. That means celebrations in many parts of the world. But for one group marking the change of seasons, it meant trouble. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.