Author: Matt Graham
New Zealanders Could be Exempt from Australian Hotel Quarantine
People arriving in Australia from parts of New Zealand with no COVID-19 cases may soon be exempt from undergoing 14 days of hotel quarantine. Speaking to his counterpart in New Zealand last Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised Jacinda Ardern that Australia would seek to apply the same hotspot approach proposed locally to New Zealand. … Continued
Podcast #44: Virgin Australia Sold to Bain Capital
On 4 September 2020, Virgin Australia creditors voted to approve the airline’s sale to U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital for $3.5 billion. This was the final major hurdle in bringing Virgin Australia out of voluntary administration and avoiding liquidation. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of October. So, how did Virgin … Continued
Virgin Australia Sold to Bain Capital – AIR044
On 4 September 2020, Virgin Australia creditors voted to approve the airline’s sale to U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital for $3.5 billion. This was the final major hurdle in bringing Virgin Australia out of voluntary administration and avoiding liquidation. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of October. So, how did … Continued
Virgin Australia Sale to Bain Capital Approved
Virgin Australia creditors have voted to approve the proposed sale to Bain Capital at a virtual meeting. Under the Deeds of Company Arrangement (DOCA) recommended by Virgin’s administrators, Virgin employees and secured creditors will receive 100% of their owed entitlements. Unsecured bondholders, meanwhile, will only receive approximately 9-13 cents per dollar owed. But the administrator … Continued
Goodwill Lost: Customers Have Long Memories
Most businesses have faced significant issues due to COVID-19, particularly in the travel industry. With borders closed, many airlines have had to cancel flights and many tour operators have had to temporarily shut down. Millions of cruises, car rentals and hotel bookings have also been cancelled as would-be travellers have been stuck at home. But … Continued
U.S. Airlines Permanently Axe Change Fees
United Airlines made a surprise announcement last weekend that it would permanently remove change fees on domestic airfares. Within days, almost every other major U.S. airline has followed suit in a fundamental change to the revenue models of American airlines. United and most other U.S. airlines have been waiving change fees since COVID-19 began to … Continued
Boeing 747s Now Operating Just a Handful of Routes
It wasn’t long ago that the Boeing 747 was a mainstay of commercial airlines, easily spotted at most major international airports around the world. Fast forward to September 2020, and the Boeing 747 is operating just a small handful of scheduled passenger flights for only four airlines. Boeing 747s will fly on only 17 worldwide routes … Continued
![Marriott Bonvoy Status Match [2020]](https://i.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/2020/08/marriott-bonvoy-phone-300x224.jpg)
Marriott Bonvoy Status Match [2020]
Marriott Bonvoy has launched a brand new status match & challenge for members with existing Accor, Hilton, Hyatt or IHG status. If you currently hold status with one of these four competing hotel loyalty programs, you can now receive equivalent status with Marriott Bonvoy for 90 days at no cost. Once the status match is … Continued
When Should Australia Lift its Outbound Travel Ban?
On 25 March 2020, the Australian government banned citizens and temporary residents from leaving the country without a special exemption. This extraordinary temporary measure was introduced amid growing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, the Australian outbound travel ban was widely viewed as reasonable. It’s now the end of August. Not only is … Continued