Posts

Dave

Etihad Airways launches digital Covid-19 risk assessment tool

/in /by

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is partnering with Austrian-based healthcare technology company Medicus AI to launch a COVID-19 risk-assessment tool that will help passengers make informed decisions about travelling.

The Etihad Covid-19 self-assessment tool is accessible via the airline’s website

The risk-assessment tool will guide Etihad’s passengers in evaluating the probability of having contracted the Covid-19 coronavirus by responding to a set of 22 questions. The self-administered assessment, which takes less than five minutes to complete, is based on World Health Organization guidelines.

With this risk-assessment tool, passengers will understand their individual probability of having contracted the virus alongside advisories and recommendations, allowing them to make informed decisions about travelling.

Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer, Etihad Airways, said:

We know that health and wellbeing will be a major factor impacting the travel decisions of our guests and are committed to ensuring their continued safety and peace of mind when they choose to travel with Etihad Airways. As flying operations begin to resume globally, we want to empower our guests to make informed decisions on travel. Partnering with Medicus AI on this innovative new tool is just one of the ways we are adapting our operations and guest experience to meet the new demands placed on the travel industry as a result of Covid-19.

Dr. Baher Al Hakim, Chief Executive Officer, Medicus AI, said:

We are proud to support Etihad Airways in their efforts to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew as the world returns to normality. Our initial efforts at the start of the pandemic were to help provide assessment and monitoring tools, and as needs shift, our efforts have evolved to help our partners bring people back to their day-to-day life in a safe manner.

The tool is now available to guests on Etihad.com and is accessible in English, with additional language editions such as Arabic, French, German and Portuguese being added in phases.

Etihad Airways has been actively sourcing and investing in innovative solutions to enhance the safety and wellbeing of its employees and guests in light of the impact of Covid-19 and has also recently announced trials of Covid-19 triage and contactless technology at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Dave

Scott Pawley and Paul Baker interviewed

/in /by

Scott Pawley and Paul Baker have appeared in the first episode of the Business Travel Interview.

Global Travel Management managing director Scott, and sales director Paul answered questions on a variety of business travel topics as customers plan how to start travelling on business again.

Scott Pawley announced a hygiene pack, containing face masks, gloves and sanitising products has been made available to GTM customers.

As more airlines ramp up their capacity in order to meet increasing demand, a number of GTM customers are working through the process of ensuring staff can travel as safely and efficiently as possible, but without unnecessary additional costs. So, Scott and Paul answered a number of questions on some of the key issues facing businesses trying to power the post-Covid economic recovery.

Scott and Paul looked back on some of the comparable events that have impacted the travel industry in the last few decades including 9-11, the economic crash, the volcanic ash cloud and more.

And they explained what lessons they have learned in order to help businesses get back in the air.

Paul Baker explained the effect mandatory social distancing may have on the costs of business travel in future.

They discussed some of the issues around social distancing and safety measure that are being mandated by airlines and airports around the world. And Scott described a travel hygiene pack, containing masks, gloves and sanitising products, available at a discount to GTM customers.

Scott also described the Covid-19 map which is now on the GTM website home page, showing the measures taken to protect citizens in countries around the world.

And Scott and Paul discussed how the costs of business travel may change in future, and gave tips to any businesses looking to start travelling again now, or soon.

If you would like to ask Scott, Paul – or anyone else in the GTM team – any questions in a future episode of the Business Travel Interview, please drop Scott an email: SP@GTM.UK.COM.

Dave

Lufthansa Group mandates use of face masks for passengers

/in /by

Passengers on Lufthansa Group flights for the next four months will be required to wear face masks.

Mouth-nose covers will be a compulsory prerequisite throughout the entire journey on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings flights until 31 August 2020.

Passengers are required to use face masks on Lufthansa Group flights until at lest the end of August 2020

In addition, Lufthansa Group is asking all passengers continue to wear masks at the airport, before and after the flight, wherever the required minimum distance cannot be guaranteed without restriction.

The group has also provided details of changes to in-flight procedures:

The current regulation of Lufthansa Group Airlines to keep the neighbouring seat free in Economy and Premium Economy Class will no longer apply, as wearing the mouth-nose cover provides adequate health protection.  Due to the current low occupancy rate, seats will nevertheless be allocated as widely as possible throughout the cabin. 

Passengers are required to wear masks throughout the flight as well as at the airport

All flight attendants on Lufthansa Group flights in direct contact with customers will also wear a corresponding mask.

Passengers are requested to bring their own mouth and nose cover. A reusable fabric mask is recommended, but all other types of coverings such as simple disposable masks or scarves are also possible. The airlines will inform their passengers in advance by SMS or e-mail and on their websites about the new regulation.

The airline group also gave information about the likelihood of transmission on its flights:

In principle, infection on board remains very unlikely. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, no concrete cases of transmission on Lufthansa Group flights have become known. All Lufthansa Group aircraft are equipped with the highest quality air filters, which guarantee air quality similar to that in an operating theatre. In addition, the air circulates vertically instead of being distributed throughout the cabin

The requirement comes in to force on Monday, 4 May 2020 and will “preliminarily apply” until 31 August 2020.

Dave

The Covid-19 pandemic

/in , /by

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty to industries in the United Kingdom and beyond. The travel industry is not immune to the disruption caused. But at Global Travel Management we are committed to ensuring we provide a safe business travel management service and that our clients have access to up to date information and guidance.

What we are doing

We are monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic and how the travel industry is dealing with it very closely. Members of our management team are in regular dialogue with industry bodies and are working to ensure that travellers’ best interests are at the forefront of decision-making. We will be happy to answer any questions you have.

We have closed our office premises and transferred all travel management functions to employees working from home. You can still reach Global Travel Management by phone or email in the usual way.

Where you can get more information

We have a news page on our website that gathers some of the most important and breaking news on Covid-19 and its impact on the travel industry and business travellers. Covid-19 news page.

You can follow our Twitter account which contains business travel news as it breaks. GTM Covid-19 tweets. (Opens in new tab).

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a frequently-update page offering guidance for British people travelling overseas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. FCO guidance for travel. (Opens in new tab).

The UK Government’s has published advice: “Covid-19: what you need to do”. (Opens in new tab).

The Association of British Travel Agents has produced “Advice on travelling”. (Opens in new tab).

Dave

How we’re tackling coronavirus for business travellers

/in /by

At Global Travel Management we are working hard to ensure all clients’ business travel plans run as smoothly as always, despite the ongoing uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak. 

To ensure that trips go ahead with as little disruption as possible, we have implemented a four-point plan based around knowledge, communication, certainty and mitigation.

Knowledge

Our teams of travel consultants are kept up to date on the latest situations on the geographical limitations imposed by airline schedule changes and what special measures must be undertaken when travelling to affected areas.  If you need to tap into this pool of expert knowledge, just ask your GTM Account Manager.

Communication

We will continue to provide relevant, timely communication on the latest situation via emails, news updates on our website and alerts on our Twitter page.  If the situation changes during a trip, we will also provide relevant alerts via Dave, GTM’s traveller-supporting app.  For the latest updates, please see Coronavirus – a guide to the latest travel news and medical advice.

Certainty

Our teams rely on comprehensive, accurate and industry-leading feeds of information, with access to up-to-the-minute data on schedules, changes and availability, so we can ensure the latest, most accurate information on the current situation.

Mitigation

We create and amend itineraries to ensure the most-appropriate and most-efficient use of travellers’ time.  And, when necessary, we can provide alternatives and have back-up plans ready, for when travellers’ schedules have to change. 

If you would like to discuss your travel plans or have any questions about Covid-19 and how it might impact the business trips you are planning, please contact your GTM Account Manager.