Travel

Gogo furloughs 60 percent of its workforce as passenger air travel collapses

Published

9 months ago

April 22, 2020

Blabiz

In-flight internet provider Gogo is placing more than 600 workers on unpaid leave, or about 60 percent of its workforce, the company announced on Tuesday. The Illinois-based company says sales of its in-flight internet service are expected to drop as much as 70 percent in April on commercial airlines, as passenger air travel falls to historic lows during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gogo said Tuesday that it has also applied for a $150 million loan and an $81 million grant from the government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The company said the time and duration of the furloughs will “vary based on workload in individual departments.” Gogo’s CEO is also taking a 30 percent pay cut, with other executives taking a 20 percent cut.

Gogo tells The Verge that, despite the furloughs, the company is “continuing to move forward” with its plan to roll out a new 5G air-to-ground network in 2021. The company expects the new 5G network to help bolster its network and its position in an increasingly competitive market.

Doing both of those things is crucial, as Gogo — which has still not turned a profit since it went public in 2013 — has admitted in financial filings that its current network has already run into capacity constraints. That network is still heavily dependent on air-to-ground connections, which are susceptible to interruptions and bandwidth issues, resulting in slow internet speeds and frustrated customers. To that end, Gogo has also spent the last few years trying to outfit as many of its customers’ planes as possible with the ability to connect to satellite-based internet networks, which have more bandwidth and can maintain a longer connection.

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Travel

U.S. Will Require Negative COVID-19 Results From Airline Passengers Prior to Arrival – NBC 7 San Diego

Published

5 hours ago

January 25, 2021

Blabiz

The Biden administration is cracking down on international travel restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Beginning Jan. 26, travelers entering the United States must test negative for COVID-19 before boarding their flight, according to an executive order signed by President Joe Biden. The new guidelines align with recommendations by the CDC.

“Airlines must confirm that there is a negative test result for all passengers before they get on board and land in the U.S.,” explained Sabrina LoPiccolo, a spokesperson for San Diego International Airport. According to the CDC, tests must be taken within 72 hours, prior, to travelers’ flights.

“I have no problem coming with a negative COVID test if I chose to travel internationally. The only thing that scares me is if the tests aren’t 100 percent accurate,” said Sheri McKernan, who said she was traveling from Portland, OR.

“This new requirement actually does have some flaws,” said Eyal Oren, Ph.D., an epidemiologist and the Interim Director for the School of Public Health at San Diego State University. “For one, if you test negative you could still, from the time you test, still acquire the virus, so it’s very important even in that time window to quarantine yourself…The other issue that I worry about is that, at least for the U.S. there is an allowance for two types of general tests; one are the PCR tests that takes two or three days to come back, the other are the rapid antigen tests, and those are about 20% less effective than the PCR lab tests, so that’s a potential concern in the sense that you can get some false assurance thinking your negative when in fact you’d test positive with the PCR test that would pick up a lower viral load”

Other countries have been requiring travelers to provide negative test results before entry. Oren said it has proved to be effective.

“There have been some data coming out that’s showing that testing people three days out via the PCR testing, not the less effective rapid testing, is about 75 percent effective in keeping infected people off the plane in the first place,” said Oren.

The president is also expected to reinstate broader restrictions that were in effect much of the past year but rescinded by then-President Donald Trump days before his term ended. Those limits would affect non-U.S. citizens traveling from the United Kingdom, Ireland and much of Europe under what is known as the Schengen countries who share a common visa process. Travelers from Brazil would also be affected.

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Travel

Joe Biden to reinstate COVID-19 travel ban for most non-US travelers

Published

11 hours ago

January 25, 2021

Blabiz

Americans returning from the Thanksgiving break faced strict new coronavirus measures around the country Monday as health officials brace for a disastrous worsening of the nationwide surge. (Dec. 1)

AP Domestic

President Joe Biden on Monday is expected to reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions to combat COVID-19 infections, a White House official who was not authorized to speak ahead of the official announcement confirmed to USA TODAY on Sunday.

The restrictions, which were in place for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term.

“With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” the now-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Twitter last Monday.

“On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on (Jan.) 26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Psaki added.

COVID-19 travel restrictions by state: See testing, quarantine requirements

More: Canada warns of possible changes to traveler rules, including hotel quarantine

Also Sunday, Reuters reported that Biden will impose a travel ban on South Africa, where a new potent strain of the virus has been discovered.

“We are adding South Africa to the restricted list because of the concerning variant present that has already spread beyond South Africa,” Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s principal deputy director, is quoted by Reuters.

The South Africa variant has not been discovered in the United States, but another variant – originating in the United Kingdom – has been detected in several states.

Last week, Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to require international air travelers to quarantine upon U.S. arrival. The order also requires that all U.S.-bound passengers ages 2 and above get negative COVID-19 test results within three days before traveling.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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Travel

Winter weather brings tricky travel conditions

Published

17 hours ago

January 24, 2021

Blabiz

A few flurries and light drizzle have been the story for Sunday, but this was just a preview of the active weather ahead on Monday and Tuesday.

Tonight remains relatively quiet. We could see a little more drizzle or a few light flurries, but they won’t impact any travel in any way. Monday also starts out on a quiet note, with just cloudy conditions.

The weather turns more active by Monday afternoon, and our forecast yesterday appears to be on track, with very few changes made. Snow will advance from the south, with snow most likely to start around 2-5PM south of Fort Wayne. By the evening, snow will make it into Fort Wayne and areas to the north (by 5-8PM). I do anticipate snow south of Fort Wayne to mix in with some rain and potentially sleet thanks to warmer air. This could create some ice accumulation, causing slick roads Monday night in areas where we don’t anticipate a lot of snowfall (especially in Grant, Blackford, and Jay counties).

Snow continues overnight Monday and through much of the day Tuesday. As a result, slick conditions are likely not only Tuesday morning but through the day and even into the Tuesday evening commute.

When the system exits, we expect greater snow totals north of Fort Wayne, in the 2-4″ range, with some locally higher totals possible. Totals will quickly diminish farther south, with 1-3″ likely in central areas (such as Fort Wayne) and less than 2″ for areas south of Fort Wayne due to a rain/snow mix that will lower totals. Regardless of how much snow is expected for your exact location, slick travel conditions are likely Monday evening and through the day on Tuesday.

I’ll have more details through the evening at 6 and 11PM on ABC21! We also plan to have team coverage Monday night and through the day Tuesday on-air, online and on social media.

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Gogo furloughs 60 percent of its workforce as passenger air travel collapses

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Gogo furloughs 60 percent of its workforce as passenger air travel collapses

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Gogo furloughs 60 percent of its workforce as passenger air travel collapses

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