Four US airlines have cut tens of thousands of flights from their November schedule due to COVID-19. American Airlines removed 86,000 flights, or 46 percent, of flights in November as it copes with low demand. United Airlines has also reduced its flight plan for the same time period by 52 percent. Additionally, Delta Air Lines has reported flight reductions in November, as well as Southwest Airlines, which plans to reduce the number of its November flights by 36 percent. The announcement of the reduction means United now has the smallest number of flights operating next month out of the four carriers, with 72,566. American, meanwhile, will carry out a total of 99,362 flights - the most out of the four airlines - in November, despite the cuts.

With COVID-19 in constant fluctuation in the United States, travelers should be aware of the different travel restrictions set in place throughout the country. While some US states have no restrictions on travel, other state-specific COVID-19 safety information, including possible face covering mandates in public settings, is relevant for travelers. Click "READ MORE" below for a comprehensive list of state-specific travel restrictions and safety mandates currently in place across the US as assembled by CNN.

Global air travel demand in August contracted by 75.3 percent year over year, a sign of a continuing modest recovery since reaching a low point in April, reports Business Travel News. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), August's air travel demand compared with July, when there was a 79.5 percent year-over-year contraction, shows signs of a slow growth in air travel demand. Domestic markets continue to drive the relatively modest rebound, with August domestic traffic down 50.9 percent year over year, a mild improvement from July, which saw a 56.9 percent year over year drop, according to IATA.

With the Real ID deadline one year away, the US Travel Association called for a deadline extension, saying "full compliance is not realistically within reach" by October 2021, reports Travel Weekly. Citing data showing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that just over one third of Americans have Real IDs, US Travel said that the deadline could jeopardize the recovery of the travel industry. "The last thing the struggling travel sector needs is a looming deadline that will stunt recovery or, worse, trigger a new decline," US Travel said in a statement. "Congress should therefore direct the [DHS] to certify that air travel will not be negatively affected by Real ID enforcement before setting a new deadline." US Travel also said that further measures need to be in place to prevent scenarios in which travelers are turned away at airport security checkpoints, such as TSA PreCheck enrollment as an acceptable alternative for Real ID; the development of procedures to process travelers who don't have a Real ID and allowing states to use modern identity verification options not available when Real ID was enacted in 2005.

A pilot program for sharing certified COVID-19 test status across borders will start this week for Cathay Pacific's flights between Hong Kong and Singapore, reports Airport Technology. Swiss non-profit The Commons Project Foundation is working with The World Economic Forum on the initiative, which seeks to allow safer travel and accelerate border reopenings. The program, named CommonPass, protects personal data in compliance with significant privacy regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Travelers are required to take a COVID-19 test at a certified lab to use CommonPass. The results must be uploaded to their mobile phone and then they must complete health screening questionnaires if mandated by the destination country. Upon completion of the required processes, CommonPass confirms a traveler's compliance with the destination country’s entry requirements. The system then generates a QR code that can be scanned by airline staff and border officials. Apart from Cathay Pacific, United Airlines will also trial the CommonPass system with select volunteers on flights between New York and London later this month.

Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (EHI), the parent company of Enterprise and National car rental services, is proud to offer Lawyers Travel travelers a limited-time promotion for new members who enroll in Emerald Club between October 1 and December 31, 2020, to receive complimentary Executive status, good through February 2022. Additionally, EHI will match status levels for existing clients that have status on other carriers.

Benefits of the Emerald Club include:

Click "READ MORE" below to enroll in EHI's Emerald Club promotion.