The travel industry spoke out ahead of a June 7 hearing from the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee on “Reviving Conventions & Tourism Through International Travel," reports Travel Pulse. Ahead of the hearing, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) president and CEO Zane Kerby issued a statement on the importance of eliminating pre-departure testing for inbound US travel. “We want to highlight the number-one barrier to our industry’s recovery – the inbound testing order. This order has little to no impact on COVID rates at home, while the economic damage it causes grows by the day,” Kerby stated. He also noted that the November 2021 shortening of the testing window from 72 hours to one day prior to travel has created additional challenges for travelers. "In fact, according to a recent survey of ASTA members, 83 percent of trip cancelations are occurring because of the US COVID-19 testing requirement.” Tori Emerson Barnes, US Travel Association executive vice president, public affairs, and policy, and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) made related statements, noting that other countries have discontinued similar policies and that inbound testing requirements have hindered the return of international travelers to the US.

British Airways has announced that it will fly direct between 26 US cities and London this summer, reports Business Travel News. On June 3, service started between London Heathrow and Portland, Oregon, and Pittsburgh, and will launch service to San Jose, California on June 13. The Portland route is new and will operate five times a week; according to the carrier, it is the only direct route to London from the city. On June 6, the carrier launched a new daily flight from Newark to London Heathrow to support the return of business travel. It departs at 7:55 am and arrives in the evening; it is the carrier's third daily flight between the cities. Beginning last week, British Airways also returned Airbus 380 service to such North American cities as Chicago and Vancouver, with service to Dallas-Fort Worth beginning July 1. The aircraft offers Club World, First, World Traveler, and World Traveler Plus cabins.

American Airlines and Qatar Airways are expanding their strategic alliance with a new codeshare agreement, allowing American’s customers to book travel on Qatar flights to and from 16 new countries via Doha. Pending any required government approvals, travelers will be able to book travel beyond Qatar to Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. American’s CEO Robert Isom stated, “Our global partnerships expand upon American’s comprehensive network, providing access to numerous destinations for our customers who are ready to travel around the world.” Additionally, on June 4, American launched service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), voted World’s Best Airport in the 2021 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

Italy has lifted its remaining pandemic-era entry restrictions, making it easier for foreign travelers to visit the country as the summer travel season begins, reports The Washington Post. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced, “As of June 1, 2022 a Green Pass or equivalent certificate is no longer needed to enter Italy.” Prior to that, travelers were required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a negative test result or proof of recent recovery, in order to avoid a five-day quarantine. While the European Union (EU) dropped its mask mandate for air travel in May, Italy is keeping mask requirements in place for multiple transportation settings, including commercial airplanes, trains, and buses, until June 15. Masking is also mandatory at indoor events such as theaters, cinemas, and concert halls. This change comes amidst a decrease in COVID-19 cases; daily cases in Italy have dropped 19 percent over the past seven days, with 212 new cases per 100,000 people.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on June 1 helped Delta Air Lines unveil a new, modern terminal at LaGuardia Airport, reports Travel and Leisure. The multibillion-dollar terminal, which opened to travelers on June 4, has 36 full-service check-in counters, 49 self-service kiosks, 16 bag-drop counters, and 11 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening lanes. It will also serve as the hub of Delta's operations at LaGuardia, consolidating terminals C and D, with accessibility from one main check-in area. The terminal features local restaurants and modern conveniences such as chargers and plentiful seating, and also includes a Delta Sky Club with 34,000 square feet and seating for 600 guests. The club features wireless charging pads, touchless bathroom entry, and several phone booths. Governor Hochel stated, "Every person who travels out of this airport will have an extraordinary experience, unthinkable just a few years ago." Delta CEO Ed Bastian similarly stated that the terminal is "something that we're all going to be very proud to operate and we look forward to finishing the last pieces of the concourses over the next couple of years."