Alitalia ceasing operations

Alitalia, Italy's state-owned airline, will cease operations on October 15.

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Airlines drop change fees


Travel always involves some level of risk, and lately people have not been willing to risk planning too far in the future. Understandably concerned that they won't be able to reach their destination due to COVID-19 restrictions, travelers are putting off buying plane tickets, even for travel in 2021. Monday United Airlines announced that they are 'permanently' dropping change fees for travel within the US, and won't impose change fees for other destinations through Dec 2021.

American Airlines and Delta quickly followed suit, announcing their own plans to drop change fees, at least through the end of 2021.

Air travel to Europe – cheaper and easier in 2019



Getting from the US to Europe should be cheaper and easier this year. Over the last few years no-frills airlines like Norwegian Air and WOW have driven down fares by serving secondary cities. WOW recently announced $49 fares from the US to Europe (one-way, for travel through March 11, limited seats and tons of terms).
Legacy airlines (like American, United, Delta, British Airways, etc) have responded with their flights serving secondary cities, several providing direct services to Europe from the West Coast.
Here's a roundup of some of the routes getting new service from the US:
Great Britain


Ireland
I flew the Irish airline Aer Lingus last summer, and was impressed with the quality and the price. Beginning in early July Aer Lingus will be flying from Minneapolis-St. Paul and from Montreal to Dublin.


Italy

The European airline Meridiana has re-branded as Air Italy. They have been offering inexpensive flights within Europe for years, but recently announced the start of new service from Milan to San Francisco and Los Angeles (starting in April).
United Airlines has one of the few direct flights between the US and Naples, with summer and fall flights from Newark.

France
For bargain-priced business class fares try La Compagnie. Yo have to get to New York first to use their service, but the all-business-class airline has fares between Newark and Paris or Nice that are about the same as coach on many airlines.

Portugal
In June TAP Air Portugal will begin offering their first flights to and from the West Coast, with new flights connecting San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC with Lisbon.

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