Travel restrictions ease but disruptive passengers continue to plague skies

By Michael Cammack Last updated Jul 28, 2023

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(CNN) — Around the world, restrictions are easing for vaccinated travellers, and more and more people will soon be on the move. But with the increase in traffic, airlines want to put an end to bad behavior in the sky.

Here’s what happened in travel this week.

The latest reopenings

Blow cobwebs out of your passport; there have been major relaxations of Covid travel rules.

Australia will open to vaccinated international travelers at the end of February, and India is relaxing its testing and quarantine rules.

In Europe, Greece, Portugal and the UK are all planning to relax testing requirements for fully vaccinated or recently boosted people.

Travelers to Hawaii won’t need reminders to be considered fully immunized, and the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Bermuda make entry easy.

Despite all that, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now has nearly 135 destinations in its highest risk travel advisory category.

This is because it is based on Covid case numbers. And while Omicron is rampant around the world, many governments are deciding that international travel restrictions are not a solution to its spread.

Big worries in small cabins

To paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian is fed up with these unruly passengers on these planes. He requested a no-fly list for violators, and the US Department of Justice responded.

Southwest Airlines is bringing alcohol back on planes for the first time since March 2020, a move its flight attendants’ union calls “dangerous and irresponsible.” United and Delta resumed some economy-class liquor sales last year, but American Airlines is holding its own.

Sports and leisures

World-class athletes work hard and often play hard too. Luxury concierge Johnny Vegas is a travel agent for sports stars. Here’s how he plans their lavish trips.

The Beijing Winter Olympics are almost halfway through, but the allure of winter sports in China will last longer than that. Indoor ski slopes, skating rinks, snow simulators and other attractions have been popping up across the country in recent years.

If Chinese food is more your groove, check out Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” podcast during his visit to Shanghai in 2014.

Old, abandoned or looking for love?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, what do you fancy?

Whatever your mood, CNN Travel has stories to suit your mood.

Get ready, travel

One of the most annoying things about Valentine’s Day — for the big set of gestures — is figuring out how to bring home all that precious jewelry from that surprise weekend in Paris.

Luckily, our partners at CNN Underscored, a CNN-owned guide to product reviews and recommendations, have put together this roundup of the best travel jewelry cases. Problem solved.

Wildlife photography

A mischievous kea parrot grabbed the Verheul family’s camera and captured a birds-eye view of a hiking trail in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand.

But if you prefer footage captured by real wildlife, there’s always this video where a parrot stole a New Zealand family’s GoPro and filmed their escape.

In case you missed it

A Las Vegas tourist misses $230,000 due to a slot machine problem.

After more than 1,000 years, this english pub is closing.

This couple travels the world doing house-sitting.