Articles by Kurt Stolz
New York City Schools Close as Coronavirus Cases Surge
New York City Schools will temporarily close starting Thursday as the seven-day rolling average for the Covid-19 positivity rate hit 3%.
The news was announced by the city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, using the mayoral Twitter account.
“New York City has reached the 3% testing positivity 7-day average threshold,” he said in the tweet. “Unfortunately, this means public school buildings will be closed as of tomorrow, Thursday November 19, out an abundance of …
Google Adds Real-Time ‘Crowdedness’ Feature for Mass Transit to Maps App
Google added three new features to its Maps app designed to help travelers stay safe amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The list of new features includes an expansion of its live “crowdedness” information for public transit systems, which displays the real-time busy state of transit lines when users look up directions. Previously, the Maps app only displayed such information for stations.
“If you need to take transit, Google Maps can help you more easily …
FAA Lifts Ban on Beleaguered Boeing 737 Max Jet
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban on the Boeing 737 Max on Wednesday, issuing an order that clears the way for the beleaguered aircraft to return to the skies.
The move came some 20 months after the troubled 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 following two hull losses that resulted in the deaths of 364 people, namely those of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
“The FAA’s …
American Airlines and British Airways Plan Three-Test Trial for U.S.-U.K. Flights
American Airlines and British Airways announced a new and free coronavirus testing program for passengers on flights linking the United States and United Kingdom.
The two carriers said they are working on a “combined effort to scientifically demonstrate how Covid-19 testing can reopen international travel and remove the need for passengers to quarantine on arrival.”
The program involves three coronavirus tests, namely one 72 hours prior to departure, one upon landing in …
First ‘Covid-19-Free’ Flight Between New York and London Lands at Heathrow
The first “Covid-19-free” flight between New York and London landed Tuesday morning at Heathrow Airport. The flight was operated by United Airlines and every person on board took a rapid coronavirus test immediately prior to boarding and tested negative.
United Flight 14 left the gate at 7:14 p.m. local time and took off from Newark Liberty International Airport at 7:29 p.m. The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner took just six hours and ten …
Korean Air to Take Over Asiana in $1.62 Billion Deal
Korean Air, the flag carrier of Korea as well as the country’s largest airline, will take over smaller rival Asiana Airlines in a government-backed $1.62 billion deal.
The deal will be backed in part by taxpayer money. State-run lender Korean Development Bank will invest 800 billion won ($722.4 million) in Hanjin KAL, a South Korean chaebol and Korean Air’s parent, which will use the money to purchase new shares in Korean …
United Airlines to Make Elite Status Easier to Obtain in the Coming Year
United Airlines, which last April said it would extend the current elite status of members of its MileagePlus frequent-flyer program into early 2022 amidst the pandemic-induced decline in travel, said it will make it easier to earn elite status for 2022.
The Chicago-based airline is lowering the requirements for both Premier Qualifying Point and Premier Qualifying Flight thresholds by 25% that must be met in 2021.
“Today’s announcement of making it easier …
