Are Face Masks for Passengers the Future of Air Travel?

by Paul Riegler

Planning to wear a face mask on your next flight? You won’t be alone.  Across the globe, as the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc, airline personnel and travelers are donning masks, both voluntarily and due to government regulation.
Although air travel today is a pale imitation of what it was in February, experts and industry leaders expect people to return to the skies once the coronavirus pandemic is under control. …

Cleaner Air and Water Make Earth Day 2020 Bittersweet Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

by Kurt Stolz

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated across the globe in a rather muted fashion, as many were confined to the great indoors amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
If your blood pressure is lower, your allergies less bothersome, and stars in the night sky more visible, it isn’t your imagination. Rather, it’s Mother Nature at work, taking advantage of the dramatic change in lifestyles that has taken place over the past …

Photo Essay: A Surreal Look at New York City in the Age of the Coronavirus

by Anna Breuer

Over the past few weeks, FBT Editorial Director Jonathan Spira has been photographically documenting New York City.
Most streets are deserted and cultural landmarks have gone dark. Indeed, since mid-March, there has been a 90% decline in subway ridership, a 20% drop in the crime rate, a 60% decrease in traffic at the city’s busiest tunnels and bridges, and a 30% drop in air pollution, according to reports from the National …

Review: What’s New in Apple CarPlay in iOS 13.4

by Kurt Stolz

Since its launch in 2014, Apple CarPlay has become, at least unofficially, a universal infotainment interface for vehicles from over two dozen automakers.
Virtually every car manufacturer offers multiple models that support CarPlay. The list includes Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Skoda, Toyota, VW, and Volvo.
With the introduction of iOS 13, CarPlay received a new …

Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Volvo to Restart Production in Europe Next Week

by Paul Riegler

Automakers in Europe – which employ some 9% of factory workers in the European Union – said they would cautiously begin to reopen their plants.
Volkswagen will reopen assembly lines in Zwickau, Germany, and Bratislava, Slovakia, on Monday, and Volvo will restart production at its Torslanda factory in Sweden.  Daimler, parent of Mercedes-Benz, said that it will resume production in Berlin, Hamburg, and Untertürkheim, with plants inSindelfingen and Bremen to follow.
BMW …

How to Make the Perfect Morning Coffee at Home During the Lockdown

by Paul Riegler

If your workday typically starts with a barista-prepared coffee – a flat white, cappuccino or, if you’re Viennese like our editorial director,a Mélange or Kapuziner – you probably haven’t seen your barista or favorite “Herr Ober” in your favorite Kaffeehaus recently.
While it was a ritual many took part in, I’ve never strayed away from making an excellent cup of coffee at home.  Experts say it’s the beans, the grinder (buff), …

To Survive, Airlines Start to Take Employee Temperatures, But Passengers and Workers Say More Is Needed

by Jonathan Spira

When the world starts returning to whatever its new normal will be, the number of customers returning to restaurants, bars, and airports will certainly lag behind those going to their hair stylists, dentists, and garden shops.
Travel has essentially ground to a halt.  If photos on social media of empty planes wasn’t enough to convince you, the Transportation Security Administration, which operates security checkpoints at most airports in the United States, …