As we wait for the outcome of the 2020 election, questions loom large related to helping the decimated Hawaii travel industry. The issue is, will the next president, whoever that is, be able to save the industry from the pandemic. A key component may be to require COVID testing of all airline passengers in the US. That has been called for by you specifically in hundreds of comments. And we concur.
Focus on Hawaii travel’s return.
For many of you, including your editors, the idea of 5+ hour flights to and from Hawaii remains something that completely lacks its prior hard-earned luster. And hotels don’t feel any better.
First, as safe as Hawaii flights may or may not be, you can expect to encounter airport lines, possibly crowded jetbridges, and many points of closer-than-comfortable contact throughout the Hawaii travel process. Who even wants to entertain the prospect of becoming sick from the plane trip or from being in airports. And while we are at it, don’t forget about the health concerns within the Hawaii travel industry, and its workers.
What’s needed is controlling the pandemic, more testing, treatments, and then on to potential vaccines. All this while keeping Hawaii’s devastated travel economy open yet as safe as humanly possible. And this needs to occur despite spikes in the virus across the mainland.
Travel: $1 trillion driver of the US economy.
Keep in mind that US travel is huge and that Hawaii travel is a significant part of that pie. The US Travel Association said that pre-COVID, the leisure and hospitality sector directly accounted for 11% of US employment and that since then, 39% of US jobs lost are attributable to travel’s decline. If what has happened here in the US isn’t bad enough, globally, the travel sector is on track to lose a whopping 175 million jobs this year.
Whoever prevails after yesterday’s election needs to show leadership in restoring the travel industry, including all-import Hawaii travel.
US travel industry recommendations.
A travel-inclusive stimulus package is supported by 90% of Americans according to a new study of registered voters by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Respondents said that Congress should agree on a stimulus package and remain in session until that is complete. A comprehensive plan for the air travel industry has never been undertaken. What was done instead was a cash handout that unfortunately was depleted faster than COVID.
For those of you itching for a Hawaii vacation, the airlines have stepped up to help offer perhaps the best modicum of safety reassurance they can on their own. They require masks, clean and disinfect planes like never before, offer fresher than ever HEPA filtered airflow, and have essentially re-imagined all processes to be COVID friendly. But is that enough?
Entered airline based pre-travel testing.
Now the airlines are getting into the business of COVID testing themselves. From American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to United Airlines and others, they want to help both put minds at ease and assure their travelers are not quarantined on arrival in Hawaii. This is clearly having a beneficial financial impact as more Hawaii visitors arrive on the shores. We see them here on the ground. More Hawaii-bound flights are restarting each week.
You’ll recall that United was the first airline to announce preflight testing at San Francisco Airport just before boarding Hawaii flights. While expensive, in 15 minutes, you are free to board. Many less expensive options pose timing issues, and there are free ones out there now too, with more to come. Airports have skin in the game as well, with Oakland going out first with free COVID tests for Hawaii bound passengers. Other airports are following suit including the New York airports. And, while tests don’t remove the need for behavior modification and layered safety precautions throughout travel, they are at least a start for now.
Calling the federal government for a plan to benefit Hawaii travel.
Airlines and the overall travel industry want universal pre-flight coronavirus testing as a way to mitigate quarantines and thus jump-start travel. A long list of industry stakeholders has called on the federal government “to pursue a risk-based and data-driven approach to coronavirus testing which would obviate the need for quarantines” so that travel resume and prosper. That group includes the US Chamber of Commerce, the US Travel Association, IATA, Airlines for America, and multiple travel industry unions.
Beat of Hawaii © photo at Waikiki Beach. Here’s how it looked before.
United Airlines isn’t a Hawaii Travel Partner. If you take their test and none other, don’t you have to undergo a 14-day quarantine?
Just cancelled our 4 month stay on the Big Island. First time we’ll have to tough out winter in BC. In 22 years of Kona stays. It was just too much hassle for us in our 80’s (84 & 88), we’d face 2 quarantines, one each way plus 11-12 flight hours round trip. We had to consider the travel risk factor and medical availability if one of us should fall ill.
It was a difficult decision after all these years on the Island. It also meant a loss to the Hawaiian economy of $40,000usd. We’ll comeback when things improve with a vaccine
Aloha
Russ/Dorothy
Our family follows all protocols for safety. We have gone on 4 “aware and safe” trips this year, mostly outside places with individual accommodations. We have not eaten in a restaurant in almost a year.
Whatever plans are chosen by airlines and Hawaii, ok.
Hawaii has a much bigger problem, in my opinion. Frequent travellers to Hawaii (like us) read sites like this daily. I also skim every newspaper online from each county. I am very hurt at what I have learned about what locals think of us haole. For me, it’s like learning the relatives all hate me.
We do our best to be respectful and humble in this sacred land.
We cancelled 2 Kauai trips this year (before lock down). Our accommodations warned us that food may be scarce and places might be closed. We did what we felt was right.
Finding out, through comment areas like this,that all travellers are viewed with contempt hurts.
With all the talk of pre-testing, let’s not forget that not everyone comes from the west coast. We’re holding reservations (which we’ve had to push back now 3 times – Thanks, Ige!) from the east coast with a connection in DFW. A testing program has to include more than SFO and LAX
It will either be more lockdowns that will starve the state and economy. Or it will be hypocrisy if the election goes the way Hawaii blindly votes.
Biden and the democrats are cheating, hopefully ACB will stop the double and triple voting in some areas. Reports are there are more ballots than there are registered voters in some areas. #StopTheCheating!
You’re a disgrace. Stop spreading lies.
Do you really believe this? What are your sources? Do you know how elections work and how the votes are counted and the checks and balances that are in place? Or are you just spouting off about what you hear on tv and from friends? Because if you really believe this then frankly you are part of the problem and not the solution. Your’e feeding into the insanity. ‘Reports are’… how about this… Reports are you are not very knowledgable on this subject!
Hopefully the moderator will remove this post. It is not helpful, has nothing to do with the subject and only publishes unproven allegations by a dissatisfied person.
Gerhard…. Amen!!! This is not a political site. This is a site where we trade constructive comments on visiting Hawaii.
What is going to be allowed…it’s so blazen!
The only solution to regain life as we knew it, is the creation and distribution of a safe vaccine. You can blame anyone you choose, any country, even the weather- but until we are all safely vaccinated, safe travel to anywhere is risky business.
Don’t get ahead of the science- and when a safe vaccine becomes available, get vaccinated. This is the only way we can reclaim the great privilege of travel.
Joe Biden has been talking about lockdowns and not opening things up. Not a good prospect for the travel industry.
Agreed. Biden stated that he would make mask wearing mandatory and would lock the country down until a vaccine is made available or the rate of CoVid infections dropped to almost nil. Thankfully, Trump’s Administration was able to get the testing and approval of a vaccine on the fast track and we can look forward to mass production of it very soon. Even so, it may take at least 6 months before everyone can be given the vaccine. Based on that scenario, I don’t think travel to anywhere will pick up much in 2021. My heart goes out to the people of Hawaii.
After rescheduling several times I finally flew in for a week in our time share on Kaanapali, doing little or no driving, settling for beach walks and days at the pool and meals within walking distance. We were not required to wear masks at or near the pool. I didn’t mind wearing masks at other public areas – after all, if I were at home, I’d have to wear a mask in public too. The wait at the airport for COVID check-in was efficient and brief – it added no time at all to the trip because baggage claim took longer than the check-in. The COVID test at CVS worked as advertised. I hope Hawaii stays open for good and that the state’s health and economy get stronger. Aloha and thanks for Beat of Hawaii.
Hi Buddy.
Thanks. Appreciate you letting us know how your time on Maui went.
Aloha.
Nice post Buddy and a good example of the typical visitor gracing our islands at present!
You are obviously thoughtful, realistic and as a result are enjoying an un crowded Hawaii and it’s beauty.
We all have to remember the angry “I’m not wearing a mask/Hawaii is a bunch of socialist’sl” crew are not the norm.
They just stick out because of their aggressive in your face lack of Aloha.
The vast majority here realize these are difficult times for all, are finding positive ways to cope and making the best
of the situation we are all in.