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Tag: fear

Virgin Australia wheels out country’s first airline baggage tracking tool

Virgin Australia will launch the country’s first-ever airline baggage tracking tool across more than two thirds of its domestic network tomorrow, allowing guests to know where their bag is at every step of the journey.

With digital tracking now part of everyday life, Virgin Australia’s new seamless travel experience is the latest instalment of the airline’s broader transformation program.

The tool, which has been two years in the making, comes as lost baggage remains a pain point for travellers across the globe. Despite this, Virgin Australia far outperforms the industry average for mishandled baggage, with a mishandled baggage rate of around 1.5 per 1,000 guests – five times better than the last recorded industry average.

The first-to-market technology is set to free guests from the fear of losing their bags next time they fly, with Virgin Australia anticipating a rise in guests checking in baggage as a result of the new tracking tool.

Initially piloted in May 2023, the tracking tool will be available on most domestic routes between major airports, including Sydney-Melbourne, Brisbane-Sydney, Melbourne-Gold Coast, Melbourne-Hobart, Adelaide-Melbourne, Sydney-Sunshine Coast, and more (refer Notes to Editor). The airline’s remaining domestic network, including select services departing Perth, are expected to feature the tracking tool soon.

United Airlines Suspends Some Flights to China as Demand Drops Over Virus Fears

CHICAGO (Reuters) – United Airlines Holdings Inc <UAL> said on Tuesday it was suspending some flights between the United States and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 due to a “significant decline in demand” as the new coronavirus spreads.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed,” United said in a statement.

The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China has killed 106 people in the Asian country and spread across the world, rattling financial markets.

United’s suspension affects a total of 24 flights.

The other two U.S. airlines that fly to China, Delta Air Lines Inc <DAL> and American Airlines Group Inc <AAL>, said they had not reduced their flights at this time but were closely monitoring the situation.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot)