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The financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on airlines is continuing with Southwest Airlines in the USA reporting a first quarter loss of $94 million while warning investors the worst is yet to come.

An Aer Lingus flight to London Heathrow departed from Belfast City Airport on Monday 4 May with “no social distancing” whatsoever according to one passenger.

Budget airline Wizz Air will resume some routes from Luton airport May 1 with passengers required to wear face masks in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

JetBlue have become the first U.S. airline to introduce a policy requiring all passengers to wear personal protective equipment, from the moment they check-in until they disembark.

Low-cost airline Ryanair has today extended its limited flight schedule until May 14. Around 99% of its fleet remain grounded at airports.

The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, says his planes will not fly if the airline is forced to leave the middle seat empty in order to comply with in-flight social distancing rules.

Air Canada have announced they will suspend all flights between the USA and Canada for 4 weeks after the U.S. and Canadian governments’ decision to extend the border closure for another month.

Airlines around the world are scrambling to convince passengers that it’s safe to fly in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Earlier this week UK based EasyJet announced plans to leave middle seats empty, now UAE’s main airline Emirates is banning almost all carry-on baggage on board its aircraft.

American Airlines quietly raised baggage fees for Basic Economy passengers on transatlantic flights. The move follows the recent $25bn bailout package for US airlines.

United Airlines, the third largest carrier in America by revenue, has become the first major airline in the country to release financial details since the coronavirus pandemic brought travel demand to its lowest level in decades.