Air Journey Expands its Reach as COVID Concerns Ease

by CJP Patron Partner Air Journey Founder and President Thierry Pouille

Air Journey has operated a number of short programs since this past November to the islands of the Caribbean open to the public with the COVID restrictions, as well as the Bahamas and Central America.

In fact, I am writing this article from Menorca, the northernmost island of the Balearic Island chain in Spain. With the opening of countries in Europe, we are launching our first journey in the middle of the month of July followed by one in August and another one in September.

What are the differences of flying to Europe during this post-pandemic COVID time? First at the time of writing the article, Canada is still closed to their neighbors of the south for any stay. So we will launch our journey from the northernmost point of the US – most likely Bangor, ME with a stopover in Goose Bay, where refueling and bathroom usage is accepted before moving on toward Greenland and then Iceland.

The journeys are open to people who have been vaccinated, and since Europe is making a difference for people who’ve been exposed and have contracted COVID-19, we will take these onboard.

At the time of the writing, we don’t know yet what will be the exact protocol to allow US citizens to the countries of Europe. They have most accepted tourists who have been vaccinated. We don’t know yet if an antigen test or even PCR will be required. From what I have been reading here from the local press, it looks like just a confirmation of vaccination might be sufficient for some of the countries.

Destinations open at the time of the writing are Iceland, followed by Sweden, Poland, Montenegro, Slovenia and Switzerland. One of the interesting parts of the current situation is the ability to fly within Europe with not too many restrictions with the proper test for the first country we enter. I certainly hope by reading the different aspects of the press that the restrictions will ease further as we enter the month of June and even better in July and August.

Every day the local press here in Europe is announcing opening of borders, opening of air bridges between countries, so let’s sharpen your knowledge of crossing the Atlantic, prepare your position reporting memo, and let’s get ready to embark to a discovery of Europe like you haven’t seen before.

Because of the restrictions still in place and the different countries opening, the usual mass of tourism is not here yet. You have museums just for yourself. Restaurant reservations are still easy. Most of the cities are very clean because the different states and towns have utilized COVID lockdowns to clean and re-organize a number of things. So be ready to discover a Europe you haven’t seen before.

One of the biggest changes I’ve seen here is Spain is basically a rather substantial slowdown of the amount of people. The cruise ships are not in town, the tour companies are not going around with large hordes of tourists and buses. So this is the best time to go slow.

Take a look at our journey in August, which involves discovery of the different French vineyards through Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne area – especially with an onboard barge experience, this is the best way to see and enjoy the French traditions and countryside experiences with ballooning, bicycling. In September we’re going to go toward more southern Europe to enjoy some of the most beautiful sites.

Air Journey is open, is very busy, is expanding, and we’re looking forward to serving you. Learn more at www.airjourney.club.