Author: Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY

Southwest Airlines plans to begin flights to Savannah, Georgia; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Jackson, Mississippi in 2021.

The airline’s new policy takes effect Dec. 1. Delta and Alaska Airlines are blocking seats into early January.

The airlines’ moves come 24 hours after rival United became the first U.S. carrier to eliminate the dreaded $200 fee. Southwest has never charged one.

Airlines have dramatically cut fall flights because the travel rebound seen this summer stalled when COVID-19 cases spiked.

Airlines have waived onerous change fees since the coronavirus crisis began, but United is the first to permanently eliminate them on U.S. flights.

Delta Air Lines is adding up to five hand sanitizer dispensers to its planes depending on the size of the aircraft.

After the layoffs, American will have 40,000 fewer employees, a drop of 30%, due to the pandemic. The number includes voluntary exits and leaves.

Vacationers traveling during the pandemic risk social media wrath from those who don’t think anyone should be taking nonessential trips.

The airline’s policy of blocking middle seats and limiting the number of passengers per plane was due to expire Sept. 30.

Hawaii’s planned Sept. 1 start date for allowing out-of-state visitors to bypass a 14-day quarantine has been delayed until October.