IATA forecasts the war will bring a 15-20% drop in passenger numbers. As airlines worldwide experience a sharp drop in travelers because of the war with Iraq, many hot deals, spring savings and saver fares are being announced, at the same time that new policies are making it easier to travel now. Days before the start of the war, the airlines announced new flexible rebooking or cancellation policies.
For instance, American Airlines, the leading carrier to the Dominican Republic, is reassuring its passengers that they can change their domestic and international travel plans without standard change fees during the present time of uncertainty. According to the airline, on all international travel (except between Canada and the United States), American will allow customers who purchase tickets between March 7 and March 31, 2003 for travel through December 31, 2003, to change their itinerary one time without paying the standard change fee.
US Airways is another airline that has announced the implementation of a new flexible travel policy over a 90-day period. The Peace of Mind program allows customers to make changes to itineraries for travel originating 19 March through 17 June without standard change fees.
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