Author: Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY

Travelers due to fly to or from the East Coast this week can change their flights without the usual penalties. But there is fine print.

If layoffs occur, they would be the first in the nearly 50-year-old company’s history.

The airline will start selling beer, wine and food on select flights from Denver as it brings back in-flight service reduced during the pandemic.

Flights to Chicago O’Hare, which the airline is expanding to because it’s running out of room at crosstown Midway Airport, begin Feb. 14.

Harvard scientists say flying is less risky than grocery shopping or eating out. But an Ireland flight has been linked to 59 COVID-19 cases.

Southwest Airlines will stop blocking middle seats on its flights in December as holiday travel ticks up.

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.