By Dhirendra Tripathi
Investing.com – Carnival (NYSE:CUK) stock (NYSE:CCL) rose 5% Thursday as the cruise operator said it is on pace to restart over 50% of fleet capacity by October.
As per the company’s previously announced plans, it aims to have nearly 65% of its fleet capacity in operation by December 31.
To date, eight of the company's nine cruise line brands have resumed guest sailings. By the end of October, those eight brands will operate 42 ships, marking the return of over 50% of the company's global fleet capacity.
The sailings will be from the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, the U.K., Western Europe and the Mediterranean, among others, the company said.
The cruise and leisure travel industry has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic as governments imposed severe restrictions on their operation even after services resumed. The operators are expected to conform to strict Covid protocols which forces them to turn away several travelers while keeping their cost of operation elevated.