World Ski Awards, the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in ski tourism has unveiled the winners of its 2020 programme to coincide with its inaugural World Ski Awards Winners Day. Winners include Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens, voted ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’, thanks to its winning combination of snowsure pistes and extensive slopeside accommodation. Sleek urban design amid a spectacular alpine helped Switzerland’s W Verbier to capture ‘World’s Best Ski Hotel’, while Chalet Zermatt Peak, sitting in the shadow of the majestic Matterhorn, claimed ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’. New arrival on Japan’s luxury ski hospitality scene, Park…
Author: holidayweekly
KARACHI: The unprecedented circumstances caused by the pandemic shook the way of functioning across the world to its core. Businesses and industries also suffered ill fate and extreme losses throughout the year however if we were to name one industry that were the most adversely affected it had to be the travel & trade world. With an already unsteady travel & trade industry, Pakistan’s travel agents suffered gravely. BSP dues, refunds and due bills were few of the many problems faced by them in the past few months. In such difficult times, circumstances’ certain members of the travel fraternity under…
NEW DEHLI: Air India has received its 5th ban from flying to Hong Kong after carrying multiple positive passengers on two consecutive flights. Air India is now barred from flying from Delhi to Hong Kong for two weeks, from November 20th to December 3rd. The airline has struggled with bans in other countries as well, as cases remain high in India. Air India received a two-week ban this week after two subsequent flights on November 10th and 17th violated the city’s COVID-19 rules. Both flights had three positive passengers, triggering the automatic ban (more passengers on the 17th flight had…
Holland American Line on Friday matched the voluntary cancellation extensions by other cruise lines when it announced that it would suspend all operations through at least March 31, 2021. Holland, like other lines, said the decision was made in order to give it time to “prepare and develop its plans to meet the Framework for Condition Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” At the same time, Holland America said that it would also be cancelling sailings of eight days or longer that call in the United States until Nov. 1, a similar move…
TOKYO: AirAsia Japan has filed for bankruptcy with the Tokyo District Court, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving 23,000 passengers without refund. Last month, the Japanese subsidiary of the Malaysian AirAsia Group announced that it would be ceasing its operations. AirAsia Japan became the first airline operating in Japan to go bankrupt during the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline said that its total liabilities were 21.7 billion yen ($208 million). The value of 23,000 tickets to be refunded is estimated at 520 million yen, including tickets purchased by the travel agencies. In a statement, the airline said: “Given…
BEIJING: China’s aviation regulator will not yet allow Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX jet to fly in the company’s biggest market owing to lingering safety concerns, despite the US lifting a ban on commercial flights. Boeing’s best-selling aircraft was grounded worldwide early last year following two crashes that killed 346 passengers. It has since faced lengthy tests and approval processes with aviation regulators worldwide. But the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Friday that there was “no set timetable” for the resumption of flights, according to state broadcaster CCTV, dealing a blow to the plane-making giant. China was the…
WASHINGTON: The United States’ land borders with Canada and Mexico are expected to remain closed to non-essential travel until Dec. 21 at the earliest amid a rising number of U.S. coronavirus cases, a Homeland Security Department official told. The current restrictions expire on Saturday, November 21 and the three countries are expected to approve another 30-day extension, the official said on Wednesday. The United States leads the world in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The restrictions were first put in place in March to control the spread of COVID-19. Canada’s CTV News also reported that the travel restrictions in place at…
WASHINGTON: The US Federal Aviation Administration today, November 18, issued an order that paves the way for the Boeing 737 MAX to return to commercial service. The plane, the best-selling jet in Boeing’s fleet, was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. It was discovered that a safety feature meant to stop the plane from climbing too fast and stalling had improperly forced the nose of the plane down, causing the crashes. The FAA action is only the first step in allowing 59 airlines which own the 387 grounded planes to fly them as part…
Transport minister Grant Shapps has signed a deal with the US to ensure that transatlantic flights to and from the UK will continue from 1 January when Britain’s transition agreement with the EU comes to an end. The air services agreement will replace the existing EU-US deal, which will no longer apply to the UK from 2021. Mr Shapps described the agreement, which was also signed by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and transportation secretary Elaine Chao as ‘just one of many steps we’re taking as we move towards a bright new future at the end of the transition…
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has added twice-weekly service to the Indian cities of Chennai and Hyderabad with service set to start on November 19. Flights to and from both cities will be operated on Thursdays and Saturdays. These schedules are confirmed until 31 December, 2020. Additional information is available at omanair.com, the airline’s offices and travel agents. Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman’s airports. Distancing…