GENEVA: International Air Transport Association (IATA) is appealing to all travellers to wear a face covering during a journey for the safety of all passengers and crew during the Covid-19 pandemic. Wearing face coverings is a key recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) guidance for safe operations during the pandemic, as developed jointly with the World Health Organisation and governments. IATA is emphasising the need for passengers to comply with the recommendation following recent reports of travellers refusing to wear a face covering during a flight. “This is a call for common sense and taking responsibility. “The vast…
Author: holidayweekly
MUSCAT: Oman Aviation Group is now a global member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which supports the global private sector of travel & tourism and promotes awareness of issues and developments, a media report said. As global member represented by Group CEO Mustafa al Hinai, Oman Aviation Group now stands alongside over 200 thought leaders and visionaries from various industries around the world to share knowledge and best practices for one of the world’s largest economic sectors, reported Oman Observer. WTTC membership will allow Oman Aviation Group to contribute positively to key aviation issues and advocate for…
MANCHESTER: Karen Smart, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have worked closely with our airlines and retailers to align our operations with demand and to deliver the best possible customer experience. “This has included introducing a number of new measures to keep passengers safe and give them the confidence to travel through Manchester Airport, in line with government guidance. “Having re-opened Terminals Two and Three in July, we have continued to monitor the travel patterns of our airlines and passengers, in order to adapt our operations accordingly. “With that in mind, we have taken the decision…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) will soon launch a ten-year road-map to invigorate tourism industry which has been striving during several decades, to ensure maximum utilization of its huge resources for sustained economic growth, poverty alleviation and reduced social inequalities. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has okayed National tourism strategy (2020-2030) in a recent meeting to harness the sector’s potential under a multi-pronged strategy,” said a senior officer of PTDC on Friday, August 21. The present government, after coming into the power, had assigned this task to PTDC to prepare a comprehensive strategy by engaging tourism experts of public and…
ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Thursday issued new SOPs for domestic and international flights effective from August 20 to August 31. The CAA director air transport issued notification of new SOPs which will apply equally to all chartered flights, including private jets. All the operational airport managers of the country are responsible for the implementation of the new SOPs in aircraft. The aircraft will be disinfected in accordance with the procedures prescribed by PCAA at each station before passenger boarding and disinfection standard shall also be mandatory prior to embarkation from a foreign airport for flight to Pakistan.…
WASHINGTON: The U.S. and China are stepping back from their sometimes-tense aviation standoff by allowing more flights between the two countries. The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) ruled that Chinese carriers currently serving the U.S. can double their weekly flights from four to eight. This follows on the heels of the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) last week ruling that U.S. airlines now flying to China could double their weekly frequencies from two to four flights. With the backdrop of increasing trade and political tensions between the two superpowers, this small step toward normalization is welcome. United Airlines and Delta…
JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is still considering whether to give Bali the green light to reopen to international visitors in September. The travel ban on foreigners that the central government has set since April to curb the spread of coronavirus is likely not to be revoked by then, although the Bali administration has made known that the island is ready to receive international tourists from September 11. Reopening the country to international tourists is a “very positive” move, but the government is seeking the right timing to do that, said state-owned enterprises minister Erick Thohir, who is also chairman of…
NEW YORK American Airlines will stop flying to 15 cities in October as it downsizes its network and prepares to furlough or lay off workers and when the CARES Act requirements on air service expire. The CARES Act mandated that airlines taking federal funds must continue to operate to all the cities in their networks as of March this year. The Transportation Department (DOT) has granted a number of exemptions to the rule: If, for example, a city was served by a number of airlines or if service to a nearby airport sufficed to ensure the population had access to…
AUSTRALIA: Yet another sign of how uncontrolled the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. is came from Australian carrier Qantas. CEO Alan Joyce said the company likely won’t resume its U.S. routes until the end of 2021, and only if an effective vaccine or therapeutic is found to control the spread of the disease. Qantas shut down its international operation early on, as Australia imposed strict travel restrictions to contain the virus. The carrier operated dozens of repatriation flights to bring Australians back from China, Japan, and the U.S. But Joyce believes the international network won’t restart until about July of…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has sacked several senior officials including security commanders over corruption in major tourism projects, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Those dismissed by royal decree include the governors of the Red Sea coastal cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh, the head of border security and other local commanders, as well as officials from the Interior Ministry. They are under investigation for facilitating encroachment on government lands that are part of tourism projects under development along the Red Sea coast in the historic city of AlUla and the mountain resort of Abha. The violations had a “great impact on…