MONTREAL: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that demand for air services is beginning to recover after hitting the bottom in April and global passenger traffic rose by 30 percent in May from a very low level in April. Passenger demand in April had plunged 94.3 percent compared to the same month in 2019, as the COVID-19-related travel restrictions virtually shut down domestic and international air travel. This is a rate of decline never seen in the history of IATA’s traffic series, which dates back to 1990. Figures show that daily flight totals rose 30 percent between the low…
Author: holidayweekly
DUBAI: The Dubai-based low-cost carrier said it will start special repatriation flights to multiple cities in 11 countries with immediate effects. As the UAE government eased restrictions on travel movements and announced reopening of its airports, flydubai has launched repatriation flights to selected destinations including multiple cities of India and Pakistan with an immediate effect. The Dubai-based low-cost carrier on Friday, June 5, said it will start special repatriation flights to multiple cities in 11 countries to facilitate their citizens and stranded passengers in the UAE. The UAE residents and stranded citizens of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Bulgaria, Finland, Georgia,…
LONDON: WTM London is insisting it will go ahead in London this November as planned despite the Covid-19 pandemic. While other November travel industry events, such as the British Travel Awards, have been switched to virtual formats, WTM says it will take place at ExCel just as in previous years. Organisers refused to answer questions about whether it will be a scaled down event or whether there will be more flexible cancellation terms for exhibitors in light of the pandemic uncertainty. Announcing the plans to press ahead, WTM London senior exhibition director Simon Press said: “Now, more than ever before,…
LONDON: British Airways has reportedly refused to join a call with Home Secretary Priti Patel amid an escalating row over the Government’s plan to quarantine all UK arrivals from next week. Alex Cruz, the airline’s Chief Executive, declined to join an industry call with Ms. Patel and aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst on Thursday. Industry sources told that BA believed the meeting was a “waste of time”, amid anger over the “unworkable” decision to press ahead with asking all travellers to the UK to isolate for 14 days or face a fine. The firm, which is planning up to 12,000 redundancies…
ISTANBUL: Turkey plans to resume flights with around 40 countries in June and has reached preliminary agreements for reciprocal air travel with 15 countries, Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said on Thursday, June 4. Turkey largely sealed off its borders as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Domestic flights resumed on Monday to some provinces as Ankara eased restrictions after a significant drop in infection rates. Karaismailoglu said flights would resume in five stages in June, adding Turkey was in talks with 92 countries on resuming flights in a safe manner. “We believe that we have left behind an…
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is meeting or exceeding the highest fleet-maintenance standards in preparation of its return to scheduled service, the airline said. In line with long-established quality-assurance measures and aircraft manufacturers’ recommended procedures, a comprehensive programme is in place to ensure that aircraft are properly maintained during the storage period. Rigorous programmes are in place to ensure that all aircraft systems were properly prepared for storage and are correctly maintained until they return to service. As maintenance workers address these needs, thorough, detailed plans are in place to ensure their personal safety.…
WASHINGTON: The U.S. government moved Wednesday, June 3, to bar mainland Chinese airlines from serving the United States, requiring them to stop service no later than June 16, the latest in a series of back-and-forth regulatory actions between the countries. It is a highly unusual move for the 21st century, when many countries have liberalized aviation treaties, allowing airlines to serve almost any long-haul routes they want, with limited interference. But the U.S. and China haven’t materially updated their aviation agreement for the new era, so the market remains more tightly controlled than others. In this case, it is easy…
Written by Ch. Faisal Mahmood PIA Aircraft Accident Investigation Board after taking over the crash site started the investigation. The search for the plane’s cockpit voice recorder is over now and the most important object for the detailed investigation have been recovered and in this way the collecting of all-important evidences has been completed. The 11-member team from commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the maker of unfortunate plane A320 jet, also arrived in Karachi and collected all possible evidences, made videos and photographs of the incident place to have free and fair investigation of the incident.The team appeared to be very…
KUWAIT: Jazeera Airways has announced that it is offering 50,000 free round-trip tickets to frontline heroes fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in Kuwait. The initiative follows a pledge by the airline to support efforts made by the Government of Kuwait. Jazeera Airways had placed its assets and human capital at the disposal of the Government, supporting repatriation efforts as well as converting its Park & Fly facility into the first drive-through Covid-19 testing center in the country. Announcing the initiative, Jazeera Airways Chairman, Marwan Boodai, said: “We are honored to follow the directive of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad…
PARIS: The Cafe de Flore in Paris, once a favourite drinking hole of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, spread its tables along the pavement, in front of the neighboring book store, and reopened on Tuesday, June 2 for the first time in 11 weeks. [huge_it_slider id=”552″] Locals could once again enjoy a morning espresso, albeit only at tables spaced a metre apart, as the government allowed cafes and restaurants to open outdoor terraces, lifted travel curbs within France and permitted sunbathing on beaches. “We’re back at home,” said one regular, Rachel, at the cafe in the French capital’s chic…