KARACHI: The United States Department of Transportation has granted permission to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate direct services to the US, the airline’s spokesman Abdullah Hafeez confirmed on Thursday, April 30. According to details, US Department of Transportation has issued a letter in response to request of CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik. Owing to thousands of citizens being stranded across the globe in the wake of the pandemic, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has for the first time in history been granted the permission to operate direct flights to the US, without having to stop for a security…
Author: holidayweekly
Germany might be easing some COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, but the government tamped down any hopes in the tourism sector that it might relax holiday guidance when it extended its warning against worldwide travel until June 14 on Wednesday. The decision came days after neighbouring Austria – which has suggested a staggered resumption of tourism, initially allowing German visitors in – lifted coronavirus quarantines at three of its top ski resorts last week. “We are not so far with fighting the virus and the development of the pandemic that we can recommend carefree travel,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told journalists.…
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has put the services of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) under the “Essential Services” act with immediate effect for the next six months. According to a notification issued by the ministry of interior, the federal government considered employment in the PIACL as essential for the maintenance of smooth functioning of flight operations of the airline, public safety and welfare of the people. Therefore, all classes of employment in the PIACL have been declared “Essential Services” under Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Pakistan Essential Services (Mainte-nance) Act, 1952, for a period of six…
PARIS: The planemaker Airbus has warned that the aviation industry could take as long as five years to recover to the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic. The Airbus Chief Executive, Guillaume Faury, warned on Wednesday, April 29, that it could take “three to five years” for passengers to be as willing to fly as before the crisis. Faury said: “We are now in the midst of the gravest crisis the aerospace industry has ever known.” The pandemic has plunged the airline industry into chaos, with passenger flight revenues all but wiped out. During the first three months of the…
KARACHI: The Convener, FPCCI Central Standing Committee on tourism development, Ms. Shanaz Ramzi called on its 5th meeting via ‘Zoom’ on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The meeting was attended by Mr. Zubair Baweja, Chairman Pakistan Hotel association & Vice President FPCCI, Ms. Anadil Khan, Ms. Almas Tariq and Ch. Faisal Mahmood, Chief Editor Holiday Weekly. Ms. Ramzi Chaired the meeting. Ms. Shanaz welcomed the members at 12 pm sharp and updated them about the issues being faced by her as FPCCI doesn’t seem to be sending out the circular of the committee’s activities to any of its members in spite…
BANGKOK: Thailand is set to extend its state of emergency to May 31 to cement progress against the novel coronavirus, while also making preparations to restart businesses nationwide. The emergency was due to expire at the end of April but is set to be extended by another month, Taweesilp Witsanuyotin, a spokesman for the Covid-19 center, said in a briefing. At the same time, the country intends to reopen businesses gradually nationwide by sector, he said. Therefore, under the executive order, the six-hour curfew from 22.00 to 04.00, prohibition of mass gatherings, inter-provincial travel restrictions and ban on travel into…
PARIS: European planemaker Airbus has told the company’s 135,000 employees to brace for deeper job cuts, warning its survival is at stake without immediate action, a Reuters report said. In a letter to staff late last week, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said: “We’re bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed, which may threaten the very existence of our company.” “We must now act urgently to reduce our cash-out, restore our financial balance and, ultimately, to regain control of our destiny,” he said. With airline customers fighting to survive and unable to accept new aircraft, Airbus is juggling its delivery schedules while…
The French and Dutch governments announced at least 9 billion euros ($9.7 billion) in bailout money Friday, April 24, to rescue Air France and KLM, whose planes have been largely grounded by virus lockdowns around the world. The partner airlines had been in negotiations for weeks with their respective governments, as carriers worldwide are collapsing or seeking government bailouts. The past several weeks of travel restrictions have upended the entire industry, and Air France and KLM said earlier this month that they expect their joint traffic to be down more than 90% in the coming months. Air France will get…
Bench Events had announced a second instalment of its Hospitality Tomorrow series. The move follows the warm reception for the launch event earlier this month, which welcomed 5,343 hospitality decision-makers from 128 countries around the world. Revealing the new event, Bench Events Chairman, Jonathan Worsley, said: “We are back for episode two, where we will follow the sun around the globe with a focus on China, India, the Middle East, Europe and ending with North America.” Speakers at the event will include Marcus-Milan Arandjelovic, Around town; Dirk Bakker, Colliers International; Puneet Chhatwal, Indian Hotels Company; Frank Croston, Hamilton Hotel Partners;…
Princess Cruises has temporarily revised its final payment dates and cancellation policies for cruises departing up to mid-October. In an update to its Cruise with Confidence policy, introduced to give customers more flexibility and peace of mind, those due to depart on a cruise in July can cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure. Customers with departures from August 1 to October 15 can cancel up to 30 days prior to departure. In both cases they will receive a refund of everything they’ve paid and a future cruise credit to the value of any cancellation fees. For all cruises…