AZERBAIJAN: The Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB), together with the State Tourism Agency (STA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in cooperation with Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA), has announced the launch of an innovative program called Sahman (Sanitation and Hygiene Methods and Norms). “Sahman,” meaning “immaculateness” in Azerbaijani, is a nationwide campaign set to transform Azerbaijan’s existing health, safety and hygiene standards. Supported by the UNWTO, it also reaffirms the country’s commitment towards providing a world-class tourism destination for its citizens and future visitors alike in the post-pandemic world. ATB is finalising talks with international firm…
Author: holidayweekly
Norwegian Cruise Line has pushed back its potential return to operations into June. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed it was extending the suspension of all sailings across its fleet through to June 30th Services across its brands – which also include Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – are tentatively pencilled in to resume on July 1st. Norwegian Cruise Line had initially scrapped all sailings before May 11th. The company said it would continue to work with the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention, the federal government and global public health authorities to take “all…
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…
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…