BRUSSELS: The European Union is banning travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days in a battle to contain the spread of coronavirus. In an unprecedented move, the external borders of 26 EU states will be closed. Although not EU members, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are expected to adhere to the move. UK citizens will be unaffected. The travel ban will affect all non-EU nationals from visiting the bloc, except long-term residents, family members of EU nationals, diplomats and healthcare workers. People transporting goods will also be exempt. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The…
Author: holidayweekly
No one can doubt that we are in uncharted territory. The coronavirus pandemic means the world is facing a threat on multiple fronts not seen in peacetime. The Travel & Tourism sector is uniquely exposed, and we estimate 50 million jobs globally are at risk. To put it bluntly, Travel & Tourism is in a fight for survival. Travel is the backbone of economies around the world. It brings in essential currency and inward investment, creates jobs and stimulates every sector. WTTC figures show Travel & Tourism contributes to 10.4% of Global GDP and 320 million jobs. It is responsible…
The airline industry is warning that it must shed jobs and obtain state support to survive the coronavirus crisis, as carriers around the globe grounded the majority of their fleets and took steps to conserve cash. [huge_it_slider id=”525″] In the past 24 hours, United Airlines in the US, IAG (parent of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia), Air France-KLM, EasyJet, Finnair, Air New Zealand and Aeroflot all unveiled drastic measures to cut costs after several countries, including Germany and Spain, closed their borders. An Irish union source told The Irish Times: “The situation is grim. It looks like there will…
SINGAPORE: Sabre Corporation, the leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, today announced Otto Gergye as Vice President, Regional General Manager, North Asia, Travel Solutions Airline Sales. Gergye will be responsible for Sabre’s airline operations in North Asia, a key growth region for the company. His role will involve identifying business opportunities and further expanding Sabre’s already strong presence in this fast-growing region. He will also seek to strengthen successful and trusted relationships with existing airline customers. Gergye brings over 20 years of experience across the aviation and travel industry to Sabre, having held multiple senior…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has started special flight operation to bring back the Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia today, march 17th. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said that the national flag carrier will operate 22 special flights for the repatriation of Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia from Jeddah and Madina. According to details, the pilgrims will be flown to Karachi through three special flights, Lahore via 13 flights and Islamabad through five flights. Hafeez said the national flag carrier had operated 65 flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia from March 13 to March 15 and brought back 17,184…
ISLAMABAD: Introducing adventure sports with five-star facilities at one of the highest altitudes in Pakistan, Pearl-Continental Hotel, Mountain & Ski Resort Malam Jabba has opened its doors to welcome guests and is now open for bookings. (https://www.pchotels.com/pcmalam-jabba) Overlooking the majestic Hindu Kush Mountains, the Hotel is a complete tourist destination for families, corporates, nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Malam Jabba is the first and only private ski resort in Pakistan and is recognised as one of the most scenic tourist destinations in the country. Just 30 km from Mingora Swat, the newly opened Hotel sits atop the Malam Jabba Hill…
MUSCAT: Oman’s Supreme Committee for tackling the spread of coronavirus Covid-19 has banned the entry of non-Omanis into the sultanate through all land, air and sea borders with the exception of citizens of the GCC countries, a report said. It also sought to apply health quarantine for all travelers arriving in the sultanate via all land, air and sea routes, including for Omanis; closing public parks; suspension of Friday prayers; and suspension of social gatherings such as wedding parties and condolences, said the Oman Daily Observer report. The decisions will be effective from Tuesday, March 17. The committee called on…
Airlines could lose up to $113 billion if the coronavirus spread continues unabated, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The association said losses would be similar to those experienced by the industry during the 2008 global financial crisis. ”We see 2020 global revenue losses for the passenger business of between $63 billion and $113 billion (in a scenario with a broader spreading of COVID-19),” IATA said in a statement. No estimates are yet available on cargo operations. The new loss projection by IATA is almost 300 percent up compared to $30 billion estimated two weeks ago, perhaps an…
MULTAN: The high-profile cricket extravaganza, Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5thedition 2020 by Pakistan Cricket Board was returning to Multan after a long gap of 12 years and the people of Multan well and truly embraced its return. The scenes at the Multan Cricket Stadium were extraordinary. [huge_it_slider id=”524″] This is another major milestone in the PCB’s efforts to choose Ramada By Wyndham Multan. The Multan Sultan, Karachi King, Quetta Gladiator, Peshawar Zalmi, and all PCB officials were salutation and gladly welcome upon arrival by hotel CEO Mr Faisal Hammed Sheikh and Operation Manager Mr Umer Israr with hotel management. The…
CALIFORNIA: Princess Cruises will pause the global operations of its 18 cruise ships for two months from today. In response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of Covid-19, sailings are not expected to resume until May 10th. Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said: “Princess Cruises is a global holiday company that serves more than 50,000 guests daily from 70 countries as part of our diverse business, and it is widely known that we have been managing the implications of Covid-19 on two continents. “By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships,…