COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Supreme court on August 2 issued an interim order suspending the government’s new visa scheme, run by a consortium including an Indian company, that earlier sparked controversy over allegations of corruption totalling over a billion dollars. The Supreme Court ordered that the previously used online visa system be restored. In April this year, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration switched to a new visa portal, roping in a consortium of GBS Technology Services, the India-registered IVS Global Services, and VFS Global. The formerly used Electronic Travel Authorisation system, operated by the state-run telecom provider Mobitel, was…
Author: holidayweekly
KARACHI: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s leading low-cost airline, has proudly partnered with T3 Aviation Academy to induct its first batch of future Pakistani pilots. This milestone marks the beginning of an ambitious journey to cultivate and develop local aviation talent in Pakistan. The initial training phase for these CPL holders commenced on June 20, 2024, at the T3 Academy facility in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. After completing this foundational training, the group will advance to aircraft base training and line training with Fly Jinnah. This comprehensive program will equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the highest international…
COLOMBO: Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka have reached 1,095,675, with expectations of continued growth in the coming months. Somarathne Vidanapathirana, the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Lands, stated that if this trend persists, Sri Lanka could surpass its 2018 peak in tourism numbers, the highest since the end of the war. Speaking at a recent media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre, Vidanapathirana attributed the promising recovery to the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and its affiliated institutions. This recovery comes despite significant setbacks from the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent…
GWADAR: The testing and commissioning of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) have been completed with precision. This phase marks the culmination of a detailed three-month process, begun on April 15, that optimized the airport’s compliance with design requirements, operational efficiency, and minimized future operational risks while adhering to maintenance standards and legislative regulations. The comprehensive testing and commissioning involved the airport’s entire infrastructure, including the runway, taxiway, apron, electrical systems, telecommunications networks, security features, water supply system, and grid station, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday. A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan official explained to Gwadar Pro, “Testing and commissioning…
COLOMBO: AirSial, a private airline in Pakistan, is slated to start direct flight operations between Colombo and Islamabad, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Admiral (Retired) Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne said. He said the Pakistani Cabinet has approved for this. Currently, SriLankan Airlines operates flights to the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore. Besides, the High Commissioner told the Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka and Pakistan will conduct bilateral consultations after two years next Monday based on subjects such as trade, investment, tourism and culture and sports activities. Sri Lanka is the first country to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Pakistan…
ISLAMABAD: In a significant shift to attract global tourists and investors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Pakistan has waived visa fees for citizens of 126 countries. Calling the decision a “quantum jump” in efforts to attract businesspeople, investors, tourists, and other travelers, Prime Minister Sharif said the federal cabinet approved the policy to ease business operations and promote tourism. During the cabinet meeting, the prime minister mentioned that the visa policy had been discussed with his team two weeks prior. “We have made a major change in the visa regime, now exempting 126 countries from visa fees,”…
FARNBOROUGH: Qatar Airways has announced that it has signed a deal with Boeing for supply of 20 more units of 777-9 aircraft, which is set to become the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jets. The order, which expands the carrier’s 777X order book to nearly 100 airplanes, was finalized this year and listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. “We are proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totaling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft. We, as the World’s Best Airline, are an industry leader and operate one of the…
ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines said it will provide passengers with free, unlimited, uninterrupted Wi-Fi services within two years, starting from the end of 2025, as part of its initiatives to enhance in-flight experience through the integration of innovative technologies. The airline plans to retrofit its existing fleet with the latest in-flight connectivity (IFC) technologies and equip the new aircraft with the most efficient IFC technologies available. In line with this, the airline said it is open to collaboration with all suppliers, and the carrier is actively negotiating with local and international suppliers that can offer the best IFC service solutions for…
BARCELONA: Thousands of angry Barcelona residents took to the streets over the weekend to participate in a protest against mass tourism in the Spanish city. Their weapon of choice? The humble water pistol. The scenes were part of wider protest action that saw around 2,800 people calling for limits to tourism in their home city, according to police figures. But organizers have claimed that seven times as many people took part, the Telegraph reported. On Saturday, Jaume Collboni, Barcelona’s Socialist mayor, renewed his “firm commitment” toward eliminating Airbnb style short-term rentals in the city within five years. In a post…
ISLAMABAD: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) dispatched a formal correspondence to the federal finance minister articulating grave apprehensions regarding the recent augmentation in taxation on international airfare. IATA urged the government to rescind the tax hike on air travel with immediate effect. “The latest fiscal policy in Pakistan has abruptly escalated the tax on international flight tickets by up to 150 percent,” the letter stated. “This measure is anticipated to significantly deter travel and tourism to Pakistan. It is imperative to engage all relevant stakeholders several months prior to implementing such tax increments,” the letter further elaborated. IATA insisted…