PARIS: The head of global airlines lobby IATA has warned of lower industry forecasts for 2019, triggered by increasing trade tensions and higher costs. In December, the International Air Transport Association trimmed its 2019 global airline industry profit forecast to $35.5 billion from $38 billion , after $32.3 billion in 2018. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA Director General, suggested the industry group would trim its forecast again when it meets in Seoul next month. “I am a bit worried and I am sorry to tell you that I think we are at a turning point,” he told a meeting of aerospace…
Author: holidayweekly
HONG KONG: Two of China’s largest airlines have joined a growing list of carriers demanding compensation from Boeing over the grounding of its 737 Max aircraft. Air China and China Eastern Airlines have told that they have asked to be reimbursed for costs they have incurred since the plane was deemed unsafe to fly following two crashes. They cited losses caused by being unable to fly the aircraft and delayed deliveries of more jets. The companies did not disclose how much in damages they are seeking from Boeing . China Southern Airlines has also asked for compensation, according to Chinese…
MANAMA: Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air will be upgrading its aircraft scheduled to operate to Baku on May 29 in a move to facilitate and ease the travel of football fans flying out to Azerbaijan to watch the UEFA Europa League Cup Final. The airline will operate its flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to allow more fans to travel and watch the big game between the two English giants – Arsenal and Chelsea. With 26 seats in Falcon Gold and 256 in Economy Class seats, the state-of-the-art Dreamliner will be operated for the first time on the Bahrain-Baku route to cater…
KATMANDU: Nepal said Tuesday it has banned popular Chinese digital wallets Alipay and WeChat to prevent the loss of foreign currency earnings from tens of thousands of Chinese tourists. Over 150,000 Chinese holidaymakers visited Nepal last year, many using digital wallets to pay in hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist areas — especially in Chinese-run businesses. Laxmi Prapanna Niroula, a spokesman for the country’s central bank which announced the ban and said that Nepal was losing out since the actual transactions took place in China. “We have enforced a ban on Alipay and WeChat Pay because the country is losing…
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Post has announced that it had opened 41 rest houses at different destinations across the country to cater to domestic and foreign tourists. “The move was in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had been a strong proponent of promoting tourism in the country by offering cost-effective accommodations to travellers at scenic locations,” a senior official of the Pakistan Post said. The initiative would not only the tourism industry but also generate more revenue for the department, he added. The rest houses from Karachi to Murree, he said, were upgraded on the instructions…
PESHAWAR: The three-day annual Shandur Polo Festival will kick off at the world highest polo ground at Shandur Pass in Chitral from July 7. The decision to give final touches to the arrangements for the festival was taken on Thursday at a meeting held with Secretary Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums, Culture and Youth Affairs Kamran Rehman in the chair. Additional Secretary Babar Khan, Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) Managing Director Junaid Khan, Senior General Manager Syed Hayat Ali Shah, General Manager (Admin & Properties) Sajjad Hameed, Tourism Department Chief Planning officer Asif Shahab, Tourism Officer (Marketing & Media) Haseena Shaukat,…
PESHAWAR: The celebrations of spring festival Chilimjusht concluded in Kalash valleys as this year a record number of foreign and local tourists enjoyed the three-day festivities. The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has sponsored the event. The concluding ceremony of Chilimjusht or Joshi festival was also attended by the Members Provincial Assembly from Kalash, Wazirzada, Ravi Kumar and Ranjit Singh. Earlier in the day, the Kalash people sprinkled milk on their deities and prayed for the good fortune. Before marching towards the Charsu (the open dancing hall) in Bartrik village in Bamburet, the Kalash men and women held a mixed…
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The GB government has decided to lift a time-specific ban on vehicles’ movement on Silk Road, allowing passenger buses to travel any time on the route from GB to Rawalpindi or vice-versa. The GB home department issued a notification in this regard, saying it would be effective when foolproof security was provided to passenger vehicles on the route during night. The security plan would be worked out by Commissioner Diamer Astore division. The KP home department has also been contacted for support with regard to provision of security to passenger vehicles. It is pertinent to mention here that there…
DALLAS: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines have announced plans to develop a sixth terminal at the airport. The plans call for the airport to invest up to $3 to $3.5 billion in terminal improvements, including the construction of Terminal F and enhancements to Terminal C. The identified site south of Terminal D provides significant flexibility for phasing in the number of gates for Terminal F, with a long-term projection of up to 24 gates, as demand for additional facilities is warranted. “Today’s announcement sets the stage for Dallas Fort Worth Airport’s next 50 years,” said Sean Donohue,…
ISTANBUL: Uzakrota Travel Summit, an important international tourism sector event, will be organized for the 6th time in Istanbul. The Summit will take place at the Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus in Istanbul on the 13th of December and will include professionals from tourism and media sectors, business representatives and IT professionals. The main sponsors of the event which will be held on 13 December 2019 at Hilton Bosphorus Convention Centre are SKYhub, Emirates Airline, Atlasglobal and IRC International Residency and Citizenship and this year, the event evolved further in the meaning of both concept and content with the participation of more…