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Aviation

Saudia Flight Resumption | Pakistan & 19 Other Countries Not Included

April 22, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Airlines has revealed that 20 countries, on which a travel ban was imposed in early February, will not be included in the decision to resume international flights from May 17, said a report.

 The Saudia sources said this in a statement on its Twitter account while replying to a query regarding if the travel suspension will be lifted for all countries, including the banned ones, reported Saudi Gazette.

 “Welcome, our dear guest, the suspension of all international flights will be lifted starting from 1 am on Monday, May 17. But this won’t be applicable to countries where the relevant official committee decided to suspend travel to or from due to the outbreak of coronavirus,” the statement from the national carrier said.

 The countries facing the ban are Argentina, the UAE, Germany, the US, Indonesia, India, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Swiss Confederation, France, Lebanon, and Egypt.

 The decision includes those coming from other countries if they had passed through any of the above-mentioned 20 countries during the 14 days preceding their application to enter the kingdom, the report said.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 68-2021

Qatar Airways Rolls Out | Shenzhen-Hong Kong Ferry Service

April 13, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

HONG KONG: A new sea-to-air ferry transfer service from Shenzhen Shekou Port to the SkyPier in the airside of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will be offered from April 15 by Qatar Airways, which hopes to improve passenger movement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Qatar Airways customers can purchase their ferry tickets from SkyLink or the port’s website. They will be provided with boarding passes and baggage check-through service to their final destinations at the Shenzhen Shekou terminal, where they will also clear their customs and immigration.

Southern China travelers can soon enjoy a convenient sea-to-air service with Qatar Airways

Upon arrival at SkyPier, customers can proceed directly to their Qatar Airways boarding gate or explore HKIA facilities prior to boarding.

Thomas Scruby, Qatar Airways vice president of sales for Australasia & North Asia, said the new ferry transfer service would boost the airlines’ footprint in the GBA by providing Southern Chinese customers more flexible flying options via HKIA and onwards to more than 80 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

“We know connectivity within the region and to the wider world is critical for the success of the GBA. Therefore, we are excited to do our part to build the infrastructure necessary to make it easier and smoother for local customers to travel despite the disruption caused by the pandemic around the world,” said Scruby.

“We are confident in the market’s demand and our commitment to the region remains resolute. The next phase of our partnership with Airport Authority Hong Kong will see the ferry transfer service be further expanded to other key GBA metropolis such as Macau and Dongguan once government restrictions are lifted, allowing even more customers in the region to enjoy the world-class experience that Qatar Airways has to offer,” he continued.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 67-2021

EASA Rejects CAA Offer | EU Suspends PIA Flights Indefinitely

April 12, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

KARACHI: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has indefinitely extended the suspension of Pakistan International Airlines flight operations to the EU until it has all the necessary information “available to decide on the way forward”, reported The News.

PIA’s Third Country Operations Authorization (TCOA) was suspended by the EU in July 2020 for six months after controversial statements by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan regarding the verification of degrees of Pakistani pilots working for the national flag carrier and other airlines.

The EASA decision to suspend PIA flight operations to the EU had come in February 2021, after the International Civil Aviation Organisation made public a ‘Significant Safety Concern for Pakistan”, indicating a serious degradation of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority certification and oversight capabilities.

Eventually, the EASA extended the suspension for another three months till March 31 of this year.

In its latest review, the EASA rejected the PCAA offer stating that the information shared by the Pakistani authority did not help end their uneasiness about PCAA oversight. It added that under the legal instruments, the Third Country Operations Authorization of PIA must be revoked.

The EASA informed the CAA and PIA that “their offer to use only flight crew and engineers not holding Pakistani licenses does not fully mitigate all concerns regarding the oversight capabilities of the PCAA”.

“At this moment, the EASA, therefore, considers that not all conditions required to lift the suspension are met. EASA should now revoke the TCOA (Third Country Operations Authorization) in line with EASA, ART.235(c)(1) of Part-ART,” said the statement.

However, the EU agency has decided not to take any drastic action against PIA and chose to extend the suspension indefinitely till all necessary information is available.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News, PIA Tagged With: volume 67-2021

Regional Tourism To Boost | First PIA Flight from Lahore Lands at Skardu

April 12, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

GILGIT: First-ever direct flight from Lahore of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) landed at the Skardu Airport here on Wednesday, April 07.

The PK-8453 flight took off from the Allama Iqbal International Airport on Wednesday morning with 153 passengers on board and landed at the Skardu Airport after one hour and 15 minutes.

The PIA officials received and presented bouquets of flowers to the passengers at the airport.

Later, a cake-cutting ceremony was also held to celebrate the occasion.

Gilgit-Baltistan tourism minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan said the first PIA flight coming directly from Lahore also received a water cannon welcome upon landing at the Skardu Airport.

He said there would be two weekly flights on the Lahore-Skardu route, which would go a long way in boosting tourism in the region.

He thanked federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Pakistan International Airlines for the landmark achievement.

“I promise to take the tourism sector of Gilgit-Baltistan to new heights during my tenure as tourism minister,” he promised.

The tourism minister said flights between Lahore and Skardu would open a new travel corridor for domestic and international tourists.

He said he was looking forward to the flight’s sustainable operation as this would not only promote tourism but also add up to the revenue of the national flag carrier.

PIA CEO Arshad Malik said that the new flight operations would promote tourism in the country.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News, News, Pakistan Tourism, PIA Tagged With: volume 67-2021

Onboard Dining | Turkish Airlines Brings Back Full Premium Menus

April 12, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines has resumed their premium onboard dining and hot meal service, on all Business and Economy Class flights longer than two hours 15 minutes flight time.

The global carrier offers a premium traveling experience and is world-renown for its cuisine and hospitality. In 2020 Turkish Airlines made some changes to meal services on flights, in line with additional coronavirus-related measures. I flew on Turkish Airlines in February this year and documented their changes onboard.

In an interview, the Chairman of Turkish Airlines while speaking about their drastic cost-cutting earlier in February promised to bring back the meals.

Turkish Airlines is now offering full premium menus prepared with fresh ingredients, in accordance with health and hygiene applications, courtesy of Turkish DO & CO.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 67-2021

No Empty Middle Seats | Delta To Sell The Whole Plane From May 1

April 3, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

NEW YORK: The empty middle seat on airplanes, one of the few advantages of pandemics, is about to disappear.

Delta Air Lines, the last remaining US airline to keep middle seats unbooked, has lifted that prohibition as of May 1, the company announced Wednesday. It is another sign of a rebound in demand for air travel and greater willingness of people to resume pre-pandemic activities.

“As vaccinations become more widespread, consumer demand and behaviors show us that confidence in travel is on the rise and customers are ready to reclaim their lives,” said Delta’s statement Wednesday.

Airlines have insisted that even with the planes fully booked, measures they have taken during the pandemic have greatly reduced the threat of Covid-19 being spread among passengers. Those provisions include the frequent exchange of fresh air in the cabin, enhanced cleaning measures, and a requirement that passengers wear masks.

Expanded vaccine availability factored into Delta’s decision. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the company’s research shows that 64% of its pre-pandemic passenger base anticipate having at least a dose of the vaccine by May 1.

“Don’t confuse these actions with a return to ‘normal,'” said Bastian in a memo to employees Wednesday. “We’re still operating in a pandemic, and many of the changes we’ve made over the past year, such as strengthening our cleanliness protocols and eliminating change fees, will be permanent. Importantly, masks remain critical to our ability to safely welcome more people on board our planes, and we remain committed to enforcing these requirements.”

Delta also announced Wednesday that the customers of the credit received for canceling flights last year, which were to expire after 12 months, have been extended through the end of 2022. The same is true of any tickets purchased in 2021 that were later canceled.

In the early days of the pandemic, when demand for flights ground to a near halt, all the airlines were keeping the middle seats open as a way to promote social distancing and increase customer confidence in flying. But most of the other airlines started filling the seats last summer.

Delta’s move regarding middle seats is not a surprise given that the airline previously said it would keep the prohibition in place only through April 30. People booking flights on May 1 and later have already seen the middle seat available for seat selection on the Delta website. The airline has not broken down the cost of keeping the seat open longer than other airlines.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 65-2021

Int’l Air Transport Association | Willie Walsh succeeds Alexandre de Juniac

April 3, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MONTREAL: Willie Walsh has officially taken on the role of Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). He succeeds Alexandre de Juniac.

The former Chief Executive of International Airlines Group (IAG) said: “I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that IATA does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the Covid-19 crisis.

“IATA has been at the forefront of efforts to restart global connectivity, including developing the IATA Travel Pass.

“Less visible but of equal importance, airlines continue to rely on IATA’s financial settlement systems, Timatic, and other vital services to support their day-to-day operations.

“I am grateful to Alexandre for leaving behind a strong organization and a motivated team.

“Together, the IATA team is absolutely focused on restoring the freedom of movement that airlines provide to billions of people around the world.

“That means your freedom to visit friends and family, to meet critical business partners, to secure and retain vital contracts, and to explore our wonderful planet,” said Walsh.

Walsh was confirmed as IATA’s eighth director-general by the 76th annual general meeting in November. He joins IATA after a 40-year career in the airline industry.

Walsh retired from the IAG in September after serving as its chief executive since its inception in 2011. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of British Airways (2005-2011) and Chief Executive of Aer Lingus (2001-2005)

He began his career in aviation at Aer Lingus in 1979 as a cadet pilot.

Walsh is deeply familiar with IATA, having served on the IATA board of governors for almost 13 years between 2005 to 2018, including serving as Chairman Board of Governors for years 2016-2017.

He will work from the association’s executive office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Filed Under: Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 65-2021

Oman Air Extends | Complimentary Covid Coverage to December 31

April 2, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has extended its complimentary Covid-19 coverage until December 31, 2021.

The complimentary coverage is for expenses incurred by medical treatment or quarantine related to the pandemic and is applicable to those tickets issued for travel after October 1, 2020, until December 31, 2021.

It will also cover Oman ex-pat residents who are required to present medical coverage for their destination and return to Oman if travel is completed within 31 days.

As per the directive issued by Oman’s Supreme Committee for Covid-19 safety, Omani and GCC nationals have been exempted from Covid-19 insurance.

Oman Air said it will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey. Masks are required when guests are onboard the aircraft and in Oman’s airports.

“Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety and a number of other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline’s guests and crew are safe at all times,” said a company spokesman.

“Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate,” he added.

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 65-2021

Crippling Existential Crisis | Global Airports to Bleed US$94b in 2021 ACI World

March 27, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

Some 4.7 billion fewer passengers are projected to travel by this year-end, representing a decline of 47.5 percent in global passenger traffic, according to a report by Airports Council International (ACI) World.

This is estimated to equate to a loss in revenue of more than US$94 billion this year, which is half of the projected baseline.

As prospects for a recovery in 2021 begin to emerge, ACI World estimates that different regions of the world will recover at different rates. At the country level, markets having significant domestic traffic are expected to recover in 2023 to pre-Covid-19 levels, while markets with a significant share of international traffic are unlikely to return to 2019 levels until 2024 or even 2025 in some cases.

ACI World has said an interoperable health data trust framework to facilitate safe border reopening and cross-border travel must be established to support this recovery. ACI added that it supports any system which will allow testing and vaccination data to be shared consistently, effectively, and in a way that protects the personal data of those that use it.

“The world is embarking on the biggest vaccination campaign in history, and we see positive indications in countries with high rates of vaccination and ACI World has discerned an escalation of these encouraging signs and prospects for recovery with a surge in travel in the second half of 2021 expected,” ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.

“Despite this, Covid-19 remains an existential crisis for airports, airlines, and their commercial partners and we need support and sensible policy decisions from governments to ensure that aviation can fuel the global economic recovery.

“We hope an upsurge in confidence in air travel provided by vaccination and safety measures should result in the number of people traveling outside of their countries will start this spring and significantly increase by mid-year.

“Aviation recovery will not take-off, however, without a coordinated and globally-consistent approach to vaccination and testing, coupled with safe and interoperable methods of sharing testing and vaccination information.”

With regards to economic impact, as a consequence of uncoordinated travel restrictions combined with small domestic markets, Europe is forecast to remain the most affected region in absolute terms with an estimated drop in revenues of more than US$37.5 billion for the full year 2021 compared to 2019.

In relative terms, the Middle East and Europe are forecast to suffer the biggest hits with decreases of 58.9 percent and 58.1 percent, respectively. Asia-Pacific is the region with comparatively the least impact, but it is still expected to experience a very significant decrease of 40.3 percent against the projected baseline.

Filed Under: Airports, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

British Airways Launches | Home Dining Scheme

March 27, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

LONDON: Travellers who are missing the skies and want to experience the culinary delights of first-class dining can do so from their home thanks to a new partnership between British Airways, Feast Box, and Do & Co.

The airline has teamed up with its catering partner Do & Co, and Feast Box, a provider of internationally inspired recipe boxes, to create a limited-edition cook-at-home meal kit that mirrors British Airways’ First cabin dining experience.

Each meal kit includes a four-course menu inspired by the luxurious food served in British Airways’ First cabin. Customers can choose vegetarian, fish, and meat dishes in their kit.

They will receive the full ingredients as used in the First cabin to cook the meal at home, along with a recipe sheet and an information card in the form of a passport. The meal kits can be ordered here to be delivered directly to a customer’s door. Each meal kit will cost £80 and serve two people.

The kits are available to order from today with deliveries beginning next week.

Hamish McVey, head of brands and marketing at British Airways, said: “We hope that this exclusive First experience will allow our customers who are missing flying to enjoy an amazing dining experience at home.

“British Airways, Feast Box, and Do & Co take huge pride in offering top quality international cuisine, and although it might appear a little different being delivered to a customer’s door rather than at 38,000 feet, we hope it will be just as exciting.”

Filed Under: Airlines, Aviation, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

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