Tag: covid-19 crisis

Pakistan will allow outbound international flights to resume from Saturday, after closing its airspace to commercial flights to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. “Both national and foreign airlines shall be allowed to operate from all international airports of Pakistan,” Abdul Sattar Khokhar, Senior Joint Secretary at the Civil Aviation Authority, said in a statement. Reuters has reported that two remote airports in southern Baluchistan province will be exempted from the operations. On Friday, Pakistan reported the largest one-day spread of the infection, with 2,636 cases and 57 deaths in the last 24 hours. Pakistan has recorded a total ... Read more

The Giant Ferris Wheel – synonymous with Vienna and tourism – which had been turning without interruption since the end of World War II was switched off for the first time in 75 years in mid-March due to COVID-19. But on Friday, the wheels were made to turn again, signalling the rekindling of life and business in the beautiful Austrian capital. Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, set Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel in motion again, along with Nora Lamac, whose family has operated the Giant Ferris Wheel for generations. Vienna is gradually opening shops, bars, restaurants and museums, as well as ... Read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has slammed the Indian government for announcing a stimulus package that had virtually nothing for the country’s struggling aviation industry. The international airline lobby found it disappointing that the Indian government’s Rs 20 lakh crore relief package for industries, ignored aviation. “Compare that to the $123 billion in government financial aid announced around the world, including $26 billion in the Asia Pacific region,” said Alexandre De Juniac, director general, IATA in a webinar organised by CAPA India. Juniac said that there is likely to be a 47% decline in passengers carried by India’s airlines ... Read more

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) warned on Friday that swarms of locusts could pose serious danger to flights during take-off and landing. “Generally, locusts are found at lower levels and therefore pose a threat to aircraft in the critical landing and take-off phase of the flight,” the aviation regulator noted in its circular. “Almost all air intake ports of the aircraft will be prone to ingestion in large numbers, if the aircraft flies through a swarm.” The circular said that though a single locust is small in size, the pilot’s forward vision can be impeded if large numbers ... Read more

The coronavirus pandemic which has devasted the global economy by eroding millions of jobs, has resulted in worldwide lockdowns affecting freedom of movement. This has led to severe impact on business and industry, affecting the mental health of people as humanity grappled with the threat of the deadly pandemic. The lockdown period has been a period of introspection for many, as they finally got the time to rediscover themselves. In this regard, ATTOI in association with Tourismnewslive.com, would like to undertake a survey among its key stakeholders and individuals, asking them about their experiences during lockdown. The survey is sure ... Read more

Ayurveda has played a huge role in building Kerala’s tourism brand, along with the state’s scenic backwaters and houseboats. The importance of ayurveda in boosting immunity is known to all, but the concept probably needs further marketing in international destinations. With the Covid-19 epidemic decimating economic structures around the world, ayurvedic immunity could become a powerful tool in the hands of the state government. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday inaugurated Ayur Shield – a set of ayurveda immunity clinics – to spread this message. An ayurveda community website, called ayurvedacommunity.org was also launched on the occasion, which will ... Read more

Saudi Arabia has announced that domestic flights throughout the kingdom would resume from Sunday. As the COVID-19 crisis eases, the suspension of flights will be lifted in stages to include all domestic destinations within two weeks. The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said, “We have completed operational preparations to gradually lift the suspension of domestic flights, in order to ensure a safe travel journey for travellers through Saudi airports while taking all necessary health measures.” The resumption of flights will take place in stages. The first stage includes 11 airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medinah, Qassim, Abha, ... Read more

Spain usually welcomes more than 80 million visitors each year, making it one of the most visited countries in the world. But it has been hard hit by the coronavirus crisis and wants to be cautious as it opens to visitors from July 1, Gonzalez Laya told Reuters. “In this very atypical year of 2020, we will not be able to behave as usual,” she said. “It’s health. It’s making sure that we do not import cases as we are trying to control the cases we have in the country. It’s very prudent management on our side to make sure ... Read more

A joint forum of Air India employees and staff unions has sought from the Central government a Rs 50,000 crore financial package for the national carrier, stating that the airline is a necessity for the country. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Joint Forum said that Air India is a “necessity” for the country, especially in times of crises, and a financial package will not only help the flag carrier but also the entire aviation sector and the economy. “We thank you for the financial package of Rs 20 lakh crores to boost industry and the economy. ... Read more

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be reopened from August 1, with adequate safeguards. He said issues facing the tourism industry as well as measures necessary for a quick revival came up for discussion when the Task Force Committee entrusted with COVID-19 control met under the patronage of the President. It was the Task Force that recommended re-opening of the airports for foreign tourists, as the country gradually returns to normalcy. President Rajapaksa highlighted the necessity of following health guidelines issued by international and local health experts in the event of opening the ... Read more

Walt Disney intends to reopen the world’s largest theme park – Walt Disney World in Florida – in phases beginning July 11, if things go according to plan. Disney wants to reopen Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11 and Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15, according to Jim MacPhee, senior vice president of operations for the Walt Disney World Resort. When the Disney parks reopen, guests and employees will be required to wear masks and undergo temperature checks. The resort will suspend parades, fireworks displays and other activities that create crowds. It will “enable and encourage” contact-less ... Read more

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in issuing a new joint statement on the need to ensure ‘key worker’ designations for the millions of skilled personnel now maintaining essential global air and sea trade capacities. “Our three organizations seek to ensure that seafarers, marine personnel, fishing vessel personnel, offshore energy sector personnel, aviation personnel, air cargo supply chain personnel, service provider personnel at airports and ports are designated as ‘key workers’, regardless of nationality, to exempt them from travel restrictions, to ensure their access to emergency medical treatment ... Read more

Representatives from the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) met Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Wednesday, to apprise him of the acute distress faced by the industry. The delegation urged the minister for financial support to tour operators so that they are not forced to close down their business, IATO said in a statement. The tour operators are not in a position to pay salaries to their staff since there is no business and they are under acute financial stress, it added. IATO has also asked for special collateral free and interest free long-term loans (5-10 years) to ... Read more

From today, flights will resume from Kolkata. Due to cyclone ‘Amphan’ that killed more than 80 people in the state, leaving thousands homeless last week, West Bengal government had decided not to restart domestic flight services from Monday. Almost all the other prominent cities in India have restarted airline operations. Passengers who are flying to Kolkata need to follow a host of guidelines issued by Mamata Banerjee-led government. From self-declaration to 14-day mandatory quarantine, here are the new rules for air travellers in West Bengal. Passengers must wear face covers or mask at the airport. Social distancing norms should be ... Read more

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has announced that it will operate more than 100 flights in a week. During the first phase of operations from May 25 to June 30, there will be flight services to and from Kochi, Lakshadweep, Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kannur, Mumbai, Mysore and Pune. Air India, Air Asia, Alliance Air, Indigo, SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India Express will be operating from Kochi. CIAL has automated systems for check in procedure, safety checks and identification procedure, as part of the Covid-19 safety protocol. There will be two rounds of thermal screening – one near the ... Read more