Aviation News

The United States of America ranked 10th in the Mobility Index, 4th in the Investment Index, and 23rd in the Quality of Life Index. If you choose the Enhanced Mobility and the Investment Indexes, both will be topped by Singapore.The top country in the Quality of Life Index is Sweden. The passport rankings of old are broken. Having access to a country, visa-free, is of course important, but should the quality of life, employment, human rights and many other elements not play something of a role when we list the world’s best passports? Foreign Minister Riad Maliki of the State of Palestine and Foreign Affairs Mark Brantley of St Kitts and Nevis signed a visa-free waiver agreement at the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Serbia this week. Travel experts re-evaluated thousands of data sources, pulling together the data that matters, including visa free access, but adding in mobility,  investment opportunity and quality of life offered by each destination into a new, life-centric index that adds to the outdated rankings of old. The right of visa-free passage is but a part of the value of any given destination, this Passport Index harmonizes the data and ranks countries in a more holistic manner. Enlisting quantitative analysts with extensive experience in international organizations, analyzing big data projects for the likes of UNESCO, OECD, and Inter-American Development Bank, the Global Passport Index presents a new methodology to measure the overall attractiveness of each country for relocation, investment, or dual citizenship purposes through three standalone indexes: Enhanced Mobility Index, Investment Index, and Quality of Life Index.  Each index enables users to filter results for individual country rankings, using 11 different indicators originated by reputable sources such as the World Economic Forum, Gallup, and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy.  The top 10 passports ranked in the Global Passport Index are respectively: United States of AmericaGermanyCanadaThe NetherlandsDenmarkSwedenUnited KingdomFinlandNorwayNew Zealand The United States of America ranked 10th in the Mobility Index, 4th in the Investment Index, and 23rd in the Quality of Life Index. Each index weighs 50% (Mobility) 25% (Investment) 25% (Quality of Life) and with a total score of 96,4, the Global Passport ranked the USA in the pole position. 

US is lifting travel restrictions for international visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Foreign travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the US starting on November 8New US policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent, says the White House. The White House announced today the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions, and said that all foreign travelers who are fully inoculated against coronavirus will be allowed to enter the United States from November 8. White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz confirmed today that “the US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on November 8.” Mr. Munoz also posted on Twitter that the policy “is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent.” Strict US travel restrictions kept millions of visitors from China, Canada, Mexico, India, Brazil, much of Europe out of the United States , crippled US tourism, and hurt border community economies. Last month, the White House said that it would lift restrictions on air travelers from over 30 countries, including China, India, Iran, and most of Europe from early November, but it stopped short of providing a precise date. On Tuesday, US officials said the country would lift movement restrictions at its land borders and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico for those fully-vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) which are not used or authorized in the US will be recognized as a valid form of inoculation, giving the greenlight for the UK-developed AstraZeneca, as well as China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac. Canada reopened its land border with the US in early August to fully-vaccinated Americans with a negative COVID-19 test for non-essential travel. The lack of reciprocity from its neighbor, however, drew complaints from Canadian officials. The ban on a large number of non-US citizens entering America has been enforced for over 18 months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Former President Donald Trump first imposed bans on air travelers from China in early 2020, and then extended this restriction to much of Europe.

The Etihiopian Airlines and Lion Air Murder has a name: Accused is Boeing Chief Technical Pilot Mark A. Forkner? On October 28, 2018, a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed and killed 189.On March 10, 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crashed and killed 157.On October 14, 2021, Boeing Chief Technical Pilot Mark A. Forkner was indicted in the United States for deceiving the FAA in authorizing the certification of the Boeing MAX 737. Boeing saved tens of millions of dollars in this certification shortcut. According to court documents filed in the Northern District of Texas Federal Court, Mark A. Forkner, 49, formerly of Washington State and currently of Keller, Texas, allegedly deceived the FAA AEG during the agency’s evaluation and certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX airplane. As alleged in the indictment, Forkner provided the agency with materially false, inaccurate, and incomplete information about a new part of the flight controls for the Boeing 737 MAX called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Because of his alleged deception, a key document published by the FAA AEG lacked any reference to MCAS. In turn, airplane manuals and pilot-training materials for U.S.-based airlines lacked any reference to MCAS — and Boeing’s U.S.-based airline customers were deprived of important information when making and finalizing their decisions to pay Boeing tens of millions of dollars for 737 MAX airplanes.  “Forkner allegedly abused his position of trust by intentionally withholding critical information about MCAS during the FAA evaluation and certification of the 737 MAX and from Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, he deprived airlines and pilots from knowing crucial information about an important part of the airplane’s flight controls. Regulators like the FAA serve a vital function to ensure the safety of the flying public. To anyone contemplating criminally impeding a regulator’s function, this indictment makes clear that the Justice Department will pursue the facts and hold you accountable.”      “In an attempt to save Boeing money, Forkner allegedly withheld critical information from regulators,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas. “His callous choice to mislead the FAA hampered the agency’s ability to protect the flying public and left pilots in the lurch, lacking information about certain 737 MAX flight controls. The Department of Justice will not tolerate fraud – especially in industries where the stakes are so high.” “Forkner allegedly withheld crucial information about the Boeing 737 MAX and deceived the FAA, showing blatant disregard for his responsibilities and the safety of airline customers and crews,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI. “The FBI will continue to hold individuals like Forker accountable for their fraudulent acts which undermine public safety.” “There is no excusing those who deceive safety regulators for the sake of personal gain or commercial expediency,” said Inspector General Eric J. Soskin of the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Our office works continuously to help keep the skies safe for flying and protect the traveling public from needless danger. Today’s charges demonstrate our unwavering commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold responsible those who put lives at risk.” According to court documents, Boeing began developing and marketing the 737 MAX in and around June 2011. The FAA AEG was responsible for determining the minimum level of pilot training required for a pilot to fly the 737 MAX for a U.S.-based airline, based on the nature and extent of the differences between the 737 MAX and the prior version of Boeing’s 737 airplane, the 737 Next Generation (NG). At the conclusion of this evaluation, the FAA AEG published the 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board Report (FSB Report), which included, among other things, the FAA AEG’s differences-training determination for the 737 MAX, as well as information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG. All U.S.-based airlines were required to use the information in the 737 MAX FSB Report as the basis for training their pilots to fly the airplane. As Boeing’s 737 MAX Chief Technical Pilot, Forkner led the 737 MAX Flight Technical Team and was responsible for providing the FAA AEG with true, accurate, and complete information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG for the FAA AEG’s evaluation, preparation, and publication of the 737 MAX FSB Report. In and around November 2016, Forkner discovered information about an important change to MCAS. Rather than sharing information about this change with the FAA AEG, Forkner allegedly intentionally withheld this information and deceived the FAA AEG about MCAS. Because of his alleged deceit, the FAA AEG deleted all reference to MCAS from the final version of the 737 MAX FSB Report published in July 2017. As a result, pilots flying the 737 MAX for Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers were not provided any information about MCAS in their manuals and training materials. Forkner sent copies of the 737 MAX FSB Report to Boeing’s U.S.-based 737 MAX airline customers, but withheld from these customers important information about MCAS and the 737 MAX FSB Report evaluation process. On or about Oct. 29, 2018, after the FAA AEG learned that Lion Air Flight 610 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Jakarta, Indonesia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash, the FAA AEG discovered the information about the important change to MCAS that Forkner had withheld. Having discovered this information, the FAA AEG began reviewing and evaluating MCAS.  On or about March 10, 2019, while the FAA AEG was still reviewing MCAS, the FAA AEG learned that Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Ejere, Ethiopia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash. Shortly after that crash, all 737 MAX airplanes were grounded in the United States. Forkner is charged with two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce and four counts of wire fraud. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison on each count of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Chicago field offices of the FBI and DOT-OIG are investigating the case, with the assistance of other FBI and DOT-OIG field offices. Trial Attorney Cory E. Jacobs, Assistant Chief Michael T. O’Neill, and Trial Attorney Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Copy of the true indictment:

As of 21 October 2021, Air France operates two weekly designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights from Paris to Singapore.As of 1 November 2021, KLM operates two weekly designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights from Amsterdam to Singapore.Travelers must meet all Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) requirements. As of November 1, 2021 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will offer quarantine-free travel with designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights to Singapore from Amsterdam every Monday and Saturday. Through its hub in Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, KLM will tap into their complementary network and offer four weekly designated VTL flights and six weekly non-designated VTL flights to Singapore. Roland Coppens, General Manager Air France KLM South East Asia and Oceania commented: “”We fully understand that people want to travel and reconnect with family and friends, and we are excited to resume leisure and business travel to Singapore. Air France and KLM have created a complementary network with four weekly designated VTL flights to Singapore, as well as six non-designated VTL flights from Paris and Amsterdam. With our extensive Air France KLM network, we are able to connect many VTL countries via our dual hubs in Paris and Amsterdam, with flexible ticket conditions.” KLM flight schedule from Amsterdam to Singapore ScheduleFlight NumberDayDepartureArrivalAircraft21 October 2021to 31 October 2021KL835/KL837/KL839Daily21:1515:45+1B787/B77W01 November 2021 to 26 March 2022KL835/KL837/KL839TuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday21:0516:20+1KL833 (VTL)MondaySaturday

Taliban government ordered Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to cut its air ticket prices.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the only international carrier flying regularly out of the Afghanistan’s capital city.The route will remain suspended until “the situation becomes conducive,” according to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Afghanistan’s Taliban government ordered the airline, the only international carrier flying regularly in and out of Kabul International Airport, to cut airfare prices to the levels of before the fall of the Western-backed Afghan government in August. In response, Pakistan International Airlines has suspended all its flights to Afghanistan’s capital city, calling interference by the Taliban authorities “heavy-handed”. “Our flights frequently faced undue delays because of the unprofessional attitude of the Kabul aviation authorities,” Abdullah Hafeez Khan, the PIA spokesman said. According to PIA, Taliban officials were often “derogatory” and on one occasion “physically manhandled” a staff member. Kabul route will remain suspended until “the situation becomes conducive,” airline official added. Earlier, the Taliban informed the Pakistan International Airlines and Afghani carrier Kam Air that their Afghanistan operations will be suspended unless they agreed to cut prices that have spiraled out of the reach of most Afghans since the Taliban takeover. With most of world’s airlines no longer flying to Afghanistan, tickets for flights to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, have been selling for as much as $2,500 on PIA, according to travel agents in Kabul, compared with $120-$150 before. The Afghan transport ministry said in a statement that prices on the route should “be adjusted to correspond with the conditions of a ticket before the victory of the Islamic Emirate” or the flights would be stopped. Flights between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been severely limited since Kabul airport was reopened last month in the wake of the chaotic evacuation of more than 100,000 Westerners and vulnerable Afghans after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. With a mounting economic crisis adding to worries about Afghanistan’s future under the Taliban, there has been heavy demand for flights out, made worse by repeated problems at land border crossings into Pakistan.

Sine Draco Aviation Development Ltd. (“Sine Draco”) today announced the induction of the prototype A321-200 airplane at Ascent Aviation Services in Tucson, Arizona, for conversion from passenger to cargo configuration. The airplane will be designated the A321-200 SDF with FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval anticipated in the 3rd quarter 2022.  The Sine Draco A321-200 SDF passenger to freighter conversion offers the optimal economic solution for the next generation narrowbody freighter.  The conversion includes the installation of a 142-inch-wide by 86-inch-high main deck cargo door, Class E main deck cargo compartment with fourteen container positions and Ancra International cargo handling system.  The lower cargo compartments can also accommodate ten containers, with the A321 being the first airplane type in the narrow body freighter class with this capability.“Induction of the Sine Draco prototype A321-200 SDF for conversion is a significant milestone for our program,” says Sine Draco’s Chief Executive Officer, Alex Deriugin. “All major components are in production and scheduled, engineering drawings and technical documentation are in the last stages of completion, and parts and tooling are arriving at the Ascent facility daily.  The prototype airplane induction is the culmination of Sine Draco Engineering, Operations and Supply Chain teams hard work in close cooperation with our industry partners.”Ascent Aviation Services will be performing the conversion of the airplane by completing the touch labor, modification planning and inspection requirements. A partial heavy maintenance check was recently completed on the prototype airplane and will be completed during the modification.  Ascent will also provide maintenance and flight line support during the ground and flight test program following conversion.Dave Querio, President and CEO of Ascent Aviation Services says, “the induction of the prototype Sine Draco A321-200 SDF aircraft into its modification phase is a clear reflection of all the hard work expended on a daily basis by the professionals at both Sine Draco and Ascent.  I congratulate the entire Sine Draco team for meeting this milestone. All of us here at Ascent are honored to be a part of your success and excited to advance to the next phase of the modification program.”

Nur-Sultan to Vilnius and Almaty to Vilnius passenger flights will be launched in early 2022.Hungary’s Wizz Air will operate direct scheduled flights between Kazakhstan and Lithuania.Kazakhstan’s and Lithuanian aviation officials signed the Protocol of Intention to perform regular flights. According to the press service of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, direct passenger flights will be launched between Kazakhstan and Lithuania in a few months. Nur-Sultan-Vilnius and Almaty-Vilnius scheduled commercial flights are expected to be commence in early 2022. Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee and the representatives of the Lithuanian Civil Aviation held talks in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, today to discuss the launch of two regular flights. It was agreed that Hungary’s Wizz Air will operate those flights. According to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development press service, the flights will tentatively launch in the first quarter of 2022. As part of the talks, Lithuanian and Kazakh aviation officials discussed the issues of cooperation in the sphere of air transportation and exchanged the signed Protocol of Intention to perform the regular flights. The final decision on the regular flights will be made after both authorities are given flight clearance notice by the special commissions monitoring the COVID-19 situation in both countries.

Lithium batteries are critical power sources for many consumer goods on which we all rely.It is vital that lithium batteries can be shipped safely by air either with finished products or as components for global supply chains.CEVA Logistics is the first CEIV Lithium Battery certification for its operations at Hong Kong International Airport and at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new industry certification— Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Lithium Battery – to improve the safe handling and transport of lithium batteries across the supply chain.  “Lithium batteries are critical power sources for many consumer goods on which we all rely. And it is vital that we can ship them safely by air either with finished products or as components in global supply chains. That’s why we developed the CEIV Lithium Battery certification. It gives shippers and airlines assurance that certified logistic companies operate to the highest safety and security standards when shipping lithium batteries,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Shipments of lithium batteries (alone or with finished products) must comply with well-established global safety standards for how they are manufactured, tested, packed, marked, labelled, and documented. These requirements are a key element of the IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) and of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) which combine regulatory and operational input from industry and government experts.  CEVA Logistics is the first CEIV Lithium Battery certification for its operations at Hong Kong International Airport and at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, following an extensive period of piloting.  “We congratulate CEVA in becoming the first logistics company to achieve CEIV Lithium Battery certification. From cargo handlers, ground handling companies, freight forwarders and shipping companies, the more stakeholders along the value chain which participate in CEIV Lithium Battery, the stronger and more effective it will be for the industry. Ultimately, we all want to see a network of CEIV Lithium Battery trade lanes with participants certified at origin, destination and in transit points,” said Walsh.  “Our automotive, healthcare and technology customers appreciate our ability to seamlessly deliver responsive logistics solutions no matter the destination or cargo type, like lithium-ion batteries. Our experience in transporting a wide range of batteries made us an ideal partner with IATA in piloting their new CEIV certification. IATA continues to lead the way in providing standards, regulations and guidelines to improve overall quality and safety in the air transport industry. This new certification gives customers even more confidence in our ability to safely and reliably transport their lithium-ion batteries,” Peter Penseel, COO of air freight for CEVA Logistics.

Ethiopian Airlines resumes weekly scheduled passenger services to Enugu, Nigeria from October 9, 2021.Passengers from Enugu will have direct flight connections to many destinations around the world.Nigeria has always been and continues to be one of Ethiopian’s important destinations in West Africa. Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest pan-African airline, has resumed weekly passenger services to Enugu, Nigeria from 09 October 2021. The flights are operated on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Ethiopian is one of the oldest carriers flying to Nigeria and has been serving the country since 1960, strengthening trade, cultural and tourism ties between Nigeria and the rest of the world. Passengers from Enugu will have direct flight connections to many destinations in Africa, Middle East, Asia, South America and Europe with the vast Ethiopian Airlines network and modern fleet. Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said “Nigeria has alwaysbeen and continues to be one of our important destinations in West Africa. We are continually improving our products and services to meet our customers’ expectations and the resumption of services to Enugu is key to reach our customers in different parts of Nigeria. We thank the people and the government of Nigeria for their continued support in restarting our service to Enugu.” Passengers from our four gateways in Nigeria – Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu – now have the opportunity to fly to more than 130 Ethiopian global destinations in five continents. Ethiopian became the first international carrier to fly to Enugu when it commenced flight in 2013. The service to Enugu was suspended for two years as the airport was undergoing renovation.

The ideal day of the week to book a flight is Sunday, not Friday.While domestic accommodation rates dropped in 2020, prices gradually increased over the past year.As travelers continue to plan road trips, industry indicates the best day to book a car rental is on Thursday for domestic trips. New report revealing this year’s travel hacks, including the best time to book airfare, when to travel and other tips to help travelers navigate booking a vacation in 2022, was released today. After 18 months international travelers are beginning to re-emerge, ready to explore the world and the life-changing experiences travel can bring once again. According to the report, one in four travelers seeking savings tips and 45 percent indicating they are willing to be flexible with their travel plans to save money. Airfare booking hacks for 2022 Based on data from ARC, average ticket prices (ATPs) in early 2021 were still higher than previous years; however, come April there was a decrease. ATPs for both international and domestic flights have since steadily increased but are still on average around 25 per cent lower compared to 2019. Optimal Booking Window Domestic flight prices usually start to increase 35 days before departure, while prices for international flights start to increase 28 days before. The sweet spot to book a domestic flight is between 28 – 49 days in advance, while international flights should be booked three to four months in advance for the lowest prices. Ideal day of the week to book The ideal day to book a flight is Sunday, not Friday. For domestic flights this can save travelers around 15 percent and for international flights the savings are almost 10 percent. Ideal day of the week to travel The ideal day to start a domestic trip is Friday not Monday, where travelers can save around 25 percent.For international flights, start the trip on a Saturday, not on a Tuesday to save almost 10 percent. Best month to travel Travelers planning their 2022 trips can also unlock huge savings by being flexible and choosing the right month to travel: The ideal month to depart is January versus December. For domestic flights this can save travelers around 15 percent and almost 30 percent for international departures.

Caribbean tourism destinations continue their journey towards some semblance of normality.While the tourist arrivals continued to lag pre-pandemic numbers, the first half year performance was boosted by a second quarter spurt.By the end of May arrivals were at 5.2 million, down 30.8% for the corresponding period in 2020, considerably better than the global average of a 65.1% decline. As Caribbean tourism destinations continue their journey towards some semblance of normality, preliminary data from member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reveal that the region outperformed the rest of the world in the first half of 2021. Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting secretary general During this period, international tourist arrivals to the Caribbean reached 6.6 million, representing a 12.0 percent decline when compared to the same period last year. By the end of May arrivals were at 5.2 million, down 30.8 percent for the corresponding period in 2020, considerably better than the global average of a 65.1 percent decline. Of the main regions analyzed, The Americas, which included the Caribbean, registered a 46.9 percent drop, otherwise, no other region performed better than a 63 percent fall in arrivals. While the tourist arrivals continued to lag pre-pandemic numbers, the first half year performance was boosted by a second quarter spurt when overnight tourist visits to the Caribbean jumped between ten and 37 times greater than those in the corresponding months in 2020. In absolute terms, there was a steady improvement, as arrival numbers increased from one million in April to 1.2 million in May to 1.5 million in June, according to data compiled by the CTO’s research department. Among the reasons for the strong second quarter was a rise in outbound travel from the region’s primary market, the United States, from which tourist visits reached 4.3 million in the first half of the year, a 21.7 percent increase. Other contributing factors included the easing of some travel restrictions and an increase in airlift. “These are encouraging signs that the hard work our member countries have put into adapting to the changing environment of the pandemic is beginning to pay dividends,” said Neil Walters, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s acting secretary general. “Even as we embrace a recovery mindset and the opportunities the pandemic has given us, we must continue to be mindful of the challenges we currently face and the potential challenges a dynamic situation like the pandemic can present. The Caribbean tourism sector is known to be one of the most resilient in the world.”

Thailand’s Samui Plus Sandbox safe tourism program is launched effective October 1, 2021.Fully-vaccinated travelers from approved list of countries can now book a holiday to the island without quarantine.Travelers in the program must purchase their air tickets from their departure destination right through to Samui. Just over two months since the launch of the ground-breaking tourism recovery scheme SAMUI+ [Plus]- one of the first in Asia – Thailand’s paradise holiday island, Koh Samui, is now well and truly open for business under the newly launched Samui Plus Sandbox program effective October 1, 2021.     From left to right: Shane Workman, Head of Flight Operations, Swoop | Elizabeth Brown, CEO, Sanford International Inc. | Tom Nolan, President of Sanford Airport Authority (CNW Group/Swoop) More relaxed entry regulations mean that fully-vaccinated travelers from an approved list of countries can now book a holiday to the island without doing quarantine, rather than the 7-days still required for Bangkok. Visitors arriving under the SAMUI Plus Sandbox scheme can choose to stay in an SHA+ category hotel [also referred to an AQ hotel] for the first 7-nights which is officially approved in terms of hygiene and safety. Travelers in the program must purchase their air tickets from their departure destination right through to Samui. On arrival in Bangkok, they are transferred to the Bangkok Airways direct Samui flight via the ‘sealed route’ special transit facility. During their first 7 days in Samui, visitors are free to enjoy all the facilities of their SHA+ resort before being free to travel around Samui and its neighboring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao provided RT-PCR COVID-19 tests on Day 1 and Day 6 are negative. Commenting on the latest SAMUI Plus Sandbox scheme, James McManaman, President of SKAL Koh Samui [the local chapter of the global tourism and hospitality association] said:  “The SAMUI+ and the Phuket Sandbox tourism recovery schemes are a credit to the Thai Government and its main tourism body TAT [Tourism Authority of Thailand].  The schemes are the first of their kind in the Asia region and a blueprint for other countries whose tourism has also been devastated by the pandemic.

Today’s inaugural kicked off the first of four new non-stop routes to Orlando Sanford International Airport for the ultra-low-cost airline.The ultra-low-cost airline’s inaugural service took off from Toronto Pearson International Airport at 8:00 a.m. EST and safely arrived at 11:00 a.m. local time.Swoop is on a mission to make travel more affordable and accessible for all Canadians.  Today, Swoop celebrated its first flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport. The ultra-low-cost airline’s inaugural service took off from Toronto Pearson International Airport at 8:00 a.m. EST and safely arrived at 11:00 a.m. local time. “We are thrilled to be expanding our U.S. network with the launch of today’s inaugural flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport,” said Shane Workman, Head of Flight Operations, Swoop. “We know Canadians are eager to travel south to sunny Florida this winter and Orlando Sanford International Airport’s convenience, accessibility and proximity to nearby attractions make it the perfect gateway to the region.” Today’s inaugural kicked off the first of four new non-stop routes to Orlando Sanford International Airport for the ultra-low-cost airline. In the coming months, Swoop‘s additional nonstop service to Orlando Sanford is set to begin from Hamilton, ON, Winnipeg, MB and Edmonton, AB. Details of Swoop’s service to Orlando Sanford RoutePlanned Start DatePeak Weekly FrequencyToronto (YYZ) – Orlando Sanford (SFB)October 9, 20213x WeeklyHamilton (YHM) – Orlando Sanford (SFB)November 1, 20212x WeeklyEdmonton (YEG) – Orlando Sanford (SFB)December 3, 20212x WeeklyWinnipeg (YWG) – Orlando Sanford (SFB)December 10, 20212x Weekly Swoop is a Canadian ultra low-cost carrier owned by WestJet. It was officially announced on September 27, 2017, and began flights on June 20, 2018. The airline is based in Calgary and was named after WestJet’s desire to “swoop” into the Canadian market with a new business model.

St Kitts and Nevis Tourism recording fourth diplomatic agreement in less than four weeks.Visa-free waivers allow restriction-free travel to citizens of the nations that sign the agreement.This privilege also extends to individuals who have received citizenship through economic means. The Premier of Nevis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley has been actively building international relations over the last month. During the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Serbia this week, Minister Brantley signed a visa-free waiver agreement with Palestine. Palestine is the fourth nation to formalize diplomatic relations with St Kitts and Nevis after Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Egypt in the last four weeks. “A historic day for St Kitts and Nevis as we sign [a] reciprocal visa waiver agreement with HE Riad Maliki Foreign Minister [of] the State of Palestine allowing visa-free travel between our two peoples. St Kitts and Nevis continues to expand its diplomatic footprint globally,” wrote Minister Brantley on Instagram. Visa-free waivers allow restriction-free travel to citizens of the nations that sign the agreement. This means that an entry visa is not needed for nationals of either country before entering the country the deal is signed. This privilege also extends to individuals who have received citizenship through economic means, like St Kitts and Nevis‘ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program. The State of Palestine, the newest addition to St Kitts and Nevis’ growing list of visa-free travel offerings, allows its citizens to enter close to 35 destinations. However, with millions of Palestinians living aboard due to political instability, many face difficulty travelling internationally or even back to their homeland. Through this “historic” agreement, Palestinian diaspora and entrepreneurs who chose to partake in St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Program can generally travel visa-free not only to Palestine but to nearly 160 countries and territories, including central education and business hubs.

Fully vaccinated foreign visitors travelling on chartered flights allowed entry to India starting today.International travelers on regular flights will be able to enter India starting from November 15.It is unclear whether arriving tourists will have to quarantine but they must be fully vaccinated and test negative for the virus within 72 hours of their flight. Foreign visitors are finally allowed to enter India again, for the first time since March 2020, when the country imposed its first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. In the latest relaxation of its COVID-19 curbs, Indian government officials announced on Friday that the country has reopened to fully vaccinated international visitors traveling on chartered flights. Foreign travelers on regular flights will be able to enter India starting from November 15, officials added. It is not yet clear whether arriving tourists will have to quarantine in India, but they must be fully vaccinated and test negative for the COVID-19 virus within 72 hours of their flight. The decision to reopen the country, announced earlier this month by India’s home ministry, comes as India’s daily infections have dropped below 20,000 from a peak of 400,000 in May and more people have been vaccinated. India has administered more than 970 million vaccine doses. Nearly 70 percent of the eligible adult population has had at least one dose. The easing of restrictions on foreign tourists visiting the country, however, coincides with India’s domestic tourist and festive season. Already, it has prompted concerns by health officials who have warned against complacency. Earlier this month, the Indian Council of Medical Research, India’s premier medical body, cautioned that “revenge tourism” could lead to a surge in COVID-19 infections if tourists don’t strictly adhere to safety protocols. According to official data, fewer than three million foreign tourists visited India in 2020, which was a dip of more than 75 percent as compared with 2019.

The Etihiopian Airlines and Lion Air Murder has a name: Accused is Boeing Chief Technical Pilot Mark A Forkner? On 29 October 2018 Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed and killed 189.On 10 March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boenig 737 MAX crashed and killed 157.On 14 October 2021 Boeing Chief Technical Pilot Mark A. Forkner was indicted in the United States for deceiving the FAA in authorizing the certification of the Boeing MAX 737. Boening saved tens of millions of Dollars in this certification shortcut. According to court documents filed in the Northern District of Texas Federal Court, Mark A. Forkner, 49, formerly of Washington State and currently of Keller, Texas, allegedly deceived the FAA AEG during the agency’s evaluation and certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX airplane. As alleged in the indictment, Forkner provided the agency with materially false, inaccurate, and incomplete information about a new part of the flight controls for the Boeing 737 MAX called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Because of his alleged deception, a key document published by the FAA AEG lacked any reference to MCAS. In turn, airplane manuals and pilot-training materials for U.S.-based airlines lacked any reference to MCAS — and Boeing’s U.S.-based airline customers were deprived of important information when making and finalizing their decisions to pay Boeing tens of millions of dollars for 737 MAX airplanes.  “Forkner allegedly abused his position of trust by intentionally withholding critical information about MCAS during the FAA evaluation and certification of the 737 MAX and from Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, he deprived airlines and pilots from knowing crucial information about an important part of the airplane’s flight controls. Regulators like the FAA serve a vital function to ensure the safety of the flying public. To anyone contemplating criminally impeding a regulator’s function, this indictment makes clear that the Justice Department will pursue the facts and hold you accountable.”      “In an attempt to save Boeing money, Forkner allegedly withheld critical information from regulators,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas. “His callous choice to mislead the FAA hampered the agency’s ability to protect the flying public and left pilots in the lurch, lacking information about certain 737 MAX flight controls. The Department of Justice will not tolerate fraud – especially in industries where the stakes are so high.” “Forkner allegedly withheld crucial information about the Boeing 737 MAX and deceived the FAA, showing blatant disregard for his responsibilities and the safety of airline customers and crews,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI. “The FBI will continue to hold individuals like Forker accountable for their fraudulent acts which undermine public safety.” “There is no excusing those who deceive safety regulators for the sake of personal gain or commercial expediency,” said Inspector General Eric J. Soskin of the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Our office works continuously to help keep the skies safe for flying and protect the traveling public from needless danger. Today’s charges demonstrate our unwavering commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold responsible those who put lives at risk.” According to court documents, Boeing began developing and marketing the 737 MAX in and around June 2011. The FAA AEG was responsible for determining the minimum level of pilot training required for a pilot to fly the 737 MAX for a U.S.-based airline, based on the nature and extent of the differences between the 737 MAX and the prior version of Boeing’s 737 airplane, the 737 Next Generation (NG). At the conclusion of this evaluation, the FAA AEG published the 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board Report (FSB Report), which included, among other things, the FAA AEG’s differences-training determination for the 737 MAX, as well as information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG. All U.S.-based airlines were required to use the information in the 737 MAX FSB Report as the basis for training their pilots to fly the airplane. As Boeing’s 737 MAX Chief Technical Pilot, Forkner led the 737 MAX Flight Technical Team and was responsible for providing the FAA AEG with true, accurate, and complete information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG for the FAA AEG’s evaluation, preparation, and publication of the 737 MAX FSB Report. In and around November 2016, Forkner discovered information about an important change to MCAS. Rather than sharing information about this change with the FAA AEG, Forkner allegedly intentionally withheld this information and deceived the FAA AEG about MCAS. Because of his alleged deceit, the FAA AEG deleted all reference to MCAS from the final version of the 737 MAX FSB Report published in July 2017. As a result, pilots flying the 737 MAX for Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers were not provided any information about MCAS in their manuals and training materials. Forkner sent copies of the 737 MAX FSB Report to Boeing’s U.S.-based 737 MAX airline customers, but withheld from these customers important information about MCAS and the 737 MAX FSB Report evaluation process. On or about Oct. 29, 2018, after the FAA AEG learned that Lion Air Flight 610 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Jakarta, Indonesia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash, the FAA AEG discovered the information about the important change to MCAS that Forkner had withheld. Having discovered this information, the FAA AEG began reviewing and evaluating MCAS.  On or about March 10, 2019, while the FAA AEG was still reviewing MCAS, the FAA AEG learned that Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Ejere, Ethiopia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash. Shortly after that crash, all 737 MAX airplanes were grounded in the United States. Forkner is charged with two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce and four counts of wire fraud. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison on each count of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Chicago field offices of the FBI and DOT-OIG are investigating the case, with the assistance of other FBI and DOT-OIG field offices. Trial Attorney Cory E. Jacobs, Assistant Chief Michael T. O’Neill, and Trial Attorney Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Copy of the true indictment:

Russian authorities decided to remove restrictions on air traffic with Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the United Arab Emirates from November 9, 2021.Up to date Russia has resumed air service with 62 countries. Air service with Tanzania has been suspended until November 1 due to the epidemiological situation in the country. A representative of Russia’s federal coronavirus prevention headquarters announced today that Russian Federation will end restrictions on flights with Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the United Arab Emirates starting from November 9, 2021. Sheremetyevo International Airport’s Alexander Ponomarenko Discusses Master Development Plan with Board “Following the results of the discussion and taking into account the epidemiological situation in specific countries, it was decided to remove restrictions on air traffic with Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the United Arab Emirates from November 9, 2021,” the official said. Russia will also resume air service with another nine countries, including the Bahamas, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Slovenia, Tunisia, Thailand and Sweden, starting November 9. Russia resumed air traffic with Finland in late January, 2021, with Switzerland – in late August of 2020, with the UAE – in early September 2021, with Austria – in mid-June of 2021. In particular, flights will be performed to the Bahamas between Moscow and Nassau (twice per week), to Iran between Moscow and Tehran (three flights per week), and between Sochi and Tehran (once a week). Moreover, flights to the Netherlands between Moscow and Amsterdam (seven times per week), between Moscow and Eindhoven (twice per week), between St. Petersburg and Amsterdam, Zhukovsky and Amsterdam, Yekaterinburg and Amsterdam, Kaliningrad and Amsterdam, Sochi and Amsterdam (two flights a week on each route), will be resumed. To Norway and Sweden flights will be performed twice per week from St. Petersburg to Bergen and Oslo, as well as to Stockholm and Goteborg. Flights will also be resumed to Oman between Moscow and Masqat (twice a week), to Slovenia between Moscow and Ljubljana (three times per week), to Tunisia’s Monastir flights will be performed from Moscow (seven flights per week) and from St. Petersburg (two flights a week), with flights also possible from other Russian airports, from which international flights have been resumed (two flights per week on each route). Air service with Thailand will be resumed considering the country’s requirements, meaning only for Russian citizens vaccinated against the novel coronavirus infection. Flights will be performed from Moscow to Bangkok and Phuket (twice per week), as well as from Russian airports, from which international flights have been resumed (one flights per week on each route). Up to date Russia has resumed air service with 62 countries. Air service with Tanzania has been suspended until November 1 due to the epidemiological situation in the country.

European travelers will be a key driver of the GCC regions tourism recovery from COVID-19.In 2019 pre-pandemic arrivals from Europe to GCC countries reached 11.8 million tourists.Post-pandemic arrivals are forecasted to recover to 13.3 million tourists by 2024, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5%. European travelers are set to become a key source market for the Gulf region, especially Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which will help their post pandemic tourist industry recovery. Countries in the GCC include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain and they all offer a good range of flight options and a varied tourism product, which appeals to European travelers. The latest industry data reveals that in 2019 pre-pandemic arrivals from Europe to GCC countries reached 11.8 million tourists. In 2020, arrivals collapsed to 3.9 million due to the pandemic, a 67% year-over-year (Y-O-Y) decrease, however, post-pandemic arrivals are forecasted to recover to 13.3 million tourists by 2024, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5%. Given the high levels of growth expected from European travelers arriving in GCC countries over the next three years, they will be a key driver of the regions tourism recovery from COVID-19. One country of particular importance to the region is the UK as the industry’s latest forecasts show that UK arrivals to GCC countries will reach 3 million by 2024 a CAGR of 21.7%. UK travelers have always been attracted to GCC countries as they offer a diverse tourism proposition for summer and winter sun, with stunning beaches, sprawling cities and adventure activities. The opulence and status of Dubai with luxury hotels and the lavish experience it has to offer is also popular with UK travelers. Countries across the GCC have plenty to entice Europeans, with a mix of activities from the traditional beach holiday to the cultural experience provided by the regions traditions and history. This will help it to regain its popularity quicker than those destinations that only offer a city break experience.

The Common Civil Area Agreement is expected to open Ukraine up to more low-cost routs and boost tourism.Currently, Ukraine has bilateral air service agreement with each European Union country.New agreement with EU stipulates that restrictions on the number of flights will be lifted. The European Union (EU) and Ukraine have signed a Common Aviation Area Agreement that will establish a joint aviation space, the Ukrainian presidential press service said. The Common Civil Aviation Area Agreement, widely known as the Open Skies Treaty, is expected to open Ukraine up to more low-cost air routes and boost tourism, thanks to the mandatory implementation of European standards and rules in the field of air transportation.  Currently, Ukraine has bilateral air services agreements with each EU country. They set restrictions on the number of carriers and weekly flights. This made it difficult for new carriers to enter popular flights. The new agreement with the EU stipulates that restrictions on the number of carriers and flights will be lifted. Any air carrier will be able to fly along popular routes, not only monopolists. This means that low-cost airlines will get the opportunity to enter the market. Ryanair, for one, has already announced an “aggressive expansion” in Ukraine once the country joins the Open Skies deregulated aviation market, with plans to open flights from 12 Ukrainian airports instead of the current 5, as well as opening domestic services. Along with the new flights, passengers can expect more good news — ticket prices are expected to drop as a result of increased competition and an end to monopolies along popular destinations. As well, prices will be slashed due to the agreement granting the right to any aviation company to handle passengers in airports.  Apart from passengers, Ukrainian regional airports are expected to reap benefits from the changes. They will receive more airplanes and have a larger passenger flow. This means that regional airports will have more chances for investments and development. Another plus of the agreement for Ukrainian passengers is the introduction of European Union norms and standards in Ukrainian civil aviation.  The signing ceremony was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement, inked at the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit in Kiev, will open up the air markets of Ukraine and the EU and bolster air safety, air traffic, and environmental protection, the presidential press service said in a statement. The EU-Ukraine Open Skies Agreement must be ratified by Ukraine and each European Union member state in order to take effect.

US District Judge Mark Pittman responded to a class action brought by plaintiff and United Airlines captain David Sambrano, a North Texas resident.Pittman ordered a temporary restraining order on United Airlines, preventing the company from enforcing its vaccine mandate on employees.Texas governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas from mandating Covid-19 vaccinations for employees or customers. US District Judge Mark Pittman responded to a federal lawsuit against United Airlines filed by six airline employees by ordering the carrier to temporarily halt its COVID-19 vaccine mandate that would put unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave. Pittman issued his order in response to a class action brought by plaintiff and United Airlines captain David Sambrano, a North Texas resident. Sambrano was one of six employees who filed a federal lawsuit arguing that there was a pattern of discrimination at the Chicago based airline; they had “requested religious or medical accommodations from United’s mandate that its employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”  The judge ordered a temporary restraining order on United Airlines, preventing the company from enforcing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate on employees and placing workers who requested an exemption on unpaid leave. The restraining order expires on October 26. It gives the judge time to hear the relevant arguments of the employees and airline. The employees, who filed their complaint on September 21, have argued that putting staff on unpaid leave is not reasonable accommodation, but rather an “adverse employment action” and therefore constitutes discrimination.  Sambrano himself applied for medical exemption, having recovered from COVID-19. He says his request was rejected by United’s online accommodation system. United Airlines announced on August 6 that it would be requiring all 67,000 of its US-based employees to get the jab. At the time of its announcement, the airline suggested around 90% of pilots and 80% of flight attendants were already inoculated. It said that the small number of employees who refused the vaccine would be placed on unpaid leave. The airline says that it “is making a good faith effort to manage workplace safety and provide reasonable accommodations in the face of unprecedented and rapidly evolving circumstances” and had filed a motion to dismiss the case. Meanwhile, Texas governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for employees or customers.

Edelweiss landed an Airbus A340 at KIA on October 9, 2021, reigniting the aviation tourism sector in Tanzania.The aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute and several Tanzanian officials.The inauguration of Edelweiss is seen as a vote of confidence in Tanzania as a safe destination for business, particularly leisure tourism, thanks to health and safety protocols in place. Edelweiss, a sister company of Swiss International Air Lines and a member of the Lufthansa Group, has a nearly 20 million customer base across the world. On October 9, 2021, a maiden Edelweiss Airbus A340 landed at KIA, a major gateway to Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit, with 270 tourists from across Europe on board, essentially gracing the tourism high season. The airplane was greeted with a water cannon salute after having successfully touched the JRO’s runway at 8:04 a.m. East African Time, as Cabinet Ministers responsible for Works and Transport as well as from Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Makame Mbarawa and Dr. Damas Ndumbaro, respectively, along with Tanzania UNDP Country Resident Representative, Ms. Christine Musisi; Switzerland Ambassador, Dr. Didier Chassot; and Lufthansa Group General Manager Southern and Eastern Africa, Dr. Andrea Shulz led the crowd to cheer on the historic landing of the aircraft. “The inauguration of Edelweiss is a vote of confidence in Tanzania as a safe destination for business, particularly leisure tourism, thanks to health and safety protocols in place to ensure that air travel remains safe and doesn’t spread the Coronaviruses globally,” Prof. Mbarawa said amid the cheers from the floor. He added: “The Edelweiss offers a critical link to the key Tanzania northern tourism circuit with the fastest growing hub in Europe in today’s aviation industry and other metropolitan cities across the world, breathing a new life to our tourism, a key economic industry.” Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Dr. Damas Ndumbaro, said the Edelweiss offering 2 weekly connections from Zurich, Switzerland, to Tanzania was not only a shot in the arm for ailing tourism but also a clear sign of growing confidence for the travel industry in the country’s COVID-19 measures. Edelweiss will be flying from Zurich to Kilimanjaro and on to Zanzibar every Tuesday and Friday from now until the end of March. The route will be operated with an Airbus A340. The aircraft offers a total of 314 seats – 27 in Business Class, 76 in Economy Max, and 211 in Economy. Bernd Bauer, CEO of Edelweiss, said: “As Switzerland’s leading leisure airline, Edelweiss flies to the most beautiful destinations worldwide. With Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, we now have 2 new holiday destinations on offer, which perfectly complement our range on the African continent and enable our guests from Switzerland and Europe to enjoy unforgettable travel experiences.” Didier Chassot, Switzerland’s ambassador to Tanzania, was delighted when the first flight landed: “We are very happy that a Swiss airline is again connecting Switzerland and Tanzania directly. This decision by Edelweiss shows how highly attractive Tanzania – mainland and Zanzibar – remains for Swiss people. It also shows growing confidence in the efforts by Tanzania to address the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic with the necessary resolve and transparency, which we very much welcome.” The Edelweiss direct flight to KIA has, among other factors, been possible thanks to a trinity partnership from the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP), Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), and the government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. “I’m very grateful to witness some of the fruits of our partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and TATO in boosting tourism recovery in Tanzania. Congratulations to the Government of Tanzania, to TATO, and to the Swissair management team for all the hard work that has led us to this day,” UNDP Country Representative, Ms. Christine Musisi, told the audience at the flight reception function. Ms. Musisi said that she recalled at the height of global lockdowns in April 2020 when UNDP led the UN rapid social-economic impact assessment of COVID-19 to Tanzania, it was clear from this study that tourism was the hardest hit economic industry in the country. With an 81 percent drop in tourism, many businesses collapsed resulting in significant revenue loss, a loss of three-quarters of jobs in the industry, be they tour operators, hotels, tour guides, transporters, food suppliers, and traders. This severely affected the livelihoods of many, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises, unprotected workers, and informal businesses that comprise mostly youth and women. “We thank the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism for trusting UNDP as a collaborative partner in preparing the comprehensive COVID-19 recovery and sustainability plan for the tourism industry,” she explained. Ms. Musisi quickly added: “We also thank TATO for their leadership in the multi-stakeholder engagement that led to the joint tourism recovery project we are implementing and which has contributed to opening this route and through various measures, working towards re-opening markets in Europe, [the] Americas, and the Middle East.” “I believe that this is just the beginning of our journey in building back better a tourism industry that is inclusive, resilient, and prosperous,” Ms. Musisi concluded. With the introduction of twice-weekly flights by Edelweiss, the UNDP boss said she was buoyant that Tanzania would not only reclaim but also increase, the share of the tourism market in Europe and Northern America. TATO CEO, Mr. Sirili Akko, expressed his profound gratitude to Edelweiss and UNDP, saying their support came at the darkest moment in the tourism industry’s recent history caused by the COVID-19 pandemic impacts. A tourist, Mr. Amer Vohora, said: “Edelweiss finally flying back to Tanzania is a long time coming, a fabulous direct flight that’s super convenient and very comfortable with perfect service, as I will need to fly back often to visit the Edelweiss Coffee Estates. I’ll be booking my return flight as soon as I get back.” #rebuildingtravel

Air Canada Mainline will resume direct service, twice a week, (Wednesday and Sunday) from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) starting October 31.JetBlue offers daily service from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND). The carrier’s premium Mint aircraft operates on Saturday.American Airlines offers service, twice a week, from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) on Wednesday and Saturday. The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) announced today the destination will become even more accessible with increased airlift from the United States and the resumption of service from Canada. The timing comes just ahead of winter, officially the time of SAD and when the Caribbean is especially appealing for North Americans who are already dreading early darkness and frigid temperatures. “As people re-engage their passion for travel, our airline partners recognize the value of providing connectivity to our special island. We are truly a slice of paradise with a low-key vibe, warm and welcoming people, and offerings that connect visitors not only with nature and amazing water adventures, but also with a fascinating culinary journey” said Petra Roach, CEO, Grenada Tourism Authority. “New and expanded air service helps Grenada regain its position as a highly attractive destination for visitors seeking a distinctive Caribbean experience.”  A roundup of airlift updates include:  From the U.S. JetBlue offers daily service from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND). The carrier’s premium Mint aircraft operates on Saturday. American Airlines offers service, twice a week, from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) on Wednesday and Saturday. Starting November 2, service operates three times a week (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Daily service begins December 1.Starting November 27, service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), operates once a week on Saturday. From Canada Air Canada Mainline will resume direct service, twice a week, (Wednesday and Sunday) from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) starting October 31. Sunwing is expected to offer service once a week from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) starting November 7.

Mauritius has strong ties with South Africa and is both a popular tourism and business destination.SAA route strategy is constantly being monitored and evaluated in line with the carrier’s post-business rescue strategy of sustainability and profitability.SAA is delighted to be resuming services to Mauritius, which in the past has been both popular and profitable. South African Airways (SAA) continues to rebuild its network with the resumption of service to Mauritius from November 21st, 2021. Flights will initially operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays, departing Johannesburg OR Tambo International (ORTIA) at 09:45am with return flights departing Mauritius at 04:35pm. South African Airways Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo says, “Part of our growth strategy is to identify routes where there is demand and which can be profitable to the carrier. The resumption of services to Mauritius meets both those criteria. Furthermore, the country has strong ties with South Africa and is both a popular tourism and business destination. We are confident that the ticket up-take will be strong, particularly as the summer season approaches.” SAA is now approaching its first full month of operations with local flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town and regionally to Accra, Kinshasa, Harare and Lusaka. Daily Maputo service begins in December 2021. Kgokolo says the route strategy is constantly being monitored and evaluated in line with the carrier’s post-business rescue strategy of sustainability and profitability. “This is a sensible practice that is adopted by airlines the world over given the tough operating climate the industry finds itself in. Depending on the take up to current destinations and where there is future demand, we will add and subtract routes.” Kgokolo says SAA is delighted to be resuming services to Mauritius, which in the past has been both popular and profitable. The flying time to and from the country is around four hours.

Lufthansa’s capital increase successfully completed – new shares are being traded as of today.Proceeds from capital increase flow directly into repayment of stabilization funds of the German Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF).Full repayment and cancellation of ESF Silent Participations I and II planned before the end of the year. With today’s finalization of the capital increase Deutsche Lufthansa AG has completely repaid the amount of 1.5 billion euros drawn from the Silent Participation I of the Economic Stabilization Fund of the Federal Republic of Germany (ESF). With this, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has settled a major part of the currently outstanding stabilization measures of the ESF. The repayment was made significantly earlier than originally planned. Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG The gross proceeds of the capital increase amounted to 2.162 billion euros. The new shares are being traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since today. The capital increase is therefore completed. Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG says: “We are very grateful that Deutsche Lufthansa AG was stabilized with tax money in the most challenging of times. This has made it possible to preserve more than 100,000 jobs and secure them for the future. Today, we are keeping our promise and paying back a large part of the stabilization funds earlier than expected. We are increasingly confident about the future. More and more countries are opening their borders, and demand for air travel, especially from business travelers, is growing daily. Nevertheless, the environment for airlines remains challenging. That is why we are consistent in continuing our transformation. Our goal remains unchanged: the Lufthansa Group will continue to defend its position among the world’s top 5 airline groups.” Following today’s repayment of the Silent Participation I, the Company also intends to fully repay the Silent Participation II of 1 billion euros before the end of 2021 and to terminate the unused portion of Silent Participation I also before the end of 2021. A KfW loan of 1 billion euros was already paid back earlier than planned (February 2021). The ESF, which now holds 14.09% of the share capital, has committed not to sell any shares in the company in the six months following the completion of the capital increase. However, the sale of the stake is to be completed no later than 24 months after completion of the capital increase, provided that the Company has repaid the Silent Participations I and II as planned and that the contractual requirements are met.

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic working from home is now standard practice for many.Workations could rise in popularity as more work flexibility is introduced as the nation heads back to the office.TUI’s early entry into the workation market could see it become an early market leader. With travel demand expected to return slowly, TUI is turning to alternative markets such as the growing trend for a combined travel and remote working experience as it launches a new ‘workation’ package in a bid to become a leading provider of this new travel service. Due to the pandemic working from home is now standard practice for many and workations could rise in popularity as more work flexibility is introduced as the nation heads back to the office. TUI has recognized this growing trend early and designed their package with remote working essentials in mind including Wi-Fi and a dedicated workspace in 30 of its global hotels. Remote working could become a mainstay for many, and TUI’s early entry into the workation market could see it become an early market leader. A recent poll has shown a high preference for fewer visits to the office post-COVID-19 with 29% of global respondents only wishing to visit the office monthly, quarterly, or when requested by management. A further one in five (21%) never want to visit the office again. The shift in remote working and peoples preference to visit the office less frequently demonstrates a good market opportunity for TUI’s workation packages. The COVID-19 pandemic forced remote working on most office workers, and their shift in sentiment highlights a desire to retain current arrangements. Many will be desperate to get away, and a change of scenery could provide a productivity boost. A further live poll found that 45% of respondents said better opportunities to focus is a reason to retain remote working. Escaping on a workation will provide a new remote work experience away from the distractions of the home and with all-inclusive dining included, employees can focus on work without the added burden of everyday tasks. TUI is the first tour operator to offer specific packages for remote workers. Even though some hotels groups have offered similar packages to TUI, most only offered the day use of a room. The tour operator has combined the essential remote working requirements with a relaxing stay in its hotels. With travel demand expected to take time to rebound, targeting the increasing demand for remote working by offering workation packages could pay off for TUI and support a quicker return to pre-COVID revenue levels for the tour operator.

Southwest Airlines cancels hundreds more flights on Monday morning after nearly 2000 weekend cancelations.Thousands of Southwest passengers have been left stranded at the airports around the country.Southwest Airlines blamed the abnormal rate of cancelations on air traffic control issues. Southwest Airlines weekend meltdown continued today, with carrier canceling nearly 350 more flights on Monday morning. Southwest Airlines’ problems began Friday when severe weather in Florida and air-traffic-control issues resulted in a large number of cancellations, leaving customers and crew members out of place. Southwest, known for its relatively low prices, canceled at least 1,018 flights on Sunday, that is in addition to 808 flights that were canceled on Saturday, according to flight tracking data.  Thousands of Southwest Airlines‘ passengers have been left stranded at the airports. In a weekend statement, Southwest Airlines blamed the abnormal rate of cancellations on air traffic control issues and “disruptive weather,” adding that they were working to “recover” the operation. Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), which represents some 10,000 pilots, poured cold water on speculation of an ongoing strike, saying on Sunday that the group was “focused on the safety of our crews, passengers, and overcoming operational challenges, not unofficial job actions.” However, media citing “airline sources” have reported that air traffic controllers were staging a mass “sickout” or walkout at the federal air traffic control center in Hilliard, Florida over mandatory vaccinations. The reported protest caused a “ripple effect” paralyzing Southwest Airlines‘ operations. Responding to the rumors of a mass walkout on Sunday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dismissed the report, insisting that “no FAA air traffic staffing shortages have been reported since Friday.” Jacksonville Aviation Authority Chief Operating Officer Tony Cugno reportedly sent an email to the JAA board of directors, pinning the blame for the havoc on some employees taking their “normal approved leaves” and controllers having to stay at home for 48 hours after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine shot. SouthWest Airlines became one of the last major US air carriers to introduce a vaccine mandate for its employees last Monday. Some 56,000 Southwest employees have until December 8 to get vaccinated if they want to keep their jobs.

Six vaccines that are FDA authorized/approved or listed for emergency use by WHO will meet the criteria for travel to the US.The CDC’s comments come weeks after the White House said it would lift air-travel restrictions from 33 nations.The CDC also confirmed it had informed various airlines of the approved list of COVID-19 jabs. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson said that any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be permitted for foreign visitors traveling to the United States. “Six vaccines that are FDA authorized/approved or listed for emergency use by WHO will meet the criteria for travel to the US,” a CDC spokesperson said, according to news sources. Immunizations developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are currently approved in the US – the latter two on emergency-use basis only – while the WHO has backed jabs from AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm and Sinovac in addition to the three already named. The CDC’s comments come weeks after the White House said it would lift air-travel restrictions from 33 nations, initially imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19, sometime in November. However, at the time, it did not specify which immunizations would qualify. Later on Friday, the CDC also confirmed it had informed various airlines of the approved list of jabs, adding that the health agency would “release additional guidance and information as the travel requirements are finalized.”  A body representing a number of air carriers, Airlines for America, confirmed that claim, saying it was “pleased by the CDC’s decision to approve a list of authorized vaccinations for travelers entering the US.”