Holiday & Travel

Qatar Airways has announced significant updates to its mobile app that allow passengers to plan their travel with greater ease, helping minimize physical contact and interactions throughout their journey. Members of Qatar Airways Privilege Club will earn 1,000 Qmiles when they download the mobile app.

With an updated, intuitively designed look and feel, the Qatar Airways mobile app now presents a personalised home screen that provides the most relevant information to each user. For those with an upcoming flight, the mobile app’s existing ‘My Trips’ feature will now be displayed on the home screen, highlighting the most important information at each stage of their journey. For those without a current booking, special offers will be displayed, tailored to their location. Additionally, the mobile app is now available in the Arabic language, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to Arabic-speaking customers around the world.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our refreshed mobile app is the perfect travel companion for our passengers, allowing them to take control of their travel plans, keep them informed at all times and, importantly in the current climate, limit physical contact throughout their journey.

“At Qatar Airways, we continue to invest in award-winning, five-star products and services across all stages of our customers’ journey, and digital technology plays an important role in this. Our customers expect their digital interactions with the Qatar Airways brand to be as smooth and seamless as their journey onboard, and we are working to ensure that our digital products continue to be world-class.”

With the airline’s mobile app’s ‘MyTrips’ feature, now prominently presented on the home screen, passengers can select their preferred seat and meals in advance, check-in online, download their boarding pass to a mobile wallet, and generate a baggage tag to print and attach to their luggage at home. Passengers can also enable notifications through the mobile app to receive important alerts about their upcoming flight’s departure times, check-in, boarding and baggage collection. Throughout the passenger’s journey, the mobile app can be used to track baggage and book Meet and Assist services at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Other features of Qatar Airways’ mobile app will continue to be offered to its customers. Before travel, customers can use the mobile app to check the latest information on country and travel requirements, including visa and passport information.

Providing seamless booking options, the mobile app also includes a camera tool, allowing passengers to capture a photo of their passport or payment card without having to manually enter this information upon check out. Meanwhile, members of Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, can use the app to seamlessly log in with  fingerprint or facial recognition, book a trip using Cash + Qmiles, redeem Privilege Club awards, manage their accounts, and much more. Customers can download the mobile app at qatarairways.com/App.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Its home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), was named ‘Third Best Airport in the World’ by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020.

To ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind in the current climate, the airline has extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers. The airline allows unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their destination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the original one. The airline will not charge any fare differences for travel completed before 31 December 2020, after which fare rules will apply. All tickets booked for travel up to 31 December 2020 will be valid for two years from the date of issuance.

Additionally, Qatar Airways has robust onboard safety measures in place for passengers and cabin crew. The airline has introduced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew which includes gloves, face masks, safety glasses and a new protective gown that is fitted over their uniforms. A modified service that reduces interactions between passengers and the crew inflight has also been introduced. Onboard, all Qatar Airways passengers are now provided with a complimentary protective kit.

Inside a ziplock pouch they will find a single-use surgical face mask, large disposable powder-free gloves and an alcohol-based hand sanitiser gel.

The airline has also introduced disposable face shields for adults and children.

Puerto Rico's plans to encourage more tourism from the U.S. mainland have backfired as the number of COVID-19 cases has spiked at the same time that the island has attracted more visitors, it was reports from the island.

Days after Puerto Rico launched a campaign to promote that the island would "formally reopen for inbound tourism on July 15" with new safety mandates for visitors, Gov. Wanda Vázquez pushed the date to Aug. 15. She also rolled back multiple reopening efforts, ordering bars, gyms, marinas, theatres and casinos to close down again until July 31.

The governor announced other rollbacks, including prohibiting alcohol sales after 7 p.m., limiting restaurant capacity to 50 percent and restricting beach access only to those who are exercising. A 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew will also remain, the NBC report continues.

Multiple social media videos went viral over the weekend, showing tourists fighting at the main international airport and violating mask mandates, as well as social distancing rules.

Puerto Rico was initially praised for being one of the first U.S. jurisdictions to put drastic measures in place, such as implementing an island-wide curfew and banning cruise ships, as well as closing schools and all nonessential businesses, to avoid overwhelming the island's fragile health care system in March.

But a recent surge in COVID-19 cases has coincided with Puerto Rico's efforts to reopen nonessential businesses and tourist attractions. Over the past week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by more than 1,000, while the number of probable cases increased by almost 1,300.

Gustavo Segura Sancho

The President of Costa Rica, Mr. Carlos Alvarado Quesada, has appointed Gustavo Segura Sancho as the country’s new Tourism Minister and Executive President of the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), replacing María Amalia Revelo Raventós as head of the department.
 
Gustavo Segura Sancho has a degree in Economics from the University of Costa Rica and an MBA in Sustainable Development from the prestigious INCAE Business School. His professional career includes extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He spent seven years in the hotel industry as well as six years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), five of them as its Vice President.
 
Due to his vast experience in sustainable tourism, Segura Sancho was a key player in the implementation of Costa Rica’s Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). The CST categorises companies based on the degree to which they adhere to sustainable practices – a pioneering programme launched by Costa Rica in 1997 and backed by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
 
Three clear areas are the main priorities for Gustavo Segura Sancho as Tourism Minister: the return of international flights gradually and safely; the implementation of tools to ease the financial difficulties of tourism companies; and the execution of measures to reactivate the economy.
 
“It is a great honour to serve Costa Rica as its new Tourism Minister, a position that comes with even a higher responsibility at this time due to the complex situation caused by Covid-19, a pandemic that has been particularly harmful to the tourism industry. It is my wish and task that Costa Rica remains a key global tourism player,” Gustavo Segura Sancho said.
 
The now former Tourism Minister, María Amalia Revelo Raventós, handed over her position to the President last week due to health reasons.

Holiday firms are "frantically busy" taking bookings for cottages, caravan sites and holiday parks after lockdown restrictions were eased.

Restrictions were lifted, with holidaymakers now able to stay in self-contained accommodation for the first time since March.

Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park in the Gower took 300 bookings in one day.
And Plassey Holiday Park in Wrexham said their tents, lodges and caravan sites were fully booked within hours.

Owner of Plassey Holiday Park, Sarah Brookshaw, said: "We are Covid-19 secure and have complied with all the government requests. We've trained all the staff, put hand sanitiser and distance markers all around the site."

Elizabeth Daniel, owner of Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages, said the business has been "frantically busy" since the restrictions were lifted.

The British Holiday & Home Parks Association tweeted: "Sending every good wish to @BHHPA members in Wales Flag as you welcome your customers back."

Andrew Campbell, chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, said: "There was a flurry of phone calls to properties and agencies, which is simply lovely to see.
"People just wanted to get out and come to Wales. You can feel the joy, it's radiating off them." He added many of the holidaymakers were from Wales looking for a staycation, but there were also a "high percentage of people from England".

Tourism in Wales directly supports about 120,000 jobs - almost 10% of Wales' workforce - and contributes 6% of all Gross Value Added to the Welsh economy.

Across Wales, the sector is estimated to be worth more than £3bn - and £585m to the Pembrokeshire economy alone. The industry had been on course to increase its overnight spend by visitors in Wales this year by 10% compared with eight years ago.

VIVA Cruises completes first post Covid-19 cruise on VIVA TIARA’s maiden voyage

The first post Covid-19 cruise from river cruise specialist, VIVA Cruises, has recently come to an end after a safe and pleasant eight-night journey along the scenic Rhine River on the maiden voyage of the new VIVA TIARA.
 
The VIVA TIARA was thoroughly refurbished earlier this year and is the very first ship owned by the young European river tour operator. The maiden voyage and VIVA Cruises’ first post Covid-19 cruise  sailed with a limited number of passengers on board and featured all the new required health and safety measures.
 
The VIVA TIARA boasts 76 light-flooded outside cabins, most of them with French balconies. Departing from the German city of Düsseldorf on 26 June, the ship took passengers down the Rhine until the Austrian city of Engelhartszell an der Donau, arriving on 4 July.
 
The itinerary featured the German cities of Koblenz, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Frankfurt and Nürnberg; the castles and palaces of the Rhine Valley region and the fine wines of the Rheingau district before crossing the border to Austria. All 95 passengers on board (70% of capacity) were extremely satisfied with the new experience on board.
 
Andrea Kruse, COO of VIVA Cruises and a guest on the VIVA TIARA cruise, said: “We all had a very positive experience on this first post Covid-19 cruise, which was very special for us not only due to the current extraordinary situation but also as it was VIVA TIARA’s maiden voyage. It was very rewarding to see how all the new safety regulations were observed by everyone on board. Whether it is by flight, train or car, we are ready to welcome visitors from all over Europe again.”
 
New health measures implanted on board include regular temperature checks, compulsory facemasks, one-way system in corridors, à la carte meals, having a doctor throughout the duration of the cruise, amongst many others.
 
Throughout July and August, VIVA Cruises will be also operating four-night cruises in Germany, along the Main and Rhine rivers, on board MS TREASURES and MS INSPIRE. Additional four- and six-night cruises along the Rhine and Danube rivers are also scheduled from September onwards. 
 
All itineraries will include VIVA Cruises’ signature VIVA All-Inclusive product, which includes full board, high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, minibar, beauty products from luxury cosmetic brand, Rituals, and all tips and gratuities.
 

Cars which find their own parking spaces and trams which report their own faults are just some of the futuristic transport systems being developed under a new agreement.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), West Midlands 5G (WM5G) and Vodafone work together to improve the way we travel around the region.

5G innovation will also play a key role in the region’s post coronavirus economic recovery plan, driving investment and delivering new jobs. The partnership is already in discussion regarding projects where 5G can potentially improve transport and support congestion and emissions reductions.

The agreement, signed by the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street on behalf of TfWM and Director of Vodafone Business Anne Sheehan, will see the partners share information and expertise and develop cutting-edge transport systems and technology using the region’s growing 5G mobile network.

Two 5G mobility projects already under development and led by WM5G are:

• The Kerbside Parking Availability Trial: The West Midlands is the first region in the UK to trial the concept of 5G-enabled identification of live kerbside parking availability. With the support of parking technology provider AppyWay, a series of trials took place in Sparkhill. The demonstration saw a live HD street scan being captured from a vehicle travelling an agreed section of roadway. The footage was transmitted and processed via 5G networks to confirm parking availability in real-time to the AppyParking app. By unlocking real-time availability parking data to drivers journey times, the flow of traffic and emissions levels can be improved. This will reduce congestion, improve air quality within urban environments, and make it more accessible for visitors to access our city centres and local highstreets. 

• Connected tram trial: 5G is also proving to be an enabler on public transport. WM5G has been working with GoMedia – a leading infotainment provider – on some more practical solutions for the region’s tram network. By plugging CCTV systems into a 5G network, hi-resolution video footage can be monitored in real-time far more efficiently. In a world of social distancing, this can help transport operators determined the effectiveness of public safety measures on their services. Here 5G is enabling an intervention without the need for draconian measures to ensure public health and safety.  The footage is captured and monitored at secure locations, protecting not only the safety of the network’s passengers but also their privacy. The same principles can be replicated outside of the carriage and at our stops and stations, enabling safeguarding at a safe, social distance and controlling the number of passengers.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “We have seen how vital good connectivity is during this pandemic, not only keeping many businesses going, but keeping friends and families connected.

“That is why I want the West Midlands to be at the forefront of 5G, using the technology to find new ways of working, travelling and staying connected. And when it comes to travel we are not just investing billions in rail, trams and bus technology, but, through our Future Transport Zone and 5G Testbed, we are looking to lead the way on developing the transport systems of the future.

“It’s exciting to think about what we can achieve in this area moving forward, and I am delighted we have been able to sign this new partnership with Vodafone.”

Director of Vodafone Business, Anne Sheehan, commented, “We’re hugely excited to be working on such innovative projects here in the West Midlands. We believe 5G has the potential to revolutionise transport. Its ultra-high bandwidth and low latency are perfect for real-time interactions that will underpin solutions to some of the biggest transport issues we face today, such as congestion and emission levels.  It’s fantastic to be able to explore such solutions as part of the 5G Testbed and give the West Midlands the opportunity to become a global leader in this space.”

Cllr Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council leader and WMCA portfolio holder for transport said: “These projects show how we can harness cutting edge technology to make travel around the West Midlands easier, faster and more convenient. Whether it is improving safety on the Metro network or cutting the numbers of motorists circulating our cities searching for parking spaces.

“We are developing the next generation of transport systems through the Future Transport Zone and 5G testbed as we look to tackle the problems of climate change, pollution and traffic congestion and build our economy following the lockdown.”

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was awarded £22 million Future Transport Zone funding to work with universities and industry on exciting new technologies that can place the West Midlands at the heart of the next transport revolution.

West Midlands 5G Testbed has been set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and WMCA to accelerate the deployment of 5G networks and to develop new 5G services across the region.

The MOU allows collaboration on systems which help improve air quality, reduce congestion, accelerate connected and autonomous vehicle technology, provide public health benefits and help the WMCA and TfWM achieve its aim of building a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous West Midlands.

CrossCountry have released a statement regarding train travel in the coming weeks.

“The Government's advice is to not travel by train unless absolutely necessary. However, as more people begin returning to work over the coming weeks, we need to ensure our timetable and services can support this expected increase. We do ask that you travel in an alternative way if this is available to you. This means we can keep our trains clear for those who really need them.

“From Monday 6 July, we will run an amended timetable, with added time provided at certain stations to give you enough time to board and alight safely. We’ve also added more carriages to help maintain social distancing on-board where possible.

The timetable changes affect the following routes:

• Manchester Piccadilly to Reading
• Bristol Temple Meads to Newcastle
• Birmingham New Street to Leicester
• Nottingham to Birmingham New Street

As part of this timetable change, we will reduce or remove stops at some stations, which are all detailed on our website. We advise that you check your journey before you travel.  “

UK holidaymakers are expected to be allowed to travel to Spain, France and Greece this summer after ministers confirmed people returning from certain countries will not have to quarantine.

The rules will be relaxed on 6 July after a review of health measures.

The full list of travel corridors with the UK will be published next week.
Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Germany and Norway are also expected to feature but it is thought Portugal and Sweden will not.

A government spokesman said the new rules would give people "the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad" while also boosting the UK economy - but stressed the relaxation depended on risks staying low.

Portugal has seen a rise in the number of new cases in and around Lisbon recently, while Sweden is also unlikely to be on the list because the infection rate there is higher than in the UK.

But the government spokesman conceded there would be nothing to stop someone avoiding quarantine by flying into a Spanish airport, driving over the border into Portugal for their holiday and returning by the same route.

The travel sector has gone to war with the government over its blanket quarantine policy.

So a more nuanced, risk-based approach will quieten the critics to some extent.

But the storm of controversy swirling around this policy won't completely go away.
Portugal, which will probably not be on next week's list of exemptions, feels hard done-by.
The country is desperate that UK tourists return.

And although in public health terms the US is not currently close to being on the list, it does potentially present a tricky diplomatic dynamic, given the normally cosy relationship between Washington and London.

And the transatlantic flight market is lucrative too.

This announcement is a step in the right direction for UK aviation, but they want testing at airports to also provide another way for passengers to be exempt. So far, in public, the government has said very little about that.

Last week, one of the UK's largest aviation firms, Swissport, said it wanted to begin testing passengers for Covid-19 at a major UK airport.

However, the government has not indicated whether it is willing to allow passengers travelling from at-risk countries who test negative to be exempt from quarantine.

UK travellers will still have to hand over the address they plan to stay at on their return from abroad, no matter which country they are coming back from.

Travel industry group ABTA described the relaxation of quarantine rules as "encouraging".

"Confirmation of the list of countries is eagerly anticipated by the travel industry, and should encourage customers to book," it said in a statement.

"The blanket Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel is still a major impediment to travel, however, and we look forward to the government adopting a similar risk-based approach to that advice."

The UK introduced rules requiring all people arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days on 8 June. It was widely criticised by the travel industry and MPs of all parties.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the laws were designed "to prevent a second wave" of coronavirus.

On 17 March, the Foreign Office issued a global advisory against all but essential international travel.

For some countries this will now be eased. However, travel advice will be reviewed separately from decisions on travel corridors.

"Our public health measures at the border were put in place to manage the risk of imported cases and help prevent a second wave of the virus, and will continue to support our fight against coronavirus," said a government spokesman.

"Our new risk-assessment system will enable us to carefully open a number of safe travel routes around the world - giving people the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad and boosting the UK economy through tourism and business.

"But we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if any risks re-emerge, and this system will enable us to take swift action to re-introduce self-isolation measures if new outbreaks occur overseas."

Qatar Airways becomes largest carrier operating over 15,000 flights to take 1.8 million people home
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the global aviation industry. Qatar Airways has led the industry during these challenging times taking people home safely and reliably on more flights to more destinations than any other airline, becoming the largest airline in the world over the past three months. These efforts have established the carrier as the airline passengers, governments and industry partners can rely on and trust.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “During this crisis more passengers have chosen to fly with Qatar Airways than any other airline, and we appreciate the trust they have placed in us. We have become the largest global carrier flying over 50 million kilometres to repatriate over 1.8 million passengers on over 15,000 flights.

This has enabled us to accumulate unrivalled experience of how to safely and reliably carry passengers during these uncertain times.

“Our wide network of flights during this period has ensured we have kept up to date with the latest in international airport procedures and implemented the most advanced safety and hygiene measures on board our aircraft and in our award winning home and hub, Hamad International Airport, recently voted the Best Airport in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year. This is why more people rely on us for international travel than any other airline during this crisis and why we will continue to ensure the safest and most reliable experience for our passengers as we resume flights to more destinations over the summer.

“Qatar Airways is a carrier that has been recognised as the World’s Best Airline on five occasions by Skytrax, built significant goodwill with governments and embassies as we assisted stranded citizens and most importantly, been available non-stop for stranded passengers during the pandemic. We have been here 24/7 during the darkest days and will continue to be a friend in need as confidence returns and people restart their travel plans.”

Passenger and Cargo Operations

While many airlines have been forced or chosen to suspend operations, Qatar Airways has maintained a robust and agile network helping to take over 1.8 million passengers home.

The airline has also worked closely with governments, and companies around the world to operate over 220 charters and extra sector flights helping reunite over 62,000 people with their loved ones. As the global recovery from COVID-19 begins, the airline recently announced plans to gradually rebuild its network in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world. By the end of June, the airline plans to expand its network to 80* destinations with more to be added by the end of the Summer Season.

To ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind, the airline has extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers. The airline will allow unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their destination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the original destination.

The airline’s cargo division has significantly increased operations to support global trade and the transport of essential medical and aid supplies to impacted regions. The air freight carrier has further established itself as the industry leader operating around 180 flights per day, utilising passenger aircraft to carry freight-only in addition to the airline’s fleet of 28 freighters. Working closely with governments and NGOs around the globe, Qatar Airways Cargo has transported over 175,000 tonnes of medical and aid supplies to impacted regions, the equivalent of roughly 1,750 fully loaded Boeing 777 freighters.

These unprecedented times have seen the airline operate services to many destinations for the first time, helping repatriate stranded travellers and deliver essential supplies to where they are needed. Some of the new destinations Qatar Airways has touched down in during this period include Brisbane, Christchurch, Port Moresby, Toronto, and Vancouver for passenger flights and Perth, Valencia, and Warsaw for freighter flights.

Safeguarding our passengers and staff

Qatar Airways has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew. The airline has implemented several changes, including the introduction of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that reduces interactions between the passengers and the crew inflight.

Cabin crew have already been wearing PPE suits during flights for a number of weeks in addition to safety goggles, gloves and a mask to provide even greater reassurance to customers in addition to enhanced hygienic measures already in place. The airline now requires passengers to wear face coverings inflight and recommends people bring their own for fit and comfort purposes.

Passengers flying Business Class on Qsuite equipped aircraft can avail of the enhanced privacy this award-winning suite provides, including sliding privacy partitions and fully closing doors that create a private sanctuary. Passengers can also opt to use the ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator in their private suite, if they wish to limit their interactions with the cabin crew. Qsuite continues to be available on flights to more than 30 destinations including London, Sydney, Singapore and Dallas Fort Worth with plans to add it more routes throughout the summer.

As an airline, Qatar Airways maintains the highest possible hygiene standards, which include the regular disinfection of aircraft, the use of cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and thermal screening of crew.
In addition, Qatar Airways’ aircraft feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection.

Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport (HIA) is also robustly minimising any risks to the health and safety of passengers and staff. As a vital pillar to Qatar’s national economy, HIA’s doors remain open as it continues its operations to take people home, and ensure food security for the State of Qatar through air cargo.

HIA has implemented stringent cleaning procedures and closed most of the non-essential passenger facilities. The airport is implementing innovative solutions to maintain the highest levels of hygiene including the use of disinfection robots, advanced thermal temperature screening, and ultraviolet luggage disinfection. All passenger touchpoints are sanitized every 10-15 minutes and every boarding gate and bus gate counter is cleaned after each flight.

Staff working at the airport have been provided additional training in terms of protecting themselves and others in light of the current situation and implementing the highest health and safety measurements. In addition, hand sanitizers are provided at immigration and security screening points. A social distancing policy has been implemented at the airport, and staff wear masks and disposable gloves to protect them from any infection. All staff are briefed to change their masks in line with WHO recommendations.

HIA was recently ranked “Third Best Airport in the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. Rising from fourth position in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World's Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014. In addition, HIA was voted the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the fifth year in a row.

The recently announced expansion of HIA will increase the airport’s capacity to more than 53 million passengers annually by 2022, further positioning as the airport of choice in the region for savvy international travellers. The terminal building will be the first airport in the MENA region to achieve a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) rating, which is the first performance-based system in the MENA region, developed for rating the green buildings and infrastructures. The terminal will also be a LEED Silver certified building with innovative measures of energy efficiency across the entire building.

*Subject to regulatory approval

Airline will operate three-weekly flights to Venice, starting 15 July 2020

Flights to Dublin, Milan and Rome will increase to daily services from 13 June 2020

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the airline will be resuming services to Venice, Italy starting from 15 July 2020. The popular tourist destination and major arts and cultural centre will become the airline’s third destination in Italy to resume flights, marking a significant step in the resumption of global leisure travel.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar will also increase flights to Dublin, Milan and Rome, with daily services starting from 13 June 2020. As one of the only global airlines to have maintained a significant schedule throughout this crisis, Qatar Airways is uniquely positioned to monitor trends in traffic flow and passenger bookings. The airline expects these additional flights to provide further seamless connectivity via its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport, with its Asia-Pacific destinations, in particular Australia where the airline continues to operate 21 weekly flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are excited to resume services to Venice, one of the most iconic and popular tourist destinations in the world. Throughout this crisis, our focus has been on helping to take people home and transporting medical aid and essential supplies to impacted regions. The resumption of services to Venice is a major milestone not just for our airline but also for the global tourism industry, indicating the start of the gradual return of international leisure travel. We look forward to supporting the many businesses in Venice that rely on international tourism and expanding these flights as demand grows.

“During this crisis, we have become the largest carrier flying over 50 million kilometres to repatriate over 1.8 million passengers on over 15,000 flights. This has enabled us to accumulate unrivalled experience of how to safely and reliably carry passengers during these uncertain times. Our wide network of flights during these challenging times has ensured we have kept up to date with the latest in international airport procedures and implemented the most advanced safety & hygiene measures on board our aircraft and in Hamad International Airport, recently voted the Best Airport in the Middle East for the sixth year in a row. We have been the airline passengers can rely on during this crisis and we will continue to ensure the safest and most reliable experience for our passengers as global travel recovers.”

Qatar Airways three-weekly flights to Venice will be operated by its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Seats in Economy class. The airline has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew. The airline is implementing several changes, including the introduction of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that reduces interactions between the passengers and the crew inflight. Cabin crew have already been wearing PPE during flights for a number of weeks, including gloves and face masks. Passengers will also be required to wear face coverings inflight, with the carrier recommending travellers bring their own for fit and comfort purposes.

To ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind, the airline has extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers. The airline will allow unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their destination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the original destination. The airline will not charge any fare differences for travel completed before 31 December 2020, after which fare rules will apply. All tickets booked for travel up to 31 December 2020 will be valid for two years from the date of issuance. For full terms and conditions visit www.qatarairways.com/RelyOnUs.

Flight Schedule:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Doha (DOH) to Venice (VCE) QR125 departs: 08:20 arrives 13:15

Venice (VCE) to Doha (DOH) QR126 departs: 16:05 arrives 22:30

The national carrier of the State of Qatar has built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade and airports  as a reliable partner during this crisis. With its plans for expanding its network and strengthening airline partnerships, the airline is well positioned to continue delivering on its mission to be the airline travellers can trust.

Leading river cruise operator, Scylla, has announced the sailing of 34 ships on Europe’s waterways with immediate effect – becoming one of the first companies to resume operations after Covid-19. The Swiss operator runs a fleet of riverboats for various European charter clients.
 
“We are very pleased that the industry is slowly recovering from the coronavirus crisis and that our riverboats can now be put back on Europe’s waterways, where they belong,” says Arno Reitsma, CEO of Scylla AG (pictured). “Guests will once again be able to enjoy some of the most exciting river cruises on Europe’s beautiful waterways, even though travel itself is now slightly different,” Mr Reitsma adds.
 
“It goes without saying that all necessary safety, security and hygiene standards have been implemented on board all our ships,” Mr Reitsma explains. One of these measures will be to maintain a safe distance during the entire time on board – only registered passengers who have previously undergone a health check will be allowed on the ship.
 
Fewer passengers on the ships, compulsory facemasks, regular disinfections and bringing meals and drinks directly to the table are also part of the new measures. In addition, a doctor will also be on board for health checks and consultations for all guests and crewmembers. "Travel has changed but passengers on our ships will still be able to enjoy our river cruises," Mr Reitsma says.
 
Scylla will start sailing on a selection of European waterways and the newly added “mini-cruises” (shorter cruises) are proving to be very popular, with strong forward bookings.

After a very successful eight-year tenure as Director of Tourism/Head of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Tourist Board and Film Commission, Sharon Flax-Brutus has decided it is time to hang up her shoes on November 15th, 2020. 
 
Flax-Brutus took BVI tourism to levels it had never achieved before. The territory attained the recognition as an award-winning tourism destination, breaking record arrivals in 2016 welcoming over 1million visitors, and rebuilding its tourism product following the 2017 hurricanes. Mrs. Flax-Brutus can be credited for several major achievements during her tenure including:
 
• Inspiring a new generation of tourism professionals via the Management training and tourism education programmes, 
 
• Paving the way for talented BVI Athletes to attend the prestigious IMG Academy through partnership with The Miami Open,
 
• Launching a Destination training program in conjunction with the Disney Institute Training, that has been unprecedented in the industry, paving the way for other destinations,
 
• Entering new and emerging markets giving BVI a competitive advantage, and enabling the BVI to forge relationships with major consortia and leading travel companies,
 
• Raising the BVI Tourism profile locally, regionally and globally as a strong advocate for the BVI as a tourism destination,
 
• Launching two major advertising campaigns which successfully repositioned the BVI as a leading tourism destination,
 
• Building a strong partnership between the Board and BVI Tourism stakeholders,
 
• Negotiating the payment of accommodation taxes with Airbnb,
 
• Launching BVI Food Fete in November 2013, a month of various activities and events including the popular Anegada Lobster Festival, that has brought significant international attention to the territory’s culinary offerings. 
 
Commenting on her departure, Flax-Brutus stated that “It has been my pleasure working with the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission and to represent this territory which I am so proud to be a citizen of globally. I am gratified by my achievements over the last 8 years, but I think it is time to move on and focus on other ways which will continue to benefit the BVI tourism industry. 

“I wish to thank the Board as well as successive governments for giving me the opportunity to serve our country at such a senior level. I also wish to thank my head office team here in BVI as well as my colleagues in the United States as well as the United Kingdom. 

“Partnerships and relationships are golden in this industry and I’ve appreciated the work that our worldwide agencies as well as the travel trade and journalists have done in supporting me and by extension our British Virgin Islands.

“I will work with the Board over the next 6 months to ensure a smooth transition as we work together to re-open the BVI following COVID-19.”
 

Italy’s government has signed a decree that will allow travel to and from the country from June 3, as it moves to ease lockdown measures.

The country has also announced that it will also allow travel between the regions – which has, up to now, been tightly restricted – from the same day.

The move marks a major step in the country’s efforts to reopen the country’s economy following more than two months of lockdown.

Italy has one of the highest death tolls in the world, but its infection rate has fallen sharply in recent days.

The government’s plans follow a decree which was signed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Certain travel may still be limited based on disease risks, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. People who have tested positive for Covid-19 will still remain under strict quarantine orders.

The travel ban lifts the day after Italy’s Republic Day, likely preventing mass travel over a long holiday weekend.

The country’s infection rate has fallen sharply in recent days. Despite calls for a quick reopen, Conte said that a gradual return to normality can help to prevent a second wave of infections.

According to the decree, all sectors of the economy which are still shut can reopen in June, as long as proper safety guidelines, social distancing and hygiene rules are adhered to. Health officials plan to closely monitor reopening in order to limit further infections.

Before coronavirus took the USA by storm, Italy – the first in Europe to detect Covid-19 - was rated as the country with the highest rate of infection in the world.

It currently has the fifth-highest number of confirmed infections in the world and the third-highest death toll, behind the U.S. and the U.K.

Qatar Airways and Standard Chartered have successfully signed a US$ 850 million financing in respect of seven Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This transaction demonstrates the confidence that the banking market has in Qatar Airways and also highlights the strong relationship between Qatar Airways and Standard Chartered.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker stated, ”I am grateful to Standard Chartered for their continued support to Qatar Airways.  The bank has been a close partner of Qatar Airways for many years and have proven their support for the airline by closing this transaction during difficult times resulting from COVID-19. 

Qatar Airways focus remains on finding solutions to get as many people back to their homes to be with their families and loved ones during these difficult times and this is made possible by the support we have from so many people including our close partners such as Standard Chartered.”

Standard Chartered Chief Executive Mr. Bill Winters stated, “We value our partnership with Qatar Airways and are very pleased to close this landmark deal at this difficult time.

At Standard Chartered we continue to support our clients and communities despite the ongoing challenges with COVID-19 and are proud to have been able to provide Qatar Airways with this financing.”

Heathrow Airport is set to close one of its runways within the next week as air traffic throughout the world drops dramatically – due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

The air hub in the west of London – which has two runways - is set to use just one strip for landing and take-off operations as a statement said; 'to increase resilience for staff, passengers and cargo during the coronavirus crisis”.

A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “Although we are looking at significantly fewer flights at the moment, Heathrow will remain open for as long as possible so that we can continue to play a crucial role in helping to secure vital medical goods during this unprecedented epode.

A BA spokesperson said: “Our colleagues have a done a brilliant job keeping vital routes open to reunite customers with their family and bringing in supplies to our hospitals factories and shops”.

As Britain’s largest airport, it is part of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA

As per the UK government’s furlough scheme, staff at the airport will be paid 80% of their pay plus 80% of their allowance.

Heathrow Airport will alternate use of each individual runway on a week-by-week .basis.

The travel industry has taken a massive hit with airlines – around the world - suspending schedules.

These troubled times will pass and although no-one is certain when that will be, Ski Abruzzo can confirm that their lodging partners in Italy have said there will be no price increases next winter. In addition, Ski Abruzzo guests can cancel any booking up to 60 days before departure without penalty. In other words, deposits will be refunded.

Roccaraso is Italy's fifth biggest ski area with over 100 km of linked piste and 800 metres of vertical drop. It also has one of Europe's most comprehensive snowmaking systems An average of 350 cm of snow falls each winter for a ski season that lasts from December until April.

easyJet has many flights to Naples from London and elsewhere and the transfer time from Naples to resort can be as little as 90 minutes. Popular with Italian skiers for many years, Abruzzo offers a genuine Italian skiing experience as yet untouched by mass tourism.

Skiers looking for modern ski lifts, well-groomed pistes, abundant snowfall, family-run hotels with tasty Italian food and very competitive prices should consider Abruzzo for their next holiday on the slopes.

During the week, the slopes are, in general, blissfully quiet. The price of a lift pass is very competitive. For example, a five days pass, high season in Roccaraso is roughly £170, with reductions for children and seniors.

Getting to the slopes is easy – SkiAbruzzo.com's programme includes hotels that offer complimentary door-to-door ski shuttle services exclusively for their guests.

Half term holidays to Roccaraso have become more popular with each year as the word gets around that prices in Abruzzo are not inflated at all for the February half term week