August 28, 2017

Maldivian Airlines, the national carrier of the Maldives, is planning to launch direct flights between the Maldives and OR Tambo International Airport, dependent on government approval. 

“Dates for the launch of and details about the weekly service will be announced imminently, and we are pleased with the current progress of the technical procedures,” says Shona Pittaway, md of Perfect Destinations, GSA for Maldivian Airlines in SA. 

June 27, 2017

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British Airways is insisting it will be able to fly all customers to their destination despite strike action by its mixed fleet crew starting this weekend. 

But it has been forced to cancel and merge some Heathrow flights, which means some customers are having to rebook. 

The strike starts this Saturday (July 1) and continues until just before midnight on Sunday July 16. 

It is the latest walk-out in a long-running pay dispute between BA management and its 1,400 mixed fleet crew. 

Since the start of this year, BA has suffered from 26 days of strike action, forcing it to cancel flights and charter aircraft from other airlines. 

But today it said it would be able to operate a full schedule at Gatwick and London City airports throughout the latest strike, as well as the 'vast majority' of its Heathrow schedule. 

"We will merge a very small number of Heathrow services, and all affected customers are being contacted in advance and will be rebooked to alternative flights," it said. 

"We would urge customers to ensure that the correct email and telephone details are in their bookings and to check their travel plans on our website if they need any further details." 

May 22, 2017

The Consulate General of Nigeria has announced that all categories of visas will now be processed within 48 hours. 

Previously, standard visa applications took seven working days, while express visas took two to three days to process. Visa applicants will also only pay the standard visa service fee and not the ‘Express Service Fee’, which was the higher fee imposed for express visa applications. Express visa applications were intended for emergency travel to Nigeria, however all visa applications will now be treated as urgent and be processed within 48 hours.

Applications for all visas have to be made at Online Integrated Solutions centres, and will then be sent to the relevant consulate for processing. The 48-hour processing time starts once the visa has arrived at the consulate. 

Standard application fees for single-entry visas for South African citizens are US$58 (R765) while multiple entry visas cost $103 (R1 357). 

May 20, 2017

Maintenance work on one of the runways at Frankfurt Airport later this month may cause some flight disruptions.

Runway 18 West is receiving a new asphalt surface and binder course as part of necessary maintenance procedures. Use of the runway will be restricted from May 22 to 24 as the maintenance work is carried out.  

The runway will be closed completely on May 25 and 26 and is expected to be back in operation from May 27 at 05h00.

Frankfurt Airport advises passengers to check the status of their flight on the airport’s website or with their airline before travelling to the airport and allow extra time for their journey on the affected days

Travel to Seychelles, 

Vaccination against yellow fever required if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting

• ARGENTINA, BENIN, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, BURKINA FASO, BURUNDI, CAMEROON, CENTRAL AFRICAN REP, CHAD, COLOMBIA, CONGO, CONGO /DEM. REP./, COTE D$IVOIRE, ECUADOR, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, ETHIOPIA, FRENCH GUIANA, GABON, GAMBIA, GHANA, GUINEA, GUINEA-BISSAU, GUYANA, KENYA, LIBERIA, MALI, MAURITANIA, NIGER, NIGERIA, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PERU, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, SURINAME, TOGO, TRINIDAD TOBAGO, UGANDA, VENEZUELA.

Vaccination against yellow fever required if arriving within 10 days after leaving or transiting

• ANGOLA.

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March 29, 2017

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced a 48-hour visa-on-arrival system in a bid to attract foreign professionals, investors and businesses to the country. Muhammad Babandede, comptroller general of the NIS, made the announcement last week.

Muhammad explains that all visitors need to do is apply for a visa online and then collect it on arrival 48 hours later. “This is to ensure that all genuine requests for the visa-on-arrival facility from any part of the world are processed and issued within 48 hours [two working days],” he says, adding that the NIS has automated its visa application and visa processing services at all entry points.

...

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The new personal device travel restrictions are already being implemented in South Africa.

Although the SA Civil Aviation Authority has not issued any regulatory procedure, airlines boarding passengers last night with through tickets to destinations in the US and UK via affected airports, were told to pack their electronic devices, except cellphones, in their luggage. 

Officials said passengers should expect delays and some confusion as airlines wrestled with implementing a system imposed at short notice.

South African airports have managed to dramatically reduce the rate of pilferage from baggage and eTNW understands that the pilferage levels are now 40% below the global average measured by Iata. 

As there is no regulation in place in SA, check-in staff cannot compel passengers on the leg out of South Africa to put electronic devices in the hold. They are warning passengers that, as they will not have access to their luggage in their transit hub, unless they stay overnight and recheck in their luggage, they must expect their electronic devices to be confiscated before departing on the final leg.

eTNW understands that the measures were triggered when a device exploded on an aircraft in February when an official with airside access handed a laptop with an explosive device to a passenger.

The problem is the possibility of such collusion. Luggage routed to the cargo hold is less susceptible to this.

The affected services from SA are for US-bound passengers to Istanbul, Cairo, Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Istanbul is also one of the airports affected for UK-bound passengers.

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DXB introduces new baggage policy
Fri, 10 Mar 2017

Agents are advised to warn clients flying to and from Dubai International Airport about a new baggage policy that came into effect on March 8.

Bags must now have at least one flat surface and those that do not comply will be rejected at check-in, including irregularly shaped and oversized items.

The new baggage policy applies to all airlines operating from the airport, in an effort to enhance the performance of check-in operations, improve services and reduce the risk of mishandling.

“Passengers, who show up at the airport with non-compliant baggage, will have the option to have it repacked in boxes at a fee,” said vice president of terminals operations at Dubai International, Ali Angizeh.

“Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest source of baggage jams. These jams can shutdown sections of our systems, delay baggage delivery to the aircraft and inconvenience our customers.”

Airlink will launch direct flights from Cape Town to Victoria Falls from July 2. The airline will operate daily flights, with the exception of Saturdays.

Along with Kenya Airways, Airlink will be one of only two carriers offering direct services between the two destinations

March 06, 2017

Air France’s flight schedule between west and south-west France will be disrupted from today, March 7 until Friday, March 10, due to a strike by a French air traffic controllers’ union.

The airline said last-minute delays and cancellations might occur and advised travel agents to check Air France’s website for updates. The flight schedule for each day will be updated on the website on the evening before scheduled travel.

Travellers can rebook on to a later flight from March 11-17, or postpone their flight after March 17, or cancel the trip.

“In this case, we will provide you with a voucher valid for one year on Air France, KLM or HOP! flights. This voucher is non-refundable,” said Air France.

March 06, 2017

American travellers will need to apply for entry into the European Union after the European Parliament voted on March 2 to revoke visa-free travel.

This follows the US decision to deny visa-free travel for citizens from five EU countries –Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia.

Parliament has given the European Commission two months to take legal action to enforce visas for American travellers to the EU.

The South African Department of Home Affairs has indicated that visa-free travel for South Africans to the European Union is still in discussion with feedback expected in the next few months.

February 28, 2017

A date for visa-free travel between South Africa and Russia has not been set, according to the Russian Embassy Consular department.

According to widespread media sources, visa-free travel between Russia and South Africa was introduced as part of an instruction signed by Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, on January 18.

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that it will apply to South African travellers visiting Russia.

The consular officer said the visa-free travel was in draft protocol from the Russian side and that South Africa still needed to confirm the protocol and make suggestions. Once discussions are held on the draft, the next step can be implemented.

The DHA could not provide further details on the process or date of implementation at the time of publication.