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International & Local Travel
Ryanair scraps check-in desks: No-frills airline Ryanair starts the removal of all its airport check-in desks today, 1 October. Passengers travelling from today onwards will be required to check in online at least four hours before departure, and no more than 15 days before their scheduled departure. They will also be required to print their own boarding pass at a cost of £5 per person per flight. Passengers needing to check in luggage will use Ryanair's new ‘bag drop’ desks. Ryanair has warned that anyone arriving without a boarding pass will be unable to fly and will have to pay a fee of £40 for one at the ticketing desk.
British Airways charges over choosing seat: Passengers flying BA will soon have to pay a fee if they want to choose their seats ahead of travel. This means that a long-haul holiday for a family of four will have to spend an added £160 in order to guarantee that they sit together on their flight. It also affects passengers with a preference for aisle or window seats. The fees will come into effect on 7 October and comes after BA’s decision to reduce luggage allowances and remove free meals offered to economy class passengers on short flights.
Jet Airways to launch New Delhi/ Hong Kong flights: India’s Jet Airways is set to launch a second daily flight between Hong Kong and India, with daily services on the Delhi-Hong Kong sector. This new service, which launches today, 1 October, will facilitate travel between these energetic cities.
New York Flights return on Iceland Express: Iceland Express will be bringing back flights from Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport to New York Newark from June 2010, which will operate four times per week. The flights will also connect with those operating from London Gatwick to Reykjavik, starting at £69 one-way including taxes.
Fire shuts down part of Yellowstone Park: A wildfire, sparked by lightning in Yellowstone National Park, has grown in size and closed a section of the main road through the park. But despite the blaze, Yellowstone is still open and National Park Service officials reported that there is no danger to travellers. According to National Park Service officials, the wildfire started on September 13, but wasn't noticed until 10 days later in the Arnica Creek area east of the park’s main attraction, Old Faithful. It’s been reported that 90% of the fire is in Wyoming, with the remainder in park areas in Idaho and Montana.
Colosseum to undergo restoration: The iconic Colosseum is set to undergo £5-million worth of repairs and restoration, according to the Italian government. Pieces of the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre have been crumbling and falling off and the restoration is part of a broader plan to restore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill which formed the heart of the Roman Empire.
International Safety and Security
Indonesia: A second earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 30 September, less than 24 hours after a 7.6 magnitude quake struck the island, collapsing buildings in the capital of Padang and leaving hundreds trapped under rubble. The death toll, which has already risen to over 200, is expected to rise significantly in the coming days. Travellers in the area are urged to remain aware of aftershocks and contact their local embassies.
Samoa: At least 100 people have been killed after an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck about 125 miles from Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, triggering a tsunami which sent 15 to 20ft-high killer waves crashing into Samoa and American Samoa. Rescue efforts have begun and the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days. Travellers in the areas are urged to monitor local advisories and report to their local embassy.
Guinea: According to reports, the Guinean security forces crackdown on opponents of the military junta has led to the deaths of 157 people. On Monday, 28 September, security forces opened fire on tens of thousands of protesters at a stadium in Conakry, urging military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to step down. The killings have been condemned by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and Guinea now faces the threat of sanctions from the African Union. Travellers in the area are advised to avoid all political demonstrations.
Health
Mexico: According to reports, the next wave of swine flu has arrived in Mexico and this one is rumoured to be even larger than the first outbreak. The diagnoses on suspected swine flu patients on a daily basis rose in September with 483 being reported in just one day. Health officials are not concerned however as they know the virus is benign if treated early. Travellers in the area are urged to monitor local advisories and maintain a high level of personal hygiene.
Nigeria: An outbreak of cholera has killed 88 people in the Adamawa and Jigawa states in northern Nigeria and thousands more are feared to be infected with the water-borne disease. Symptoms of cholera include diarrhoea and dehydration, and the disease is spread through contaminated water sources and food. Travellers to the area are advised to drink only bottled water or water that has been purified, and to make sure that food has been properly cleaned and prepared.
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