Holiday & Travel

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 

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, have welcomed the announcement by its partner Wright Electric on its engine development program for its flagship 186 seat electric aircraft, named Wright 1. 

Wright is engineering electrical systems at the megawatt scale which will be necessary for commercial flight for its 186 seat electric aircraft. It is building a 1.5 MW electric motor and inverter at 3 kilovolts. These components will form the powerplant of Wright’s revolutionary Wright 1 aircraft and move towards aiming to pave the way for a future of zero emissions flight in Europe and worldwide.

Wright also announced that it is moving its headquarters to Albany, New York, to take advantage of the world-class engineering talent there.   

The motor development program is the next step towards building its narrow body class aircraft. Wright will be simultaneously conducting aerodynamic tests on its fuselage, which will inform the propulsion design. The company expects entry of service of its flagship Wright 1 in 2030. 

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, commented: “This is another crucial step for our partner Wright Electric to move towards the introduction of commercial electric aircraft and it is exciting to see their ambitious timeline for testing and entry into service”.   

Wright Electric CEO, Jeffrey Engler, added: “We are dedicated to bringing low-emissions 186 seat electric planes systems to market. Wright Electric’s mission is to make commercial aviation greener, and our megawatt engine program is the next step in making our mission a reality.” 

Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG, chair and managing director of Spice Island Beach Resort received two prestigious honours at his recent 75th birthday celebration – the 2020 Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS) for the 7th consecutive year and a Six Star Diamond Award from the organization for Oliver’s, a first-time recognition for the resort’s fine dining restaurant. Joseph Cinque, chairman and CEO of AAHS, attended Sir Royston’s party to personally deliver the awards honouring Spice Island Beach Resort’s owners, management and staff members as Grenada’s premier all-inclusive luxury resort.

“We are very proud to start the New Year with news that Spice Island Beach Resort has been honoured once again with the AAHS Six Star Diamond Award for the resort as well as the first Six Star Diamond Award for Oliver’s restaurant,” said Sir Royston. “We constantly strive to achieve the excellence required in the luxury travel sector to earn these distinguished awards, which represent our dedication to providing the highest levels of customer satisfaction,” he added.

TUI, the world’s largest holiday company and the UK’s number one holiday provider, are delighted to announce that holidays to Sharm El Sheikh will be back on sale tomorrow (November 7) with a flight from Birmingham Airport for winter 2019 breaks and additional flights added in the summer.

Sticking with its commitment of offering more flexibility and choice for its customers, those living in the Midlands will benefit as TUI will reintroduce holidays to the Egyptian resort town.

The holiday company are to giving customers the opportunity to return to the stunning Red Sea resort.

The area was always a firm favourite due to its breath-taking scenic landscape, year-round dry climate with hot summers and warm winters as well as its long stretches of beautiful natural beaches and clear, calm seas. The resort is also widely popular with those seeking water sport activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling in the famous coral reefs.

Resorts including TUI Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh and Reef Oasis Blue Bay along the beautiful Red Sea coast will be on sale, with more hotel announcements in the pipeline.

Mark Hall, Director of Product and Destination Experience TUI UK & Ireland said “At TUI we’re committed to offering our customers an outstanding choice of holidays across the globe. Sharm el Sheikh was always a hugely popular destination and I am delighted to confirm that we are reintroducing the Egypt favourite to our Winter 2019 and Summer 2020 programmes.

“In response to customer demand, our first flights will operate from February 2020 and our resorts are all looking forward to welcoming our customers back with a smile”.

The return to Sharm El Sheikh gives customers even more choice of high-quality winter sun and summer breaks.

Birmingham Airport’s Aviation Director, Tom Screen, said: “It is great news that TUI UK, a popular brand with our customers, has announced it will be reinstating its Sharm El Sheikh service in February for Midlands travellers. TUI has recognised the popularity of this Egyptian destination which will give customers a great choice for both the winter and summer periods.”

Research released by leading tourism trade association UKinbound and Canterbury Christ Church University shows that the Government’s proposed post-Brexit immigration reforms have the potential to severely destabilise the tourism industry in the UK, putting at risk an industry that contributes £145 billion (7.2% of UK GDP) to the UK economy and £5.9 billion to the West Midlands.

The research includes a survey of West Midlands tourism and hospitality businesses, undertaken by Canterbury Christ Church University with Qa Research, which highlights the critical impact that the Government’s proposed immigration reforms could have on the sector post-Brexit. The survey shows that:

• 52% said that the proposals would impact negatively on their ability to continue to operate
• 70% believe that the proposals would impact negatively on their ability to expand
• 74% believe that the proposals would impact negatively on their ability to remain competitive
• 50% of tourism businesses cited the limited domestic labour market as the key reason for the continued need for EU workers

This new evidence-based research will help the tourism and hospitality sector to respond to consultations about future immigration policy when the UK leaves the European Union and free movement ends.  It draws from a wide review of evidence, analysis of national workforce datasets and primary research with UK businesses through an online survey and in-depth interviews. As the tourism and hospitality sector is widely known to have a higher than average reliance on EU workers, the research provides a critical lens through which to view the potential impact of a national skills-based immigration system on the sector.

The survey of UK tourism and hospitality businesses in the report also highlights how the reporting of the reliance of the sector on EU workers (approx. 10%) is extremely conservative and such national averages mask the realities of many tourism organisations. Over two-thirds of West Midlands businesses reported that EU workers account for up to a quarter of their workforce. Set against the results of the survey, the study shows that:

• Shortages of ‘low-skilled’ labour are as damaging to the industry as ‘high-skilled’
• The picture of skills needs is complex and the distinction between ‘high-level’ and ‘low-level’ skills at the centre of the Immigration White Paper appears to have little relevance to the reality of skills gaps and skills shortages across tourism and hospitality
• The proposed salary threshold of £30k is significantly above the sector’s average salary of £23k for full time workers

Joss Croft, Chief Executive of UKinbound commented: “This timely research shows that the Government must listen to the tourism industry before committing to an immigration system that runs the risk of forcing businesses to close throughout the UK.

“Our tourism industry is vital to the UK economy and EU workers are crucial to ensuring that this success story continues.  We have a skills shortage in the UK, caused not least by low levels of language skills and a lack of interest amongst UK nationals in the sector.

“The Government must, as a first step, ensure that language skills are recognised as a key skills shortage and ensure that any future immigration system is rooted in what actually works and not in populist soundbites.”

Following on from the publication of the research, UKinbound and other industry associations are calling for:

• Language skills to be added to the occupation shortage list and be exempt from immigration restrictions
• If any salary threshold is proposed that it be regionally set to take into account lower salaries in key tourism hotspots
• Quarterly independent reviews to ensure tourism sectors are not adversely affected

Dr Karen Thomas, Director of the Tourism and Events Hub, Canterbury Christ Church University commented:  “The uncertainties surrounding the Brexit negotiations and the consultation over the Immigration White Paper with the emphasis prioritising ‘highly skilled’ and ‘skilled’ labour migration, have intensified the concerns over the likely shape of the UK’s immigration system after the end of Free Movement.

“EU workers constitute a vital labour pool for tourism and hospitality businesses.  Our research demonstrates that national reporting of the reliance of the sector on EU nationals masks the realities of many tourism and hospitality businesses in terms of the scale of reliance, and the significant variations in sub-sectoral, occupational and regional experiences.  We have identified a wide range of factors which together with a higher than average reliance on EU workers places the industry in an extremely vulnerable position when faced with the end of Free Movement post-Brexit.”