by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 26, 2016 | Featured, Industry News, Travel |
In what is not all that unexpected, there is momentum growing among EU nations that may result in a total shut down of ‘Schengen’ policy throughout Europe. For those of you unfamiliar with ‘Schengen’ policy, it is the set of rules that allows anyone to travel within the EU without having to pass through immigration/passport control in each country that is visited. It’s one of the very best features that has been put in place since the first days of the European Union.
However, with what appears to be a completely out of control migrant crisis brewing in Europe, many member states already have or are planning to suspend ‘Schengen’ which would require everyone to pass through customs and passport control when travel between different countries in Europe. The freedom to move about Europe would be gone. A handful of countries, including Belgium as well as Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway have already suspended elements of Schengen.
On Thursday, the EU’s Commissioner for Migration, Citizenship, and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos suggested that Schengen rules will most likely be suspended in the next 10 days if a bloc-wide agreement is not reached. Specfiically he was quoted as saying ‘In the next 10 days, we need tangible and clear results on the ground. Otherwise there is a risk that the whole system will completely break down’.
Being a politician, there is no doubt that there is a bit of sensationalism in his comment. His March 7 deadline is simply the date on which EU leaders are holding an emergency summit to address the Migrant catastrophe taking place in several European nations. His comments suggested that if a solution is not reached during this meeting, that Schengen rules suspension may spread to all 28 EU Members shortly thereafter.
What does this mean to you?
If you are entering Europe from abroad, you’ll need your passport as usual if you expect to be allowed ‘in’. The big hassle will be that you’ll need to enter each country ‘formally’ and not just cross the border without any stop to check your credentials. This may lead to new delays when flying or driving between European countries. So if you see that Schengen has broken down, plan accordingly and give yourself more time when traveling within Europe. We’ve been spoiled for over the last 25 years. Some of you reading this were not even alive the last time you needed to ‘check in’ to each country separately when visiting Europe. You Millennials have a whole new experience waiting for you!
The upside?
You’ll fill up your passport faster since you’ll have all sorts of new entry and exit stamps……..
by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 23, 2016 | Featured, Industry News, Security, Travel |
In what has taken nearly a year, Germany is prepared to amend its Aviation Act so that policies can be added that will subject pilots to random screening for Alcohol, Illegal Drugs, and Prescription Medications. This initiative comes as a direct result of the Germanwings crash that took place on March 24, 2015 where it was determined that the pilot who caused the crash was under medical treatments that were not disclosed to Lufthansa.
In addition to the screening policy, the proposed revisions also include the creation of database that will track pilots and their medical conditions so that they can no longer be hidden from the pilot’s employer. This was an issue with the Germanwings crash since the doctors examining the pilot who crashed the aircraft did not immediately report the pilot’s medical condition or prescriptions that he was on. Creating the database would require doctors to submit updates on pilots that they treat so that airlines would be aware of their pilot’s current medical situations.
The update to the Aviation Act now goes to the German Federal Parliament where it will be debated and voted upon. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is supporting this initiative and it appears that the policy will be adopted throughout the EU.
Once enacted, the execution of the policy will be the responsibility of the airlines. They will be responsible for administering the random screenings as well keeping track of their pilots in the database tracking their medical history.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 27, 2016 | Featured, Industry News, Route Announcements, Star Alliance |
AIR CHINA:
Beijing – Colombo effective February 20 is CANCELLED.
Chengdu – Paris effective March 27 is reduced from 4x/week to 3x/week.
AIR NEW ZEALAND:
Auckland – Ho Chi Minh City effective June 4 BEGINS 3x/week service.
Auckland – Port Vila effective January 24 is CANCELLED.
AUSTRIAN:
Vienna – Isfahan (Iran) effective October 30 is reduced from 4x/week to 3x/week.
Vienna – Tehran effective October 30 increases from 3x/week to 7x/week (pro forma period).
EVA:
Taipei – Bangkok effective August 5 increases from 17x/week to 21x/week.
Taipei – Bangkok effective October 2 increases from 21x/week to 24x/week.
Taipei – Fukuoka effective between April 4 and April 14 increases from 1x/day to 2x/day.
Taipei – Hanoi effective July 7 increases from 6x/week to 7x/week.
Taipei – Ho Chi Minh City effective July 6 increases from 14x/week to 18x/week.
Taipei – Ho Chi Minh City effective August 4 increases from 18x/week to 21x/week.
Taipei – Manila effective July 6 increases from 14x/week to 18x/week.
Taipei – Manila effective August 4 increases from 18x/week to 21x/week.
SINGAPORE:
Singapore – Brisbane effective May 28 increases from 21x/week to 24x/week.
Singapore – Canberra – Wellington effective September 20 BEGINS 4x/week service.
TAP:
Lisbon – Bogota – Panama City effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Lisbon – Bucharest effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Lisbon – Budapest effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Lisbon – Gothenburg effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Lisbon – Hanover effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Lisbon – Miami effective May 31 increases from 6x/week to 7x/week.
Lisbon – Porto effective March 27 increases from 7x/day to 16x/day (17x/day on Thursday and Sunday).
Lisbon – Porto Alegre effective March 27 is reduced from 4x/week to 3x/week.
Lisbon – Sao Paulo effective March 27 increases from 11x/week to 12x/week.
Lisbon – Zagreb effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Porto – Barcelona effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Porto – Brussels effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
Porto – Rome effective March 27 is CANCELLED.
THAI:
Bangkok – Auckland effective between March 1 – March 31 increases from 4x/week to 5x/week.
Bangkok – London (LHR) effective March 27 is reduced from 14x/week to 12x/week.
TURKISH:
Istanbul (IST) – Abuja effective March 27 increases from 5x/week to 7x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Adler/Sochi effective March 27 decreases from 10x/week to 7x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Bamako effective March 27 increases from 3x/week to 5x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Budapest effective between June 27 and September 18 decreases from 28x/week to 25x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Mauritius – Antananarivo effective October 31 increases from 4x/week to 5x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Muenster effective March 27 increases from 5x/week to 7x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Niamey effective March 27 decreases from 7x/week to 3x/week.
Istanbul – Nouakchott – Dakar effective March 27 increases from 6x/week to 7x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Ouagadougou effective March 27 decreases from 4x/week to 2x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Podgorica effective March 27 increases from 10x/week to 12x/week.
Istanbul (IST) – Sharm el Sheikh effective March 27 decreases from 7x/week to 3x/week.
Istanbul (SAW) – Abu Dhabi effective June 27 BEGINS 4x/week service (7x/week service continues from IST).
UNITED:
Denver – Hartford effective April 5 BEGINS 1x/day service.
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H/T: www.AirlineRoute.net
