UNITED AIRLINES - United Airlines is resuming flights after a computer fault halted all U.S. departures for about two hours, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers in the second such setback since early June. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration disclosed the end of the grounding in a statement Wednesday after saying "automation issues" had forced a temporary suspension of U.S. takeoffs. The shutdown affected only mainline jets that had yet to take off, and planes already airborne continued to operate. "We experienced a network connectivity issue this morning," United spokesman Luke Punzenberger said by e-mail, without elaborating. The timing of Wednesday's disruption, starting before 8 a.m. New York time and lasting until almost 10 a.m., caught fliers hustling for morning departures in the middle of the U.S. business week. United has announced the following exception policy due to the disruption: 

• The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new flights departing between July 8, 2015 and July 10, 2015, as long as travel is rescheduled in the same cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.
• For wholly rescheduled travel departing after July 10, 2015, or for a change in departure or destination city, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued.

RYANAIR - Ryanair has been awarded nine landing slots per day at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, according to Dutch news publication De Telegraaf. The slots are for the upcoming winter season, starting on October 25. In the Netherlands, Ryanair currently operates to Eindhoven, Maastricht and Groningen. The carrier has to decide whether to take up the slots by August 31. De Telegraaf reports that Schiphol Group had wanted Ryanair to operate out of another airport it owns, Lelystad airport, which has recently seen major expansion plans approved by government. Easyjet has also added new routes to Schiphol starting this winter - to Milan, Lyon, Salzburg, Tel Aviv, Grenoble and Tenerife.

SOUTH AFRICA(EAST LONDON) - The authorities at East London Airport, which serves the city of East London in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, closed one of the facility's two runways earlier on 8 July. The runway closure followed an accident involving a small private aircraft.  The accident and runway closure may result in some disruptions to flight schedules at the airport on 8 July. Operations are likely to resume later in the day. Clients intending to travel via East London Airport on 8 July are advised to confirm the status of their flight(s) with their travel provider, airline or the airport prior to departure.

AUSTRALIA/INDONESIA - Airlines Jetstar and Virgin have delayed or cancelled flights to Denpasar as volcanic ash once more encroaches on air space over Bali. Flights to and from the holiday island have been disrupted since Friday, as ash from the Mount Raung volcano has drifted intermittently towards Denpasar airport. A Jetstar spokesman says unfavourable winds have caused the ash cloud to drift within 40km of the airport. "As a result of this movement, Jetstar has cancelled services to and from Bali this evening, and delayed some flights scheduled to depart tomorrow morning pending detailed assessment by our flying operations team in the morning," the spokesman said. "We will provide an update on Thursday's flying to and from Bali around 9.30am tomorrow, after the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issues updated information about the ash cloud." The spokesman said the airline regrets the disruption and has options for passengers who wish to amend their travel plans. A Virgin Australia spokesman said four flights between Australian airports and Bali on Wednesday night had been delayed by 12 hours as experts monitor the progress of the ash cloud. Virgin passengers on flights on Wednesday are urged to phone 13 6789 or (07) 3295 2296 before proceeding to the airport and passengers for Thursday should check the Virgin website for updates. "The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we will keep customers updated as new information becomes available," the spokesman said.

 

ATG is monitoring this event and will advise if any passengers may be affected. 

UNITED KINGDOM - Train services on some of the country's busiest routes will be significantly hit from Wednesday night because of a strike by rail workers. Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First Great Western (FGW) will walk out for 48 hours from 6.30pm. The action, over jobs and maintenance of new Hitachi trains, will affect services between London and Wales and the West Country, hitting commuters and cricket fans going to Cardiff for the first Ashes Test. A revised timetable will be operating, but FGW warned that capacity would be limited and trains that did run would be very busy. The changes include trains between south Wales and London running every hour instead of half-hour and services to Devon and Cornwall being reduced from hourly to every two hours. Seat reservations are unlikely to be honoured during the strike. An overtime ban on Saturday could also lead to late changes or cancellations, the company warned. The union accused FGW of "playing for time" during talks and "going through the motions rather than addressing the issues.

UNITED KINGDOM(SCOTLAND) - Ferry workers aligned to the RMT union and employed by Caledonian MacBrayne (https://www.calmac.co.uk/) and Argyll Ferries (http://www.argyllferries.co.uk/) have called for a 24-hour strike on 10 July in Scotland in the UK. The strike, the latest in recent weeks, has been called in response to planned changes to the operating licence for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and the potential impact this could have on workers. Negotiations between the authorities, the ferry companies and the unions are ongoing in an effort to avert the strike. The ferry operators have issued several warnings to their customers via their respective websites and are in the process of organising busses for certain affected routes to reduce the impact on travellers. Clients intending to travel in Scotland via ferry on 10 July are advised to consider alternative travel modes on the day, should the negotiations fail and the strike proceed. Further information and travel alternatives are available on the Caledonian MacBrayne and Argyll Ferries websites.

UNITED KINGDOM(LONDON) - The People's Assembly Against Austerity group has called for an anti-austerity demonstration in London on 8 July. Participants are expected to gather at Parliament Square at 17:30 local time. The rally has been organised in protest against welfare cuts and austerity measures more generally, and coincides with the announcement of the country's emergency budget which is also scheduled to take place on 8 July. Anti-austerity protests have been a regular occurrence in the UK's major urban areas in recent months. While the upcoming demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of isolated skirmishes between participants and police cannot be dismissed. The demonstration is expected to be well attended and accompanied by a heavy police presence. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in and around the vicinity of Parliament Square and the Palace of Westminster. Persons in London on 8 July are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstration and all associated large street gatherings as a precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible in order to mitigate any potential localised travel disruptions.

BRAZIL(RIO DE JANEIRO) - A local national, Archbishop Orani Tempesta, and two Italian nationals were the victims of a carjacking in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the evening of 5 July. The incident was perpetrated by four unidentified armed assailants in the Quintino area of the city. The criminals stole the vehicle and personal belongings of the victims. The incident reflects the elevated crime risk present in Rio de Janeiro. The city has high rates of both petty and violent crime. The risk of being affected increases further in lower-income areas (favelas), at night and in the satellite cities surrounding Rio de Janeiro. Both locals and foreign nationals are regularly affected. Clients operating in Rio de Janeiro should exercise a high degree of caution and personal security awareness when travelling in the city, particularly in areas and at times identified as carrying an elevated risk.

EGYPT/LIBYA - Egyptian authorities ordered the closure of the land border crossing between Egypt and Libya, the Solloum crossing, on 5 July. The closure, which is expected to remain in effect indefinitely, is a result of ongoing security concerns expressed by Egyptian authorities following the recent assassination of the state prosecutor on 29 June and ongoing military operations in the country. The border closure applies to Libyan nationals only and is not thought to affect Egyptian nationals returning to Egypt. Unconfirmed reports have also indicated an increased military personnel presence on the Egyptian side of border crossing. The border crossing is a significant access point for travellers between the two countries. The crossing has experienced several closures in recent years in response to ongoing security concerns between the two countries. Clients are advised against all travel to Libya. Personnel intending to travel via land through the Salloum border crossing over the near-term are advised to contact the local authorities or liaise with their security provider prior to departure.

LEBANON/SYRIA(ZABADANI(RIF DAMASCUS GOVERNORATE IN SYRIA)) - Shiite Hezbollah militia and allied Syrian military personnel are currently engaged in an offensive against Sunni rebels, including Jabhat al-Nusra, in the Zabadani area of Syria, located near the Lebanon border. On 8 July, Hezbollah/Syrian forces clashed in the town of Zabadani. Media reports state that at least 13 combatants were killed. The offensive in Zabadani was reportedly initiated in early July.  The Zabadani area is of strategic value to both sides lying as it does near the Masnaa border crossing and in close proximity to the Syrian capital, Damascus. The fighting in the area follows a string of Hezbollah/Syrian military victories against rebels along the length of the Lebanon/Syria border, including in the Qalamoun region, since the beginning of the year. Further fighting is anticipated as both sides are likely to commit additional resources to the area. The conflict may also spillover, as it has done regularly in the past, into Lebanon's eastern Bekaa governorate. Clients are advised against all travel to Syria due to the ongoing conflict. Clients are also advised against all travel to within 15km of the shared Lebanon-Syria border in Lebanon's Bekaa and North governorates due to ongoing insecurity related, in part, to the conflict in Syria.

 

ALGERIA(GHARDAIA PROVINCE) - (Update) Communal violence involving members of the Arab Chaamba (Sunni Muslim) and Berber Mozabite (Ibadi Muslim) communities continues to be reported in Berriane, located in Algeria's central Ghardaia province. On 7 July, clashes left at least two people dead. The violence in Berriane, the latest in recent days, also follows clashes in the town of El Guerrara overnight on 6/7 July, which left one person dead, as well as clashes in Ksar Bounoura near Ghardaia city overnight on 5/6 July, which left six people wounded. The police maintain a heavy presence in cities and towns across Ghardaia province. Unrest involving Mozabites and Chaambas in Ghardaia is regularly reported. Long-standing grievances and rivalries have resulted in numerous confrontations between the two communities. In addition, Mozabites allege that the authorities are siding with the Chaambas. Tensions remain elevated and violence is likely to persist in Ghardaia province over the medium-term at least. The risk to foreign nationals from the ongoing violence is considered incidental only. Travellers should note that during periods of unrest, protesters/rioters frequently attack vehicles and block roads, including the major N1 highway. Looting is also regularly reported during periods of unrest. Clients should note that due to the elevated threats of terrorism and kidnapping, all non-essential travel is advised against outside of cities and major towns in Ghardaia province. Clients travelling in or through Ghardaia province should do so with a security driver or trusted local contact and avoid travel at night, as well as all street protests and concentrations of security force personnel.

  

ARGENTINA(LA PLATA) -Workers affiliated with the Association of State Workers (ATE) and the Central Union of Argentina Workers (CTA) unions are expected to protest in La Plata, in Argentina's Buenos Aires province, as part of their strike action on 8 July. Protesters will gather at Plaza Italia at 11:00 local time, before marching to the Government House in the city. Protesters are also expected to erect roadblocks at the Hudson toll along the National Route 1, also known as the Buenos Aires-La Plata Highway, from 08:00. It is currently unclear if travel on the highway has already been affected by roadblocks. The agitation is in response to ongoing salary disputes. The strike and associated protest action are likely to be well supported. Although these are expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of minor unrest cannot be ruled out. The potential for localised traffic disruptions is considered elevated in the vicinity of the protest route as well as along the affected highway. Clients in the La Plata on 8 July are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Itineraries should remain flexible if travelling in this area and provision should be made for road travel delays on the National Route 1.

PARAGUAY(GREATER ASUNCION METROPOLITAN AREA) - The National Federation of Secondary Students (FENAES) organisation has called for protests in Paraguay's Greater Asuncion metropolitan area, including the capital, Asuncion, on 8 July. The main gathering is set to take place at Plaza de las Americas in the capital from 12:00 local time. Associated gatherings are expected to take place in front of the Municipality of Fernando de la Mora, in the city of Fernando de la Mora as well as at the Marcelina Insfran and 10 de Agosto intersection in San Lorenzo city. The protests have been organised to demand free public education and improvements to the quality of education. It is unclear how well supported the protests will be; nonetheless, road travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the gatherings, particularly in Asuncion. While the protests are expected to conclude peacefully, the risk of low-level clashes cannot be discounted. Persons in the aforementioned areas on 8 July are advised to make allowances for potential localised travel disruptions and avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution against civil unrest

PARAGUAY(ASUNCION) - Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Paraguay from 10 to 12 July. The pope will arrive at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion on 10 July at 15:00 local time and will meet with authorities at Lopez Palace later in the day. On 11 July, the pope will visit the Ninos de Acosta Nu Paediatric Hospital, the Marian Shrine of Caacupe Square, and later attend meetings at the Leon Condou Stadium of San Jose School and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Assumption in Asuncion. On 12 July, the pope will visit the Chapel of Juan Bautista and the Nu Guazu field. Later on 12 July, he will attend meetings at the Apostolic Nunciature and the Costanera, before departing for Rome at 19:00. A significant deployment of security forces and road closures are anticipated at all the locations which the pope will be visiting, as well as along routes to and from these locations. The increased security measures are viewed as largely precautionary; however, the risk of protests coinciding with the pope's visit exists. Persons in Asuncion should anticipate disruptions to road travel in the vicinity of all of the pope's meeting areas and arrival and departure points; the authorities may close roads at times. Disruptions at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport should be anticipated in the hours preceding and following the pope's arrival and departure. Clients in Asuncion are advised to avoid all street protests as a precaution. Persons in the vicinity of areas to which the pope is due to travel should ensure that itineraries cater for possible delays and disruptions.

PERU(LIMA) - The General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), the largest trade union in Peru, has called for a strike in the capital, Lima, on 9 July. The strike has been organised to denounce corruption and to demand increased wages. The union has also organised a protest march as part of the strike from Dos de Mayo Plaza, where participants will gather at 11:00 local time, to the Presidential Palace. The strike and associated protest action are likely to be well supported. As such, the potential for localised traffic disruptions is considered elevated in the vicinity of the protest route. While the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of low-level violence cannot be ruled out. Clients in Lima on 9 July are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Itineraries should remain flexible if travelling in this area to accommodate for potential road travel delays.    

 

ARMENIA(YEREVAN) - An anti-government demonstration, opposing the proposed increase in energy prices, is expected to be held in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, on 9 July. The demonstration is expected to commence at 19:00 local time in Freedom Square. The upcoming demonstration is the latest in a series of increasingly anti-government protests against energy price increases. After the government voted to increase electricity tariffs on 17 June, protesters held an unsanctioned sit-in demonstration near the Presidential Palace in which incidents of low-level violence were reported on 22 June. The possibility of further confrontations between protesters and police at the upcoming demonstrations cannot be dismissed. Additionally, localised travel disruptions in and around the immediate vicinity of Freedom Square should be anticipated. Persons in Yerevan on 9 July are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstration as a precaution and should monitor local media for announcements of further opposition-led gatherings. Clients should make provisions for travel disruptions and plan accordingly.

 

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