Travelers are urged to use caution as well as prepare for travel delays in many parts of the world:
AIR CANADA - Air Canada will add service between four Canadian hubs and 12 U.S. cities in May and June, including daily year-round service between Toronto and Salt Lake City, Montreal and Denver and Vancouver and Chicago and daily seasonal service between Toronto and Portland, Ore. Air Canada Express will add twice-daily service between Toronto and Washington Dulles, Montreal and Philadelphia and Vancouver and San Jose; daily service between Montreal and Houston and Calgary and San Francisco; and twice-weekly service between Toronto and Jacksonville, Fla. Air Canada's low-cost carrier, Rouge, will add service between Calgary and Phoenix three times per week and daily seasonal service between Vancouver and San Diego. AIR CHINA/LUFTHANSA - Fellow Star Alliance members Air China and Lufthansa have expanded their codeshare agreement, which now sees both carriers place their marketing code on an additional 24 routes departing from Beijing, Chengdu, Frankfurt and Munich. The new codeshare flights are available for booking effective immediately.
According to airlineroute.net, Air China is now codesharing with Lufthansa on the following flights:
Frankfurt to: Bologna, Bremen, Brussels, Friedrichshafen, Florence, Helsinki, Porto, Prague, Turin, and Venice
Munich to: Bremen, Brussels, Dresden, Helsinki, Prague, and Turin
Reciprocally, Lufthansa has began codesharing the following domestic flights operated by Air China:
Beijing to: Changsha, Fuzhou, Hefei, Hohhet, Kunming, Wenzhou, and Yantai
Chengdu to: Shenyang
THAILAND(CHIANG MAI & CHIANG RAI) - Officials have announced the cancellations of at least 90 flights at Thailand's Chiang Rai International Airport (Chiang Rai province) and Chiang Mai International Airport (Chiang Mai province) during the Loi Krathong festival from 24 to 26 November. A further 57 flights have reportedly been rescheduled at the facilities. Thousands of sky lanterns (khom loi) are released during the annual three-day festival; airport authorities have assessed that the lanterns pose an incidental risk to aircraft and airport activities. The cancellations have therefore been implemented as a safety measure. The Loi Krathong festival is celebrated annually in Thailand as well as in parts of Laos and Myanmar. The festival dates fall over the full moon period of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which usually occurs in November. Many businesses and shops are closed during the celebration period. Furthermore, significant road travel disruptions should be anticipated countrywide as a result of numerous festival activities. There is an elevated risk of petty crimes, such as pickpocketing, bag-snatching and theft of unattended items, at all large public gatherings. Clients scheduled to transit through the Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai international airports during the aforementioned period are advised to contact their travel provider or airline directly to confirm the status of flight(s). Persons operating in Thailand during the festival are advised to exercise heightened caution, particularly in crowded public places and on public transport.
IRAQ(ARBIL & SULAYMANIYAH) - The Iraqi aviation authorities have issued a request to the Erbil International Airport and Sulaymaniyah International Airport in Iraq's northern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) autonomous region to halt all flights for 48 hours from 23 November. The request was made in light of a safety risk to commercial aviation interests due to Russian military activity over northern Iraq. Russia is launching missiles from the Caspian Sea towards Islamic State (IS) positions in northern Syria. Russian military aircraft are also reportedly operating anti-IS sorties in the region. Clients intending to fly via the two above-mentioned airports over the next 48 hours are advised to contact their travel provider or airline for an update on the status of their flight(s). Please note that due to various security concerns clients are advised against all non-essential travel to most of the KRG-controlled region.
GERMANY(DRESDEN) - The far-right Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) group is expected to conduct an anti-immigration demonstration in Germany on 23 November. The gathering is expected at Theaterplatz from 18:30 local time. Far-right groups periodically hold protests and demonstrations in Germany, often prompting counter-demonstrations by rival groups. In addition, violent confrontations involving participants, counter-demonstrators and/or security forces have taken place in the past. The possibility of similar clashes marring the upcoming demonstration cannot be dismissed. Persons in Dresden on 23 November are advised to avoid the upcoming rally, as well as any counter-demonstrations, as a standard precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible in order to make allowances for localised travel disruptions.
BELGIUM(BRUSSELS) - (Update) Authorities in Belgium have announced on 22 November that the alert status in the Brussels-Capital region will remain at the highest level, which signifies a 'serious and imminent' threat. All security measures put in place on 21 November will remain in place for 23 November at least. including the closure of the Metro. In addition, schools and universities will also remain closed from 23 November. The measures have been kept in place amid concerns that Salah Abdesalam, a Belgian national suspected of involvement in the 13/14 November Paris attacks, is hiding in the Brussels area, possibly carrying an explosive device. The alert level for the rest of Belgium remains on level three, the second highest level on a four-tier scale. Belgian authorities have continued to launch security operations in the country in search of assailants believed to be involved in the attacks. It should be noted that the latest alert status for the Brussels-Capital region may be re-evaluated at any time and extended beyond 23 November; such measures are likely to significantly impede on business and travel operations in Brussels, and to a lesser degree, elsewhere in Belgium. Persons in the Brussels-Capital region, particularly in Brussels, are advised to exercise heightened situational awareness, comply with all directives issued by local authorities and limit travel in crowded public venues. All suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles should be reported to the local authorities.
EGYPT(RAFAH(NORTH SINAI GOVERNORATE)) - A gun battle between smugglers and the security forces south of Egypt's North Sinai governorate town of Rafah has left at least six Sudanese migrants dead and 17 others wounded. The bodies were recovered on 23 November. It is not clear when the gun battle occurred. The skirmish was sparked after the security forces engaged smugglers transporting the migrants to the shared Israel-Egypt border. The incident follows a similar shooting on 15 November when police opened fire on a group of Sudanese migrants who were attempting to cross into southern Israel. Thousands of African migrants travel across the Sinai Peninsula and into Israel annually. These persons are frequently the subject of attack and detention by the authorities. Hundreds of migrants have been kidnapped for ransom by organised crime gangs. The recent incident also coincides with ongoing insecurity in the North Sinai governorate, where Islamist militants and the Egyptian military are engaged in an ongoing low-level conflict. Clients are advised against all travel to the North Sinai governorate. Persons operating in the region should travel with a security escort and reside in a secure compound. Travel at night should be avoided.
KENYA(NAIROBI) - Security to be heightened in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, ahead of Pope Francis' visit to the city. Pope Francis is set to arrive in Nairobi on 25 November, and will depart for Uganda two days later on 27 November. Although no specific threats have been made against Pope Francis' visit to Nairobi, events associated with the official visit may be considered high-value targets for Islamist extremist groups such as al-Shabaab. Security measures are set to be increased ahead of and during the Pope's visit; such measures may include the deployment of additional security patrols, security checkpoints, random identification checks, vehicle searches and the closure of roads. The aforementioned security measures and associated disruptions are likely to centre on the Pope's meeting areas; including the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), the University of Nairobi (UoN), Saint Mary's School, the Salon of the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi, and Kasarani Stadium. In addition, disruptions are expected at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the hours preceding and following the Pope's arrival and departure. It should be noted that the increased security measures are viewed as largely precautionary. Clients in Nairobi should make allowances for increased travel times in the city on the day and are advised to plan accordingly.
ISRAEL(JERUSALEM) - Two Palestinians reportedly conducted a stabbing attack along Yafo Street, near the Mahane Yehuda market, in Jerusalem, earlier on 23 November. The assailants stabbed and wounded two civilians before being shot by the local security forces. One assailant was killed and another wounded. The incident is the latest in a spate of low-level knife, gun and vehicular attacks since early October. The majority of incidents have been perpetrated by suspected Palestinian persons. The attacks are thought to be motivated by and coincide with ongoing anti-Israel agitation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and associated Israeli security force clampdowns on protesters. Following low-level attacks, travellers should anticipate increased security in affected areas; additional security measures could include patrols and checkpoints. Clients in Jerusalem should exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness while travelling in the city. Caution is advised in recent violence-affected areas.
PERU(MADRE DE DIOS REGION) - Various civil society organisations have called for a strike of indefinite duration in Peru's south eastern Madre de Dios region from 23 November. The action has been called to protest against central government laws that regulate illegal mining and logging. The strike is likely to be accompanied by related demonstrations; further details have not been disclosed. The strike action will reportedly continue until the protesters' grievances are addressed. The action is likely to be well supported; as such, localised disruptions to travel and business services should be anticipated. The regional capital, Puerto Maldonado, is likely to serve as the focal point for any unrest. Protesters in Peru often raise barricades over thoroughfares during demonstrations; this may trigger clashes with police, who attempt to remove any obstacles from roads. Such unrest poses an incidental risk to bystanders. Persons operating in Madre de Dios in the near-term are advised to monitor local media for updates on the strike action, as well as advisories from the local authorities. All demonstrations and large street gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.
BANGLADESH - Bangladesh's primary Islamist opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has called for a countrywide general strike (known locally as a hartal) from 06:00 local time on 23 November. The strike has been called to protest the execution of former Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, overnight on 21/22 November. Authorities have reportedly elevated security measures across the country in order to mitigate any potential unrest during the strike action. Mujahid was hanged alongside Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), following rejected appeals for clemency. Both men had been sentenced to death for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. It should be noted that BNP supporters may similarly call for strikes and/or demonstrations to protest the execution of Chowdhury. The aforementioned hartal may result in widespread disruptions to road and rail services as well as business operations on the day. Furthermore, industrial action led by Jamaat-e-Islami is often accompanied by well-attended protests; these can result in violent unrest. The capital, Dhaka, and other major urban centres are likely to serve as focal points for any protests. Persons in Bangladesh on 23 November should monitor local media for updates and developments, minimise movement as far as practically possible and avoid all protests and strike-related activity. Clients are further advised to exercise heightened caution in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region and near the border with India due to various security concerns.
ARGENTINA(BUENOS AIRES) - Activists and civil society groups are expected to conduct a solidarity rally in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, on 25 November. Participants are expected to gather in front of the Argentine National Congress building at 17:00 local time, and proceed towards the Plaza de Mayo. The rally, which has been called in opposition to gender-based violence, will coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day also marks the beginning of UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign. The rally is expected to be well attended and conclude peacefully. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the gathering area. Clients in Buenos Aires are advised to avoid all street gatherings as a standard precaution and to anticipate travel disruptions and delays as a result of the aforementioned rally.
PANAMA - The SUNTRACS labour union has called for 24-hour strike action across Panama on 24 November. The industrial action will commence at 07:00 local time on 24 November and conclude at the same time on 25 November. The strike will also be accompanied by protest action in all of the country's major urban centres. The strike action and associated demonstrations have been called to protest against various socio-economic and political grievances, including the provision of public services and alleged government corruption. It should be noted that incidents of civil unrest have been reported at previous events organised by SUNTRACS. Furthermore, the union has over 40,000 members, and events are expected to be well attended. As such, travel disruptions in the vicinity of protests and isolated incidents of civil unrest cannot be discounted during planned events. Clients in Panama on 24 November are advised to avoid all large public gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a precaution against civil unrest. Persons intending to travel in protest-affected areas should make allowances for travel disruptions.
ECUADOR - The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) has called for protest rallies in Ecuador's capital, Quito, and other urban centres on 26 November. The rallies have been called in opposition to proposed constitutional amendments. Further details regarding the protests are unavailable. Associated protests are also anticipated countrywide on 1 and 2 December. Socio-economic and political protests against the government have been ongoing throughout 2015. CONAIE has led several high-profile demonstrations. The majority of the events have been peaceful, although the risk of violence exists. Should confrontations occur these are likely to be low-level in nature. Associated road traffic disruptions are likely near all street protests. Clients in Ecuador are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Clients are also advised to monitor local media broadcasts for updates on upcoming protests.
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