Global Reach | Now Boarding Blog | Services | ATG

Travelers are urged to use caution as well as prepare for travel delays in many parts of the world:

UNITED STATES(FLORIDA) - From airline reports - due to an increase in security wait times for TSA screening, passengers departing Orlando, FL (MCO) are encouraged to arrive 2 hours prior to their scheduled departure time.

UNITED STATES/AMERICAN AIRLINES(OHIO) - Starting in April, American Airlines will start flying three times a day between Cleveland and Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. It also will drop its daily flight to Phoenix. The flights to Washington will depart at 6:25 a.m., 12:09 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. Return flights to Cleveland will depart Washington at 10:15 a.m., 3:25 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. United Airlines also flies to Washington Reagan from Cleveland, with up to five flights a day during the week. But its earliest flight leaves Cleveland at 8:42 a.m., and business travelers have been asking for an earlier departure time, according to Todd Payne, the chief of air service development for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. American Eagle will operate the flights on 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200 planes. The Phoenix flight, meanwhile, will be discontinued on April 5, after about a year and a half of service.

UNITED KINGDOM - Virgin Trains East Coast has today added new services from Sunderland and Stirling to London. The rail operator said they have been introduced after demand from business travellers, who have been calling for more early morning departures. The Sunderland service will depart at 05:40 and arrive into London Kings Cross at 09:08, with the return service departing London at 20.00. Both will be faster than existing direct trains to Sunderland, by seven minutes southbound and 11 minutes northbound. The early-morning Stirling service will depart at 05:26 and arrive into London at 10:52 - This is 46 minutes faster than the existing 05.30 departure, which requires a change of train and arrives in London at 11.42. The train will also call at Falkirk Grahamston, and will link with the existing 06.26 departure from Edinburgh Waverley. The return service will depart London King's Cross at 15.00, arriving in Stirling at 20.16. Virgin East Coast has also added a week day evening service between Hull and Doncaster. From today travellers in Hull, Brough, and Selby will be able to travel on a new service to Doncaster, with onward connections to Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and London King's Cross.

FRANCE/JAPAN - Japan Airlines is suspending flights between Paris and Tokyo Narita after November's attacks significantly hit demand on the daily route. A spokesperson told AFP the service would be suspended from January 12 through to February 29 "except for a few days". "The company will decide whether to resume the Paris-Narita flights in March after observing the situation next year," he said. He added that Japan Airlines will instead concentrate on its daily Paris-Haneda service, which has seen a 40 per cent drop in demand following the attacks in November.

SRI LANKA(NEGOMBO) - Disruptions to flight services at Bandaranaike International Airport, in Negombo in Sri Lanka, have been reported on 16 December. Customs workers called for a wildcat strike on the day; however, the strike was subsequently suspended. Residual disruptions to flight services at the facility should be anticipated for the remainder of 16 December, at least, due to a backlog of flights. Customs officials called for the strike due to an ongoing dispute with airport security officials. While the strike has been suspended, further strike action cannot be discounted. It should be noted that such action may be announced and then cancelled or postponed on an ad hoc basis. Clients intending to transit Bandaranaike International Airport in the near-term should anticipate flight disruptions and are advised to contact their airline or travel provider to confirm the status of their flight(s).

AIR ASTANA - The European Commission has cleared Kazakh carrier Air Astana to operate in the European Union. While the European Union Air Safety List still includes Kazakhstan among nations that lack sufficient aviation safety oversight, the commission granted an exception to Air Astana, removing operational restrictions that had been in place since 2009. The commission will "closely monitor future developments" to determine whether to add Thai carriers to its list of restricted carriers. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently downgraded Thailand's rating for civil aviation standards.

SPAIN - Unionised rail workers are set to observe a 24-hour countrywide strike in Spain on 18 December. The action has been called by the CGT union to protest against the proposed privatisation of rail services by rail authorities Renfe and Adif, which may cause a number of redundancies. Disruptions to rail services and an increased demand for alternative modes of transport should be anticipated during the strike period. Due to ongoing grievances between the trade union and rail operators, further strike action is anticipated. It should be noted that the associated action may be extended or suspended on an ad hoc basis. Persons intending to use rail services in Spain on 18 December are advised to contact their travel provider or the relevant rail operator to confirm the status of services. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike.

ITALY(LOMBARDY) - Passenger train services will be disrupted across the Lombardy region on 17 December, due to a union-led transport strike which is expected to be in effect from 0:01 to 21:00 local time. Guaranteed service times during peak business hours from 06:00 to 09:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00, will not be affected. There will also be a bus service between the Milano Cadorna Station to the airport at Malpensa Terminal 1. For further information, please see the Trenord website (http://www.trenord.it/EN/). Clients intending to use rail services in the Lombardy region on 17 December are advised to contact their travel provider to make alternative arrangements. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike.

SPAIN(MADRID) - A demonstration will be held in Madrid on 18 December in support of refugees and migrants. The protest will be held at the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V at 18:30 local time and marks the Global Day of Action against Racism and for the Rights of Migrants. Although the protest is expected to conclude without major incident, the threat of low-level incidents of violence, including clashes between participants and police, cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of the demonstration-affected site. Persons in Madrid on 18 December are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a precaution. Clients are further advised to anticipate road travel delays and plan accordingly.

KOSOVO(PRISTINA) - Tensions are elevated in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, amid ongoing opposition-led protests on 16 December. Opposition groups, including Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, are staging protests against the EU-brokered deal giving Serb communities in Kosovo greater powers and the border demarcation with Montenegro. Protests have coincided with the sitting of Parliament and have focused on the immediate vicinity of the Assembly of Kosovo building, located on Mother Theresa Street. Additional protests are expected in the capital on 16 and 17 December; further details regarding the demonstrations are unavailable. The demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests that have been held by opposition groups in recent months. These have become increasingly anti-government in sentiment; related events have been well supported and have been characterised by low-level incidents of unrest, including clashes between participants and security forces, as well as incidents of vandalism. As such, possibility of violence occurring at associated demonstrations cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated in and around the Assembly of Kosovo building. Persons in Pristina are advised to monitor developments closely and avoid the aforementioned affected sites as a precaution for the short- to medium-term. Clients should also make allowances for localised road traffic disruptions.

LEBANON(BEIRUT) - The 'You Stink' activist group has called for a series of protest gatherings in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, over the coming days. On 16 December, a protest is expected outside the Justice Palace at 13:00 local time and on 17 December, participants are expected to gather in the vicinity of the Ministries of Telecommunications and Finance. A protest is also anticipated at Riadh al-Sohl Square at 16:00 on 19 December. The upcoming protest is the latest in response to an ongoing waste management crisis. The majority of the group's gatherings have been peaceful; however, some have been affected by low-level confrontations. The risk of further confrontations exists. Depending on the size of the protests, disruptions to road travel are also possible in the vicinity of the protest sites. Due to a number of security issues, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to most of Lebanon, including Beirut. Persons in the city on in the coming days should avoid all street protests as a standard precaution.

ALBANIA(TIRANA) - Opposition group, the Democratic Party, is set to hold a demonstration in Albania's capital, Tirana, on 17 December. The party has called for the demonstration to protest against the proposed state budget for 2016. Participants are expected to gather outside Parliament (located on George W. Bush Street) from 10:00 local time. Although the demonstration is expected to conclude without incident, the possibility of isolated skirmishes cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of the gathering are anticipated. Persons in Tirana on 17 December are advised to avoid the gathering as a precaution. Localised travel delays should be expected.

RWANDA - A referendum on a constitutional amendment that would allow for the extension of presidential term limits will take place countrywide on 18 December. Protests and rallies either in support of or in opposition to the referendum are possible in the build-up to and immediately following the ballot. The referendum received parliamentary approval after a petition, reportedly signed by over three million Rwandans, was presented to the legislature. Opposition groups have claimed the petition was instigated by the ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front. The proposed changes would see presidential term limits reduced to five years from the current seven; however, the changes would only come into effect at the conclusion of a possible third seven-year term for incumbent President Paul Kagame, who would then be eligible to run for two additional five year terms. Although foreign nationals are not likely to be directly targeted in any unrest during associated gatherings, the incidental risks to bystanders remain. Travel disruptions are likely in the event of any gatherings. Clients in Rwanda are advised to monitor developments closely, especially following the announcement of referendum results. All politically motivated gatherings and election-related venues should be avoided as a precaution.

PERU(LIMA) - Activist groups are set to stage a protest march in Peru's capital, Lima, on 18 December. The march has been called against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Participants are expected to gather at the Plaza San Martin from 17:00 local time and march to an unspecified location near the Real Plaza Centro Civico, where a demonstration will be held. Further details regarding the march are unavailable. The march is expected to conclude peacefully; nonetheless, the possibility of low-level incidents of violence cannot be discounted. Given that the protest is expected to be well attended, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated along the protest route and associated demonstration-affected sites. Persons in Lima on 18 December are advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions and avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution against civil unrest.

ATG has Customer Coaches available around-the-clock should you

need assistance with your travel plans.