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:

MEXICO/CANADA - Aeromexico and WestJet have signed a codeshare agreement. Aeromexico and WestJet have had an interline relationship since December 2011. The new codeshare will give Aeromexico's customers enhanced connecting service via Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to more than 10 Canadian destinations, including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax, Deer Lake, St. John's, among others. The agreement provides WestJet guests new connecting service from WestJet's extensive Canadian network to Mexico City via Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. In addition, WestJet will also now sell non-stop flights to/from Mexico from Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. WestJet Rewards are available on these flights as well. Both Aeromexico and WestJet will also sell tickets for travel on each other's entire network, including non-codeshare flights, providing their respective guests another benefit of the enhanced relationship. As part of their cooperation, bags checked-in with both Aeromexico and WestJet will continue to reach the final destination without a separate check-in at the point of transfer between the carriers.

UAE/ MALAYSIA - Malaysia Airlines will codeshare on Emirates's four times daily service to Dubai from Kuala Lumpur from February 15th, 2016 as part of the partnership between Malaysia Airlines and Emirates which was signed early December 2015. The flights offered by Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai will therefore increase from one to four daily, although all flights will be operated on Emirates aircraft. The new codeshare will enable customers seamless and convenient connections to Emirates' more than 90 global destinations. This includes 38 destinations in Europe on a daily and even double daily basis for key European cities such as Paris, Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Barcelona; as well as Canada and Latin America. The partnership will also see the Malaysia Airlines and Emirates frequent flyer programmes aligned, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points. The details of the benefits will be shared progressively over the next quarter. The service to Dubai will be operated three times a day on the Boeing 777 and once a day on the Airbus 380. Malaysia Airlines will be suspending its Kuala Lumpur-Dubai route by 15 February and will re-accomodate passengers on its codeshare flights with Emirates.

JAPAN(NAGANO PREFECTURE) - A tourist bus accident has been reported in Karuizawa, located in Japan's Nagano prefecture, on 15 January. At least 14 people were killed and 27 injured after the bus strayed into the wrong lane and veered off national Route 18 while en route to Gunma prefecture. The bus had been transporting tourists to a ski resort when the incident occurred. Japan has modern, reliable and extensive infrastructure. Although there are minimal security threats associated with bus travel in Japan, as with public transport in any country, further incidents of this nature cannot be discounted. Persons in the affected area are advised to monitor local media for updates on the status of road travel. Residual disruptions should be expected and travellers should plan accordingly.

INDIA(CHHATTISGARH STATE) - At least four suspected Maoist militants have been killed amid a gun battle with security forces in India's Chhattisgarh state on 15 January. The incident reportedly took place in a forest area of the Bijapur district, a Maoist insurgents' stronghold, amid a security operation in the region. Further information is currently unavailable. Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, have been active in the rural and remote areas of several central and eastern states, including Chhattisgarh, for nearly 30 years. Currently, in Chhattisgarh, the worst-affected areas include those in the southern and central parts of the state, including the Bijapur district. Further violence in the area should be anticipated. Maoist armed action typically targets state facilities and personnel. As such, the risk to persons travelling in the affected region is considered largely incidental. Due to the ongoing Maoist insurgency, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to rural and remote areas of several central and eastern Indian states, including Chhattisgarh. Persons operating in this area should consider travel by air rather than overland and should limit time spent near state facilities and personnel, particularly outside of main urban centres.

SOMALIA(CEEL CADO) - An ambush by suspected al-Shabaab affiliated militants on an African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) base located in the Ceel Cado area, near Somalia's shared border with Kenya, has been reported on 15 January. The militants reportedly used a suicide car bomb to gain access to the base, after which a gun battle ensued. Reports indicate the gunfire is ongoing; it is currently unclear if AU soldier managed to repel the attack. Further details and casualty figures are unavailable. The attack underscores the protracted insecurity and extreme threats of terrorism and conflict in Somalia. Al-Shabaab is currently engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Somali government and AMISOM forces, and frequently carries out attacks against government installations, security forces and civilian interests. An increased AMISOM deployment to the affected area is possible. As such, additional confrontations between the two sides are possible in the area over the immediate-term. Clients are advised against all travel to Somalia, except Puntland and Somaliland, due the extreme threats posed by conflict, terrorism and kidnapping. Clients are advised to avoid the affected area in the short-term, at least. Persons operating in the country should consider travelling with a close protection officer, and should ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated with their security provider.

BRAZIL - Further protest action by the Movimento Passe Livre (Free Fare Movement) is expected across major cities in Brazil, on 15 January. The demonstrations are being held in protest against proposed price hikes to public transport fares. Protest areas include: Derby Square in Recife at 08:00 local time; Cinelandia in Rio de Janeiro at 16:00; Praca 7 in Belo Horizonte at 15:00; Praca da Prefeitura de Pedro Leopoldo MG, Pedro Leopoldo at 17:00; and Praca da Bandeira in Jonville at 18:00. Although unconfirmed, similar protest action is also possible in other urban centres in Brazil. Protests over increases in public transport fares have sparked widespread, sustained and violent protest action in Brazil's urban centres in recent years, most notably in June 2013 and more recently in 2015. On 8 January, police and protesters clashed in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro during protests against proposed bus fare increases, with police responding with teargas. Given this dynamic, the possibility of violence erupting at the 15 January demonstrations cannot be discounted. In addition, the protest action also has the potential to result in localised travel disruptions. Clients in Brazil's urban centres on 15 January should monitor local developments closely and avoid all protest action as a precaution against violent civil unrest.

GREECE(ATHENS) - The Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY) trade union is set to hold a mass demonstration in Greece's capital, Athens, on 16 January. The demonstration has been called against a recent government proposal that is set to negatively impact pension scheme reforms. Participants are expected to gather in Omonia Square from 12:00 local time. Although the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, an associated protest in the city on 8 January degenerated into violence. It should be noted that protest rallies in Greece carry a heightened threat of confrontation between participants and police; as such, the possibility of violent civil unrest during the upcoming demonstration cannot be discounted. Attendance at the demonstration is expected to be high; localised travel disruptions in and around Omonia Square are therefore anticipated. As opposition to associated austerity policies is likely to persist, further protests should be expected in the near-term. Persons in Athens on 16 January are advised to avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution; localised travel disruptions should be anticipated. Clients are also advised to monitor local media for updates on further upcoming demonstrations.

MOROCCO(RABAT) - Activist group, 20 February Movement, has called for a mass demonstration in Morocco's capital, Rabat, on 17 January. The action has been organised in response to various grievances, including pension reforms and political corruption. Participants are set to gather outside the Parliament building, located in the city's Quartier Des Orangers area, at 16:00 local time. As the demonstration is likely to be well attended, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest gathering. In addition, although the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, the potential for skirmishes between protesters and security forces cannot be discounted. Such confrontations may pose an indiscriminate risk to bystanders. Persons in Rabat on 17 January are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstration and all related large street gatherings. Local media should be monitored for updates on the protest as well as advisories from the authorities. Clients are further advised to make allowances for possible travel delays in the vicinity of the Parliament building.

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

need assistance with your travel plans.