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

WESTERN EUROPE - (Update) Heightened security measures have been implemented at airports, border crossings and other strategic locations in various countries in Western Europe, including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The measures have been imposed following the 22 March attacks in Belgium's capital, Brussels. The attacks targeted Brussels Airport as well as the Maalbeek Metro station; at least 26 fatalities have been reported as a result. It should also be noted that the border between France and Belgium has been closed indefinitely. Additionally, all Eurostar services to Brussels, as well as all public transport services within the city, have been cancelled. Intermittent disruptions to telecommunications services in Brussels have also been reported. The increased security measures include the additional deployment of police officers at points of entry, transportation hubs and possibly popular tourist hotspots as well. Security checkpoints on roads and identification searches are also anticipated in regional capital cities. These measures, which are largely precautionary, are expected to remain in place for the short- to medium-term at least. Furthermore, anticipated disruptions to travel services across the region may increase as the most heavily impacted states increase border controls and security measures in response to the incident. Clients in the aforementioned countries and locales are advised to exercise heightened security awareness at this time, comply with all directives issued by the local authorities and limit travel in and around crowded public venues. All suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles should be reported to the local authorities. Clients should contact their travel and/or security provider for an update on travel arrangements. Itineraries should remain flexible to accommodate for possible travel disruptions. Clients in Brussels are further advised to limit all non-essential travel within the city at this time.

EUROPE(IBERIA EXPRESS) - Summer 2016 will see a new Iberia Express service between Birmingham, UK, and Madrid, giving customers easier access to business opportunities in the thriving West Midlands area. From 27 March 2016, the airline will launch four weekly flights on board the Airbus A320, with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

AUSTRALIA - Countrywide disruptions to flight services are expected in Australia, due to a 24-hour strike by unionised security and customs staff, on 24 March. Public sector union, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has called for the strike in protest of government's recent labour policies that have caused a number of redundancies across all sectors, including aviation. The strike is expected to result in disruptions to operations at all airport immigration processing checkpoints. The upcoming strike action forms part of an ongoing CPSU-led strike that began on 20 March. It should be noted that the action may continue beyond the aforementioned strike period, with associated rolling work stoppages expected between 26 and 28 March. As negotiations between the union and the government are anticipated, associated action may be cancelled or postponed on an ad hoc basis. Persons travelling in, to or from Australia are advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the planned action. Clients are further advised to contact their travel provider, airport departures or airline to enquire about the status of operations at facilities countrywide.

JAPAN(ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS) - Disruptions to Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight services at Haneda Airport in Japan's capital, Tokyo, should be anticipated over the near-term. A technical issue identified at approximately 08:20 local time on 22 March resulted in 127 domestic flight cancellations, affecting at least 16,000 passengers. The problem was resolved at approximately 11:30; however, residual delays continue to be reported. Clients scheduled to fly with All Nippon Airways via Tokyo on 22 March are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider to confirm the status of their flight(s).

CAMEROON(DOUALA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) - (Update) Due to various delays with ongoing construction work, authorities have announced that all flight operations at Cameroon's Douala International Airport, in Douala (Littoral province), will remain suspended until 1 April. The closure was initially scheduled to take place from 1 to 21 March in order to allow for upgrades and repair work at the facility. Flights set to transit the airport will continue to be deferred to the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, located approximately 60km from the capital, Yaounde (Centre province). Persons scheduled to transit Douala International Airport until 1 April are advised to contact their travel service provider or respective airline for an update on the status of their flight(s). Clients are reminded that all travel to Cameroon's Far North province is advised against, as is travel to within 50km of the county's shared borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).

PAKISTAN(BENAZIR BHUTTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) - Residual disruptions should be anticipated at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, following the temporary closure of the airport earlier on 22 March. The airport was placed on alert following a bomb scare; which has since been resolved. Despite the resumption of flight operations, residual disruptions, including delays, should be anticipated over the near-term. Clients intending to transit Benazir Bhutto International Airport on 22 March are advised to contact their airline or travel provider to inquire about the status of their flight(s).

INDONESIA(JAKARTA) - Public transport unions, including the Land Transportation Drivers Association, have called for a strike in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on 22 March. The strike has been called against online-based transportation services, such as Uber and GrabCar. The strike is set to affect a number of public transport services, including taxi and bus services. Associated demonstrations are expected at various locales in the city between 09:00 and 17:00 local time. Participants are scheduled to gather in the vicinity of the State Palace, Jakarta City Hall, the DPR/MPR Building and outside the Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kemenkominfo) offices. The strike and associated demonstrations are expected to be well supported. As such, disruptions to public transport services are anticipated. In addition, localised road travel disruptions are expected in the vicinity of the demonstration-affected sites. While the demonstrations are expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of low-level incidents of unrest cannot be discounted. Persons in Jakarta on 22 March are advised to anticipate disruptions to public transport services. Clients are further advised to avoid all large street protests as a standard precaution and keep itineraries flexible to accommodate for localised road travel disruptions.

NIGERIA(RIVERS STATE) - (Update) All electoral processes related to the rerun elections for the National Assembly and the Rivers State House Assembly in Nigeria's southern Rivers State have been suspended as of 21 March. The suspension follows widespread violence in the state in the wake of the polls, held on 19 March, including reports of sporadic shooting incidents in which at least eight people were killed. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that the suspension would continue until such a time as the security situation in the state has stabilised. Competition for political position is particularly severe at times in Nigeria, mostly on a state and local level, and intimidation, violence and clashes between rival political party supporters are frequently reported. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) have both denied responsibility for the aforementioned violence. It should be noted that, before the suspension was announced, the PDP had reportedly won eight out of nine state constituencies. As such, the INEC's annulment of the elections may trigger protests from PDP supporters in the state. The possibility of politically motivated unrest remains elevated in the near-term. Clients are advised against all travel to Rivers State due to ongoing insecurity in the region. Persons operating in the area in the near-term are advised to avoid all demonstrations, large street gatherings, and concentrations of security force personnel as a standard precaution. Clients are further advised to implement robust security protocols while in the state, including conducting travel with a security escort and residing in a secure compound.

SOUTH EAST ASIA/AUSTRALIA - Protests, initiated by the Movement Against the Occupation of the Timor Sea (MKOTT), are expected in several countries from 21 to 25 March. Protests are expected to take place in various cities in Australia, including in Adelaide, outside the Parliament House on 21 March. A solidarity gathering is expected in the vicinity of Archibald Fountain on 23 March in Sydney. In Melbourne, a protest has been scheduled to take place outside the department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from on 24 March. Associated gatherings are expected outside the Australian Embassies in the Philippines' capital, Manila, on 22 March and Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, on 23 March. A protest is also expected in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on 24 March. The protests have been scheduled in opposition to the Australian government's policy regarding the international maritime border with East Timor. Critics allege Australia delayed the dispute resolution process after withdrawing from the maritime boundary jurisdiction, refusing to acknowledge the median line and exploiting gas and oil reserves in the disputed area. The protests are scheduled to coincide with the one year anniversary of Australia's withdrawal from the process and are expected to be well attended. It should be noted; protests and demonstrations occur regularly in Australia and are typically peaceful in nature. However, Malaysia enforces strict regulations regarding public gatherings, elevating the potential for clashes between police and protesters. Although widespread violence is not anticipated in Manila or Jakarta, smaller-scale scuffles between police and protesters cannot be discounted. This form of unrest carries an incidental risk to bystanders. Associated road-based travel disruptions should be anticipated in all the affected cities. Clients in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia on the affected dates should exercise caution near the Australian embassy complexes and avoid the upcoming protests as a precaution against civil unrest. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates on associated protest action.

BRAZIL(SAO PAULO) - An anti-government demonstration is anticipated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 22 March. The protest has been organised over impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. Participants are expected to gather outside the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo (PUC-SP) at 10:00 local time. The protest will take place amid ongoing large-scale anti-government protests that have affected the country since 2015. The protests were sparked by ongoing corruption investigations, in which former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been implicated, as well as separate impeachment proceedings against Rousseff, who has been blamed for the country's economic crisis. It should be noted that a recent similar protest in Sao Paulo on 21 March deteriorated into low-level violence between rival protesters and police. In light of this, the risk of further violence of this nature cannot be discounted. Clients in Sao Paulo on 22 March are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Allowances should be made for potential localised disruptions in the vicinity of the protest site.

FRANCE(PARIS) - Several trade unions and student organisations are set to hold mass demonstrations in France's capital, Paris, on 24 March. The actions have been called to protest against a proposed labour reform bill, which is scheduled to be presented to cabinet ministers by Prime Minister Manuel Valls on the same day. Participants, which include members of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and Force Ouvriere (FO), are expected to gather at Les Invalides in the Montparnasse area at 12:30 local time. In addition, the Mili movement has called on its supporters to stage a related demonstration at Place de la Nation at 11:00. The events are expected to be accompanied by an increased police presence. The upcoming demonstrations are likely to be well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of the protest sites. Although the demonstrations are expected to conclude peacefully, the potential for isolated skirmishes between security forces and protesters cannot be discounted. Persons in Paris on 24 March are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstrations and any related large street gatherings as a standard precaution. Local media should be monitored for updates on the protest action, as well as advisories from the authorities. Clients are further advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of any demonstration sites on the day.

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