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

FRANCE - Passengers travelling to France this week are being advised that they may face disruption due to a planned national strike over the next few days. The industrial action is expected to affect both air traffic controllers and airport staff in France, which may lead to flight cancellations and delays. Air traffic controllers are expected to take action on Thursday (May 19), although airport workers could stage short-team stoppages at Paris' Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports from Tuesday (May 17).Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control organisation, is due to hold a conference on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impact of the planned national strike on airline services. There is also set to be disruption to rail journeys - including SNCF trains where workers are planning a 48-hour stoppage - and sea services in France from tomorrow. Eurostar said that it planned to run all services as normal during the strike period. The train operator added: "Onward connections within France may be affected by this action, and we would encourage all customers to check onward travel plans with the relevant transport provider as soon as possible." Cardiff airport has also warned travellers to check the status of their flight if they are travelling to France on Thursday. French unions are taking industrial action in response to planned changes to the country's employment laws.

FRANCE - (Update) Freight truck drivers will join protests scheduled throughout France on 17 May, by setting up roadblocks on roads outside major urban areas in France. Specific details are unavailable at present, but precedent suggest that disruptions are likely to be particularly severe on highways leading into Paris, which include the A4, A6, A10 and A1 highways. The roadblocks are likely to continue for a number of days. The truck drivers are protesting against a labour law which will negatively impact truckers' incomes. The labour law, known locally as the "El Khomri law", has sparked months of unrest, including strikes and demonstrations by multiple unions, students, and various civil society groups. On 10 May, the government used special constitutional powers, to bypass the parliamentary vote, to pass the controversial labour reform; the move has served to increase tensions over the issue. Further disruptions in France are anticipated in the near-term. Clients are advised to make allowances for likely road travel disruptions in and out of France's major urban areas in the coming days. Clients are advised to monitor local media for immediate updates of affected routes. Clients are also advised to anticipate increased demand for alternative methods of transport, including rail and air travel. Finally, all roadblocks and gatherings of protesters should be avoided due to the risk of violence should security forces intervene.

ICELAND (ICELANDAIR) - Icelandair is to boost frequency on its Glasgow-Reykjavik service. Currently Icelandair operate 6 flights a week on the route but from September 7 that will move it daily. The additional flight will depart on Wednesday from Keflavik each morning at 07.30 into Glasgow at 10.40. The flight will then depart Glasgow at 14.05 arriving into Keflavik airport at 15.25.

UNITED STATES / GERMANY (LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES) - Lufthansa German Airlines has re-launched its Denver to Munich route with the departure of LH480 from Munich 11:45. The return flight, LH481, will leave Denver at 16:05 and arrive in the Bavarian capital at 10:05. With five flights per week to Munich (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday), as well as daily service between Denver and Frankfurt, the route expands Lufthansa's nonstop service from the Mile High City to Germany to 12 flights weekly. During the beginning of the summer season, the Denver-Munich route is operated by an Airbus A330-300 with 236 seats in a four-class configuration that ensures a variety of booking options for travellers. From July 17th until, at least, the end of September, the route will - due to the high demand - be operated by an even larger aircraft, the Airbus A340-600, with a total of 297 seats.

UNITED KINGDOM (EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND) - The Rail, Maritime and Transport Trade Union (RMT) has called on its members to observe a protest rally in Edinburgh, capital of Scotland in the UK, on 19 May. The union has also reportedly called on employees affiliated with Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) to support the action, which is set to take place outside the Scottish Parliament building from 11:30 to 13:00 local time. The upcoming demonstration has been called in response to planned changes to the operating licence for Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS), and the potential impact this could have on workers. The RMT intends to use the rally as a means of pressurising parliament into announcing the winning bid for CHFS, which is currently being tendered by CalMac and Serco, a private company. Although the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, localised travel disruptions are possible in the vicinity of the Scottish Parliament building on the day. Persons operating in Edinburgh on 19 May are advised to monitor local media for updates on the demonstration, as well as related advisories from the authorities. All protest gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution. Clients are further advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of the protest site.

UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON) - Increased security and significant travel disruptions are expected in London, capital of the United Kingdom, due to the State Opening of Parliament procession on 18 May. The State Opening of Parliament marks the official start of the parliamentary year in the country and is usually characterised by a Royal procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. A number of security cordons are expected to be in place from 05:00 local time on the day, restricting access to and affecting travel in the vicinity of St James Park and Parliament Square, as well as along Whitehall, Parliament and Victoria streets. In addition, a number of public transport routes are expected to be diverted or cancelled during the event as a result of associated security cordons and road closures. Although protests and demonstrations are not anticipated, the possibility of anti-government protest gatherings targeting the event cannot be dismissed. Due to the anticipated high attendance of spectators and the planned road closures, localised traffic disruptions should be anticipated; residual disruptions in the aforementioned affected area are also expected after the procession. Persons in London are advised to avoid associated events and adhere to any associated security and travel advisories. Localised travel disruptions are expected and clients should plan accordingly.

SWITZERLAND - Travel disruptions are expected in several major urban areas in Switzerland, due to a strike by taxi associations and drivers, on 17 May. Taxi associations have called for the strike against internet-based taxi services, such as Uber. Taxi drivers are scheduled to stage a number of 'go-slow' protests from 11:45 to 13:30 local time in the centre of the capital, Geneva, as well as Basel, Lausanne and Zurich; details regarding the exact travel routes are currently unavailable. The strike forms part of the ongoing campaign against internet-based taxi services both in the country and internationally. The action is expected to be to be well observed and to cause significant disruptions to road travel in the affected cities. While the strike and possible associated protests are expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of low-level incidents of unrest cannot be discounted. An increased demand for alternative transport services is also likely. Persons in the aforementioned affected areas of Switzerland are advised to monitor local media for updates and to avoid all street protests as a precaution. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated.

IRELAND (DUBLIN) - Travel disruptions have been reported in Dublin, Ireland, due to an ongoing protest march by members of Ireland's police force, Garda Siochana, on 17 May. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has called on unionised members and associated security personnel to march in protest of current wages and working conditions. Travel disruptions have been reported along Dame and Castles streets; further associated disruptions are expected along Kildare street and/or Merrion Square street, where associated rallies are expected. The protest march is currently proceeding peacefully and the associated demonstrations are also expected to conclude without major incident. Localised travel disruptions are expected to persist for the coming hours, at least. Persons in Dublin are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and associated demonstration-affected sites as a general precaution. Localised disruptions are anticipated for the immediate-term.

THAILAND (SOUTHERN PROVINCES) - Following a periodic review, there is no longer advise against all travel to Thailand's southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla due to the threats of conflict and terrorism related to an ongoing Islamist insurgency. Although the overall operating environment in the aforementioned provinces is deemed high risk, the impact of insurgent-related violence and terrorism is assessed to be limited and not widespread. Furthermore, there have been relatively fewer reported incidents in Songkhla, where related insecurity is periodically reported in remote parts of the province. As such, red24 now advises against all non-essential travel to Thailand's southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani and heightened caution in Songkhla due to the threat of terrorism and insurgency-related violence. The southern provinces of Yala, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat have been plagued by a low-level insurgency and decades of ethnically and religiously motivated violence, which stems from allegations of isolation and discrimination against Malay Muslims by Thailand's predominantly Buddhist government. Although peace talks remain ongoing with larger more structurally organised insurgent groups such as the Pattani-Malay National Revolutionary Front (BRN) and the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO), a multitude of other cells and splinter groups have emerged in recent years, representing diverse interests ranging from secessionist goals and an increase in local autonomy to local issues relating to the perceived economic marginalisation of the region. As such, the insurgency has become highly fragmented and decentralised in nature. This has resulted in lower-scale attacks perpetrated with little organisational complexity or operational expertise which tend to target government forces, symbols of the Thai state, government infrastructure, prominent local leaders and Buddhist interests. The attacks have been primarily focused in rural areas, particularly near the border with Malaysia, where militant groups control or contest land and regularly engage with Thai security forces. The tactics most commonly employed by associated insurgent groups or cells have included targeted assassinations, drive-by shootings and the use of roadside bombs or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)s. Although violence related to the ongoing separatist campaign in the south continues to be reported and serves to underscore the persistently insecure security dynamic in the area, the violence remains localised, and has not impacted on the rest of the country or foreign interests in recent times. Nevertheless, civilians have been killed in associated violence and even though attacks do not typically target foreign nationals and their interests, the threat to foreign nationals is assessed to be incidental in nature. Given the ongoing nature of the conflict, further low-level incidents should be anticipated. All non-essential travel to Thailand's southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani is advised against due to the threat of terrorism and insurgency-related violence. Additionally, heightened caution is advised in Songkhla due to related risks. Clients operating in these areas should avoid state installations, military personnel and other symbols of the state, and implement robust security protocols as a precaution. Road-based travel after dark or between urban centres is ill-advised.

IRAQ (BAGHDAD) - At least 13 people have been reported dead and 40 more wounded as a result of two bomb attacks in and near Iraq's capital, Baghdad, on 17 May. The first attack took place in a marketplace in the northern predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of al-Shaab, killing seven people and wounding 21 others. The second attack took place in the al-Rasheed area to the south of the capital, where a car bomb killed six people and wounded 21 others. There have been no claims of responsibility thus far. The casualty toll may increase in the coming hours. These incidents underline the elevated terrorism risk in the country, which stems predominantly from Sunni extremists. Attacks in the capital are regularly reported; these typically impact on Shiite or state interests. These incidents follow large-scale bomb attacks in the capital on 11 May, which left over 90 people dead; these attacks were claimed by the Sunni extremist Islamic State (IS) group. Clients are advised against all travel to the Baghdad governorate. Persons in the region should travel with a security escort and reside in secure compounds or hotels. Recent violence-affected areas should be avoided.

TURKEY - Turkey's military intelligence authorities have warned of an elevated threat of terrorist attacks in the country as Turkey commemorates Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day on 19 May. Authorities specifically revealed the possibility of an Islamic State (IS) attack targeting the capital, Ankara, during commemorative events on 19 May. Separately, authorities seized over 700kg of explosives from Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the southeastern province of Siirt in recent days. The PKK allegedly planned to detonate the explosives during celebrations on 19 May. There is a high risk of terrorism in Turkey. The risk stems from numerous quarters, including Islamist extremists, Kurdish separatists and leftist militant groups. A number of major bombings have occurred in Turkey in recent months. Five people were killed in a suicide bombing in Istanbul on 19 March, while 37 people were killed by a car bomb in Ankara on 13 March. There have also been numerous warnings against terrorist attacks issued by foreign governments, including the US, in 2016. The local authorities have pursued an aggressive counterterrorism campaign in response to the risk; however, attacks have still occurred. Further attacks remain possible over the medium-term and are likely to target state infrastructure, tourist sites and transportation hubs. Persons in Turkey are advised to exercise heightened personal and situational awareness at all times. Local media should be monitored for updates and advisories. Suspicious persons and packages should be reported to the authorities.

NICARAGUA (MANAGUA) - Ongoing weekly demonstrations led by opposition groups, including the Independent Liberal Party (PLI), are set to continue in Nicaragua's capital, Managua, on 18 May. These protests will reportedly continue every Wednesday, and are associated with socio-economic concerns and issues relating to the upcoming general elections. Given past precedent, protests are likely to focus on the vicinity of the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE). The exact timing of the protest is unclear at present. Nicaragua has been affected by regular election-related protests since 2015, with protesters demanding fair elections and a change of electoral magistrates ahead of the November 2016 presidential ballot. While related protests have diminished in size and intensity in recent months, the protests may gain momentum in the run up to the election. Previous protests have deteriorated into clashes between protesters and police forces, as well as between rival groups. In light of this, the risk of violence at upcoming rallies is considered elevated. Clients in Managua should avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Furthermore, allowances should be made for localised disruptions in the vicinity of the demonstrations.

ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES) - The Association of State Workers (ATE) and various other unions are set to launch protest action in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, on 18 May. The action has been launched due to issues regarding wages and the unfair dismissal of workers. The protesters are expected to address their complaints to the governor, Maria Eugenia Vidal. Specifics regarding the location and time of the action are unclear. The planned protest is expected to be well attended. It is unclear exactly which area(s) of the city will be affected; however, street protests and gatherings near prominent government buildings, such as the governor's residence, are likely. Although the protest action is expected to proceed peacefully, the risk of low-level confrontations between protesters and security forces cannot be discounted. Disruptions to travel are expected in the vicinity of the affected areas. Persons in Buenos Aires on 18 May are advised to avoid protests or associated gatherings as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, clients are advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions.

VENEZUELA - Venezuela's main opposition party, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) has called for countrywide protests to advance a referendum on recalling incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, to be held on 18 May. Demonstrations are expected outside National Electoral Council (CNE) offices in major cities, including at the CNE office in Caracas, located opposite the Plaza Caracas on Avenida Bolivar. A number of demonstrations have recently been held to pressure the National Electoral Council (CNE) to act on the MUD's recall referendum petition against President Nicolas Maduro. The political crisis, which includes significant tensions between the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the MUD, also coincides with an ongoing economic crisis and associated shortages of basic commodities. In addition, President Nicolas Maduro recently extended a state of emergency for three months, in order to combat external threats to the country, according to an official statement. This is a worrying development in light of accusations by Maduro that the MUD is backed by foreign powers. As a result, a deterioration in the political situation over the coming months, and an associated increase in levels of civil unrest, should be anticipated. Previous anti-government protests have descended into looting and rioting in some areas. The possibility of similar incidents and low-level violence between protesters and potential counter-protesters, as well as between protesters and security forces, is credible. Clients in Venezuela in the near-term should closely monitor political developments, exercise heightened personal security awareness and maintain a low profile. All street protests and counter-protests should be avoided. Furthermore, in light of the ongoing economic and political crises, clients are advised to ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated.

CHILE - Confederation of Chilean Students (CONFECH) has called on its members and supporters to observe a countrywide 'reflective' strike on 17 May. CONFECH affiliates have reportedly been requested to stay away from campus in order to reflect on a forthcoming demonstration in Valparaiso, on 21 May. The action forms part of an ongoing protest campaign, led by various student organisations, against education reforms in the country. It is currently unclear as to whether any associated demonstrations are scheduled to take place on the day. However, precedent suggests that the capital, Santiago, may serve as a focal point for any unrest. Education sector protests and strikes take place frequently in Chile and are generally well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of any strike-related activities on the day. Clients should note that there is a credible risk of isolated incidents of violence at all education-related protests in Chile, as past demonstrations have been affected by low-level clashes between protesters and police. Persons in Chile on 17 May are advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike actions, as well as any related advisories from the authorities. All strike-related activities and protest gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

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