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 / BRAZIL (LATAM) - Due to weak demand in Brazil, Latam cut capacity for Brazil operations 8.4 percent year over year during the first quarter of 2016. In the second half of this year, the airline group plans to cut capacity on Latam Airlines Brazil's U.S.-Brazil flights 35 percent year over year

TURKEY (TURKISH AIRLINES) - Turkish Airlines has added two more nations to its global reach by launching new routes to Bogota, Columbia's capital, and Panama City, capital of Panama. These new routes join Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Boston, Montreal, San Francisco and Miami as Turkish Airlines rapidly grows its presence in the Western Hemisphere. The airline will also add Atlanta to their network later this month and will continue to expand their reach in the Americas.

FRANCE - Unionised air traffic controllers (ATC) are set to stage a countrywide strike in France, from 06:00 local time on 19 May until approximately 06:00 on 20 May. The action, which is has been organised in response to various work-related grievances, is expected to cause significant disruptions to flight services in the country. The upcoming strike is set to affect both international and domestic flights in France. It should be noted that as mediation efforts are still ongoing, the upcoming strike may be cancelled or postponed on an ad hoc basis. Although airport authorities are likely to implement contingency plans in order to mitigate the impact of the forthcoming work-stoppage; flight disruptions and cancellations are likely between 19 May and 20 May. Clients scheduled to transit in France on 19 May and 20 May are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider for further information regarding possible disruptions to their flight schedule(s).

IRELAND (DUBLIN) - (Update) Strikes by unionised drivers are set to result in closures of the Luas light rail system in Ireland's capital, Dublin, on 20 and 27 May. Transdev, the Luas operator, has announced that services on both the Red and Green lines will not run on the impacted days. Normal service will resume on 21 May from 06:30 local time. Luas spokespersons have announced that four-hour stoppages are likely to occur on 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 June. The upcoming work stoppage will be the latest that Luas has experienced over the past weeks. Strikes are set to continue, as Transdev refuses to meet demands by Luas drivers, who are represented by the Service Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), involving wage increases. Rail travel disruptions are to be expected on the aforementioned strike dates. Clients should take note that Luas tickets will not be valid on services of other public transport service providers during these strike actions. Clients are advised to use alternative transport on the day of the strike, and to monitor local news for updates. Due to increased demand for other modes of public transport, clients should consider organising and/or booking other means of intra-city transport in advance.

PORTUGAL - A countrywide strike by airport ground handling staff in Portugal is set to proceed on 19 May. Airports in the capital, Lisbon, as well as Porto and Faro will reportedly be affected. The strike may also impact other major airports across the country. As such, flight disruptions are likely on the day. The strike will be led by the Union of Workers of Aviation and Airports (SITAVA), which has reportedly announced that it will take place from 05:00 to 17:00 local time; however, this cannot be confirmed at present. The strike action centres on the announcement in March, by Portway, a ground handling company, to retrench 257 baggage handlers assigned to Ryanair airlines. Further agitation comes from working conditions and low wages. Clients should note that the strike may be cancelled at short notice. Clients intending to transit airports in Portugal on 19 May are advised to contact their travel provider or airline for further information on the status of their flight/s.

MALAWI (CHOLERA OUTBREAK) - According to the Malawi Red Cross Society, at least 444 cases of cholera have been reported across Malawi since December 2015. The worst-affected area has been the Machinga district, where 340 cases and 16 deaths have been recorded. Cholera cases have also been recorded in the Zomba, Nkhata Bay, Karonga, Rumphi and Kasungu districts, as well as in the capital, Lilongwe. The worst-affected districts are located on the shores of Lake Chirwa. Cholera is an acute diarrheal intestinal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Symptoms include profuse watery diarrhoea and vomiting. Clients currently in or intending to travel to Malawi should take precautions against contracting cholera, which include consuming only bottled water and avoiding food and beverages sold by street vendors. Persons displaying symptoms or requiring additional information should contact their medical practitioner.

ECUADOR (ESMERALDAS PROVINCE) - A 6.7 magnitude earthquake has been reported 34km west of Rosa Zarate in Ecuador's northern Esmeraldas province. The quake was reported at 07:57 GMT, 02:57 local time, on 18 May. There have been no immediate reports of damage. No tsunami warning has been issued. The earthquake's magnitude suggests that some damage may occur in the affected area or could at least hamper ongoing rebuilding and relief efforts. The quake follows a major earthquake in mid-April in the province, which left hundreds of people dead. Aftershocks are also anticipated in the coming hours. Clients in the affected area are advised to monitor local media and to follow the directives of the local authorities. Travellers should prepare for possible aftershocks. Damaged buildings should not be entered until the authorities give the all clear.

SRI LANKA - (Update) Ongoing flooding and landslides continues to impact Sri Lanka on 18 May. In the most severe incident, between 150 and 400 people remain missing after a landslide impacted the Siripura, Pallebage and Elagipitya villages in Sabaragamuwa Province's Kegalle district. Elsewhere, the death toll from flood- and landslide-related incidents has risen to at least 32, with a further 350,000 people displaced. Authorities have stated that of the country's 25 districts, 19 have been subject to heavy rain, whilst the districts Kandy, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, (Central Province), Kurunegala (North Western Province), Kegalle (Sabaragamuwa Province), Monaragala, and Badulla (Uva Province) remain on landslide alert. The rain has been caused by a low pressure system that has been moving across the country in recent days. However, it has since moved away, and the rain has largely ceased. More generally, Sri Lanka is entering its rainy season, which generally runs from May to September. As such, further heavy rain conducive to flooding is expected in the coming weeks. Given the extent of the recent rain and associated flooding, disruptions to travel, as well as to utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications, are expected to continue in the coming days. It should be noted that there is an increased risk of contracting waterborne diseases as flood waters recede. Clients in the aforementioned flood-affected areas should obey all directives issued by the relevant authorities and anticipate significant travel disruptions. Moreover, caution is advised in low-lying areas, particularly along rivers, due to the threat of flooding. In addition, clients should seek to avoid contact with floodwaters.

AFGHANISTAN - According to a statement released on 18 May, Afghan authorities claim to have killed at least 130 suspected insurgents during an Afghan National Army (ANA) offensive conducted in multiple provinces across Afghanistan. Security operations were reported in Kunar, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Paktia, Wardak, Ghazni, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Ghor, Herat, Jawzjan, Samangan, Baghlan, Balkh, Kunduz, Takhar and Helmand. Approximately 70 insurgents were apprehended; arms, ammunition and explosive devices were also confiscated. The latest ANA security operations underscore the extreme threats of conflict and terrorism in the country. The threats traditionally stem from several Islamist organisations, such as the Taleban and Haqqani network, both of which are known to maintain a strong operational presence in the country and periodically conduct attacks targeting local opponents, as well as state and civilian interests. However, militants aligned with or sympathetic to the local franchise of the Islamic State (IS), known as the Islamic State in Khorasan (ISIK), have also been engaged in conflict with government troops, and other militant groups, which has served to exacerbate the current security dynamic. In light of this, further such security operations should be anticipated. Due to a number of security concerns, all travel to Afghanistan is advised against. Persons currently in the country are advised to exercise maximum security measures and avoid the affected areas at this time. All concentrations of civilians and security forces should be avoided, if possible.

PAKISTAN (PESHAWAR) - At least one person has been killed and 17 others wounded in two bomb attacks in Peshawar, administrative capital of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on 18 May. The blasts, both remote-controlled explosions, took place in the Mithra area on the outskirts of the city. The first blast targeted a passing police van, while the second targeted first responders and security forces gathering at the scene of the initial explosion. The incident highlights the extreme terrorism risk in Pakistan. As a major urban centre in close proximity to the chronically insecure Federally Administered Tribal areas (FATA), the threat of terrorist attacks in Peshawar is elevated; indeed the city is one of the most insecure major urban centres in the country. There are several groups with the operational capacity to carry out such an attack. These groups are known to carry out small-scale and mass-casualty attacks, targeting both state and civilian interests. Heightened security, including additional patrols and checkpoints, is expected to remain in the affected area for the short- to medium-term. Due to the threat of terrorism, all travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Peshawar, is advised against. Persons in the city should defer all travel to the affected area for the near-term. All suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles should be reported to the local authorities.

IRAQ (DAHUK GOVERNORATE) - Turkish warplanes have reportedly struck several Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) positions in northern Iraq over the past 24 to 48 hours, according to reports on 18 May. Strikes have been reported in the Metina, Haftanin and Zap areas, located near the Iraq-Turkey border. Strikes have also been reported on the Turkish side of the border. Media reports indicate that the strikes have left at least 10 people dead. Turkish military operations against PKK rebels along the shared border are regularly reported. The PKK maintains bases in northern Iraq and south eastern Turkey. Turkish military action typically involves air strikes; however, artillery attacks and limited cross-border raids have also occurred in the past. These incidents typically impact on the immediate border area only and do not affect major cities in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) region. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the KRG-controlled regions of Dahuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah, including Halabja, due to ongoing conflict in the region (KRG against militants in northern Iraq and Turkish military against Kurd rebels along the shared Iraq-Turkey border) and the general threat of terrorism. Persons travelling near the shared Turkey-Iraq border should remain on main routes, travel with a security escort and travel during the day only.

BRAZIL - (Update) Brazil's ruling Workers' Party (PT) and the Frente Brasil Popular movement have organised protests in urban centres across Brazil from 18 to 22 May. The protests are expected in the cities of Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Ribeirao Preto, Salvador, Fortaleza and the capital, Brazilia. The protests have been organised to denounce the suspension of president Dilma Rousseff by Brazil's Senate (upper house), on 12 May. Anti-government protests are also likely on the day; although none have been announced as yet, these are likely to be led by the Movimento Brasil Livre (MBL) and the Vem Pra Rua Brasil movements. Recent months have been characterised by mass street protests, both in support of Rousseff and the PT, and by groups opposing her presidency, which are in favour of impeachment proceedings against her. The impeachment process has now entered a critical phase. The 12 May Senate vote will serve to heighten tensions further and protests may increase in size and frequency over the near-term. Some of the protests have been marred by low-level violence; in light of this precedent and the increasing political tensions, further violence, including street-level clashes, cannot be discounted. Clients in Brazil should monitor local media for updates on political developments and should avoid all street protests as a general precaution. Additional details on the upcoming protests can be accessed on the PT (http://www.pt.org.br/agenda/) and Frente Brasil Popular (http://frentebrasilpopular.org.br/) websites. Potential anti-government protests may be announced on social media platforms associated with the opposition (https://www.facebook.com/VemPraRuaBrasil.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/mblivre/).

ARGENTINA (LA PLATA) - Various unions, including from the education, law, judicial, health and banking sectors, have called for protests in La Plata, the provincial capital of Buenos Aires province in Argentina, on 19 May. The protests have been called over various grievances as well as to denounce the adoption of the Law on Administrative and Technical Emergency. Participants are expected to march to the Legislative Palace and the regional Government House. The exact time of the protest has not been disclosed. In addition to disruptions in the above-mentioned sectors, localised disruptions to road travel should be anticipated in the vicinity of the Legislative Palace and the Government House, as a result of the protests. The protests are expected to conclude peacefully; however, the possibility of low-level violence between protesters and security forces cannot be discounted. Clients in La Plata on 19 May are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Allowances should be made to accommodate localised road travel disruptions.

PAKISTAN (FAISALABAD) - The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, led by Imran Khan, has scheduled a rally at Faisalabad, in Pakistan's Punjab province, on 20 May. The rally was initially expected to occur on 8 May, but was moved due to inadequate crowd control at a previous rally. A number of rallies have taken place over the past weeks, following the revelations of offshore holdings by the family of Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, were made public through the Panama Paper leaks. These anti-corruption campaigns aim to discredit the prime minister and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Previous campaigns have been held in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi; these have been well attended and have resulted in low-level scuffles. Security forces in Pakistan are known to use robust crowd control techniques at rallies, which can escalate violence. Local transport disruptions are likely in the affected area. Due to a number of security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to most of Pakistan, including Faisalabad. Persons currently in Pakistan are advised to exercise maximum security measures and should avoid rallies and surrounds as a standard precaution.

CAMEROON - National Day will be commemorated in Cameroon on 20 May. The event marks the 44th anniversary of the creation of a unitary state in 1972. Related events are expected across the country, with the main gatherings expected in the capital, Yaounde; these are set to centre on Boulevard du 20 Mai. The gathering in the capital will take place amid an elevated security presence. The event in the capital is expected to draw large crowds; the gatherings, along with the increased security, will likely result in disruptions to road travel in the city. Furthermore, although there have been no threats made against the National Day celebrations, it should be noted that Cameroon is involved in ongoing regional military operations against the Boko Haram sect. In this regard, although there have been attacks in Yaounde, the National Day events may be viewed as a high value target and the possibility of a potential attack cannot be ruled out. Additionally, some opposition parties have been excluded from participating the parade; as such there remains a possibility that excluded groups may stage protests on day. Clients in Cameroon on 20 May are advised to exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness in the vicinity of all commemorative events and avoid all street protests as a precaution. All suspicious persons, packages and vehicles should be reported to the local authorities. Allowances should be made for potential travel disruptions, particularly in Yaounde.

KAZAKHSTAN - Countrywide rallies by activists are set to take place in Kazakhstan on 21 May. The rallies are unsanctioned and police have warned protesters against any gatherings on the day. Further information on the exact timings and locations remain unclear. The rallies follow continued agitation regarding the passing of a land law allowing the privatisation of farmland, and giving foreign nationals a chance to lease the land for up to 25 years. Despite President Nursultan Nazarbayev declaring a moratorium on controversial amendments to the country's land law until 2017; activists are set to continue the rally scheduled on the above-mentioned date. Demonstrations and protests in Kazakhstan are infrequent and generally poorly attended, with recent protests over the issue drawing crowds in the hundreds. Nonetheless, these protests are subject to incidents of low-level violence, as security forces are known to use robust crowd-control tactics against protesters. On 16 and 17 May, Kazakh police forces arrested a number of activists as a means of deterring the upcoming protests. The arrests may likely fuel dissent among protesters. Although foreign nationals are not specifically at risk during these rallies, an incidental risk to all bystanders at such events remains credible. As the threat of skirmishes between protesters and police exists, clients should avoid rallies and related gatherings as a standard precaution.

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

need assistance with your travel plans.