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Emirates expands IATA Travel Pass to 10 cities

Partners with Alhosn to offer its customers greater convenience and smoother journeys, reports Asian Lite News

Emirates, one of the first global airlines to pilot the IATA Travel Pass in April, is offering the IATA Travel Pass solution to customers flying to 10 cities and plans to extend it to all routes across its network in the coming weeks.

Emirates has also partnered with Alhosn, the official UAE app for Covid-19 related contact tracing and health documentation, to offer its customers greater convenience and smoother journeys.

Emirates customers flying between Dubai and the following cities: London, Barcelona, Madrid, Istanbul, New York JFK, Moscow, Frankfurt, Charles De Gaulle, and Amsterdam; can now use IATA Travel Pass to access the latest Covid-19 related travel information including the location of PCR test labs, and manage their Covid-19 travel documentation such as vaccination and latest PCR test results.

Passengers on these flights will receive an SMS and email with the activation code and instructions on downloading the IATA Travel Pass app.

The airline is progressing on plans to roll out the IATA Travel Pass solution across its global network.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said, “Over the past months, we have really accelerated our biometric, contactless and digital travel verification projects to provide our customers with even greater convenience and assurance when they fly with Emirates.”

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He added that this project delivers multiple benefits from better customer experiences to the reduced use of paper, and improved efficiency and reliability in travel document checks.

The IATA Travel Pass app is now available to both iOS and Android users, and can also be used by customers with non-biometric passports.

From July, Emirates will integrate the Alhosn app with its check-in systems, expanding on its existing integration with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This enables customers travelling from the UAE to benefit from the quick and convenient digital retrieval and verification of Covid-19 medical records, regardless of where in the UAE they had completed their vaccination, or Covid-19 PCR and antigen tests.

Customers who opt to allow access to their Covid-19 related health information via the Alhosn app for travel purposes can rest assured that once check-in formalities are completed, information related to their Covid-19 medical records will be immediately discarded from the Emirates systems.

The IATA Travel Pass is a digital solution developed by the airline industry body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It aims to provide governments, airlines, laboratories and passengers with up-to-date information on Covid-19 related regulations, and facilitate the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders.

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COVID-19 Lite Blogs Travel

Travel during Covid: precautions to take

A window seat could come with an extra jab of protection owing to the less exposure and movement of passengers, and thus avoiding unnecessary contact …writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe.

It’s the unlocking period for some of the countries around the world. Almost a year ago, one of the busiest airports in the world- Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi had a deserted look brought about by the coronavirus. A year later, the airport has terminated operations on terminal 2 as a result of the reduced number of flights due to the second wave, which is turning out to be more deadly than the previous one.

The air travel industry has witnessed significant changes since the pandemic, even as two things remain constant – the threat from the virus and the effort to ensure a safer surrounding. While leisure travel has taken a halt, air travel still remains unavoidable for some – many people are returning home amid the second wave-to be with their families during these times or for other personal or family health emergencies

Cases reported on air travel spread have been minimal due to which flights are being considered as a safer travelling option, however, it is always good for travellers to be extra cautious and look out for their own safety and practice precautions while boarding a flight. While it is imperative to mask up, regularly sanitise and avoid unnecessary contact with people and surfaces, there are other things as well to keep in mind while taking a flight.

With the current safety concerns set to stay for the foreseeable future, EaseMyTrip.com shares with Here is a list of precautions that a passenger should keep in mind while travelling by air.

Double Mask up for maximum protection:

With the second wave of coronavirus spreading ferociously, people have realised the importance of doubling up the protection. Is double mask safer than a single mask? Indeed, studies done by Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that double masking can reduce one’s exposure to the virus by up to 95 per cent. The CDC recommends layering a cloth mask over a surgical mask. Avoid combinations such as two surgical masks, or a K95/N95 and any other mask.

Minimal contact clothing:

Such testing times require cautious approach even while choosing your outfit for air travel. It is advisable to cover your body as much as possible, so track suits are a good option. Travellers should also avoid wearing open toed shoes to ensure minimal contact. Wearing goggles can also add a protective layer for your eyes. It is also advisable to wear socks so that your bare feet don’t touch the airport floor during security check.

Reduce, Disinfect your baggage:

The more the merrier? This saying has gone for a toss, at least while travelling during the Covid crisis. Despite safety protocols in place, your bag will pass through several channels and people from check-in to the final destination. It is advisable to check-in fewer bags. In the event that reducing the baggage is unavoidable, it should be thoroughly cleaned using disinfectant wipes after the journey. Apply sanitizing gel to a tissue and make sure to wipe the handles and bottom of the luggage.

Edging towards the window seat:

A window seat could come with an extra jab of protection owing to the less exposure and movement of passengers, and thus avoiding unnecessary contact. A person sitting in the window seat will essentially reduce the number of people within your 6-foot exposure radius by half. An aisle seat should be avoided as travellers tend to visit washrooms, touch surfaces and walk by, increasing one’s exposure to the virus. So make sure that you book your ticket and seat way in advance from a travel portal such as EaseMyTrip.com.

Maintaining distance and hygiene over the course of the journey:

It is difficult to give up on a sip or two of water throughout the course of the journey. With Covid around, it is advisable to carry your own bottle to minimise contact with people, which is a possibility at the point of sale.

While there is very little you can do on the plane to maintain distance, ensure that you keep your distance from people in the terminal. Walk around the terminal while you’re waiting for your flight as the seating area could be a point of infection. It is also advisable to clean and use disinfectant wipes for surfaces such as the tray table or in-flight entertainment systems that you will be using in the flight. Similarly, precautions should be taken while accessing washrooms at airports and on flights, including using elbows to open the doors. It is advisable to stay away from washrooms that are crowded.

While it may not be possible to avoid all points of contact, the current global crisis merits a heightened sense of caution, and it is important for travellers to be aware of their surroundings and take all possible necessary precautions from their end to ensure a safe journey. It is also advisable to look up state wise air travel guidelines and notifications listed on https://www.easemytrip.com/covid19-help.html to ensure that one is up to date with all necessary travel and airline information.

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India News Travel

India’s oldest train Punjab Mail turns 110

She steamed out of Bombay’s Ballard Pier Mole station — which was the hub of the erstwhile Great Indian Peninsular Railways (GIPR), that later became the CR…reports Asian Lite News.

The oldest running long-distance train of the Indian Railways, Punjab Mail, connecting Mumbai-Firozpur — originally linking Bombay with Peshawar (now in Pakistan) — turned 110 on Tuesday, Central Railway officials said.

The Punjab Limited as she was called then, is a little over 16 years older than its more glamorous counterpart Frontier Mail, though its origins are rather vague.

She steamed out of Bombay’s Ballard Pier Mole station — which was the hub of the erstwhile Great Indian Peninsular Railways (GIPR), that later became the CR.

Based on a Cost Estimate paper of 1911 and a complaint by an irate passenger in Oct. 2012 about “the later arrival of the train by a few minutes at Delhi” station, the CR concluded that the Punjab Mail made her maiden run on June 1, 1912.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDyuShpFqk4

To begin with, there were the P&O steamers bringing in the mail, and excited officers of the British Raj along with their spouses, coming to their first postings in colonial India after a 13-day long sea voyage from Southampton to Mumbai Port.

Since the British officials held a combined ticket both for the sea voyage to Bombay and then onward inland journey by train to their place of postings, after disembarking they would simply board one of the trains from here bound for Delhi, Calcutta or Madras.

The Punjab Limited used to run on fixed mail days from Bombay to Peshawar covering 2,496 kms in around 47 hours along the Great Indian Peninsular route, via Itarsi, Agra, Delhi and Lahore.

At that time, it had only 3 passenger cars with a total capacity of 96 travellers, three for postal goods and mail, and was the fastest running train in the British India.

The passenger coaches were all corridor cars in first class, dual berth compartments, and well-appointed with lavatories, bathrooms, a restaurant car, a compartment for the luggage and servants of the British officers.

Later, from 1914, the Punjab Limited started originating and terminating at the Bombay VT Station, now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today, the journey time of Punjab Mail, hauled by electric engines, has come down significantly, covering the 1,930 kms between Mumbai CSMT-Firozpur Cantt in 34 hrs 15 mins.

12138 Punjab Mail (Wikipedia)

Compared to the original 6 cars of the Punjab Limited, Punjab Mail now has 9 air-conditioned coaches, 6 sleeper coaches, 5 general second class coaches, a pantry and a generator van.

By mid-1930s, it also started catering to the Indians on the move in Third class cars, it got the first air-conditioned coach in 1945 , from May 1976, it was hauled by diesel engines, and by 1980s with electric engines as a large part of the trunk routes on the IR network got electrified.

From December 2020, the Punjab Mail started its journey with the German-designed Alstom LHB GmbH’s Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches which give more safety and a pleasant travel experience to the passengers.

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-Top News Travel UK News

Britain’s vaccine passport plans to be scrapped

Move comes amidst mounting concern over the prospect of vaccine certificates voiced by the Conservative Party, as well as opposition lawmakers and civil rights groups, reports Asian Lite News

Britain plans to drop Covid-19 passports as a legal requirement for large events. Officials working on the review into Covid-19 status certificates believe there is no chance the law will be changed to mandate their use within the UK.

A government spokesman said that the Covid-19 vaccine certification review is still in process and no decision has yet been made.

There has been mounting concern over the prospect of vaccine certificates voiced by the Conservative Party, as well as opposition lawmakers and civil rights groups. In April, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also signaled the ethical issues posed by Covid-19 vaccine certification.

More than 70 British lawmakers have signalled their opposition to the introduction of so-called vaccine passports that the government is considering bringing in to help to open the economy as it starts lifting Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The government is reviewing the idea of asking people to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination to access crowded spaces such as pubs or sports events, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson having already said that a certificate is likely to be needed for international travel.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Saturday that trials of Covid passports would begin within weeks during pilots at major sports events and possibly a music awards ceremony in the next two months to assess their impact.

On Friday Johnson said that a combination of immunity factors — if people have had the disease, a vaccination or had a Covid-19 test — would give businesses confidence.

UK

“So those three things working together will, I think, be useful for us as we as we go forward,” Johnson said.

But there has been mounting concern from some in his own Conservative Party, as well as opposition lawmakers and civil rights groups, about the prospect of vaccine certificates.

“We oppose the divisive and discriminatory use of COVID status certification to deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs,” said a statement signed by a group of more than 70 lawmakers from across the political spectrum.

Under the government’s planned “roadmap” out of the pandemic, pubs will be allowed to serve people outdoors later this month, with a further easing of restrictions in mid-May before all measures are lifted near the end of June.

Johnson suggested last month that some pubs might require customers to produce vaccine certificates. Culture minister Oliver Dowden, meanwhile, has said that such certificates could help get more people into theatres.

No decision has yet been made and Johnson has instructed senior minister Michael Gove to review the possible role of certificates, saying there are deep and complex ethical issues to explore. Gove is due to report back shortly.

More than 31 million Britons have already received their first vaccine dose in the fastest inoculation programme in Europe.

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Business Economy Travel

Vistara gets first Airbus A320neo

vistara

Accordingly, the aircraft, registered VT-TQE, arrived in Delhi from Airbus’ production facility in Toulouse, France…reports Asian Lite News

Full-service carrier Vistara on Saturday inducted its first fully owned Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Accordingly, the aircraft, registered VT-TQE, arrived in Delhi from Airbus’ production facility in Toulouse, France.

The aircraft is one of the 13 Airbus A320neo that Vistara had purchased in 2018 as part of a larger order totaling 50 aircraft from the Airbus A320neo Family, including the Airbus A321neo aircraft as well.

Besides, the new set of A320neo aircraft that Vistara has been adding to its fleet come with higher range capability, enabling the airline to fly longer regional international routes without payload restrictions.

“The Airbus A320 is an integral part of our fleet and growth story, and this particular aircraft is, indeed, special,” said Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara.

“It mirrors the maturity that Vistara has achieved in the Indian aviation industry in a short span of time, continuing to steadily grow in scale, size and operational assets.”

Furthermore, the company said that the current addition to Vistara’s fleet takes the total count of the airline’s owned aircraft to three.

The airline had also purchased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for long-haul international operations, two of which are already in service.

Presently, Vistara has 46 planes in its fleet — 36 Airbus A320, two Airbus A321neo, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and six Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.

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Dubai Travel UAE News

DXB is world’s busiest international airport in May

It kicked out London Heathrow from the top spot, with the UK airport plummeting to seventh place at capacity of 747,420…reports Asian Lite News

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been named the world’s busiest international airport in May, as travelers gradually return to the skies.

The airport’s scheduled capacity was 1,895,866 in May, according to aviation intelligence firm OAG, despite many of its source markets being closed to international travelers.

It kicked out London Heathrow from the top spot, with the UK airport plummeting to seventh place at capacity of 747,420.

Two other regional airports dominated the list, with Istanbul Ataturk coming in second at around 1.3 million capacity, followed by Doha International Airport at 1.24 million.

The rankings are based on scheduled capacity compared to the same month in 2019, pre-pandemic.

Four Middle East air routes were the busiest in May, according to OAG data, three of which connect Cairo to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai.

Within Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah-Riyadh route was one of the busiest in May with 547,936 capacity.

Last year, DXB handled 25.9 million passengers, despite the Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in the aviation industry, forcing airports to shut down and grounding airlines across the globe.

The travel restrictions and suspension of flights from certain countries also impacted airports and airlines.

The new variants of Covid-19 also continue to batter the sector with travel bans on passengers from the worst-hit countries.

But governments are increasingly reopening their borders with those countries that have largely vaccinated their citizens.

Data from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority showed international passenger traffic reaching 7.61 million during the first four months of 2021, including 1.87 million during the month of April.

The numbers are significantly higher when compared with last year’s April figures of 39,794 passengers, when international flights from Dubai airports were suspended after the Covid-19 outbreak.

OAG data showed Turkey’s Istanbul International Airport emerged as the second busiest airport with 1.3 million seats, followed by Doha Airport at 1.22 million, and Amsterdam Airport at one million.

ALSO READ: Mumbai-Dubai Emirates plane flies with 1 passenger

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Travel USA

Memorial Day travel surge to test airports, airlines

While domestic air-travel numbers last Christmas were only half those in 2019, recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) counts have them now hovering around 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels….reports Asian Lite News

Air passenger numbers are forecast to average as many as two million a day through the Memorial Day holiday, testing the ability of airlines and airports to handle infrequent and, in some cases, unruly fliers, a media report said.

While domestic air-travel numbers last Christmas were only half those in 2019, recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) counts have them now hovering around 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

The TSA screened 1.9 million passengers on May 23, a 14-month high.

Bookings from leisure travellers heading to the beaches and mountains picked up in March and accelerated in recent weeks, airline executives were quoted as saying at an industry conference this week, said the report.

“The surge in travel is just now starting to happen,” said Frontier Airlines’ chief executive, Barry Biffle.

“Memorial Day is going to be big; the Fourth of July is going to be crazy.”

Many holiday-weekend travellers are infrequent fliers, and now some are coming back after more than a year of staying close to home, The Wall Street Journal report noted.

American Airlines Group Inc., the world’s largest carrier, said a third of its passengers typically take only one trip a year.

The first of the year’s four big holiday-travel periods comes as the industry faces a rise in onboard incidents often driven by disputes over mask-wearing.

Tensions over masks, which are still required on public transportation through the fall, are exacerbated by the return to busier flights and airports, airline executives and union officials were quoted as saying.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson started a town hall last week with a warning for passengers to behave.

The agency has received more than 2,500 reports linked to disorderly-passenger conduct this year, the majority of them linked to passengers refusing to comply with the mask policy.

“We’ve never seen numbers like this before,” Dickson said.

The FAA has extended into September a zero-tolerance policy introduced in January that subjects passengers who flout safety rules to fines and possible jail time, rather than the prior system of warnings.

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India News Travel UAE News

Mumbai-Dubai Emirates plane flies with 1 passenger

Emirates

“EK-501 Emirates plane operated from Mumbai airport to Dubai with one passenger. The flight took off at 4:30 am IST,” said Mumbai Airport sources …reports Asian Lite News

In view of the COVID-triggered restrictions on Indian passengers arriving United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai-bound Emirates Airlines’ 350-seated Boeing (B-777) operated with only one passenger from Mumbai on May 19.

“EK-501 Emirates plane operated from Mumbai airport to Dubai with one passenger. The flight took off at 4:30 am IST,” Mumbai Airport sources told ANI.

“Only the following categories of passengers will be allowed entry to Dubai: members of diplomatic missions, holders of UAE golden visa, UAE nationals, passengers exempted and/or granted permission to enter the UAE by the appropriate authorities as well as passengers travelling on a business flight who have a valid COVID-19 PCR test certificate,” Emirates airlines’ website said.

It added: “All passengers who have travelled from or transited through India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the last 14 days will not be accepted for travel to or transfer through Dubai from any other point except for returning UAE nationals.”

Upon contacting the airlines, they refrained from making a comment on the issue.

Earlier on April 24, the UAE had announced a ban on people travelling from India after a sudden increase in the COVID-19 cases for Indian passengers. The ban has been extended from 24 May to 14 June. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Sanjay Dutt receives UAE Golden Visa

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Travel UK News

73% decline in foreign travellers visiting UK in 2020

The dramatic impact of Covid-19 on the number of UK-bound travellers was revealed for the first time in the study published on Monday by the Office for National Statistics…reports Asian Lite News

A new study has revealed that foreign travellers made 11.1 million visits to the UK in 2020, a 73 per cent decline than in 2019 in the wave of the border restriction imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The dramatic impact of Covid-19 on the number of UK-bound travellers was revealed for the first time in the study published on Monday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

During 2020, overseas residents spent 6.2 billion pounds ($8.76 billion) on their visits to the UK, 78 per cent less than in 2019, ONS said.

Meanwhile, UK residents made 23.8 million visits abroad in 2020, 74 per cent less than the previous year and they spent 13.8 billion pounds on such travels, 78 per cent less than in 2019.

ONS said travel and tourism statistics are usually based on the results of the International Passenger Survey (IPS), but the survey was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic.



The new figures published by ONS for April to December 2020 have been based on administrative sources and modelling by statisticians.

The figures were added to data collected in the three months before the pandemic.

According to ONS, visits by North American residents decreased by 78 per cent to 1.2 million, visits by European residents were down by 71 per cent to 8 million and visits by residents of “other countries” outside of Europe and North America decreased by 76 per cent to 1.9 million.

ALSO READ: UK starts preparations for trade negotiations with India
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-Top News COVID-19 Travel

Boeing to set up field hospitals in India

The aerospace major has been in talks with five state governments to provide such facilities in their jurisdictions, reports Rohit Vaid.

Aerospace major Boeing has tied-up with state governments along with NGOs to set up field hospitals in India to treat Covid patients.

Accordingly, the aerospace major has been in talks with five state governments to provide such facilities in their jurisdictions.

In the last few days, Boeing India has reached out to UP, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu state governments.

The initiative as part of Boeing’s India Covid relief commitment envisages setting up of such facilities in each of five states which are facing the pandemic resurgence.

As part of the programme, the funding, land and utilities, facility, equipment, doctors as well as medicines will be provided through a partnership model by the joint effort of Boeing, the concerned state government and NGO partners, ‘Doctors for You’ and ‘Care USA’.

The state governments will provide the infrastructure and utilities while ‘Doctors for You’ will provide the medical infrastructure and staff.

The first such facility is expected to come as soon as possible.

“We are in conversations with local and international relief organisations to deploy Boeing’s $10-million emergency assistance package to support India’s Covid-19 response,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India.

“As part of that effort, we’re working with medical, government and public health experts across India to provide relief, including medical supplies and emergency health care to communities most impacted.”

Last month, Boeing announced a $10 million emergency assistance package to support India’s Covid-19 response.

At present, Boeing has 3,000 employees in India.

The company develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defence products for customers in domestic civil and military sectors.

Lately, India has been heavily battered by record new daily increases in coronavirus infections, prompting lockdowns and restrictive measures.

The exponential rise in new coronavirus cases in India has been termed as a humanitarian crisis.

IndiGo inoculates all op staff

Airline major IndiGo is set to become the first domestic airline with an all inoculated operational staff.

Accordingly, the airline in anticipation of rising travel demand on the back of accelerated vaccination programme has initiated the internal inoculation drive.

Besides, the company wants to restore confidence in not just the travelling public but also in operational crew members, front office and ground handling staff.

vaccine jabs

Recently, Centre allowed for a liberalised vaccination phase under which private entities can procure vaccines at market regulated prices.

These jabs can then be administered under medical supervision to the company’s staff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO5YRfLJ-ec

According to IndiGo’s Chief HR Officer Raj Raghavan: “We are fully committed towards the vaccination of our entire workforce, including our subsidiary Agile, as soon as possible.”

“As of today vaccination drives have already commenced aggressively across 35 stations and we are in the process of including more stations.”

Presently, the airline has around 23,000 employees, including employees belonging to its subsidiary Agile, all of whom, it plans to inoculate

Furthermore, the company is also providing time off to crew members upon vaccination as per guidelines.

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