Latest news with #AzerbaijanAirlines
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Airlines left with fewer flight routes as global conflict zones expand
Airlines are facing increased operational and financial burdens due to the rise in global conflict zones, including threats from missiles and airspace closures. Airspace closures around Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, and parts of Africa are forcing airlines into expensive, last-minute re-routings. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and drone activity near Russian airports have led to commercial flights sharing airspace with potential hazards, raising safety concerns. The downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan and a cargo plane in Sudan highlights the worst-case scenario of aircraft being hit by weaponry, prompting calls for better information sharing between governments. IATA emphasises the need for urgent global coordination to address conflict zone risks, as airlines navigate a patchwork of government notices and security advice, with flight crews retaining the right to refuse flights over unsafe airspace.
Time Business News
23-04-2025
- Time Business News
What to Expect on Your Journey from Dubai to Baku Including Visa and Travel Options
Traveling from Dubai to Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, is an exciting and enriching experience. Before embarking on your trip, it's essential to ensure that all travel documents are in order, including your Azerbaijan tourist visa. Flights from Dubai to Baku are available daily, with popular airlines like FlyDubai and Azerbaijan Airlines offering direct connections. The average flight time is around 3 hours, making it a quick international getaway. Be sure to pack seasonally appropriate clothing, as Baku experiences varying climates throughout the year, from chilly winters to warm and breezy summers. Upon landing at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku tour from Dubai, you'll immediately notice the blend of modern architecture and warm Azerbaijani hospitality. The airport is well-equipped with all the necessary amenities, including currency exchange, SIM card vendors, and transport options. Most travelers choose taxis or pre-booked transfers to reach their accommodation in the city. Baku's efficient public transport and welcoming atmosphere make it easy for tourists from Dubai and other regions to feel at home. English is spoken in many tourist areas, though learning a few local phrases can go a long way. Baku offers a seamless blend of old-world charm and futuristic appeal. Once you settle in, begin your exploration with a visit to Icherisheher (Old City), a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with winding alleys, ancient mosques, and palaces like the Shirvanshah's Palace. From there, head to the Flame Towers, an iconic symbol of modern Baku, and enjoy panoramic views of the Caspian Sea. Art lovers can explore the Heydar Aliyev Center, while food enthusiasts will enjoy Azerbaijani cuisine, known for its flavorful kebabs, pilafs, and sweet pastries. The journey from Dubai to Baku opens the door to a unique cultural experience unlike any other. For those traveling from Dubai, Baku offers a familiar yet refreshing shopping experience. The city is home to international and local brands, with shopping centers like Ganjlik Mall and Port Baku Mall providing plenty of retail therapy. The Baku Boulevard, running along the Caspian Sea, is perfect for leisurely strolls, boat rides, or casual dining. As night falls, the city lights up with rooftop lounges, music venues, and cozy cafes, giving travelers a taste of Baku's vibrant nightlife. It's a fantastic contrast to the fast-paced urban vibe of Dubai, offering relaxation and entertainment in equal measure. After days of adventure and discovery, your return journey from Baku to Dubai and Azerbaijan tour package from Dubai will be filled with unforgettable memories. Make sure to shop for souvenirs like Azerbaijani carpets, ceramics, and local sweets before heading to the airport. Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours in advance for international check-in, and be prepared for possible baggage checks. Whether you visited Baku for a weekend getaway or an extended family holiday, the experience is sure to leave a lasting impression. With its ease of access, affordable travel packages, and rich cultural offerings, Baku is a perfect destination for travelers from Dubai looking for a short but meaningful escape. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Is fear of flying getting worse? Expert explains your anxiety after high-profile plane crashes
After a string of plane crashes that swept headlines over the past few months, passengers on social media have voiced their heightened concerns over flying. TikTok videos and social media posts during the aftermath of the crashes and the loss of lives indicate that there has been amplified anxiety around flying. The world's attention was held by the fatal incident on Christmas day when 38 people died on an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, then four days later, a crash killed almost all of the people onboard a Jeju Air flight in South Korea. A month later, a devastating incident shocked the US and the rest of the world when a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter killed 67, the deadliest crash in the country in over two decades. While extreme traumatic incidents draw attention, aviation experts reassure travellers that flying is still incredibly safe. According to data from the US National Transportation Safety Board, there have been fewer than average air accidents in the country for the first two months of the year. Nevertheless, some flyers are expressing that their anxiety levels have increased due to the crashes – but will this translate into a lasting fear of flying among travellers? Professor Robert Bor, a clinical aviation and aerospace psychologist at the Centre for Aviation Psychology, who has written papers and books on the treatment for fear of flying, explains that there is not necessarily a long-lasting link between plane crashes and people developing a phobia of flying. He says: 'There's no clear way to determine whether there's been an increase because it's not as though we have some kind of social barometer or thermometer that measures these things frequently.' However, Bor adds that we do know a fear of flying is in the top 10 phobias that people find themselves with, particularly in countries with access to frequent air travel. Yet, the interesting difference between a fear of flying and other phobias is that it does not necessarily lead to avoidance. Air travel is often essential to reach other countries, whether that's for a holiday, to visit friends and family abroad, or for work that requires travel. So, many of those who have a fear or dislike of flying may still board a plane to get to their destination, whether they enjoy the experience or not. This is different from other fears that can be more easily avoided, such as someone who has a fear of clowns – they will simply not go to the circus, watch scary clown films, and maybe stay indoors at Halloween. While there are people who will vow to never get on a plane, Bor explains that having a fear of flying does not necessarily lead to long-term avoidance – instead, their fear will materialise as an 'arousal'. He explains: 'By that, we mean people may feel stressed, they may get sweaty, they may do a lot of thinking. 'They may do some bargaining with people around them, with themselves, with god or whoever it may be. But it doesn't necessarily mean it's an avoidance. 'With flying, there will be people who don't want to be on the plane, but who are going to manage it.' It is not always a plane crash reported on the news that can trigger an onset of fear; there are multiple reasons why people may have stress or anxieties around getting on a plane. 'Part of it may just be familiarity, 'how does all of that metal stay in the air'?' Bor says. 'The other is just the physical experience. As a species, we've not evolved to fly, we're best suited to being on the ground.' Fear may also be influenced by pre-existing stress, worry and anxiety in our day-to-day lives stemming from other events, as Bor explains: 'Rarely do people get on board an airplane completely free of any feelings. 'You do sometimes get a slight surge increase [in fear] following an incident or accident, but we attribute that, obviously, to what's called the recency effect.' Examples of this may be experiencing severe turbulence or going through another traumatic incident outside of flying such as a car crash. Mitigating factors can mean that our fears do get more 'aroused', but does this mean we will avoid getting on a plane? Bor says: 'The true answer to that is rarely. 'Does it increase the number of people who are choosing not to fly? They may be more wary. They may check things out more. They may look up the weather. They may ponder, 'Am I on a safe airline?' and maybe switch to a different airline. They may go back to their reservation and change the seat that they were on, but it doesn't necessarily lead to avoidance.' Long-term factors can also impact people's levels of fear. For example, growing up travelling with a parent or family member who also had a fear of flying. With so many contributing factors, it's hard to tell if there has been an increase in a fear of flying due to a recent awareness of fatal plane crashes, especially as people are continuing to travel by plane. Bor says: 'Where the statistics are at the moment, they probably are no different and haven't been different in the last 15 to 20 years. 'We have got used to hearing how unbelievably safe air travel is, and that actually hasn't changed, in spite of these headlines-grabbing incidents. 'So air safety hasn't been compromised. We're not into some new era of it sliding away.' Bor adds that each aviation tragedy is unique, but 'the more we can relate it to ourselves, the more worrisome it becomes'. He explains: 'If it's an air crash in a distant country on an airline we might not have ever flown on, or may not have heard about, it tends to be that we're a little bit more distant from the whole experience emotionally – which is the same actually with all news.' However, if we see an incident that happened in a destination familiar to us, on a route that we travel or an airline on which we fly, the worry may well amplify. Those who do opt to go on a plane may still worry about how their body will react, such as having a panic attack or becoming overwhelmed with stress. 'At one level, this is human nature. The body is seeking to protect us from something that we perceive to be aversive,' Bor explains. If fearful flyers are looking to calm their anxieties about flying, Bor recommends trying therapy, whether that's reading books or talking to professionals such as counsellors, therapists or psychologists. He says: 'The treatment is about understanding what it is about that situation, particularly being on an airplane, that causes us that stress, learning about how the body is reacting, and then learning ways to override it.' If you are flying with a fearful passenger, Bor says that the worst thing you can do is be dismissive. 'When people say to someone who's got a fear of anything, 'Oh, stop it. That could never happen', all it does is make the person feel bad about the problem that they're having. 'What we need to do is figure out what reaction they're having and say 'that's a normal reaction that your body's having. Yes, it's a bit excessive, and here are the ways that we calm it down,' through deeper breathing, through meditation, through distraction, or through reappraising of the risk in front of you.'
The Independent
08-04-2025
- The Independent
Is fear of flying getting worse? Expert explains your anxiety after high-profile plane crashes
After a string of plane crashes that swept headlines over the past few months, passengers on social media have voiced their heightened concerns over flying. TikTok videos and social media posts during the aftermath of the crashes and the loss of lives indicate that there has been amplified anxiety around flying. The world's attention was held by the fatal incident on Christmas day when 38 people died on an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, then four days later, a crash killed almost all of the people onboard a Jeju Air flight in South Korea. A month later, a devastating incident shocked the US and the rest of the world when a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter killed 67, the deadliest crash in the country in over two decades. While extreme traumatic incidents draw attention, aviation experts reassure travellers that flying is still incredibly safe. According to data from the US National Transportation Safety Board, there have been fewer than average air accidents in the country for the first two months of the year. Nevertheless, some flyers are expressing that their anxiety levels have increased due to the crashes – but will this translate into a lasting fear of flying among travellers? Professor Robert Bor, a clinical aviation and aerospace psychologist at the Centre for Aviation Psychology, who has written papers and books on the treatment for fear of flying, explains that there is not necessarily a long-lasting link between plane crashes and people developing a phobia of flying. He says: 'There's no clear way to determine whether there's been an increase because it's not as though we have some kind of social barometer or thermometer that measures these things frequently.' However, Bor adds that we do know a fear of flying is in the top 10 phobias that people find themselves with, particularly in countries with access to frequent air travel. Yet, the interesting difference between a fear of flying and other phobias is that it does not necessarily lead to avoidance. Air travel is often essential to reach other countries, whether that's for a holiday, to visit friends and family abroad, or for work that requires travel. So, many of those who have a fear or dislike of flying may still board a plane to get to their destination, whether they enjoy the experience or not. This is different from other fears that can be more easily avoided, such as someone who has a fear of clowns – they will simply not go to the circus, watch scary clown films, and maybe stay indoors at Halloween. While there are people who will vow to never get on a plane, Bor explains that having a fear of flying does not necessarily lead to long-term avoidance – instead, their fear will materialise as an 'arousal'. He explains: 'By that, we mean people may feel stressed, they may get sweaty, they may do a lot of thinking. 'They may do some bargaining with people around them, with themselves, with god or whoever it may be. But it doesn't necessarily mean it's an avoidance. 'With flying, there will be people who don't want to be on the plane, but who are going to manage it.' It is not always a plane crash reported on the news that can trigger an onset of fear; there are multiple reasons why people may have stress or anxieties around getting on a plane. 'Part of it may just be familiarity, 'how does all of that metal stay in the air'?' Bor says. 'The other is just the physical experience. As a species, we've not evolved to fly, we're best suited to being on the ground.' Fear may also be influenced by pre-existing stress, worry and anxiety in our day-to-day lives stemming from other events, as Bor explains: 'Rarely do people get on board an airplane completely free of any feelings. 'You do sometimes get a slight surge increase [in fear] following an incident or accident, but we attribute that, obviously, to what's called the recency effect.' Examples of this may be experiencing severe turbulence or going through another traumatic incident outside of flying such as a car crash. Mitigating factors can mean that our fears do get more 'aroused', but does this mean we will avoid getting on a plane? Bor says: 'The true answer to that is rarely. 'Does it increase the number of people who are choosing not to fly? They may be more wary. They may check things out more. They may look up the weather. They may ponder, 'Am I on a safe airline?' and maybe switch to a different airline. They may go back to their reservation and change the seat that they were on, but it doesn't necessarily lead to avoidance.' Long-term factors can also impact people's levels of fear. For example, growing up travelling with a parent or family member who also had a fear of flying. With so many contributing factors, it's hard to tell if there has been an increase in a fear of flying due to a recent awareness of fatal plane crashes, especially as people are continuing to travel by plane. Bor says: 'Where the statistics are at the moment, they probably are no different and haven't been different in the last 15 to 20 years. 'We have got used to hearing how unbelievably safe air travel is, and that actually hasn't changed, in spite of these headlines-grabbing incidents. 'So air safety hasn't been compromised. We're not into some new era of it sliding away.' Bor adds that each aviation tragedy is unique, but 'the more we can relate it to ourselves, the more worrisome it becomes'. He explains: 'If it's an air crash in a distant country on an airline we might not have ever flown on, or may not have heard about, it tends to be that we're a little bit more distant from the whole experience emotionally – which is the same actually with all news.' However, if we see an incident that happened in a destination familiar to us, on a route that we travel or an airline on which we fly, the worry may well amplify. Those who do opt to go on a plane may still worry about how their body will react, such as having a panic attack or becoming overwhelmed with stress. 'At one level, this is human nature. The body is seeking to protect us from something that we perceive to be aversive,' Bor explains. If fearful flyers are looking to calm their anxieties about flying, Bor recommends trying therapy, whether that's reading books or talking to professionals such as counsellors, therapists or psychologists. He says: 'The treatment is about understanding what it is about that situation, particularly being on an airplane, that causes us that stress, learning about how the body is reacting, and then learning ways to override it.' If you are flying with a fearful passenger, Bor says that the worst thing you can do is be dismissive. 'When people say to someone who's got a fear of anything, 'Oh, stop it. That could never happen', all it does is make the person feel bad about the problem that they're having. 'What we need to do is figure out what reaction they're having and say 'that's a normal reaction that your body's having. Yes, it's a bit excessive, and here are the ways that we calm it down,' through deeper breathing, through meditation, through distraction, or through reappraising of the risk in front of you.'
The Independent
20-02-2025
- The Independent
The Delta Air Lines plane flip might be a crash too far for nervous flyers like me
It is often said – usually to people like me who are terrified of flying – that the reason we hear about plane crashes in the news is because they so rarely happen. And yet, in less than a month, there have been four incidents involving aircraft. First, a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger plane in Washington DC on 29 January, killing 67 people. Three days later, a medical plane carrying a child patient and their guardian, as well as medical crew, crashed in Philadelphia, killing the five passengers and one person on the ground. On 6 February, a small plane crashed in Alaska, killing all 10 passengers. And only this Monday, a Delta Air Lines plane crashed and flipped on the runway of Toronto's Pearson Airport, injuring 18 people. This follows several high-profile aircraft incidents in 2024, including the fatal Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crash-landed in Kazakhstan, the South Korea disaster where all but two of the 181 people on board died, and the severe turbulence experienced on a Singapore Airlines flight. In the not-so-distant past, there was the mystery of flight MH370 and the two Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people – and that's before we even get to the reports of parts breaking off mid-flight and the seemingly endless stream of images of planes rocking in high winds at London Heathrow. These are serious tragedies that impact relatives, loved ones and local communities the most, as well as the airlines' reputations – even if the likes of Donald Trump attempt to hijack their grief by politicising these incidents with baseless claims. But there's no denying that these events also instil a sense of significant unease in air travellers. For people like me who are already scared of flying, they make getting on a plane even less appealing. They remind us that our safety is not a given and that freak events can and do happen. Perhaps, if these incidents were in isolation or further apart, even, people would brush them off as such. But as it stands, aviation disasters and mishaps seem to be more frequent despite industry experts reassuring flyers that safety protocols are more comprehensive than ever. My own fear of flying isn't a result of headline-hitting incidents, but personal experience of flying in bad weather. My plane to Nice was forced to take off again when it had only just touched down, owing to particularly strong winds. My flight from Spain to London was met with torrential rain and turbulence – the sky even turned a Wicked shade of green. Then there was a flight from Corfu, which plummeted several feet before regaining control. I have flashbacks whenever I board a plane. And that's the thing. For nervous flyers like me, there is a constant trade-off: do we give up the pleasure of travel, or endure an anxious journey? Until now, my desire to explore the world has outweighed that of keeping my feet safely on the ground, but these increasingly prominent events are giving me pause. Human error is one thing and more avoidable than anything else (perhaps don't sack several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees and make drastic cuts when public safety is concerned). But with global warming and the rise of freak weather conditions, there is little that we can do to ease the effects on a flight or safeguard ourselves from the fallout. I know I struggle to surrender control in such situations – and I don't have kids or other dependents to worry about. I don't wish to scaremonger. The vast majority of flights successfully depart and arrive each day, otherwise no one would fly again. And yes, there are other modes of travel. But when some 4.4 billion passengers flew with the world's airlines in 2023 and figures are set to rise, it feels like an increasingly difficult reality to ignore.
