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Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business Insider
U.S. adds South Africa to travel alert list as security concerns rise
The United States has officially added South Africa to its travel alert list, citing rising global security threats, according to a recent update from the U.S. Department of State reported by Travel and Tour World. The U.S. Department of State has included South Africa in its travel alert list highlighting heightened security concerns. This update reflects growing caution by U.S. authorities regarding global travel risks without listing specific incidents. South Africa's addition to the list might stem from broader geopolitical reassessments of safety concerns. South Africa is the latest country to be included in the 'Level 2' travel alert list that already names Namibia, Botswana, Belgium, Greenland, Denmark, and Germany. While South Africa remains at Level 2 (urging travelers to exercise increased caution) the May 27 update comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Level 2 indicates moderate risk, unlike Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisories issued for countries like Sudan and the DRC. The advisory does not go into specific details about the nature of the security threats, but it reflects what the U.S. government has described as growing concerns for the safety of travelers in multiple regions. The addition of South Africa signals an updated risk assessment by U.S. authorities. It also reflects the State Department's routine monitoring of international developments that could affect the safety and well-being of American citizens traveling or living abroad. While it is not unusual for the Department to issue such alerts, the inclusion of several countries in one update underlines the scale of caution being exercised. The travel alert update does not mean a travel ban, nor does it place restrictions on citizens visiting the countries listed. Rather, it is a formal advisory urging travelers to stay vigilant and make informed decisions when visiting these destinations. The U.S. issues these warnings at various levels, depending on the assessed risk, ranging from increased caution to reconsidering travel or avoiding it altogether. SA–U.S. tensions likely behind travel advisory South Africa, a major hub for tourism, business, and international relations in Africa, now joins the group of nations flagged for elevated security awareness. The U.S. Department of State has not cited any specific incidents or emerging developments within South Africa that directly triggered the recent travel advisory update. However, the country's inclusion appears to be part of a broader global reassessment of travel risks, likely informed by shifting geopolitical dynamics and internal safety concerns across multiple regions. Some analysts speculate that South Africa's addition may also be indirectly linked to recent controversies surrounding the alleged mistreatment of white farmers, a longstanding and highly politicized issue that has periodically drawn international attention. This particular development reignited tensions between South Africa and the United States when President Donald Trump publicly expressed concern over land expropriation policies and violence against white farmers. That diplomatic fallout contributed to a temporary cooling of bilateral relations, with South Africa facing partial aid freezes and reduced cooperative engagements in specific areas. While the current travel advisory does not explicitly reference these factors, the context suggests that historical tensions and perceived governance challenges may still inform aspects of U.S. foreign policy positioning toward the country. Travelers are advised to consult the U.S. State Department's website for real-time updates and guidance before embarking on international trips. The Department continues to monitor conditions globally and adjust its advisories as needed to protect American citizens.
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Idiot passengers who stand up on flights before seatbelt sign is turned off now face £53 fine
PASSENGERS face new fines for unbuckling their seatbelts and standing up from their seats on planes, before air stewards have said they can do so. Turkey is now planning to fine anyone £53 who it catches doing this - with immediate effect. 3 If Brits do not want to fined, they should stay seated when a plane lands Credit: Getty 3 The fine will be £53 Credit: Getty So-called unbucklers ignore flight attendants and will take off their seatbelts, stand and try to get their luggage as soon as the plane has landed. But the new rule, enforced by Turkey's aviation authority, aims to curb this with airlines instructed to report on non-compliance and fines to be issued on the spot. The regulation is effective immediately and is now active and enforced across all Turkish airports, regardless of carrier or flight class. The passenger habit is actually against the rules of the sky - it is treated as an official breach of aviation safety. The extreme measure follows increasing concern over in-flight safety and post-landing order. The authorities are hoping that the fine will act as a deterrent for impatient passengers and force them to remain seated until the aircraft has parked safely. They have also emphasised that rushing to the plane aisle - even when the seatbelt light is off - can cause injuries, get in the way of the air crew and slow down getting off the plane. As the peak tourism season picks up and airports see more travellers, the authorities have stressed that cabin behaviour is now a top priority. For Brits head off to Turkish resorts or friends on stag and hen do's, there can be no rushing to get up and grab you bag full of summer clothes, unless you want to pay the fine - and ultimately, still wait to get off the plane. Brits are among the largest groups of tourists heading to Turkey each year. Travelers have only days before May 23 'flight switch' rule ends – you face long delays if you don't act immediately In 2023, more than 3.7 million UK travellers entered Turkey for holidays, beach breaks, and cultural escapes, according to Travel and Tour World. Airlines are now legally required to make announcements reminding passengers to remain seated not only during landing but also until the plane has reached its final stop. In addition, they must also tell passengers of the fines they could get for breaking any rules. Cabin crew will also have the additional task of report passengers who then break these rules. Hence the enforcement isn't optional and passengers won't just get a warning, it is mandatory and they will be fined if caught. If you want to keep your money in your pocket, simply just stay seated until you are told you can stand. Nine UK airports have also scrapped strict hand luggage rules. Plus, a flight attendant shares three crucial rules to protect yourself in severe turbulence.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West African Countries Unite To Break Aviation Barriers With Launch Of The Single African Air Market
Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and Gambia have come together to break barriers in the aviation sector with the launch of the groundbreaking Single African Air Market. The newly announced Single African Air Market (SAAM) is set to dismantle long-standing barriers in Africa's aviation sector with a focus on elevating the continent's role on the global aviation stage, Travel and Tour World reports. Driven by the strong leadership of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and Gambia, this ambitious initiative seeks to create a more connected, competitive, and streamlined air travel network across Africa. The 18th plenary session of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) concluded in Abuja on May 22, as West African nations came together with a unified goal of improving the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). With momentum building, the rollout of SAAM is poised to transform the future of air travel across the continent. Africa's air travel sector faces major challenges, including high costs and limited connectivity, with only 19% of the continent's 1,431 country pairs having direct air service. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), improved connectivity among just 12 key countries could create 155,000 jobs and add over $1.3 billion to GDP. Additionally, the African Union Commission (AUC) suggests that full SAATM adoption by the East African Community could generate 2.8 million more passengers, $267 million in fare savings, and contribute $590.9 million to GDP annually. That's where SAAM steps in to close the gaps. This transformative initiative is set to lower travel costs, boost connectivity, and enable smoother air travel across Africa. Over the three-day session in Abuja, aviation leaders reaffirmed their commitment to aligning national policies with SAATM's updated framework, working to embed its principles into regulatory systems and usher in a new era of accessible and efficient air travel across the continent. As part of the African Union's broader Agenda 2063 vision for a fully integrated and self-sustaining Africa, SAATM aims to break down travel barriers and offer airlines greater freedom to operate across borders, serving as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. RELATED CONTENT: 1st Black Woman To Fly In U.S. Air Force Retires As A United Airlines Pilot
Fast Company
17-05-2025
- Fast Company
Traveling abroad? Skip Apple Maps and Google Maps. Try these apps instead
Americans often receive a lot of grief for being less internationally traveled than citizens of other countries. But in recent years, more Americans are traveling abroad than ever before. Numbers compiled by the digital magazine Travel and Tour World (TTW) show that in March 2025, 6.56 million Americans flew outside of the country. That's 1.6% more than the same period a year earlier, and more than 22% more than in 2019—the year before the pandemic caused international travel to grind to a halt. TTW cites 'pent-up demand, strong personal savings among affluent demographics, and a growing appetite for immersive cultural experiences' as the main reasons more Americans are traveling overseas. And those numbers from March will likely increase this month as the school season ends and Americans start heading out on summer vacations, especially since ticket prices have been dropping lately as airlines lower their fares to entice inflation-wary consumers to travel. But if it's your first time traveling internationally, you may not be aware that the reigning transportation and mapping app kings in the United States, Google Maps and Apple Maps, aren't always the best to use in other countries. There are others that will enable you to navigate new lands more easily, especially the abundant public transportation options that most other countries offer. With that in mind, here are some apps to download before you head out on your global travels. Citymapper Citymapper is probably the most recognizable app on this list, and that's because it does one thing better than nearly any other app: It helps you navigate some of the world's best cities, whether that be by foot, car, bicycle, scooter, tram, ferry, or other city-specific modes of transit—way more modes than Apple or Google offers in most locales. Citymapper is already pretty popular in America because it helps residents and visitors in big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., get around. However, while the app supports just 28 cities in America, it supports 72 in Europe, along with prominent Asian destinations, including Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong. Moovit If you need public transit directions in America or most major European cities, Google Maps or Apple Maps can do a decent job of getting you from point A to point B. But if you are in less frequently traveled countries of the world, you'll find that Google Maps and Apple Maps don't always reveal all the public transportation options that are available when trying to get across a city—or from city to city. Thankfully, there's Moovit, which boasts public transit directions for more than 112 countries and 3,400 cities across the globe—including many in the Global South, which many transit apps frequently overlook. If you are traveling in Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, or large parts of Asia, Moovit will likely show you the most public transportation options available. Another great thing about the app is that it lets you download a city's transit maps for offline viewing. Naver Map Few countries have a geopolitical postwar history that's as fascinating as South Korea. The country, which is still technically at war with North Korea, rapidly industrialized after the 1960s to become one of the world's most economically and technologically advanced nations. If you plan to visit South Korea, be sure to download Naver Map before you go. Naver Map is the Google Maps of South Korea, and it features nearly everything you would expect to find in Google Maps, including transportation directions and business listings. You can still use Google Maps or Apple Maps in South Korea, but their real-time transportation direction capabilities are significantly nerfed. That's because South Korean law requires mapping providers to store their mapping data within the country—something neither Google nor Apple does. And yes, while Naver Map is predominantly used by locals, the smartphone app is also available in English, making it a must-have for American visitors. Rome2Rio The apps above are mostly very city- or country-specific. But what if you are going on a multination journey—say from Portugal to Finland—and stopping at multiple cities on the way? There is probably no better app that helps you get from one country to another than Rome2Rio. Fast Company has previously spotlighted the platform—which is basically like a Google Maps for major modes of travel between any two points on the planet—but it's worth mentioning here again because it is so useful (and the smartphone app is great). Rome2Rio will show you how to navigate between two places—no matter if by car, train, bus, plane, or ferry—and show you how much it is likely to cost based on your selected mode of transport. Transit Finally, it's worth mentioning that one of the easiest transportation apps to use is Transit, thanks to its excellent user interface, which makes following step-by-step transit directions a cinch. As soon as you open the app, you'll instantly see the public transport options closest to you—no searching required. It also displays route options in a color-coded bar chart format, letting you choose the best one for you at a glance. Transit is currently available in 25 countries and over 870 cities. The majority of those cities are in the United States, Canada, and France, but the app also supports major cities in popular destinations for U.S. tourists, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other select global cities.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Inside the ‘worlds emptiest airport' that cost £161million to build – but has just seven passengers a week
AN AIRPORT in Sri Lanka costing over £161million, appears more like a ghost town with only seven passengers using it a week. Mattala Rakapaksa International Airport (MRIA) opened back in 2013 with a grand vision to accommodate up to six million passengers a year. 5 5 5 However the airport, which is 11 miles from Hambantota, has earnt the title of the 'world's quietest airport', according to Travel and Tour World, after struggling to get passengers. The airport features a runway stretching over 11,000 feet and has a 110,000 square feet terminal, with two gates and 12 check-in counters. But all of this was part of a much bigger plan. Hambantota was to become Sri Lanka's second most prestigious city - with a this new international airport, a £1billion multi-stage deep sea port, a large industrial zone, a conference centre, world-class cricket stadium and a number of new housing, hotel and tourism developments. But this did not materialise. In fact, the construction of the airport was controversial, as it was built in the heart of an elephant corridor and migratory bird zone. This meant, that to make room for the airport, around 2,000 acres of vital habitat was cleared. This wasn't the only setback for the airport. Initially, MRIA hosted several international and domestic carriers - but with little passenger demand, most airlines gradually withdrew their services. And in 2016, the airport was supposed to undergo expansion, which would increase the number if gates to 15. Belfast Airport £100million upgrade But instead the airport operated around two flights per week, with now it seeing only seven passengers per week. And by 2018, only a handful of carriers remained at the airport. Currently, the airport serves a small selection of airlines including Bulgaria Air and SkyUp Airlines. But the empty airport has mostly been used for storing planes or for flights landing to refuel. The future of the airport remains unclear, as reports have circulated suggested that India may be interested in taking over the facility. However, no formal agreement has been reached. For now, the airport is being maintained - even though there are no passengers. The first look at a £100million revamp of major UK airport with 'much needed' upgrades has been revealed. Plus, the UK's oldest airport that once had flights to France and even live music festivals. 5 5
