Latest news with #internationalflight
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Maria thought her first overseas trip would be to a tropical paradise – instead, she ended up flying to a hellish prison to feed her mum behind bars
A Melbourne woman has revealed the heartbreak of taking her first international flight not to a tropical beach holiday she once imagined - but instead to visit her mother in a foreign prison. Debbie Voulgaris, 58, is serving 15 years for drug smuggling after being caught with Class A drugs worth $1.9million at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on December 10, 2023. Now Ms Voulgaris's daughter Maria and her siblings make regular trips to Taiwan to spend time with her after she narrowly avoided the death penalty. The mother-of-five had never been in trouble with the law and initially 'vehemently denied' knowing the drugs were there, later pleading guilty in a bid to avoid being executed. Ms Voulgaris still claims she is innocent and believes she was set up by African scammers who were communicating with her ex-husband. For the first eight months she was locked away, her children were not allowed to see her due to a no-communication order, but once the ban was lifted, they made the journey they never imagined taking. 'I always assumed my first international flight would be a flight for a family holiday, and unfortunately that wasn't the case,' Maria said. 'Instead, it was a direct eight-hour flight to reunite with my mother after being held on a communication ban for eight months. 'Now that the communication ban has been off for a year, my siblings and I try our best to visit our mum as much as we possibly can.' Ms Voulgaris shares a cell with 10 other women and is allowed visitors on weekdays. They can only see her through a soundproof glass window, with conversations taking place on a phone. Each meeting lasts just 15 minutes. Maria said she and her siblings always bring food, waking early to buy fresh fruit and meat from local markets. 'First things first, we take it upon ourselves to organise mum's food,' she explained in a social media video. 'Each prisoner is granted and permitted two kilos worth of food a day. Before each visit, my brother would take it upon himself to wake up early to go visit any markets and stores to ensure that my mum gets the best quality of fruits and meat.' Maria praised the Taiwanese locals she has met on her visits, who left her 'in awe' of their kindness. 'Who knew that you would meet someone one day and the next, upon your arrival to Australia, they would be visiting your mother, feeding your mother, clothing your mother, all for the cost of nothing but pure kindness,' she said. She described her mother's ordeal as 'a story of deep betrayal, a story that haunts me daily' but said she was determined to be open with the thousands who follow her online about what goes on during prison visits. 'Watching my mum go through so much pain and suffering hasn't been easy, and having her oceans away hasn't been something that's easy to accept,' Maria said. 'But when this is the type of love you are fed daily, even from behind a prison cell, when we're only permitted contact twice a month, yet this is the love that still reaches me, that's a love worth holding on and fighting for.' Taiwan police alleged Ms Voulgaris joined a drug trafficking group, which intentionally planned to smuggle the drugs across Asia. According to the allegations, the criminal group agreed with Ms Voulgaris to pay a reward of just US$1,800 (AU$2,700), along with the costs of accommodation and transport. They claim the group gave her luggage to take on the flight that secretly contained around US$1.25million (AU$1.88million) worth of heroin and cocaine, which was picked up by the airport's X-ray screening. Ms Voulgaris claims she took the trip as a favour to her ex-husband, John Voulgaris, who was unwittingly mixed up in an African scam and has said she did not believe he would intentionally involve her in a crime. On June 10, News+ alleged that Ms Voulgaris' husband was caught up in a 'black money scam' when he asked his ex-wife to travel. The scam presents victims with a narrative that a huge amount of money has been physically stained in some way, then victims are instructed to retrieve money-cleaning chemicals in exchange for a portion of the cash. Instead, drugs are often hidden in secret compartments of the suitcases they are given. The program alleged that Mr Voulgaris flew to London and Laos to pick up suitcases that were brought to a hotel in Melbourne. Mr Voulgaris then allegedly sent Ms Voulgaris to retrieve the next suitcase. 'Brother, I'm sending my ex-wife. Better nothing goes wrong,' a message sent from Mr Voulgaris to the alleged scammer's account read. Ms Voulgaris travelled to Laos twice to pick up suitcases, but again the money cleaning failed. Mr Voulgaris has not been charged with any crime and has previously said he and his ex-wife had been set up. He previously denied the allegations to Daily Mail Australia, declaring his ex-wife is 'bloody innocent!' 'We have been set up! We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives,' he said in May last year. During the trial in August last year Ms Voulgaris' lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims. However, Mr Voulgaris did not respond to a subpoena ordering him to give evidence at Taoyuan District Court, and was a no-show at his wife's hearing.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Never been easier': Fiji Airways flight review Nadi to Sydney as a family
As soon as I arrived at Sydney International Airport at the delightful hour of 3am on a Friday morning, knots filled my stomach. My toddler, who I'd woken just thirty minutes prior, was in no mood to be whisked through the brightness and buzz of Australia's busiest terminal — and nor was her 'not-alway-great-morning-people' parents. But as soon as we shuffled to the front of the Fiji Airways queue, our passports checked and our boarding passes issued — the mood suddenly lifted. 'Enjoy your time in Fiji,' the ground staff beamed. And with coffee in the air and a quick pastry at the gate — we stepped on board our first international flight as a family (sleep-deprived and all) — and to my surprise, it couldn't have been better. FJ914: The flight, food and entertainment from Sydney to Nadi There's an unusual amount of anxiety that comes when flying with a toddler — you never really know what you're going to get once on board. As we navigated the aisle to our seat-of-three in row 31, the friendliest of cabin crew were at the ready to assist with our bags and getting comfortably seated in any way they could. Fiji Airways flies twice daily from Sydney, and the same from Nadi, with the journey from Australia slightly shorter than the return. Taking our seats, with our toddler between us, we were in the air and on our way right on time. Despite the early flight, and the tired eyes that set in midway through, the timing actually worked in our favour — with the little one drifting off for a solid two hours of the journey. Meanwhile, I was able to sit back and — gasps all around — actually relax in silence with a movie of my choosing (sorry, Moana). Within an hour, breakfast was served. I opted for the hot vegetarian breakfast, which was potatoes, baked beans and a side of spinach, while a kids meal was delicately placed next to our sleeping daughter for later. What really stood out for me was the amount of room in economy. Despite having a toddler climbing across us to take a peak out the window whenever she could — there was ample space for her to draw, read and play with her toys during the flight. It goes without saying, but the key to an almost relaxing flight with a toddler isdistraction, distraction and more distraction. So pack a few new gadgets (we road-tested a colouring kit and some games from Lovevery which were fantastic and super easy pop in carry-on) — and it made a huge difference when a little screen time wouldn't suffice. For the moments of quiet time, there was plenty of up-to-date movies and TV shows for both young and old(er), and given the shortness of the trip (and the fact we landed slightly ahead of schedule) — it felt like we left Sydney's winter for the sunny skies of Fiji in the blink of an eye. Upon arrival, we were met by one of the ground staff as part of the airline's brand new 'Premier Service' offerings. Available to anyone for around $117 with family packages available, the service allows a Fiji Airways passenger to be met at the gate by ground staff, and enjoy fast-tracked immigration, expedited customs processing, priority boarding and personalised assistance at Nadi International Airport. FJ911: The flight, food and entertainment from Nadi to Sydney The flight back was a real treat. Hello business class! Often when I fly, I count down the minutes to the destination. But for this flight — four hours on board was not nearly enough. After checking in at an almost empty Nadi International airport at 6am, we whisked through security and towards Fiji Airways premier class lounge in a matter of minutes. The lounge was spacious and included a great kids corner with some toys, games and a kids movie running around the clock. The buffet was serving your standard breakfast essentials — eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, pancakes and Bircher muesli — and yes, there was a barista working his magic. We stepped onto the A350 and — squeals — turned left at the galley. Taking our seats, I was quickly offered a warm towel alongside a juice or champagne while we settled in for the next four hours to Sydney. My toddler was seated next to me, and while I had so many nerves about what she might do in the fancy part of the plane — the sheer novelty of having a remote controlled seat, snacks on tap and Moana on repeat kept her quiet for the first hour. Then, to my surprise … it was lights out. While she slept, I enjoyed the airline's hospitality and entertainment — all while stretched out in my flat-lay seat. The menu covered off options for both the savoury and the sweet tooth among us, with a plate of fresh fruit and a stack of the banana pancakes with orange curd taking my fancy for breakfast. The coffee – one of the biggest let downs on a flight in my experience — felt fresh, and was served in a mug about the size of my head. The entertainment had some of the latest flicks — while the box-sets had everything from current to classics available. And while I didn't quite get the chance, if you're in the mood for a good read — all guests receive free access to PressReader with more 7,000 publications on hand. A little perk which I didn't realise until we were in the air was the free WI-FI available to all guests on board (if you're on an A350 or the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, that is), while business class passengers got the full stack — with complete-flight internet connectivity. With Fiji being such a family-friendly destination, that same mantra flowed on board — and so even when my toddler jumped awake and decided she wanted to do a few aisle-to-galley hot laps, fellow passengers appeared unphased. Overall experience and three 'must bring' items on board Ranked 12th in the World's Best Airlines for 2025, according to it's not hard to see why Fiji Airways is a popular carrier especially for those with little ones in tow. With baggage allowances of 23kg per person in economy (or 30kg if you're seated in the pointy end), I truly couldn't recommend a carrier more. And to be honest, after flying business with bub from Nadi to Sydney, it's a flight that will be hard to beat. Let's be real, flying will never be the same again after this. The overall experience was warm and fuss-free, with cabin crew professional and helpful throughout. The airline recently started its new Nadi-Dallas route, meaning it has also adopted the American Airlines AAdvantage travel rewards program, with redemption capabilities on both airlines. On board, you won't miss the Sustainability Framework 'Maroroya' message, which is played out on screen. The messaging details the airline's sustainability mission, as well as some of the initiatives that are already in play. As part of the OneWorld alliance, Fiji Airways has a shared commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Any Fiji Airways passenger can purchase entry to the Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport for around AU$93 — and from experience, it's a great way to ease into your outbound adventure.
Arab News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's Air Sial launches inaugural flight to UAE
ISLAMABAD: Air Sial, a Pakistani private airline, has launched its first flight to the United Arab Emirates, it said on Monday, in a significant development for the Pakistani aviation industry. Inaugurated in 2020 by the Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the airline initially aimed to improve air travel to and from Pakistan's Sialkot city, a major industrial hub in the eastern Punjab province. Over the years, Air Sial has expanded its operations not just countrywide, but to countries in the Gulf region and uses a fleet of modern Airbus A320 aircraft. 'Pakistan Airports Authority successfully facilitated and supervised the launch of Air Sial's inaugural international flight (PF784) from Islamabad International Airport to Dubai,' Air Sial said on Monday, adding the flight departed around 11:34am with 137 passengers aboard. Air Sial's domestic network includes major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Quetta and Multan. The airline entered the international market in March 2023 with the launch of its inaugural flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It also flies to Riyadh, Madinah and Dammam. Air Sial extended its international reach the same year in June by launching direct flights from Pakistan to Oman. Late last month, the state-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also resumed direct flights between Dubai and Pakistan's mountainous Skardu district in a bid to boost tourism.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Plane Passenger Changed Seats After They Say Child Threw 2.5-hour Tantrum. The Parents' Response Was a Shock
A plane passenger says they requested to change seats after a child with special needs was screaming and kicking their seat for 2.5 hours. The child allegedly reached through the seats to touch the passenger and knocked their headphones off their head. While moving seats, the passenger claims that the parents of the child "heckled" them A plane passenger is wondering if they were insensitive to a child with special needs after they changed seats to be farther away from them. The passenger, who shared the ordeal on Reddit, recounts that the incident occurred 30 minutes after takeoff on an international flight. The child, who was sitting directly behind the passenger, began to have 'an inconsolable meltdown," they write. He was screaming and forcibly kicking and hitting my seat and even knocked my headphones off my head with his fist,' the passenger says. The passenger claims they only addressed the parents once at the beginning of the episode to ask them "to keep him from reaching between the seats and touching me." Related: Man in Norway Wakes Up to Find Huge Ship Has Crashed into His Backyard: 'It Was So Unreal' This went on for an hour, the passenger claims, before they decided they could no longer stay put. They rang the flight attendant call button to ask if there was another open seat they could move to. The passenger shares that the flight attendant was 'amazing' and 'immediately found a middle seat about 10 rows back.' As they stood up to make their way back to the empty seat, however, they say it became more of a walk of shame. "I got heckled by the parents of the kid as well as a bunch of neighboring passengers for being insensitive and rude," the passenger claims. Now, they're wondering if they were in the wrong "for not just dealing with it.' Related: Her Sister Asked Her to Cancel Her Graduation Trip to Babysit. Now She's Asking If She's 'Selfish' for Saying No Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The consensus of fellow Reddit users in the comments was that the passenger was not in the wrong for requesting a seat change. Commenters who identified themselves as the parent of a child with special needs weighed in in the comments. They sympathized with the parents on the plane, but said how they handled the situation was uncalled for. 'Moments like this is why it can be very difficult as a parent but with that said, they cannot allow their kid to touch anyone on a plane,' said one. 'The comments from everyone else are completely uncalled for as well.' Another mom who said it can be "a nightmare' to fly with her child, but still felt for the parents. "It's not easy and I'm sure it's stressful for them too but that's no excuse for them to take it out on others.' The politics of seat swapping is a hot-button topic in air travel, but this passenger followed the advice often offered by travel experts for mid-air etiquette. 'I am always in the camp of getting a flight attendant involved for sticky in-flight situations,' Fora travel expert and advisor Nicole Campoy Jackson previously told PEOPLE. 'Tensions run high when we're traveling, plus they would know if there's a solution to this problem. They have more context than we, the passengers, do.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Plane Passenger Changed Seats After They Say Child Threw 2.5-hour Tantrum. The Parents' Response Was a Shock
A plane passenger says they requested to change seats after a child with special needs was screaming and kicking their seat for 2.5 hours. The child allegedly reached through the seats to touch the passenger and knocked their headphones off their head. While moving seats, the passenger claims that the parents of the child "heckled" them A plane passenger is wondering if they were insensitive to a child with special needs after they changed seats to be farther away from them. The passenger, who shared the ordeal on Reddit, recounts that the incident occurred 30 minutes after takeoff on an international flight. The child, who was sitting directly behind the passenger, began to have 'an inconsolable meltdown," they write. He was screaming and forcibly kicking and hitting my seat and even knocked my headphones off my head with his fist,' the passenger says. The passenger claims they only addressed the parents once at the beginning of the episode to ask them "to keep him from reaching between the seats and touching me." Related: Man in Norway Wakes Up to Find Huge Ship Has Crashed into His Backyard: 'It Was So Unreal' This went on for an hour, the passenger claims, before they decided they could no longer stay put. They rang the flight attendant call button to ask if there was another open seat they could move to. The passenger shares that the flight attendant was 'amazing' and 'immediately found a middle seat about 10 rows back.' As they stood up to make their way back to the empty seat, however, they say it became more of a walk of shame. "I got heckled by the parents of the kid as well as a bunch of neighboring passengers for being insensitive and rude," the passenger claims. Now, they're wondering if they were in the wrong "for not just dealing with it.' Related: Her Sister Asked Her to Cancel Her Graduation Trip to Babysit. Now She's Asking If She's 'Selfish' for Saying No Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The consensus of fellow Reddit users in the comments was that the passenger was not in the wrong for requesting a seat change. Commenters who identified themselves as the parent of a child with special needs weighed in in the comments. They sympathized with the parents on the plane, but said how they handled the situation was uncalled for. 'Moments like this is why it can be very difficult as a parent but with that said, they cannot allow their kid to touch anyone on a plane,' said one. 'The comments from everyone else are completely uncalled for as well.' Another mom who said it can be "a nightmare' to fly with her child, but still felt for the parents. "It's not easy and I'm sure it's stressful for them too but that's no excuse for them to take it out on others.' The politics of seat swapping is a hot-button topic in air travel, but this passenger followed the advice often offered by travel experts for mid-air etiquette. 'I am always in the camp of getting a flight attendant involved for sticky in-flight situations,' Fora travel expert and advisor Nicole Campoy Jackson previously told PEOPLE. 'Tensions run high when we're traveling, plus they would know if there's a solution to this problem. They have more context than we, the passengers, do.' Read the original article on People
