Latest news with #travelDisruptions
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Maritime travellers scrambling amid flight cancellations, ongoing Air Canada strike
First at Five looks at how the Air Canada strike is impacting travellers with plans to fly into – or out of - smaller airports. There were only two flights set to fly out of - and into - the J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport on Monday, and one of each - Air Canada flights to and from Toronto - were cancelled. The cancellations come after 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants chose to strike. 'Well, I'm stuck here now until Thursday night, with a redirecting flight which will bring me home Friday night,' said Michael Bergeron of Stanley Bridge, P.E.I., who spent the weekend in Edmonton at the Canadian Half-Marathon championship. Bergeron was supposed to board an Air Canada flight home to Prince Edward Island on Monday. That flight was cancelled Sunday night. Now, he won't return until four days later, which leaves his wife home alone with their eight-month-old son for the rest of the week. 'It's hard,' Bergeron said. 'I have a young kid at home and a wife that's missing me, and I think an extra four days away from home really sucks.' Monika Dutt is travelling from Cape Breton to Zurich, Switzerland with her 14-year-old son Kail. 'Right now, I have a flight that is scheduled to leave in seven hours, and I have not yet received official cancellation of that flight,' Dutt said on Monday afternoon. The pair made it from Halifax to Toronto on a Flair Airlines flight and were supposed to fly to Europe with Air Canada but have decided not to risk it. 'Unfortunately, that flight - I'm assuming - won't go ahead,' Dutt said. 'I did, at a much greater cost, book another ticket early last week which leaves a few hours after my scheduled flight is supposed to so I'm in this strange place of not quite knowing when to leave for the airport and what flight I am going to get on. I assume it will be my backup flight.' Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs said if an airline does not rebook someone within 48 hours of their original departure time, the onus is on them to buy the passenger a ticket with a competitor and cover associated costs like ground transportation. 'Passengers have a right to alternate transportation when their flight is cancelled,' Lukacs said. He added that at smaller Maritime airports where there might not be many alternative flight options to Air Canada, there could be plenty of cases where the airline must pay. 'So, for example if from Charlottetown you have a passenger who has no other flight from Charlottetown but Air Canada, then Air Canada might have to buy them a ticket from Moncton or possibly Saint John or Halifax,' Lukacs said. In an email, a spokesperson for the Saint John Airport said they are in a similar situation as the McCurdy Sydney Airport - that their Toronto flights are affected, but flights to Montreal are operated by Jazz and are flying as usual. Before boarding her flight to Zurich, Dutt said that despite the stress it has caused her she has taken a stance on the issue. 'I do fully support the flight attendants,' Dutt said. 'Honestly, I didn't know much about their work conditions until the media of the last few weeks.'
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Zawya
Jordan: Gov't launches emergency support Service for tourists facing travel disruptions
AMMAN — The Ministry of Tourism said on Wednesday it has launched a new communication mechanism designed to assist tourists facing exceptional travel disruptions, such as flight cancellations or delays. The ministry said that the initiative has been launched in response to ongoing regional developments and to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists in the Kingdom, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The new system allows tourists to directly contact the ministry to request support, according to Petra, with assistance to include help with modifying or cancelling travel plans, logistical aid, or reporting emergencies during their stay in the Kingdom. The ministry reaffirmed that Jordan remains a safe and stable destination, and that tourist sites across the country continue to operate normally. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance visitor care and reinforce the Kingdom's dedication to hosting guests with professionalism and hospitality, according to Petra. Due to ongoing Israel-Iran air war, Jordan and many countries in the region have closed their airspaces and reopened them again for civilian flights following risk assessment. The Kingdom had closed the airspace late Saturday, its second closure since the start of the most intense direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Khaleej Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: What happens when employees get stranded abroad due to war or conflict?
[Editor's Note: Follow the KT live blog for live updates on the Israel-Iran conflict.] T.W., a 29-year-old Canadian expat working as a producer for a private company in Dubai, travelled to Jordan on June 5 to spend Eid Al Adha with her family. She had planned to return on June 13 and resume work on June 16. But due to mounting regional unrest and flight suspensions by several airlines, her return was disrupted. This is the same situation some UAE-based employees found themselves in after they left the country for a brief vacation and family visit recently. They found themselves stranded abroad due to travel disruptions caused by the Israel-Iran conflict. Some were visiting relatives, while others were simply on holiday. What began as a short trip suddenly turned into an indefinite stay, with war-related airspace closures and airport shutdowns preventing their return. As days pass, their concerns have shifted from simple logistics to the legal implications of their absence: Will they be considered officially absent from work? Will these days be deducted from their annual leave? Will they face salary deductions or disciplinary action? Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Sharing her own experience, T.W. told Khaleej Times: 'I don't feel comfortable. There's definitely a lot of stress and uncertainty.' While part of her role allows for remote work, much of her job still requires physical presence in the office. 'Thankfully, HR has been very understanding and helpful,' she added. 'We're all navigating this for the first time and trying to adapt.' Legal guidelines Speaking to Khaleej Times, Emirati lawyer Adnan Obaid Alshaali said the UAE Labour Law provides specific guidelines for handling such situations. He said: "If an employee fails to return to work after leave without a legitimate reason, their absence may be deemed unlawful. 'If an employee is absent without a valid excuse accepted by the employer for more than 20 intermittent days in a year or more than seven consecutive days, the employer has the legal right to terminate the contract without notice,' said Alshaali. 'This must follow a written investigation and an official termination decision.' However, the law also allows for flexibility during force majeure events. Employers may offer remote work arrangements, grant paid or unpaid leave, or temporarily reduce the employee's salary. To benefit from these provisions, the employee must provide evidence showing that the situation was beyond their control, such as official airline cancellation notices or government-issued travel restrictions. Alshaali emphasised employers are encouraged to maintain communication with affected employees to determine whether they can return to work or require further support. 'The goal is to ensure workflow continuity while addressing the employee's situation with understanding.' Federal rules For UAE government employees, the legal approach is outlined under federal human resources. In exceptional circumstances recognised by the law, government entities are allowed to grant employees unpaid leave during the period of disruption, as deemed necessary for business continuity. However, if a government employee fails to provide an acceptable justification for their absence, the consequences are severe. 'If the absence extends for 10 consecutive working days without a valid excuse approved by the appointing authority, the employee's service may be terminated, effective from the first day of absence,' Alshaali explained. Notably, if the employee had official approval for their leave, the process remains compliant with regulations. But if the travel was unauthorised, the absence is considered unexcused, potentially resulting in unpaid leave or termination, depending on the employer's discretion and the employee's conduct.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Premium insurance demand surges across the world amid travel disruptions
Travel disruptions are on the rise, leading leisure travellers to be more selective about their insurance coverage, while businesses seek specialist advice to mitigate risks. Since 2019, a series of events, including Covid-19, extreme weather, volcanic eruptions, military conflicts, jet safety concerns, computer malfunctions, and airport fires, have caused widespread travel disruptions, grounding planes and stranding millions. In the United States, air traffic controller shortages and outdated technology have contributed to significant disruptions. In May, Newark Liberty Airport, a major hub serving New York City, experienced flight cancellations, diversions, and delays due to equipment outages, runway construction, and staffing shortages. Recently, an attack by Israel on Iran led to the cancellation or diversion of thousands of flights to avoid conflict in the Middle East. Many insurance policies have numerous exemptions in the fine print. Consequently, travellers are opting for higher-end insurance policies, often with higher premiums, to ensure better protection, according to insights from travel executives, insurance companies, and analysts. "We're in times that are quite unstable so people are cancelling more frequently than previously," said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, a luxury travel agency based in London. European tourists have increased their purchases of travel insurance for this summer by three per cent compared with last year, according to German insurer Allianz Partners. Squaremouth, the largest travel insurance marketplace in the US, has seen a 34 per cent year-over-year increase globally in purchases of "Cancel For Any Reason" protection. British and US holidaymakers in particular are more willing to pay a higher premium to protect their trip, said Anna Kofoed, the CEO of Travel for Allianz Partners. About 32 per cent more travellers globally requested an insurance quote from January to April compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from online travel insurance broker InsureMyTrip. Businesses seek travel advice There has also been a rise in demand for bespoke travel advice as US President Donald Trump has announced a number of immigration-related restrictions including tighter visa vetting procedures and travel bans. World Travel Protection (WTP), a global firm that advises businesses on travel risk, said it has seen a rise in US residents being detained at US borders and told their documents were no longer valid as visa rules were changing. WTP has worked with US government representatives to help those individuals return home, according to Frank Harrison, the company's regional security director for the Americas. "We're seeing a very strong uptick in organizations coming to us wanting to know how to navigate the landscape of the US within the wider business," Harrison said. CIBT, which provides non-legal visa and immigration guidance, has seen a 50 per centrise in inquiries since November from companies seeking to better prepare their employees for travel to the US, according to CEO Steven Diehl. High-end insurance products emerge One of the newest areas of business is in parametric insurance, which pays compensation automatically after a "trigger" event such as a flight delay without the need to file a claim. Parametric insurance took off in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and in recent months more insurers around the world have begun to offer it. When testing the market last year, Spanish insurer Mapfre's Mawdy unit in Ireland said about 11 per cent more customers opted for higher-tier travel insurance packages when instant compensation was included. Travel destinations have also spotted an opportunity in this burgeoning market. Marriott Bonvoy's villa rentals and waterparks offer parametric weather insurance at the point of booking, automatically paying out on rainy days. Sensible Weather, one of the providers of such coverage, reported its weather guarantees were added to 30 per cent of theme park bookings and 10–15 per cent of higher-value accommodation bookings when they were offered in 2024. In March, Squaremouth launched a new insurance product with cruise-specific benefits such as coverage for being confined on a cruise ship or missing the port of call. "Everyone is trying to make it easier for people to understand that each trip (...) is going to have a different set of concerns whether it's hurricanes or blizzards or what's going on with air traffic controllers," Suzanne Morrow, CEO of online insurance broker InsureMyTrip told Reuters.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Rain and thunderstorm warnings for Devon & Cornwall
A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain has been issued across parts of south west England and Wales including Devon and Met Office issued the warning for Thursday between 00:00 and 13:00 BST. The warning said an area of heavy rain and thunderstorms will move northwards covering large parts of the south West, including the whole of Devon and parts of Cornwall which includes Truro, Bodmin and Liskeard. The Met Office said there was a potential of travel disruptions and some short term losses to power. It said the rain would be locally heavy with thunderstorms, with some places receiving 10-20mm of rain in an hour, and 30-40mm in three hours or less. It added that winds would also be strong at times, with gusts up 40-50mph (64-80kmh) around hills and coasts.
