Follow Portman Travel on Twitter for up-to-the-minute
information: @portmantravel
ITALY
There will be an all out general transportation strike across
Italy on Friday 27 January
Alitalia flight attendants will strike for four hours, from
13:30hours until 17:30hours.
Meridianafly will strike for 24 hours from 00.00hours to
23.59hour
Air traffic controllers are NOT striking but airport personnel
around the country are. You may experience delays at check in or
luggage handling. Portman Travel advise to leave plenty of
time.
Rome's Fuimicino and Ciapino will strike from 13:30hours until
17:30hours
Public Transport:-
Trains:- Trenitalia strike to end 2100hours.
Buses, Metro, Trams:- will also strike, to be announced by
territories.
BELGIUM
A general strike in Belgium has been planned for Monday 30
January and is expected to affect public
transport.
We understand that there is the threat of national
industrial action in Belgium from 2200 on Sunday 29th January until
2200 on Monday 30th January which will affect public
transport.
In this event, Eurostar services to and from Brussels and
Lille, and any onward connecting services within Belgium are likely
to be disrupted.
IBERIA
Iberia pilots are planning further industrial action on
Wednesday 25 January, Friday 27 January and Monday 30 January 2012,
which may disrupt services operated by Iberia Airlines.
If you are booked on a flight which maybe affected. Check its
status from arrivals and departures before travelling to the
airport.
For a list of affected flights view the Iberia website:
here
All British Airways flights to and from Spain are expected to
operate as
normal as are flights operated by Air Nostrum and codeshares
operated by
other partner airlines.
NIGERIA
The country's main trade unions on 13 January announced the
48-hour suspension of an indefinite national strike over the
removal of fuel subsidies, so as to facilitate talks with the
government. The walkout, which commenced on 9 January, has severely
affected air travel, though disruption at airports should
temporarily ease during the suspension. The unions also stated that
no related demonstrations would be conducted on 14-15 January.
However, the main oil workers' union PENGASSAN indicated that
industrial action by its members due to begin on 15 January would
proceed as scheduled, while the nationwide strike is expected to
resume on 16 January if no agreement is reached in the
interim.
Travel Advice
- Personnel who are flexible in their travel plans should
consider postponing travel to Nigeria until the strike has ended,
to minimise inconvenience.
- Personnel in Nigeria during the strike should restrict movement
and implement strict journey management planning as outbreaks of
unrest can cause significant travel disruption at short
notice.
- Do not attempt to cross any illegal roadblocks.
CYPRUS
Cyprus Air traffic controllers announced two four hour strikes
on the 18th and 25th
January, that will affect all flights to and from the
Republic's two airports because they want to be exempted from
austerity measures put in place last year in a bid to save the
ailing economy. They announced a four-hour strike from
1pm at the control towers of Larnaca and Paphos airports
on January 18 and 25 both Wednesdays ,the busiest
days of the week.
NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch Airport has reopened following two earthquakes that
struck within hours of each other in New Zealand's second largest
city.
Our record show that we have no affected passengers at this
time.
The magnitude 5.8 tremors come 10 months after of the city was
devastated by another quake which killed more than 180 people.
The worst hit areas of the city were in the east, where flooding
has affected suburbs already suffering from the February quake.
About 26,000 homes and businesses have been left without
power. Minor injuries but no major injuries have been
reported at this stage.
We will monitor the situation - Please follow this link
for current updates:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/new-zealand
SWITZERLAND
Swiss airports cancelled or
diverted dozens of flights as a winter storm brought
hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall to parts of the Alpine
nation
Zurich airport saw over 100 flights cancelled Friday. Delays were
expected to continue through Saturday, said spokeswoman Sonja
Zoechling. Switzerland's second busiest airport, Geneva, also
experienced disruptions.
FRANCE
A one-day strike by French airport security personnel has shut
down the Lyon airport and slowed outgoing traffic in Paris. The
Civil Aviation authority advised air travellers in the southeastern
city of Lyon on Friday that they "should not go to the airport,"
where some 2,000 passengers were blocked in the early
afternoon.
A statement said that authorities "decided to suspend all passenger
departures until midnight." Arrivals in Lyon were normal.
Airports of Paris, which runs the French capital's airports, said
that waiting time was increasing at some terminals at Charles de
Gaulle, mainly for long-haul flights, and asked travellers to
arrive early.
BANGKOK
The FCO now advise against all but
essential travel to the city of Bangkok and the 26 provinces in
Thailand affected by flooding. Our advice against all but
essential travel to the city of Bangkok does not include
transit through Suvarnabhumi international airport.
Flights to destinations elsewhere in Thailand (eg the resorts of
Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui) continue to operate
normally. They continue to advise against
all travel to the Preah Vihear and Ta Krabey/Ta Moan temple areas
and against all but essential travel to the provinces of Pattani,
Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. For mor information from
FCO please
Click Here. Please contact your nominated
branch should you need anything further.
LIBYA
Due to the political unrest in Libya, travel disruption may
continue. Please contact your airline for flight information before
travelling. For up to date information from the FCO please click here.
SYRIA
Due to the recent political unrest in Syria, travel disruption
may continue. Please contact your airline for flight information
before travelling. For up to date information from the FCO please
click here.
Further information can also be found here.