World Travel News: July 2006

It is understood that officials from Stansted Airports are in discussions with a number of Indian airlines. The move could mean that the airport will be able to expand the services it offers to customers by enabling them to fly to India from Stansted, instead of having to travel to the busy airports of Heathrow or Gatwick. more

The Dubai department of tourism and commerce marketing has revealed that over 100 people have been trained as tour guides during the past six months. Since the beginning of 2006, 114 people from 38 different countries have been trained in tour guiding in the country, passing the Dubai Tour Guide Award course. more

Birds have caused widespread disruption at an airport in the US by preventing planes from taking off. Flights from Jackson Atlanta International Airport have been delayed by cedar waxwing birds, which are eating berries from nearby bushes which are making them act as if they are drunk. more

Evacuations are taking place in Manado, Indonesia, after one of the country's most active volcanoes threatened to erupt. Mount Karangetang has begun spewing lava and hot clouds following weeks of rumbling, triggering an evacuation operation by the region's authorities. more

Travellers looking to leave the UK over the August Bank Holiday weekend could see their hopes dashed as pilots are threatening to strike. Workers at low-cost carrier bmibaby are being balloted over the possibility of walking out over the Bank Holiday weekend, which would cause chaos for those who had booked flights with the airline. more

Liberia's dilapidated capital Monrovia saw electricity restored in some parts this week. It is the first time in 15 years that some areas of the city have seen power supplies switched back on, after years of civil war have left the city's infrastructure almost completely obliterated. more

Typhoon Kaemi has been downgraded to a tropical storm after it lost some strength on hitting land. The storm, which has caused severe flooding in some areas due to the heavy rain it has brought with it, struck China's Fujian province after it caused extensive damage in the Philippines and Taiwan. more

Honduras has seen a number of protests over recent days as people come out in force against a controversial law. The people of Honduras closed the Pan-American Highway as they blockaded it with their protests, complaining over a 1998 law which allows foreigners to own up to 34 per cent of Honduran mines. more

A new cultural centre being established in Miami has received a $30 million founding boost. The Miami Performing Arts Centre has been provided with the money to improve its services to the local community and visitors to Miami. more

Mount Mayon could still explode at any time, according to a group of scientists monitoring its development. The volcano, which is situated 200 miles south of Philippines capital Manila, could erupt at any moment and the volcanologists are advising people to prepare to leave the region. more

Monarch Airlines has announced the launch of two new routes from its Manchester base. The carrier has unveiled the flights from Manchester, which will travel to Ibiza and Jerez as from next summer. more

Power supplies in the US are failing as the country struggles to cope with an extended heatwave. With temperatures soaring, more people are relying on air conditioning to keep cool, but the increased demand has been too much for power grids in some areas, which have been overwhelmed by the drain on supplies, resulting in blackouts across the US. more

The number of people complaining about air travel has increased substantially in recent months, it has been revealed. Figures released by official passenger watchdog Air Transport Users Council (AUC) found that the number of complaints received had nearly trebled since last year. more

North Asia has been struck by devastating floods as the region suffers torrential rain. Days of heavy rain have resulted in a number of flash floods across the north-east of Asia, with Japan, South Korea and North Korea all badly affected. more

Parking controls have been established around Gatwick airport in a bid to reduce the number of cars left by holidaymakers and commuters on the streets. Many people leave their vehicles in the streets around Gatwick to avoid having to use the airport's car park and as a cheap and convenient way to access the airport. more

The Indian authorities have given new powers to the country's airlines, allowing for the first time for the companies themselves to set ticket prices. National regulator, the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has always been required to give its authorisation to airlines in India to ticket prices in the past. more

Egypt has revealed new plans to encourage more tourists to the country, focussing on its long and illustrious history. The country's culture ministry has announced that it is to build a museum in every town as part of an effort to raise cultural and archaeological awareness among travellers. more

Travellers are returning to Thailand, according to new figures. Following the widespread devastation which was caused by the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004, the number of tourists heading to the country dramatically decreased, as traditional resorts such as Phuket were devastated by the flood waters. more

A tsunami has struck beach resorts on the Indonesian island of Java, causing widespread devastation. Officials have stated that at least 300 people have been killed by the two-metre high rush of water, which hit the popular tourist destination of Pangandaran, just south of Jakarta. more

The European Commission has launched plans to clamp down on airlines offering attractive fares without pointing out the extra charges. Low cost airlines have been in intense competition with each other in recent years and this has led to a number of carriers offering extremely cheap flights, but will then add in taxes and other charges to hike up the final price that travellers have to pay. more

The US is preparing to launch a concerted effort to bring more tourists to the country. Officials in the country believe that a major drive to encourage travellers to the US could be the best way to improve its world standing. more

A devastating tropical storm has hit south-east China, killing almost 200 people. The death toll in the region has so far reached 178 and with a further 138 still missing . It is likely the number of dead will continue to rise over the coming days. more

A strike by Iberia airline staff has come to a premature end following negotiations. Pilots at the carrier had balloted for strike action which began last Monday and had been set to run until Saturday July 15th. more

Visitors to the US will need to provide more information when boarding planes under new regulations being established by the country. As it continues to tighten its security measures in an effort to reduce the risk of terrorists boarding aircraft, the US will require passengers to provide personal information before being allowed to board flights bound for the US. more

Microsoft chief Bill Gates has announced new plans to improve tourism to Africa. The IT mogul has donated millions to charity in a bid to help improve the lives of African people and he is now putting his efforts into developing tourism across the continent so that countries are able to generate money of their own. more

A panda sanctuary in China has been awarded World Heritage status by Unesco's World Heritage Committee. The mountainous region in the Sichuan province of China is home to around a third of the world's remaining giant panda population. more

A mountain pass which has been closed for the last 44 years has been reopened. The Nathu La Pass in the Himalayan mountains was closed in 1962 due to the war which broke out between China and India. more

Airline operator Qantas has announced that it is banning nuts on all its services. The Australian company has taken the decision to restrict the use of nuts in its in-flight meals as part of an effort to reduce the risks to passengers who suffer from severe nut allergies. more

A number of islands off the coast of Australia are set to re-open to visitors this month. Resorts based off the Queensland coast were devastated by a cyclone in March and have been cleaning up ever since. more

Two days of gun battles have come to a halt in Mogadishu after the last warlord still defending the weak Somali government surrendered. Abdi Qeybdid had been fighting the Union of Islamic Courts since the Islamist group took control of the capital and had upped the fighting the recent days. more

Newcastle International Airport has unveiled a number of common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks. The airport has installed SITA's kiosks in a bid to ensure that a large number of passengers can check in more quickly and easily than ever before. more

A huge earthquake in East Java should be expected in the next 14 years, according to a leading expert. Adi Susilo, a geophysics expert from Brawijaya University in Malang and head of the East Java Disaster Mitigation Agency, told the Jakarta Post that following the damaging earthquake that struck Yogyakarta and Central Java, a repeat performance in the region is likely in the near future. more

Concerns that a tropical storm may be forming off the coast of Florida have receded following the latest data from experts. The US National Hurricane Center has been closely monitoring developments in the Atlantic and had warned earlier this week that there could be a tropical storm developing with thunderstorms over the Bahamas and Cuba. more

Travellers from the UK are now facing new regulations over how much luggage they are able to carry on board aeroplanes with them. Revised rules on the maximum size of baggage that passengers are aloud to carry on with them have come into force this week, restricting the size of luggage carried by travellers. more

The European Parliament has backed controversial plans to tax airlines to reduce their environmental impact. Proposals to introduce an emissions trading scheme were overwhelmingly supported in a vote on the issue by the parliament, with 439 votes in favour compared to just 74 against. more

Heavy storms in New Zealand have been battering the country's lower North Island, but experts are predicting it could get worse before it gets better. The country has suffered torrential rain and heavy snowfall, resulting in some areas having to be evacuated. more

Israel has revealed that it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. Despite the continued troubles in the region and the recent escalation in violence between the country and the Palestinians, figures released by the authorities have shown an increase in the number of people visiting the region in recent months. more

Bargain long-haul flights look set to take off in the UK after the first of a new breed of budget trips was unveiled on Tuesday. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is claiming to be the first airline to provide a budget flight from London to the Far East, offering trips from just £75. more

Travellers looking to take an edible souvenir away with them after a visit to Scotland are being warned of the possible problems of Lorne sausages, according to the Daily Record. The popular Scottish delicacy has sparked two major security alerts recently after Glasgow airport staff mistook the square-sliced sausage for Semtex. more

Bird flu has accounted for its 40th victim in Indonesia, according to the country's authorities. The latest victim, a five-year-old boy from Tulungagung, East Java, is believed to have caught the deadly virus from infected chickens. more

Flash flooding in Romania has killed at least 11 people, it has been reported. According to reports from the region, flash floods which hit the northern part of the country have devastated some areas of the countryside, as well as submerging roads and houses. more

Travellers from European Union member states are to get biometric passports in the near future, it has been revealed. The European Commission is preparing to launch its plans to see all member states providing its citizens with microchipped passports. more