Ministry to improve river safety

BANGKOK, 21 June 2017: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it will focus on safety measures along waterways to prevent accidents particularly along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Pongpanu Svetarundra, said he would improve safety for boat users to prevent accidents, especially in rainy season, and to raise confidence that travel in Bangkok is safe.

He noted that dining cruises topped the list of favourite activities along the Chao Phraya River particularly for European and American travellers. The dinner cruises generate an estimated THB3,067 million in revenue last year. Read more

Martial law on Mindanao Island

SINGAPORE, 26 May 2017: Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs latest travel advisory, released Thursday, warns Singaporeans to take all necessary precautions for their personal safety when travelling to Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

The Philippines Government has declared martial law on the entire island of Mindanao, 23 May, following clashes between government forces and a terrorist group in Marawi City.

Under Martial Law, the travel advisory warned enhanced security measures would be implemented, including strengthened border controls, restrictions on movement of people and vehicles, closures of public places if necessary and increased police surveillance of popular public areas. Read more

Afghan MPs compromise airline safety

KABUL, 26 May 2017: Supporters of two Afghan MPs who missed a domestic flight from Kabul blocked an airport runway with rocks, forcing the plane to return for the lawmakers, officials said.

The Kam Air flight was abruptly forced to fly back from central Bamiyan province earlier this week, triggering uproar and ridicule on social media with many accusing the lawmakers of abusing their powers.

Five people, including airport security officials, have been arrested over the “illegal diversion”, the interior ministry said Thursday. Read more

Halong Bay brings back Kayaks

QUANG NINH, 3 May 2017: Kayak tours are making a comeback on Halong Bay after the Quang Ninh People’s Committee gave boat operators the green light effective 1 May.

Halong city’s authorities halted kayak tours, 1 April, prompting protests from travel firms. They argued it was an arbitrary decision without first seeking feedback from the travel industry.

Kayak sightseeing trips, usually sold by overnight cruise boats on Halong Bay, are popular with tourists, according to the Halong City People’s Committee. But authorities said tour companies were over charging tourists and boat crews were leading kayak tours instead of attending to the safety of their cruise boats. Read more

Amsterdam airport overcrowded

THE HAGUE, 7 April 2017: Amsterdam’s rapidly-growing Schiphol airport is reaching its limits for the safe movement of planes on its busy airstrips, the Dutch safety watchdog warned Thursday, saying runway risks needed to be addressed before any further expansion.

“The boundaries to safely conclude air traffic movements are approaching,” the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) said in a report.

“There are no indications that the airport is unsafe at this point, but stakeholders need to act to reduce the safety risks,” the OVV said in the 215-page report. Read more

Thailand strives for ICAO green flag

BANGKOK, 23 March 2017: Kasikorn Research Centre says the ongoing ICAO and FAA process of recertification of Thailand’s aviation industry will strengthen the country’s ambitions to regain its status as a top regional hub.

It noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has now issued its first Air Operations Certificate (AOC) under an ongoing recertification programme,  27 February.

Bangkok Airways was the first recipient as part of CAAT’s recertification programme, in partnership with CAA International (CAAi), which is part of the International Directorate of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA). Read more

Canada restricts drones

OTTAWA, 20 March 2017: Canada late last week announced limits on the use of drones for recreation following a surge in the number of incidents due to their rapid rise in popularity.

Drone operators will be prohibited from flying them above an altitude of 90 metres (295 feet) or within 75 metres of buildings, vehicles or people.

They will also be barred from using them at night, or within 9 km (six miles) of an airport, heliport or other aerodrome. Read more

Battery explodes on flight

SYDNEY, 16 March 2017: A woman whose headphones caught fire on a plane suffered burns to her face and hands, Australian officials said, Wednesday, as they warned about the dangers of battery-operated devices in-flight.

The passenger was listening to music on her own battery-operated headphones as she dozed about two hours into the trip from Beijing to Melbourne, 19 February, when there was a loud explosion.

“As I went to turn around I felt burning on my face,” she told the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) which investigated the incident. Read more

ITB Berlin tots up more exhibitors

BERLIN, 13 March 2017: ITB Berlin closed last week on a high note claiming a record turnout of exhibitors and signs that the demand for travel continues to grow despite travel consumers’ “profound safety concerns”.

Credited with being the world’s largest travel trade show it is now routine for the event to annually surpass turnout figures for both trade and consumer visitors.

But at this year’s show, Messe Berlin was keen to highlight its latest venture in Asia the inaugural ITB China that will open in Shanghai this May. Read more

PIA: Standing room only

ISTANBUL, 27 February 2017: Pakistan’s national carrier said, Sunday, it would investigate allegations that a plane flew from Karachi to Saudi Arabia carrying seven extra passengers, but denied they stood in the aisles for the three-hour journey.

The probe was ordered after a report in the English-language daily Dawn.

The paper said that on 20 January a flight to Medina carried 416 passengers, seven more than its capacity of 409 including jump seats, in a serious breach of air safety regulations. Read more

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