Important Chinese Visa Update.

Please note that with immediate effect the Chinese Embassy (in the UK) have implemented new rules for non-UK passport holders.

Any non-UK passport holder now applying for a Chinese visa in the UK must also provide a residency card, or equivalent (depending upon their nationality), when submitting their application. For EU nationals the China Embassy will no longer accept applications without proof of UK residency.

Should you have any questions or concerns about your application then please do not hesitate to contact us.

South Africa: Cabin crew members of South African Airways threaten to strike on 26 April

South African Airways (SAA) told passengers on Tuesday afternoon that the airline has been served with a notice of intention to embark on industrial action by one of the labour unions representing its cabin crew members, Fin24 reported.

 

The notice by the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) says the strike will start on Wednesday morning, 26 April.

 

The company was taking action to try to avert the strike, reported Fin24. Negotiations are on-going and SAA said it remains optimistic that the strike action could be averted.

Preparations are underway to support any service disruptions. “The unintended impacts of the service disruption may result in an adverse effect on the operations schedule,” SAA said in a statement.

It’s not yet clear how long any strike action could last. The airline urged passengers to visit its website for regular updates.

The airline said day-of-travel support will be provided to customers who may experience flight delays or cancellations that may occur during this period.

Virgin Trains East Coast workers to strike for 48-hours beginning 28 April

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Workers on Virgin Trains East Coast are going to hold a two-day strike from 28 April in a row over role of guards and jobs, the RMT union has said.

 

RMT said it has sought an “explicit clarification on the company’s position on the retention of the role of the guard, in the form of seeking a specific assurance from the employer that the new role of train manager will retain the safety critical roles and training currently held by train guards”.

 

“It is simply appalling that Virgin East Coast have refused to give the most basic assurances on the safety-critical role of the guard on their trains continuing into the future,” said RMT general secretary Mick Cash.

 

“Instead they have sought to fob us off with meaningless statements that are frankly an insult to the intelligence of our members who are charged with maintaining safety on-board these inter-city trains.” Cash added: “On top of that chaotic, operational changes have been bulldozed through and there is now an additional threat to stations and travel centre staff that leaves our members on a knife-edge. “This contemptuous attitude has unleashed a tidal-wave of anger at the grass roots and the action we have agreed to put on is simply a reflection of the disgust and frustration at months of ducking and diving by Virgin/Stagecoach. The action is on and the union remains available for meaningful and genuine talks.”

Portugal: Cabin crew at SATA International/Azores Airlines threaten to go on strike on 1, 2 May

DN.pt reported on Wednesday that cabin crew at SATA Internacional/Azores Airlines are threatening to go on strike on 1 and 2 May.

 

The union said only three flights will be assured as minimum services during the announced strike dates.

Portugal: Disruption expected at airports across country as security staff set to stage partial strikes from 13-17 April

Portugal’s Airport security staff will be staging strike action, starting Thursday 13 April and lasting until next Tuesday.

 

Employees of the private companies Prosegur and Securitas, who, among other jobs, are responsible for passenger security checks, have announced they will be striking for two hours at the start of each shift, starting Thursday at 4 a.m., local time.

 

National airport management company ANA has advised passengers traveling over the next five days to keep hand-luggage to a minimum and to expect delays.

BA Releases Details Of New First Wing At Heathrow.

British Airways has today released the details of its new First Wing at Heathrow Airport which opens at the beginning of April.

The location and design of the new First Wing means that Gold card holders will no longer have to make the circuitous route around T5 in order to access the lounge.

The details released by British Airways today include several new features.

1. An exclusive entrance – the entrance to The First Wing is through a “scalloped steel and glass enclosure, with the centrepiece carrying the iconic BA coat of arms”.

2. A dedicated security lane – there is a new security channel and then a direct route to the Galleries First lounge and the Concorde Room.

3. Greater privacy – a specially-designed, curved, fluted wall, three metres high and 29 metres long, “keeps the area separate and private”.

4. More space for check-in – the First Wing check-in area is more than 250 per cent larger than before. It also has more seats including armchairs, marble-topped side tables and bespoke leather banquettes.

And if you need to do some last minute shopping before your flight, you can always enjoy the escalators down to the retail area, which you previously had to walk past in order to get to the Galleries First lounge – enjoy!

US and UK ban cabin laptops on some inbound flights

New aviation security measures have been introduced by the US and UK governments in response to what is being described as “evaluated intelligence”.

The initial US led security restrictions were communicated by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday 21 March, closely followed by the UK government who announced similar enhanced security measures later the same day.
Whilst the terms of the new security arrangements are similar, in that they both restrict electronic devices of a certain size from being carried in the cabin of commercial airlines flying into the US/UK from certain countries, the airlines and countries impacted do differ somewhat.

US Change to international travel carry-on items

The US Department of Homeland Security has introduced what it calls “aviation security enhancements for select last point of departure airports with commercial flights to the United States.” These enhancements apply to ten specific airports in eight countries affecting a number of airlines:
Egypt, Cairo International Airport – EgyptAir

Jordan, Queen Alia International, Amman – Royal Jordanian

Kuwait, Kuwait International Airport – Kuwait Airways

Morocco, Mohammed V International, Casablanca – Royal Air Maroc

Qatar, Hamad International, Doha – Qatar Airways

Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Intl, Jeddah; King Khalid Intl, Riyadh – Saudi Arabian Airlines

Turkey, Ataturk Airport, Istanbul – Turkish Airlines

UAE, Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International – Emirates and Etihad

No US airlines will be affected as they do not operate any direct flights. There is no impact on domestic flights in the United States or flights departing the United States. Electronic devices will continue to be allowed on all flights originating in the United States.
Travellers flying direct to the United States from one of these airports will be prohibited from carrying electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone on-board the aircraft in carry-on luggage. Electronic devices that exceed a predetermined size limit must be secured in checked luggage otherwise boarding will be denied. This will also apply to trips where the traveller begins a journey in an unaffected country, but their itinerary transits an impacted country as a journey leg. Whilst the US government has not given definitive size limits for prohibited ‘large’ electronic devices, they have advised that the approximate size of a commonly available smartphone (iPhone 7 Plus/Samsung Galaxy S7) is considered to be a guideline for passengers. Ultimately, airlines will be able to further advise passengers who are unsure. Examples of large electronic devices that will not be allowed in the cabin on affected flights include, but are not limited to laptops, tablets, eReaders, cameras, portable DVD players, electronic game units larger than a smartphone, travel printers/scanners etc.
Necessary medical devices will be allowed to remain in a passenger’s possession after they are screened.
Airlines were first notified of the enhanced security restrictions on large electronic devices on March 21st at 0300 EDT (0700 GMT), giving them a deadline of 96 hours to implement the restrictions and comply with the directive. In reality, airlines have already begun introducing the measures, however the deadline remains 0300 EDT (0700 GMT) Saturday 25 March 2017.
Additional airline security measures on some routes travelling to the UK
On Tuesday 21 March, the UK government released a written statement to parliament announcing changes to aviation security measures for selected inbound flights to the United Kingdom. The announcement followed a similar directive issued by the Department of Homeland Security surrounding restrictions in carrying large electronic devices on-board commercial aircraft as hand-luggage, flying inbound from one of a number of destinations.
The UK restrictions will apply to all flights coming in to the United Kingdom from one of six countries; Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tunisia. Unlike the US directive, which doesn’t affect any national carriers, the UK restrictions will impact the following airlines:
· British Airways
· EasyJet
· Jet2.com
· Monarch
· Thomas Cook
· Thomson
· Turkish Airlines
· Pegasus Airways
· Atlas-Global Airlines
· Middle East Airlines
· Egyptair
· Royal Jordanian
· Tunis Air
· Saudia
Travellers flying into the UK from one of the six impacted countries, using one of these airlines, will be prohibited from taking electronic devices into the airplane cabin unless they are less than a predetermined size. The UK government have gone one step further than their US counterparts and actually detailed size limits for the airlines to adhere to. Phones, laptops and tablets larger than 16.0cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm will not be allowed in the cabin on any inbound UK flights which originate from one of the six predefined countries.
This means that the vast majority of popular smart phones, including iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S7 models, will be allowed on-board carried in hand luggage, however tablets such as iPad’s (including iPad Mini), notebooks, laptops and e-readers will be prohibited and travellers will be forced to check them in as cargo hold baggage.
Camera’s which fall outside of the dimensions will also be banned from inside the cabin of the aircraft.
The new UK measures are effective immediately, however airlines have been given until 0700 GMT before enforcement commences.
Why has the ban been introduced?
Whilst no other foreign governments have imposed any similar bans, the Canadian Transport Minister has stated his government is also considering possible restrictions on electronics carried on-board aircraft as hand-luggage. The UK government has further indicated they are in close communication with other European governments regarding the measures taken.
Both the UK and US governments have been vague surrounding the need to implement these new security measures. Whilst the UK stated that the measures are necessary, effective and proportionate as part of keeping aviation security under constant review, the US announced that “evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.” Despite this, neither governments has indicated that an imminent, specific or credible threat has been identified, instead suggesting that implementing additional security measures will enhance the capability of the security services to mitigate any further potential risk to the aviation industry.
It has been widely reported that US led intelligence operations in January and February revealed a potential increased threat to the US civil aviation sector from Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), understood to have been in response to an escalation in US military operations in Yemen. In addition, recent incidents such as the downing of EgyptAir flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo, and the recent attempt to bring down a Somali airliner with a bomb concealed in a laptop by AQ affiliate, al-Shabaab, is certain to have played a factor in the decision to implement increased aviation security measures.
The UK government made clear during Prime Ministers questions on Wednesday that the decision taken to implement these measures comes amid substantiated intelligence received indicating an intent to target the UK aviation industry from international terrorist organisations. The introduction of increased security restrictions is said to have been aimed at reducing the capability of these groups, in the same way previous additional security measures have been introduced at airports and on-board aircraft.
It is certain these new measures will cause inconvenience for many travellers and it remains to be seen to what extent flights will be disrupted, if at all. In particular, those travellers who would usually fly without hold luggage, instead carrying their electronic devices as hand-luggage on-board flights will now be unable to do so, if they are flying from one of the affected countries. In addition, the question has been raised regarding the insurance aspect of carrying expensive electronic devices in hold luggage as many travel insurance policies are limited in their coverage under such circumstances. Passengers should also be aware that goods bought under so called ‘duty-free’ conditions from airport shops will also be subject to the restrictions.
As has been the case with the recent attempts to introduce a US travel ban on citizens from certain nations, there is likely to be some initial confusion. Scenario’s whereby passengers are transiting international routes and flying out of one of the affected countries as part of the final leg of a journey which originated elsewhere, are certain to catch out many unsuspecting travellers, as electronic devices will have to be stored from the initial departure airport. The US government has said it expects only a small percentage of flights to the United States will be affected, with the exact number of flights varying on a daily basis. Only flights from 10 of the more than 250 airports that serve as last points of departure to the United States will be affected.
At this time, there has been no timeframe set for these enhanced security measures. The US DHS and TSA have said they will continue to evaluate their aviation security processes and policies based on the most recent intelligence. Similarly, the UK government stated that the measures would remain in place as long as they are necessary for the safety of passengers.

Karl Kirkcaldy
Head of Risk Intelligence
Anvil Group

Italy: Update – Strikes to severely disrupt flights in, from country

Air traffic in Italy will be disrupted on Monday due to strikes at the nation’s airports, including a four-hour work stoppage by air traffic controllers.

 

Five unions representing the controllers called for a strike between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm (1200-1600 GMT), union sources said on Sunday.

 

In addition, air transport employees have been asked to go off duty on Monday, except during two guaranteed three-hour periods of service from 7:00-10:00 am and from 6:00-9:00 pm.

 

Italian air carrier Alitalia announced that around 40 per cent of its domestic and international flights have been cancelled. Travellers are advised to check the status of their flight before going to the airport, while Alitalia has committed to rebook passengers affected by the cancellations on the first available flights.

France: Update – About 10 per cent of Air France flights expected to be affected at Paris CDG on 20 March because of strike by cabin crew

Few Air France flights were cancelled on Sunday, despite a strike by cabin crews, the airline announced. It predicted less disruption on Monday, the third and last day of the industrial action.

 

The airline expects to maintain 90 per cent of flights on Monday, including all long-haul flights and 92 per cent of medium-haul ones, but warns that there could be last-minute cancellations and unforeseen delays.

BA Introduces Club Europe On UK Domestic Flights.

British Airways are going to introduce Club Europe, their short haul business class product, to flights within the UK and are also replacing the current UK domestic service with their Euro Traveller brand as the economy cabin.

This change aligns their cabins across their short haul network and enables travellers connecting to or from a long haul destination to enjoy a consistent experience throughout their journey.

Tickets are now available to buy for travel from 1 April 2017.