NEWSFLASH – AUGUST 2018

Download Newsflash – AUGUST

Spain – Barcelona Airport Strike

Iberia airline’s ground staff will strike in Barcelona El Prat Airport over the next couple of weeks. Over 2,000 workers in billing, disembarkation, boarding, baggage loading and unloading will be striking, affecting more than 700 flights. The action has been set for the 3rd and 4th of August.

Austrailia – Airport Testing Facial Recognition

Selected passengers at Sydney Airport are now using facial recognition processing as part of a trial to create a more seamless airport experience for the time being only Qantas passengers on selected international flights will participate in the trial. Once fully tested the technology will allow passengers to complete most stages of the airport journey using their face as their access identification. The trial is currently looking at four key steps in the passenger journey: automated check-in, bag drop, lounge access and boarding. Additional steps including mobile check-in and automated border process are being considered for the future.

Home Affairs delivers on travelling with Minors

Home Affairs has said that the details of parents will be printed in children’s passports. In this way the department will have delivered on the earlier Cabinet concession of easing travel with children. This will be rolled out in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs Modernisation programme. The Minister said they are now moving to a paperless process for birth, marriage and death registration in a phased-in approach as well as the printing of parents details in the children’s passports.

United Arab Emirates – New Rules for Carry on Baggage

Emirates has started implementing enhanced security measures involving flights to and from select destinations and passengers carry-on bags will now be subject to additional
screening. The airline announced that as part of the updated security guidelines new rules are in effect for hand luggage on planes from or via Australia and New Zealand or from via or to the United States. Powdered goods – which can be flour, coffee, spices, powdered milk or cosmetics that are placed in containers equal to or more than 350 ml/grams will now go through tighter screening and may be confiscated in Dubai or other airports.

USA – Airport Unveils New Biometrics Facility

San Diego International Airport has unveiled its new 12,077 sqm international arrivals facility at Terminal 2. Making it one of the first US airports to install and employ a full biometric entry process. The new facility improves the processing experience for passengers with reduced wait times and a more welcoming environment. It features the newest technologies from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

South Africa/China – VISA

High-level agreements between China and South Africa will see eased visa restrictions for certain types of visas for travel to China the move to ease travel restrictions is expected to target business travelers as investment between SA and China.

DRC – Ebola Outbreak Over

Democratic Republic of Congo Health Minister has announced that the Ebola outbreak in the country’s Équateur province is over, after 42 days without a new case. The virus first appeared in April since then there have been 54 cases with 33 fatalities. People who had contracted the virus as well as others who may have been at risk were given an experimental vaccine.

United Kingdom – Heathrow New Scanner

New 3D scanners are being trialed at Heathrow Airport that could help lift the limits imposed on liquids in hand luggage. The scanners use the same technology used in hospitals to scan patients and will be a big step up from the current use of x-ray machines. It creates an accurate picture of what the inside of a suitcase looks like and will be working alongside automatic explosive detection technology making it potentially unnecessary to limit liquids and remove other items like laptops from your bag.

Greece – Wildfire State of Emergency

Greek authorities are looking for dozens of missing people after the deadly wildfires in a seaside resort near Athens which killed at least 77 people and injured hundreds more. Tourists are among those hurt. Greece’s prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of mourning and a state of emergency in the region of Attica while the search for survivors and bodies continues.

 


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