July 8

More articles from the category

July 8

Zika virus detected in Thailand vacationers

A virus that has been known since 1947 is now occupying the CRM Center for Travel Medicine. It has been detected in some travelers returning from Thailand. It is transmitted almost exclusively through the bites of diurnal mosquitoes. Rarely, but also possible: through sexual contact. This virus was first found in Uganda in 1947. Since then, it has spread to various tropical and subtropical regions. According to CRM, it is mainly transmitted by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The institute explains that between May and June 2022, a total of five travelers returning from vacation in Thailand sought medical treatment due to symptoms. These are said to have exhibited typical characteristics and, with one exception, high fever is said to have occurred. CRM points out, however, that Zika virus infections are usually mild and around 80 percent of those affected have no symptoms at all. Therefore, one must generally assume that a very high number of unreported cases is. However, young children and pregnant women are at risk because brain development can be impaired by the virus. There is currently no vaccine against Zika, so the only protection is to avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes that transmit the virus. This also applies to other diseases that can be transmitted by insects.

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FFP2 mask (Photo: Pixabay / NightRainer).

Cyprus reintroduces mask requirement

Just over four weeks after Cyprus abolished the mask requirement, it is being reactivated today. Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela justified the decision by saying that the number of new infections had risen sharply in recent days. The government of Cyprus is of the opinion that a renewed obligation to wear mouth and nose protection indoors can break the current wave. They are citing the recommendation of local experts. At the same time, however, Hadjipantela stresses that the situation is under control. However, it can certainly be questioned whether the population supports this order. Even before the mask requirement was abolished, it was only sporadically observed, which may also be due to the high temperatures that prevail on the Mediterranean islands at this time of year. The willingness to "participate" has fallen drastically throughout Europe.

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Air Malta to wet-lease Getjet Tiger B737-800s

The airline Air Malta has wet leased a second aircraft. The Boeing 737-800 has the registration LY-DUE and is operated by Getjet Airlines. The livery is still very reminiscent of the previous operator. The fact that the tail fin is very reminiscent of a tiger is no coincidence. The LY-DUE was previously operated by Tigerair Australia and only recently joined the Getjet fleet. So far, this aircraft has not been repainted. According to Mavio News, this Boeing 737-800 was first used on behalf of Air Malta on July 5, 2022 on the route pair KM586/587 (Luqa-Madrid-Luqa). It is the second ACMI aircraft that the Maltese state carrier has wet leased for the summer of 2022. Another unit, operated by Getjet Malta, has already been in the air for Air Malta for a few days.

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Carl Ahlgrimm remains President of the Federal Association against Aircraft Noise

Carl Ahlgrimm will remain President of the Federal Association against Aircraft Noise (BVF). The general meeting unanimously confirmed the 1-year-old as President on July 65st. Ahlgrimm has been President of the Federal Association since 2019. "With the end of the restrictions on air traffic during the Corona pandemic, the existing problems are becoming apparent with great vehemence. While air traffic is trying to return to the growth path of the years up to 2019, the situation of those affected by aircraft noise is deteriorating significantly. In particular, the systematic disregard of the existing rules to protect the population from avoidable aircraft noise during the statutory night-time rest period is a major concern for us. At most airport locations, the level of aircraft noise during regular night-time hours already exceeds the level of 2019, in some cases significantly. The Federal Association will continue to work consistently for noise protection, keeping a particular focus on the night flight ban. Active and passive noise protection alone no longer solve the problem," said Carl Ahlgrimm on his re-election.

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Indonesia cancels corona insurance

The Southeast Asian island state has relaxed its entry requirements. From now on, proof of corona insurance is no longer required upon arrival. Until recently, the authorities had required health insurance that covered COVID-19 treatments to enter Indonesia. This is no longer required. This means that fully vaccinated holidaymakers only have to present their proof of vaccination upon entry; there has been no obligation to take a test since mid-May. Those who are not or not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus can also enter the island state without a prior test, but must isolate themselves for five days in a quarantine hotel specified by the government at their own expense. On the fourth day, a PCR test is carried out at cost price; if this is negative, unvaccinated people are also allowed to move freely within the country. On arrival, travelers are issued a tourist visa for the equivalent of around 30 euros upon presentation of their passport. This is reported by Check24.

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Zagreb Airport counted almost 300.000 passengers in June

Zagreb Airport handled exactly 292.761 passengers in June - a decrease of almost 13 percent compared to the same month before the pandemic. According to media reports, Ryanair in particular contributed significantly to the recovery. The Irish airline had originally planned to fly significantly more often in June. Nevertheless, significantly more of the low-cost carrier's planes took off last month than in the same month last year. At that time, flights to Zagreb had just started and a base had not yet been opened in the Croatian capital. In the first half of the year, the airport welcomed a total of almost 1,3 million travelers, 15,3 percent fewer than in the record year of 2019. This is reported by the online portal Ex-Yu-Aviation.

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Thailand: Tourists should pay higher hotel prices

If the Thai government's plans are followed, hotels in the country will in future be equipped with a double tariff system. Foreign travelers will have to dig deeper into their pockets than locals. During the Corona crisis, many hotels in Thailand have reduced their prices in order to attract as many guests as possible to stay. Accommodation operators offered large discounts, especially in the classic holiday hotspots such as Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui. These reduced tariffs have so far mostly not changed even after the country reopened to international tourism. However, according to the wishes of the tourism authority, they are now to be adjusted again: While the low hotel prices will continue to apply to residents of Thailand, foreign travelers will have to raise more money in the future. So far, however, this is only an initiative by the ministry, to which the response of the hotel associations is still pending, as Check24 reports. A similar model has been used for years in Thailand's national parks, which charge a lower entrance fee from local visitors than from foreign guests. At this point in time, holidaymakers no longer have to register for entry, and the application for the Thailand Pass is no longer necessary. For fully vaccinated travellers, it is sufficient to show their vaccination certificate; people without vaccination protection require a negative PCR or antigen test that is no more than 72 hours old. After entry, there is no longer any obligation to quarantine or test.

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SAS brings back “stranded” holidaymakers

By Sunday, the striking pilots of the Scandinavian airline SAS plan to fly stranded holidaymakers home with around 100 flights initially. Today, SAS plans to send 18 empty planes to holiday destinations. A total of 80 flights should then bring tourists back over the weekend. Despite the strike following failed arbitration talks, the SAS pilots had previously offered to fly stranded charter travelers home. This was reported by the ORF, citing the Norwegian news agency NTB. The exception will apply for a few weeks to more remote travel destinations from which there is no alternative return route. In return, the pilots are calling on SAS to abandon the "lockout" that the airline has directed against them. The Swedish Pilots' Association accuses the company of using the pandemic to fire almost half of the pilots with an agreed right to re-employment and then overriding this right.

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Passenger figures: DTM records strongest June in airport history

Passenger numbers at Dortmund Airport are on the rise: in the second quarter of 2022, 693.798 travelers flew from Dortmund Airport. Compared to a good 302.000 passengers in the previous year, this represents growth of almost 130 percent. This means that flight movements are almost back to the level of the pre-Corona year of 2019, when almost 715.000 people used the airport. Last month was even the strongest June in the airport's history. With over 250.000 travelers, the last month of the quarter exceeded the 2019 figures by more than 4.000 passengers. One reason for the high number of passengers is not only the great desire to travel, but also the selection of travel destinations at Dortmund Airport: with 54 destinations, the current summer flight schedule offers 30 percent more choice than in 2019. The most popular destinations in the second quarter were Katowice, Palma de Mallorca, Bucharest, Antalya and Sofia. The peak travel season of the year began with the start of the summer holidays on June 27, 2022. Thanks to good preparation and the commitment of everyone involved, the passenger volume was well managed even on the busy days at the start of the holidays.

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Lawyer criticizes ECJ’s “AUA staircase decision”

A Viennese lawyer is questioning the liability of Austrian Airlines for a fall that occurred on a passenger staircase, even though the passenger did not hold on to the handrails, based on a decision by the European Court of Justice. The lawyer even thinks that flight tickets could even become an "all-risk insurance policy". Aviation.Direct reported extensively on the decision of the European Court of Justice a few weeks ago. In summary: A passenger fell on a passenger staircase at Vienna Airport and sustained injuries. The Korneuburg Regional Court appealed to the ECJ in the second instance, and the ECJ found that AUA was liable. However, the final decision on this case still lies in Korneuburg. In the first instance, the Schwechat District Court ruled that the passenger was not entitled to compensation. The airline appealed against this decision, so the case will be heard before the Korneuburg Regional Court. The appeal court has referred the matter to the European Court of Justice. This now comes to the conclusion (C-589/20): Even if the airline is not to be blamed for any wrongdoing, it must prove that the passenger, even if only negligently, caused the damage or contributed to it, otherwise the airline is liable. Proof that will of course be difficult to provide. "The ever-increasing extension of liability for airlines is gradually taking on absurd proportions," criticizes Martin Klemm, lawyer and partner at Brenner & Klemm Rechtsanwälte. "A passenger who can also prove that he did not use the handrails on the passenger bridge falls and the airline is asked to pay. No matter what happens, the airline is always liable. The flight ticket is always

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