A baggage handlers strike at Brussels international airport forced the cancellation of 130 out of 630 flights scheduled for Monday, the fifth day of the dispute, an official said.

Handlers at Belgian firm Aviapartner went on strike last Thursday over demands for better working conditions at Brussels-Zaventem airport, with 100 flights cancelled on Friday and still more over the weekend.

An official at Brussels airport told AFP 130 out of the 630 flights scheduled for Monday had been cancelled.

The Belga news agency said talks over the weekend failed to resolve the dispute and new discussions were scheduled for Monday.

The first day of the strike came at the end of a school holiday in the neighbouring Netherlands and the start of one in Belgium that coincides with All Saints Day on November 1.

Brussels airport is the largest in Belgium, with nearly 25 million passengers passing through last year, compared to seven million at Charleroi airport in the south, the country's second biggest.

A baggage handlers strike at Brussels international airport forced the cancellation of 130 out of 630 flights scheduled for Monday, the fifth day of the dispute, an official said.

A baggage handlers strike at Brussels international airport forced the cancellation of 130 out of 630 flights scheduled for Monday, the fifth day of the dispute, an official said. Handlers at Belgian firm Aviapartner went on strike last Thursday over demands for better working conditions at Brussels-Zaventem airport, with 100 flights cancelled on Friday and still more over the weekend. An official at Brussels airport told AFP 130 out of the 630 flights scheduled for Monday had been cancelled. The Belga news agency said talks over the weekend failed to resolve the dispute and new discussions were scheduled for Monday. The first day of the strike came at the end of a school holiday in the neighbouring Netherlands and the start of one in Belgium that coincides with All Saints Day on November 1. Brussels airport is the largest in Belgium, with nearly 25 million passengers passing through last year, compared to seven million at Charleroi airport in the south, the country's second biggest.

130 flights cancelled on fifth day of Brussels airport strike

The slow pace of fitting out regional airports risks delaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious plan to launch more flights connecting smaller towns and cities and get millions more people using air travel.

The programme, flagged off by Modi last year, aims to boost economic growth by refurbishing idled colonial-era airstrips or building newer airports, and incentivising airlines to offer discounted fares to connect them with bigger cities.

But work on building new airports in small towns and upgrading existing facilities has failed to keep pace, two government officials said, and could knock off course the government’s lofty goal of bringing 100 million more passengers to the skies in the next five years.

Under Modi’s “regional connectivity scheme”, the government planned to open 31 new airports by the end of 2017, but only 16 are operational so far. Some states have said they do not have enough funds to purchase basic equipment such as mandatory fire tenders, one of the officials said.

In other cases it was taking longer than planned to build air traffic control towers or set up terminal buildings equipped with baggage scanners and security systems, said the official.

The government has now stepped in, and will procure much of the equipment itself and lease it to state governments to get the 15 remaining airports operational by end-June.

“It is a trade-off. We either keep adding more flights or calibrate the existing ones with the capacity we have,” the official said.

The delays highlight the hurdles Modi - who has campaigned on his ability to successfully implement growth-boosting reforms - faces as he seeks re-election in 2019.

<img alt="Plane-flight.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Plane-flight.JPG" width="770" />

An aircraft is silhouetted by the sun in New Delhi. (Reuters)

Making flying affordable

Passenger traffic in India has grown at about 20 per cent annually in recent years, making the world’s fastest-growing aviation market lucrative for large and small planemakers.

When launching the scheme in early 2017, the government said it wanted to make flying affordable for the common man wearing simple flip-flops by reviving more than 400 unused and under-utilised airstrips in the country’s vast hinterlands.

The civil aviation ministry has given approvals, in two phases, to nearly a dozen airlines, including start-ups like Air Deccan and Air Odisha as well as established carriers like IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet, to start flights on more than 450 routes covering 56 new airports.

But with even the first phase still behind schedule - flights have begun on just 60 of the 128 planned routes - the government plans to delay the start of phase three, the two officials said.

One of the officials said that the civil aviation ministry had not expected such a large response to the programme, and was now scrambling to get airports ready on time.

“If the pace of development of smaller airports is not accelerated and it does not meet the targets, it will be a major challenge for airlines,” said Arindam Som, an analyst at India Ratings, a Fitch Group company.

Som said that some airlines were looking at these regional routes to feed into their wider network and boost growth.

Business impact

Air Odisha and Air Deccan complain that the problems are not confined to small airports - bigger ones such as Mumbai and Delhi are already choked and have few landing slots available.

Both carriers have acquired aircraft on lease but are yet to begin operations on more than 30 of the 40 regional routes they received approval for, making it difficult to generate enough revenue to staunch losses, officials at the airlines said.

“These airports are dragging their feet,” said G.R. Gopinath, founder and chairman of Air Deccan.

Airports generally get more revenue when international or larger domestic flights land, bringing in more passengers who can pay for airport services. But most regional carriers operate small planes, with some having as few as 19 seats, and are also exempt from paying landing and parking charges under the scheme.

Gopinath said these considerations play a role in airports giving landing slots.

While a spokesman for Mumbai airport declined to comment on the cost implications of allotting slots for regional routes, he said it was working to incorporate more flights to meet demand.

A spokesman for Delhi airport, which has given some slots to regional airlines, said the movement of smaller aircraft adversely impacts already congested airspace.

Start-up airline TruJet has begun flights on all regional routes it got approval for under the programme’s first phase by taking a noon time slot from Mumbai - a period with relatively lighter air traffic, its commercial chief, Senthil Raja, said.

SpiceJet, too, has started operating on several routes.

French planemaker ATR, which recently won a 50-aircraft order from IndiGo, said it was not yet feeling any major impact of the infrastructure constraints in India’s aviation sector.

“Today it does not prevent us from selling aircraft ... but it is certainly a challenge the government needs to pay attention to,” said Guillaume Huertas, head of sales for South Asia at ATR.

The delays highlight the hurdles Modi - who has campaigned on his ability to implement growth-boosting reforms - faces as he seeks re-election in 2019.

The slow pace of fitting out regional airports risks delaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious plan to launch more flights connecting smaller towns and cities and get millions more people using air travel. The programme, flagged off by Modi last year, aims to boost economic growth by refurbishing idled colonial-era airstrips or building newer airports, and incentivising airlines to offer discounted fares to connect them with bigger cities. But work on building new airports in small towns and upgrading existing facilities has failed to keep pace, two government officials said, and could knock off course the government’s lofty goal of bringing 100 million more passengers to the skies in the next five years. Under Modi’s “regional connectivity scheme”, the government planned to open 31 new airports by the end of 2017, but only 16 are operational so far. Some states have said they do not have enough funds to purchase basic equipment such as mandatory fire tenders, one of the officials said. In other cases it was taking longer than planned to build air traffic control towers or set up terminal buildings equipped with baggage scanners and security systems, said the official. The government has now stepped in, and will procure much of the equipment itself and lease it to state governments to get the 15 remaining airports operational by end-June. “It is a trade-off. We either keep adding more flights or calibrate the existing ones with the capacity we have,” the official said. The delays highlight the hurdles Modi - who has campaigned on his ability to successfully implement growth-boosting reforms - faces as he seeks re-election in 2019. An aircraft is silhouetted by the sun in New Delhi. (Reuters) Making flying affordable Passenger traffic in India has grown at about 20 per cent annually in recent years, making the world’s fastest-growing aviation market lucrative for large and small planemakers. When launching the scheme in early 2017, the government said it wanted to make flying affordable for the common man wearing simple flip-flops by reviving more than 400 unused and under-utilised airstrips in the country’s vast hinterlands. The civil aviation ministry has given approvals, in two phases, to nearly a dozen airlines, including start-ups like Air Deccan and Air Odisha as well as established carriers like IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet, to start flights on more than 450 routes covering 56 new airports. But with even the first phase still behind schedule - flights have begun on just 60 of the 128 planned routes - the government plans to delay the start of phase three, the two officials said. One of the officials said that the civil aviation ministry had not expected such a large response to the programme, and was now scrambling to get airports ready on time. “If the pace of development of smaller airports is not accelerated and it does not meet the targets, it will be a major challenge for airlines,” said Arindam Som, an analyst at India Ratings, a Fitch Group company. Som said that some airlines were looking at these regional routes to feed into their wider network and boost growth. Business impact Air Odisha and Air Deccan complain that the problems are not confined to small airports - bigger ones such as Mumbai and Delhi are already choked and have few landing slots available. Both carriers have acquired aircraft on lease but are yet to begin operations on more than 30 of the 40 regional routes they received approval for, making it difficult to generate enough revenue to staunch losses, officials at the airlines said. “These airports are dragging their feet,” said G.R. Gopinath, founder and chairman of Air Deccan. Airports generally get more revenue when international or larger domestic flights land, bringing in more passengers who can pay for airport services. But most regional carriers operate small planes, with some having as few as 19 seats, and are also exempt from paying landing and parking charges under the scheme. Gopinath said these considerations play a role in airports giving landing slots. While a spokesman for Mumbai airport declined to comment on the cost implications of allotting slots for regional routes, he said it was working to incorporate more flights to meet demand. A spokesman for Delhi airport, which has given some slots to regional airlines, said the movement of smaller aircraft adversely impacts already congested airspace. Start-up airline TruJet has begun flights on all regional routes it got approval for under the programme’s first phase by taking a noon time slot from Mumbai - a period with relatively lighter air traffic, its commercial chief, Senthil Raja, said. SpiceJet, too, has started operating on several routes. French planemaker ATR, which recently won a 50-aircraft order from IndiGo, said it was not yet feeling any major impact of the infrastructure constraints in India’s aviation sector. “Today it does not prevent us from selling aircraft ... but it is certainly a challenge the government needs to pay attention to,” said Guillaume Huertas, head of sales for South Asia at ATR.

PM Narendra Modi’s dream to get more Indians flying hits turbulence

The Ministry of Civil Aviation today released the first draft of the passengers’ charter. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, proposed a new move which would bring relief to air passengers.&nbsp;

According to the proposal, there will be no cancellation charges if the tickets are cancelled 96 hours before the flight departure.

In case of flight cancellation, an alternative flight must be provided in case the passenger is informed about the flight cancellation less than two weeks and up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure. The passenger may also choose to get a full refund of the air ticket.

In case of flight delays, a full refund of the ticket fare must be offered to the customer if the delay is communicated more than 24 hours before the scheduled time and the flight is delayed for more than four hours.&nbsp;

The proposal will be open for public consultation for a month after which the final drafting will be done and the final word on the proposal will be communicated.

The ministry is also set to roll out world's largest digital experience at Indian airports provided by DigiYatra. Touted to deliver the next-generation passenger experience, DigiYatra aims to bring down the cost of air tickets by helping various airlines to cut costs on luggage and boarding.

 
&nbsp;

According to reports, there will now be no cancellation charges if the tickets are cancelled 96 hours before the flight departure

The Ministry of Civil Aviation today released the first draft of the passengers’ charter. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, proposed a new move which would bring relief to air passengers. According to the proposal, there will be no cancellation charges if the tickets are cancelled 96 hours before the flight departure. In case of flight cancellation, an alternative flight must be provided in case the passenger is informed about the flight cancellation less than two weeks and up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure. The passenger may also choose to get a full refund of the air ticket. In case of flight delays, a full refund of the ticket fare must be offered to the customer if the delay is communicated more than 24 hours before the scheduled time and the flight is delayed for more than four hours. The proposal will be open for public consultation for a month after which the final drafting will be done and the final word on the proposal will be communicated. The ministry is also set to roll out world's largest digital experience at Indian airports provided by DigiYatra. Touted to deliver the next-generation passenger experience, DigiYatra aims to bring down the cost of air tickets by helping various airlines to cut costs on luggage and boarding.

No cancellation charge up to 96 hours before flight departure: Govt proposal

People across Delhi-NCR braved a dust storm accompanied by squall on Sunday afternoon. So far, four incidents of wall collapse have been reported from various parts of Delhi.

The incidents were reported from Najafgarh, Transit Camp, Nehru Place, Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar, and Raj Nagar in Palam.

Two fire tenders each were rushed to the areas, no casualty, injury or loss of property have been reported so far.&nbsp;

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Number of flight diversions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport due to bad weather conditions goes up to 70. <a href="https://t.co/tdETtZNMRb">pic.twitter.com/tdETtZNMRb</a>
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The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR. As many as 70 flights were diverted and more than 24 delayed. Metro operations were also halted for as long as 45 minutes.&nbsp;

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Ghaziabad: One killed, 4 injured after a tree fell on them near Lal Kuan Shiv temple during the thunderstorm.
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The Northern Railways said the train movement was disrupted on the section between the Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal stations due to tree felling.

A few passenger and freight trains were held up for around 25 minutes because of the disruption. The Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express was also stopped near Sonepat due to the uprooting of trees.

The weatherman forecast partly cloudy skies and a possibility of light rainfall tomorrow.&nbsp;

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1 woman dead & 1 man seriously injured after a hoarding fell on them due to heavy dust storm in Greater Noida
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/995693726818156545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The officials said two squalls whipped through the national capital. One clocking 109 kmph hit the Safdarjung area at 4:44 pm and continued till 4:46 pm. The other gusting to 96 kmph battered the Palam area at 4:33 pm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR

People across Delhi-NCR braved a dust storm accompanied by squall on Sunday afternoon. So far, four incidents of wall collapse have been reported from various parts of Delhi. The incidents were reported from Najafgarh, Transit Camp, Nehru Place, Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar, and Raj Nagar in Palam. Two fire tenders each were rushed to the areas, no casualty, injury or loss of property have been reported so far. Number of flight diversions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport due to bad weather conditions goes up to 70. pic.twitter.com/tdETtZNMRb — ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2018 × The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR. As many as 70 flights were diverted and more than 24 delayed. Metro operations were also halted for as long as 45 minutes. Ghaziabad: One killed, 4 injured after a tree fell on them near Lal Kuan Shiv temple during the thunderstorm. — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 13, 2018 × The Northern Railways said the train movement was disrupted on the section between the Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal stations due to tree felling. A few passenger and freight trains were held up for around 25 minutes because of the disruption. The Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express was also stopped near Sonepat due to the uprooting of trees. The weatherman forecast partly cloudy skies and a possibility of light rainfall tomorrow. 1 woman dead & 1 man seriously injured after a hoarding fell on them due to heavy dust storm in Greater Noida — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 13, 2018 × The officials said two squalls whipped through the national capital. One clocking 109 kmph hit the Safdarjung area at 4:44 pm and continued till 4:46 pm. The other gusting to 96 kmph battered the Palam area at 4:33 pm. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi dust storm: Four incidents of wall collapse reported

Air travellers in India will soon be allowed to make calls and access the internet while flying in Indian airspace since the Telecom Commission on Tuesday approved the DoT’s proposal for both internet and mobile communication on aircraft.

The Telecom Commission has approved in-flight connectivity facilitating both voice and data calls in Indian airspace, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in New Delhi.

The recommendations by TRAI allows airlines to offer these services once they meet security norms. The notification by TRAI also allowed calls once an aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 metres.

This restriction is being imposed to maintain compatibility with terrestrial networks. A flight generally attains the altitude of 3,000 metres about four-five minutes after take-off.

"Almost all recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on this have been accepted. We are expediting the process (to start) and within three months it should be ready," Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in New Delhi. 
 
(With inputs from Agencies)

Almost all recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on this have been accepted.

Air travellers in India will soon be allowed to make calls and access the internet while flying in Indian airspace since the Telecom Commission on Tuesday approved the DoT’s proposal for both internet and mobile communication on aircraft. The Telecom Commission has approved in-flight connectivity facilitating both voice and data calls in Indian airspace, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in New Delhi. The recommendations by TRAI allows airlines to offer these services once they meet security norms. The notification by TRAI also allowed calls once an aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 metres. This restriction is being imposed to maintain compatibility with terrestrial networks. A flight generally attains the altitude of 3,000 metres about four-five minutes after take-off. "Almost all recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on this have been accepted. We are expediting the process (to start) and within three months it should be ready," Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in New Delhi. (With inputs from Agencies)

Passengers can now make phone calls, surf the net on Indian flights

Thousands of passengers at four German airports, including the biggest hub Frankfurt, were stranded on Tuesday as ground staff and other public sector workers staged walkouts across the country to increase the pressure in a pay dispute.

Lufthansa said on Monday it was cancelling more than 800 of its planned 1,600 flights on Tuesday and Frankfurt airport operator Fraport has warned of disruption.

As well as Frankfurt, airports in Munich, Cologne and Bremen were hit. The industrial action also affected nurseries, rubbish collection services and swimming pools in several German states.

"We want to send a clear signal to employers with these massive strikes," Frank Bsirske, head of Verdi, Germany's biggest labour union for service sector employees, said. "We expect an offer to be made for the third round of talks that is worthy of discussion so we can reach a good solution."

He said the union would escalate the dispute if employers did not present an offer next week. The third round of talks start on April 15.

Verdi has called for a 6 percent pay rise for its 2.3 million public sector employees at the federal and local level. Germany's federal government and municipalities have rejected that, saying such an increase would force them to outsource jobs.

The strikes, which started at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) were due to run until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday.

Europe's biggest economy is in robust shape, with record tax revenues and a budget surplus. Rising employment, inflation-busting pay hikes and low borrowing costs are fuelling a consumer-led upswing.

In the industrial sector, 3.9 million workers agreed on a pay and flexible working hours deal in February that amounted to a roughly 4 percent rise per year for 2018 and 2019. Inflation edged up to 1.5 percent in March.

The European Central Bank is keeping a close eye on the German wage negotiations for any sign that wage growth is picking up, potentially lifting inflation and allowing the ECB to start winding down its massive stimulus programme.

Neighbouring France has also faced industrial action in the last few weeks in protests against President Emmanuel Macron's planned reforms.

The strikes, which started at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) were due to run until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday

Thousands of passengers at four German airports, including the biggest hub Frankfurt, were stranded on Tuesday as ground staff and other public sector workers staged walkouts across the country to increase the pressure in a pay dispute. Lufthansa said on Monday it was cancelling more than 800 of its planned 1,600 flights on Tuesday and Frankfurt airport operator Fraport has warned of disruption. As well as Frankfurt, airports in Munich, Cologne and Bremen were hit. The industrial action also affected nurseries, rubbish collection services and swimming pools in several German states. "We want to send a clear signal to employers with these massive strikes," Frank Bsirske, head of Verdi, Germany's biggest labour union for service sector employees, said. "We expect an offer to be made for the third round of talks that is worthy of discussion so we can reach a good solution." He said the union would escalate the dispute if employers did not present an offer next week. The third round of talks start on April 15. Verdi has called for a 6 percent pay rise for its 2.3 million public sector employees at the federal and local level. Germany's federal government and municipalities have rejected that, saying such an increase would force them to outsource jobs. The strikes, which started at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) were due to run until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday. Europe's biggest economy is in robust shape, with record tax revenues and a budget surplus. Rising employment, inflation-busting pay hikes and low borrowing costs are fuelling a consumer-led upswing. In the industrial sector, 3.9 million workers agreed on a pay and flexible working hours deal in February that amounted to a roughly 4 percent rise per year for 2018 and 2019. Inflation edged up to 1.5 percent in March. The European Central Bank is keeping a close eye on the German wage negotiations for any sign that wage growth is picking up, potentially lifting inflation and allowing the ECB to start winding down its massive stimulus programme. Neighbouring France has also faced industrial action in the last few weeks in protests against President Emmanuel Macron's planned reforms.

Hundreds of flights cancelled in Germany as airports hit by public sector strikes

A decision by the Philippines to close the holiday hotspot of Boracay, which President Rodrigo Duterte has called a "cesspool", prompted airlines Thursday to cut back flights to the island, while business groups called for the decision to be reconsidered.

The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26, aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin, was issued Wednesday.

Cebu Pacific, the dominant domestic carrier, said it cancelled 14 daily round-trip flights to Caticlan and Kalibo, Boracay's two main gateways, from April 26 to October 25, while Philippine Airlines said it would scale down services to the airports and add flights to other destinations.

Discovery World Corp, which operates an 88-room resort in Boracay, said Thursday that the closure would have a significant impact on its financial health, citing the resort's large contribution to revenue. The company`s shares dropped 7.5 per cent on Thursday.

The Philippine tourism minister, Wanda Teo, said Thursday that businesses and visitors to the crowded 10-square-kilometre (4-sq-mile) island would have to make a sacrifice.

"If you close one establishment but open another, tourists will still come. All establishments, whether compliant or not, will be closed," Teo told ANC news channel. "Everyone must sacrifice here."

The tourism industry urged a less drastic approach to rehabilitating the island and to delay the planned closure.

Jose Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said businesses were aware of Duterte's planned cleanup, but hoped for a partial or phased closure, and more time to adjust.

"We are a bit depressed right now in the industry," he said. "I really feel for the people in Boracay," he added. "They really need to find ways to be employed, or at least keep their head above water for the next six months."

Located off the northern tip of the central island of Panay, Boracay's white sand, lively night scene and abundant water sports attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year, with the largest contingents coming from China and South Korea.

In closing the island to visitors, Duterte, known for his no-nonsense style, was responding to numerous government inspections following his criticism in February of sanitary conditions on the island.

Duterte was furious about sewage problems stemming from inadequate treatment systems and unrestrained development of businesses, which in many cases were operating without permits.&nbsp

It is not immediately clear what the government plans to do during the closure and what the rehabilitation of the island might entail. A six-month closure could shave 0.1 per cent off the country's gross domestic product, according to a government estimate on Tuesday.

Wastewater management is expected to be the priority after inspections discovered businesses releasing untreated sewage into the sea.

Boracay is one of 7,300 islands in the archipelago nation and hosts 1,800 businesses, including global hotel chains like Shangri-La and Movenpick, and locally listed companies Megaworld Corp and Manila Water.

Philippine Airlines said it supported the government's decision.&nbsp

"We fully support the government's intention to make Boracay fully safe and environmentally friendly," said Jaime Bautista, the airline's president.

Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offered customers full refunds or flights elsewhere and said they would still operate a limited number of flights to Caticlan and Kalibo airports to serve residents, which number about 50,000.&nbsp

Airlines offer around 1.2 million seats from Boracay's Caticlan airport annually, nearly three-quarters from the capital Manila, data from Aviation Consultants show.

"Cebu Pacific with some 323,000 odd seats a year from the Island would be the largest carrier disrupted," said John Grant, director of JG Aviation Consultants.

Discovery World said it has started to refund customer deposits, rebooking them to future dates or to its resort on the island of Palawan.

"Our plan is to downsize to a skeletal team for the upkeep and maintenance of the resort during the period," it said in a statement, referring to the Boracay facility.

The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26 aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin

A decision by the Philippines to close the holiday hotspot of Boracay, which President Rodrigo Duterte has called a "cesspool", prompted airlines Thursday to cut back flights to the island, while business groups called for the decision to be reconsidered. The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26, aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin, was issued Wednesday. Cebu Pacific, the dominant domestic carrier, said it cancelled 14 daily round-trip flights to Caticlan and Kalibo, Boracay's two main gateways, from April 26 to October 25, while Philippine Airlines said it would scale down services to the airports and add flights to other destinations. Discovery World Corp, which operates an 88-room resort in Boracay, said Thursday that the closure would have a significant impact on its financial health, citing the resort's large contribution to revenue. The company`s shares dropped 7.5 per cent on Thursday. The Philippine tourism minister, Wanda Teo, said Thursday that businesses and visitors to the crowded 10-square-kilometre (4-sq-mile) island would have to make a sacrifice. "If you close one establishment but open another, tourists will still come. All establishments, whether compliant or not, will be closed," Teo told ANC news channel. "Everyone must sacrifice here." The tourism industry urged a less drastic approach to rehabilitating the island and to delay the planned closure. Jose Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said businesses were aware of Duterte's planned cleanup, but hoped for a partial or phased closure, and more time to adjust. "We are a bit depressed right now in the industry," he said. "I really feel for the people in Boracay," he added. "They really need to find ways to be employed, or at least keep their head above water for the next six months." Located off the northern tip of the central island of Panay, Boracay's white sand, lively night scene and abundant water sports attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year, with the largest contingents coming from China and South Korea. In closing the island to visitors, Duterte, known for his no-nonsense style, was responding to numerous government inspections following his criticism in February of sanitary conditions on the island. Duterte was furious about sewage problems stemming from inadequate treatment systems and unrestrained development of businesses, which in many cases were operating without permits. It is not immediately clear what the government plans to do during the closure and what the rehabilitation of the island might entail. A six-month closure could shave 0.1 per cent off the country's gross domestic product, according to a government estimate on Tuesday. Wastewater management is expected to be the priority after inspections discovered businesses releasing untreated sewage into the sea. Boracay is one of 7,300 islands in the archipelago nation and hosts 1,800 businesses, including global hotel chains like Shangri-La and Movenpick, and locally listed companies Megaworld Corp and Manila Water. Philippine Airlines said it supported the government's decision. "We fully support the government's intention to make Boracay fully safe and environmentally friendly," said Jaime Bautista, the airline's president. Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offered customers full refunds or flights elsewhere and said they would still operate a limited number of flights to Caticlan and Kalibo airports to serve residents, which number about 50,000. Airlines offer around 1.2 million seats from Boracay's Caticlan airport annually, nearly three-quarters from the capital Manila, data from Aviation Consultants show. "Cebu Pacific with some 323,000 odd seats a year from the Island would be the largest carrier disrupted," said John Grant, director of JG Aviation Consultants. Discovery World said it has started to refund customer deposits, rebooking them to future dates or to its resort on the island of Palawan. "Our plan is to downsize to a skeletal team for the upkeep and maintenance of the resort during the period," it said in a statement, referring to the Boracay facility.

Airlines cut back flights as Philippine holiday hotspot prepares for closure

Fog continues to disrupt train&nbsp;and flight operations due to low visibility in the national capital.&nbsp;

About 17 flights have been delayed at the Delhi Airport due to prevailing fog conditions&nbsp;on Friday.&nbsp;

Also, 62 trains have been delayed, 20 rescheduled and 18 have been cancelled due to low visibility in the capital on Friday.&nbsp;

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62 trains in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> delayed, 20 rescheduled and 18 cancelled due to low visibility as fog continues to grip the region: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from India Gate <a href="https://t.co/rKJ7R6WlDf">pic.twitter.com/rKJ7R6WlDf</a>
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Air Quality Index of Delhi&#39;s Lodhi Road area have been recorded at PM 2.5 &amp; PM 10 and remain in &#39; very poor&#39; category.

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Air Quality Index of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>&#39;s Lodhi Road area, prominent pollutants PM 2.5 &amp; PM 10 remain in &#39; very poor&#39; category. <a href="https://t.co/HVCPvCmtjV">pic.twitter.com/HVCPvCmtjV</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949098909053235200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Delhi experienced the coldest day of the season on Thursday with temperatures falling to&nbsp;5 degrees Celsius.

According to the MeT&nbsp;department, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 20 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Air Quality Index of Delhi's Lodhi Road area have been recorded at PM 2.5 & PM 10 and remain in ' very poor' category

Fog continues to disrupt train and flight operations due to low visibility in the national capital. About 17 flights have been delayed at the Delhi Airport due to prevailing fog conditions on Friday. Also, 62 trains have been delayed, 20 rescheduled and 18 have been cancelled due to low visibility in the capital on Friday. 62 trains in #Delhi delayed, 20 rescheduled and 18 cancelled due to low visibility as fog continues to grip the region: #Visuals from India Gate pic.twitter.com/rKJ7R6WlDf — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018 × Air Quality Index of Delhi's Lodhi Road area have been recorded at PM 2.5 & PM 10 and remain in ' very poor' category. Air Quality Index of #Delhi's Lodhi Road area, prominent pollutants PM 2.5 & PM 10 remain in ' very poor' category. pic.twitter.com/HVCPvCmtjV — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2018 × Delhi experienced the coldest day of the season on Thursday with temperatures falling to 5 degrees Celsius. According to the MeT department, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 20 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Delhi fog continues: 17 flights, 62 trains delayed, 18 cancelled

A violent winter storm dubbed as&nbsp;a &quot;bomb cyclone&quot; struck onto the US Atlantic coast on Thursday,&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;high tide to&nbsp;near-record&nbsp;levels and stranding inundated motorists on downtown Boston streets.

Three people were found dead in North Carolina after their vehicles ran off snow-covered roads, authorities said.

The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City.

Wind gusts reached 85 kilometres per hour in some areas and temperatures plummeted since the storm made landfall, according to local weather services.

The country&#39;s National Weather Service warned of wind gusts hitting almost 113 kilometres per hour in some places, with nearly 60 million people in the path of the storm.

Blizzard warnings and states of emergency were in wide effect.

The massive storm has also lead to frozen pipes around the area and disrupted services at refineries.&nbsp;

The fuel prices rose as high winds and snowfall caused electricity outages for almost 80,000 homes and businesses.&nbsp;

Prices for heating oil and natural gas in the US&nbsp;Northeast hit their highest levels in years on the back of near-record heating demand.&nbsp;

Meteorologists forecast the harsh weather will continue until Friday, with some places expecting water and power cuts.

The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City

A violent winter storm dubbed as a "bomb cyclone" struck onto the US Atlantic coast on Thursday, pushing high tide to near-record levels and stranding inundated motorists on downtown Boston streets. Three people were found dead in North Carolina after their vehicles ran off snow-covered roads, authorities said. The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City. Wind gusts reached 85 kilometres per hour in some areas and temperatures plummeted since the storm made landfall, according to local weather services. The country's National Weather Service warned of wind gusts hitting almost 113 kilometres per hour in some places, with nearly 60 million people in the path of the storm. Blizzard warnings and states of emergency were in wide effect. The massive storm has also lead to frozen pipes around the area and disrupted services at refineries. The fuel prices rose as high winds and snowfall caused electricity outages for almost 80,000 homes and businesses. Prices for heating oil and natural gas in the US Northeast hit their highest levels in years on the back of near-record heating demand. Meteorologists forecast the harsh weather will continue until Friday, with some places expecting water and power cuts.

3 dead due to violent 'bomb cyclone' in US, several services disrupted

Delhi woke up to a heavy blanket of smog and high levels of air pollution surpassing the hazardous mark on Sunday.&nbsp;

The decreasing temperature and dense fog have caused&nbsp;low visibility resulting in service disruption of trains and flights in the national capital.&nbsp;

More than 40 flights were diverted and more than 90 flights were affected at the Delhi airport on Sunday.&nbsp;

Operations at the&nbsp;airport were on halt until 11 am and have now been resumed.&nbsp;

Northen areas of Delhi such as Shadipur has been recorded&nbsp;at 387(hazardous) following RK Puram at 350 (hazardous) on the air quality index.&nbsp;

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the fog condition today is expected to remain dense and continue till tomorrow.

The minimum and maximum temperature are likely to hover around 7 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.

On Friday morning, north-western plains, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh, were covered under&nbsp;dense fog.

More than 40 flights were diverted and more than 90 flights were affected at the Delhi airport on Sunday

Delhi woke up to a heavy blanket of smog and high levels of air pollution surpassing the hazardous mark on Sunday. The decreasing temperature and dense fog have caused low visibility resulting in service disruption of trains and flights in the national capital. More than 40 flights were diverted and more than 90 flights were affected at the Delhi airport on Sunday. Operations at the airport were on halt until 11 am and have now been resumed. Northen areas of Delhi such as Shadipur has been recorded at 387(hazardous) following RK Puram at 350 (hazardous) on the air quality index. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the fog condition today is expected to remain dense and continue till tomorrow. The minimum and maximum temperature are likely to hover around 7 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively. On Friday morning, north-western plains, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh, were covered under dense fog.

Flights in Delhi affected due to low visibility

Consulate General of India, Bali issued a travel advisory for Indians following continuing tremors and high volcanic activity detected inside the volcano on Mount Agung.

The statement mentions that the Indonesian authorities have kept the Mount Agung on the highest level, as volcanic activities continue at a high pace inside the volcano.&nbsp;

It has also been informed that the nature and extent of hazard zone may change at any given time and that Indian nationals in Bali are directed to be alert and updated with the developments through their hotels, airlines and tour operators as well as avoid the hazard zone at all cost.&nbsp;

The officials also suggested that people having plans to travel to Bali must postpone them and if they need to travel at any cost, must consider taking travel insurance for an unforeseen situation such as flight cancellations or diversions.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/flights-resume-as-balis-volcano-hit-airport-reopens-25486">Flights resume as Bali&#39;s volcano-hit airport reopens</a>

Finally, the statement mentions that the travellers must carry sufficient funds to meet any exigencies that may come up.&nbsp;

Also watch: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/timelapses-show-smoke-billowing-from-bali-volcano-6980">Timelapses show smoke billowing from Bali volcano</a>

Experts said Agung&#39;s recent activity matches the build-up to the earlier disaster, which ejected enough debris - about a billion tonnes - to lower global average temperatures by around 0.3 degrees Celsius for roughly a year.

While the volcano appeared to be belching less ash and smoke on Thursday, experts urged caution and have warned a major eruption could happen at any moment. It has already experienced a series of mini eruptions.

The statement mentions that the Indonesian authorities have kept the Mount Agung on the highest level, as volcanic activities continue at a high pace inside the volcano

Consulate General of India, Bali issued a travel advisory for Indians following continuing tremors and high volcanic activity detected inside the volcano on Mount Agung. The statement mentions that the Indonesian authorities have kept the Mount Agung on the highest level, as volcanic activities continue at a high pace inside the volcano. It has also been informed that the nature and extent of hazard zone may change at any given time and that Indian nationals in Bali are directed to be alert and updated with the developments through their hotels, airlines and tour operators as well as avoid the hazard zone at all cost. The officials also suggested that people having plans to travel to Bali must postpone them and if they need to travel at any cost, must consider taking travel insurance for an unforeseen situation such as flight cancellations or diversions. Also read: Flights resume as Bali's volcano-hit airport reopens Finally, the statement mentions that the travellers must carry sufficient funds to meet any exigencies that may come up. Also watch: Timelapses show smoke billowing from Bali volcano Experts said Agung's recent activity matches the build-up to the earlier disaster, which ejected enough debris - about a billion tonnes - to lower global average temperatures by around 0.3 degrees Celsius for roughly a year. While the volcano appeared to be belching less ash and smoke on Thursday, experts urged caution and have warned a major eruption could happen at any moment. It has already experienced a series of mini eruptions.

Travel advisory issued for Indians following Bali volcanic activity

A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sent plumes of grey smoke and steam thousands of metres into the air on Sunday for the third day&nbsp;in a week, triggering flight cancellations which have left thousands of tourists stranded, officials said Sunday.

Mount Agung spewed smoke and ash as high as 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) Sunday morning, causing at least 28 departing or arriving flights to be delayed or cancelled, said a spokesman for Bali&#39;s airport.

Indonesia&#39;s volcanology centre has put out a red alert warning airlines of a possible eruption, with a likely significant emission of ash into the atmosphere. But as of Sunday afternoon Bali&#39;s Ngurah Rai airport was still open.

The decision to delay or divert flight was up to individual airlines, said airport spokesman Arie Ahsanurrohim.

&quot;We try to make the airport as comfortable as possible for the passengers affected. So far we have provided special rooms for them to unpack their luggage and video entertainment so they can relax a bit,&quot; Ahsanurrohim told AFP.

At least 2,000 passengers are affected by the flight disruption, mostly tourists from Australia.

&quot;I am meant to be at work tomorrow. How am I going to pay my bills?&quot; said Sydney-based tourist Jake Vidler.

Several domestic flights have also been cancelled such as to the nearby island of Lombok, also a popular tourist destination east of Bali. The wind has blown Mount Agung&#39;s ash in that direction.

&quot;I&#39;ve received a refund from my airline. Now I&#39;m trying to go to Lombok by boat, hopefully the harbour is open,&quot; said Ismono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing nearly 1,600 people.

It rumbled back to life in September and authorities raise the alert to the highest level, forcing 140,000 people living nearby to evacuate.

The volcano&#39;s activity decreased in late October and many people returned to their home as the alert was lowered to the second-highest level.

But Mount Agung rumbled again last Tuesday, forcing 25,000 people to seek shelter. Authorities urged people living within 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles) of the mountain to evacuate.

The mountain spewed smoke and ash on Saturday for the second time in a week in what volcanologists call a phreatic eruption&nbsp;- one which is caused by the heating and expansion of groundwater.

&nbsp;

Mount Agung spewed smoke and ash as high as 4,000 metres Sunday morning, causing at least 28 departing or arriving flights to be delayed or cancelled

A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sent plumes of grey smoke and steam thousands of metres into the air on Sunday for the third day in a week, triggering flight cancellations which have left thousands of tourists stranded, officials said Sunday. Mount Agung spewed smoke and ash as high as 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) Sunday morning, causing at least 28 departing or arriving flights to be delayed or cancelled, said a spokesman for Bali's airport. Indonesia's volcanology centre has put out a red alert warning airlines of a possible eruption, with a likely significant emission of ash into the atmosphere. But as of Sunday afternoon Bali's Ngurah Rai airport was still open. The decision to delay or divert flight was up to individual airlines, said airport spokesman Arie Ahsanurrohim. "We try to make the airport as comfortable as possible for the passengers affected. So far we have provided special rooms for them to unpack their luggage and video entertainment so they can relax a bit," Ahsanurrohim told AFP. At least 2,000 passengers are affected by the flight disruption, mostly tourists from Australia. "I am meant to be at work tomorrow. How am I going to pay my bills?" said Sydney-based tourist Jake Vidler. Several domestic flights have also been cancelled such as to the nearby island of Lombok, also a popular tourist destination east of Bali. The wind has blown Mount Agung's ash in that direction. "I've received a refund from my airline. Now I'm trying to go to Lombok by boat, hopefully the harbour is open," said Ismono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing nearly 1,600 people. It rumbled back to life in September and authorities raise the alert to the highest level, forcing 140,000 people living nearby to evacuate. The volcano's activity decreased in late October and many people returned to their home as the alert was lowered to the second-highest level. But Mount Agung rumbled again last Tuesday, forcing 25,000 people to seek shelter. Authorities urged people living within 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles) of the mountain to evacuate. The mountain spewed smoke and ash on Saturday for the second time in a week in what volcanologists call a phreatic eruption - one which is caused by the heating and expansion of groundwater.

Dozens of flights cancelled or delayed as Bali volcano spews smoke

A UN plane carrying desperately needed vaccines landed in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday after a three-week Saudi-led aid blockade that had sparked warnings thousands could die.

Three other aircraft - two carrying UN aid workers and one carrying International Committee of the Red Cross staff - also landed at the airport, which was repaired earlier this week after a Saudi-led air strike knocked out its controls, an AFP correspondent reported.

The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa.

But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked.

The UN children`s fund UNICEF said Saturday`s flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases.

The World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths.

More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have died in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015.&nbsp;

The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory.&nbsp;

The UN humanitarian office said that a ship loaded with wheat and another with equipment to treat Yemen`s cholera epidemic are ready to head to Hodeida as soon as the Saudi-led coalition gives the go-ahead.

The coalition had said it would lift its blockade of the port from Thursday but it remains in place.

The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face &quot;the largest famine the world has seen for decades&quot;.

Seven million Yemenis are completely dependent on relief supplies for their survival, according to the UN.&nbsp;

The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa

A UN plane carrying desperately needed vaccines landed in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday after a three-week Saudi-led aid blockade that had sparked warnings thousands could die. Three other aircraft - two carrying UN aid workers and one carrying International Committee of the Red Cross staff - also landed at the airport, which was repaired earlier this week after a Saudi-led air strike knocked out its controls, an AFP correspondent reported. The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa. But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked. The UN children`s fund UNICEF said Saturday`s flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases. The World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths. More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have died in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015. The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory. The UN humanitarian office said that a ship loaded with wheat and another with equipment to treat Yemen`s cholera epidemic are ready to head to Hodeida as soon as the Saudi-led coalition gives the go-ahead. The coalition had said it would lift its blockade of the port from Thursday but it remains in place. The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face "the largest famine the world has seen for decades". Seven million Yemenis are completely dependent on relief supplies for their survival, according to the UN.

First aid flight lands in rebel-held Yemen capital after weeks

Almost 60 international as well as domestic flights are being affected every day for the past one week in Pakistan&#39;s Punjab province to smog, causing low visibility levels to touch zero, officials confirmed.&nbsp;

&quot;At least 60 international and domestic flights have been affected in Lahore and some other cities of Punjab since the last week. Despite rescheduling of the flights the dense smog or fog is hampering the flight operation of both Pakistan International Airlines and foreign airlines,&quot; PIA Lahore spokesman Athar Awan told PTI today.

The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has stated that there exist an alarming level of dangerous pollutants in the the air in Lahore.&nbsp;

People have expressed their thoughts on Lahore being the dirtiest in the world, PTI reports said.&nbsp;

Moreover, on Sunday, several road accidents took place - leaving two dead and injuring dozens in Kasur, reports said.&nbsp;

This has lead to the imposition of Section 144, which states banning the burning of crops, tyres, and garbage - by The Punjab government, until further notice.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Metrological Department has predicted rain in Karachi, parts of Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa, FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, reports said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Metrological Department has predicted rain in Karachi, parts of Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa, FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, reports said.?

Almost 60 international as well as domestic flights are being affected every day for the past one week in Pakistan's Punjab province to smog, causing low visibility levels to touch zero, officials confirmed. "At least 60 international and domestic flights have been affected in Lahore and some other cities of Punjab since the last week. Despite rescheduling of the flights the dense smog or fog is hampering the flight operation of both Pakistan International Airlines and foreign airlines," PIA Lahore spokesman Athar Awan told PTI today. The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has stated that there exist an alarming level of dangerous pollutants in the the air in Lahore. People have expressed their thoughts on Lahore being the dirtiest in the world, PTI reports said. Moreover, on Sunday, several road accidents took place - leaving two dead and injuring dozens in Kasur, reports said. This has lead to the imposition of Section 144, which states banning the burning of crops, tyres, and garbage - by The Punjab government, until further notice. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Metrological Department has predicted rain in Karachi, parts of Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa, FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, reports said.

Flights affected due to smog in Pak's Punjab province

British Airways (BA) said it would take steps to ensure there was no repeat of a computer system failure that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend and turned into a public relations disaster.

BA had been forced to cancel all its flights from Heathrow, Europe&#39;s busiest airport, and Gatwick on Saturday after a power supply problem disrupted its operations worldwide and also hit its call centers and website.

The airline was returning to normal on Monday, planning to run more than 95 per cent of flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, with only a handful of short-haul flights canceled.

BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz said the root of the problem, which also affected passengers trying to fly into Britain, had been a power surge on Saturday morning which hit BA&#39;s flight, baggage and communication systems. It was so strong it also rendered the back-up systems ineffective, he said.

&quot;Once the disruption is over, we will carry out an exhaustive investigation into what caused this incident, and take measures to ensure it never happens again,&quot; Cruz said.

Over the weekend, some stranded passengers curled up under blankets on the floor or slumped on luggage trolleys, images that played prominently online and in newspapers.

&quot;Apologises all well and good but not enough. BA has lost another loyal customer #disgraceful,&quot; tweeted Tom Callway, who had been due to fly to Budapest.

The company was left counting the cost of the disruption, both in terms of a one-off impact to its profit and the longer term damage to its reputation.

Spanish-listed shares of parent company IAG, which also owns carriers Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, dropped 2.8 per cent on Monday after the outage. The London-listed shares did not trade because of a public holiday.

Flight compensation website Flightright.com said that with around 800 flights canceled at Gatwick and Heathrow on Saturday and Sunday, BA was looking at having to pay around 61 million euros ($68 million) in compensation under EU rules. That does not include the cost of reimbursing customers for hotel stays.

BA would fully honor its compensation obligations, Cruz said. Of the 75,000 passengers who missed out on flights, around two-thirds would have been flown to their destinations by the end of Monday, he added.

Cost cutting

BA has been cutting costs to respond to competition on short-haul routes from Ryanair and easyJet and recently faced criticism for starting to charge passengers for their in-flight snacks.

Ireland&#39;s Ryanair was quick to seize on the marketing opportunity, tweeting &quot;Should have flown Ryanair&quot; with a picture of the &#39;Computer says no&#39; sketch from the TV series &quot;Little Britain&quot; to poke fun at BA.

Ryanair said it had seen a spike in bookings over the weekend but gave no further details.

The GMB union said that BA&#39;s IT systems had shortcomings after they made a number of staff redundant and shifted their work to India in 2016.

&quot;This could have all been avoided. BA in 2016 made hundreds of dedicated and loyal IT staff redundant and outsourced the work to India,&quot; Mick Rix, GMB National Officer for Aviation, said.

Cruz rejected the union criticism.

&quot;They&#39;ve all been local issues around a local data center, which has been managed and fixed by local resources,&quot; he told Sky News.

Several passengers complained about a lack of information from BA staff at the airport. Others said their luggage had been lost.

The airline said it was working to get reunite passengers with their luggage after many items were left at Heathrow over the weekend, although staff on Twitter warned this &quot;could take some time&quot;.

While other airlines have been hit by computer problems, the scale and length of BA&#39;s troubles were unusual.

Delta Air Lines canceled thousands of flights and delayed many others last August after an outage hit its computer systems.

Last month, Germany&#39;s Lufthansa and Air France suffered a global system outage which briefly prevented them from boarding passengers.

(Reuters)

The airline is returning to normal, planning to run more than 95 per cent of flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick

British Airways (BA) said it would take steps to ensure there was no repeat of a computer system failure that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend and turned into a public relations disaster. BA had been forced to cancel all its flights from Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, and Gatwick on Saturday after a power supply problem disrupted its operations worldwide and also hit its call centers and website. The airline was returning to normal on Monday, planning to run more than 95 per cent of flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, with only a handful of short-haul flights canceled. BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz said the root of the problem, which also affected passengers trying to fly into Britain, had been a power surge on Saturday morning which hit BA's flight, baggage and communication systems. It was so strong it also rendered the back-up systems ineffective, he said. "Once the disruption is over, we will carry out an exhaustive investigation into what caused this incident, and take measures to ensure it never happens again," Cruz said. Over the weekend, some stranded passengers curled up under blankets on the floor or slumped on luggage trolleys, images that played prominently online and in newspapers. "Apologises all well and good but not enough. BA has lost another loyal customer #disgraceful," tweeted Tom Callway, who had been due to fly to Budapest. The company was left counting the cost of the disruption, both in terms of a one-off impact to its profit and the longer term damage to its reputation. Spanish-listed shares of parent company IAG, which also owns carriers Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, dropped 2.8 per cent on Monday after the outage. The London-listed shares did not trade because of a public holiday. Flight compensation website Flightright.com said that with around 800 flights canceled at Gatwick and Heathrow on Saturday and Sunday, BA was looking at having to pay around 61 million euros ($68 million) in compensation under EU rules. That does not include the cost of reimbursing customers for hotel stays. BA would fully honor its compensation obligations, Cruz said. Of the 75,000 passengers who missed out on flights, around two-thirds would have been flown to their destinations by the end of Monday, he added. Cost cutting BA has been cutting costs to respond to competition on short-haul routes from Ryanair and easyJet and recently faced criticism for starting to charge passengers for their in-flight snacks. Ireland's Ryanair was quick to seize on the marketing opportunity, tweeting "Should have flown Ryanair" with a picture of the 'Computer says no' sketch from the TV series "Little Britain" to poke fun at BA. Ryanair said it had seen a spike in bookings over the weekend but gave no further details. The GMB union said that BA's IT systems had shortcomings after they made a number of staff redundant and shifted their work to India in 2016. "This could have all been avoided. BA in 2016 made hundreds of dedicated and loyal IT staff redundant and outsourced the work to India," Mick Rix, GMB National Officer for Aviation, said. Cruz rejected the union criticism. "They've all been local issues around a local data center, which has been managed and fixed by local resources," he told Sky News. Several passengers complained about a lack of information from BA staff at the airport. Others said their luggage had been lost. The airline said it was working to get reunite passengers with their luggage after many items were left at Heathrow over the weekend, although staff on Twitter warned this "could take some time". While other airlines have been hit by computer problems, the scale and length of BA's troubles were unusual. Delta Air Lines canceled thousands of flights and delayed many others last August after an outage hit its computer systems. Last month, Germany's Lufthansa and Air France suffered a global system outage which briefly prevented them from boarding passengers. (Reuters)

British Airways vows 'never again' after costly IT collapse

A strong typhoon struck near Tokyo today, with heavy rain and winds grounding more than 400 flights as officials warned of landslides and flooding. 
 
Typhoon Mindulle made landfall at about 12:30 pm (0330 GMT) in Tateyama city, roughly 80 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. 
 
As of noon, the storm was packing gusts up to 180 kilometres per hour and heading north at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour, the agency said. 
 
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. 
 
&quot;In Tokyo... please exercise caution for landslides, flooding in low lying areas, surging rivers, violent wind and high waves,&quot; the weather agency said. 
 
Downpours across the greater Tokyo region caused rivers to swell, with television footage showing gushing waterways close to overflowing but staying within their banks. 
 
The storm has caused airlines across the country to cancel a total of 425 flights, mostly to and from Tokyo&#39;s Haneda airport, national broadcaster NHK said. 
 
Japan Airlines said it cancelled 185 domestic flights, affecting 33,692 customers, while All Nippon Airways cancelled 112 domestic flights, affecting 26,500 passengers. 
 
Most major commuter train services in Tokyo and its surrounding region operated normally, including bullet trains, according to East Japan Railway, the region&#39;s biggest railway operator. 
 
Some lines, however, suffered from temporary delays and stoppages. 
 
Separately, typhoon Kompasu, which hit Japan&#39;s northern main island of Hokkaido on Sunday, was downgraded to a temperate depression by early today as it moved away into the Sea of Okhotsk, according to the weather agency. 
 
Heavy rains since Saturday caused high waves and rivers to flood on the island, where rescue workers found a male body today morning. 
 
Police did not immediately link the death to the storm, but local media said the body might be the owner of a vehicle that was stranded due to heavy rains. 
 
The local Hokkaido government has so far said the storm has caused only three minor injuries. 
 
(AFP)

The storm has caused airlines across the country to cancel a total of 425 flights, but train services remained unaffected

A strong typhoon struck near Tokyo today, with heavy rain and winds grounding more than 400 flights as officials warned of landslides and flooding. Typhoon Mindulle made landfall at about 12:30 pm (0330 GMT) in Tateyama city, roughly 80 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. As of noon, the storm was packing gusts up to 180 kilometres per hour and heading north at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour, the agency said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. "In Tokyo... please exercise caution for landslides, flooding in low lying areas, surging rivers, violent wind and high waves," the weather agency said. Downpours across the greater Tokyo region caused rivers to swell, with television footage showing gushing waterways close to overflowing but staying within their banks. The storm has caused airlines across the country to cancel a total of 425 flights, mostly to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport, national broadcaster NHK said. Japan Airlines said it cancelled 185 domestic flights, affecting 33,692 customers, while All Nippon Airways cancelled 112 domestic flights, affecting 26,500 passengers. Most major commuter train services in Tokyo and its surrounding region operated normally, including bullet trains, according to East Japan Railway, the region's biggest railway operator. Some lines, however, suffered from temporary delays and stoppages. Separately, typhoon Kompasu, which hit Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido on Sunday, was downgraded to a temperate depression by early today as it moved away into the Sea of Okhotsk, according to the weather agency. Heavy rains since Saturday caused high waves and rivers to flood on the island, where rescue workers found a male body today morning. Police did not immediately link the death to the storm, but local media said the body might be the owner of a vehicle that was stranded due to heavy rains. The local Hokkaido government has so far said the storm has caused only three minor injuries. (AFP)

Flights grounded as strong typhoon hits near Tokyo

Air France had to scrap 139 long and medium-haul flights today at its Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy, near Paris, on the third day of a strike by&nbsp;flight crew, airport sources said.&nbsp; 
 
The weeklong stoppage began on Tuesday and today saw Paris&#39; other main airport Orly cancel 20 per cent of the carrier&#39;s flights with further medium-haul cancellations likely later in the day, the sources said. Roissy was maintaining more than nine out of ten long-haul and three-quarters of medium-haul flights. 
 
Management said in a statement the carrier would maintain 80 per cent of Saturday flights, the same figure forecast across today. Unions representing around half of the strikers called the stoppage after marathon talks failed to reach a breakthrough on renewing a collective labour accord on rules, pay and promotions that expire&nbsp;in October. 
 
Management want to limit the extension of the agreement to 17 months, whereas unions want between three and five years. The new CEO of the Air France-KLM group, Jean-Marc Janaillac, told daily Le Figaro on Thursday that the strike was &quot;regrettable and aggressive&quot;, coming at the height of the holiday travel period. Unions retorted that management was being &quot;obstinate&quot; in insisting on a shorter accord timeframe. 
 
Air France flights operated by low-cost airlines HOP! and Transavia, as well as KLM and Delta codeshares, were not affected by a stoppage which affected some 30,000 passengers on Thursday. The pilots&#39; last strike, which grounded around 20 per cent of flights on June 11-14 right at the start of Euro 2016, hit France as it was gripped by social unrest over the Socialist government&#39;s labour reforms. Air France estimated that the stoppage cost it some 40 million euros ($45 million). 
 
(AFP)

The weeklong stoppage began on Tuesday and today saw Paris' other main airport Orly cancel 20 per cent of the carrier's flights

Air France had to scrap 139 long and medium-haul flights today at its Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy, near Paris, on the third day of a strike by flight crew, airport sources said. The weeklong stoppage began on Tuesday and today saw Paris' other main airport Orly cancel 20 per cent of the carrier's flights with further medium-haul cancellations likely later in the day, the sources said. Roissy was maintaining more than nine out of ten long-haul and three-quarters of medium-haul flights. Management said in a statement the carrier would maintain 80 per cent of Saturday flights, the same figure forecast across today. Unions representing around half of the strikers called the stoppage after marathon talks failed to reach a breakthrough on renewing a collective labour accord on rules, pay and promotions that expire in October. Management want to limit the extension of the agreement to 17 months, whereas unions want between three and five years. The new CEO of the Air France-KLM group, Jean-Marc Janaillac, told daily Le Figaro on Thursday that the strike was "regrettable and aggressive", coming at the height of the holiday travel period. Unions retorted that management was being "obstinate" in insisting on a shorter accord timeframe. Air France flights operated by low-cost airlines HOP! and Transavia, as well as KLM and Delta codeshares, were not affected by a stoppage which affected some 30,000 passengers on Thursday. The pilots' last strike, which grounded around 20 per cent of flights on June 11-14 right at the start of Euro 2016, hit France as it was gripped by social unrest over the Socialist government's labour reforms. Air France estimated that the stoppage cost it some 40 million euros ($45 million). (AFP)

Air France strike hits 140 Paris hub flights

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