Dubai, UAE, March 2021 – Emirates and TAP Air Portugal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the codeshare partnership currently in place between both airlines. The new agreement will see customers of both airlines benefit from seamless connectivity on many new routes across the Americas, North Africa and East Asia. Emirates and TAP Air Portugal will also explore ways to enhance the co-operation on their respective frequent flyer programmes including reciprocal earning and redemption opportunities and popular benefits such as lounge access.
In addition, both airlines plan on supporting each other’s stopover programmes in Dubai and Lisbon, with Emirates also supporting TAP Air Portugal as it looks at potential expansion opportunities in the UAE.
Subject to required regulatory approvals, the expanded agreement is expected to come into effect from 01 May 2021, will provide customers with seamless booking, ticketing and travel benefits across 70 destinations on both airlines’ networks.
Under the expanded partnership, TAP Air Portugal will place its code on Emirates’ flights to popular East Asia destinations such as Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Male, Jakarta, Denpasar, Manila, Hanoi, as well as Barcelona, and Mexico City.
Emirates customers will be able to seamlessly access additional domestic destinations in Portugal, as well as TAP Air Portugal’s flights to cities in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Morocco, Tunisia, Gambia, and Cape Verde.
To help stranded Moroccans around the globe get home, Emirates plans to operate two flights between Dubai and Casablanca on 8 and 9 September. Customers can also connect to these flights in Dubai from Emirates’ current network of 84 destinations across the Middle East and GCC, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
Emirates flight EK9953 on 8 and 9 September will depart Dubai at 1000hrs, arriving in Casablanca at 1530hrs. The return flight, EK9954 will depart Casablanca at 1730hrs, arriving Dubai at 0350hrs the next day.
Flights can be booked on emirates.com, through travel agents, Emirates’ sales offices and contact centre. Passengers must meet all the entry requirements to Morocco to be allowed to board the flights.
Flights from Dubai to Casablanca
Passengers who will be able to board must be Moroccan citizens, or foreign nationals holding Moroccan residency, or foreign nationals traveling to Morocco for business (holding a permit from the Moroccan Embassy in the UAE) in addition to diplomatic staff connecting from Dubai to Morocco.
Emirates customers entering Morocco must complete a PCR test (within 48 hours of travel) and a Serology test for Covid-19, with printed results to present on request at check-in and to the local authorities on arrival.
In addition, foreigners who do not require a visa to Morocco can be accepted if they provide a confirmed hotel booking.
Flights from Casablanca to DubaiThese flights will be available for passengers eligible to enter or transit through the UAE.
Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.
Morocco is the 17th country to acquire the Boeing AH-64 Apache through a contract for 24 of the helicopters that was recently signed.
Boeing has delivered nearly 2,500 Apache helicopters to 16 nations to date, including the U.S., Netherlands, Greece, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Deliveries to Morocco are expected to begin in 2024.
“This is another step forward in our long partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco,” said Jeff Shockey, vice president, Global Sales and Marketing, Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Government Services. “Worldwide demand for the Apache is growing and we are proud to provide this best-in-class capability to Morocco.”
The AH-64E Apache is the latest configuration of the attack helicopter. It is designed and equipped with an open systems architecture including the latest communications, navigation, sensor and weapon systems. It has an improved Modernized Target Acquisition Designation System that provides day, night and all-weather target information, as well as night vision navigation capability. In addition to classifying ground and air targets, the Fire Control Radar has been updated to operate in a maritime environment.
Boeing will build and deliver the new Moroccan Apaches under a contract with the U.S. Army through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales process.
Boeing’s partnership with Morocco spans decades. The company is committed to developing Morocco’s supply chain and future workforce. Boeing is a partner of the MATIS Aerospace joint venture, which produces airplane wire bundles and harnesses. In 2016, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom to create an ecosystem of aircraft equipment suppliers. Boeing also supports the country’s future workforce through partnerships with Education for Employment (EFE) Morocco and the INJAZ Al-Maghrib association.
Alstom has delivered in Morocco the first Prima M4 locomotive in the frame of the contract signed in 2018 with ONCF to supply 30 electrical Prima locomotives. While the 30 locomotives will be manufactured in Alstom’s Belfort plant, the Alstom team in Morocco will ensure the testing, the warranty service and maintenance.
The 30 Prima M4 locomotives have a nominal power of 5.5 MW, a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h and operate under 3 KV DC voltage. They are equipped with ETCS level 1, require minimum maintenance and provide a high reliability level with low lifecycle cost thanks to the modular design.
“Over the past 10 years, 20 Alstom electrical locomotives have been put into commercial service by ONCF. We are proud, today, to contribute to grow up the fleet and to support ONCF in this major project to develop the railway infrastructure solutions throughout the country,” said Nourddine Rhalmi, Managing Director of Alstom Morocco.
Alstom has been manufacturing locomotives for more than 100 years with the first electric locomotive produced in 1926. To date, the company has sold more than 3,000 locomotives from its Prima range.
Six French sites are participating in the production of the locomotives: Belfort (assembling), Le Creusot (bogies), Ornans (motors), Petit-Quevilly (transformers), Tarbes (traction chain components) and Villeurbanne (on board electronics). The ETCS components are produced in Madrid.
Present in Morocco with 580 employees, Alstom has contributed to several major railway projects, such as the delivery of first Citadis trams to the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, and 12 Euroduplex VSHT for the High Speed Line which is linking Tangier to Casablanca. In its plant in Fez, Alstom produces cable bundles for rail applications and electrical switchboxes that are supplied to its European plants and mounted on trains exported around the world.
American Airlines has launched a reciprocal codeshare agreement with Morocco’s largest airline, Royal Air Maroc, to add new options for travel to Morocco starting Dec. 26.
American’s customers will be able to purchase select Royal Air Maroc flights to Casablanca, Morocco (CMN), which will provide seamless connecting service to Marrakech, Morocco (RAK). These flights are available for sale now for travel beginning December 26. The codeshare will expand to additional cities across the African continent in early 2020.
“Royal Air Maroc is a premier African carrier and their hub in Casablanca is perfectly situated to offer our customers convenient connections between North America and over 40 destinations throughout Africa,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Strategy. “With Royal Air Maroc’s upcoming entry into the oneworld® alliance and our recently announced service between Philadelphia and Casablanca, we are committed to creating more opportunities for our customers to visit unique destinations in Africa.”
Beginning in early 2020, the codeshare agreement will provide American’s customers access to popular destinations in Africa, including:
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (ABJ)
Accra, Ghana (ACC)
Lagos, Nigeria (LOS)
Luanda, Angola (LAD)
Monrovia, Liberia (ROB)
The codeshare will also allow Royal Air Maroc customers to connect to new destinations throughout American’s domestic network beginning Dec. 26.
American will begin seasonal service to CMN June 4 as the only U.S. carrier with nonstop service to Morocco, which will be operated three times per week. Flights are available for purchase now.
Continued growth gives members more rewarding opportunities to experience luxurious destinations around the globe
Hyatt and Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) today announced the ongoing expansion of their existing loyalty alliance, celebrating a milestone of over 300 participating SLH hotels around the world for World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points and enjoy on-property benefits. Since launching in November 2018, this alliance has grown by 500 percent with the number of participating SLH properties in the World of Hyatt program for members to enjoy, and will continue to expand throughout 2020.
“Since launching this alliance, many members have shared their positive experiences when staying at participating SLH properties around the globe and enjoying valuable World of Hyatt loyalty benefits,” said Amy Weinberg, senior vice president, World of Hyatt. “This strategic alliance has grown at rapid pace and is a direct reflection of our commitment to caring for our members in more ways and places beyond our hotels. We remain focused on delivering unique experiences and exclusive benefits for members in order to enhance how they live and travel, and are thrilled that this alliance helps us meet our members in more locations globally.”
World of Hyatt members now have access to more than 300 of SLH’s luxury boutique hotels that offer new locations across growth markets for Hyatt, including:
Le Refuge de la Traye, a mountain retreat in the French Alps with newly renovated eco-luxury chalets set between lake and mountain in Les 3 Vallées ski region
Arima Hotel, a boutique hideaway in the Basque region of San Sebastián, Spain with leading authority in eco-friendly lodging that offers majestic views of the Miramón forest
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como, a 19th century Venetian-style Palazzo offering 18 palatial rooms and suites, known for its glamour and panoramic views of world-famous Lake Como
Ksar Char-Bagh in Morocco, a stunning Moorish palace in a Marrakech palm grove oozing opulence and tranquility with its Persian-style gardens and plunge pools
French CoCo, an all-suite Caribbean escape set on the beautiful island of Tartane, Martinique
The Reef by CuisinArt, a luxury beach resort in Anguilla nestled on the southerly shores of Merrywing Bay overlooking the beautiful coastline
“Our purpose at SLH is to perfectly match the world’s independent travelers with the most individual, intimate and intense hotel and travel experiences around the world,” said Jean-François Ferret, Chief Executive Officer, Small Luxury Hotels of the World™. “This strategic alliance has allowed us to significantly expand our brand awareness by sharing our distinct properties with more than 16 million World of Hyatt members. Our independently-owned hotels participating in this program have seen immediate results and the benefits of sharing their vision with World of Hyatt members.”
Since launching, the World of Hyatt and SLH alliance has added 27 new countries where World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points, including places like Sweden, Laos, Turks & Caicos, Portugal, Kenya, Iceland, Belize, New Zealand, Belgium, Anguilla and many more. Additionally, hotels that are part of this exclusive relationship have seen a significant uptick in bookings, including Enso Ango Fuya II, The Sukhothai Shanghai, Hotel Eclat Taipei, Claris Hotel & Spa, and Hotel Éclat Beijing. World of Hyatt members of all tiers can take advantage of the following loyalty benefits when booking a participating SLH hotel through a Hyatt channel:
Earning and Redemption
World of Hyatt members earn five Base Points per $1 USD spent on eligible room revenue
World of Hyatt members will receive their standard tier Bonus Points on eligible room revenue spend (10 percent Discoverist, 20 percent Explorist, 30 percent Globalist)
Qualifying nights at SLH hotels will count toward earning World of Hyatt elite-tier status
World of Hyatt members can redeem points to use for free night awards on SLH hotel reservations; each SLH property has been categorized into Hyatt’s existing hotel award chart.
All World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers will earn an additional four Bonus Points, for a total of nine World of Hyatt points, per $1 spent at participating SLH properties. Hyatt Credit Cardmembers will earn an additional three Bonus Points (U.S. only).
Member Benefits
Participating SLH properties will provide the following on-property benefits to all World of Hyatt members who book through Hyatt, regardless of status:
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Daily complimentary continental breakfast for two guests
Room upgrade (one category at check-in if available)
Early check-in (noon, based upon availability at check-in)
Late check-out (2:00pm, based upon availability at check-in)
SLH 3K Stay Promotion
To further celebrate the continued expansion of this relationship, World of Hyatt members can earn 3,000 Bonus Points for every eligible paid stay at participating SLH properties. To participate, travelers must:
Be a World of Hyatt member (enroll here – membership is complimentary)
Register for the promotion from December 10, 2019 through January 31, 2020 by visiting the promotion landing page on hyatt.com or through the Hyatt Global Contact Center in order to earn Bonus Points
Complete an eligible paid stay at any participating SLH hotel between December 10, 2019 and March 2, 2020.
For more information about World of Hyatt and SLH, please visit hyatt.com/SLH.
The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
Planned Openings from Tokyo to Mexico City and Reykjavik to Melbourne, Marriott International Continues to Create Enriching Experiences Through Its Portfolio of Distinct Luxury Brands
BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it is projecting to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2020 as the company focuses on creating the future of high-end travel through its portfolio of distinct luxury brands. With the world-renowned hospitality hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, JW Marriott and Bvlgari, Marriott International uses the global perspective gained from its boundless network of more than 420 landmark hotels and resorts in nearly 65 countries and territories to provide an unmatched variety of luxury experiences. From the world’s most established destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, Marriott International has more than 185 luxury properties in its signed development pipeline that could add more than 15 new countries and territories to the company’s luxury portfolio, from Iceland to Montenegro and the Philippines.
Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest
“Celebrating the distinct nature and individuality of our luxury brands, Marriott International offers a diverse variety of nuanced brand experiences that speak to the needs of the modern luxury traveler,” said Tina Edmundson, Global Brand Officer and Luxury Portfolio Leader, Marriott International. “Across our luxury brands portfolio, we will continue to incubate innovation and apply fresh thinking, both at the brand level and across our individual hotels, as we seek to be future forward, push boundaries, and continue to raise the bar by creating new, unexpected, and enriching guest experiences.”
“Our plan to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2020 – an average of about three exciting new hotels per month – speaks to the remarkable momentum that brands such as St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and EDITION have with affluent travelers, our Marriott Bonvoy members and hotel developers around the world,” said Tony Capuano, EVP and Global Chief Development Officer, Marriott International. “Each year, our luxury portfolio continues to grow in both quality and quantity in strategic destinations around the world.”
Transformative Travel Gives Rise to The Purposeful Luxurian In looking at the future of luxury hospitality, Marriott International collaborated with a team of trend forecasters at The Future Laboratory to better understand the attitudinal shifts that are creating a new genre of travelers. Edmundson continued: “The concept of transformative travel – travel motivated and defined by a shift in perspective, self-reflection and development – has become more pronounced and it has given rise to The Purposeful Luxurian, a new breed of traveler that is more progressive, proactive, and looking to affect positive change. This new global explorer views travel as a way to improve physical and mental wellbeing, as well as a means to do good.” With its scale and breadth of distribution, Marriott International is on the frontlines of the evolving global luxury economy, elevating its approach and inviting globally minded travelers to look at the world through a new lens. “We are defining the future of luxury travel by creating the real, rare and personal experiences this new Purposeful Luxurian craves,” said Edmundson.
The Ritz-Carlton Elevates Luxury Through Legendary Service Known for leaving indelible marks and creating memories that last a lifetime, The Ritz-Carlton continues to set the standard for luxury. The iconic luxury brand recently celebrated the opening of its 100th property with the debut of The Ritz-Carlton, Perth and expanded the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio to four exceptional properties with the opening of Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, Mexico. In the coming year, the brand is expected to bring its legendary service to Morocco for the first time, with the planned opening of The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar es Salam in the country’s dynamic capital. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is slated to expand the brand’s footprint in Japan, while a highly anticipated property in Mexico City is expected to give guests a unique way to experience the Mexican capital. Overlooking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is slated to grow the brand’s resort portfolio, while the brand also anticipates an opening in Nanjing, China, expects to see the completion of a major renovation of The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, and continues to work towards the inaugural voyage of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection expected in June 2020.
St. Regis Debuts the Newest Best Addresses in Extraordinary Destinations Offering modern glamour and sophisticated design, the St. Regis brand recently grew its footprint in Europe with the opening of The St. Regis Venice, boasting a magnificent outdoor garden and one of the most coveted locations along the city’s famed Grand Canal. Currently offering 45 hotels in more than 20 countries and territories, the brand in the year ahead expects to introduce St. Regis to Cairo, a destination that has long allured travelers with its enthralling history, and which is quickly reclaiming its place as a global hotspot. Additionally, St. Regis expects to expand its resort portfolio with the anticipated opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm is also slated to open in 2020, bringing highly bespoke service and beloved signature rituals to the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.
Lux Rebel W Hotels Turns Traditional Luxury on its Head This year, W Hotels brought its boundary-breaking approach, bold design and innovative programming to destinations including Dubai,Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Ibiza and Aspen, the brand’s first alpine destination in the United States. Multi-million-dollar renovations by owners are underway or completed at more than half the brand’s properties in North America, including W Washington D. C. and W San Francisco. In addition, the company recently announced plans to transform W New York – Union Square into a cutting-edge W Hotels showcase, advancing a larger strategy to redefine and reinvigorate the W portfolio in North America. Also underway is the exciting addition of W Nashville to the brand’s growing portfolio. The brand continues to trailblaze its way around the globe with 2020 expected openings in Philadelphia, Toronto, Chengdu, and Melbourne. Offering the insider track wherever the iconic W sign lands, the brand is also slated to debut in Italy with the planned openings of W Milan and W Rome, giving locals and visitors alike a distinctly W take on “la dolce vita.”
EDITION Matches Sophisticated Style With Global Growth In 2019, the EDITION brand made global news with the debuts of The Times Square EDITION in New York and The West Hollywood EDITION in Los Angeles, proving sustained high demand for its curated mix of modern design and service. Created through a collaboration between boutique hotel creator and innovator Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the lifestyle brand is slated to bring its distinct point of view to the in-demand destination of Reykjavik in 2020. Additionally, with 10 hotels in six countries and territories, the rapidly growing EDITION brand is expected to bring its sophisticated style to the global hotspotsof Tokyo and Dubai.
The Luxury Collection Continues on its Quest as the Destination Authority With a rapidly growing ensemble of 114 hotels in more than 30 countries and territories around the world, The Luxury Collection takes guests on journeys to the world’s most captivating places. In 2019, the brand celebrated the opening of North Island, Seychelles, the portfolio’s first private island destination, and welcomed properties in Cyprus, Nanning, Buckinghamshire, Kolkata and Çeşme. Looking to the year ahead, The Luxury Collection anticipates openings in coveted locations spanning the globe, including Nashville and Budapest, Hungary, as well as Hobart, Australia – a destination that signals the future of luxury travel.
JW Marriott Inspires Guests to be Mindful and Present through Uplifting Experiences JW Marriott offers warm and intentional luxury experiences at nearly 90 properties around the world, including the recent, highly anticipated debut of JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. Inspired by the principles of mindfulness, JW Marriott is a haven designed to let guests focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body and revitalized in spirit. Expected to reach more than 115 hotels by 2022, the year 2020 is slated to be a period of rapid growth for the brand, with planned U.S. openings in Savannah, Orlando and Anaheim, in addition to global destinations ranging from Istanbul and Danang, Vietnam, to Nara, Japan, Muscat, Oman and Monterrey, Mexico.
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines customers will have a lot to be thankful for as the airline plans to launch an additional eight new domestic routes this summer, offering customers a total of 20 new seasonal routes in summer 2020. The new routes include service to Martha’s Vineyard (MVY) and Nantucket (ACK) in Massachusetts and new service from Jackson, Mississippi (JAN) and Des Moines, Iowa (DSM), to Miami (MIA), the airline’s gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Every year, we evaluate our network and look to create more routes and serve unique destinations whether we’re entering new markets like Casablanca or adding more service to places like Traverse City, Michigan,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Strategy. “We continue to deliver the best network with the most options for our customers domestically and internationally during the most popular vacation time of the year.”
Domestic additions
Beginning in June, American will add two new ways to get to the lighthouses and sandy beaches of Martha’s Vineyard from two connecting hubs on the East Coast — Philadelphia (PHL) and Charlotte (CLT). The airline will also introduce a new route to the cobblestone streets of Nantucket with Saturday service from PHL. All three flights will be operated on an Embraer 175, featuring 12 First Class seats and 64 Main Cabin seats. Next summer, Traverse City (TVC) will see direct service from PHL and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), giving customers access to the shores of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay every Saturday. The airline will also introduce new Saturday service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Portland, Maine (PWM) operated on an Airbus A319 aircraft.
MIA is American’s gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and, next summer, customers flying from JAN and DSM will have nonstop service to MIA on Saturday and Sunday from June through August. Flight times will complement one-stop connections to vacation favorites like Bonaire, St. Vincent, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
American previously announced seasonal service to National Parks in Kalispell (FCA) and Bozeman (BZN), Montana, and increased service to Alaska, including a new destination, Fairbanks (FAI), which will begin operating in May.
A summer overseas
In August, American announced an international expansion that includes entering Africa for the first time with service to Casablanca, Morocco (CMN), from PHL and seasonal service from Chicago (ORD) to Krakow, Poland (KRK); Prague, Czech Republic (PRG); and Budapest, Hungary (BUD). American will be the only US carrier providing service to KRK, BUD and PRG from ORD.
“Our future is bright, and we see summer 2020 as an opportunity for growth in the leisure destinations our customers truly value,” Raja continued. “We have 20 new seasonal routes to choose from — narrowing down where to go will be the hardest part.”
New flights will be available for purchase Nov. 25.
(Reuters) – The collapse of British travel operator Thomas Cook left hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers abroad and forced governments and insurers to coordinate a huge operation to get them home.
FILE PHOTO: Passengers are silhouetted in front of a closed service counter of travel agent Thomas Cook and airline Condor at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The company ran hotels, resorts and airlines ferrying 19 million people a year to 16 different countries.
Here is a summary of the impact of the collapse in different countries and efforts to salvage parts of the group:
GERMANY
Thomas Cook’s German tour business filed for insolvency on Wednesday in a move aimed at separating its brands and operations from its failed parent, and it said it was in talks with potential new investors.
The German government said it was considering an application for a bridging loan from Thomas Cook Germany, a day after it said it would guarantee a 380 million euro ($418 million) bridging loan for Condor, the British group’s German airline.
The company is in contact with the German foreign ministry, insurers and other partners to get customers home. Zurich Insurance, which provided insolvency cover to Thomas Cook Germany, will cover the costs for those on holiday.
About 97,000 holidaymakers were still stranded on Thursday.
AUSTRIA
Thomas Cook Austria, which belongs to the German unit, also filed for insolvency on Wednesday, with the aim of continuing in business.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Dutch unit of Thomas Cook canceled all travel booked through Thomas Cook Netherlands and subsidiary Neckermann.
A Dutch court on Wednesday granted Thomas Cook Nederland B.V., a Netherlands-based subsidiary, protection from creditors. It employed roughly 200 staff.
POLAND
Thomas Cook’s Polish unit, Neckermann Polska, said on Wednesday that it has filed for insolvency. Poland regional authorities says around 3,600 customers of Neckermann Polska are still abroad.
BELGIUM
Thomas Cook’s Belgian unit ceased carrying passengers on Tuesday and liquidated two businesses, seeking protection from creditors and ultimately a buyer for Thomas Cook Retail Belgium.
It still has some 13,400 customers on holidays abroad.
NORDICS
Several planes operated by Thomas Cook Scandinavian Airlines have not been able to take off because their leasing contracts remained with the British parent, Danish subsidiary Spies said.
It was not immediately clear how the situation would be resolved.
Thomas Cook’s Nordic business said on Monday it would continue to operate as it is a separate legal entity from its London-listed parent and added that it was looking for new owners.
The Nordic business consists of two legal entities, Thomas Cook Northern Europe and Thomas Cook Scandinavian Airlines, and is also known as Ving Group.
The business operates under several brands: Ving in Norway, Spies in Denmark, Tjäreborg in Finland, as well as Ving and Globetrotter in Sweden.
BRITAIN
Emergency flights had brought 14,700 people back to the United Kingdom on 64 flights on Monday, and around 135,300 more were expected to be returned over the next 13 days, Britain’s aviation regulator said.
More than 70 flights were scheduled to operate on Wednesday to bring back 16,500 people.
MEXICO
The collapse of British travel firm Thomas Cook will not have a “significant impact” on Mexico’s tourist industry as it only represents about 0.4% of the sector’s foreign income, the Mexican tourism ministry said on Tuesday.
BULGARIA
Thomas Cook’s collapse poses a serious challenge to Bulgarian tourism, with dozens of Black Sea hotels facing losses totaling tens of millions of dollars as negotiations for the next summer season take place, its tourism minister said on Tuesday.
TUNISIA
Tunisian tourism minister Rene Trabelsi told Reuters that 4,500 Thomas Cook customers are still on holiday in Tunisia.
The British government repatriated about 1,200 tourists via planes sent to Tunisa’s Enfidha airport, and another 4,000 still in Tunisia will return after their holidays.
FRANCE
The French arm of the business said on Tuesday it was asking the French commercial court of Nanterre for creditor protection
Thomas Cook France will hold a meeting of its works council on Thursday about a plan to declare insolvency and to start a recovery procedure.
French organization Entreprises de Voyage said that about 10,000 French tourists could be affected by the bankruptcy.
SPAIN
The collapse has affected 53,000 Britons in Spain, Spanish Acting Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto told reporters.
The ministry has been in touch with German and Swedish authorities to ensure Thomas Cook subsidiaries continue to operate at least for the winter season, she added.
GREECE
A Greek tourism ministry official told Reuters that about 50,000 tourists were affected.
CYPRUS
Cyprus says 15,000 Thomas Cook customers were stranded on the island.
HUNGARY
Thomas Cook’s Hungarian unit Neckermann Magyarorszag said it was continuing its operations and all passengers would be able to return from abroad as planned.
It said its financial situation was stable and its assets were sufficient guarantee that its passengers would not suffer any financial damage. It said passengers should contact its offices directly about upcoming flights.
RUSSIA
Thomas Cook’s Russian tour operator subsidiary, Intourist, said the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook will have no impact on clients, Executive Director Sergei Tolchin told Interfax.
TURKEY
The Turkish Ministry of Tourism said it will provide support for local companies affected by the Thomas Cook collapse.
The head of the country’s Hotelier Federation said about 45,000 tourists from the UK and elsewhere in Europe are in the country.
MOROCCO
Morocco’s tourism ministry said it had created a crisis unit to handle the fallout from Thomas Cook’s collapse. Thomas Cook operated two flights to Marrakesh a week. No official numbers were given.
EGYPT
Thomas Cook operator Blue Sky Group said that 25,000 reservations in Egypt booked up to April 2020 had been cancelled. Blue Sky currently has 1,600 tourists in Egypt’s Hugharda resort.
INDIA
Thomas Cook India said it had been unaffected as it has been a separate entity since August 2012.
Airline expands global network with flights to Casablanca, Tel Aviv and Krakow beginning next summer
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines has the cure for the end-of-summer blues: new routes for next summer. Today, American unveiled its summer 2020 international schedule, which includes the following new service:
Philadelphia (PHL) to Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) begins June 4
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) begins Sept. 9
Chicago (ORD) to Krakow, Poland (KRK) begins May 7
ORD to Budapest, Hungary (BUD) begins May 7
ORD to Prague, Czech Republic (PRG) begins May 8
Furthering frontiers: Africa
When American begins service to Morocco next year, it will be the airline’s first entrance into the African continent. American will be the only U.S. carrier with nonstop service to Casablanca, which will be operated three times per week on a Boeing 757.
“Our customers and team members have been asking when we’re going to start service to Africa, and I couldn’t be more pleased to make this announcement for service beginning in 2020,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “We look forward to working with Royal Air Maroc when they join oneworld® in 2020, which will allow for even more connections further into Africa to places like Marrakech, Lagos and Accra. This is only the beginning.”
Returning to Tel Aviv
As demand continues to grow between the U.S. and TLV, American is adding three weekly flights from DFW, its largest hub. These flights will serve customers throughout the U.S. and allow many customers to make only one stop, rather than the previous two stops that were available, to TLV. And as the tech industry continues to grow in the market, American will provide the most efficient routing to U.S. tech cities like Austin, Texas, and San Jose, California, in addition to one-stop service to 33 new cities in the U.S.
Expansion in Eastern Europe
American’s Midwest hub, ORD, has seen significant growth and now offers more domestic and international seats today than it has in more than a decade. Next summer, the growth continues with three new destinations in Eastern Europe, including American’s first flight to KRK and new service to PRG and BUD, which American began flying to seasonally from PHL in 2018. American will offer the most premium seats to Eastern Europe of all U.S. carriers next summer, as all of the new flights will be operated by a Boeing 787-8, featuring 20 Flagship Business seats and 28 Premium Economy seats.
“There’s strong local demand to Eastern Europe in Chicago, and it’s important that we provide more service for our customers to visit family and friends or explore a new part of the world,” said Raja. “Chicago has been a great example of trying new things with our network, like seasonal service to Athens that launched earlier this year, and when customers take advantage, it allows us the opportunity to keep growing.”
American will be the only U.S. carrier providing service to KRK, BUD and PRG from ORD.
New flights will be available for purchase Aug. 12, with the exception of TLV, which will be available for purchase Oct. 10.
