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French air traffic control strike grounds 1,500 flights, disrupts summer holidays for 300,000 travellers
France's air traffic control officials have hit the streets to protest for better pay and more hiring, forcing major airlines to ground several flights amid the peak summer holiday season.
The two-day-long strikes, which began yesterday, have impacted over 1,500 flights and disrupted summer vacation plans for nearly 300,000 travellers.
Major airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, were among the worst hit, with Ryanair cancelling 170 flights and easyJet 274, as the walkout coincided with France's 'Grand Départ'.
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Ryanair, at the same time, has called for politicians to act as their businesses get hampered while air traffic controllers fight against overwork and burnout.
Frédéric Deleau, vice president for Europe of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, said that the protests in France 'will eventually have a negative impact on the network, that's for sure.'
What are their demands?
The strike, led by the UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT unions, centres on demands for better pay, increased staffing, and urgent upgrades to ageing equipment.
France's civil aviation authority ordered airlines to cut flights by up to 50 per cent at some airports, with widespread delays and cancellations rippling across the continent.
Airline groups and executives condemned the action, urging the EU to protect overflights and warning of more chaos unless Europe's air traffic system is reformed.
However, the issue cannot be resolved quickly, as training new air traffic controllers takes a minimum of three years. Complicating matters further, certification to manage air traffic is restricted to specific sectors of Europe's highly fragmented airspace, which is overseen by 40 different air navigation service providers (ANSPs).
Gloomy European skies
Observers and experts have called this the 'worst summer till now' as flight delays and cancellations play a spoilsport in the civil aviation industry.
Paul Reuter, vice president of the pilot union European Cockpit Association, said, according to Politico, 'Every summer since Covid has been the worst summer until now.'
He added, 'We have a finite airspace, a finite number of runways, the airports have capacity constraints … any disruption, because have very little buffers, it's going to mess up the whole system. And that is probably what we're going to see this summer as well.'
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The European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has said that 2024 was the worst year for European aviation in terms of flight delays and warned that the 'situation this year is likely to deteriorate further.'
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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
UAE airfares plunge: Cheap last-min flights to London, Istanbul, New York & more for as Low as Dh1,300
Currently, the most affordable flight from Dubai to London is priced at Dh1,300 ($354) for travel between July 15 and 31, a significant drop from last year's rates. (Representative Image) This summer, UAE residents are seeing a rare opportunity for budget-friendly travel, with affordable last-minute flight deals on offer, even during the peak months of July and August. For instance, tickets from Dubai to London are now as low as Dh1,300 ($354), a steep drop from last year's Dh2,500 ($681). Similarly, flights from Abu Dhabi to popular destinations like Mumbai are priced from Dh708 ($193), offering further savings compared to last year. Airfares See a Welcome Decrease Travel experts attribute the dip in airfares to various factors, including the easing of previous price hikes. Rashid Abbas, Managing Director of Arooha Travels, told local media outlet Gulf News, that fares to destinations in the CIS and India have dropped to Dh610 ($166) to Dh800 ($217). He called the price reduction a much-needed relief after years of inflated ticket prices. For example, flights from Dubai to Istanbul and Cairo are priced at Dh653 ($177) and Dh1,430 ($389), respectively, offering budget-friendly options for those planning a last-minute trip. 'We're seeing a much more manageable increase in airfares this July,' Abbas noted, acknowledging the positive shift compared to the steep prices of the past two years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scientists: Tinnitus? When tinnitus won't go away, do this (Watch) Hearing Magazine Undo High-Cost European Routes Still Exist However, not all destinations are seeing price drops. Direct flights to European cities like London, Barcelona, and Lisbon are still priced between Dh2,500 ($681) and Dh3,800 ($1,032), which remains out of reach for some budget-conscious travelers. Still, there are affordable alternatives. Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels, explained to local media, that while certain European routes remain expensive, budget airlines such as Eurowings, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi are offering better deals. For example, flights from Dubai to Paris on these carriers cost Dh2,815 ($766), while a ticket to Berlin is priced at Dh1,860 ($506). Even long-haul flights are seeing more reasonable prices. A direct flight from Dubai to New York, for instance, is priced at Dh2,945 ($800), a significant improvement from previous years. Last-Minute Deals: Great Bargains Under Dh2,000 ($544) Here are some of the best last-minute flight deals for travel between July 15 and 31, 2023, with tickets starting at these estimated prices as of the time of writing: From Dubai: Dubai to Tbilisi (flydubai): Dh1,300 ($354) Dubai to Istanbul (AJet): Dh653 ($177) Dubai to Chisinau, Moldova (Wizz Air Abu Dhabi): Dh538 ($146) Dubai to Cairo (Air Arabia Express): Dh1,430 ($389) Dubai to New York (United Airlines): Dh2,945 ($800) Dubai to Bangkok (Emirates): Dh3,763 ($1,024) From Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi to Yerevan (Etihad): Dh618 ($168) Abu Dhabi to Manama (Etihad): Dh415 ($113) Abu Dhabi to Muscat (Etihad): Dh485 ($132) Abu Dhabi to Istanbul (Etihad): Dh1,006 ($274) Abu Dhabi to Athens (Etihad): Dh1,635 ($445) From Sharjah: Sharjah to Istanbul (AJet): Dh706 ($192) Sharjah to Doha (Qatar Airways): Dh755 ($205) Sharjah to Tbilisi (Air Arabia): Dh1,432 ($389) From Ras Al Khaimah: RAK to Mumbai (IndiGo): Dh742 ($202) RAK to Istanbul (AJet): Dh653 ($177) Shifting Travel Habits Travel agents attribute the drop in airfares to the changing travel habits of UAE residents. Many people are now choosing to travel during off-peak months to take advantage of cheaper fares. Instead of long vacations of one or two months, travelers are opting for shorter trips of two to ten days. The trend towards shorter holidays has led to increased demand for destinations closer to the UAE, such as Azerbaijan, Schengen countries, and parts of Africa. These locations offer affordability and convenience, making them more attractive to residents seeking quick getaways. Additionally, corporate leave policies, typically no longer than 20 days, have prompted many employees to break their travel into two or three shorter trips each year. In cities like Dubai, residents often return by early August, planning future trips for winter or Diwali holidays.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra: Pilgrims' progress
Damini Pandya, 68, had taken a vow of silence for eight days before she reached the clear, ice-blue waters of the Manasarovar Lake in Tibet. There, the retired government officer from Ahmedabad in Gujarat gazed at the majestic snow-capped Kailash mountain in the distance. It had taken her 17 days to get there, walking for three days with low oxygen at an average altitude of about 15,000 feet above sea level. Breaking into a wide smile, she splashed cold water over her head — a ritual that Hindu pilgrims believe purifies the body and soul. Eight days after she began her maun vrat (vow of silence), Pandya crossed into India at the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. Breaking her vow, she said that the silence had helped her absorb the spiritual significance of the yatra. 'I did not utter a word for days because I wanted to be with god. I broke my vow after I entered India, but I don't have words to describe the cosmic energy I felt in Lord Shiva's abode,' she said. Pandya and more than 30 other yatris spent a week in Tibet's Ngari prefecture, where they trekked the 52-km circumference of Mount Kailash, called the parikrama or the kora. This was Pandya's second solo trip after 2019. She entered Tibet through the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand, which, she said, was a shorter route compared to the journey through Nathu La pass. It may well be her last visit to Mount Kailash, as the Chinese government has restricted the yatra to those under the age of 70, given the high altitude and concerns about illnesses. The youngest member of the group, Arpit Rai, 19, from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, who travelled with his father Shashikant Rai, 55, said he is keen to return to Mount Kailash. 'Between Kashi (another name for Varanasi) and Kailash, Shivji (Lord Shiva) is the common factor. Perhaps Shivji wanted us to visit together for the first time. It was an unforgettable journey despite the long travel time in altitudes we are not used to,' he said. The yatris travelled for 14 days by bus covering nearly 3,000 km and took three days to do the parikrama by foot, covering around 50 km. Geopolitical considerations Damini Pandya and the Rais were part of the first batch of Indian pilgrims since 2019 who were allowed to cross into Tibet as part of the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra, organised by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown; the violent clashes between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army at Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control; and stand-offs at other points such as Demchok, about 250 km from Kailash Manasarovar, ensured the yatra was suspended. Four years later, after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Delhi and Beijing began discussions on normalising relations and restoring a number of different mechanisms between them. The yatra, held between June and August each year due to weather conditions, was prioritised, even as other mechanisms, such as direct flights between India and China, are set to restart. Suman Lata, who recently retired as a school teacher in Delhi, said that while crossing over, the group did not feel any of the tensions between the neighbours that have dominated bilateral ties over the past few years. 'We have no link with politics, so we don't think about such things. I can only say that the Indian government sent us off very well and the Chinese government has received us extremely well too,' she said. Lata was among the 13 women on the group. Like her, half of them had come alone on the yatra. For officials on both sides, the final go-ahead in February 2025 presented a daunting task. They had to build facilities along the way in a short period of time. These included reviving immigration posts at various entry points for the yatris, providing rest stops, oxygen banks, and medical facilities. At the hostel in Zhunzhui Pu, near Taklakot, where the pilgrims stopped for a night before beginning the Kailash parikrama, extra tents were set up inside the atrium to accommodate more people. This is a part of Tibet where people live off subsistence farming. Tourism is the only means of making a living, local workers said, adding that the resumption of the yatra has come as a relief for them. According to the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra website, yatris who pay about ₹3 lakh for arrangements need to budget about 990 Renminbi or RMB (₹12,000) to pay the local porters and 2,370 RMB (about ₹29,000) for pony handlers. In addition, many of the porters do odd jobs for the yatris and make some extra cash, just enough to get by during the brutal winters. During the years when the yatra stood suspended, pilgrims came in via Nepali tour groups. They included many people of Indian origin from the U.S. and the U.K. But the yatra, and Indian pilgrims in particular, have been a mainstay for the local workers in Tibet. Preparing for the journey According to an External Affairs Ministry response in Parliament, the number of pilgrims allowed to join the yatra each year, which is negotiated between the foreign ministries of India and China, has fluctuated every year since the route was reopened in 1981. In 2015, there were 999 pilgrims. By 2019, there were 1,364. Each of the 15 batches of yatris (10 via Nathu-La pass and five via Lipulekh pass) of about 50 pilgrims this time includes two liaison officers — government officials who apply to join the yatra; 2-4 cooks; and a medical officer from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Each of the pilgrims is chosen by a computerised lottery. Of about 5,000 applicants, 750 were chosen this year. They then had to undergo strenuous medical tests to be proclaimed fit to undertake the journey. 'Despite the acclimatisation for two days each at two centres in Sikkim — one at 11,000 feet and the other at 13,500 feet — some 30 out of the 33 pilgrims in my batch experienced high-altitude sickness and breathlessness at times,' said the medical officer, who did not want to be named. 'My job was to monitor the health of the pilgrims and ensure that those with hypertension and diabetes take their medicines regularly. A few experienced cramps, but they were too excited by the experience to let these affect them,' he said. One of the cooks, who also did not wish to be named, said it was a challenge to prepare vegetarian food for people from so many different parts of India. But previous experience with the armed forces helped. 'When one caters to soldiers with different acquired tastes from all over the country, one finds the formula to make something that appeals to everyone. We focused on pulse-based items and vegetables provided by the Chinese authorities,' he said. While many pilgrims praised the arrangements, some expressed discomfort with the sanitation facilities along the way. According to retired Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force Sadanand Jakhare, they were 'comparable to public toilets in India'. He said, 'The Chinese officials were hospitable, although restrictive and not very expressive. They declined to let us explore the countryside, even a little beyond the designated places. We were under constant watch.' However, he added that he was 'impressed' by the roads and the use of solar power that he saw along the way. Some people were also unhappy about the restrictions on worship. Pilgrims are not allowed to take a full dip in Manasarovar Lake. Officials said the practice was discontinued in 2016 after Indian pilgrims were found using soap to wash themselves in the lake, and leaving items of clothing and jewellery there. 'The yatra is not for comfort,' said Devi Prasad Ketkar, a retired manager from Mumbai, who was on the pilgrimage with his wife Pradnya. Ketkar also served on the organising committees for the group. 'There is no place for negative energy or negative comments during our visit here… visiting Mount Kailash and doing the parikrama gives us all the answers we need,' he said, as others in the group nodded. As the pilgrims stepped into the waters of Manasarovar Lake, the air was filled with chants of 'Om Namah Shivaya', 'Om Parvati Pataye Namah', and 'Har Har Mahadev'. A melange of faiths In Hindu scriptures, Mount Kailash is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, who live there with their sons Kartikeya (Muruga) and the elephant-headed god, Ganesha. Lake Manasarovar, where the gods and goddesses are believed to descend for a bath every day, was created, according to the scriptures, by Lord Brahma from a part of his brain (manas means mind and sarovar means lake in Sanskrit). With its peak at 6,638 metres (21,778 feet), Mount Kailash has not been summitted in modern memory. After 2001, the Chinese government banned attempts to climb it due to the religious sensitivities of different faiths. Mount Kailash has four rock faces (north, south, east, west), with characteristic snow ridges on one side. The features of the mountain are believed to resemble the 'three eyes' of Lord Shiva, specifically the tripendra (three lines of ash worn on the forehead), and his spine. This makes it a marvel for pilgrims as they circumambulate the mountain. Along the route, there are devotees of other religions as well. Buddhists believe that Gautam Buddha's (Siddhartha's) mother Maya visited Lake Manasarovar. They also say that Mount Kailash, or Mount Meru as it is called, is the source of spiritual energy in the world. For Jains, the founder of the faith Rishabhadeva, known as the first Tirthankara, is believed to have achieved salvation at the mountain. For followers of the Bon tradition, the shamanistic religion that Tibetans adhered to until the 6th century King Songtsen Gampo introduced Buddhism, bringing texts from India, the mountain and the lake hold a special significance. And for nature-worshippers, Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake represent the most mysterious of the Himalayan 'mountain of mountains' and 'source of all rivers', with the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, and other major rivers emanating from these sites. It is this melange of faiths that keeps travellers going on the rocky and rugged paths towards the sacred sites. With oxygen levels on the high plateau a significant 30% lower than in the plains, the area is tough for human habitation. Pilgrims often need dozes of high-altitude medicine — both allopathic and traditional Tibetan and Chinese potions made from extracts of the herb Rhodiola — as well as portable oxygen cannisters to keep going on the arduous trek. Changing temperatures While the weather is cold, dry, and harsh the year around, local tour guides and shopkeepers admitted that rising temperatures have become a concern as well. In the past few years, environmental agencies, including China's meteorological authority, have warned about climate change and global warming in the Tibetan plateau. They have said that there is a possibility of higher temperatures, glacial lakes overflooding, and a thinning of the permafrost, especially as the Chinese government undertakes major rail, road, and tunnelling infrastructure across the plateau. In 2019, the Indian Ministry of Culture submitted an application to UNESCO for 'Sacred Mountain Landscape and Heritage Routes', requesting world heritage status for Kailash Manasarovar-linked areas on the Indian side, to protect the ecosystem around the holy sites better. The Ministry also said that a similar exercise could be carried out on the Chinese side. But given security considerations, and the fact that the Pulan airport close to Kailash Manasarovar also serves as a major military and air force base, the area is unlikely to be opened up for the kind of scrutiny that international agencies would require. For the yatris, however, what counts is the exhilaration of coming close to what they believe is the doorway to heaven. Raj and Vinod Yadav, former bankers in their late 60s, said that they have been on the yatra multiple times. Raj said that this was her 25th visit to Kailash Manasarovar, while her husband Vinod had travelled for the fifth time. The Yadavs went on their first trip together in 2001 and then again the next year. 'The pilgrimage became an addiction,' Raj said. 'I kept going every year, sometimes thrice a year, through all the routes in India and Nepal, including via choppers and flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa.' She is disappointed that China has restricted the age of pilgrims. 'There is something that keeps drawing me to Kailash Manasarovar,' she said. 'I intend to go again in August via Nepal, two months before I become ineligible.' She has already started making plans for her next and possibly last tryst with the sacred mountain and lake that remains a dream for many. Suhasini Haidar was part of a delegation of journalists invited by the Embassy of China in India to cover the first Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 2019, while Rahul Karmakar reported from Sikkim
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
PM Modi Conferred With Trinidad And Tobago's Highest Civilian Honour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Friday conferred with 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago' - the country's highest civilian honour. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Caribbean island nation on the second leg of his five-nation tour, was bestowed the award in recognition of his global leadership, his deep engagement with the Indian diaspora, and his humanitarian efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Honoured to be conferred with 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago'. I accept it on behalf of 140 crore Indians," Modi said. The award was announced by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday, who described Modi's visit as a moment of shared pride and historical connection. This is Modi's first visit to the country as prime minister and the first Indian bilateral visit at the prime ministerial level to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999. Modi arrived here from Ghana, where he was conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour. The award was conferred on the prime minister in recognition of his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
