Travel Update-Weekly Edition
May 3rd, 2007
Airline
News
Aeromexico - Beginning July 4, Mexican carrier
Aeromexico will add daily non-stop service between Seattle-Tacoma and
Mexico City with continuing service to Guadalajara. Aeromexico will operate one
daily round-trip flight using Boeing 737-700
jets.
Alitalia Airlines - As reported in the April 30 Special
Edition of Travel Update, Alitalia Airlines cabin attendants did in
fact strike today, Thursday, May 3 as expected. Any travelers
affected by this strike had already been contacted by a Travel and Transport
representative. T&T will continue to monitor this carrier and
advise of any further strikes or flight cancellations to those travelers
affected.
American Airlines - Beginning November 17, American
Airlines will operate twice-weekly flights from New York's John F. Kennedy
International Airport to St. Kitts. Flights will take place on Wednesdays and
Sundays, departing JFK at 10:45 a.m. and arriving at St. Kitts at 3:55 p.m.
Return flights will depart St. Kitts at 5:05 p.m. and arrive at JFK at 8:30 p.m.
American will use a fleet of 757-200 aircraft for these flights, comprised of
188 seats, with 22 seats reserved for first class and 166 seats reserved for
economy.
American
Airlines is offering free on-demand video and audio entertainment for first- and
business-class passengers on transcontinental flights and will test a media
player on some flights between Los Angeles and Chicago. The
nation's largest airline said premium customers will get free on-demand movies,
music and television on handheld devices with 7-inch touch-screen monitors.
American said it began offering the devices Tuesday on
Boeing 767-200 and 767-300 aircraft flying New York-Los Angeles and New York-San
Francisco routes, and it will add them to Miami-San Francisco flights in June.
On American's new service that started Tuesday, premium passengers on the
coast-to-coast flights will be able to pick from up to 12 movies that haven't
been released to DVD — current examples include "The Painted Veil" and "Catch
and Release" — 15 hours of television news, music videos and shows, and 50 music
CDs. The TV offering will include news features and comedies from CBS Corp.,
which already provides programming on American. The list of music and movies
will change monthly, said Mary McKee, the airline's managing director of onboard
products. A smaller, portable player with a 4.3-inch monitor will be tested for
four months on nearly all MD80 flights between Los Angeles and Chicago. They'll
be free for first-class passengers; those in coach can rent them for a $10
credit card charge and keep the ear buds. McKee said the airline might test
other price levels. She said if the devices prove popular, American would
consider offering them on the rest of its MD80s, which account for 300 of
American's 672-plane fleet. The smaller device will offer music, up to five
movies, and more than three hours of
television.
British Airways - British Airways has said it is
increasing its long haul fuel surcharge because of higher oil prices. The 3
pound (US$6) increase will come into effect on May 2, raising the one-way
surcharge on long-haul flights less than nine hours to 33 pounds (US$66) and for
flights longer than nine hours to 35 pounds (US$70). The short-haul fuel charge
will remain unchanged at 8 pounds
(US$16).
Copa Airlines - Beginning July 15, Panama's Copa
Airlines will add non-stop service from Washington Dulles to both Panama City,
Panama, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Copa will offer one daily
round-trip between Washington and Panama City and two weekly flights to Punta
Cana. The airline will use Boeing 737NG aircraft on both routes.
Delta Air Lines - Delta emerged from bankruptcy April 30 with the
unveiling of its new corporate brand image, its 20th in 79 years. On Monday,
Delta leaders unveiled the first 757 with the new brand image incorporated into
its livery. Delta describes that livery on
the tail as a "red 'widget' icon flying across a blue background." The widget
itself -- with the familiar "delta-shaped triangle," will be entirely red when
displayed separately, including on the aircraft's side. The new branding and livery will replace a red and
blue widget, and aircraft tails painted in a red and blue "flowing fabric"
design. The updated brand, the
result of months of employee and customer research, will appear on more than 900
Delta and Delta Connection aircraft; in more than 300 airports; on Delta's Web
site; and in all of its advertising and printed material. The new look will go up overnight at its Web site and
300 airport check-in locations in Atlanta and New York City. Delta said it
expects to update all of its airport signage by the end of 2007 and repaint its
entire fleet within four years. Delta said the new brand identifier "honors Delta's
heritage, while at the same time reflecting a modern look for an airline that is
focused on the overall customer experience." During the ceremonies, Grinstein, who does not plan
to stay CEO for an extended period now that the airline has emerged from
bankruptcy, also tried to lay the groundwork for a successor when he introduced
CFO Ed Bastian and COO Jim Whitehurst, whom he had just praised for creating the
airline's business
plan.
Delta Air Lines
on Tuesday announced daily nonstop service between New York's John F. Kennedy
International Airport and Tel Aviv. Delta's service is slated to begin in March
10,
2008.
Eurofly - Beginning May 6, Italian carrier
Eurofly adds service between New York JFK and Palermo, Italy. Service to
Naples begins May 7 and flights to Bologna on May 8. Eurofly already offers
service between New York and Rome, which began April 21. The New York-Rome
service operates five days a week (except Monday and Wednesday). The Naples
service operates three times a week while the Palermo and Bologna service
operate twice a week. The flights will run through Nov. 13.
Frontier Airlines - Frontier Airlines has announced it
will launch non-stop service between its Denver International Airport (DEN) hub
and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) with service starting Aug.
16. Frontier is offering double miles for travel between Denver and
Baton Rouge through Sept. 15, 2007, for members of EarlyReturns, Frontier
Airlines' frequent flyer program.
Hawaiian Airlines/Continental Airlines - Hawaiian Airlines has reached an agreement with
Continental Airlines that enables members of Hawaiian's frequent-flyer program
to earn and redeem miles when they fly Continental anywhere in the
U.S. The mileage-earning benefit is
part of a new code-sharing agreement between Hawaiian and
Continental. The agreement also
allows members of Continental's frequent-flyer program to earn 500 miles for
every interisland flight on Hawaiian. In addition to enhanced frequent-flyer benefits, the
new program permits Hawaiian to offer its customers one-stop service between
Honolulu and Cleveland, with Continental providing the connections to Cleveland
from Hawaiian's gateways in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Phoenix
Jet Airways - Indian carrier Jet Airways will
set up a European hub in Brussels, company officials said Wednesday. The
airline said the Belgian capital would be its European hub, linking up
with Brussels Airlines to connect to other parts of Europe, North
America and Africa. Daily direct flights from Brussels to Mumbai and New York
area's Newark airport would start Aug. 5, with another daily service from
Brussels to Delhi and Toronto starting later in the year" Jet said it
hoped to fly as many as 10 daily flights via Brussels between India and North
America. The carrier said it would seek government approval to operate from
Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York's JFK
airport, via
Brussels.
JetBlue Airways - Beginning July 27, JetBlue will add
two new non-stop routes from Salt Lake City. The carrier will offer one daily
round-trip flight to both San Francisco and San Diego onboard Airbus A320
jets.
LAN Airlines - LAN Airlines is pleased to announce
important additions to its extensive network connecting New York and Los Angeles
with South
America:
* New
non-stop service between New York and Santiago with connecting service to Argentina as of
June
3rd
* New non-top from Los Angeles
to Santiago and continuing service to Buenos Aires as of June
2nd
* Three
additional frequencies between Miami and Santiago as of June
7th.
Northwest Airlines - Northwest and KLM would like to advise
customers of the following security measure issued by the Bureau of Civil
Aviation Security (BCAS) for flights departing India.
World Business Class and Economy Class customers will be allowed one
piece of carry-on luggage (not to exceeding 115 cm total dimension or 12kg/26lb)
per person for flights departing India. Customers carrying more than
one piece of carry-on luggage may be directed from the security check area back
to the airline check-in counter. For complete details
regarding Northwest’s or KLM’s carry-on luggage policy go to http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/travel_information/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.htm,
Southwest Airlines -
Southwest Airlines has announced the addition of several new
flights within the airline's existing network. The airline will add more nonstop
flights to cities such as Dallas, New Orleans, Houston, Tampa Bay, Albuquerque,
Norfolk, Orlando, and Seattle. Flights are available for booking immediately for
travel beginning as early as June 2007. The new Southwest Airlines flights break
out as follows:
BEGINNING JUNE 4, 2007: One additional daily nonstop
roundtrip between Albuquerque and Dallas (for a total of eight); One
additional daily nonstop roundtrip between Albuquerque and Seattle (for a
total of two); One additional daily nonstop roundtrip between Dallas and
New Orleans (for a total of five).
BEGINNING JUNE 17, 2007: One new
daily nonstop roundtrip between Norfolk and Tampa Bay; One additional daily
nonstop roundtrip between Houston and Tampa Bay (for a total of
four); One additional daily nonstop roundtrip between Houston and
Orlando (for a total of four).
Starting Aug. 26,
Southwest Airlines will begin non-stop service between Manchester, NH., and Phoenix. The carrier will fly one daily
round-trip flight on the route. Also on Aug. 26, Southwest will add an eighth
daily round-trip flight between Phoenix and Salt Lake City. And on Oct. 4,
Southwest adds a fourth daily round-trip flight between Las Vegas and Seattle
and a second daily round-trip flight between Las Vegas and
Raleigh-Durham.
United Airlines -On Oct.
28, United will add non-stop service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong. The
carrier will operate one daily round-trip flight on Boeing 747-400 jets
configured with 14 seats in first class, 73 in business, 88 in Economy Plus and
172 in regular
coach.
Also beginning Oct. 28, United
will add seasonal non-stop service between its Washington Dulles hub and Rio de
Janeiro. The carrier will fly one daily round-trip flight on Boeing 767-300 jets
configured with 10 first-class seats, 32 business class seats, 71 in Economy
Plus and 80 in regular coach.
On Monday, April 30, United Airlines
announced it has signed a five-year beverage agreement with The Coca-Cola
Company, making it United’s primary soft drink supplier, effective May 1, 2007.
This new business partnership will give United’s customers a choice of eight
Coca-Cola beverages — Coke®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, Sprite® Zero, Spring® Water,
Seagrams® Ginger Ale, Tonic and Seltzer Water — while providing both economic
benefits for United and joint promotional activities for customers and
employees. In addition to its onboard beverage offering, United will also
offer Coca-Cola products in its airport lounges and offices later this
year.
US Airways - US
Airways as announced a series of customer service initiatives designed to
improve reliability and meet its customers' needs. The initiatives include a
major increase in airport staffing, improved re-accommodation capabilities,
state-of-the-art kiosk technology and other product enhancements.
Increased Airport Staffing -
US Airways has already begun an aggressive hiring plan to place more than 1,000
new team members in positions at airports throughout its system this summer. In
addition to filling open slots, these new employees will allow the airline to
get ahead of normal summer attrition cycles as well as create new customer
service centers in the airline's Eastern
region.
Improved Customer Re-Accommodation -
Approximately 80 of the airline's new positions will create POC (Passenger
Operations Control) centers at the airline's Philadelphia and Charlotte hubs and
at Boston and Washington National similar to what currently exists in the
airline's Phoenix hub. POC centers monitor all inbound hub flight activity and
identify customers who are on flights that for whatever reason, (weather, air
traffic congestion, etc.), might miss their connecting flights. These travel
professionals interact closely with the airline's System Support Center to
rebook passengers who may misconnect even before the inbound flight lands. The POC team prepares everything
the customer needs, such as gate information and a new boarding pass on US
Airways' next flight or, when applicable, flight information for an alternative
on another carrier. The POC staff also prepares meal vouchers and hotel
accommodations if there are no other flight choices that day. The best part
about this program is POC personnel take the whole re-accommodation package to
the gate and meet the inbound flight. Once there, they hand the customer their
new flight information as they deplane the
aircraft.
Improved Kiosk Technology - Since
moving to one reservations system in early March, self-service kiosks in many of
the airline's eastern region cities have not operated with acceptable
reliability standards. US Airways has begun a replacement plan that will bring
in 600 new state-of-the-art machines. The first deliveries will arrive in late
May.
Flexibility for Loyal Road Warriors
- The airline has already begun programming and training for a new policy that
will waive the $25 standby fee at the airport for Preferred Dividend Miles
members. Lead times for programming and training are not lengthy and the airline
anticipates this program will be up and running no later than
June.
On Board the Plane - Beginning as
early as June and continuing throughout the fall, US Airways will make a series
of upgrades to its in-flight experience focusing specifically on its
transcontinental and transatlantic flights. Among the
enhancements: Improved quality meal and snack options; enhanced
wine offerings, upgraded seats with
new fabric and AC power adaptors in Envoy Class on specific flights; New near
lie-flat seats in Envoy Class on specific flights; better in-flight video and
audio entertainment quality and flat screens on select flights, among many other
things.
Airport/Destination
News
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport -
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport unveiled an
'end-around' taxiway last week, which the airport says will cut down on flight
delays and save on fuel costs for airlines. About 700 planes — more than half of
its flights — land daily on Hartsfield-Jackson's northernmost runway. They now
can travel to the end of the runway to the taxiway, make a slight U-turn and
head to the gate area. That eliminates the need for those planes to cross a
runway to access the arrival gates." "Under construction for more than a
year, the $43 million taxiway dips about 30 feet below the level of runways.
That allows planes taking off to continue without interruption. It's one of the
few end-around taxiways in the country. The Federal Aviation Administration
estimates the taxiway will save airlines $27 million in fuel costs
annually."
Chicago, IL. - The Illinois House overwhelmingly
approved a statewide smoking ban in public places Tuesday that would eliminate a
confusing patchwork of local laws and leave smokers in every community with one
place in common to light up—outside. For residents of the City
of Chicago, the biggest change is timing: Smokers would have to snuff out
their cigarettes in taverns and restaurants with bar areas on Jan. 1, six months
earlier than the deadline set by the City of Chicago. Supporters said the
bill would fix the crazy-quilt of smoking bans passed by municipalities after
the legislature in 2005 gave them the power to adopt local rules. Chicago's
smoking ban took effect Jan. 16, 2006, and covered areas ranging from
restaurants to CTA train platforms and bingo halls. But free-standing bars and
restaurants with bar areas were given until July 1, 2008, to eliminate smoking.
The state legislation will kick in before the Chicago deadline and supersede
weaker rules in any community. Local officials could impose more restrictive
rules, however. The state legislation would prohibit smoking in all public
buildings and in most businesses and government vehicles. Smoking would be
illegal in bars and restaurants, as well as places ranging from student
dormitories to private homes in which businesses open to the public are
operated.
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Cathay Pacific and Emirates have
temporarily suspended flights to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo following an
air raid on fuel facilities in the city. Rebel Tamil Tiger jets bombed two oil
facilities near the capital on Sunday causing minor damage. This followed an air
strike on an air force base next to Colombo airport a month ago. A Cathay
spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying that "a careful assessment of the
situation will be made before services are resumed".
Emirates operates
flights from Dubai to the Maldives, Singapore and Indonesia through Colombo.
A spokesman said the situation will be reviewed within a day, and a relief
flight will be operated for any stranded
passengers.
Kansas City International
Airport - Kansas City International has completed its new consolidated
rental car facility. Opening on Wednesday, May 2, the $90 million structure
houses 10 rental agencies and has 8,000 parking spaces. The 135,000-square-foot,
two-level building is less than a mile from the airport. A common shuttle
service will transport passengers from all three terminals to the facility.
Russia -
Beginning in May 2007, new restrictions will be put in place at Moscow’s
airports. The new regulations state that travelers will only be permitted to
carry up to 100 ml/3.4 oz of liquids or gels per container onto the aircraft. Containers holding liquids and
gels must be packed in a transparent bag, which cannot be opened in-flight. The
total volume of the items cannot exceed 1 liter/33.8 oz.. Additionally, drinks and other liquid
items bought in airport shops cannot be opened until the end of the flight,
although there is no limitation on the amount that can be brought on a flight.
Although the specific date of implementation has not been announced, the
restrictions are expected to take effect in the first half of
May.
Hotel
News
Hilton Hotels - Hilton Hotels announced a program
to test home-theater television systems in its guest rooms, with installations
in 25 rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport and 30 rooms at
the Hilton San Francisco. Each system features a 42-inch plasma television
screen with surround sound. Guests can also plug portable devices such as MP3
players, laptops, digital cameras, and video recorders into a connectivity panel
for use with the screen and loudspeakers. A cable pack is also supplied. The
rooms also feature all-day sports packages on demand, including football,
basketball, baseball, hockey, and college sports. Programming from DirecTV will
include 14 high-definition channels among 40 total network and cable channels,
and five or more XM Satellite Radio stations. Hilton did not say when it plans
to roll out a state-of-the-art digital entertainment system
brandwide.
Seaport Hotel, Boston - Internet access now is as
expected in hotel rooms as soap and shampoo. So to try to set itself apart from
its rivals, the Seaport Hotel has decided to up the ante and outfit rooms
with thin-client systems that have full Internet access. The hotel has installed
"thin clients" made by Igel Technology Inc. in 85 of its 426 rooms,
with plans calling for the devices to be added to the rest of the rooms over the
next 12 months. The thin clients are integrated into 17-in. flat-panel monitors
with touch-screen capabilities. There are no moving parts in the Web portals,
which run an embedded version of Windows XP, support applications such as Adobe
Acrobat and include a wireless keyboard. Hotel officials see the thin-client
system, which they’re calling the Seaportal, "as a way to leapfrog the
competition" on guest services. The Seaport also already offers Wi-Fi
connectivity throughout its waterfront property on Boston
Harbor.
Walt Disney Resorts - Walt
Disney World announced Tuesday it will ban smoking in all guest rooms, indoor
public areas, balconies and other locations at all company-owned and -operated
hotels, and all Disney Vacation Club resorts at Disney World. That is 20
properties altogether. Smoking will be allowed in designated, outdoor smoking
areas only. The ban will take effect June 1.
Miscellaneous
State Dept
Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements
or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please
see http://travel.state.gov/travel
Comoros -
On May 3 the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar, issued the
following Warden Message: "The President of the Comoran island of Anjouan,
Mohamed Bacar, has refused a Constitutional Court ruling requiring him to step
down from office as of April 14 in order to run for reelection as island
president in the upcoming island elections. In response, President Bacar has
established strict control over the airport of Anjouan. While the airport was
briefly closed on 30 April it has reopened, but flights in and out of the
airport are being tightly controlled and searched by island authorities in an
attempt to prevent the introduction of further federal government personnel on
Anjouan. "While the situation had been reported as tense but calm, the Embassy
now has received reports of sporadic gunfire on the island. The Embassy
continues to monitor the situation. "The dispute is the latest eruption in
long-simmering tension between the island and federal governments. The
tensions are internal, and not directed towards American Citizens. However,
American Citizens traveling in or through Anjouan are urged to remain
vigilant, exercise caution, be prepared for the possibility of flight
cancellations and delays, and avoid crowds and areas of
demonstrations."
Eritrea - On May 2 the U.S. Department of State
issued the following Travel Warning: "This Travel Warning is being issued to
update information on Eritrea’s current security situation and to reiterate
the Department of State’s advice that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel
to Eritrea due to restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara.
This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued on 5 June 2006. "The
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) cited safety and security concerns in
imposing travel restrictions on all foreign nationals including resident
diplomats as of June 2006. Given these concerns and travel restrictions, the
U.S. Embassy continues to urge American citizens to defer all travel to
Eritrea. "The GSE’s restrictions require all visitors and residents to
apply with the GSE 10 days in advance for permission to travel outside Asmara
city limits. As a result, the U.S. Embassy cannot provide consular assistance
in an emergency outside of Asmara. Travelers also should be aware that that
the GSE does not inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been
arrested or detained."
Madagascar
- On May 3 the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo issued the following
Warden Message: "In recent days, unrelated demonstrations in several coastal
cities in Madagascar have strengthened and expanded beyond their original
base. Demonstrators in Tulear (Toliara) abducted and held a government
official hostage and looted local stores, while police in Diego Suarez
(Antsiranana) fired on demonstrators, wounding one. Several Malagasy citizens
who are ethnically from the central highlands, a region historically at odds
with the coastal areas, have departed coastal cities as a precaution. Although
the demonstrations began with limited protestors protesting specific topics,
the demonstrations have become more generalized and widespread. "At this time,
there are no indications that American Citizens or other foreign nationals are
being targeted. However, the situation remains very fluid. Currently, U.S.
Embassy personnel are being encouraged to defer non-essential travel to the
affected areas. The Embassy is monitoring the situation. American Citizens
traveling to coastal areas of Madagascar, particularly the cities of Tamatave
(Toamasina), Diego Suarez, Mahajanga (Majunga) and Tulear, are urged to
carefully consider their travel to the area, and if in the area to exercise
caution, avoid areas of demonstrations, and to depart as quickly as possible
when in the vicinity of any demonstrations or large crowds. American Citizens
are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn
confrontational and possibly escalate into
violence."
Philippines - On April
27, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for the Philippines,
which reads in part: "This Travel Warning updates information on the security
situation and reminds Americans of the risks of travel in the
Philippines. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for the
Philippines issued June 16, 2006. U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the
Philippines should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security
while there, including those due to terrorism. While travelers may
encounter such threats anywhere in the Philippines, the southern island of
Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago are of particular concern. Travelers
should exercise extreme caution in both central and western Mindanao as well
as in the Sulu Archipelago. Kidnap for ransom gangs operate in the
Philippines. In January 2007, one such gang abducted two U.S. citizen
children outside their home in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, in Mindanao.
The New People’s Army (NPA), another terrorist organization, operates in many
rural areas of the Philippines, including in the northern island of
Luzon. While it has not targeted westerners in several years, the NPA
could threaten U.S. citizens engaged in business or property management
activities, and it often demands “revolutionary taxes.” Terrorist groups,
such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jema’ah Islamiyah, and groups that have
broken away from the more mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Moro
National Liberation Front have carried out bombings resulting in deaths,
injuries and property damage. Recent incidents have occurred in
urbanized areas in Mindanao. On January 10, 2007, separate bombings in
the cities of Kidapawan, Cotabato and General Santos killed seven people and
injured 41. While these incidents do not appear to have targeted
Westerners or Western interests, travelers should remain vigilant and avoid
congregating in public areas. Many people who reside in or visit areas that
face terrorist threats, such as in Mindanao, travel with their own security
force, avoid an obvious presence, or both. In some areas of the
Philippines, especially in Mindanao, visitors should avoid travel at night
outside metropolitan areas. U.S. Government employees must seek special
permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. When
traveling in Mindanao, U.S. official travelers attempt to lower their profile,
limit their length of stay, and exercise extreme
caution.
Uzbekistan - On April
25, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for Uzbekistan, which
reads in part: "This Travel Warning is being issued to remind U.S. citizens
that the potential for a terrorist attack or civil disturbance still exists,
despite the fact that there have been no violent incidents in Uzbekistan since
May 2005. As the May 13 anniversary of the violence in Andijon approaches, the
Department of State continues to urge Americans in Uzbekistan to exercise
caution. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning of October 4, 2006.
The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens of the potential for terrorist
attacks or civil disturbance in Uzbekistan, although there have been no
violent incidents there since May 2005, and continues to urge Americans in
Uzbekistan to exercise caution. The U.S. Government continues to receive
information that indicates terrorist groups may be planning attacks, possibly
against U.S. interests, in Uzbekistan. Supporters of terrorist groups such as
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al-Qaida, the Islamic Jihad Union, and the
Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement are active in the region. Members of these
groups have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and have attacked U.S. Government
interests in the past, including the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, and may attempt
to target U.S. Government or private American interests in Uzbekistan. In the
past, these groups have conducted kidnappings, assassinations, and suicide
bombings. Increased security at official U.S. facilities over the past year
may lead terrorists and their sympathizers to seek softer targets. These may
include facilities where Americans and other foreigners congregate or visit,
such as residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools,
hotels, outdoor recreation events, and resorts. The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent
continues to employ heightened security precautions. U.S. citizens should
report any unusual activity to local authorities and then inform the Embassy.
The Uzbek Government maintains travel restrictions on large parts of the
Surkhandarya province bordering Afghanistan, including the border city of
Termez. American citizens intending to travel to this region must obtain a
special permission card from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of
Internal Affairs, or Uzbek embassies and consulates abroad. Even with
permission, however, some American citizens transiting to Afghanistan via
Termez have been briefly detained and/or fined for not registering in
Uzbekistan. Furthermore, American citizens affiliated with a nongovernmental
organization that has been closed down in Uzbekistan may be denied entry, even
with a valid visa. Uzbekistan experienced a wave of terrorist violence in
2004. In July 2004 there were three suicide bombings in Tashkent, including
one outside the U.S. Embassy. The Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) claimed
responsibility for the attacks. The IJU also used suicide bombers in multiple
attacks focused on police and Uzbek private and commercial facilities in
Tashkent and Bukhara in late March and early April 2004. In May 2005, armed
militants stormed a prison in Andijon, released its prisoners, and then took
control of the regional administration and other government buildings in
Andijon Province. Fighting broke out between government forces and the
militants, and reports indicated that several hundred civilians died in the
ensuing violence. While there were no reports of U.S. citizens affected by
these events, U.S. citizens and other foreigners in Uzbekistan frequently have
experienced harassment from authorities and local residents since the 2005
violence.
Yemen - On April 30,
the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for Yemen, which
reads in part: "This Travel Warning updates security information for Yemen.
This supersedes the Travel Warning for Yemen issued October 13, 2006. The
Department of State continues to strongly urge U.S. citizens to consider
carefully the risks of traveling to Yemen. The security threat level
remains high due to terrorist activities in Yemen, and U.S. citizens in Yemen
should exercise caution and take prudent measures to maintain their
security: maintain a high level of vigilance, avoid crowds and
demonstrations, keep a low profile, vary times and routes for all travel, and
ensure travel documents are current. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa
advises American citizens in Yemen to exercise particular caution at locations
frequented by foreigners countrywide and at restaurants and hotels frequented
by expatriates. Americans who believe they are being followed or
threatened while driving in urban centers should proceed as quickly as
possible to the nearest police station or major intersection and request
assistance from the officers in the blue-and-white police cars stationed
there. The Department remains concerned about possible attacks by
extremist individuals or groups against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses,
and perceived interests. On December 5, 2006, a lone gunman opened small
arms fire outside of the U.S. Embassy compound during the early morning
hours. The assailant, wounded by host-nation security personnel and
subsequently arrested, was the sole casualty. On February 3, 2006, 23
convicts, including known affiliates of al-Qa'ida, escaped from a
high-security prison, in the capital city, Sanaa. Among the al-Qa'ida
associates were individuals imprisoned for their roles in the 2000 bombing of
the USS Cole and the 2002 attack on the French oil tanker Limburg. In
the weeks following the escape, some prisoners voluntarily turned themselves
in to authorities; to date however, some escapees remain at
large. Two of the escapees were killed in vehicle-based
suicide attacks on oil facilities near Mukalla and Marib on September
15. Those attacks were followed by the arrest the next day in Sanaa of
four suspected Al Qa’ida operatives, who had stockpiled explosives and
weapons. Since January 2007, the Government of Yemen has been battling al
Houthi rebels in and around the northern governorate of Saada. While
foreigners have not been targeted, hundreds of soldiers and civilians have
been killed in the ongoing violence. U.S. citizens traveling in Yemen
should be aware that local authorities occasionally place restrictions on the
travel of foreigners to parts of the country experiencing unrest. In
addition, the U.S. Embassy itself often restricts travel of official personnel
to the tribal areas north and east of Sanaa, such as the governorates of
Amran, Al Jawf, Hajja, Marib, Saada, and Shabwa. Travelers should be in
contact with the Embassy for up-to-date information on such
restrictions.
May 3, 2007
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