ALERT: Amadeus Back Online After Systems Crash Disrupts Airline Check-ins Worldwide (September 28, 2017)

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Alert – Amadeus: Systems Crash Disrupts Airline Check-ins Worldwide; System Back Online

Air passengers are suffering major disruption at airports around the world after Amadeus’ Altea computer check-in systems crashed. Amadeus IT Group tweeted moments ago: “Our systems are recovered and are now functioning normally.” More than 130 airlines worldwide use Amadeus’ Altea passenger-service system.

According to Bloomberg:

Airlines worldwide were forced to delay flights Thursday as a global flight-bookings system operated by Amadeus IT Group SA suffered what the company called a “network issue.”

Major carriers including British Airways, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. were among those reportedly impacted by the outage. Singapore’s Changi airport said via Twitter that a technical issue affecting some operators was delaying the check-in process, with boarding passes having to be issued manually.

“Amadeus confirms that, during the morning, we experienced a network issue that caused disruption to some of our systems,” the Madrid-based company said in a statement. Technical teams took immediate action to identify the cause of the issue and services are “gradually being restored,” it said.

More than 130 airlines worldwide use Amadeus’s Altea passenger-service system, which helps manage flight reservations, inventory and departure-control capabilities, according to its website.

The company said it couldn’t comment on the extent of the disruption. Dublin airport said its systems were down for about 12 minutes, while Manchester in northern England reported a 15-minute failure. The knock-on effect on flights could have lasted much longer, based on previous outages.

Amadeus competes with Sabre Corp. and Travelport Worldwide Ltd., with the Spanish company the dominant bookings-systems provider in Europe.

CNN has confirmed that the following airlines and airports have been affected:

Airlines: Air France Southwest China Air Qantas Korean Air Lufthansa

Airports: Incheon, Seoul Haneda, Tokyo Charles de Gaulle, Paris Zurich Frankfurt Gatwick, London Heathrow, London

Amadeus said in a statement posted just after 9 a.m. ET, Thursday:

Amadeus can confirm that our systems are recovered and are now functioning normally. During the morning, we experienced a network issue that caused disruption to some of our systems. As a result of the incident, customers experienced disruption to certain services.

Our technical teams took immediate action to identify the cause of the issue and mitigate against the impact on customers.

Amadeus regrets any inconvenience caused to customers.

Sabre earlier sent a notice to users:

Amadeus Hosted carriers are experiencing connectivity issues. Sabre customers might receive pending status when trying to sell, Unconfirmed status (UC) when ending the record. They might also get ETR UNAVAILABLE responses when trying to display electronic tickets, or the error 999, when trying to issue tickets. This might affect Air France, Air Baltic, British Airways, Iberia, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, among other Amadeus airlines. This has been reported to Amadeus. We will update the bulletin when having further news.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

ALERT: Hurricane Maria (September 22, 2017)

September 22, 2017

The 2017 hurricane season continues to cause destruction in the Caribbean, with Hurricane Maria as the latest storm to make landfall on various islands. As of this writing, at least 32 people have died.

The United States territory of Puerto Rico was particularly affected by Hurricane Maria, as the storm knocked out the electrical grid for the entire island. According to the New York Times:

Puerto Rico remained in the throes of chaos and devastation Thursday as the remnants of Hurricane Maria continued to dump rain on the island up to three feet in some areas.

Flash flood warnings persisted, according to the National Hurricane Center, with “catastrophic” flooding “especially in areas of mountainous terrain.”

The strikingly powerful storm had rendered an estimated 3.4 million people without power, and with the territory’s energy grid all but destroyed, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló predicted a long period of recovery.

The Los Angeles Times notes that Maria caused numerous deaths in Puerto Rico:

At least 15 people were killed in Puerto Rico, according to El Nuevo Día newspaper, including eight drowned just west of San Juan and several buried in a landslide farther west in Utuado. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told CNN he had reports of at least 13 storm fatalities.

Currently, all international airports in Puerto Rico are closed.

The storm continues towards The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos as a Category 3 hurricane. CBS News reports: 

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the eye of Hurricane Maria is near the Turks and Caicos Islands while rains and dangerous high waves are starting to subside along the northern coast of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 35 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island and is moving northwest at 7 mph.

The Category 3 hurricane has maximum sustained winds near 125 mph but gradual weakening is expected during the next two days.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

Hurricane- Supplier Updates (Agent Universe)

Please be sure to review the below web links for important Hurricane Updates!

All Hotels & Resorts updates from Travel Leaders Hotels Team

AIG Travel Guard and Travel Insured International

Allianz Global Assistance

Celebrity Cruises

Chubb Travel Insurance

CIBT Visas – Hurricane Irma Updates

Delta Airlines Hurricane Irma Exception Policy

Disney Cruise Line – Irma Itinerary Adjustments

Emirates Hurricane Irma Policy

Holland America Line – Irma Notice

MSC Cruises – Divina Itinerary Changes

NCL – Operational Updates

RCI – Current Irma Updates

South African Airways

United Airlines Operational update for Hurricane Irma

ALERT: Mexico Earthquake- Death Toll Surpasses 200 (September 20, 2017)

September 20, 2017

As Mexico combs the rubble, authorities are reporting that at least 225 people died as a result of yesterday’s 7.1 earthquake. Mexico City’s international airport tweeted that it had suspended operations following the quake.

According to CNN:

Most of the deaths have been reported in Mexico City, where at least 94 people were killed, Luis Felipe Puente, head of Mexico’s national civil defense agency, said. Another 71 people were killed in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla, 12 in the State of Mexico, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca. The country has declared three days of mourning for those killed in the quake, according to Mexico’s Secretary of Public Function.

The deadly earthquake struck on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake that killed 10,000 people. Residents in Mexico had conducted earthquake drills just hours earlier. The earthquake occurred just two weeks after a magnitude 8.1 tremor in the south of the country killed more than 90 people and caused buildings in Mexico City to sway for more than a minute. President Enrique Pena Nieto called that earthquake the biggest quake the country has seen in a century.

Late Tuesday, Mexico’s president issued a video statement urging people to stay calm in the aftermath of the quake. Nieto said many people will need help, but the initial focus has to be on finding people trapped in wrecked buildings.

“The priority at this moment is to keep rescuing people who are still trapped and to give medical attention to the injured people,” the president said, adding that 40 percent of Mexico City and 60 percent of Morelos state had no electricity.

The federal government declared a state of disaster in Mexico City, freeing up emergency funds. Nieto said he had ordered all hospitals to open their doors to the injured.

ABC News reports:

Mexico City’s airport descended into chaos as the ground rippled and chunks of plaster fell from the walls when the earthquake hit, Dallas resident George Smallwood told ABC News.

“I felt the ground shaking, and I heard everyone screaming and starting to run,” he said, adding that he initially thought he was in the middle of a terror attack.

Smallwood had stopped in Mexico City for a long layover after a vacation in Medellin, Colombia, and had spent the day exploring the capital. He was getting ready to go through security at Mexico City International Airport for his 3:35 p.m. flight back to Dallas when the earthquake struck.

Parts of the ceiling were “swinging back and forth,” he said, and the panicked crowd took off “running in every different direction.”

The tremors lasted for about six to seven minutes, he estimated. After the shaking subsided, first responders swooped in to help the injured and a fleet of military and police helicopters buzzed overhead, he said.

Smallwood’s flight was rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. today, so he needed to find somewhere to stay for the night, he said.

Tuesday’s earthquake — which hit at about 2:14 p.m. ET near the town of Raboso in Puebla state, according to the United States Geological Survey — comes 11 days after a magnitude-8.1 quake struck off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, killing dozens of people.

According to NPR:

As the morning sun rose over the cities of Central Mexico on Wednesday, where once city blocks had lain neatly arranged, there was now a mess of rubble and despair-stricken residents, watching as thousands of earthquake volunteers and rescue workers dug through scattered stones searching for signs of life.

The 7.1-magnitude quake struck Tuesday in Puebla state, some 75 miles from Mexico City, but it devastated a vast expanse of the country. The head of Mexico’s civil defense agency said early Wednesday that 225 people had died in the temblor, in toppled buildings across five states and in the capital.

In Mexico City, where the agency says 94 people died, search efforts took on particular intensity at a collapsed school. Escuela Enrique Rebsamen — a school geared toward children ages 3 to 14, according to Reuters — caved in on dozens of students and their teachers Tuesday.

Rescue workers have found the bodies of at least 22 of those children and two adults, according to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. Reuters reports at least 40 more people are missing, though hope remains: At midnight, the wire service says three people were saved from the debris.

Yet the rescue efforts have also yielded terrible discoveries, too. One volunteer had managed to dig his way into a collapsed classroom, The Associated Press reports, “only to find all of its occupants dead.”

“We saw some chairs and wooden tables,” he told the news service. “The next thing we saw was a leg, and then we started to move rubble and we found a girl and two adults.”

Elsewhere, in the state of Morelos, at least 71 people died, while the earthquake’s effects killed at least 43 people in Puebla state. And 17 others died in three other states in the region.

In a stroke of terrible irony, Tuesday’s earthquake struck 32 years to the day to one of the worst temblors in the country’s history. That 1985 quake took thousands of lives and shattered cities, including Mexico City, wreaking such destruction that the country continues to mark its anniversary with simulated drills.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

ALERT: Puerto Rico- Hurricane Maria Makes “Life-threatening” Landfall as Category 4 (September 20, 2017)

 September 20, 2017

Hurricane Maria, now reduced to a Category 4 hurricane after battering the U.S. Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, has “lifethreatening” winds of 155 mph and flooding in Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center. Reports say Puerto Rico was hit with a force “not seen in modern history.” Maria has killed at least 7 people on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

Major airlines have travel waivers in place, including: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

According to the Telegraph:

Hurricane Maria is pummelling Puerto Rico, bringing “catastrophic” 155mph winds and dangerous storm surges, after battering the Virgin Islands.

The “monster” storm is one of the strongest to ever hit the US territory, with warnings that heavy rain could cause landslides and storm surges of up to 9ft that risk swamping low-lying areas.

Maria began lashing the US Virgin Island of St Croix early on Wednesday, as it continued to cut a deadly north-westerly path through the Caribbean.

According to CNN:

Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning, ripping trees out of the ground and hammering two-thirds of the island with hurricane-force winds.

“This is total devastation,” said Carlos Mercader, a spokesman for Puerto Rico’s governor. “Puerto Rico, in terms of the infrastructure, will not be the same. … This is something of historic proportions.”

Seven deaths on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica were blamed on the hurricane, said Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Browne said he had been communicating with the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, whose own house was shredded by the storm.

Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Wednesday near the city of Yabucoa with winds of 155 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. By 10 a.m., those winds had weakened to 145 mph, but Maria was still a Category 4 hurricane capable of ripping roofs off houses.

The storm was so fierce, it broke two National Weather Service radars on the island.

According to the National Hurricane Center:

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

——————–

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of France has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning

for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.

The government of St. Maarten has discontinued the Tropical Storm

Warning and Hurricane Watch for St. Maarten.

The government of the Netherlands has discontinued the Tropical

Storm Warning for Saba.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* British Virgin Islands

* Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques

* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata

* Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas

The NY Times reports:

Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 storm early Wednesday, cutting electricity and phone lines, sending thousands of people into shelters and raising the prospect of deadly floods. The storm was bringing new misery to a region that has seen two other powerful hurricanes, Irma and Jose, in recent weeks.

As of 9 a.m., the eye of the storm was about 15 miles west-southwest of San Juan, having hit Yabucoa in the southeast shortly after 6 a.m. It had crossed the United States Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, then weakened slightly but remained “extremely dangerous,” with heavy rain and winds of up to 155 miles an hour.

As the hurricane moved in, residents across the island were awakened by the clamor of strengthening wind gusts.

“For Irma, we were very prepared,” Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said on CNN on Wednesday morning. “Unfortunately, of course, now we’re feeling a second storm in two weeks, and this one much more devastating than the first one. Who knows what the damage will be?”

Flooding and mudslides are major concerns, he warned, and the rain that follows the brunt of the storm could be just as dangerous as the winds.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

Talking Points: Hurricane Damage in the Caribbean (September 13, 2017)

Talking Points – Hurricane Damage in the Caribbean

Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients who have questions about traveling to the Caribbean post-Hurricane Irma. (September 13, 2017)

1. Hurricane Irma’s destruction has deeply affected many Caribbean islands. Many are, at the time of this writing, not suitable for travel.

2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.

3. We provide the facts so our clients can make an informed decision about their travel plans.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.

1. Hurricane Irma’s destruction has deeply affected many Caribbean islands. Many are, at the time of this writing, not suitable for travel.

Wikipedia gives a history of the storm: “Irma developed on August 30, 2017 near the Cape Verde Islands, from a tropical wave that had moved off the west African coast three days prior. Under favorable conditions, Irma rapidly intensified shortly after formation, becoming a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale within a mere 24 hours. On September 4, Irma resumed intensifying, becoming a Category 5 hurricane by early the next day. On September 6, Irma reached its peak intensity with 185 mph (295 km/h) winds and a minimum pressure of 914 mbar (914 hPa; 27.0 inHg), making it the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide so far in 2017. Another eyewall replacement cycle caused Irma to weaken back to a Category 4 hurricane, but the storm attained Category 5 status for a second time while making landfall in Cuba. After dropping to Category 3 intensity due to land interaction, the storm re-intensified to Category 4 as it crossed warm waters between Cuba and the Florida Keys before making landfall on Cudjoe Key with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Irma dropped back to Category 3 by the time it made a second Florida landfall on Marco Island. Irma weakened to a Category 2 hurricane later that day, the first time it weakened below major hurricane status in over a week, and eventually dissipated over the southeastern United States.”

 Hurricane Irma caused dozens of deaths and devastated many Caribbean islands’ infrastructure.

o Caribbean countries most affected by Irma were:

Antigua and Barbuda

the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos

The Bahamas

Cuba

the island of Hispaniola (the home of the Dominican Republic and Haiti)

Puerto Rico

St. Martin/Sint Maarten

the French Overseas Territory of Saint Barthelemy

the United States Virgin Islands

 

 The island of Barbuda, one of the two islands that make up the country of Antigua and Barbuda suffered catastrophic damage.

o NPR interviewed Asot Michael, the Minister of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda:

“Antigua, which is the larger of the two, which is also the seat of government and where most of the commercial activity is located, has been given the all clear and is open for business. In fact, the airport is fully operational. And direct international flights have resumed from Europe and North American region.”

“Hotels in Antigua suffered very little damage, mainly to trees and landscape. In fact, 98 percent of the country’s hotels and tourist facilities are located in Antigua, not Barbuda, and are now fully operational and receiving guests. The full cruise ship berths on Antigua are all fully operational and capable of accommodating up to the quantum-class-size ships.”

“Barbuda, which was very, very badly damaged by Hurricane Irma – it does remain a huge, momentous challenge. We have established a timeline to clear the island of the rubble within three weeks and to commence the rebuilding efforts immediately. But the rebuilding efforts will include the construction of new berthing facilities for the cruise ships, the reconstruction of entire port facility in Barbuda, all of the infrastructure, the energy needs, water, telecommunications and electricity.”

o Barbuda’s population has been almost completely evacuated: “Barbuda, the first island to feel the force of Hurricane Irma was devastated by its high winds, with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, saying 90% of buildings had been destroyed and 50% of the population of about 1,000 people left homeless. The island is now a near-deserted disaster zone. Almost all of its 1,500 residents left for the sister island of Antigua, a 90-minute boat ride away, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Jose.” (The Guardian)

 Numerous British Overseas Territories were affected by Hurricane Irma. The British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean consist of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos. The islands are home to 75,000 people.

o Anguilla’s water supply, as well as the electrical infrastructure continue to be a challenge.

Roads and airport runways have been cleared, according to the Caribbean Journal.

o The British Virgin Islands were devastated by the storm.

The Independent noted the severe damage: “The unofficial estimate puts the loss at 90 per cent of homes, businesses and boats. With the threat of another hurricane looming, it took several days for aid to arrive. Now the fear is that the islands will be forgotten.”

Visitors to the British Virgin Islands cannot fly directly there, and must connect through other Caribbean airports. Many of these airports, such as St. Martin, are currently non-operational.

o Turks and Caicos’ main airport, Provodenciales International Airport, has reopened for scheduled flights.

The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, in a news release on September 10, said that many hotel properties were closed for assessment and “looking to reopen by the beginning to middle of October.” The Tourist Board encourages travelers and travel professionals to contact properties individually to gage the feasibility of travel.

 

 Although the U.S. State Department had issued a Travel Warning for The Bahamas during Hurricane Irma Travel + Leisure notes that the country is ready for travelers again: “The group of islands collectively known as the Bahamas has rebounded quickly from the hurricane in the wake of the damage, with most major hotels planning to be up and running by the end of the week. The Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau opened Monday, and the first cruise ships are slated to arrive to port Wednesday, according to a press release from the Bahamian tourist board.”

o “Travelers should feel safe traveling back to the island, as flights are landing and Atlantis, Paradise Island, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Warwick Paradise Island, Baha Mar Resort and Casino, and Melia Nassau Beach Resort are all expected to be operational by Wednesday.”

 Cuba’s northern coast was where Hurricane Irma made landfall. The city of Havana is located in the north.

o 10 Cubans died as a result of Irma, and much of the country’s infrastructure was damaged.

Flooding and power loss have been the main issues post-Irma, according to CNN: “Havana residents woke up Monday to a city still without power and some neighborhoods still under water.”

“Even though Havana was far from where Irma first hit, the city suffered severe flooding and widespread wind damage.

o On September 13, 2017, the U.S. State Department issued a Travel Warning for Cuba, due to Irma’s damage.

“The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Cuba while Hurricane Irma recovery efforts are underway. Large parts of the country, including many areas of the capital Havana, are without power and running water. Transportation is difficult and many roads remain impassable due to downed trees and power lines. While Cuban authorities are working to clear the debris, it will be several days before roads are fully open in Havana. Outside the capital, north central Cuba suffered severe damage and should be avoided until further notice.”

 The Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola, had strong winds and rains from Hurricane Irma.

o On September 12, The Guardian wrote, “The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Antigua and Anguilla experienced minimal damage, with some hotels expected to welcome guests from as early as Thursday.”

o Punta Cana International Airport is operational, and accepting flights from all over the world.

 Puerto Rico did not take a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, but its effects were still felt. Reported NBC News: “Ricardo Ramos, chief executive of the island’s electric utility, said about two-thirds of the island’s electric customers — more than 1 million — were without power late Wednesday. More than 56,000 people were without potable water.

o A news release from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association said:

“While the assessment of impact across the island continues, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s preliminary report shows that major tourism infrastructure and attractions are operational and the island can continue to welcome new visitors. While power outages are present throughout the Island, many hotels, as well as essential services on the island such as hospitals, are operational due to generators and the majority of hotels throughout mainland Puerto Rico are ready to welcome new guests.

 

Attractions such as parks and beaches are currently being assessed to ensure a committed focus on quick clean up in the coming days.”

“Flights to and from Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport have resumed. Puerto Rico’s port is operational and should be receiving cruises by September 9.”

“‘Travelers planning to visit Puerto Rico can be confident in that their travel plans should not be affected, and that our industry is ready to continue providing the quality experience that distinguishes us,’ said Jose Izquierdo, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.”

 St. Martin/Sint Maarten (the island is split into French and Dutch territories) has evacuated numerous Americans from the island after the devastation of Hurricane Irma.

o On September 9, 2017, The Hill wrote that “More than 500 Americans stranded on the island of St. Martin have been rescued by U.S. military aircraft.

C-130 aircraft from the Puerto Rico, Kentucky and New York Air National Guard began evacuating Americans Friday evening, and one Defense official put the number of Americans rescued at more than 800 by Saturday afternoon.”

o The Dutch Red Cross has estimated a 90% damage rate for buildings in Sint Maarten.

o Princess Juliana International Airport has been nearly destroyed, and is not operational at this time. The airport is popular for the low landings that planes make there.

Because of the destruction, “The damage at Princess Juliana Airport made it difficult for aid to arrive. Still Dutch officials said they have planes that will be able to land at the airport, carrying food and water to supply the island’s 40,000 residents for at least five days,” the Washington Post reports.

Princess Juliana’s website does not list any arrivals or departures, and gives no further information estimating functionality.

 St. Barthelemy, in addition to sustaining its own severe damage in Hurricane Irma, is hampered further by the fact that the main point of entry for air travelers is from Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Martin/Siint Maarten, which has its own severe hurricane damage and is not accepting flights.

o The New York Times notes that the island is almost entirely dependent upon tourism: “On St. Barthélemy, there is an ambitious plan, shared by nearly everyone on the island: restore the hotels, shops and restaurants fast enough to catch at least part of the winter high season. There is the will, the scale — the island covers only eight square miles — and undoubtedly the money; the island has been called the ‘St. Moritz of the Caribbean.’”

“Bruno Magras, the president of the local government, said the largest impact was on private homes and public infrastructure, like the fire station and government offices. Hotel capacity also has been hit. ‘Obviously that will have an economic impact,’ he said. ‘Tourism is everything to us. It’s the only economic activity we have. We import everything and export nothing.’”

 The United States Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix) are not able to welcome travelers currently, and there is no timeline for the renewal of tourism services.

o The United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has requested on their website that “Due to the impact of Hurricane Irma, we are requesting the postponement of all scheduled visits to St. Thomas and St. John.”

 

The Department of Tourism has been working with cruise line partners to evacuate residents and visitors to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

o NPR notes: “St. Croix, an island spared the worst of Irma’s effects, has become the temporary staging area for delivering relief supplies to the rest of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The other two major islands in the U.S. territory, St. John and St. Thomas, are still ‘not safe,’ resident Elizabeth Smith wrote in an email Sunday.

“‘No power, no running water, no cell service. The only hospital on St. John faced catastrophic failure during the storm,’ she said, later clarifying over the phone that she was referring to the hospital on St. Thomas. ‘Patients with life threatening injuries were evacuated to hospitals in Puerto Rico and St. Croix.’”

o An article in the New York Times reported lootings and food shortages on St. John and St. Thomas.

 Ports in Florida have been reopened with limited service. Travel Agent Central provided a list of ports and their capacities as of Tuesday, September 12:

o “PortMiami and the Port Tunnel are open today, although the port remains closed to marine traffic at this time.

o “Port Canaveral reports that port officials are making preliminary assessments and that no major damage has been noted at this point. The port remains closed until further notice.”

o “Port Tampa Bay is reopening to fuel tankers only. Although the port only received minor damage and flooding from the storm, strong winds continue to pose a safety issue.”

o “Port Everglades reports that the Coast Guard is completing channel surveys so that ships can begin entering the port later this morning. Three cruise ships are waiting to come in.”

o Despite the limited use of Florida ports, many cruise lines have canceled sailings or modified itineraries for their Caribbean cruises. It is recommended that all travelers and travel professionals carefully confirm the details of their cruise.

2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.

We are advocates for our clients; and they know that by working with a true travel professional, we are there for them before, during and after their trip should they need us – which gives them peace of mind.

 We strongly encourage all of our clients, whether they are traveling domestically or internationally, to purchase travel insurance, particularly right at the same time as travel has been booked. Travel insurance offers an additional layer of protection for travelers and can potentially help save a traveler hundreds or thousands of dollars if a medical or travel emergency occurs.

 Travel agents are trained to monitor situations, such tropical storms and hurricanes, which may impact their clients’ travel plans. As such, they also are in a position to work on alternative travel plans and have those in place the moment the need arises.

 If changes in travel plans are necessary due to weather, many times, travel agents are able to rebook clients for no additional charge or are able to obtain travel vouchers and/or refunds that clients may not know are due or available to them.

 

o Some U.S. airlines are now offering travel waivers due to Irma, including:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

United Airlines

 With limited airline seats available, travel agents have the resources needed to quickly rebook clients and reserve the next available seat.

o Travelers who book on their own either have to “roll the dice” by calling an 800-number or standing in a lengthy customer service line to try get rebooked. Using a travel agent can essentially move you to the “front of the line.”

3. We provide the facts so our clients can make an informed decision about their travel plans.

We closely monitor the latest news and weather updates, as well as the U.S. Department of State website, for travel alerts and travel warnings for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 Also, should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination where a client is currently located, we try to immediately contact the client to check on their well-being and work to assist them if they require alternate travel arrangements.

 

ALERT: Hurricane Maria Intensifies- May Strike Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (September 18, 2017)

September 18, 2017

Maria has rapidly intensified into a major Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. This morning, the National Hurricane Center stated: “The eye is expected to move through the Leeward Islands late this afternoon or this evening.” It will likely strike the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Wednesday.

Major airlines have travel waivers in place, including: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Many cruise lines are altering their itineraries, according to Cruise Critic.

According to the National Hurricane Center:

1. Maria will affect portions of the Leeward Islands and the British

and U.S. Virgin Islands as an extremely dangerous major hurricane

during the next couple of days, and hurricane warnings are in effect

for many of these islands.

2. Maria is likely to affect Puerto Rico as an extremely dangerous

major hurricane, and a hurricane watch is in effect for that island.

A hurricane warning will likely be issued later today.

3. The potential for a life-threatening storm surge, accompanied by

large and destructive waves, has increased for the Leeward Islands,

the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

4. Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides from heavy rainfall

are expected across the Leeward Islands, including Puerto Rico and

the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

——————–

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for the U. S. Virgin Islands.

The Meteorological Service of Antigua has issued a Hurricane

Warning for the British Virgin Islands, and a Tropical Storm Warning

for Anguilla.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* Guadeloupe

* Dominica

* St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat

* Martinique

* St. Lucia

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* British Virgin Islands

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

* Antigua and Barbuda

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Maarten

* Anguilla

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

* Saba and St. Eustatius

* St. Maarten

* St. Martin and St. Barthelemy

* Anguilla

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

* Barbados

* St. Vincent and the Grenadines

CNN reports:

As feared, Hurricane Maria rapidly strengthened Monday as it took aim at Puerto Rico and islands left in ruins by Hurricane Irma.

Maria intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, hurling maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The mammoth storm nearly doubled in strength over the past 24 hours and is expected to keep growing before it makes landfall.

As of 11 a.m. ET, Maria was centered about 60 miles (95 kilometers) east of Martinique. Its first landfall is expected around 8 p.m. ET in the northeast Caribbean’s Leeward Islands — specifically Dominica and Martinique.

And for the first time in 85 years, Puerto Rico is expected to suffer a direct landfall from a Category 4 hurricane. Puerto Rico’s governor has declared a state of emergency ahead of that landfall, which will likely happen Wednesday.

“It’s time to wrap up your preparations now, Puerto Rico,” CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

ALERT: London- Explosive device detonated on a London Underground (September 15, 2017)

September 15, 2017

An improvised explosive device was detonated on a London Underground train on Friday morning, injuring 22 people in what police say was a terrorist incident. No arrests have been made yet.

The New York Times reports:

LONDON Britain was hit by a terrorist attack on Friday morning, when a crude device exploded on a crowded London Underground train, injuring commuters, sowing panic, disrupting service and drawing a heavy response from armed police officers and emergency workers.

The device exploded at 8:20 a.m. on a District Line train leaving the Parsons Green station in Southwest London.

“This was a detonation of an improvised explosive device,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley of the Metropolitan Police, a top counterterrorism official, said at a news conference. He urged anyone who had seen what happened, or had taken photos or videos of the bombing, to come forward.

The authorities immediately beefed up security around the transit system, as hundreds of police officers and detectives combed the scene for clues.

The Financial Times reports:

An improvised explosive device was detonated on a London Underground train on Friday morning, injuring 22 people in what police say was a terrorist incident. Counter-terrorism officers took charge of the investigation and were seeking to establish who had planted the device on a packed commuter train during rush hour. Armed police and emergency services rushed to Parsons Green Underground station in west London after receiving reports of an explosion at 8.20am.

The device comprised a bucket in a carrier bag with protruding wires, according to witness accounts and images on social media. Passengers on the District Line train said it burst into flames, leaving those nearest to it with burns.

Theresa May has called a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee to discuss the event. “My thoughts are with those injured at Parsons Green and emergency services who are responding bravely to this terrorist incident,” the prime minister said.

The Washington Post reports:

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump weighed in Friday on an attack in London by a “loser terrorist” and used the episode to call for an expansion of his travel ban that has temporarily blocked entry into the United States by citizens of six Muslim-majority countries.

The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!” the president wrote on Twitter.

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ALERT: Hurricane Irma- Airlines Prep for Shutdown (September 8, 2017)

 

September 8, 2017

 

Hurricane Irma’s impending landfall in Florida is forcing airlines serving some of the largest airports in Florida to shutter operations for the weekend. Commercial flights will cease at Key West Airport at 8 p.m. on Friday and Orlando International Airport at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at Fort Lauderdale at 7:45 p.m. American Airlines, Delta and United Air Lines have each issued travel advisories or waivers for individuals with tickets to or from certain cities the region.

 

MoneyCNN reports:

By late Saturday, Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale – home to the 12th, 13th, 21st largest airports in the U.S., respectively – will be largely dormant as the extreme weather rolls in.

But the prospect of a direct hit from Irma represents another blow to U.S. air travel in one of the busiest air corridors on the planet for business and leisure travel.

Among Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, the three airports handled more than 115 million passengers in 2016.

The scramble was so acute that the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday evening said air traffic controllers were increasing the space between flights from Miami and nearby Fort Lauderdale to enable them to better manage the crowded skies. And American Airlines (AAL) was briefly under an FAA ground stop in Miami due to ATC rerouting outbound aircraft.

The airline had added 16 extra flights from Miami on Thursday, including 12 to Dallas, one to Philadelphia and three to New York, enough room for more than 3,600 passengers. The Fort Worth-based carrier said it has canceled more than 2,400 flights as of Thursday afternoon stretching through Sept. 11.

The biggest single carrier in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region is American, which accounts of 38% of the flying there, according to Morgan Stanley. Southwest Airlines (LUV) is the largest single operator in Orlando at 20%.

Delta Air Lines (DAL), too, has added 2,000 additional seats on Thursday flights out of Florida and Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, including 1,500 from Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Airlines and airports operate preparedness plans in 72, 48 and 24 hour markers, evacuating aircraft and personnel and preparing stations as part of a methodical checklist ahead of a storm’s arrival, according to Ken Jenkins, principal crisis response strategist at NavAid Crisis Consulting Group.

Commercial flights will cease at Key West Airport at 8 p.m. on Friday and Orlando International Airport at 5 p.m. on Saturday due to Hurricane Irma and Fort Lauderdale at 7:45 p.m. In Orlando, 50 knot winds will shut down the airport’s outdoor tram which shuttles passengers between terminals.

The duration of any shutdown remains uncertain. American said any timeline for resumption of flights will be governed by not only airport conditions, but also the ability of airport and airline staff to get to work.

It’s not just commercial airlines getting out of Irma’s path.

Farther north in South Carolina, Boeing (BA) said it was suspending manufacturing operations starting on Saturday morning. The company’s expansive North Charleston facility is flying out any 787 Dreamliner that’s able to fly or bringing aircraft inside the factory, which is rated for a category five hurricane.

Residents were told to evacuate with a tsunami alert issued for the region and neighbouring countries.

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ALERT: Tsunami Warning for Pacific Coast of Mexico After Earthquake (September 8, 2017)

September 8, 2017

A tsunami “threat” was issued by the U.S. Tsunami Warning System off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico after the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in a 100 years was reported off the Pacific coast of Mexico, leaving at least 29 people dead. At this time, the major U.S. airlines have not issued travel waivers for this area.

The San Jose Mercury News reports:

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves were possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American countries. Waves were possible within the next three hours for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Ecuador, it said. There was no tsunami threat for the U.S. West Coast.

CNN reports:

At least 29 people have died after the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in a century struck off the country’s southern coast.

The magnitude-8.1 quake, which was felt as far as Mexico City and Guatemala City, was registered off Mexico’s southern coast just as heavy rains from Hurricane Katia lashed the east. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) southeast of the capital and 74 miles (120 kilometers) from the Pacific coast.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said the quake was the strongest earthquake Mexico has experienced in 100 years.

It hit just before midnight on Thursday, when many people would have been sleeping.

Alejandro Murat, the governor of Oaxaca, told CNN that 23 people were killed in his state alone. Four others have died in Chiapas state and two in Tabasco.

The Travel Weekly UK reports:

The magnitude 8.2 quake struck about 62 miles south-west of the town of Pijijiapan just after midnight on Thursday local time.

The quake was reportedly felt in Mexico City, with buildings shaking and people running into the street.

Residents were told to evacuate with a tsunami alert issued for the region and neighbouring countries.

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