Most recent postings on IFTTA News

• USA: airlines ask DOT for another delay in new rules;
• USA: no private right of action pursuant to Air Carrier Access Act;
• UNESCO recognizes Aceh’s Saman Dance as Intangible World Heritage
• Scotland: Human Trafficking Report;
• EU: Commission requests Italy to comply with new safety rules for passenger ships;
• Taiwan: Hong Kong Dragon Airlines accused of discrimination;
• European Commission updates airline black list;
• New EU-US agreement on PNR;
• USA: DOT fines Spirit Airlines for deceptive price advertising;
• European Union: new rules on the use of security scanners at European airports;
• European Union: new Directive on Consumer Rights published in Official Journal;
• IFTTA Europe Workshop Website Online;
• Cruise conference - May 21-23, 2012;
• UK: OFT takes next procedural step in airline fuel surcharges case;
• USA: DOT issues first fine for tarmac delay rule violations;
• India: tiger reserves may ban tourists;
• Court of Cassation (FR) on Deep vein thrombosis;
• UNWTO: European tourism grows above expectations;
• European Consumer Centre Network launches Air Passengers Rights Report 2011;
• USA: DOT fines Caribbean Airlines for improperly limiting reimbursements for delayed baggage;

India faces protests against tigthened visa rules

Indian government in Delhi introduced rules barring tourists from returning to the country within two months of any visit. Both, U.K. and the US have lodged a diplomatic protest.

Source: eTurboNews; find article here>>.

Kerala to Welcome Global Experts at International Responsible Tourism Conference

Around 400 delegates and international speakers will get together in Kochi from March 21 to March 24 at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre to learn about the latest developments and practices in Responsible Tourism.
Speakers from over 20 countries including the UK, Germany, Gambia, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will discuss wide-ranging topics like local economic development and poverty reduction, taking responsibility for destination sustainability, travel philanthropy and the role of government – national and local.

Source: eTurboNews; find full article here>>.

India court in moustache notice

India's Supreme Court has issued a notice to a state-run airline asking it to explain why an air steward was sacked for wearing a big moustache.

Victor Joynath De was grounded by Indian - formerly called Indian Airlines- in 2001 for refusing to shave off his handlebar moustache. He had earlier lost a case in a lower court which ruled that the airline was within its rights to sack him.
According to Indian rules, all crew members should be clean shaven. A moustache, if worn, should not extend beyond the upper lip, says the rule book. The guidelines do not apply to Sikh employees who are allowed to keep moustaches.
"How can somebody be removed from a job because of the size of his moustache?" the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice HK Sema and Justice Markanday Katju asked on Monday. The airline has been given four weeks to respond.

Source: bbc.co.uk; read full article here.

"Tourists not safe in incredible India"

As reported by Hemendra Singh Bartwal, of the Hindustan Times, "Rising Incidents of crimes against foreign tourists has pushed the Tourism Ministry to send a communication to all states asking them to speed up the process of creating a special tourist police force.
The urgency was highlighted by an incident in Mumbai earlier this week where a Latvian national was raped by a driver who offered her a lift.
The ministry had reminded the states to speed up the matter in June at the chief secretaries meet. Today, only 10 states have implemented the measure — the communication had first been sent last year — while the rest continue to drag their feet" Read more>>

"Vice-President Barrot meets India's Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. Patel to strengthen cooperation in civil aviation"

According to the EU Press Room, "As a follow-up to the successful first EU-India Aviation Summit held in New Delhi in November 2006, Mr. Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation of India is visiting several European institutions on 22-23 October 2007. The visit is being hosted by Mr. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for transport. The two sides expressed their shared aspirations driven by their respective policies of promoting safe, open and sustainable aviation relations for the benefit of industry and consumers."


This Press Release is available in full text.

"Goa tourism industry against govt norms over night parties"

"Goa tourism industry has expressed its reservations over the stringent norms to be implemented by the state against noise created by late night parties.
'The norms should not be implemented in letter but spirit,' Travel and Tours Association of Goa (TTAG) president Ralf D'Souza said on Thursday.
With the beginning of tourist season in the state, the administration has geared up to lower noise pollution created through loud music during parties. As per Madhya Pradesh noise pollution act, there is a ban on parties playing music over 55 decibels after 2200 hrs.
However, tourism industry feels that such a stringent act would discourage tourism trade in the state. 'People come here to enjoy night life.... You can't expect them to go to bed at 10 in the night,' D'Souza said." Read more>>

Source: Newindpress.com

"Air hostesses told to shed weight"

"An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight. The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition.
The flight attendants had argued that the move was demeaning. The airline began a system of measuring air hostesses based on their height and weight last year.
The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of the airline, saying that with aircraft flying at higher altitudes, the safety of the passengers depended on the crew's ability to perform.
'No airline can afford to remain lax in any department whatsoever, be it the personality of the crew members of their physical fitness,' Justice Rekha Sharma said. 'If by perseverance, the snail could reach the Ark, why can't these worthy ladies stand on and turn the scale.'"

Read more at the BBC News.

India: Airline sues man for opening door

Low-cost airline Air Deccan filed a case against a passenger who opened the emergency-exit door of the aircraft, reacting to the diversion of the Delhi-bound plane after over a day's delay due to fog. The aircraft had to be brought back to Mumbai as it could not land at Delhi due to poor weather conditions. When passengers were not allowed to deplane, a young passenger was noticed trying to open the emergency door, an airline spokesperson said. The airlines has registered a case against the passenger with the airport police station for damaging its property.

Read more here.

"Vice-President Barrot leads high-level delegation to EU-India Aviation Summit"

According to the EU Press Room, "The European Union-India Aviation Summit, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, will take place in New Delhi on 23-24 November 2006. The Summit aims to enhance political and industrial co-operation between India and the EU in the aviation sector. India is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets and of strategic importance to the EU and its industry. India is also taking a lead in market opening in Asia.
'The EU and its industry have much to offer India in facing the significant challenges of unprecedented growth in air traffic”, said Vice-President Jacques Barrot, Commissioner for Transport before leaving for India. 'The EU-India Aviation Summit is an excellent opportunity for bringing together top-level policy makers and industry executives to identify priority areas for enhanced co-operation.'

This Press Release is available in full text.

"Out of shape" hostesses to fight Indian airline

Indian air hostesses embroiled in a legal battle with their employer after they were grounded for being out of shape said the move was unconstitutional and have vowed to win back lost wages. Eleven women say they have suffered from low self-esteem after being grounded by state-run Indian airline for being between a few hundred grams and 3 kg over the firm's specified weight limit. Lawyers for the company, known as Indian Airlines until last year, say the women are contractually obliged to meet weight guidelines for health reasons. The restrictions also apply to the 200 male stewards working for the airline, 20 of whom were also barred from work. The women will take their case to Delhi's High Court in March, demanding the company pay their salaries for the time they were grounded.
Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3682

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Female lifeguards at Goa's beaches

The popular tourist destination in India is set to hire women to patrol its white-sand beaches as lifeguards for the first time. Goa will train women and men from the local fishing community to serve as lifeguards. This is remarkable as women in India going out to beaches in swimsuit is surely not a common sight. Details here.

Service Tax on Air Travel Impedimentary to Tourism?

The Civil Aviation Ministry in India has expressed concern over the impact of imposition of service tax on air travel on tour and travel business. In conjunction with the Tourism Ministry, Civil Aviation Ministry is intending to ask India's Finance Minister to reconsider the decision to impose service tax on air travel, which is now being charged on flying business class and first class on any airline.

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Train Bomb

13 people were killed and nearly 50 injured after a bomb exploded on the Pooja Express which had left Jammu, Kashmir's winter capital, bound for Delhi. the train was carrying Hindu pilgrims who had been visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple near Jammu. Indian police officials were also on board.

(Originally posted John Downes)