And other news stories.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: hotel guests in Fiji suffered from alcohol poisoning; Edinburgh airport shutdown due to an IT issue; and Russia has told citizens to avoid travel to the West.
Dive into these and more as we explore the week’s five most intriguing, under-the-radar travel news.
NO.1
AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT RETURNS TO NYC AFTER BIRD STRIKE
On Thursday, an American Airlines flight was diverted shortly after takeoff due to a bird strike. The flight, en route to Charlotte, North Carolina, departed from LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m., but a bird strike caused one of the engines to fail, and the plane made an emergency landing at JFK Airport. The A321 landed safely at 8:03 p.m., with none of the 190 passengers and six crew members injured.
NO.2
EXPECT TRAVEL CHAOS OVER HOLIDAYS
It’s the most wonderful time of the year–and possibly the busiest. The American Automobile Association (AAA) expects 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from December 21 to January 1. The numbers are slightly higher than the previous record in 2019.
AAA projects that around 90% will travel by car, which is nearly 107 million, and warns drivers to be careful. Severe weather is expected, and rain and snow are already hitting some states. Make sure to check local advisories before you set out and maintain safe speeds to avoid accidents. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive while overtired.
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NO.3
EDINBURGH AIRPORT CANCELS FLIGHTS OVER TECH ISSUES
Sunday turned out to be a nightmare for fliers at Edinburgh Airport after it temporarily shut down due to an IT issue. An air traffic control problem halted operations at 4 p.m. local time, and departures were delayed or canceled while arrivals faced diversions as well. The airport resolved the issue three hours later, but the snag thwarted plans for holiday travelers.
Edinburgh Airport is the busiest airport in Scotland and serves 14.4 million passengers per year.
NO.4
TOURISTS HOSPITALIZED IN FIJI DUE TO ALCOHOL POISONING
Seven tourists suffered alcohol poisoning after consuming cocktails at a resort in Fiji. The foreign nationals, aged 18 to 56, were served drinks at the Warwick Fiji, and they soon reported symptoms including nausea and vomiting. One of the hospitalized individuals drank a piña colada, a relative said.
Viliame Gavok, Fiji’s tourism minister, stated that it’s an isolated incident and no other incidents have been reported in Fiji or at the resort. “The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests,” he said.
NO.5
RUSSIA TELLS CITIZENS TO AVOID THE WEST
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a warning to Russian citizens to avoid traveling to the U.S., Canada, and allies in Europe, who were described as “U.S. satellites.” Amid growing tensions between the two countries, the spokesperson warned that people could get caught in the crossfire. “Trips to the United States of America privately or out of official necessity are fraught with serious risks,” she said.
The U.S. State Department placed Russia at the highest level of threat for American travelers, Level 4 – Do Not Travel, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. The U.S. government has long advised its citizens to avoid the country and has noted that the embassy has limited services in Russia. The current U.S. advisory says, “Russian officials have interrogated and threatened U.S. citizens without cause. This includes former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private U.S. citizens engaged in business. U.S. citizens may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion.”
