Travel News

By Nduka Orjinmo BBC News, Abuja

After more than 200 unsuccessful job applications on LinkedIn alone, Nigerian student Modupe Osunkoya knew time was running out for her to extend her stay in Belgium.

With three months left on her student visa, she either had to get a job or leave the country.

But there was another option - enrolling for her third post-graduate degree since leaving Nigeria in 2017.

"I never saw myself doing a PhD but if I go home now, there is no job waiting for me," the 28-year-old told the BBC.

High unemployment - one in three young people are without work - and comparatively poor living conditions mean many of Nigeria's brightest would rather take their chances abroad than return home.

So last year Ms Osunkoya enrolled for a doctorate degree in Estonia which is running concurrently with her second Master's degree in Belgium.

She settled for Estonia after receiving no job or PhD offers in Belgium.

"The studies are [a] means to an end, and if God says the end is a permanent residency, why not?" she said.

Her PhD in Future Cities at the Tallinn University of Technology is a paid position. At the end of the four-year course she can apply for permanent residency.

She is planning to relocate to the eastern European country for the course, which like those in Belgium, is taught in English.

Ms Osunkoya is just one of many Nigerian students from families who are not part of the super wealthy elite to study overseas.

Last year, around 100,000 Nigerians travelled abroad to study, according to ICEF Monitor, which focuses on international student mobility.

Many hope to become permanent residents of their host country, and take one step at a time to achieve their goal.

Studying about Africa - in Belgium

Foluwakemi, (not her real name) another Nigerian student in Belgium, said: "People complete a Master's degree, go back to do some advanced diploma below their academic level, then some cheap certificate, all in a bid to remain legal in the system."

Despite getting a degree in economics in Nigeria, she decided to start from scratch when she arrived in Belgium, finishing a three-year course in business management - to buy herself time - and then proceeding to a two-year Master's degree course in management.

She has not ruled out the possibility of a second Master's degree and a PhD if she is unable to find work that will open the way for her to get a permanent visa.

"I am an African studying African studies in Belgium and it makes me mad," said a third student, Ifeoma, (also not her real name) who is currently doing her second Master's degree since arriving in the country in 2019.

"I am not taking it seriously, just killing time [while I] decide on what to do," she added.

Tuition fees as low as 1,000 euros ($1,200; £850) per year and the relatively low cost of living for students in Belgium, compared to some other European countries, have made it an attractive destination for many Nigerians from average-income backgrounds.

"Living expenses are low - you can get accommodation for 300 euros per month," said Ms Osunkoya.

Like many others, she left home with only a semester of tuition fees paid and enough pocket money to last a few weeks. She financed her education by working up to 20 hours per week, as she is legally allowed to do, earning up to 1,000 euros per month.

But the preferred destination for students from financially better-off families is still English-speaking countries such as Canada, the UK and the US, where there are more than 13,000 Nigerian students.

Canada preferred to UK

Interest among Nigerian students in the UK has been declining - from 18,020 in 2013/14 to 10,540 in 2017/18, a 41% decrease, according to ICEF Monitor.

One reason for this fall was the removal of a visa that allowed foreign students to work for two years after finishing their studies.

That, along with cheaper tuition fees, less stressful visa processes, and clearer pathways to postgraduate work and residency, made Canada a more attractive destination for many students.

But the UK government has since reversed its policy, hoping to claw back its share of the lucrative global education market.

Like most foreigners, Nigerian students typically pay more than three times the fees paid by UK students or those from EU countries.

But it can be hard for Nigerians to get white-collar jobs in the UK, and even more so in places like Belgium where language counts against them.

Flemish, French and German are Belgium's official languages and most employers want candidates who can speak at least two of them.

Like most other Nigerian students, Ms Osunkoya is only proficient in English, although she has a basic knowledge of Flemish.

"Even if you have a post-study visa you will be competing for jobs with locals who speak the languages better than you," she said.

Some students also complain of racial prejudice, while others say they have become over-qualified and yet have no work experience.

Last week, Belgium revised its immigration policy to allow students to stay for up to a year on their temporary visas to look for a job.

But Foluwakemi says she won't be taking up the option, as once signed up for it, she would no longer be able to return to school for further degrees if she can't find a job.

"It's like being caught between a rock and a hard place," she said.

Canada's national tourism association says it was caught off guard and disappointed when the U.S. increased its travel advisory for Canada.

The U.S. State Department urged Americans to "reconsider" travel to Canada as they set the travel advisory to Level 3, after just a three-week period where Canada was at Level 2 with the land border open to U.S citizens and permanent residents.

The Travel Industry Association of Canada says the decision will further hurt the country's battered tourism businesses, especially ahead of the first long weekend with Americans being able to travel through the land border.

However, Flight Centre says it believes the advisory will not have a substantial impact on Americans travelling to Canada, since there are no additional restrictions in place.

Spokeswoman Allison Wallace said there is enough pent-up demand that Americans with travel plans will go ahead with their trips.

Vaccinated Americans have been allowed to cross into Canada via the land border without quarantining as of Aug. 9, although Canadians are still not able to cross the land border into the U.S.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2021.

The Canadian Press

Virtual startup Cally Air (Calabar) is at risk of being grounded barely a month after it started operating with its shareholder, the Cross River State government, saying it has been unable to withdraw the cash needed to pay for the insurance and maintenance of its aircraft, local media report.

The airline, operated by Aero Contractors (N2, Lagos) on behalf of the Cross River state, only began operations on July 15 on routes between Lagos, Kano, and Abuja with two B737-300s.

However, State Commissioner for Aviation Jake Otu-Enyia has told local reporters his administration has been unable to draw funds deposited in an unnamed commercial bank in order to pay for the insurance and maintenance of the aircraft. “Cally Air is at the risk of being shut down because we are unable to get money from the bank to renew our insurance and do maintenance of our aircraft as its standard practice and instructions from the NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority),” he said.

Neither operator, Aero Contractors, nor the NCAA, were immediately available for comment.

Otu-Enyia was speaking to local newspapers while he and his staff were staging a protest at the entrance to the bank in Calabar. He claimed the bank was deliberately frustrating the state’s efforts to withdraw its funds. “We have been here since last week trying to withdraw our money from this bank. They keep telling us 'come tomorrow' and all that. We took this action because we need the money for the servicing of our aircraft and to complete the renewal of our insurance, otherwise, our aircraft will be grounded. The ministry is not asking for a loan; we came to withdraw our money and nobody is telling us why we cannot withdraw our money,” Otu-Enyia said.

Americans who managed a holiday in Europe this summer may have sneaked in under the wire.

New travel restrictions may be coming for unvaccinated Americans as Covid-19 cases surge in the U.S. The European Union on Monday removed the U.S. from its list of countries for which nonessential travel restrictions should be lifted. Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia were also removed.

The EU allows its 27 member countries to impose their own restrictions, and entry requirements vary widely. It’s expected that fully vaccinated Americans will still be able to travel to Europe without quarantine requirements.

But this may signal a new wave of clampdowns on travel as Covid cases surge in the U.S. while vaccination rates in the country trail European countries, Canada, and other regions.

It’s a blow for airline investors who were banking on a recovery fueled by high-margin international travel to Europe and other destinations abroad.

The sector slumped 2.7% on Monday. Delta Air Lines (ticker: DAL), American Airlines Group (AAL), and United Airlines Holdings (UAL), each lost at least 3.5%. Domestic-oriented carriers didn’t fare much better with Southwest Airlines (LUV), JetBlue Airways (JBLU), and Spirit Airlines (SAVE), all down 3% or more.

The sector has been in a rut for months, coinciding with another wave of Covid cases and new battles over masking and vaccination requirements in states like Texas and Florida—both now seeing near-record hospitalizations and deaths from Covid.

The pandemic’s resurgence is also igniting worries that the summer travel rebound may recede rapidly this fall, especially if business travel also slows.

Carriers including Alaska Air Group (ALK), American, Delta, and United have all trimmed their fall schedules. Indeed, nearly every major carrier is now planning a slimmer schedule , compared with expectations a few months ago.

“Based on filed schedules, the U.S. is seeing material close-in September and broad October cuts, likely reacting to both weaker demand and strained operations,” wrote Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth in a recent note. 

The sector may be partially reflecting the weaker outlook; it’s down 15% in the past three months and is off 21% from its year-to-date highs in March.

Some analysts view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Seaport Global Securities’ Daniel McKenzie is sticking with his 2022 earnings forecasts, for instance, writing that the recent pressure is likely to be transitory and should reverse later this year.

A morning briefing on what you need to know in the day ahead, including exclusive commentary from Barron's and MarketWatch writers.

UAE resumed visit visas, entry permits this week for previously restricted countries.

Emirates airline has said that travel is currently not possible for passengers heading to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia and Indonesia as there are no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airports.

A fresh travel update on the Dubai carrier's website said:

'For passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia and Indonesia travel is currently not possible as there are no rapid PCR testing facilities at the airport.'

However, all residents from the above five countries are allowed to travel to Dubai - according to the guidelines issued by Emirates - if they meet all the Covid-19 testing requirements.

Malik Bedekar, operations manager, Smart Travels, had told Khaleej Times that there is very high demand for travellers from Bangladesh. “However, the SOP for travellers and tourist visa holders from the South Asian country is still unclear,” he said. “Once airlines clarify these rules, I predict airfares should go up again.

Emirates airline says passengers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are among those who must apply to the GDRFA or ICA before travel

BY  Gillian Duncan

UAE residents from any emirate can now fly to Dubai, according to regulations introduced this week.

However, some, depending on where they are flying from, must seek permission first before they can travel.

The rule covers most of the 14 countries from which travel was previously banned to the UAE earlier this year, due to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases, but not all.

So, which are they?

The National explains.

From which countries do UAE residents need approval to fly to Dubai?

Residents returning from 10 countries must first seek permission from either the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, or the GDRFA, if they live in Dubai, or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, or ICA, if they live elsewhere in the country.

The 14 countries from where travel was previously banned to the UAE are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and South Africa.

According to Emirates airline, the 10 countries from that list from which residents must first seek permission before returning are:

• Bangladesh
• India
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• South Africa
• Uganda
• Vietnam
• Zambia
• Indonesia

Where is permission not necessary from?

Permission is not required for those travelling from Nepal, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia.

What about tourists from the 10 countries?

No, the rule only applies to UAE residents.

Do residents have to be vaccinated to fly to Dubai?

No. Dubai sets its own immigration and coronavirus rules and does not require residents to be vaccinated in order to return.

What are the rules in Abu Dhabi?

All incoming passengers must register with the ICA before boarding flights and should have the approval to travel before flying.

Starting August 27, passengers are now required to submit their details on the ICA platform before checking in. After registration, they will receive a QR code, which will be required to board any flight to the UAE capital.

The new rules apply to all travellers flying into Abu Dhabi, except UAE citizens and those transiting directly to another country. There are separate rules in place for anyone flying from a destination on the UAE’s flight ban list.

Holders of 'all visas' now allowed to fly to Dubai

Any passengers planning to fly to the UAE capital and continue on to Dubai or another emirate must also receive approval from the ICA to fly. Children and infants are not exempt and must be registered by their parents before travel.

Any passengers who have been vaccinated outside of the UAE should register and upload their documents for approval at least five days in advance of travel, according to Etihad Airways.

This will allow UAE authorities to review the travellers' documents to assess whether they qualify for Al Hosn app's Green Pass.

People who have been fully vaccinated in the UAE do not need to upload vaccine certificates to the platform, but all other ICA registration details must be completed.

What is the rule in other emirates?.

Air Arabia said passengers from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka who are travelling on e-visas need to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Covid when flying to Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

They must wait at least 14 days after receiving the second dose of a Covid vaccine in the UAE. Proof must be shown in the form of a vaccination certificate, and their Al Hosn app must also be green. Registration via ICA is also mandatory before flying.

(Bloomberg) -- International students are returning to the U.K. capital this month, overcoming pandemic-era hurdles such as quarantine. Their enthusiasm means one old problem for new Londoners -- the capital’s fierce rental market -- has also gotten harder to navigate.

Applicant registrations have almost doubled in the last couple of weeks, said Amelia Greene, a director in the prime lettings team at estate agent Savills Plc. International students recently made up 70% of applicants through property websites for the east London district of Canary Wharf, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. Some agents are finding this swell of interest is starting to push up rents.

“The student market is well and truly back, more so than in 2019. This is the busiest market I’ve worked in and I’ve been doing this for 10 years,” said Lauren Hatcliff, director of lettings at JLL Canary Wharf.

The return of students both domestic and international will come as a relief for London landlords after the pandemic confined many potential renters to online classes at home. With restrictions on socializing now lifted across the U.K., most universities have committed to provide an element of face-to-face teaching in the new academic year. “It almost feels like we’ve got two years’ worth of students all wanting to move in September,” Greene said. 

Landlords Retreat

The race for a place to stay has been exacerbated by a lack of suitable properties. Some landlords took advantage of the U.K. Government’s stamp duty tax break, which began to taper off in June, to sell their student lets and other rental properties. 

“We’re seeing a real stock shortage at pretty much every price point with a huge influx of students, people returning to the office and international relocation, so we’re getting multiple bids on properties starting to push rents up,” Greene said.

“The high level of demand has quickly driven rents up open market by 15% in the past two months and they are now close to their pre-pandemic levels,” said David Salvi, director of London estate agent Hurford Salvi Carr. He said students are showing a preference for apartment blocks with concierge and other facilities.

Many international students are having to sign contracts, and even pay 12 months of rent, without viewing the properties in person first, knowing that if they wait too long they’ll likely be snapped up.

“There’s a lot of video viewings, WhatsApp viewings, Facetime viewings -- it’s becoming more common for people who aren’t even in the country. The market’s so fast paced,” Hatcliff said. “It was quite rare before.”

Affluent areas surrounding Imperial College London including South Kensington, Sloane Square and Earl’s Court are proving popular with overseas students, according to Ed Phillips, chief sales officer of Foxtons Group Plc’s letting business. 

“It’s a case of you snooze you lose,” Greene said. “It’s a perfect storm in that there’s a shortage of stock and a high volume of applicants all at once.”

byMark Finlay

While most airlines are replacing four-engined widebodies for more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets, Nigeria’s Azman Air has decided to fly an Airbus 340-600. After completing its certification with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the aircraft registration number 5N-AAM is ready to begin commercial operations.

The NCAA issued the aircraft type certification following proving flights to Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) in Senegal and Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, the Bahamas. Before being acquired by Azman Air in early 2020, the plane had been flying for Virgin Atlantic since 2006.

The aircraft used to belong to Virgin Atlantic

Deciding to operate with a large 409 seat aircraft is a big move for Azman Air. Before its delivery, the aviation statistics and data website ch-aviation lists Azman Air as having a fleet of six older Boeing 737s. The talk was that Azman Air would use the quadjet for international flights from Nigeria to Dubai, Jeddah, and China.

Looking at flight tracking ADS-B data on RadarBox.com we can see that the aircraft flew to Dushanbe International Airport (DYU) in Tajikistan on August 26, 2021. According to ch-aviation the aircraft has been recruited to help transport Afghan refugees to Europe.

Afghans have fled to Tajikistan

Since the fall of Kabul, thousands of former Afghan military, police, and people who deem themselves in danger of Taliban reprisals have fled to neighboring countries. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the north and has opened its borders to Afghans looking to escape the Taliban.

News of Tajikistan’s involvement in helping to resettle Afghanis in third countries was first made public by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 20th, 2021. Now even though the airlift from Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL) is over, hundreds if not thousands are still waiting to be resettled in new countries.

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About Azman Air

Based at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN) in Kano, Nigeria, Azman Air is a privately owned airline belonging to Nigerian businessman Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina. Before the arrival of the former Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600, Azman Air flew domestic flights with two Boeing 737-300s and four Boeing 737-500s.

Citing a safety advisory from Nigerian regulators, Azman Air suspended all flights in March for six weeks. It later came to light that NCAA had grounded Azman Air following three incidents involving the undercarriage on Azman’s Boeing 737s. A failure to report the incidents properly and a lack of proper maintenance records made the decision easy for the NCAA.

A driver conveying passengers from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Terminal II (MMA2), has returned a bag containing the sum of $40,000.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) on Wednesday.

There were also bundles of local currency, jewelry and other valuables worth millions of naira forgotten inside the bus.

According to BASL, the bag belonged to a prominent Nigerian who boarded an Arik Air flight from MMA2 to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Monday, August 30.

“At about 1510hrs of 30th August 2021, a black bag that was forgotten inside a coaster bus, used for conveying passengers at the Airside, with the number plate BDG 689 GW, was picked up by the driver of the bus, Mr. Emmanuel Eluu,” the statement read in part.

The bag has, however, now been returned to the owner by operators of the terminal.

Bulgaria, a popular tourism destination for many Romanians, and Spain, where a large community of Romanians live, have revised their entry requirements for Romanian citizens.

© Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images FILE - A view of an empty check-in departures hall in Burgas Airport on October 17, 2020, in Sarafovo, Bulgaria.

Starting September 1, Romanian citizens arriving from Romania to Bulgaria need to show, besides their travel documents, one of the following: the EU Covid-19 certificate showing the holder is vaccinated against Covid-19 or a similar document including the same info as the EU certificate; the EU Covid-19 certificate showing the holder recovered from Covid-19 or a similar document including the same info as the EU certificate; the EU Covid-19 certificate showing the holder tested negative or a similar document including the same info as the EU certificate.

Among those exempt from the requirement to show the EU Covid-19 certificate are those who transit Bulgaria, if they leave the country’s territory quickly, and children younger than 12, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) explained.

Starting August 30, travelers arriving from Bucharest or Ilfov county in Spain, via air or ferry routes, need to show the EU Covid-19 certificate showing the holder is vaccinated, recovered from the illness or tested negative for Covid-19, the Romanian Embassy in Spain announced. They also need to fill in the electronic form in the Spain Travel Health app or available at www.spth.gob.es.

The requirement comes as Spain placed Bucharest and Ilfov county on its list of risk countries/areas. The list is revised every seven days.

Children younger than 12 are exempt from the requirement of showing the EU certificate, but an adult needs to fill in the health control form for them. Travelers arriving from other areas of Romania have to comply with the previous requirements and fill in the health control form.