Travel News

BEIJING (Reuters) -China will extend its visa-free entry policy for 45 countries including France, Germany and Spain to December 31, 2026 and expand the scheme to cover Sweden, effective November 10, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The extension covers 32 European countries as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and several nations in South America and the Gulf region, a statement released by the foreign ministry's consular affairs department showed.

The policy was scheduled to expire at the end of this year for many of the countries.

China has offered visa-free entry to citizens from dozens of countries in recent years as part of efforts to woo foreign visitors, revive a tourism sector battered by years of strict COVID-19 controls, and boost foreign engagement.

The United States, Canada and Britain are not part of the scheme.

Under it, visitors from eligible countries can enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 30 days without a visa.

China is also expanding its outreach to the European Union, a key trading partner, at a time of fraught trade ties.

Beijing confirmed that its one-year suspension of expanded rare earth export controls, announced after a meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea last week, will also apply to the EU, the bloc said after officials met in Brussels last week to alleviate tensions.

The two sides agreed to continue communication and exchanges to promote the stability and smooth operation of China-EU industrial and supply chains, Beijing's commerce ministry said on Monday.

(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen, Liz Lee and Ethan Wang; Editing by Kim Coghill, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Heinrich)

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

Begging and touting remain persistent challenges at Nigerian airports. Despite the Federal Airports Authority’s efforts to curb this menace, progress has faced strong resistance, particularly from security agencies. This menace is embarrassing the country, OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN, reports

“When my British friend visited Nigeria with me in January 2025 for my mother’s burial, she left with an unfortunate impression of my country. We flew on the same aircraft, and upon arrival, while making our way through the terminal and undergoing the usual airport checks, several people approached us, asking for money. I hadn’t changed my foreign currency for naira, so I kept repeating, ‘I don’t have naira,’ hoping they would understand.

“To my dismay, my British friend found the situation amusing. She laughed and teased me, questioning why my people would behave in such a manner, begging openly despite being in an official uniform under the government’s employment. Her comments stung, but even more painful was knowing that her mockery stemmed from something real and visible.

“It is deeply troubling that airport staff, who represent the country’s image to visitors, could engage in such unprofessional conduct. This kind of behaviour is disgraceful and tarnishes the nation’s reputation. Incidents like this reflect how little pride some of our institutions take in upholding Nigeria’s dignity. Truly, such things rarely happen abroad, and it is high time our leaders and citizens alike took responsibility for restoring respect and integrity to our nation’s name.”

This was the lamentation of a female Nigerian based in the United States, Mrs Charles, who explained her disappointment at what begging by airport staff, particularly security officials, has made of Nigeria’s image in the eyes of her foreign friend.

The female traveller said Nigeria is a great country that is being maligned by a few, according to her, ‘unpatriotic Nigerians’.

For years, both industry stakeholders and travellers have voiced frustration over the Customs inspection points within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport terminal.

Stakeholders have criticised these manual checks by security agencies, tagging them as outdated and intrusive, while passengers often describe them as a breeding ground for extortion.

On Monday, drama played out at the Senate in Abuja when the Senator representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso, called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to caution officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and other uniformed personnel at airports against begging air travellers for money.

The lawmaker described the behaviour of some airport officials as a national embarrassment, saying it undermines Nigeria’s image before foreign visitors and investors.

The obviously unpleasant act has been the top priority of the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, as she has repeatedly expressed her disdain for begging and any other form of touting within the airport at various fora.

Handlers of the aviation industry, including the Minister, are yet to respond to the call by the Senator.

After being inundated by complaints from visitors and Nigerians about the act of begging, which has taken over Nigerian aerodromes, in June 2024, The PUNCH recalled that Keyamo promised that the government agencies involved in extortion and begging at Nigeria’s airports do not fall directly under his ministry’s control, nor are they all under one ministry.

The Minister, in a post on his verified X handle on a Sunday, explained that efforts are in top gear to ensure that the ministers of the concerned ministries forge a collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation to end the menace.

His comments came in response to a noticeably growing volume of complaints from travellers about the persistent issue.

In April 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to curb touting, extortion, and unnecessary delays caused by multiple manual checks at Nigerian airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria began installation of multi-million-dollar machines to scan both passengers and luggage.

These advanced screening machines were to replace physical luggage inspections, particularly at Customs checkpoints.

While conducting journalists round the machines, the Director of Aviation Security at FAAN, Igbafe Afegbai, said the Customs table where they physically check travellers’ bags would be dismantled in a week’s time. The new devices, including six Orion 927DX units, a full-body scanner, and an itemiser, are equipped with cutting-edge imaging technology capable of displaying both Classic 4-colour and Spectrum 4-colour views.

Afegbai said these systems would enhance security through rapid and precise threat detection while also improving passenger efficiency and overall airport operations.

Weeks later, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, visited the airport in the company of the FAAN MD and journalists.

He walked around the newly installed machines as well as Customs checkpoints for over two hours, after which the CG, FAAN MD, and some top officials of both agencies held a closed-door meeting, shutting journalists out to further discuss the issue.

At the end of the meeting, participants refused to comment on the matter at hand.

Meanwhile, an inside source who was at the meeting but spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid official reprimand said legal bottlenecks regarding the mandates of the security and administrative conveniences are hindering the removal of the embattled checkpoints.

The source said, “These things are looking this difficult because all these agencies are not from the same ministry and they have establishment laws and mandates. On the other hand, they claimed they have yet to be trained for the use of the machines. They also appealed for space and rooms where they would monitor the machines through screens and also do random checks.”

When contacted, industry expert and retired Air Force officer, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said the minister may not be able to meet the Senator’s expectations until all security at the airport is brought under one command for the purpose of smooth running at the airport.

“I have told them they must go back to the drawing board. Keyamo cannot do anything; the security personnel must operate under the dictates of the airport committee because the security operatives at the airport all belong to different ministries. So, to have synergy, they must work under one body. That was what we did when we were there; they should return to it.

“In 1993–1994, we did our own joint security here even before the Aviation GSA in America. Human beings like extortion; to force them out of that, we must return to our strategy, the same one that worked for us in the past.”

Also, in his view, a retired pilot, Muhammed Badamasi, said he doesn’t think the minister needs to be told what to do, adding that begging has become endemic in the country.

He noted that such behaviour is common and that many do not care who they are speaking to when making such requests.

Badamasi recalled scolding a female immigration officer at Kano airport in 2023 after she asked what he brought for them from the Holy Land before checking his luggage.

He emphasised that until the managers of these establishments begin to monitor their staff closely and punish erring workers to serve as a deterrent, the menace will continue to embarrass the nation.

His words: “I don’t think that he needs to be told what to do. Begging is endemic in this country. Anywhere you go in the country, whether it’s a government establishment or the private sector, some people shamelessly ask for financial assistance as if they don’t earn a salary. They don’t care about whoever it is.

“I had to scold a female immigration officer at Kano airport in 2023 for asking what I brought for them from the Holy Land before checking my luggage. Until the managers of these establishments monitor their staff and punish them as an example to others, the menace will continue to embarrass us as a people.

“The minister knows that it is a difficult task for one person to tackle.”

Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of FAAN, Henry Agbebire, on what is being done was unsuccessful as he neither picked up his calls nor responded to messages.

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

As the yuletide approaches, air passengers in Nigeria have expressed deep dissatisfaction over the continued sale of flight tickets in foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar. Many passengers fear that the policy will further inflate airfares and make travel increasingly unaffordable for the average Nigerian.

The controversial practice, recently reintroduced by some international airlines, has ignited widespread outrage within the aviation sector. Both industry practitioners and passengers have described the dollar-only ticket sales as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and have called on the Federal Government to take urgent action.

During random interviews at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Monday, several travellers lamented that the dollar-only ticket policy would worsen the usual festive-season fare hikes, which already stretch the budgets of most families.

Adding to passengers’ frustration, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority recently announced an additional charge of $11.50 per ticket, effective December 1, 2025. The new payment, introduced under the Advance Passenger Information System initiative, has sparked further anger across the industry.

According to the NCAA, the APIS fee aims to enhance security and streamline passenger clearance at Nigerian airports by collecting and processing traveller data before arrival. However, despite the agency’s justification, the new charge has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that the fee, distinct from an existing $20 security fee introduced in 2010, will only deepen the financial burden on passengers and complicate air travel logistics.

Yet, the most pressing issue for many Nigerians remains the insistence by some foreign airlines on accepting only US dollars for ticket payments — a move perceived as both exploitative and disrespectful to Nigeria’s legal tender.

Speaking with our correspondent, Aderele James, a Morocco-bound passenger, condemned the dollar-only policy, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the country’s economy.

“For me, I was more than surprised when my agent told me that some airlines have insisted on taking dollars only from outbound passengers. This is Nigeria, a sovereign state where no one should tell us how we should set out our laws. Why should we bend our rules for some airlines flying into our country?

“The legal tender in Nigeria is the naira, and so should it be across all transactions. These people won’t allow such in their country. I wonder why our leaders are keeping a criminal silence on this matter.” James further stated, “I have made it a principle never to fly any airline, insisting that I must pay in dollars. My family and I have made it a principle never to fly any airline that takes other currencies in our country. This is utterly disrespectful and unacceptable.

“We suffered to gain our independence; an attempt for anyone to trample on it should be resisted with all our might. To keep quiet about this is to tell these people to keep oppressing us. The President should please do something about this.”

Another traveller, who simply gave her name as Mrs Lawson, also vowed to boycott any airline that rejects payment in naira, describing the policy as discriminatory and insensitive.

Reacting through a telephone interview, President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, Yinka Folami, stressed that while foreign airlines reserve the right to make business decisions, such actions must not disregard Nigeria’s sovereignty or its legal framework.

Folami said, “Excluding the naira from transactions in Nigeria is unjustifiable. Such actions put undue pressure on our currency and undermine government efforts to stabilise the economy.”

He warned that the constant demand for dollars in the aviation market could further weaken the naira and urged airlines to show confidence in Nigeria’s improving fiscal outlook.

“Opening ticket sales in naira will empower thousands of young agents, create jobs, and boost the economy,” he added. “We remain optimistic that the government will soon end this practice.”

With the festive travel season approaching, passengers and industry stakeholders alike are calling for swift intervention to protect consumer rights, uphold national dignity, and ensure that air travel remains accessible to Nigerians in their own currency.

By David Shepardson, Chris Thomas and Lisa Baertlein

The Federal Government says it remains open and willing to work closely with the Government of United States and others to eliminate terrorism in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

He explained the progress made so far on fight against terrorism by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the past two years.

According to him, terror suspect, Khalid AlBarnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the UN’s Complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured, is facing prosecution.

“Captured in 2016, Al Barnawi is facing trial along with four other terror suspects – Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.

“On Aug. 11, five terror suspects were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

“Also undergoing trial are the suspects arrested in connection with the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13, where dozens of people were killed and 107 injured.

“On June 24, 26 suspects in connection with the massacre were arrested.

“In August, terrorism-related charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja against the suspects.

“However, the government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the Government of the U.S., other friendly nations and partners, to eliminate terrorism on Nigerian soil,” Idris said.

He further explained that the cooperation between Nigeria and the U.S. has already resulted in the delivery of a dozen Super Tucano aircraft, which have been of tremendous impact in the anti-insurgency fight.

Idris added that another dozen AH1Z Viper attack helicopters were in the process of being acquired by the Nigerian Air Force.

“We call on our American friends and partners to approach the Nigerian situation with an understanding of its complex realities.

“Nigeria is a vast, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nation making significant strides in economic reform and in the bolstering of its security architecture,” he said.

The Minister noted that, constructive engagement is the surest and most effective way to achieve peace and stability.

According to him, Nigeria welcomes dialogue, cooperation, and support from foreign nations, including the U.S. in addressing shared security concerns.

“We warmly invite all our partners, both domestic and international, to join us in this noble endeavour, anchored on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect.

“The President Tinubu administration remains ever faithful and committed to its duty of securing our nation and its peoples.

“As the President himself has reassured, Nigeria stands firmly on the constitutional guarantees on citizens’ liberty and freedom of religion.

“I want to assure Nigerians that the country is in capable and steady hands with President Tinubu.

“He is leading the charge to boost our economy, strengthen our military and intelligence capabilities and leading the country towards greater and shared prosperity.

“On the current misreading and misjudging of the reality of Nigeria’s true security situation by the U.S., Tinubu is taking the lead to resolve all areas of misunderstanding through all available diplomatic and political channels,” he said.

MONTREAL — Air Canada has cemented a pivot away from the U.S. as Canadians continue to shun their neighbour amid the trade war, all as the company recovers from a summer strike that cost it hundreds of millions of dollars.

The country's largest airline ramped up flights at home and in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America in response to travellers' renewed interest in domestic and overseas trips.

"We mitigated the exposure to reduced demand between Canada and the U.S. In Q3 we quickly responded to Canadians' growing interest to travel domestically," chief commercial officer Mark Galardo told analysts on a conference call Wednesday.

"Sun and Latin American markets remain solidly ahead of last year for winter, with a robust advanced booking position from Air Canada Vacations."

"The transborder sector remains stable, albeit at lower levels," he said of Canada-U.S. travel.

Total capacity will nudge up this year, the company said, even as demand for U.S. flights stays weak.

The carrier's transborder flight volumes fell 10 per cent year-over-year in September, according to aviation data tracker Cirium. The decline reflects a backlash to the tariff spat sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump as well as a relatively low Canadian dollar and fears around immigration enforcement in the U.S.

On the plus side, the dearth of competitors on cross-border routes means Air Canada will enjoy a “much more favourable revenue environment” starting next year, said National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen.

Meanwhile, the airline's flight volumes rose three per cent domestically, five per cent for Europe and 20 per cent for the Caribbean in September. For Latin America, capacity is poised to increase 22 per cent by December, figures from Cirium show.

A second hurdle sits in the rear-view mirror, leaving a dent in Air Canada's income statement.

A three-day strike by more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants in August shut down operations, caused more than 3,000 flight cancellations and cost the airline $375 million, the company said earlier this fall.

In the quarter ended Sept. 30, revenue fell more than five per cent year-over-year to $5.77 billion due to the strike, which included $90 million in reimbursements to customers, chief financial officer John Di Bert said.

Net income in the third quarter — typically the company's most lucrative — dropped 87 per cent to $264 million from $2.04 billion in the same quarter last year.

Air Canada also cut about 400 management jobs to lighten its cost load after the financial hit.

On Tuesday, it narrowed its adjusted earnings forecast to between $2.95 billion and $3.05 billion compared with the $2.9 billion to $3.1 billion it predicted in September.

To recoup some cash, the airline is banking on steady corporate travel and a growing appetite for "premium" seats — larger ones with more legroom and enhanced services such as priority boarding and better meals.

"Demand is strong. In particular, business travel continues to recover," said Di Bert.

Chief executive Michael Rousseau suggested Prime Minister Mark Carney's push to expand trade in regions ranging from Asia to Europe would prove strong enough to bolster the airline's sales.

"We think we can play a big part in that diversification. Strategically bringing in wide-bodies will allow us to work with Canada on diversifying trade," he said, referring to a fleet shuffle that plunks bigger planes onto transatlantic routes.

Air Canada expects to add two Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets by the end of 2026, on top of more than three dozen narrow-body planes in a long-awaited fleet renewal.

Nonetheless, the carrier will have about a dozen fewer aircraft on any given month in 2026 due to delivery delays, hampering its capacity, Di Bert said.

RBC Dominion Securities analyst James McGarragle pointed to weaker-than-expected margins and capacity forecasted for 2026, with other cost pressures including an updated labour deal with flight attendants, airport infrastructure fees and other inflationary pressures.

On an adjusted basis, the Montreal-based company on Tuesday reported third-quarter earnings of 75 cents per diluted share, down from $2.57 per diluted share in the same quarter last year and well below analysts' expectations of 95 cents per share, according to financial markets firm LSEG Data & Analytics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2025.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar Airways will sell its stake in Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways in a share buyback valued at $896 million, the companies announced, ending the Qatari carrier's eight-year involvement with the airline.

The announcement came late Wednesday in a stock market filing by Cathay Pacific, which saw its shares gain 4.2% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Under the agreement, Qatar Airways will sell all of its holdings, which represent 9.57% of Cathay Pacific stock. The airline's other major shareholders are Swire Pacific and Air China. The plan is subject to shareholder approval.

“The buy-back reflects our strong confidence in the future of the Cathay Group and underscores our commitment to the development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub," Cathay Group chairman Patrick Healy said in a statement announcing the sale.

Qatar Airways, a state-owned airline flying out of the sprawling Hamad International Airport in Doha, did not acknowledge the sale itself. However, the Cathay Pacific statement included a comment from its CEO Badr Mohammed al-Meer saying the move represented the airline's “disciplined approach to portfolio management and our commitment to delivering sustainable value for our shareholders.”

"Following a period of record profitability and strong performance, this decision is part of a proactive strategy to optimize our investments and position the group for long-term growth," al-Meer said. Qatar Airways did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on Thursday.

Qatar Airways bought its stake in Cathay Pacific in 2017 in a deal valued at the time around $662 million. Back then, Cathay Pacific faced financial losses and layoffs amid increasing competition from other airlines. The Hong Kong carrier posted a $1.2 billion profit in the last fiscal year.

Qatar Airways, along with Abu Dhabi-based Emirates and Dubai’s Emirates, are long-haul carriers that link East-West travel. Their location on the Arabian Peninsula between Europe and Asia have made them a key link in global transit. Qatar Airways also got a boost when the small, energy-rich nation hosted soccer’s 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar Airways had struggled during a yearslong boycott by four Arab nations and the coronavirus pandemic. However, it soared to a $2.15 billion profit in its last fiscal year. Qatar Airways also has holdings in International Airlines Group, LATAM Airlines Group, China Southern Airlines, Virgin Australia and South Africa's Airlink.

Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press