Travel News

(Bloomberg) -- Ethiopian Airlines Group said it took only a minor hit from a more than 50% plunge in the country’s currency this year, shielded by income from its international routes.

Africa’s largest carrier saw a “small impact” after authorities floated the birr in July, Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said Monday in an interview. Losses occurred when “local money in the banks was devalued” and the airline kept domestic ticket prices unchanged as a “social service,” he said, without giving figures.

The effects are limited by the fact most of Ethiopian Airlines’ passengers take international flights priced in dollars, Mesfin said on the sidelines of an aviation event in Cairo, Egypt. Going forward, Ethiopia’s move will likely be a boon for trade and the economy, he added.

The birr has lost 53.6% of its value against the US dollar since the start of 2024, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Ethiopia is also moving ahead with its plans to build a new $5 billion airport near the capital, Addis Ababa, that’s set to be the continent’s largest. Authorities have secured the location and are working on planning new homes at another site for farmers who were on the land, Mesfin said.

Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Eritrea in early September, the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two long-feuding neighbors that had reached a rapprochement in 2018. The state-owned carrier has said its bank accounts were suspended, meaning it couldn’t repatriate funds or pay local staff.

In the future, “there is a possibility that we may again reinstate our flight to Asmara, but we don’t know what will happen, when it is going to happen,” Mesfin said, referring to Eritrea’s capital city.

--With assistance from Fasika Tadesse.

(Bloomberg) -- Freezing Arctic weather is testing Europe’s transport and power systems, while a blizzard is hitting the Nordic region. 

There are alerts for snow and ice across a swath of France from Brittany to the southern Alps. In Switzerland, as much as 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snow is forecast above 1,600 meters, especially in Lower Valais. There are yellow warnings for snow in northern Scotland and the southwest of England.

The icy weather will force some European countries to tap gas reserves as heating demand increases. Further north in Finland, a snowstorm dubbed Jari caused power cuts and disrupted public transport across the country. 

By Thursday morning, the blizzard had left nearly 70,000 households without electricity, according to Finnish Energy, with winds on the west coast peaking at 34 meters per second. A train crashed into a fallen tree on Wednesday evening, while power lines have been brought down and roads blocked.

There are orange and yellow weather warnings along the Swedish east coast, with local media reporting up to 50 centimeters of snow expected in some places. People have been advised not to travel and thousands of homes are without power.

“A deep low pressure along Finland’s coast is causing strong gusts and the cold air is generating heavy snow fall,” Emma Harenstam, a meteorologist at Sweden’s national weather service SMHI, said on its website.

In the Mediterranean, an orange wind alert is still in place for Corsica, where port and airport operations were disrupted on Wednesday.

There are also warnings for strong winds along the west coast of Spain and the Balearic Islands.

--With assistance from Eamon Akil Farhat.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a contactless passport renewal system, designed to simplify the application process for Nigerians at home and abroad. The system, which began on 1 November 2024, allows individuals to renew their passports online without visiting an NIS office for biometric capture or fingerprinting.

In an announcement shared on its official X platform, the NIS explained that the new service would be introduced in phases. The first phase commenced in Canada on 1 November 2024, with subsequent phases scheduled for the UK, USA, and Italy on 15 November, and Nigeria and other countries on 1 December.

“This service is exclusively for passport renewal. Applicants can complete the process from the comfort of their homes without needing to visit any NIS office,” the NIS stated in a video explainer.

The system leverages biometric databases, facial recognition, and live authentication checks to confirm applicants’ identities. Applicants aged 18 and above with existing biometric records can use the platform. First-time applicants are still required to visit NIS offices for interviews and biometric capture.

Renewals can be initiated through the NIS portal or mobile app by creating a profile, completing eligibility checks, providing identity details, uploading documents, and making payments. Renewed passports are delivered directly to applicants via courier services.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo The Minister of Interior revealed that the system was developed by two Nigerian software companies. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, he highlighted the Federal Government’s decision to prioritise indigenous technology for the project.

“The solution is completely indigenous. We did not go to look for foreign technology. The two companies/vendors that came together to develop the solution are Nigerian software companies,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister noted that the initiative is aimed at alleviating challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora, such as long travel distances, accommodation costs, and time off work for passport renewals.

Since its launch in Canada, the system has recorded significant uptake, with some applicants receiving their passports via courier. However, there have been delays in issuance due to the limited processing capacity of Nigerian embassies.

Tunji-Ojo clarified that the delays were not linked to the contactless system but to the embassies’ capacity constraints. For instance, the UK embassy processes about 300 applications daily despite having a backlog of over 48,000 renewal requests.

Efforts are underway to address these challenges. Advanced machines capable of printing up to 32,000 passports daily have been deployed to improve efficiency. The minister also emphasised ongoing reforms to enhance the reliability of the system.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) introduced a contactless passport renewal system to simplify the application process for Nigerians. The system allows applicants to renew their passports online without visiting NIS offices.

The phased rollout began on 1 November 2024 in Canada and extended to the UK, USA, and Italy on 15 November. By 1 December, it will be available in Nigeria and other countries, easing challenges like travel costs and time constraints for Nigerians in the diaspora while enhancing passport service efficiency globally.

Steps to apply for the contactless passport renewal

Applicants can access the new system via the NIS web portal or mobile app, available on Google Play, the App Store, and Windows Store. The process is as follows:

1. Download the app or visit the portal

Access the NIS mobile app or visit the official portal at www.passport.immigration.gov.ng.

2. Create a profile

Register using a valid email address to initiate the application process.

3. Complete the eligibility check

Take a quick test to determine if your passport qualifies for renewal.

4. Provide identity details

Enter your National Identification Number (NIN) and current passport number for verification.

5. Submit personal information

Fill in your bio-data and upload the necessary documents such as:

NIN slip Birth certificate Local government certificate

6. Capture biometric data

Use your mobile device to record your fingerprint biometrics.

7. Review and submit

Verify that all entered information is accurate before final submission.

8. Make payment

Complete the required payment online to finalise your application.

9. Wait for processing and delivery

After submission, your application will be processed, and the renewed passport will be delivered to the address provided.

Requirements for a Fresh Passport

For those applying for a new passport, the following documents are required:

For Adults:

Letter of identification from the local government or state of origin Valid staff ID card (for government employees) Completed passport application form Marriage certificate (if applicable) Birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (for those born after December 1992) Acknowledgement slip and proof of payment

For Minors:

Completed application form and a passport-sized photograph Birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission Evidence of Nigerian citizenship of parents Letter of consent from a parent or guardian Acknowledgement slip and proof of payment

For Adopted Children:

Court order and letter of approval from the Ministry of Women and Child Development

The contactless passport renewal system leverages technology, including biometric databases and facial recognition, to verify identities. Applicants aged 18 and above with existing biometric records can use this service. First-time applicants must visit NIS offices for interviews and biometric capture.