Located off the southeastern peninsula of Sulawesi, in Indonesia’s Southeast Sulawesi province, Buton Island is home to the Butonese people, an ethnic group with a long history shaped by maritime trade and the cultures of the Indonesian archipelago.

Photographs of blue-eyed Butonese children and adults have attracted international attention in recent years, particularly after being shared online. Some have two intensely blue eyes, while others display heterochromia, with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Behind their unusual appearance is a rare genetic condition known as Waardenburg syndrome.

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A rare genetic condition

Waardenburg syndrome affects pigmentation and can result in very pale or bright blue eyes, differences in the colour of the two eyes, patches of lighter skin or hair, and, in some cases, congenital hearing loss.

The condition is estimated to affect around one in 40,000 people worldwide. Several different types of Waardenburg syndrome have been identified and the symptoms can vary considerably between individuals.

Photographs distributed by the Pacific Press Agency have documented members of a family from Buton Island whose blue eyes are attributed to Waardenburg syndrome. The images have helped draw international attention to a physical characteristic that remains extremely unusual in Indonesia, where brown eyes are overwhelmingly predominant.

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Waardenburg syndrome can be inherited, although its genetics vary depending on the type involved. Several genes have been associated with the condition, and some forms follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning an affected parent can have a 50% chance of passing the altered gene to a child.

Importantly, however, blue eyes are not a characteristic of the entire Butonese population. They occur among certain individuals and families on the island.

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Portuguese legends and the history of Buton

The appearance of blue eyes on Buton has also inspired stories linking the phenomenon to European ancestry.

Portuguese sailors and traders were active across the Indonesian archipelago during the spice trade, and local accounts tell of marriages between Portuguese visitors and members of Butonese society. One story claims that a Butonese princess married a Portuguese sailor, giving rise to descendants with European features.

However, contemporary explanations for the particularly striking blue eyes seen among some Butonese families focus on genetic mutations associated with Waardenburg syndrome rather than establishing European ancestry as their cause.

The history nevertheless reflects Buton’s position along centuries-old maritime trading routes connecting different parts of Southeast Asia and beyond.

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One island in a vast archipelago

Buton itself covers approximately 4,727 square kilometres, making it one of Indonesia’s larger islands. According to Indonesia’s 2020 census figures, the administrative areas covering the island had a combined population of around 415,000 people.

Much of the island remains relatively sparsely populated compared with Indonesia’s major urban centres, while its communities maintain distinct languages, traditions and cultural practices.

The Butonese are historically known as sailors and traders, and their culture extends far beyond the physical characteristic that has attracted international attention. Traditional clothing, weaving, family rituals and Islamic customs continue to play an important role in communities across the island.

Indonesia is one of the world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse countries, encompassing thousands of islands and hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. The unusual blue eyes found among some inhabitants of Buton offer another striking example of the genetic diversity found across the vast archipelago.

L’article Why striking blue eyes can be found on this Indonesian island est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The conference featured a wide array of events, including the keynote speech delivered by acclaimed author and cultural critic Roxane Gay. Her exploration of modern feminism and social criticism set an inspiring tone for the conference. With 375 in-person events, over 50 hours of virtual programming, and more than 500 exhibitors, AWP25 offered visitors unique opportunities to connect with the literary community.

This year’s edition held special significance as Los Angeles continued to recover from the devastating fires that spread over the region earlier this year. In the wake of the devastating damages, the state’s tourism agency Visit California called for support from tourists around the world to help communities there rebuild. “We are all still processing the devastation wrought by the Los Angeles wildfires and the impact they had on the people and communities of LA, and those that love them,” Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta said in a statement.

“We are truly moved by the outpouring of support seen throughout this tragedy,” the tourism agency said. “From Angelenos volunteering their time and local restaurants opening their doors with free meals to the state’s tourism industry organizing donations and hotel discounts for evacuees. When the going gets tough, Californians rally together. Now we’re counting on you.”

In that context, AWP incorporated several initiatives aimed at supporting recovery efforts. On 26 March, the AWP Awards Reception & Benefit for LA Fire Recovery was hosted by author and actress Amber Tamblyn. The reception supported ‘Arts for LA’, a nonprofit advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting equitable and vibrant communities through the arts. Attendees had the opportunity to contribute directly to wildfire relief efforts, demonstrating the literary community’s commitment to helping those affected.

“We’ve brought our literary community together to celebrate and support the city amidst these challenging times,” said Interim Executive Director Michelle Aielli. “With a dynamic lineup of programming and featured events, we offered a meaningful and memorable experience for all attendees.”

The Bookfair, a central component of the conference, showcased hundreds of exhibitors, including independent presses, literary journals, and creative writing programmes. This marketplace not only provided a platform for literary organisations but also stimulated local businesses and tourism, as attendees explored the diverse cultural offerings of Los Angeles.

AWP’s mission is to amplify the voices of writers and the institutions that support them, while championing diversity and excellence in creative writing. The annual conference is the largest literary event in the US, welcoming approximately 10,000 attendees. Hosting the AWP Conference in Los Angeles during this period underscored the vital role of the arts in healing and rebuilding communities. The influx of visitors provided a boost to local businesses, hotels, and restaurants, contributing to the revitalisation of the local economy.

L’article Los Angeles’ resilience flies high by hosting largest literary event in the US est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Hong Kong is a bustling cosmopolitan city that continues to attract talented expatriates from every corner of the globe. With its unique blend of east and west, old and new, it is often perceived as an artistic, gastronomic and urban destination, which also never sleeps. Yet another surprising face offered to visitors is marked by lush nature in national parks and mountains.

In this episode, viewers will embark on a journey to discover the history of the island, learn about its famous streetcars, discover its rich gastronomy, go on a hike, and much more. Between the world’s megalopolis and nature’s treasures, Hong Kong offers a multitude of attractions.

1. British rule and history of streetcars

After more than a century and a half of British rule, the city returned to China as a Special Administrative Region in 1997. Although the city has been modernized, the traces of the British period are still very much present. One clear example are the double-decker streetcars that criss-cross its streets.

The tramway was introduced in Hong Kong in 1904, when it was virtually the only means of public transport serving the east of the Hong Kong Island and connecting to the west, starting with a single line in 1904 which gradually expanded and attracted more and more passengers.

In the beginning single-level streetcars were used. They became extremely popular given the population growth and the absence of other means of public transport and, in the 1910s, a type of balcony was introduced on the roof of single-decker streetcars, which offered the possibility to accommodate more passengers. In the 1920s, the roof was covered to form a second level and thus to give the “double-decker” streetcar with a design similar to the one that is known today.

Today, Hong Kong’s tramway is the only double-decker system in the world. The streetcars operate on a line that stretches from west to east across the Hong Kong Island and is divided into six main lines covering a total of 30 kilometres with 120 stops. The system transports an average of 150,000 passengers a day, making it one of the largest streetcar fleets in the world.

Most of the track is shared with the highway, other vehicles, as well as pedestrians and cyclists crossing the tracks. Car drivers and passersby need to be regularly alerted of the arrival of a streetcar to avoid accidents. The streetcar conductor operates a bell making a very recognizable sound. As a result, ‘Ding ding’ became the affectionate nickname given by Hong Kong residents to the streetcars.

2. Vibrant art scene

Hong Kong has seen a resurgence of art in recent years, with the influx and creation of local and international art spaces across the territory, particularly in and around the historic districts. M+ is located in the West Kowloon cultural district and is Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture. Designed by world-renowned architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, it opened to the public in November 2021. M+ showcases several fields including visual art, design and architecture.

It’s no surprise that Hong Kong is attracting a lot talented people, such as the French artist Elsa Jean de Dieu, whose basic training is decorative painting, faux wood, faux marble and trompe l’oeil. Over the years, whether as a painter-decorator in France or abroad, her sensibility evolved and now she doesn’t do the same decors anymore. “In Hong Kong I decided to create new sets, things that are very innovative,” she explains in the documentary.

She works a lot with a wide variety of materials – copper and gold leaf, for instance, are fairly recurrent in her art. Then at some point the Hoff asked her to do a mural for their restaurant, Uma Nota. “I said to myself, well, this isn’t something I’ve done before, I haven’t mastered spray painting, but I’m going to try,” says Jean de Dieu. “I’m an artist, I can succeed in doing something other than what I do indoors. It was the start of a new adventure.”

Street art is becoming increasingly popular in Hong Kong. In every corner, in every alleyway, visitors can find frescoes signed by renowned artists, including Jean de Dieu. Her signature is formed by characters and smiling faces.

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3. Shopping and markets

The world’s largest concentration of stores is in Hong Kong, and locals know how to make the most of it. Open every day, often until late at night, even casual travellers find it hard to resist. In Hong Kong, visitors expect to find nothing but skyscrapers, but in reality, at the foot of these modern buildings, you’ll find a whole section of truly popular culture: the markets. No matter which district the tourists will venture into, they will find these small vendors that are very popular with locals on a daily basis, offering clothes, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, as well as Chinese medicine and religious items.

4. Gastronomy and Chef Olivier Elzer

Chef Olivier Elzer is from Alsace, France, and he’s very well known on the Hong Kong gastronomic scene. He likes to take his milk tea without sugar and a type of French toast that in Hong Kong is known ‘Sai do si’. “It is actually one of the origins of our French toast,” Elzer says in the episode. “They make their own version here. They add peanut butter. It’s moist, it’s tasty. It’s not our French toast, but it’s a very nice version.” According to Elzer, the Hong Kong version of the French toast has nice caramelization, plus the taste of peanuts, and hazelnut inside.

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He also reveals one of his favourite bakeries is Central, which stands next to his restaurant. Visitors can try the egg tart and pineapple bun, which are Hong Kong’s signatures. Locals and tourists alike love it. “It’s a bit like shortcrust pastry, a bit like a French flan with egg on top,” Elzer explains. “You have a nice sandy texture with the very tasty side of costard. So good, I love it.”

Chef Olivier Elzer heads up two restaurants in Hong Kong where he offers a new, lighter form of French-style gastronomy, without being fusion. An example is ‘Yunlong chicken’, which is actually farmed in the new territories. “I grill it with spices in a skillet,” he shows.

5. Diversity of islands

Hong Kong is made up of over 250 islands, many of them uninhabited. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city is easier than one might think. Cheung Chau is one of Hong Kong’s inhabited islands, only 2.5 km² in size, with 20,000 inhabitants, but nonetheless an island that represents a rich diversity, enabling locals the possibility to escape the urban jungle and enjoy nature, seafood restaurants and a little history. It’s a really easy getaway from the city, just half an hour by boat from the city, and it’s a complete change of scenery.

One of the must-see sites for visitors, showcased in the documentary, is the PakTai Temple, which was created in the 18^th century by fishermen to honour the Taoist god Pak Tai, “God of the Sea”. A few years earlier, in 1777, there had been a plague epidemic and many pirate attacks. It so happened that, after walking the effigy of Pak Tai around the island, the plague stopped and the pirates stopped bothering the villagers. The temple was built to thank him.

Cheung Chau is also an island for adventurers. Many have followed the path along the cliff in search of a lost cave once frequented by pirates. The cave is called Cheung Po Tsai, otherwise known as Cheung Po the child, one of the island’s most popular attractions. Cheung Po Tsai was one of the region’s most feared pirates, active in the early 19^th century. Legend has it that he hid his booty in this cave. Nothing has yet been found however.

6. Hiking and Hong Kong’s highest peak

Rising 957 metres above sea level, often covered in clouds, Tai Mo Shan is Hong Kong’s highest peak. Despite its altitude, it is accessible on foot, thanks to several hiking trails winding around the summit.

The route is around 12 km long. How much time the hike takes will depend on walking speed, but an average 4 hours with a lunch break is not unusual. The first part is relatively easy as it’s a mix of paved roads and forest paths. The second part is on the top of the mountain, with ups and downs, on regular trail roads, with rocks and stones, to finally join the main road and admire a unique view of Hong Kong. Hiking is the best way to get off the beaten track.

L’article New travel documentary on Hong Kong  premieres on TV5 Monde est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Viewers will embark on a journey to discover architectural gems that have withstood time, the diversity of sounds and languages, tasteful cuisine, the vibrant life of a modern city, and much more. 

António Buscardini, director

1. Historic centre and ruins of São Paulo

Macau holds a special place in Asia, a land where East and West meet. Located in south-west China, about an hour from Hong Kong, Macau is the oldest European territory in China. A blend of Chinese culture plus four centuries of Portuguese presence, the city has acquired a rich religious, architectural, linguistic and gastronomic heritage.

It’s no surprise that Macau’s historic center has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2005. This recognition is increasingly attracting the curiosity of many visitors, particularly in front of the ruins of the Church of the Mother of God of São Paulo, built in the early 17^th century. It was the church of the University of Macau, and the first to be built in Asia. Following a serious fire in 1835, the church was ravaged by flames, sparing only the façade and staircases. The ruins of São Paulo have become Macau’s picture postcard. The street sidewalks, which are covered with small, white and black cobblestone, are reminiscent of the cobblestoned streets of Lisbon.

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Just a stone’s throw from the ruins of São Paulo, the documentary then showcases the Leal Senado square. A popular venue for public events and religious celebrations. The square’s namesake, the Senate building, is a neoclassical construction dating from 1784. Its name, “Loyal Senate”, was bestowed by the Portuguese King John IV in recognition of Macau’s loyalty to the Portuguese crown.

2. A-Ma temple

The episode presents the multicultural kaleidoscope of Macau that transports visitors to different times and places around the world. The A-Ma temple is Macau’s oldest building, predating even the city’s foundation. It was here that the first meeting between Portuguese navigators and sailors from the Fu-quine province took place. There’s a legend about a Chinese ship that ran aground in these waters following a terrible storm. A girl levitated opened her arms and hands, and miraculously calmed the storm. After this miracle, the temple was built in homage to this missing goddess.

3. Languages

Macau’s official languages are Portuguese and Cantonese Chinese. Over time, this fusion has given rise to a third language: Macanese Patois or Creole, known simply as Patois to the locals. On 20 February 2009, UNESCO classified the Macanese Patois as critically endangered.

A few local entities have since tried to defend and promote Patois, such as the Miguel Senna Fernandes’ theatre company. Senna Fernandes’ company is called Dóci Papiaçám di Macau, which means “The gentle language of Macau”. Over the last few years, the company has been raising awareness of the language on stage. They have shown that it’s possible to use language for the simpler things of everyday life, especially when talking about more modern things. 

Nowadays, the most successful way of transmitting the Patois is through music, especially on social networks. “We’ve made music too, and there’s already a lot of stuff posted on YouTube,” Miguel Senna Fernandes explains in the documentary. “We even use subtitles, because there are people who are already excited by the music but want to know what the lyrics mean.” The lyrics are in Patois, Portuguese, English and Chinese.

Language is the means by which people communicate with each other, build relationships and create a sense of community. The Lusophone world is the total of Portuguese-speaking countries and regions. The Portuguese-speaking world counts some 270 million individuals from the four corners of the globe. Every year, Macau hosts a three-day festival to celebrate and promote Luso culture.

4. Gastronomy and Chef Yves Duron

Macanese cuisine is probably one of the oldest fusion cuisines in the world. It dates back to the time when the Portuguese discovered the world. They came from Europe, passing through Africa, India, South Asia, particularly Malacca, and finally stopped here in Macau. Along the way, they brought different tastes, and different ingredients from all over the world.

“When they settled in Macau, they included the Chinese ingredients they could find in Macau,” says Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office. “The result is what we call Macanese cuisine.” Thanks to this unique asset, in 2017 Macau joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Gastronomy category.

In the episode, Chef Yves Duron, a French expatriate, is featured as someone who, over the years, has become very familiar with Macanese fusion cuisine. He is shown going to the São Lourenço market to buy ingredients for Florita Alves’ restaurant to prepare a special fusion dish with her.

Chef Duron then prepares ‘Ameijoas’ Macanese – clams that are sautéed with ingredients such as garlic, onion, shallot, and Portuguese white wine. “I also like to add spicy bell pepper and a lot of cilantro,” the chef explains. He is also shown preparing another typical dish – Poco Cay, which in Chinese means “Portuguese Chicken”. It’s a dish that was created in Macau. Macanese families tried to prepare the dishes they used to eat in Portugal, but with local ingredients, thus achieving new combinations and surprising flavours. 

5. The Macau Grand Prix

The Macau Grand Prix is one of the biggest and most prestigious annual events in the former Portuguese enclave. The circuit has a rich history dating back to May 1954 when the people who wanted to organize the Grand Prix wrote a letter to Paul Dudoit in Hong Kong, asking for support in organizing the first Grand Prix. It was a very important letter.

This Grand Prix has always welcomed the world’s best drivers, from generations such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. It also hosts a variety of races, including Formula 3, GT and touring car. The Guia circuit is renowned for its demanding nature and the danger it represents for competitors. Narrow streets, tight walls and high-speed sections create an exciting environment for drivers.

“I remember Michael Schumacher who, after winning Monaco in F1, said that Monaco is very special as a city circuit just like Macau,” João Manuel Costa Antunes, former director of the Macau Grand Prix, explains in the documentary. “The fact that he mentioned Macau was huge for us.”

Today the Macau Grand Prix Museum is the living memory of over 70 years of history. Renovated in 2021, with state-of-the-art multimedia screens, racing exhibits and barrier-free features, it offers visitors a fascinating journey through Macau’s motorsport heritage.

6. Architecture and urban landscape

Since the Fortune Tower was built in 1986, almost 200 skyscrapers have sprung up in Macau. An impressive new architectural landscape that attracts several million tourists every year. Over the past two decades, Cotai Street has become a new symbol of Macau’s identity.

Here, visitors can see clusters of spectacular resorts all along Cotai Street. There are several dozen luxury hotels with very original designs. “As an architect, it’s very interesting to witness these large developments,” says architect Christine Choi. “You really see the precision and attention to design at an architectural and technological level.”

In the heart of Cotai street, there is a very pleasant footpath that gives visitors a privileged view of the many resorts and also of the Taipa district.

L’article New travel documentary on Macau premieres on TV5 Monde est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In September of this year, Prince Laurent explained to the press that he wished to leave Belgium and move to Italy, his mother’s country of origin. In Italy, he said, he would work and take Italian nationality, but he has not yet officially notified the government of his intentions.

If his application were to be submitted and later granted, the process would not automatically affect his State allowance. There has been a lot of controversy regarding a legal dispute between Prince Laurent and the Belgian State over social security. Neither he nor his family are entitled to it due to the State allowance Laurent receives for being part of the Belgian Royal Family.

According to local media, his endowment amounts to 388,000 euros this year. His wife, Princess Claire, and their three children, however, have no social security cover (healthcare, health insurance, pension). He therefore decided to take legal action, taking the Union of the Middle Classes (UCM) and the National Institute of Social Insurance for the Workers d’Assurances Sociales (Inasti) to the French-speaking Labor Court in Brussels last year.

“What I’m asking is that elementary rights be respected”, he declared. “I’m not making it a question of financial means, but of respect,” he said. “When a migrant comes here, he registers and has rights. I may be a migrant too but my family set up the state. I’m asking for the right to social recognition. Is that asking a lot?”

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A prince’s change of nationality has no direct impact on the endowment he receives from the state, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told the House’s Interior Committee on Wednesday, 20 November, after receiving a question from Vlaams Belang MP Barbara Pas.

“The Prince has given a number of interviews about his future but has not formally informed the government of his plans,” explained De Croo. “The Prince is always free to renounce his endowment and privileges as a member of the Royal Family. In this case, the obligations defined in the law also come to an end. This is a view that has been expressed in the past by my predecessors, but the Prince has never taken the initiative to do so. The government is aware of Prince Laurent’s plans to combine Belgian and Italian nationality, and of his wish to move to Italy. A change of nationality in itself has no automatic consequence on the endowment.”

The pleadings are scheduled for today before the 11^th chamber of the Brussels Labor Court. 

L’article Belgian Prince Laurent set on applying for Italian citizenship est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In June of this year, the city of Barcelona announced that short term rentals would be phased out of the city in a sweeping plan by officials to get a grip on the northern Spanish city’s housing crisis. Barcelona has just over 10,000 licensed tourist apartments, serving the highest number of international tourists in any Spanish city. That influx of spending and demand for accommodation from what some call overtourism by foreign tourists has led to rental prices rising by nearly 70% over the last decade. House buyers meanwhile faced an increase of 38%.

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Before EEHA’s challenge, the city’s original plan was for those 10,000 licences to be scrapped over the next five years. The measure was designed “to guarantee the right to live in Barcelona and deal effectively with the housing crisis we have been suffering for years,” the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, wrote on X.

“We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona’s largest problem,” Collboni told delegates at a government event, adding that if plans go ahead with no hiccups, “from 2029, tourist flats as we conceive of them today will disappear from the city of Barcelona”.

With a “strong” inspection regime in place to root out any illegal vacation rentals, the current stock of short term holiday flats would be sold or go on the open long term rental market, Colboni said, creating what he described as “a turning point”.

The disappearance of the tourist flat cannot come soon enough for Barcelona’s would-be residents, long priced out of a housing market dominated by massive demand for short term holiday rentals. The heavy tourist footfall has other negative effects too, including noise pollution, overwhelmed public transport routes not originally intended for the masses, and the “feeling of collapse” generated by the huge numbers of visitors who arrive on cruise ships.

For its part, the EHHA believes that the Catalan Housing Decree (3/2023) breaches the EU’s Services Directive as restrictions laid down for short-term rental accommodation providers are unjustified for addressing the overtourism and housing shortages. “The European Commission services have already raised concerns to the Spanish Authorities that the restrictions laid down in the Catalan Housing Decree are not suitable to attain the objective of fighting housing shortage,” said Molnar. “They are disproportionate to that objective and that they seem to breach the EU’s Services Directive”.

In June, mayor Colboni warned that the impact of the move will not be felt overnight, in a debate that has been ongoing since a supposed moratorium on new tourist flat licenses in 2014. At that time, there were 9,600 licensed units. Since 2016, 9,700 illegal tourist apartments have been shut down and 3,500 apartments repurposed as primary housing for locals. The hotel sector would be set to benefit. 

Amid claims the city’s economy would be hit, Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor, Laia Bonet, has implied that landlords should think themselves lucky they would have income for the five years before the licenses will be retired, with the long lead-in period helping to mitigate their losses.

L’article Home rentals group to challenge Barcelona’s ban on short term rentals est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The behaviour known as “gate lice” in industry jargon is when a customer boards before their assigned group is called. Many passengers looking for a low-cost ticket rush to board the plane to find availability in overhead bins for carry-on luggage. Some analysts believe that American Airlines triggered that behaviour when it became the first major airline to charge for checked baggage in 2008. American collected about $1.4 billion in baggage fees in 2023, more than any other US airline, according to US Department of Transportation data.

The new software, which was first announced last month, will not accept the boarding pass and instead makes an audible sound to alert the gate agent and customer that the group has not yet been called. In these instances, the American team member will invite the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.

“We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase,” said Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations and Service Recovery. For customers travelling with a companion in an earlier boarding group, the agent has a simple one-click solution to override the alert and accept the pass to continue boarding.

The ability to confirm the customers who can board in their assigned group is just one feature of a new software platform developed in-house at American to support the airline’s team and customers. “The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations,” said Rath. “We are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Designed from team member feedback, the new platform provides team members with more insight into the number of customers in each boarding group, which helps agents pace the boarding process. It displays anticipated arrival time for incoming flight connections, which gives team members more insight into potential misconnections. It eliminates the need for team members to use multiple applications during boarding by replacing them with one easy-to-use display, giving team members a more intuitive experience to accomplish their boarding tasks and support on-time departures.

American offers multiple boarding groups which are associated with travellers’ ticket purchase, AAdvantage® status or membership, eligible AAdvantage® credit cards, US military service and more. 

Group 1 is reserved for active military personnel, business class passengers (on two-class international flights), AAdvantage Executive Platinum members (200,000 loyalty points) and ConciergeKey holders, an invitation-only status program for ultra-loyal customers who spend at least $50,000 a year and fly more than 200,000 miles.

Group 2 is for business class passengers (on three-class aircraft), AAdvantage Platinum Pro members (125,000 loyalty points) and passengers with the highest Emerald status in the Oneworld global airline alliance.

Group 3 includes AAdvantage Platinum members (75,000 points) and passengers with Oneworld Sapphire mid-tier status. All AAdvantage® members receive Group 6 priority as soon as they enroll in the program and if their AAdvantage® number is added to their trip. Basic economy passengers who are not AAdvantage members board last, in Group 9.

American will continue to gather insights and refine the technology through the rollout to more than 100 spoke airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) over this holiday period. The airline will further expand the technology to hubs and other airports in the coming months.

L’article American Airlines expands boarding tech at over 100 airports to prevent line cutters est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Eurocity Direct operates 16 round trips a day, stopping at the following stations: Brussels-Midi, Antwerp-Central, Rotterdam-Centraal, Schiphol and Amsterdam-Zuid. The existing IC link, now called EuroCity, will run to Rotterdam from December onwards. As before, the train will stop at Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Mechelen, Antwerp-Berchem, Antwerp-Central, Noorderkempen and Breda. All existing stops in Belgium will therefore retain their connections with the Netherlands. 

Like the EuroCity, the Eurocity Direct is a highly flexible train, as there’s no need to reserve your seat or train journey with the “flex” fare. The train is designed to be accessible to all. Whether you’re a business or leisure traveller wishing to explore the canals of the Dutch capital, visit its many museums or enjoy its nightlife and entertainment.  

A flexible fare between Brussels and Amsterdam is already available from 64.10€ (2^nd class): with the “flex” fare, travellers can take any train on the specified travel date. 

Very attractive “saver” fares are also available for Eurocity Direct, valid for the chosen train on certain dates (without seat reservation). These tickets can be purchased up to a few days before the travel date. The lowest saver fare between Brussels and Amsterdam starts at 25€. Those using the “saver” fare must book a specific train, unlike the “flex” fare. 

The EuroCity (today’s InterCity) runs between Brussels-Zuid and Rotterdam-Centraal: a “flex” fare between Antwerp and Rotterdam is already available from 25.20€. Saver” tickets for this route are already available from 10.10€. The EuroCity can be used for domestic travel, as is already the case with the InterCity, but not with the Eurocity Direct.

Fewer trains between Antwerp and Brussels

Passenger organization TreinTramBus has noted that the additional trains between Brussels and Amsterdam will come at the expense of domestic travel. “While the number of trains between the Netherlands and Belgium may double, the number of trains between Antwerp and Brussels will decrease by a quarter,’ said TreinTramBus president Peter Meukens, as reported by news Belgian news outlet VRT. From 15 December, only three instead of four IC trains per hour will run via Mechelen.

“In the Netherlands, domestic travelers are also allowed to use the trains, but not in Belgium,” Meukens said, as quoted by VRT. “The NMBS is banning Belgian passengers from traveling from Antwerp to Brussels on the Eurocity Direct. We cannot understand that. This will be chaos, because already now travelers are having to stand.”

L’article New high-speed train service connecting Amsterdam and Brussels from December 2024 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The decision comes amid the ongoing strike at Boeing, which has raised concerns about a possible worsening of delays at the manufacturer. Union machinists from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Boeing’s largest union, have been on strike since the 14^th of September, as reported by The Independent.

Boeing has already faced delivery problems for much of this year due to a broader crisis affecting its safety reputation. According to the Financial Times, Ryanair relies on Boeing 737 deliveries to meet targets, including a passenger increase from 200 million to 300 million by 2034.

“We were supposed to receive 20 aircraft before the end of December,” said O’Leary. “They will probably arrive in January or February. We’ll have them in time for next summer. The big problem for Ryanair is that it should take delivery of 30 aircraft between March, April, May and June next year.”

The comments from the head of Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, highlight one of the strongest statements yet on capacity constraints in the industry, at a time when Boeing and Airbus are struggling to meet delivery targets due to supply chain challenges. The Irish airline is Boeing’s largest customer in Europe, and it expects to receive 30 Boeing 737 aircraft between March and June 2025 to fulfil its growth plans. “Clearly we will have to reduce our traffic growth for next year, because I don’t think we are going to get those 30 aircraft,” said O’Leary.

O’Leary noted that, in his 30 years in the industry, he had never seen capacity constraints of the current magnitude. He mentioned that he was having weekly conversations with Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s chief operating officer, about delivery delays, and planned to meet with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg in the coming weeks.

He praised Boeing’s handling of its labor dispute. “I think the announcement on job cuts is a sensible move to get the unions into a space where they can come to an agreement,” he said.

Boeing delays in 2023

In October of last year, Ryanair announced that it would have to hack its own winter schedule, deleting flights from Belgian, German, Dublin, East Midlands, Portuguese and Italian airports because Boeing had missed delivery targets for new aircraft.

Ryanair was expecting 27 new aircraft in 2023’s last quarter, but announced last week that production delays mean it will receive just two-thirds of the delivery, from a month late, between October and December instead. “We think there may be some delays into next summer, but on a small number of aircraft,” Eddie Wilson, the head of Ryanair DAC, the largest airline in the group said.

One of Boeing’s most important customers, with a multibillion dollar order of 300 aircraft placed earlier this year, the Irish carrier has complained repeatedly about delivery delays that affected summer 2023. It was forced to revise its full-year passenger forecast down by 1.5 million to 183.5 million in July, blaming both air traffic strikes and Boeing for not meeting delivery targets.

In September of 2023, Boeing revealed a parts problem to do with misaligned fastener holes on the aft pressure bulkhead of its best-selling 737 MAX. The issue means “75% of the 220 737s in Boeing’s inventory will need rework” Reuters has reported. Boeing also had problems with tail brackets, with both production flaws originating at the Spirit Fuselage facility in Wichita, Kansas.

Spirit Aerosystems appears to be proving a thorn in Boeing’s side, with Spirit CEO Tom Gentile complaining that its contracts with Boeing are “not sustainable” and calling on the manufacturer to absorb some of the financial pain of rising inflation and parts costs. Spirit share were down by 7.3% after the complaint.

L’article Ryanair warns of fewer flights in 2025 due to Boeing delays est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Despite their most recent purchase, Harry and Meghan will probably not leave the United States, let alone get rid of the 18,000-square-foot mansion they own in California and bought in 2020. Their American home has 9 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, so they have more than enough space for the two of them and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. The residence is completed by a foyer, kitchen, dining room, living room, master bedroom, office, laundry room, garage, among other rooms.

According to US news outlets, the property has extensive green areas, swimming pool with its respective spa, rose garden, tea house, guest house, tennis court, children’s play area, among other amenities.

It is not clear if, after the acquisition of the property, the couple will also look into the possibility of obtaining a Golden Visa, which is a program that allows people to earn certain legal rights in a country through investing in their economy. Some of the benefits include residency, education, healthcare, and tax benefits. The visa will also allow them to travel freely through the countries of the Schengen area.

“In its most basic form, golden visa acquisition, or residency by investment and citizenship by investment, denotes the process by which qualified and vetted candidates are granted full residency or citizenship rights in exchange for a defined economic contribution to the host country,” the law firm Henley & Partners explains on its website. “Golden visa programs provide high net worth individuals (HNWI) with the option to physically relocate to a favorable jurisdiction, either now or upon retirement, and become residents of that state with full legal rights, including the right to live, work, study, and receive medical care in that country.”

New Golden Visa rules in Portugal

In February 2023, after intense pressure from the EU, the Portuguese government put forward a proposal called “More Housing”, by which authorities effectively halted the path to the Golden Visa through real estate investment. Instead, they kept an investment funds option, which is now expected to see a boost as the next choice for wealthy foreigners to acquire residency in Portugal.

With the real estate option gone, investment funds are the next easiest route and are expected to see a boom in the near future, according to Reuters. “Real estate has always taken the focus away from the other options”, said lawyer Vanessa Lima, from Prime Legal, which helps foreigners apply for the visa. “The main type of investment will (from now on) be in funds – there is no doubt.”

“The new regulations are wind in our sails”, added Alex Lawry-White, from Pela Terra, a sustainable agriculture investment fund. “The golden visa programme should have the community (…) at the centre of its focus”, Lawry-White added, highlighting that attracting foreign investment should not come at the cost of local communities, as it happened while real estate was still included in the scheme.

While there are no official numbers yet, three lawyers specializing in golden visas told Reuters that, with real estate out of the scheme, they expect investment funds to soon account for 80-90% of all the golden visa applications. On the other hand, they also expect interest in golden visas to decrease, not only as a result of the lack of a holiday home attached to the residency permit, but also due to uncertainty over the future of the scheme.

L’article Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may pursue ‘Golden Visa’ after buying property in Portugal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.