Wizz Air UK Pulls First Aircraft From Vienna as Base Wind-Down Begins
First fortnight of EU Entry/Exit System: Swiss airports report smooth start
Prague Airport launches record-breaking winter timetable with 15 new destinations
Latest News
First Toussaint Holiday Weekend Puts EU Biometric Entry/Exit System to the Test in France
Heavy holiday traffic on 26 Oct 2025 provided the first real stress-test for the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System at French airports and Channel terminals. Average registration waits hit 38 minutes at CDG, and Eurostar departures faced minor delays, but contingency measures prevented major disruption. Companies should now budget extra time for non-EU travellers until the enrolment phase ends next spring.
UAE Gives Golden Visa Holders 24/7 Consular Protection Worldwide
Effective 26 October 2025, the UAE extended full consular services—emergency assistance, evacuation, and fast-track return documents—to long-term Golden Visa residents travelling abroad. The upgrade narrows the gap between expatriate privileges and Emirati citizenship, bolstering the UAE’s appeal as a headquarters and talent hub. Businesses should integrate the new hotline and documentation process into travel-risk plans.
Ottawa signals sweeping immigration overhaul to lure global tech talent
Prime Minister Mark Carney told business leaders on 26 October 2025 that the 2026 budget will introduce a consolidated, skills-based immigration stream aimed at scientists and tech workers. The plan would tie occupational caps to labour-market data, preserve temporary-resident limits and require provinces to link immigration to housing supply. Employers will gain faster work-permit ‘vouchers’ but must prepare for new compliance rules. The announcement positions Canada to capitalise on tougher U.S. visa policies.
China's 2025/26 Winter-Spring Flight Timetable Adds 10.8 % More International Frequencies
CAAC launched the 2025/26 winter-spring timetable on 26 October, lifting weekly flights to 119,500 and boosting international frequencies by 10.8 %. Major hubs in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou regain over half of China’s overseas traffic, while new routes to India, Oman, Argentina and others deepen global reach. The expanded lift dovetails with China’s broader visa-free push and offers corporates faster, cheaper options for moving people and goods.
Delhi’s Revamped Terminal 2 Opens, Re-shaping India’s Airport Immigration Flows
Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 2 reopened on 26 October 2025 with self-service immigration, DigiYatra e-gates and reallocated domestic flights. The move eases congestion at India’s busiest hub, shortens connections for business travellers and supports the rollout of the national e-Arrival Card.
Warsaw Chopin Airport launches winter schedule with 131 destinations
Warsaw Chopin Airport kicked off the winter 2025/-26 schedule on 26 October, offering 131 destinations—its largest network ever. LOT, Ryanair and Wizz Air opened eight new international routes, including Marrakesh and Porto, aimed at corporate and expatriate demand. The expansion boosts Poland’s connectivity, reduces travel times for mobile employees and increases competition on key city-pairs.
US to Photograph Nearly All Non-Citizens at Entry and Exit Under Sweeping Biometric Rule
CBP finalized a rule on Oct 26 mandating that virtually every non-citizen be photographed when entering and leaving the United States. The measure, aimed at tightening identity checks and reducing visa overstays, will take effect in late December and covers travelers at all air, sea and land ports. Businesses must prepare foreign employees for the new procedure, while privacy groups are gearing up for legal challenges.
EU Entry/Exit System in force: Czech borders now collecting fingerprints and photos from non-EU travellers
Czech border checkpoints are now fully using the EU Entry/Exit System, capturing fingerprints and photos from non-EU nationals and lengthening processing times. Mobility teams must build extra time into itineraries, ensure travellers use the same passport for each trip and watch 90/180-day limits, which EES tracks automatically.
Zurich Airport launches 2025/26 winter timetable with 169 destinations
Zurich Airport switched to its winter timetable on 26 October 2025, offering flights to 169 destinations via 58 airlines. Highlights include Edelweiss services to Lapland and Cape Verde, easyJet’s new Pristina route and additional Gulf capacity. The broader network strengthens Switzerland’s business connectivity ahead of the EES biometric roll-out.
Austria’s New EU Entry/Exit System Faces First Holiday Stress-Test on National Day Weekend
Austria’s airports processed their first peak-travel rush under the new EU Entry/Exit System on the 26 October National Day weekend. Despite longer primary-inspection times for third-country nationals, queues remained manageable and border police already intercepted several overstayers and stolen passports. Companies should expect intermittent delays until the six-month EES roll-out is complete.
Germany’s family-reunification freeze: 1,500 hardship visa requests, zero approvals after three months
A parliamentary reply shows that, despite 1,500 hardship applications, not a single visa has been issued since Germany suspended family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection on 24 July. The revelation intensifies criticism that the two-year freeze was designed to deter migrants rather than relieve infrastructure pressure, and leaves companies scrambling to support separated employees.
Opposition Pushes to Tighten Spain’s “Arraigo” Residency Route
Spain’s conservative PP has tabled a 26 October plan to roll back the government’s May 2025 liberalisation of the arraigo residency pathway. The party wants job contracts, tougher language tests and a short “prove-your-worth” visa. Multinationals relying on arraigo to regularise staff may face longer lead-times and higher compliance costs if the proposal gains traction.
First Weekend of EU Entry/Exit System Runs Smoothly at Helsinki Airport
Helsinki Airport handled the first major travel day under the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System on 26 Oct, with only minor delays reported. The change replaces passport stamping for non-EU nationals and will help employers track stay limits for transferees and frequent business travellers.
French MP Proposes Automatic Renewal of Multi-Year Residency Cards
A bill lodged on 26 Oct 2025 would allow France’s multi-year and ten-year residence cards to be renewed automatically online, cutting red tape for 1.8 million long-term foreign residents. Business groups back the move, while prefectural unions fear weaker fraud controls. If adopted, the reform would markedly simplify corporate immigration compliance.
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival pulls in 163,000 visitors, signaling revival of mega-events tourism
HKTB says the four-day Wine & Dine Festival drew 163,000 attendees, up 30 % year-on-year, and delivered double-digit revenue growth for exhibitors. The event underpins Hong Kong’s ‘Mega Events + Tourism’ strategy, signalling the city’s readiness to host large incentive and conference groups again.
Ireland Spent €1.5 Million on Deportation Charter Flights So Far in 2025
Justice Department data show €1.52 million spent on five deportation charter flights removing 153 people in 2025, nearly €300k more than last year. The rising bill reflects a surge in deportation orders and a harder compliance line, signalling to employers the importance of robust right-to-work controls.