Uber and WeRide deploy fully-driverless robotaxis on Uber app in Abu Dhabi
Spanish airlines extend suspension of Madrid-Caracas flights amid heightened security risks
China’s Visa-Waiver Push Drives 35 % Surge in Foreign Arrivals
Latest News
Nationwide Airport Strike Grounds 3,400 Flights and Disrupts Half-a-Million Journeys
A 24-hour Verdi strike on 26 November shut down ground handling and security at 10 German airports, cancelling about 3,400 flights and stranding an estimated 500,000 passengers. The action seeks an 8 percent pay rise and higher allowances; employers warn of cost spirals. Business travellers face major disruption and renewed debate over minimum-service laws in critical transport sectors.
Trump Administration Terminates Temporary Protected Status for 340,000 Haitian Nationals
DHS has issued a notice terminating TPS for Haiti, ending legal status and work authorization for roughly 340,000 Haitians on 3 February 2026. Employers face a one-year deadline to find alternative visa solutions or lose staff, while advocacy groups prepare legal challenges. The decision signals a broader tightening of U.S. humanitarian immigration programs.
Belgium’s 24-hour general strike grounds most flights and paralyses public transport
A nationwide strike on 26 November forced Brussels Airport to cancel all departures and most arrivals, shut down Charleroi Airport and slashed rail, bus and metro services. Business travellers face widespread delays and companies are rerouting passengers or switching to remote work as unions protest pension and budget reforms.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen Agree on Faster, Smarter Border Checkpoints
Hong Kong and Shenzhen security chiefs agreed on 26 November to accelerate the redevelopment of key land checkpoints into 24-hour, facial-recognition-enabled “smart” border facilities. The plan is expected to ease chronic congestion for the 700,000 daily travellers and slash logistics delays, offering concrete benefits for businesses operating across the Greater Bay Area.
COP-30 drives 155 % spike in Belém hotel rates and 25 % jump in airfares
Brazil’s IBGE says hotel prices in Belém jumped 155 % in November, with airfares up 25 %, driven by the COP-30 climate summit. The spike is straining corporate travel budgets and highlights the need for early booking and revised per-diem policies ahead of future mega-events.
India and UAE fast-track visa liberalisation at 6th Joint Consular Committee meeting
India and the UAE used their 6th Joint Consular Committee meeting to agree on ‘progressive liberalisation’ of visa rules and to launch projects that digitise document verification and overstayer data. The roadmap promises faster, more predictable processing for Indian professionals and businesses operating in the Emirates, reinforcing one of the world’s busiest labour and travel corridors.
Cyprus & Lebanon Seal Historic EEZ Deal, Unlocking Safer Offshore Operations and Cross-Border Worker Mobility
Cyprus and Lebanon have finally ratified their EEZ boundary, giving energy and marine-services companies legal certainty to mobilise crews, vessels and project teams between the two countries. The deal should reduce insurance costs, speed up work-permit processing and pave the way for a Cyprus-Lebanon power cable that will further boost business travel. For firms relocating staff, the agreement marks a tangible lowering of operational risk in the eastern Mediterranean.
Austria Creates New Cross-Border Commuter Permit, Launch Set for 1 December 2025
Beginning 1 December 2025, Austria will issue a dedicated residence-and-work permit for third-country nationals who live in a neighbouring state but commute to jobs in Austrian border regions. The move closes a long-standing compliance gap, promises faster processing than a full Red-White-Red Card and should stabilise labour supply for manufacturers near the Slovak, Czech and Hungarian frontiers.
UK sets firm start date for Electronic Travel Authorisation: “No permission, no travel” from 25 February 2026
The Home Office has fixed 25 February 2026 as the go-live date for mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisations. From then on, most non-visa nationals will need an ETA to board transport to the UK. The £16 digital permit is obtained via an app and will be checked by carriers at departure. Businesses should integrate ETA lead-times and costs into travel policies now to avoid disruption.
Ireland to Charge Working Asylum-Seekers up to €238 per Week for State Accommodation
From late 2026, asylum-seekers who have jobs will have to contribute 10 %–40 % of their wages (capped at €238 per week) towards their State-provided housing. The Government says the move will save up to €30 million a year and align Ireland with EU practice, but NGOs warn it could push vulnerable workers into the shadow economy. Employers of protection applicants should review compensation packages and payroll processes.
India Protests Detention of Arunachal-Born Passenger at Shanghai Airport
• India formally protested to China after an Arunachal-born Indian traveller was detained 18 hours during a Shanghai lay-over. • New Delhi says Beijing violated international air-transit conventions, raising the risk of renewed friction in people-to-people links. • Multinational firms should reassess routings for Indian passport holders from disputed regions and update travel-risk protocols.
Canada adds Qatar to its eTA list, granting Qatari citizens visa-free entry for five years
Qatar has been added to Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorisation programme, allowing Qatari citizens to visit Canada visa-free for up to six months per trip. The eTA, valid for five years, will streamline business and leisure travel and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.