Emirates Seeks Expansion of India-UAE Flight Quota as Demand Soars
11,000 Andalusian evacuees start journey home as rain pause offers brief relief
Storm Marta cuts 179 roads across Spain, three on the national core network
Latest News
India widens e-Tourist Visa to 166 nationalities, boosting inbound corporate travel
India extended its fast-track e-Tourist Visa scheme to 166 countries on 8 February 2026, adding nine more nationalities and reinforcing the shift to digital entry processes. The wider coverage will ease short-term business travel and reduce visa-processing costs for Indian employers hosting overseas staff.
High-speed rail tickets from Hong Kong to 14 new mainland cities sell out days before holiday exodus
Tickets for 14 of the 16 new Hong Kong–mainland high-speed rail routes were fully booked for the weekend before Lunar New Year, signalling surging cross-border demand but also exposing capacity bottlenecks. Companies relying on the expanded rail network for regional assignments may need fallback options and earlier booking windows.
UK Government Confirms 25 % ETA Fee Hike to £20 From Late February
From 25 February 2026, the cost of a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation will rise from £16 to £20. The 25 % increase coincides with the date on which airlines, ferry companies and Eurostar must refuse boarding to visa-waiver nationals who do not hold an ETA. The change raises travel costs for tourists and globally mobile staff and puts new administrative pressure on employers.
Government outlines tougher—but limited—changes to rules for Ukrainian refugees
Deník N reports that the Czech government has agreed a moderate tightening of the ‘Lex Ukraine’ regime: income-tested housing aid, targeted labour-market tests and closer monitoring of time spent outside Czechia. The measures fall short of far-right demands but will still require employers and refugees to adjust procedures when they come into force, likely mid-2026.
Schengen-Style GCC Unified Visa Moves Closer: What UAE Travellers Need to Know
The GCC on 8 February unveiled the application pathway for a single electronic tourist visa covering all six Gulf states. Once live later in 2026, the permit will allow travellers—including those based in the UAE—to move freely across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman using one online form and fee. Companies expect major cost and time savings on regional business travel and assignments.
Cyprus Presses Washington to Admit Island into U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is in Washington urging the United States to include Cyprus in the Visa Waiver Program by July 2026. Cyprus says it has met all security and data-sharing benchmarks, and business groups project millions in cost savings and a double-digit rise in bilateral travel if the waiver is approved. The move would remove the need for costly U.S. visitor visas and boost the island’s attractiveness as a regional headquarters hub.
Undocumented migrants welcome Spain’s upcoming extraordinary regularisation as ‘act of justice’
Interviews with would-be beneficiaries reveal high hopes for Spain’s April 2026 mass-regularisation programme, which could bring half a million workers into the formal economy and ease talent shortages.
France Tightens State Medical Aid for Undocumented Migrants and Launches New Consular-Data Link
Paris has published two decrees that (1) allow French consulates to consult the AME database and (2) tighten the document list for filing AME applications. The government says the measures could save €180 million a year while keeping full health-care coverage unchanged for now. For employers and mobility specialists, the reform means closer cross-checks between visa files, border-control biometrics and social-security records, raising the bar on compliance for foreign workers and their dependants.
USCIS Sets March 4–19 Registration Window and Confirms Wage-Weighted Lottery for FY 2027 H-1B Cap
USCIS will accept FY 2027 H-1B cap registrations from March 4 to March 19, 2026 and will apply its new wage-weighted lottery that favors higher prevailing-wage levels. Employers must use organizational myUSCIS accounts, pay the US$215 fee, and can expect selection notices by March 31. The change means better odds for highly paid positions but added preparation for companies that hire large numbers of entry-level STEM graduates.
China moves 13.25 million rail passengers on 7th day of Spring-Festival rush, adds 1,688 extra trains
On 8 February China Rail expected to carry 13.25 million passengers and deployed 1,688 extra trains, while aviation authorities forecast 19,614 flights. The scale highlights both the resilience of China’s transport grid and the need for corporate travellers to plan carefully during the Spring-Festival peak.
Snowstorm Paralyses Toronto Pearson, Stranding Thousands and Disrupting Global Itineraries
A heavy snowstorm on 7-8 February crippled operations at Toronto Pearson, causing hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations across six major carriers and stranding thousands of passengers. The incident highlights the vulnerability of Canada’s main international hub to winter weather and the importance of flexible booking strategies for corporate travellers.