Strikes & Alerts

RAIL TRANSPORT

• Railroad modernization works will disrupt rail services in Odisha starting April 13 (connecting and non-interlocking track works at Meramandali Railway Station in the Dhenkanal-Angul railway section). As part of this process, it was decided to temporarily modify train services to ensure efficient completion of the work. Several trains will experience cancellations and detour between April 13 and April 24, 2025. The changes were made with the primary goal of minimizing inconvenience to travelers.
• In Vienna, OBB’s Nightjet services are canceled on several routes from March 27 to April 28 2025 due to construction work. Please contact your travel service provider.
• In London Euston, the West Coast mainline is closed April 19-21 2025. Forward West Coast service will also be reduced on Good Friday.

AIR TRANSPORT

• Indira Gandhi Airport Int – Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 will resume full operations starting April 15 2025. All flights currently operating from Terminal 2 will be transferred to Terminal 1.
• In Haiti, American Airlines will no longer resume its daily service from Miami to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. American initially suspended flights until February 12, 2024. The suspension is now indefinite.
• Netherlands: the NATO summit will be held in The Hague June 24-25 2025, and Schiphol has been designated as the arrival and departure point for dozens of international delegations. Air, road and rail disruptions are expected to be possible. The country will welcome about 45 heads of government and state, 45 defense ministers and 45 foreign ministers, accompanied by about 6,000 delegation members. For this event, the Buitenveldertbaan runway will be out of service for scheduled maintenance from May 10 to Sept. 28 2025.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• In Colombia, due to the presidential elections in Ecuador on April 13 2025, the land border between Colombia and Ecuador will be closed to foreign nationals from April 11 to 142025 .
• In Scotland, more than 1,000 Scottish Water workers will go on strike for two days later this month over a pay dispute. Staff represented by Unison will strike April 22 and 23.
• In Belgium, five rail unions have joined for a 24-hour rail strike on Tuesday, April 8. Strikes are also planned for April 15, 22 and 29. Contact your travel provider.
• Slovakia restores temporary border controls with Austria from April 8 to May 8 in response to a worsening foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
• In Belgium, the train drivers’ union ASTB announced the following strike days: 6 consecutive days in April, 2 weeks each in May and June, Fridays and Saturdays in July and August.
• Hungary has reinstated border controls with Romania, effective Jan. 1, 2025, for at least six months.
• India: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) unions announced a nationwide strike starting May 6.
• The Bulgarian government has decided to temporarily introduce Bulgarian-Romanian internal border controls for a period of six months, starting January 1, 2025.

ETA – Electronic Travel Authorization for travel to the United Kingdom

Starting from April 2, 2025, the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will be mandatory for European citizens entering the United Kingdom. The ETA has been in effect in the UK since January 8, 2025, for citizens of 49 non-European countries, including the United States and Japan. This measure is one of the anticipated consequences of Brexit.

How to Apply for the ETA

• Complete the application form through the UK ETA app or the UK government website:
• Passport copy
• A clear, front-facing passport photo without glasses

Validity
The ETA is valid for 2 years, linked to the expiry of the passport. If the passport expires before the 2 years, the ETA will no longer be valid. A new ETA will need to be applied for and linked to the new passport number.
The ETA allows for multiple entries over 2 years with a maximum cumulative stay of 180 days per year.

Cost
The application fee is £10 (approximately €12), which can be paid through the UK ETA app or online via GOV.UK. Other websites may charge higher fees.

Who Does Not Need an ETA

• Irish citizens
• Those entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man
• Europeans with permanent residence permits in the UK
• Those holding settled or pre-settled status

It is important to note that the ETA is not required for passengers only transiting through the UK, provided they remain within the international zone of the airport and have a passport from an eligible ETA nationality.
For individuals with passports from other nationalities, a consular visa may be required, even for transits, but each case should be checked individually.

Nationalities for which ETA is Already Mandatory
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British overseas citizens), Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan (if holding a passport issued by Taiwan that includes the identity card number issued by the competent authority of Taiwan), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay.

Nationalities for which ETA Will Be Mandatory from April 2, 2025
(permits are already available)
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City, Hungary.

All information available at this link (Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) – GOV.UK).

Important update on Air India’s refund policy for delayed flights:

For Cari travel partner flight delays, Air India is committed to providing the most up-to-date information regarding policies and procedures. Air India will no longer offer full refunds for flight delays where the delay is 60 minutes (for domestic flights) and 20 minutes (for international flights), except in cases where the delay meets the specific criteria outlined by DGCA. specific criteria outlined by DGCA.
For detailed information on DGCA’s guidelines on passenger rights, please refer to DGCA’s official website: Home | Directorate General of Civil Aviation | Government of India

Ryanair: Major change at check in.

CEO Michael O’Leary has announced plans to eliminate dedicated airport check in counters within the next 6 months. Without ticket counters, it will no longer be possible to check in directly at the airport, a procedure that is now only disincentivized through the imposition of a penalty of up to 55 euros.