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Global Aviation Report

USA, China: New flights to China

On September 25, 2007, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced 6 new flight routes from the U.S. to China.

“By bringing China and the U.S. one step closer, we increase our ability to compete, boost our success in the global marketplace, and make international travel for all passengers easier and more affordable,” Secretary Peters said.

Secretary Peters announced that Delta Airlines had been awarded a new direct route from Atlanta to Shanghai, making them the first airline to fly that route. The Secretary also announced that United Airlines was awarded a direct route from San Francisco to Guangzhou, to begin flying in 2008. Both the Delta and United awards represent final decisions by the Department.

Secretary Peters also proposed awards for four new daily flights to begin in 2009: American Airlines for Chicago-Beijing service, Continental Airlines for Newark-Shanghai service, Northwest Airlines for Detroit-Shanghai service, and US Airways for Philadelphia-Beijing service. Final decisions of these proposed awards will be made in the near future after further public comment.

Secretary Peters said the announcement today is the result of an agreement signed in July with the Chinese government to open up airways between the two countries and double the number of daily flights allowed between the U.S. and China over the next five years. The agreement also allows for new cargo flights operating to and from the U.S. and China.

By increasing competition, allowing more flight options, and reducing costly stops and layovers, these new direct routes are expected to lower fares and increase convenience for both business and leisure passengers to travel to China, Secretary Peters said.

Visa Alert

Bolivia: New Visa Requirement for Americans

The U.S. Embassy La Paz in Bolivia issued the following Warden Message on September 20, 2007:

This message is being issued to notify American citizens traveling to and residing in Bolivia of the new visa requirement for American citizens entering Bolivia as tourists.  The Bolivian government announced earlier this month that effective December 1, 2007, U.S. citizens seeking to enter Bolivia as tourists must first obtain an entry visa from a Bolivian diplomatic post nearest their place of residence by submitting an application, and presenting documentation that includes proof of economic solvency, itinerary and lodging, a police record , and yellow fever vaccination. The U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia has requested clarification regarding this policy and we are awaiting further information from Bolivian officials.  Please continue to direct specific inquiries to the Bolivian Embassy in Washington or your nearest Bolivian Consulate (see http://www.bolivia-usa.org/ for contact information). If you are in Bolivia, please contact Bolivian Immigration Services at 211-0960.   An unofficial translation of the Bolivian government decree can be found on the U.S. Embassy website at:  http://bolivia.usembassy.gov/wm17092007.html .

How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Shakespeare said it well in Othello: "But he that filches from me my good
name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/And makes me poor indeed."

Identity theft is now the fastest growing crime in America and around the world. It happens when a criminal wrongfully obtains and uses the personal information
belonging to someone else--perhaps to you. Such personal information may
include your Social Security number, credit card numbers, or the ATM PIN
code for your bank account. Although you may think you are careful with
this information, identity thieves are clever and can obtain this
information in any number of ways.

A popular method is "shoulder surfing" where the thief just stands near
the ATM and watches as you key in your PIN. Or the thief may listen in on
your cell phone conversation as you make hotel reservations with a credit card.

Many of us have gone fishing at one time or another. Well, ID thieves
utilize "phishing" as a way to get your personal information. They send
out fake e-mails, purportedly from banks or credit card companies,
indicating that there is a problem with your account. In order to "verify"
your account, they ask for your Social Security Number and other
information. Many people respond in good faith to these inquires. As a
result, their identities are often stolen.

While most people would not be caught dead going through a trash bin,
"dumpster diving" has become a new sport for ID thieves. They go through
dumpsters looking for things such as bank statements, checks, or credit
card statements--items that contain your address and account number.

We could go on and on with examples of identity theft, but you get the
picture. There are several things you can do to protect yourself.

- If you have to give out personal information over the phone, make sure
you know who is at the other end of the line. Also, make sure no one is
close by, listening to your conversation. When using an ATM, ensure that
no one is watching you.

- Shred all bank statements and credit card bills before you throw them
away.

- Do not respond to any e-mail inquiries for your information without
first calling the sender.

You can also now purchase an endorsement to your homeowners insurance
policy to cover expenses you incur in case your identity is stolen. For
just a few dollars a year, you may purchase up to $15,000 of such
protection. Please call your insurance agent for more information.

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Overseas Travel Warning
Indonesia: Ramadan Vigilance

The U.S. Embassy Jakarta issued the following Travel Alert on September 17, 2007:

The American citizens need to be aware that the potential exists for disruptions at establishments that serve alcohol during the month of Ramadan by groups acting in the name of religious or moral standards. In recent years, acts of intimidation or threats to destroy property have sought to stop the sale of alcohol or temporarily close businesses. The Embassy urges Americans to be vigilant about security if frequenting these locations until the end of Ramadan and Idul Fitri on October 13/14, 2007.

Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, or U.S. Consular Agency in Bali. Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission’s contact with Americans in emergency situations, and may be done on line and in advance of travel. Information on registering can be found at the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travelregistration.state.gov and at the Embassy’s website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov. All Travel Warnings, Public Announcements and recent warden messages are posted on the Embassy website.

The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 62-21-3435-9000. The telephone number of the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya is 62-31-295-6400; the number for the U.S. Consulate in Medan is 62-61-415-2200; the number for the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali is 62-361-233-605. 

Global Aviation Report
New Trend in the Aviation Industry
By JoAnne Green

Overseas Health Issue
China: No Sewage or Water Treatment for 700 Million People

According to a Reuters' report today, more than half of China's 1.3 billion population, including 278 cities, live without any form of sewage or water treatment.

An estimated 5,000 "administrative towns" and 20,000 smaller "market towns" also had no sewage treatment facilities, and a lack of clean water was especially acute in the central province of Henan.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government is scurrying to clean up the filthy air in Beijing timely for the opening of 2008 Olympics.

JoAnne's Advice: Keep in mind that China is ruled by a communist government. If you plan to travel to China, be extremely careful about what you say, do, eat, and drink.  Remember to take with you a good respirator, which you can find at your local hardware store, and water-purification tablets, or better yet, a portable water filter, which you can buy from REI. A good international medical plan and emergency medical evacuation insurance such as Atlas Travel Series, or  Liaison International or Liaison Traveler is essential for any travelers who visit or live in China.

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Air Travel Safety
Turkey: Attempted Hijack of Turkish Aircraft

On Saturday, August 18,2007,  two men attempted to hijack an Atlasjet flight en route to Istanbul from northern Cyprus, intent on causing the aircraft to land in either Iran or Syria. Instead, the plane’s pilots arranged an emergency landing in southern Turkey, claiming the plane needed to be refueled. Upon landing, most of the 147 passengers escaped through doors on the sides and back of the plane, but the hijackers held four passengers and two crew members for more than five hours of negotiations. Ultimately, all six were released and the hijackers surrendered.

According to the Turkish government, one of the hijackers was a Turkish national and the other was an Egyptian citizen of Palestinian heritage. The two met in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. Open press sources have quoted passengers who claimed the hijackers announced that they were al-Q’aida members, and Turkish police stated that the two suspects confessed they wanted to fly to Iran or Syria, and then travel to Afghanistan to join al-Q’aida. Although the men claimed to have a bomb on board, upon investigation, the purported explosive was constructed of clay.

This marked the fifth attempted hijacking of a Turkish plane in four years. Significantly, in each instance, the hijackers falsely claimed to have explosives on board. In April, a Turkish male attempted to hijack a plane traveling from Istanbul to southeastern Turkey; the pilots were able to safely land in Ankara and the hijacker surrendered. Although the Turkish press characterized this most recent attempt at hijacking as “amateurish,” the episode demonstrates that these incidents have the ability to ground aircraft and cause potential flight disruptions.

Overseas Safety & Security
Central African Republic: Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department reissued this Travel Warning on August 09, 2007 to alert Americans of heightened security concerns as a result of fighting between rebels and government forces in the north prefectures of the country. 

American citizens are strongly advised not to travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) until further notice.  Active rebel movements are still present in the northern regions of the country. In the northwestern prefectures of Ouham and Ouham-Pende, roadblocks by rebels and by government forces pose a serious and continuing threat to aid workers and travelers.  Fighting between rebels and government forces has forced much of the population near the town of Ngaounday to flee into neighboring Cameroon and Chad.  An expatriate aid worker was killed in an attack on a well-marked vehicle north of Bocaranga in June 2007.

The U.S.-sponsored development and aid work in the northwest area has been temporarily suspended, and U.S. Government employees on temporary duty and other contract visitors to the Mission will not be allowed to visit the northwestern or northeastern CAR prefectures without specific authorization of the Chief of Mission.

Rebels and armed men are also present in the northeastern Vakaga prefecture, and pose a threat to travelers in that area.  The rebels wish to overthrow the constitutionally-elected president and seek new elections, and continue to pose a threat to travelers despite recent tentative steps in the peace process.

In addition, highway bandits (“coupeurs de route” in French) pose a serious threat to travelers throughout the country.  Two World Health Organization physicians were murdered by unidentified assailants outside Bossembélé in April 2006.  There have been repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate travelers on the Berberati-Carnot-Baoro-Bouar-Bozoum axis.  The U.S. Embassy in Bangui strongly discourages American citizens, including aid, development, and religious workers, from traveling on these roads at any time of day or night.

Poachers and armed men also pose a threat to game hunters in the north central CAR, in and around the “Parc National de Bamingui-Bangoran.”  A French hunter was murdered in a targeted attack on a hunting party that included an American outside the town of Ndélé in April 2007.  The poachers in this area are heavily armed, often with automatic weapons, and outside local and national government authority.

The Central African government is unable to guarantee the safety of visitors in most parts of the country.  The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel to exercise caution in traveling to all parts of the country.  In addition to the above warnings, the Embassy recommends that Americans traveling outside the capital not travel with a CAR military escort, or any armed escort, as the armed escort may draw fire from rebel troops.

The U.S. citizens already in the Central African Republic should contact the American Embassy in Bangui to verify their locations and contact points.  They should avoid travel outside the capital unless absolutely necessary and exercise caution at all times, particularly at public gatherings.  U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the area around the Presidential Palace in Bangui and to exercise caution if they encounter presidential guards. The presidential guards have various checkpoints around the Palace and have harassed official personnel driving in that area.

There are approximately 300 peacekeeping troops from neighboring member countries of the Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa (CEMAC) that move in and out of the capital.  CAR security forces, sometimes with French military assistance, staff checkpoints throughout the city.  Some crimes are perpetrated by uniformed CAR security and military personnel.  In particular, military elements charged with presidential security are likely to be aggressive and belligerent.  Activities of the Presidential Guard throughout the CAR indicate that they operate with near-total impunity.

The U.S. Embassy in Bangui has just three American officers and can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens at this time.  

U.S. citizens in the CAR are strongly urged to register on the State Department’s web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Bangui.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in the CAR is located at Avenue David Dacko, B.P. 924, Bangui; tel. (236) 61-02-00; fax (236) 61-44-94.  For additional information on safety and security in the CAR, contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon, at telephone (237) 220-1500,  fax (237) 220-1572; web site http://yaounde.usembassy.gov/.  Americans may also obtain updated information from the American Embassy in N'djamena, Chad, at telephone (235) 51-70-09, 51-92-33 or 51-90-52; fax (235) 51-56-54; web site http://ndjamena.usembassy.gov/.

JoAnne's Advice: Up-to-date information on security can als