Saturday, 19 December 2009

The deep freeze causes travel chaos

Greetings from a snow driven Genoa, where like most European cities weather conditions are below freezing and travel chaos is the natural consequence, with airports closing and long traffic build ups becoming the norm.

The only reliable advice I can give you for the coming Christmas is simply don't travel! I'm sure that this is precisely what many readers do not want to hear, due to family and festive commitments, but here are some reasons why not:

Freezing conditions caused widespread travel disruption and challenges throughout Europe. Few places in Eurozone were spared as air, rail and road traffic suffered delays, closure or disruption.

In particular Eurostar Channel Tunnel trains (between UK and France) came to a stand still somewhere in the 25 miles of tunnel track, as thousands of passengers waited with diminishing Oxygen levels inside carriages for up to 15-18 hours without food or water provisions! Eventually passengers were evacuated. Electrical problems were sited as the cause, due to the extreme contrasts in temperature with minus zero outside the tunnel and 25 degrees plus inside. These extremes caused excessive condensation that led to the electrical fault. All services have been canceled on Sunday 21st December 09.

Poland is a prime example of the travel chaos with bitter cold (minus 15 degrees Celcius) and snowy conditions causing major train delays and challanges on the road.

From Warsaw to Washington, the east coast of America is experiencing a similar situation with snow storms and blizzards up to 97 miles per hour. A number of authorities in the region announced warnings to avoid unnecessary travel. Even Washington Airport closed.

The cold snap looks like continuing through Christmas,so wrap up and avoid an travel if you can!

To close in a realistic fashion, I wish you a White Christmas, as it may well be your reality in the Northern Hemisphere and a secure New Year if you are on a little Island in the Southern Hemisphere, at risk from Global Warming.

Grant Holmes
Editor
Perpetual Traveller

BA Cabin Crew Christmas Strike called off

BA passengers will be relieved to learn that the potential threat of the feared Christmas strike has now thankfully and wisely been lifted by the courts. This is a decision that will be welcomed by literally hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and all around the world for that matter.

Many believe there was never any proper grounds for such a strike and travellers now trust that the Union Unite will cease this opportunity to reconsider such damaging actions in the future. The last thing the British national carrier and the travelling public at large in the UK need to hear especially at this time of recession and right at the peak festive season is the cold threat of strikes.

Judging by passenger feedback it has also become apparent that they no longer have the stomach for old-style trade union militancy, which in many respects would be counter productive to the central cause.

BA is on a quest to attain profitability, as they consider that financial success is fundamental to build the kind of Company that shareholders and customers alike desire, which in turn would generate sustainable opportunities for BA staff.

World Travel Awards 2009

World's Leading Airline
World's Leading Airline Alliance
World's Leading Airline Business Class
World's Leading Airline First Class
World's Leading Airline To South America
World's Leading Airport
World's Leading Airport Hotel
World's Leading All-Inclusive Company
World's Leading All-Suite Hotel
World's Leading Beach
World's Leading Beach Resort
World's Leading Boutique Golf Resort
World's Leading Boutique Hotel
World's Leading Boutique Island Resort
World's Leading Boutique Resort
World's Leading Budget / No Frills Airline
World's Leading Business Car Rental Company
World's Leading Business Hotel
World's Leading Business Travel Agency
World's Leading Car Hire
World's Leading Casino Resort
World's Leading City Hotel
World's Leading Conference & Convention Centre
World's Leading Conference Hotel
World's Leading Conservation Company
World's Leading Credit Card for Travellers
World's Leading Cruise Brand
World's Leading Cruise Destination
World's Leading Cruise Line
World's Leading Cruise Port
World's Leading Cruise Travel Agent
World's Leading Design Hotel
World's Leading Destination
World's Leading Destination Marketing Campaign
World's Leading Eco-Lodge
World's Leading Emerging Business Destination
World's Leading Family All-Inclusive
World's Leading Family Resort
World's Leading Ferry Operator
World's Leading Financial District Hotel
World's Leading Fully Integrated Resort
World's Leading Golf Resort
World's Leading Green Cruise Line
World's Leading Green Destination
World's Leading Green Resort
World's Leading Green Tour Operator
World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company
World's Leading Heritage Hotel
World's Leading Honeymoon Destination
World's Leading Hotel
World's Leading Hotel Alliance
World's Leading Hotel Brand
World's Leading Island Destination
World's Leading Landmark Hotel
World's Leading Large Ship Cruise Line
World's Leading Leisure Car Rental Company
World's Leading Lifestyle Hotel
World's Leading Luxury Business Hotel
World's Leading Luxury Car Rental
World's Leading Luxury Cruise Line
World's Leading Luxury Hotel
World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand
World's Leading Luxury Lodge
World's Leading Luxury Resort
World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator
World's Leading Luxury Train
World's Leading New Hotel
World's Leading New Resort
World's Leading Palace Resort
World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator
World's Leading Private Island Resort
World's Leading Private Jet Charter
World's Leading Rail Service
World's Leading Resort
World's Leading River Cruise Operator
World's Leading Safari & Game Reserve
World's Leading Serviced Apartment Hotel
World's Leading Ski Resort
World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
World's Leading Spa Resort
World's Leading Suite
World's Leading Thalasso & Spa Resort
World's Leading Theme Park
World's Leading Tour Operator
World's Leading Tourism Development Project
World's Leading Tourism Property Development Company
World's Leading Tourist Board
World's Leading Transatlantic Airline
World's Leading Travel Agency
World's Leading Travel Commercial
World's Leading Travel Destination Website
World's Leading Travel Experience by Train
World's Leading Travel Management Company
World's Leading TV Channel for Travellers
World's Leading Villa
World's Responsible Tourism Award

 

© 2013 lpn. All rights resevered. Designed by Templateism

Back To Top