The SkyTeam airline alliance member ITA Airways (AZ), the successor to Italy’s flag carrier Alitalia, only started flying on 15 October, 2021, less than a year after having been founded. As with many new businesses, there was a host of issues that had to be sorted out in the beginning; these issues included applying for […]
Europe
Wednesday’s Who’s Who of Airport Names, Part 8: Anne de Gaulle
In 2021, Paris, France’s Charles de Gaulle (airport code: CDG) airport was the 5th busiest in the world for total number of international passengers (bear in mind that #1 Dubai DXB and #3 Amsterdam AMS operate in countries without domestic scheduled commercial flights). Sure, many countries had more draconian COVID-19 rules in effect for much […]
Croatia gets a New Bridge; Bosnia gets a New Eyesore
Since the fall of Yugoslavia around 30 years ago, there has existed an unusual border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While many of us know that Croatia is famed for its enchanting Dalmatian Coast castle towns along the Adriatic Sea, less well-known is that Bosnia and Herzegovina actually separates Croatia into two parts, at the port city […]
Saudi Arabia’s Flynas Will Fly from Riyadh to Podgorica, Montenegro
Starting 28 July — this week — you will be able to fly from to That’s right, Saudi Arabia‘s flynas is launching seasonal once-a-week flights between the Saudi capital Riyadh (RUH) and Podgorica, Montenegro (TGD). This is the first time the two cities have been connected by a non-stop flight. Every Thursday up to 1 September, flight XY355 will go […]
Setting a Precedent? Venice, Italy’s Plans for a Tourist Entry Tax
If you plan on visiting Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge next year, among countless other Venetian hotspots, be forewarned. According to CNN, starting on 16 January, 2023, Venice, Italy will be levying a dynamic tourism tax on day-tripper tourists. Prices are said to vary between three and ten euros per person. The official pricing system […]
Air Astana Reconnects Montenegro and Kazakhstan
As of yesterday, 1 June, Air Astana, the largest airline in Kazakhstan, and one of the biggest in Central Asia, has restarted its flights to Podgorica in the beautiful Balkan country of Montenegro. Air Astana first served this these routes last summer. From personal experience, Podgorica is merely the hub from where you plan travel to the […]
Iceland’s PLAY to Start Seasonal Flights to this New England City
Presque Isle? Burlington? Worcester? If you are familiar with Iceland’s years-long desire to connect North America with continental Europe, then those destinations might not seem too far-fetched. Alas this time, I’m referring to PLAY starting flights tomorrow, 11 May, to Boston. You see, Iceland’s main hub — not Reyjavik, the capital — but Keflavik (KEF), […]
Moscow’s Quirky Vending Machines
The freshest in my recent stroll through trip photos is the unexpected amusement found in the form of Moscow vending machines…and here I thought Japan had already cornered the market on this stuff. Without further ado, let’s take a gander at a few surprising – and one not so surprising – souvenirs: Now you too […]
