In the 2023-2024 Antarctic tourism cruise season, a record 9,384 Chinese tourists visited Antarctica, according to data from IAATO. And this coming season, 24-25 the Hurtigruten cruise line, according to its Shanghai sales office is expecting 600 Chinese tourists to visit the Arctic Islands and more than 1,400 Antarctica.
Brazilian authorities announced Friday that Porto Alegre's Salgado Filho International Airport (POA/SBPA) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul will be reopening Monday after months of being inoperational given the unprecedented floods. The measure will be carried out as scheduled: airlines have been selling tickets for these flights since August.
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) (*), and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) have announced their selections for the 2024 Antarctic Fellowship. The annual Antarctic Fellowships, are an investment in the professional development of talented early career researchers.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported this week a 29.3% drop in passing ships during Fiscal Year 2024 as a result of the severe drought affecting the interoceanic crossing. A total of 9,944 transits were recorded this year, a significant setback from 14,080 crossings in 2023. A fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.
Just a few days after the first domestic flight within Uruguay operated by Paraguayan carrier Paranair between Montevideo and Salto, President Luis Lacalle Pou Monday inaugurated the new international airport at the city of Melo, which showed the Multicolor coalition's commitment to developing and strengthening the country's air connectivity. The terminal's remodeling was part of the operations of the National System of International Airports and had a cost of US$ 12 million.
Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport is undergoing a US$ 20 million technological update that will allow instrument landings (ILS) with zero visibility, it was announced at the Uruguayan capital Thursday. Hence, flight delays are expected to be cut down, it was explained.
At least 12 people have been confirmed dead Thursday in the U.S. state of Florida, where Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving millions without power and causing severe damage. According to PowerOutage.us, 2.63 million homes were still without power in Florida Thursday night.
Paraguayan carrier Paranair Tuesday performed the maiden flight between the Uruguayan cities of Montevideo and Salto, thus marking the beginning of a new era in commercial aviation with foreign operators serving domestic routes.
Cruise industry giants Silversea announced this week its plans to build a luxury hotel in the Chilean town of Puerto Williams to revolutionize Antarctic tourism. The 150-room complex “will allow us to offer an unparalleled Antarctic expedition that further enhances our world-class vacation portfolio,” Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said.
The issue of the controversial clash days during the cruise summer season was also addressed by ExCo in its end of September meeting. It was noted that the Falkland Island Tourist Board (FITB) is currently taking cruise ship bookings out to the 2026/27 season and intends to continue monitoring future clash days during the 2024/25 season.