AMERICAS

United States

On March 15, travelers in Washington DC should avoid a student-led climate rally to minimize delays. Participants will gather at the National Mall from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM local time. The rally is part of an international movement to demand more effective government action on climate change issues.

Canada

An outbreak of measles is affecting Vancouver. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person via infected droplets. Outbreaks occur frequently in under-vaccinated populations. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Measles can result in serious complications, particularly when very young children, the elderly or pregnant women are infected. All travelers should ensure that they are fully immunized against measles.

Mexico

Passengers of Aeromexico should reconfirm flight schedules before setting out. Yesterday, the airline suspended operations of its six Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. The decision comes after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 plane from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed shortly after take-off on March 10. All 157 people on board were killed. It is unclear when Aeromexico will resume operations of its Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.

Venezuela

Travelers should continue to expect disruption as nationwide power outages persist. Operations at Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS), which serves Caracas, and other airports, as well as communications, are liable to be periodically affected while the blackouts continue and may be entirely suspended without notice. Yesterday, protests and looting took place in heavily affected areas, including Caracas. The government has suspended school classes and labor activity nationwide through tomorrow. The outages are taking place amid a protracted ongoing political crisis.

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

Algeria

Travelers should continue to exercise caution and avoid all demonstrations after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his withdrawal from the Presidential Election yesterday. The poll, originally scheduled to take place on April 18, has been postponed. Despite celebratory gatherings after the announcement, protests are likely to continue over fears that the postponement of the election may be used by Bouteflika to extend his rule. The President’s decision comes after weeks of protests and strikes across the country. Calls for nationwide protests on March 15 remain in place, with any gatherings likely to be well attended.

Chad

An increase in the number of measles cases has been reported in Chad. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person via infected droplets. Outbreaks occur frequently in under-vaccinated populations. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Measles can result in serious complications, particularly when very young children, the elderly or pregnant women are infected. All travelers should ensure that they are fully immunized against measles.

Congo (DRC)

Travelers in Kinshasa should plan journeys avoiding the vicinity of Marche Central in the Gombe district due to ongoing gatherings by striking shop workers. Yesterday, related demonstrations occurred in the area against alleged poor working conditions. Additional police personnel have been deployed to the affected area, and local disruption is possible.

Ethiopia

Passengers of Ethiopian Airlines should continue to reconfirm the status of their flight. This follows the fatal crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 10. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane, traveling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi with 149 passengers and eight crew members, went down shortly after take-off. While most of its services are now departing normally, the carrier has grounded its remaining four Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets. Some minor disruption is therefore possible as other aircraft are moved into position.

Iraq

Today and tomorrow, travelers in Baghdad and Najaf should anticipate heightened security and associated disruption during an official visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. According to a statement by the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Rouhani will meet with President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in Baghdad, before traveling to Najaf to meet with pre-eminent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Travelers should stay updated on potential route closures, including to and from Baghdad (BGW) and Najaf (NJF) international airports, as well as around the International Zone in Baghdad.

Mozambique

Travelers should expect disruption and maintain flexible itineraries during the passage of Tropical Cyclone Idai. Idai, currently a Category Four storm (fourth highest on a five-tier scale), is likely to intensify as it turns south and west over the Mozambique Channel before making landfall between tomorrow and March 15 in Sofala and Zambezia provinces. Severe thunderstorms and strong winds are also forecast to affect parts of Niassa, Cabo Delgado, and Nampula provinces.

Saudi Arabia

Today, travelers should exercise caution and plan journeys accounting for possible disruption due to forecast adverse weather. The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection (GAMEP) has issued a Weather Warning for Mecca, Medina, Qassim, Tabuk, al-Jauf, and Riyadh provinces due to expected strong winds and decreased visibility caused by dust. Thunderstorms and rainfall are likely in parts of al-Bahah, Asir, and Jizan provinces.

Sudan

Tomorrow, travelers should exercise caution during a day of civil disobedience. Organizers have called on public sector workers to stay away from work and for a boycott of government goods and services. Organizers have also called on participants to close roads and disrupt operations at ports and railway stations. Any attempt to block roads is likely to provoke a forceful response from security forces. The level of participation is likely to differ across the country, though gatherings in Khartoum and Omdurman are likely to be particularly well attended. Normal travel to Sudan can resume despite an ongoing State of Emergency. The measure was imposed on February 22 for one year but was reduced to six months following a Parliamentary vote yesterday. Although near-daily protests continue, they remain relatively small, with attendance in the low thousands at most. Apparent differences between President Omar al-Bashir and the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Gosh, seem to have been contained for the time being. Travelers should continue to monitor developments, exercise enhanced caution, and avoid all protests due to the potential for unrest.

ASIA & THE PACIFIC

China

Travelers in China should anticipate disruption and reconfirm flights after the country’s civil aviation regulator ordered the nationwide suspension of all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operations by 6:00 PM local time yesterday. The development comes after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 plane bound for Nairobi crashed shortly after take-off on March 10; all 157 people on board were killed. Multiple domestic airlines operate this aircraft, including China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, Air China and China Southern, as well as Hainan, Xiamen, Shandong and Shenzhen airlines.

India

Today through March 20, travelers in Maharashtra should plan journeys accounting for disruption along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the main highway connecting Mumbai to Pune, due to maintenance works. Authorities will close a section of the expressway near the Khandala Tunnel for 15-minute periods up to five times daily. This measure is likely to prompt more drivers to use the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway. Due to the poor condition of the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway, travelers are advised against using this route and should continue utilizing the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Today, travelers in Delhi should avoid demonstrations organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) to mark the 1959 Tibetan Rebellion. A rally will take place from Khan Market towards the UN House in the Lodhi Estate area. Gatherings are also possible outside the Chinese Embassy and in the Sansad Marg area.

Pakistan

Travelers planning air travel to, from, or within Pakistan should continue to reconfirm flight schedules amid an ongoing partial airspace closure. Limited operations continue at 11 airports that were permitted to reopen after Pakistan closed its airspace on February 27 amid increased tensions with India. Yesterday, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced that general airspace restrictions, affecting over-flying flights, have been extended until at least 3:00 PM local time today.

New Zealand

Outbreaks of measles are affecting Waikato District, North Island, and Canterbury District, South Island. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person via infected droplets. Outbreaks occur frequently in undervaccinated populations. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Measles can result in serious complications, particularly when very young children, the elderly or pregnant women are infected. All travelers should ensure that they are fully immunized against measles.

EUROPE

Cyprus

Today, police will conduct a security drill at 9:00 AM local time at the Central Bank of Cyprus at 80 Kennedy Avenue in Nicosia. During the exercise, police will simulate an armed robbery at the bank. Travelers in the area should follow official directives and reconfirm the status of routes.

France

Measles cases continue to be reported nationwide. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person via infected droplets. Outbreaks occur frequently in under-vaccinated populations. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Measles can result in serious complications, particularly when very young children, the elderly or pregnant women are infected. All travelers should ensure that they are fully immunized against measles.

Macedonia

An increase in measles cases have been reported nationwide including in Skopje. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person via infected droplets. Outbreaks occur frequently in under-vaccinated populations. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Measles can result in serious complications, particularly when very young children, the elderly or pregnant women are infected. All travelers should ensure that they are fully immunized against measles.

Russia

Travelers in the Russian Far East should exercise caution and anticipate disruption due to ongoing wildfires. Fires have been reported near the A370 Highway in Primorsky krai and Khabarovsk krai, the A188 Highway in Khabarovsk krai, as well as in Vladivostok and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. The fires are likely to spread to other areas because of unfavorable weather conditions.

NOTEWORTHY EVENTS