Travel Advisory : Airlines Wary of Terrorist Threats

Worldwide

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered heightened security aboard all U.S. airlines flying to and from East Asia, Europe and Africa following information from the Philippine government about the threat of terrorist bombings. According to the State Department, foreign airlines flying to the United States from those regions have also stepped up security, extending even to the confiscation of travelers’ perfume bottles and aerosol sprays. The FAA believes that the tighter security is sufficient to counter the threat, the department said, and no U.S. airlines have been ordered to cancel flights. The exact nature of the threat was not disclosed, but there were news reports that Muslim extremists had plotted to bomb U.S. aircraft.

Latin America

Ecuador and Peru: The border fighting between the two countries has disrupted air travel in the region, including some flights from the United States, according to the U.S. Embassy in Lima. Since late January, U.S. airlines have reportedly used longer alternate routes to Peru that avoid Ecuadorean airspace. The State Department notes that the conflict has not affected the main tourist areas, such as Cuzco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru. But the department advises travelers to avoid the border region until hostilities cease. Situation updates may be obtained by calling the U.S. embassies in Quito and Lima or the State Department.

Mexico: As the army mounted a major offensive against Zapatista rebels in the southeastern Mexican state of Chiapas, the government increased security in Mexico City and several states to guard against possible acts of violence. The government also reported the seizures of rebels and arms caches in the capital and the city of Veracruz and said this proved that the Zapatistas planned to expand their uprising into major cities. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said it had no specific information that Americans were the targets of terrorism, but it advised U.S. citizens to increase their security precautions while in Mexico and to postpone nonessential travel to Chiapas.

Briefly . . .

Worldwide: The worst city in the world? In terms of security, public services, health care and social stability, the Corporate Resources Group has chosen Algiers. And as for the best, the Geneva-based firm specializing in international business picks . . . Geneva.

Switzerland: Zurich has announced plans to forcibly shut down so-called Needle Park, the violent open-air drug market located near the city’s financial center, according to the Reuters news service. Armed dealers from the park routinely threaten citizens, and tattered addicts demand money and shoot up on the streets.

Nigeria: With worsening economic conditions, criminal violence is increasing, and the Nigerian police are not effective in dealing with it, the State Department advises. Foreigners are increasingly the targets of violent crime.

Hot spots: Citing sporadic attacks by insurgents, the State Department has added the West African nation of Sierra Leone to its list of places where Americans are advised not to travel. Also on the list are Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Colombia, Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Korea, Peru, Rwanda, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, Sudan and Tajikistan.

The U.S. State Department offers recorded travel warnings and advisories at (202) 647-5225; the fax line is (202) 647-3000.