Travel

Qantas launched a new route between Australia & Papua New Guinea

Qantas Announces New Non-Stop Direct Flights from Perth to Paris

A new direct connection between Australia and Papua New Guinea is now available to Qantas customers travelling between the two nations.

The national carrier began operating a commercial passenger route between Sydney and Port Moresby yesterday, marking the start of the route’s first service in over five decades. The airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft will operate two weekly return trips, adding more than 36,000 seats to the route annually. The new routes complement Qantas’ daily Brisbane-Port Moresby service.

“By skipping a stopover in Brisbane, our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours on their return trip.” Tickets can be purchased through travel agencies or on qantas.com.

The route, which will facilitate trade and business between Australia and Papua New Guinea, is the most recent addition to Qantas’ network of international services operating out of Sydney.

Customers flying from Papa New Guinea to Australia will be able to benefit from connections with Qantas’ international and domestic flight itineraries. Customers and frequent flyers of Qantas will be able to accrue and use Qantas Points on their flights, as well as take use of premium amenities including free food and beverages, checked baggage, and lounge access in Sydney.

Travel

This country tops visa rejections in the popular Schengen countries

Recent data from Schengen Visa Info reveals a significant disparity in visa approval rates, with Pakistan topping the list for the highest number of rejections in Spain.

In 2023, 52.84% of visa applications from Pakistan were denied, making it the country with the highest rejection rate for Schengen visas in Spain.

This rejection rate is the highest among all nationalities, pointing to a concerning trend for Pakistani applicants.

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

A total of 9,766 visa applications from Pakistan were rejected, highlighting the challenges many Pakistanis face when seeking a visa to Spain.

This high rejection rate is part of a larger pattern that has seen applicants from several African and South Asian countries struggle with Spanish visa approvals.

While many nationalities have faced rejections, Pakistan’s figures are particularly striking, drawing attention to the challenges specific regions face in securing visas for popular Schengen destinations like Spain.

China Takes the Lead in Sixth-Generation Fighters with White Emperor B

While Pakistan leads the rejection list, other countries have also experienced significant denial rates. Nigeria, ranked second, saw a 49.85% rejection rate, with a similar trend affecting applicants from countries like Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, and Ghana, whose rejection rates ranged from 43.4% to 48.21%.

These high rejection rates for applicants from African and South Asian countries contrast sharply with the approval rates seen in other parts of the world.

In stark contrast, countries like Jamaica, Indonesia, and Thailand enjoyed exceptionally high approval rates for their visa applications.

Jamaica led the pack with an impressive 98.4% approval rate, followed by Indonesia at 96.1% and Thailand with over 95%. Saudi Arabia and the Philippines also posted high approval rates at 94.32% and 93.91%, respectively.