FAA Bans Turkey Flights; Cruise Lines Avoid Nice

Photo: Istanbul

One day after an attempted coup by Turkey’s military, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday banned all flights into and out of the country by U.S. aircraft due to security concerns.

“The FAA is monitoring the situation in Turkey in coordination with our partners in the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security and will update the restrictions as the situation evolves,” it said in a statement. 

The order means that American travelers stranded in Turkey will not be able to travel directly back to the United States despite Istanbul’s Ataturk airport reopening, though it’s not clear how many American travelers it will affect. Delta, the last U.S. carrier that had scheduled service to the country, suspended its service from New York to Istanbul in the spring.  

Cruise lines also have been affected by recent events. A number of lines have decided to stay away from Nice, France after last Thursday’s Bastille Day attack.  

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. will keep two ships away from the port in wake of the attack—Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation both spent days at sea instead of calling in Nice this weekend.  

In a statement, the company said that the decision is “driven by our concern for the safety and well-being of our guests and crew members.”  

Royal is contacting guests and travel agents with any changes to upcoming itineraries.  

In Turkey, meanwhile, other cruise lines—including Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises—already had cancelled all stops for 2016. Norwegian Cruise Line canceled calls for its Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas brands in January, affecting 61 itineraries.  

In a statement to TMR last week, Cruise Lines International Association said the top priority is to provide for the safety of passengers and crew at all times.

“Port and onshore facilities, infrastructure, and passenger security and services in destinations are strictly scrutinized. In the event of any safety concerns, cruise ships have the flexibility to alter their itineraries as needed to avoid areas of higher risk,” it said.