Jurídicos y Administrativos

💰 Argentina has been ordered by a U.S. court to pay $340 million for the 2008 expropriation of Aerolíneas Argentinas from the Spanish group Marsans. The debt, initially owed by Marsans, was sold to an investment fund and then to Titán Consortium, which is currently seeking the enforcement of an arbitration award from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Creditors are now assessing potential assets for seizure.

💸 Cabin crew at Scandinavian state airline SAS started a strike on Friday over low wages and demanding resolution. They claim to earn 15-30% less than their Norwegian colleagues, lack night and weekend supplements, and are required to clean the plane. The union, Fellesforbundet, seeks two free weekends per month and one passenger-free meal daily. Starting salaries for SAS cabin crew are $2,750 pre-tax, deemed insufficient. The strike is set to intensify next week, including staff from Denmark and Sweden where SAS has bases.

🏠 In Spain, municipalities are taking action against illegal tourist apartments after years of inaction. Sevilla plans to cut water to 5,000 unlicensed tourist homes and inspect ten daily. Barcelona aims to ban all tourist apartments by 2029, and Valencia is considering a similar ban, currently requiring owners to register properties. Madrid proposes new regulations without bans, while Mallorca imposed a €90,000 fine on each owner of 10 illegal tourist apartments. Public protests have pushed for these measures against tourism overcrowding and legal loopholes exploited by property listings on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.

✈ Tripulación de cabina de SAS en Noruega inició huelga este viernes tras fracasar negociaciones salariales. Al principio, 120 empleados se unieron, con posibles 800 adicionales la próxima semana que podrían provocar cancelaciones masivas de vuelos. SAS limitó la afectación el viernes y sigue en proceso de reestructuración. Unos 770 empleados podrían estar en huelga el 30 de agosto, si no hay solución. Detalles de demandas sindicales son confidenciales, pero salarios son hasta 30% inferiores a los de Norwegian. En 2022, una huelga de pilotos de SAS canceló 3.700 vuelos. SAS está en protección por bancarrota en EE. UU. desde una huelga anterior.

✈ On August 15, a Wizz Air flight from Rome to Madeira couldn't land in Funchal due to strong winds and diverted to Faro, Portugal. Stranded passengers, including over 215 travelers waiting in Madeira for the return flight to Rome, received no assistance or contact from the airline for three days. Italian authorities intervened, and a flight was sent after three days. Wizz Air, blamed the weather and ensured passenger safety, faced pressure from the Italian Foreign Ministry and consumer organizations criticized the lack of communication and assistance.

🔔 In Bucheon, South Korea, 20 km from Seoul, a hotel fire resulted in 7 deaths and 3 critically injured due to smoke inhalation. The incident, originating from the 8th floor of a 9-story building, is under police investigation for potential negligence, as the hotel may have lacked mandatory fire safety systems.

💰 Alcalde Francisco de la Torre proposes a per-overnight tax on tourist apartments in Málaga to combat rental market issues and support social housing, potentially raising millions for municipal funds. Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu emphasizes local responsibility over statewide measures, citing Barcelona's example, and addresses turismophobia, noting a "fully normal" summer season despite concerns.

📌 The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start on November 10, 2024, replacing passport stamping with electronic registration of entries and exits for non-EU/Schengen visitors. It applies to short stays up to 90 days within 180 days, excluding Irish passport holders and UK residents with EU residency. Data will be stored for three years or five years for overstayers and can be accessed by border and police authorities. Concerns are raised about potential passenger traffic delays.

💰 On August 8, the German DRSF fund began refunding over 215,000 canceled tour packages from FTI Group, impacting the upcoming travel plans of German tour operators and Spanish tourism. CEO Sebastian Ebel of TUI anticipates attracting FTI's former clients during September and October. The DRSF, established after Thomas Cook's collapse in 2019, requires travelers to provide payment proof and a security certificate for a swift refund process, which is expected to extend into September. Refunds are said to reach three-digit million figures.

🦠 Ministerio de Sanidad, Spain, decided not to vaccinate 100% of travelers to countries with Mpox cases. Mpox, first identified in humans in 1970, was declared a global health emergency by WHO on August 14. Public Health Commission of Spain met on August 21 to strengthen detection and control measures. High-risk groups will continue to receive vaccinations. Spain has a sufficient stockpile of vaccines. In the last Mpox outbreak in 2022, Spain confirmed 8,104 cases.