Power outage at Calgary airport results in travel delays, passenger frustration

Several flights headed out of Calgary’s international airport were delayed on Tuesday following a temporary power outage that started earlier that afternoon.

The Calgary Airport Authority said on social media around 2 pm that a temporary power interruption was affecting the baggage system and the International Terminal Building.

It was said later that “all flights” had been delayed and asked guests to coordinate with airlines regarding flight information.

A number of passengers took to social media, posting messages about the hold up, with some saying they were stuck in airplanes on the tarmac for hours.

“This is insane,” wrote Kamran Aslam on Twitter. “Does this airport not have emergency power backup generators and some sort of business continuity plan?”

8am Coffee With Ashley Ogawa Clarke

Japan has seen its fair share of great English-language fashion writers over the last 20 years or so. Martin Webb, Misha Janette and Samuel Thomas have all played their own part in bringing Japanese fashion to the world. Grimsby-born Ashley Ogawa Clarke is the latest writer to take on the fashion mantle and his work with Vogue, GQ, WSJ and several other prestigious publications sees him firmly in the media spotlight. I didn’t know Ogawa Clarke until we met up at the popular Higashi-Nagasaki coffee shop Mia Mia in mid-June to talk about his life in fashion, his background and his thoughts on Tokyo. We got along famously and shared a lot in common. Below is a snippet of the conversation that took place in the latest installment of our 8am Coffee series.

Ashley and his wife, stylist Reina Ogawa Clarke

What do you think about the rise

Cristina BanBan’s “Figura” Is an Expansion Into Abstraction

Cristina BanBan’s first ever exhibit in Japan, “Figura,” is a non-narrative exploration of form and freedom, reflecting her growth as an artist. Her paintings, though consistently spotlighting the female form, have historically been more narrative. In older pieces, her subjects lounge in plazas or sit in kitchens, their bodies voluptuous and their gazes thoughtful. However, BanBan insists on moving away from naturalism’s need to tell a story. This shift is clear in her newest piece “Figuras III,” which is on display at Perrotin Tokyo — along with other works — until mid-August.

Cristina BanBan, “Figuras III”, 2023. Oil, oil stick on linen. 200.7 x 160 cm | 79 x 63 inches. Photographer: John Berens. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin

From Autobiographical Narratives to Abstract Aesthetics

A classically trained artist, BanBan’s oil paintings retain elements of realism in the faces, bodies and stances of her subjects. This exhibition shows her

You’ll soon be able to use your phone on EU flights. But passengers aren’t sure that’s a good thing

A new poll has revealed that passengers are split on new inflight phone rules.

Passengers on flights within the European Union (EU) will soon be allowed to use mobile phones without enabling airplane mode.

The new rules – outlined by the European Commission last year – will mean travelers can make phone calls, text and stream videos. But not everyone’s happy.

According to new research by Kayak, one-in-five passengers oppose the change.

21 per cent of British respondents are against the ruling, while 40 per cent welcome it but think there should be a limit on usage with a “quiet hours” time on flights.

“A flight can often be seen as dead time… but for some, it’s part of the experience of going on holiday, relaxing and switching off from the world, having a snooze or watching an in-flight movie, which could be interrupted by others using 5G,” said Evan

Canada updates travel advice for France amid anti-police protests – National

Canada is urging travelers to exercise a “high degree of caution” when traveling to France as protests have broken out across French cities in response to the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by police.

“Since June 27, 2023, demonstrations in opposition to police violence have been taking place. Further demonstrations are planned in the commune of Nanterre, in Paris and in several other cities across the country, including Lyon and Toulouse,” the advisory issued on Thursday read.

“They have caused disruptions to services and transportation and have led to acts of vandalism, arson, and violent clashes between demonstrators and police. In certain cases, security forces have used to tear gas and disperse crowds.”

The Canadian government has urged those already in France to monitor local media for the most recent information, follow the instructions of local authorities and be prepared to modify their plans in case of disturbances.

Story continues

Largest cruise ship’s first voyage

Largest cruise ship’s first voyage

The world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has officially sailed the ocean blue for the first time in preparation for its highly anticipated 2024 debut.

After completing the first round of European sea trials, Royal Caribbean’s newest – and its largest, the cruise line boasts – is one step closer to its January 27 inaugural voyage.

The ship has since made its return to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where more than 450 specialists are conducting tests on the main engines, bow, propellers, and noise and vibration levels in preparation for the ship’s second set of sea trials slated for later this year.

Largest cruise ship’s first voyage

What all can you do on an Icon of the Seas cruise?

Royal Caribbean's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas is one step closer to making its January 2024 debut.

Royal Caribbean designed the Icon of the Seas to give seafarers a chance to pick the best of perks from different kinds of vacations – resort getaway, beach escape, or theme park

North Carolina roller coaster closes after discovering crack on pillar

A North Carolina amusement park closed one of its roller coasters Friday after park personnel became aware of a crack on the top of a steel support pillar on the ride, park officials said.

Carowinds said the park’s maintenance team is conducting a “thorough inspection” of the Fury 325 roller coaster and it will remain closed until repairs have been completed, the amusement park said in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

“Safety is our top priority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process,” Carowinds said in the statement. “As part of our comprehensive safety protocols, all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”

Carowinds advertises the Fury 325 ride as the “tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America,” the park says on its website.

Carowinds:Boy rescued from claw game at North Carolina

Canada travel: 13 more countries eligible for visa-less visits

Canada is expanding the list of countries whose residents are eligible to visit this country without a travel visa.

People traveling by air from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay can now do so for up to six months without a visa, according to a release by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

“This exciting development means that more individuals from around the world can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in a statement issued Tuesday. “This expansion not only enhances convenience for travelers, it will also increase travel, tourism and economic benefits, as well as strengthen global bonds with these 13 countries.”

The

Stay at an Airbnb Gassho Home in the World Heritage Site of Gokayama

Not far from the coastal city of Toyamaas you wind around some beautiful country roads and pass by picturesque rice fields, you will come across one of the most untouched and truly stunning parts of Japan in the very sleepy village of Suganuma which is part of the revered Gokayama area (a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Photo credit: Satoshi Nagare

Two very lucky people (one group of two guests) have the opportunity to stay in Suganuma for free and experience genuine local rural Japanese life for two nights from July 17 to July 19, courtesy of the Nakashima family who have resided in Suganuma for five generations. The project, in partnership with Airbnbs Japan and Nanto city, Toyama Prefecture, is located in the village’s gassho-zukuri style farmhouses, which are particular to the region. The houses are responsive with their thatched roof structures. Creating them requires a

AAA predicts record-breaking travel volume for July 4 weekend

A record number of people will travel by car or plane during the 4th July weekend this year.

AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, setting a new record for the holiday.

Domestic travel over the long weekend will increase by 2.1 million people compared to 2022 AAA says. This year, it’s predicted that the travel volume will surpass the last record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.

“We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,” said Mary Maguire, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Northeast. “More than 1.4 million Massachusetts residents will be among those traveling, 1.2 million of us by car. Both mirror the national trends and are higher than the number of travelers and drivers from a year ago.”

It is predicted that 43.2 million people will travel by car