News and Updates

Harvey rapidly strengthened into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in the afternoon of August 24. Forecast models indicate that Harvey will continue to strengthen, and could become a major (Category 3) hurricane before it comes onshore between Port Aransas and Port Lavaca, Texas, in the early morning hours of August 26. After making landfall, the system will likely stall and weaken near the Texas Gulf Coast by August 29.

Harvey will likely continue to strengthen as it tracks to the northwest in the coming days. Forecast models indicate that the system will likely become a strong tropical storm or a weak Category 1 hurricane before it comes onshore near Port Aransas, Texas overnight on August 25-26. After making landfall, the system will likely stall over southeastern Texas through at least August 28. 

Unionized Air France (AF) cabin crew members have threatened to stage an indefinite nationwide strike from September 1 over wage disputes. The cabin crew strike is in addition to planned action by Air France pilots, who have threatened to walk off the job on September 9-12. Unless the actions are averted, the strikes could prompt delays and cancellations across the Air France network.

There are mass flight cancellations in and out of Hong Kong (HKG) today as Typhoon Hato makes landfall. Authorities are advising that Typhoon Hato is now a maximum category 10 typhoon. 

At least 16 people have been confirmed dead and 100 injured after a van ploughed into a crowd in Barcelona’s busy Las Ramblas district around 4.30pm local time (1.30am AEST) on Thursday.

Travellers, please be advised that all flights into Sydney are delayed this morning due to winds.

In December 2016, UQ commenced the first phase of transforming travel. Two new initiatives will be introduced this month to simplify travel at UQ, the introduction of a standardised travel allowance and a simplified booking process for domestic travel.

The new standard UQ travel allowance rates for domestic and international travel will come into effect from mid-August.

Typhoon Noru is tracking northwestward in the western Pacific Ocean. Though Noru has weakened from its peak strength, meteorologists predict the typhoon will begin to strengthen again between August 4 and 5 before weakening on approach to Kyushu Island. Noru is forecast to weaken further after tracking northeastward across Kyushu and northwestern Honshu, before entering the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Network Rail is scheduled to undertake major improvement work at London Waterloo Station in the United Kingdom between August 5 to 28. The work will require the partial closure of the station, which is one of the busiest in London. Schedule alterations and reduced rail services will be in place on the Southern and South West Trains networks, with significantly fewer trains to run on both networks.