Liberia: Royal Air Maroc To Launch Africa’s First Direct Flight To U.S. West Coast In 2026

In a major leap for African aviation, Morocco’s national airline, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), announced on Thursday that it will inaugurate a historic nonstop route between Casablanca and Los Angeles beginning June 7, 2026.

The service Africa’s first direct air link to the U.S. Pacific Coast marks a significant expansion in global connectivity and positions Morocco as a central bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

A Milestone 12-Hour Direct Connection

According to the airline, the new route will operate three times per week and offer a flight time of approximately 12 hours, making it one of RAM’s longest intercontinental services.

The launch comes amid rapidly rising transatlantic travel demand and just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The U.S. hosted over 70 million international visitors in 2023, with West Coast tourism rebounding strongly conditions RAM aims to leverage.

Targeting Diaspora, Tourists, and World Cup Travelers

RAM says the service primarily targets:

The Moroccan and African diaspora in the U.S.

American leisure travelers

Business communities across the Pacific Rim

Football supporters heading to the 2026 World Cup, expected to draw up to 5 million international fans

“This direct route to Los Angeles is much more than a new destination. It is a historic milestone for the airline and for Africa’s air connectivity,” said Hamid Addou, RAM’s Chairman and CEO.

He emphasized that the expansion aligns with Morocco’s strategy to strengthen tourism, investment flows, and cultural linkages with the United States already one of Morocco’s fastest-growing visitor markets.

Strengthening Casablanca as a Continental Aviation Hub

With this addition, Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport reinforces its role as one of Africa’s top air hubs.

Prior to the announcement, the airport handled over 10 million passengers annually, connecting more than 100 destinations worldwide.

RAM currently serves five major cities in North America—New York, Washington, Miami, Montreal, and Toronto.

The Los Angeles route becomes the airline’s sixth North American destination and its first on the U.S. West Coast.

The rollout also complements RAM’s broader long-term development plan, which includes:

Expanding the fleet to more than 200 aircraft by 2037

Opening new long-haul destinations in the Americas, Middle East, and Asia

Increasing frequencies on strategic routes such as São Paulo, Dubai, Miami, and Washington

Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Serve the Route

Flights will be operated using Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a modern aircraft family known for:

Lower fuel consumption

Larger cabin windows

Enhanced humidity and pressurization systems

Improved passenger comfort and reduced jet lag

The 787 fleet has been central to RAM’s global expansion strategy, enabling longer nonstop routes while maintaining competitive operating costs.

Flight Schedule

Casablanca → Los Angeles

Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays

Departure: 04:00

Arrival: 08:20 (same day)

Los Angeles → Casablanca

Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays

Departure: 10:20

Arrival: 05:25 (next day)

Boosting Morocco’s Global Reach Before 2030 World Cup

The announcement further strengthens Morocco’s international profile ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

Improved air accessibility is expected to play a crucial role in positioning Morocco as a premier global tourism and investment destination.

With the new Casablanca–Los Angeles route, Royal Air Maroc confirms its ambition to remain one of Africa’s leading global carriers, helping connect the continent to major economic and cultural hubs around the world.
By: Julius Konton

Tourists From 42 Countries Will Have To Submit 5 Years Of Social Media History To Enter U.S. Under Trump Plan

The Trump administration is proposing to ask visitors from several dozen nations that enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. to submit additional personal information before entering the country, including five years of their social media history, the Department of Homeland Security said in a notice this week.

Citizens of 42 countries enrolled in the visa waiver program can generally come to the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business travel, without needing to apply for a visa at an American embassy or consulate, a process that can take months or even years.

The list of countries in the visa waiver program includes many European nations like the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as some U.S. allies around the world, including Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

While citizens of these nations typically don't need visas to travel to the U.S., they still have to submit an application online using a process known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, before entering the country. That system is designed to ensure applicants are eligible for visa-free travel to the U.S., and that they don't pose security concerns.

The Trump administration is proposing to overhaul the ESTA system, mainly to transform it into a mobile-only process. The plan would require applicants to share additional information about themselves and their relatives, according to a notice posted in the federal government's journal of regulations by Customs and Border Protection, a branch of DHS.

The notice said CBP plans to ask visa waiver travelers to share their social media history for the past five years, emails they have used for the past 10 years and the personal information of immediate family members, including phone numbers and residences. The submission of social media history from the last five years will be a mandatory requirement under the proposal, according to the notice.

CBP said the changes, which still have to be reviewed by the White House's budget office, are designed to enforce an executive order President Trump issued earlier this year with the stated objective of denying entry to foreigners who may pose a threat to national security or public safety.

But critics of the proposed changes said they could scare prospective travelers and negatively impact tourism, especially months before the U.S. hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Canada and Mexico, next summer.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has mounted an aggressive effort to increase vetting and screening procedures across the U.S. immigration system.

While the State Department has moved to scrutinize visa applicants overseas more heavily, some of the changes affect people already in the U.S. who are applying to stay in the country legally through applications for asylum, green cards or American citizenship.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has instructed officials to investigate the social media history of several classes of immigrants, including for views and activities deemed to be "anti-American." It has also directed adjudicators to more intensely probe the "good moral character" of legal immigrants requesting U.S. citizenship.

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez

What To Know About Changes To Disney Parks’ Disability Policies

Changes that Disney made to a popular program that lets qualifying disabled people skip long lines at its California and Florida theme parks are too restrictive, disabled fans contend in a federal lawsuit and shareholder proposal that seek to expand eligibility.

Guests arrive at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., June 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

The battle over who can skip long lines on popular rides because of their disabilities marks the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while cracking down on past abuses. But some Disney fans say the company has gone too far and has no right to determine who is disabled.

“This isn’t right. This isn’t what Walt and Roy would have wanted,” said Shannon Bonadurer, referring to the Disney brothers who founded the entertainment empire. Despite being unable to wait for long periods of time in the heat because she uses an ileostomy bag, Bonadurer was denied a pass for the disability program.

In a statement, Disney said it was committed to providing a great experience to all visitors, particularly those with disabilities who may require special accommodations.

Here’s a look at changes to Disney parks’ policies for disabled visitors.

The Disability Access Service, or DAS, program allows pass-holders and their immediate family members to make an online reservation for a ride while in the park and then get into an expedited line that typically takes about 10 minutes when it’s their time to go on the ride. DAS guests never have to wait in normal standby lines, which on the most popular attractions can be two hours or more.

The DAS program started in 2013 in response to past abuses by disabled “tour guides” who charged money, sometimes hundreds of dollars, to accompany able-bodied guests, enabling such guests to go to the front of lines. Disney says the DAS program needed changing because it had grown fourfold. Before last year’s changes, the percentage of guests having DAS passes jumped from around 5% to 20% over the past dozen years “and showed no signs of slowing,” the company said in court papers.

Disney parks make other accommodations for disabled visitors, including maps in Braille, a device that helps transfer visitors from wheelchairs to ride seats, quiet break locations and American Sign Language interpreters for some live shows. The parks permit some service animals on rides and allow some disabled guests to leave a line and rejoin their party before boarding a ride.

Disney narrowed the scope from people with a wider range of disabilities to mostly guests who “due to a developmental disability such as autism or similar” have difficulties waiting in a long line. Under the changes, guests seeking a DAS pass must be interviewed via video chat by a Disney worker and a contracted medical professional who determine if the person is eligible. Visitors found to have lied can be barred from the parks.

Some people with disabilities who have been denied say the new policy is too restrictive. Not only was Bonadurer denied a pass, but so was her 25-year-old son, who is blind and has cerebral palsy and autism.

“They are making a determination about whether you’re disabled enough,” said Bonadurer, a professional travel adviser from Michigan. “I would love to wait in line with everyone else, and so would my son, since that would mean he has a normal life. But we don’t, and unfortunately for us, we need adaptations to how we wait.”

Disney says the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t require equal treatment of people with varying disabilities. The company accommodates those visitors who don’t meet the new DAS criteria with alternatives, Disney said in court filings responding to a federal lawsuit in California.

“For example, in a crowded movie theater, a person using a wheelchair may be entitled to priority seating even if they arrive shortly before the movie starts, while a deaf person may only be entitled to a seat with closed captioning,” the company said.

At Disney’s main theme park rival, Universal, disabled visitors can get shorter lines if they have a card issued by an international board that certifies venues for their accessibility.

A shareholder proposal submitted on behalf of DAS Defenders, an advocacy group of Disney fans opposed to the DAS changes, calls on the company next year to commission an independent review of its disability policies and publicly release the findings. The shareholder proposal claims the change to the DAS program has contributed to lower park attendance.

Disney’s attorneys told the Securities and Exchange Commission in a November letter that it intends to block the proposal ahead of the company’s 2026 shareholder meeting, saying it was false and misleading about the reasons for an attendance decline, which the company attributed to hurricanes. The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.

https://apnews.com/author/mike-schneider

Viva Launches New Nonstop Service Between New York And Monterrey

Viva announced today that beginning December 13, it will operate seven weekly seasonal nonstop flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Monterrey, Mexico (MTY), offering travelers a convenient option for visiting family and friends during the upcoming holiday season.

Photo credit: IG: lovi.blossom_ Vianey Molina

The new service marks Viva’s official debut in New York, complementing its existing nonstop routes to Mexico City (MEX) and Monterrey (MTY). Additionally, the airline’s extensive domestic network allows passengers to connect seamlessly to destinations throughout Mexico. For example, travelers can easily reach Puebla (PBC) with a simple connection in Monterrey, enhancing both flexibility and convenience.

“Viva is committed to providing competitive fares, comfort, and excellent onboard service,” said Carlos Molina, International Sales. “This new service reinforces our dedication to connecting people and strengthening ties between the United States and Mexico, making travel easier and more enjoyable for our passengers.”

Viva Air remains focused on delivering an exceptional travel experience, ensuring that every flight offers both value and comfort.

Flight Schedule

Operates Monday through Sunday

New York (JFK) → Monterrey (MTY)

12:45 a.m. ✈️ 4:30 a.m.

Monterrey (MTY) → New York (JFK)

6:40 p.m. ✈️ 11:45 p.m.

Service available from December 13, 2025, to January 12, 2026.

EasyJet To Resume Flights To And From Tel Aviv On March 29

British low-cost carrier easyJet announces that it will resume flight operations to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport starting March 29 next year.

An easyJet flight seen taking off from Ben Gurion International Airport, on March 24, 2018. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

“We are pleased to be resuming flights between London Luton, Amsterdam and Milan Malpensa and Tel Aviv,” an easyJet spokesperson says in an e-mailed statement. “We plan to resume flying to Tel Aviv from additional European bases next winter season at the end of October instead of next March.”

“We continually review all of our routes and remain committed to resuming more flying to and from Tel Aviv,” the easyJet spokesperson adds.

In July, the UK carrier, which had been expected to restart its flight operations at the end of October, announced that it would extend the suspension of all routes to and from Tel Aviv through March 28, 2026.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sharon-wrobel/

Canada's Tallest Skyscraper Becomes First In Country Above 100 Storeys

The SkyTower supertall skyscraper in Toronto, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, has become the first building in Canada to surpass 100 storeys.

The residential skyscraper for developer Pinnacle International reached a milestone today on its path to becoming the tallest building in Canada and one of the tallest residential towers on the continent.

Designed by Canadian studio Hariri Pontarini Architects, the supertall skyscraper will reach an estimated 351.85 metres (1,154 feet) tall.

In May, Dezeen showed images of the tower at 71 storeys with some of the exterior cladding complete. Now, it appears that much more of the cladding on the base of the structure has been completed.

When completed, the building will have a slightly sloping facade with balconies on one side that resemble vents.

"We are pleased to celebrate Pinnacle SkyTower reaching 100 storeys," said Pinnacle International president and CEO Michael De Cotiis

"We have created a landmark, one that is making history not only for Toronto, but for all of Canada."

Hariri Pontarini Architects has described Skytower as a "12-sided jewel" with "glazed and tapered form with chamfered corners".

"The design of the Pinnacle Sky Tower is inspired by its urban context and by our goal of establishing a strong sculptural presence on the skyline," said Hariri Pontarini Architects founding partner David Pontarini.

"Its prominent site location at the start of one of Toronto’s main arterial roads called for an architectural expression that would become a landmark on the skyline."

"From the outside, this geometry reflects light in different ways and results in a distinctive silhouette that shifts depending on the angle you view it from," he continued.

"The building amenities on the upper floors will sit at the same general elevation as the CN Tower’s main observation level, creating a visual alignment and relationship on the skyline."

Beyond the stylistic aspects, the architecture studio claims this formal scheme will help the skyscraper bear the heavy winds that blow across Lake Ontario.

Pinnacle SkyTower is part of the larger Pinnacle One development located in Toronto's rapidly developing Harbourfront neighbourhood. It will contain apartments and a hotel as well as amenities, including a restaurant on its 106th floor, its highest.

An adjacent skyscraper in the development will reach 95 storeys.

After a March 2025 variance request, its height was extended to 106 storeys, with its original design only having 95.

The skyscraper will beat out Foster + Partners One Bloor in the city, which became Canada's first supertall skyscraper at 85 storeys and 308.6 metres (1,012 feet) earlier this year.

According to the developer, the tower will top out and begin welcoming residents in 2026.

The project is indicative of the rapid heightening of Toronto's urban landscape. Earlier this year, Dezeen showcased a photo series underlining this rapid development through a juxtaposition of charming older buildings with sparkling new developments.

Elsewhere in the city, Frank Gehry, who died last week, designed the 84-storey Forma skyscraper, one of his tallest and his first skyscraper in his birth city.

https://www.dezeen.com/author/ben-dreith/

Copenhagen Invites Destinations Worldwide To Join Copenpay

CopenPay began in Copenhagen as an initiative that rewarded tourists with free perks for simple responsible actions, from picking up litter in the canals to arriving at museums by bike.

Building on its success — and interest from more than 100 destinations worldwide — Copenhagen will launch DestinationPay on December 3.

Developed by the official tourism organisation of Copenhagen, WonderfulCopenhagen, DestinationPay is a global, ready-to-use framework that allows cities and regions to create their own version of CopenPay and reward visitors for actions that benefit local communities. It marks a shift toward a new tourism economy where value is measured not only by spending but by contribution. Several international destinations have already signed on.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenpay