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Today, Sunday February 8, 2026
China’s Railways Sell 140 Million Tickets in First Week of Spring-Festival Rush
China Railway reports that 12306 has already sold 140 million tickets for the 2026 Spring-Festival travel season, with daily ridership topping 10 million for five days straight. An extra 1,249 trains have been added for 7 February, and total rail journeys over the 40-day period are projected to hit 540 million. The unprecedented volume will strain passenger services and squeeze mixed freight capacity, prompting companies to review contingency plans.
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Today in Business Travel & Immigration
Feb 8, 2026
Cyprus Cabinet Approves First National Strategy for Migrant Integration 2026-2029
Cyprus has adopted its first comprehensive migrant-integration strategy, allocating €60 m to language tuition, job-market access and streamlined public services for the island’s growing foreign workforce. Predictable permit timelines and employer-friendly support schemes should make Cyprus more attractive for multinationals while reinforcing its bid to enter the Schengen area.
Feb 8, 2026
USCIS Confirms $100,000 Consular Filing Fee Will Remain for FY-2027 H-1B Cap; Employers Eye L-1 Route
USCIS has confirmed that the controversial US$100,000 fee for H-1B beneficiaries filing from outside the U.S. will remain in force for the FY-2027 cap. The surcharge, payable on top of all other filing fees, is pushing many employers to consider the L-1 transfer route or to relocate projects abroad. Companies must review budget forecasts and talent-placement strategies before the March 4-19 electronic registration window opens.
Feb 8, 2026
Pune airport seeks green light for ‘Fast-Track Immigration’ e-gate system
Pune’s international terminal is poised to introduce FTI-TTP e-gates, cutting immigration wait times for pre-cleared travellers to under a minute. The move will relieve chronic queues, support Pune’s surging outbound project travel and plug the city into India’s growing trusted-traveller network—good news for corporates moving staff in and out of Maharashtra’s manufacturing hub.
Feb 8, 2026
Aer Lingus introduces passport-only ID rule on Ireland-UK flights ahead of UK ETA rollout
From 25 February 2026 Aer Lingus will only accept passports (or Irish passport cards) on all Republic of Ireland–UK flights, ending the long-standing practice of accepting driving licences and other ID. The move anticipates the UK’s compulsory Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme and aims to cut boarding delays. Irish passengers must now ensure passport validity, and companies should factor ETA costs into travel budgets.
Feb 8, 2026
EU Unveils First-Ever Visa Strategy, Pledging Faster Schengen Procedures and New Talent Pathways
Brussels released its first EU Visa Strategy on 7 February 2026, laying out a roadmap for fully digital Schengen visas, longer-validity multiple-entry permits and new measures to attract global talent. Italy—one of the busiest Schengen issuers—stands to benefit from shorter queues, faster processing and easier intra-EU mobility for highly-skilled workers.
Feb 8, 2026
Wintry Weather Triggers 339 Flight Delays and 4 Cancellations Across Five Polish Airports
Icy conditions on 7 February caused 339 delays and four cancellations at Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice and Poznań airports, hitting LOT, Wizz Air, Ryanair and other carriers. Business travellers face missed connections and re-routing headaches, while airlines invoke force-majeure rules that limit compensation. Companies should build extra buffer time into itineraries and rely on real-time flight-status tools to keep mobility plans on track.
Feb 8, 2026
Storm ‘Marta’ Shuts 168 Spanish Roads and Suspends Algeciras–Tangier Ferries
Storm ‘Marta’ has forced the closure of 168 Spanish roads – 137 in Andalucía alone – and led the Port of Algeciras to cancel all sailings to Tanger-Med on 7 February. Freight and passenger mobility between Spain and North Africa is severely curtailed, and the DGT urges people to avoid non-essential travel. The disruption is expected to ripple through supply chains and corporate travel itineraries into next week.
Feb 8, 2026
Technical glitch forces manual border checks at Brussels Airport, causing long queues for non-Schengen flights
Electronic passport gates in Brussels Airport’s non-Schengen area failed on Friday night and remain offline, forcing all travellers through manual checks and creating queues of up to 50 minutes. Airlines are staggering check-in and warning of missed connections, while global-mobility teams should build extra buffer time into itineraries. The incident underscores risks surrounding the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System.
Feb 8, 2026
Mexico Restores Electronic Visa for Brazilian Travelers, Ending Consulate Visits
Effective 5 February 2026, Mexico has re-activated its electronic SAE visa for Brazilians, allowing applications to be completed entirely online and scrapping the consulate-issued sticker that had discouraged travel. Airlines have begun enforcing QR-code proof at check-in, and tourism authorities expect a strong rebound ahead of the 2026 World Cup, easing corporate and leisure mobility between the two countries.
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