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March 22, 2022
22-March-2022

AMERICAS

Mexico (Security threat level – 4): On 21 March 2022, flight operations began at Felipe Angeles International Airport (MMSM/NLU), located in the town of Santa Lucía in Mexico state, approximately 50 km (30 mi) northeast of downtown Mexico City. The airport, which has two runways and one terminal, was constructed to alleviate congestion at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (MMMX/MEX) by catering to low-cost and cargo flights. Thus far, the four carriers that operate at the new facility are the Venezuelan carrier Conviasa, and the three domestic carriers Volaris, Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico. A rail link connecting the airport to Mexico City’s train network is set to be completed in late 2023. The airport’s general director expects that the airport will service 2.4 million passengers in 2022 and approximately 5 million in 2023.

United States (Security threat level – 2): On 21 March 2022, officials in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, declared a state of emergency following a recent spate of violent incidents. The emergency measure includes a 0001-0600 local time (0401-1000 UTC) nightly curfew from 24-28 March, which will be in effect in the South Beach area from 23rd Street to South Pointe Drive and from the Atlantic Ocean to Biscayne Bay. City officials enacted the curfew following two separate shooting events on Ocean Drive during spring break weekend that left five people wounded. The city manager plans to recommend that the city commission extend the curfew into the next weekend during an emergency meeting set to occur on 22 March.

United States (Security threat level – 2): On 21 March 2022, a severe weather system moving across portions of the southern U.S. spawned multiple tornadoes in southern Oklahoma as well as in central and northern Texas. A tornado struck the Texas town of Round Rock — located approximately 20 mi (30 km) north of the state capital Austin — while another struck the town of Bowie, which is located about 95 miles northeast of Dallas. Dozens of homes and businesses sustained significant damage due to the severe weather. As of last report on the morning of 22 March, more than 60,000 households in Texas as well as nearly 9,000 others in Oklahoma remain without electricity. At least four people were injured in Texas; however, no fatalities have been reported so far. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has warned of possible tornadoes in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas through 22 March.

ASIA

China (Security threat level – 3): On 21 March 2022, authorities imposed a lockdown in the city of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province, as the Chinese government continues to pursue a “zero COVID-19” strategy. Residents are not permitted to leave their homes unless they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the previous 48 hours. Health officials reported 47 new COVID-19 cases in Shenyang on 22 March.

EUROPE

Germany (Security threat level – 3): On 22 March 2022, hundreds of flights have been canceled across airports in Germany due to a one-day labor strike organized by the Verdi trade union to demand higher wages for approximately 25,000 airport security workers. The affected airports include Frankfurt Airport (EDDF/FRA), Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB/BER), Bremen Airport (EDDW/BRE), Hamburg Airport (EDDH/HAM), Hanover Airport (EDDV/HAJ), Stuttgart Airport (EDDS/STR), Düsseldorf Airport (EDDL/DUS) and Cologne/Bonn Airport (EDDK/CGN). In Düsseldorf, 140 of the 260 planned flights have been canceled, while Cologne/Bonn airport has been forced to cancel 73 out of the 123 planned flights. At Frankfurt airport, 108 out of the 790 planned flights have been canceled, and all 88 planned flights have been canceled at Hamburg airport. The labor union has demanded that the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies raise the wages of security workers by at least one euro per hour for the next year; however, the employers’ association claims that the demands would amount to wage increases of as much as 40% and are unreasonable. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for 24 March.

Sweden (Security threat level – 2): At approximately 1700 local time (1600 UTC) on 21 March 2022, a student wielding “bladed weapons” attacked two female employees at a Latin secondary school in the city of Malmö. Both women were hospitalized but later died of their wounds. Police officers arrived on the scene and arrested the assailant, who had earlier called emergency services and confessed to attacking the women. Authorities imposed a temporary lockdown at the school and evacuated students. An investigation remains underway to determine the motive for the attack.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

United Arab Emirates (Security threat level – 3): On 22 March 2022, officials at Dubai International Airport (OMBD/DXB) announced the closure of the northern runway from 9 May to 22 June while it undergoes extensive maintenance and repair. Several flights scheduled to operate through the facility will be redirected to nearby al-Maktoum International Airport (OMDW/DWC), located approximately 20 mi (40 km) from central Dubai. Officials have advised travelers to check with the airlines for flight changes.