France will ban domestic flights if the rail alternative takes less than two-and-a-half hours, You can now book a reindeer sleigh ride on Uber, You can soon use smartphones on flights in Europe and more in top stories of the day.
France is set to ban short-haul domestic flights
In order to try and combat unnecessary air travel and cut down on carbon emissions, France has decided to take action by banning short-haul domestic flights.
Under the new scheme, flights will be banned between destinations where there is an existing rail connection that takes less than two-and-a-half hours. To start with, the ban will only affect routes between Paris Orly airport and Lyon, Bordeaux and Nantes, though it’ll also impact connecting flights between those destinations. France’s ban is the first of its kind in the European Union.
You can now book a reindeer sleigh ride on Uber
Since it launched in 2009, Uber has continually tested the limits of what a car-booking service is capable of. If booking helicopter rides were not enough, the app has launched its latest venture: Uber Sleigh, the world’s first on-demand reindeer sleigh ride.
For a very limited time only, and if you happen to find yourself near the Arctic Circle, you can use the Uber app to make your wildest festive fantasies come to life. And it’s free! The reindeer rides depart twice a day between December 12 and 18 from Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi, which is the capital of Finnish lapland. Hail a sleigh and you’ll be taken on a two-hour picturesque journey through the spectacularly wintry landscapes of the Lappish countryside. Reindeer rides can be booked on the app an hour in advance of departure and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
You’ll soon be able to use smartphones on planes in Europe
If you’re one of those people who finds it a bit annoying being isolated from the outside world while you’re in flight, here’s some fab news: air passengers in Europe will soon be able to use smartphones in mid-air.
Aircraft in the European Union have been given the go-ahead by the European Commission to equip themselves with tech that’ll let passengers call, text and use data during their flight. The move is designed to make the most of the capabilities of new 5G network technology. But it isn’t just 5G that’ll be allowed on planes in the EU: previous mobile technology networks like 4G and 3G will also be allowed. It’ll all be available for use by June 30 2023.
For latest travel news and updates, food and drink journeys, restaurant features, and more, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram. Read more on Travel and Food Network
Trending on TFN
The 23 Best Places To Go In 2023
Explore Utah’s Mighty 5® and What Lies in Between
