Inspirational local ladies are lacing up their walking boots this May for the Women’s Warrior Walk, a monumental two-day challenge covering the distance from El Paraiso (between Marbella and Estepona) to Gibraltar. Starting on May 9, a group of over 30 determined women will embark on a 63km journey to raise essential funds for Cure DHDDS. This UK-registered charity (number 1202643) works tirelessly to fund life-changing research for a condition that currently has no known cure.

Understanding DHDDS: A battle for a brighter future

DHDDS gene mutations represent an ultra-rare neurological condition. Patients typically face a range of progressive symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors, balance issues, and seizures. Cognitive impairment and physical challenges can start from birth, making early medical intervention a top priority for families.

Local resident Zoe and her family launched the charity three years ago after two of her grandchildren received this diagnosis. Faced with a lack of available hospital treatments due to the extreme rarity of the disease, the family took matters into their own hands to drive and promote scientific progress.

Join the Warrior Walk from El Paraíso to Gibraltar

Participation and sponsorship from the Costa del Sol community remain vital for the success of this mission. Every Euro donated travels directly to scientific laboratories to power medical breakthroughs. Local businesses, including Organic Cold Pressed Juicery and Da Grappa Restaurante, have already stepped up to provide support.

Community members can get involved by sponsoring the walkers or providing practical assistance during the trek on 9 and 10 May. Business sponsors gain visibility through logo placement on official event T-shirts and across social media platforms.

Hope is on the horizon for children living with DHDDS. Interested parties should visit curedhdds.org or contact Zoe directly at +34 670 069 623 to donate or learn how to join the ranks of these local warriors.

Anyone flying in Europe this summer may want to check their booking again. Lufthansa has confirmed it will remove 20,000 flights from its schedule up to October, mainly on short haul routes, as rising fuel costs put pressure on the airline. The German group says the move will save around 40,000 tonnes of jet fuel, but for passengers it could mean timetable changes, busier flights and fewer options during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Because Lufthansa is one of Europe’s largest airline groups, changes on this scale rarely stay local. They can affect connections, prices and availability across a much wider network. For holidaymakers, the timing is far from ideal.

Why Lufthansa is making the cuts

Airlines live with changing costs all the time, but fuel remains one of the biggest.

When jet fuel prices rise sharply, every route becomes more expensive to operate. Short haul flights are often the first area to come under review because they can produce thinner margins than long haul services, especially on highly competitive European routes.

Lufthansa says the flights being removed are services considered less profitable across its network.

That usually means routes with weaker demand, overlapping schedules or journeys where the income no longer matches operating costs.

Rather than spread disruption across every part of the timetable, airlines often target the areas where they believe cuts will do the least damage.

Passengers may not enjoy hearing that, but it is a common commercial decision. The company has also said the aim is to protect overall schedule stability during the summer season.

In plain terms, fewer flights now may help avoid larger problems later.

Why this matters beyond Germany

Many travellers hear Lufthansa and think only of Germany.

In reality, the group has a far wider footprint through airlines such as Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, alongside large hub operations in Frankfurt and Munich.

That means people flying between Spain and Europe, or connecting through central Europe to long haul destinations, could feel the impact.

A cancelled short haul service is not always just a short haul issue.

It can affect onward journeys, weekend breaks, cruise departures and business trips linked to another flight later the same day.

Even if your route remains untouched, reduced capacity elsewhere can still create fuller aircraft and fewer alternatives.

That is why airline schedule changes matter even to people not flying directly with Lufthansa.

What passengers may notice this summer

For some travellers, nothing at all. Many flights will continue normally and some passengers may never notice a change.

Others, however, could receive emails with revised departure times, rebooked services or new connection details.

Where demand is high, replacement options may be less convenient than the original booking. That might mean an earlier departure, a longer wait at an airport or travelling on a different day.

Prices may also react.

When one major airline reduces capacity, seats can become more valuable on certain routes, especially in school holiday periods when demand is already strong.

That does not mean every fare will suddenly rise, but bargain hunting may become harder.

What travellers should do now

If you already have a booking, stay calm but stay aware. Check the airline app or your reservation page from time to time. Make sure your contact details are correct so any changes reach you quickly.

If your trip includes a tight connection, it may be worth reviewing it now rather than later.

If you have not booked yet, flexibility can help.

Flying midweek, avoiding peak dates or comparing nearby airports may open better prices and more choice.

It is also sensible to book accommodation with reasonable cancellation terms when possible.

Summer travel can shift quickly.

Could other airlines follow

Lufthansa is not the only carrier dealing with fuel pressure. Every airline in Europe watches energy costs closely because they affect pricing, planning and route decisions.

Some carriers hedge fuel costs in advance, others adjust schedules, and many do a bit of both.

That means each airline responds differently.

There is no guarantee of similar large scale cuts elsewhere, but the pressure is shared across the industry. Travellers may therefore see a tougher market overall, with fewer empty seats and less room for last minute deals.

The simple message for passengers

This summer is still very much happening. Planes will fly, holidays will go ahead and airports will stay busy.

But Lufthansa’s decision is a reminder that travel plans are never fixed until the journey is over.

If you are flying in the coming months, keep an eye on your booking, allow extra flexibility and do not assume the first schedule you saw will be the final one.

The United Kingdom’s planned lifetime tobacco sales ban for people born on or after January 1 2009 could create a loophole for young British teens travelling to Spain and other countries, as they may still be able to purchase cigarettes and vaping products where standard age-based rules remain in place.

The policy restricts tobacco sales based on year of birth, meaning those affected would never be eligible to buy cigarettes from UK retailers. Outside the UK, however, access is determined by national age limits rather than generational rules, creating a clear contrast for those travelling abroad.

Different rules in Spain

In Spain, tobacco sales are regulated through a standard minimum-age system, with purchase generally permitted from 18 years old. Eligibility is based solely on age at the point of sale, rather than year of birth or membership of a specific generation.

Tobacco products are widely available through regulated retail outlets across the country, including supermarkets, kiosks and licensed shops. Sales are subject to identity checks where age is unclear, particularly in urban and tourist-heavy areas where enforcement is more visible.

Travel-related differences

Spain is one of the most frequently visited destinations for UK travellers, with millions of trips each year for tourism, work and study. This makes it a common setting where differences in national consumer rules become visible in practice. For those affected by the UK policy, experiences abroad would depend on local regulations.

In Spain, access to regulated products would be governed by local age verification at the point of purchase. This means availability is shaped by Spanish law rather than any UK restriction, and enforcement is handled entirely by Spanish authorities and retailers. In practice, this creates situations where legal access to tobacco products may differ depending on location, particularly in busy tourist areas where international visitors form a significant proportion of customers.

Could the policy lead to tobacco tourism

The difference between UK and overseas rules has raised the possibility of a form of “tobacco tourism”, where individuals affected by the ban access products while travelling rather than at home. Because the UK restriction is based on year of birth, those in the affected group would never be able to legally buy tobacco domestically, even as adults.

In countries such as Spain, where access is determined by a standard minimum age of 18, the same individuals could legally purchase tobacco once they meet local age requirements. This creates a situation where availability depends entirely on location.

In practice, any such behaviour is likely to be limited and linked to existing travel rather than people making dedicated trips solely to buy tobacco. However, the contrast may be more visible in popular holiday destinations and border regions, where differences in national rules are easier to navigate.

Gibraltar border factor

The issue may also be particularly relevant in Gibraltar, where residents can cross directly into Spain within minutes. If Gibraltar applies UK-aligned restrictions, individuals affected by the 2009 cohort rule could potentially be unable to purchase tobacco locally while still being able to do so across the border in Spain, subject to Spanish law.

That would not change domestic restrictions in either territory, but it could create a practical cross-border difference for residents living near the frontier. Vaping regulations may also differ depending on how each jurisdiction chooses to regulate nicotine products, as tobacco and vape policies are not always aligned across borders. This means access to different products could vary even within short travel distances.

Cross-border policy contrast

The UK and Spain operate different tobacco regulatory systems, with the UK moving towards a generational restriction based on date of birth, while Spain continues to use a standard minimum-age approach.

This creates a policy divergence between a cohort-based restriction and an age-based system. It also means that eligibility rules are structured differently depending on whether the focus is long-term population prevention or immediate age compliance at point of sale. As a result, the experience of future adults affected by the UK measure may differ depending on whether they remain in the UK or travel abroad, particularly within Europe where cross-border movement is relatively straightforward.

Broader implications

The contrast has prompted discussion about how national public health policies interact with international mobility. While domestic restrictions apply within a country’s borders, access to tobacco remains dependent on local law.

This raises questions about consistency in regulation when citizens move between jurisdictions with different frameworks for controlling the same products. Critics point to inconsistencies that arise when individuals face different legal conditions depending solely on geography.

At the same time, supporters argue that national governments retain the right to set domestic health policy independently, even if outcomes differ abroad.

Outlook

As implementation of the UK policy progresses, attention is likely to focus on how the affected generation experiences differences in access during travel.

In Spain, where tobacco remains widely available under conventional age rules, the contrast with UK restrictions is expected to be most visible among young British adults once they reach legal purchasing age abroad. Over time, the practical effect of these differences may become clearer as the first cohort impacted by the UK measure begins travelling internationally as adults.