We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Flight Centre removes G Adventures from ‘preferred’ list
G Adventures has confirmed to KarryOn that Flight Centre in Australia has removed the adventure company from its ‘preferred status’.
The tour operator was officially removed on 1 July this year.
Belinda Ward, G Adventures Australia and NZ MD, confirmed the news to KarryOn yesterday, saying the company ‘will no longer enjoy preferred status with Flight Centre in Australia’.
2. TUI Group & Intrepid Travel call it quits
The PEAK Adventure Travel Group is being dissolved after Intrepid Travel announced an end to its four-year partnership with the TUI Group.
Revealed this morning, Intrepid Travel co-founders Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester will take back full ownership of the original adventure travel brand and focus ‘on 100 percent privately owning the Intrepid Group business’.
Under the new agreement, the PEAK name will remain with the destination management company brand – ‘PEAK DMC’.
3. Hey Qantas staff, bonuses are coming your way
Open a bottle of ‘champers’ because it’s pay day for Qantas Group employees, who are set to take a share of $90 million the company has set aside for staff bonuses.
The bonus is for around 28,000 staff who accepted the company’s 18-month wage freeze. Those that didn’t accept it… well they’re not getting any of it.
This will be a one-off payment will represent around five percent of their base salary. By our calculation, this would mean that if someone is on $60K then they’re getting a cheque of around $3,000.
4. Flight Centre extends Travelport agreement
Travelport has signed a new multi-year agreement with Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group as one of their global distribution system providers.
The new deal represents a continuation of the relationship between the two organisations that spans more than two decades.
5. Jetstar resumes flights to Bali
Jetstar will resume services to Bali today after operational team assessed flying conditions and determined it was safe.
The airline cancelled flights last night as ash from Java’s Mount Raung moved closer to Indonesia’s international gateway.
“Our team will work hard throughout the day to get our passengers moving to their destination as quickly as possible, and we fly an additional Boeing 787 return service between Bali and Australia to help do this.”
Jetstar
“We regret the impact these cancellations have had on our passengers, particularly during the busy school holiday period, but we will always put safety before schedule.”
Click here for more on last night’s cancellations
6. Women in tourism will luncheon today
Ladies and at least one man will gather at the InterContinental Double Bay today for the second ‘Women in Tourism Lunch’.
The event follows on from the success inaugural launch held in March this year. Read on
During the three-hour networking lunch, ladies will have the opportunity to chat to and hear from successful women in the industry.
KarryOn is a proud sponsor of the second Women in Tourism lunch where MC Emma Gardiner (Editor of Spice and Deputy Editor of HM magazines) along with Dedes Group CEO Lisa Hobbs and Marketing and Communications Manager Giovanna Lever will discuss women’s career planning journeys.
Will you be attending today?
7. Longer chats with Rail Plus
Rail Plus is emphasising its support for travel agents, with an extension of its ‘Live Chat’ hours from 7am-7pm AEDT.
The longer hours is being roll out along with the introduction of a new enhancement that allows consultants to copy and paste invoice details into their back office systems.
Available through the Rail Plus website, Live Chat enables agents to bypass phone queues and connect in real-time with the company’s specialist consultants.
Rail Plus Chief Executive James Dunne said the decision to extend the Live Chat hours reflects the fact that many agents today operate outside of traditional office hours.
Dunne said agents will also welcome the fact that they can now copy and paste Rail Plus invoices into their back office system or into client itineraries.
8. Princess Cruises showcases a World of Whisky
Princess Cruises is introducing its guests to the world of whisky with the locally-based Dawn Princess now featuring the cruise line’s first dedicated whisky bar.
From Scotland’s windswept Isle of Skye to the alps of Japan and the northern coastline of Tasmania, the new concept brings together 63 different whiskies from around the globe to provide a diverse tasting experience for all palates.
The cosy Magnums bar provides the ideal setting to explore the new whisky menu, with its range drawing on remote region Scottish whiskies such as Talkiser, classic American bourbons like Knob Hill and approachable Japanese blends such as Hibiki.
Meanwhile local drops include Bakery Hill’s Double Wood whisky from Melbourne and New Zealand’s South Island Single Malt.
Princess’ bartenders are on hand to provide advice, while the menu provides notes on the bartenders’ favourites. Whiskies are available by the nip, with Princess also creating a daily flight of three whiskies for those keen to experience the flavour of different regions.
Princess Cruises Vice President Australia and New Zealand Stuart Allison said a renewed interest in whisky amongst Australians and New Zealanders had prompted the decision to create a specialist menu during a major refurbishment of Dawn Princess in May.
9. Pilot’s final words before crashing: ‘wow’
It was the video that shocked the world – a TransAsia plane barely scrapped passed cars before crashing into the side of a bridge and sinking into a river.
But now five months after the crash investigators have shocked the world once again, by revealing the Captain’s final words.
According to a transcript of the cockpit voice recording of the two pilots, moments before the plane crashed in Taipei City, killing 43 passengers, the Captain of TransAsia Flight GE235 is heard shouting ‘Wow, pulled back the wrong side throttle’.
The Aviation Safety Council believes the pilot shouted the words when realising the wrong engine had been shut down after the other had failed shortly after take off.
With one engine out of order and the other switched off, the ATR 72 turboprop plane plunged into the Keelung River.
A final report confirming the cause of the crash will be released in the coming months.
10. Virgin’s costly sick day
Could this be the world’s most expensive sick day?
Virgin Australia has been left around $100,000 out of pocket after it was forced to cancel an overseas flight because on crew member fell ill.
The flight, which was scheduled to travel from Bali to Brisbane was cancelled a few hours before departure.
Passengers were put on buses and taken to the 4.5 star Dynasty Bali Hotel, while the Boeing 737-800 flew back to Australia with only pilots onboard.
According to civil aviation rules, the aircraft couldn’t take off unless it had one crew member for every 50 passengers.
The 737 carries around 176 passengers, which would mean a minimum of four cabin crew was required.
A Virgin spokesperson confirmed the flight was cancelled because the airline could not meet the minimum number of staff, however would not elaborate on what illness prevented the attendant from travelling.
According to News.com.au, the cancelled flight along with rebooking passengers and accommodation would have cost the airline some $100,000.
Ouch.