We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel stories you need to know today.
1. Flight Centre pushes USA sales
Brand USA and Flight Centre are pushing for more sales to the US, with the launch of the second phase of their joint marketing campaign.
The campaign is designed to increase the number of Aussie tourists in the US and promote destinations around the country.
This will be achieved through collective marketing encouraging travellers to book US holidays through Flight Centre Travel Group’s major brands – Flight Centre, Escape Travel, Student Flights and Travel Associates, and Flight Centre’s in-house wholesaler, Infinity Holidays.
2. Luxury ship for the ladies, only
No men allowed! There’s a new concept floating around the internet for a ship that is either incredibly sexist or pure genius.
Luxury designer, Lidia Bersani says the idea for her new luxury mega yacht came after she noticed a gap in the superyacht market for vessels that cater to women, and women only.
That’s when she put pen to paper and created the world’s first female only yacht.
3. SQ premium economy on sale for Aussie travellers
Travel to Singapore is getting a little more comfy, as Singapore Airlines introduces its newest class of travel – Premium Economy – on flights from Australia.
Sales for the new class went on sale yesterday for select flights between Singapore and Sydney departing from 9 August 2015.
Australians will be the first to try the new class. It will be made available to other destinations such as Beijing, Delhi, Hong Kong, London and Mumbai later this year on the airline’s Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs, in addition to the future fleet of Airbus A350s.
Premium economy seat has a width ranging between 18.5 and 19.5 inches and offers an eight-inch recline for more ease and comfort.
There’s a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor with active noise-cancelling headphones.
Thoughtful touches include full leather finishing and a calf-rest and foot-bar for every seat. Seats also feature individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, cocktail table, as well as additional stowage space for personal items such as a water bottle, mobile phone and laptop.
Customers in premium economy can choose from a more extensive range of food and beverage offerings. Besides being able to select from a standard menu with three meal choices, customers may, from April 2015, also select from the Premium Economy Book the Cook service featuring popular dishes. Champagne will be offered, in addition to a selection of curated wines, throughout the flight.
4. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Xiamen Airlines to Sydney
China Eastern, China Southern, Air China and now Xiamen Airlines.
Talks about growing travel between China and Australia must be true because another airline is looking to operate flights between the two countries.
Commencing later this year, Xiamen Airlines plans to send its 787 from second tier city Xiamen to Sydney.
The announcement comes less than a month after Australia and China signed a bilateral agreement to increase capacity from major hubs.
Further details of Xiamen Airlines’ services to Australia are yet to be revealed.
Last month, Air China also revealed an increase to its Australian operations, with additional services to Melbourne.
Commencing 1 June, the airline will fly four times weekly from Melbourne to Beijing. This is in addition to existing flights between Melbourne to Beijing via Shanghai – giving the airline at least one flight every day between Melbourne and China.
5. SWISS’ airline has a new name
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has renamed its Swiss European Air Lines subsidiary, the operator of its Avro RJ100 fleet. The company will now be known as Swiss Global Air Lines.
The renaming has been prompted by the planned integration of the new long-haul Boeing 777-300ERs into the company’s aircraft fleet. Both Swiss International Air Lines and Swiss Global Air Lines will operate under the SWISS brand.
Once the corresponding commercial and operating licences have been duly amended by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, the byline “Operated by Swiss European Air Lines” will be gradually replaced with “Operated by Swiss Global Air Lines” in flight booking applications and on the aircraft themselves.
6. Meet KarryOn’s newest recruit
KarryOn’s team continues to grow, with the appointment of publishing veteran Effe Sandas in the role of sales manager.
Commencing today, Effe has an extensive and impressive background in publishing, with over 15 years experience working in various sales, advertising and account manager roles at major publishing houses around Australia.
More recently she spent ten years in the role of national advertising manager at the Intermedia Group where she was responsible for selling online and magazine space for the company’s award-winning publication, The Australian Gift Guide.
7. Two ‘devices’ found in Cairo airport
DFAT maintains its advice for Egypt despite recent incidents. Image: Pavel Ignatov/Shutterstock
Smartraveller has maintained its ‘reconsider your need to travel’ advice for Egypt after two explosives were discovered at Cairo airport.
The devices were discovered following the death of a civilian in a bomb blast in Alexandria yesterday. Another bomb went off in the center of Cairo, no casualties were reported.
Cairo’s airport has tightened security after finding the two explosives near the arrivals hall.
The latest incidents will come as a blow to Egypt’s tourism sector, which has been trying to project stability to attract more arrivals.
Officials said during the third quarter of 2014 the country experienced a 70 percent increase in visitors compared to the same period the prior year.
Total visitors from January to September 2014 reached 7.27 million. Read on
Tourism operators such as Uniworld, Seabourn, Contiki and Busabout have even planned to resume operations in the destination. There’s no word as to whether those plans have been deterred by recent events.
8. Travelport to promote Beijing
Image: Vogel / Shutterstock.com
Travel commerce platform, Travelport has entered a new marketing partnership with Beijing’s tourism bureau to promote the destination as a stopover in Asia.
As part of the new agreement, Travelport will maximise Beijing communications to travel providers and organisations.
Highlighting the city’s 72-hour transit visa to drive bookings, Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development’s Zhang Jing said the agreement will allow the bureau to tap into Travelport’s global network and open up new markets to the destination.
“Travelport’s advertising solutions are proven to deliver high-impact marketing campaigns via our Travel Commerce Platform.”
Anna Au-Yeung, Travelport head of destination marketing Asia-Pacific
Earlier this year, Travelport announced the winner of its ‘Agent of the Future‘ program, who received accommodation and return airfare to Ireland courtesy of Air Tickets and Tourism Ireland.
9. TMs wine and dine in Tassie
Personal travel manager Karen Doyle (4th from left) and Chris Cogan (6th from left) enjoying the sunshine at Boat Harbour Beach on their famil of North West Tasmania hosted by Tourism Tasmania.
TravelManagers were among 90 travel agents invited to experience Australia’s island state following the two-day Tourism Tasmania ‘Specialists Conference’.
This was the first time a Specialists Conference has been held alongside the popular famil programme which itself has been running for four years. The conference equips agents with the knowledge to sell Tasmania’s story, food and attractions to clients.
A chance for personal travel manager Karen Doyle (South Yarra, Victoria) to sample one of Morilla Winery’s superb wines during the specialists’ famil hosted by Tourism Tasmania.
After two days of regional updates, delegates left Hobart to explore the rest of Tasmania on their chosen famil itineraries.
Travel Manager Bev Fitzsimons, representative for Oakleigh South in Victoria, opted for the North East famil itinerary. The tour included a visit of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and a kayak adventure.
“The distances may look short but Tasmania is a place to explore – there are lots of hidden gems everywhere. Now I know to advise my clients to take their time and not rush from A to B.”
Bev Fitzsimons, Travel Manager
TravelManagers’ executive general manager Michael Gazal agreed, saying that the conference and famil was a great way for personal travel managers to improve their knowledge of the destination.
10. This airline wants passengers to stand for cheaper fares
Image: Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock
China’s budget airline (the country’s first LCC to be more specific) is apparently looking to make flying even cheaper, by scrapping some seats on aircraft.
According to Market Watch, Spring Airlines is considering applying for approval to have passengers stand during flights in order to lower the cost of airfares.
A similar move was attempted by Ireland’s infamous budget carrier, Ryanair back in 2012. The airline’s boss Michael O’Leary was looking to create ‘standing room only’ cabins for students and budget travellers, which he would sell for only £1 to European destinations.