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. Ecuador Update
Rescue goes slowly in Ecuador as it digs out from 7.8 quake https://t.co/m5EsoY9g05 pic.twitter.com/Ds7R5FVXDT
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 19, 2016
Rescuers continue to work quickly through rubble to find survivors after the 7.8-magnitude quake hit Ecuador’s coast over the weekend.
The death toll from the Saturday night quake increased from 260 to over 413, with the hardest hit area being the coastal Manabi Province, where about 200 people died, CNN reported.
Flights continue to operate as scheduled from the country’s main airports and tour operators have confirmed to KarryOn that main tourist areas in Quito and Avenue of Volcanoes remain unaffected.
Contours Travel’s Managing Director, Ted Dziadkiewicz, said its on site operators are keeping the company updated on the situation and at this stage tours haven’t and won’t be affected.
G Adventures’ Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, Adrian Piotto, concurred, saying safety is “of the utmost importance” and all of the company’s Galapagos ships have been moved to high seas as a precaution.
“We will continue to monitor the situation in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, our thoughts and well-wishes are with the people of Ecuador,” he said.
2. Qantas cuts back capacity as domestic demand softens
Qantas has decided to reduce domestic capacity increases over the next three months in response to softened demand and the upcoming elections.
In an online update, the carrier said it had revised seat capacity for Jetstar and Qantas’ domestic networks because of a recent drop in consumer confidence for travel around Australia.
The carrier’s original guidance for a two percent capacity growth was downgraded to be between 0.5 percent and one percent over April, May and June.
3. Flight Centre snaps up a new partnership
Flight Centre Travel Group has launched a new global partnership with Travelshoot, which gives clients access to professional photographers around the world.
The partnership kicked off this month for holidaymakers looking to capture special moments overseas like surprise wedding proposals, honeymoons, groups of mates, solo travellers and family holidays.
Currently, the global partnership provides travellers in more than 30 cities worldwide the chance to book a Travelshoot photography package – a 1-hour, 2-hour or 4-hour photoshoot experience – directly through any of Flight Centre leisure brands.
4. US Senator pushes for wire barrier between flyers & pilots
An American senator doesn’t seem to be satisfied with the current safety standards on aircraft and is apparently hoping to reinforce the division between pilot and passengers with a wire cage.
It’s no breaking news that the rules of aviation have tightened over the last few years in response to increasing terror threats and pilot suicides.
Following 9/11, pilots were forbidden from letting civilians into the cockpit and were required to keep the cockpit door locked at all times. More recently, the Germanwings pilot suicide promoted airlines to roll out a ‘rule of two’ whereby two people need to be in the cockpit at all times (either two pilots or one pilot and one cabin crew).
5. All TTC travellers get a $50 voucher
Creative Cruising is getting travellers one step closer to their next cruise by giving a $50 cruise voucher to any holidaymaker who book a trip with any of The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands.
Valid for all bookings past and present, this offer will get travellers on their way to saving for their next getaway, giving agents the opportunity to lock in a repeat sale even sooner.
Clients simply need to have booked a trip with any TTC brand including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, AAT Kings, Contiki, Uniworld, Adventure World or Busabout. Should they have travelled with Creative Cruising previously, they will also get to take advantage of this incentive towards their next cruise.
Click here for more information or contact your local sales representative.
6. New itineraries & a new ship for Uniworld in 2017
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s 2017 Preview Boutique River Cruises & Tours brochure with tours across all the line’s destinations: Europe, Russia, India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Egypt.
Clients will have two more tour options in Europe next year, with the addition of the new 10-day ‘Rhine-Main Discovery & Munich’ trip featuring a seven-night cruise along the Main and Rhine rivers from Nuremburg to Cologne, plus there’s the new 10-day ‘Paris & Impressions of the Seine’ itinerary taking guests from Montmartre to the vistas of the Alabaster Coast.
S.S. Joie de Vivre will also join the line’s fleet in 2017, offering guests the French ‘joy of living’ philosophy through French-inspired decor, design and local wines.
7. DriveAway is tops for Peugeot
The DriveAway Holidays team at North Sydney has once again been nominated by major French car manufacturer Peugeot as Australia’s leading outlet for Peugeot car leasing in Europe.
DriveAway Managing Director, Chris Hamill credited the award to “a very conscientious team which had reached record lease numbers on the back of a campaign highlighting the benefits of self-drive holidays in Europe”.
[L-R]: Nathan Baber, national sales manager, Josh Macrae, Joumana El-Chami, reservations consultant, Caroline Raffoul, Operations Manager, Natasha Wahab, Christine Denoux, reservations consultant. Back from left: Cameron Edwards, marketing and managing director Chris Hamill.
8. Agents experience APT’s ‘Royal’ treatment
A group of travel agents were recently treated to an all inclusive river cruise in Europe courtesy of APT, experiencing for themselves the cruise line’s onboard facilities and two exclusive Royal Invitations.
The seven-day cruise took consultants between Budapest and Nuremberg, which included a visit to Vienna’s City Palace for a private recital as well as a sailing on the Majestic Imperator in Linz where they took in Austria’s famous Salzkammergut region.
Another highlight of the trip was sampling APT’s all-inclusive lifestyle onboard its river cruise ship.
[L-R]: Allirra Franks, HW Glendale; Kate Dale-Miller, RACT Hobart; Lisa Tjandi, HW Newcastle; Robyn Evans, RACT Devonport; Elizabeth Sternback, HW Greenhills; Melanie Hogg, APT; Eleni Hoskins, HW Newcastle; Tracy Kay, HW Kotara.
9. itravel agents adopt the Carnival ‘spirit’
itravel agents say they can now confirm that there is something for everyone on a Carnival cruise, particularly Carnival Spirit.
A group of consultants were given the opportunity to explore the ship for themselves earlier this month and see first-hand the largest waterpark at sea in Australia, mini-golf, two-deck fitness centre, jogging track and sports court.
Agents were also treated to a beautiful three-course lunch before checking out the rest of the ship, which included the Serenity Adult Only Retreat, Gym, Spa Carnival and Cocktail bar, Alchemy.
10. Hackett “seriously” regrets his role in a plane incident
Former Australian swimmer, Grant Hackett, has issued an apology for what he described as “poor behaviour” during a recent Virgin flight to Melbourne.
Hackett allegedly lashed out when the passenger sitting in front of him reclined their seat. Witnesses say the swimmer did not assault the passenger, however, the victim claimed he had been groped on the chest, ABC News reported.
Australian Federal Police questioned Hackett after the incident and eventually released him without charge.
In his public apology, the Olympic winner said he “seriously and genuinely” regretted his behaviour and was “embarrassed to hear and read the consequences” of his actions.
He continued, saying he was attempting to contact the victim to issue a personal apology.