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. Qantas flies back to Bali
As Virgin Australia hands some of its Bali routes over to budget airline Tigerair, Qantas is taking some of its Denpasar services back from Jetstar.
Announced this morning, the Flying Kangaroo said it would resume services between Sydney and Bali over the summer period, seven years after handing the route over to its budget offshoot.
During December this year and January next year, Qantas will operate four services per week, a total of 33 return services, between Sydney and Bali with its Boeing 737 aircraft.
2. Magellan returns home for its annual Conference
The Magellan 2015 National conference has officially opened at The Sofitel Hotel this morning in Melbourne.
With over 300 delegates, suppliers and media including KarryOn in attendance it’s the independent groups largest turn out ever and a proud testament to the groups growing success since their inception seven years ago and winning the NTIA Best agency Group award back in July.
Group Founder and Chairman Andrew Jones opened the conference with an address that highlighted the journey the group has made to date, remarking and acknowledging that “it was just 7 years ago that they held their first conference with only 60 members”.
Group CEO Andrew Macfarlane followed with an update that focussed on reporting increased profits for the year versus reduced overheads and an ode to the trend of consumers desiring a proposition outside the big brand cookie cutter approach. A desire that Macfarlane believes Magellan are well placed to continue to deliver for their customers and suppliers.
The conference runs for the next two days and features highlight addressees from RedBalloon’s Naomi Simpson, an Amadeus technology forum and a range of educational workshops. The two evenings are at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tonight and a Gala Awards dinner on Friday evening at The Sofitel.
3. Agents! You have Singapore’s full attention
Travel agents, you have Singapore’s full attention because you’re still one of the biggest drivers of sales to the Southeast Asian destination.
According to Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) latest figures, around 65 percent of Aussies are visiting Singapore on itineraries organised and secured by consultants – a figure that’s well above the bureau’s initial expectations.
Speaking to KarryOn at the STB Roadshow in Sydney this week, John Gregory Conceicao admitted that the bureau had been ‘laying low’ in the local market for some time because early research indicated that more travellers would purchase their Singaporean trips online.
4. Qantas’ Early Birds are here!
Purchase a new Apple MacBook Pro or fly over to Europe in full Qantas luxury for around $1,000 less than the computer?
Europe it is!
Qantas released its Early Bird deals today with incredible deals available for your clients plus a few perks for you, the travel agent.
In conjunction with its Early Bird offerings, the Flying Kangaroo launched its biggest ever travel agent incentive with agents being given the chance to win a share in four million Qantas Points – a grand prize to the top seller of one million, 250,000 Qantas Points to the top seller in each state and weekly prizes of 150,000 Qantas Points each week for agents who make a booking and tell Qantas their favourite Early Bird destination.
5. ‘You’re too fat to fly’: Air India
Air India may have just entered a pretty ‘heavy’ situation after allegedly grounding around 130 flight attendants for failing to shed some pounds.
Around six months ago, India’s flag carrier is believed to have told 600 of its 3,500 flight attendants to lose weight or risk being declared to ‘unfit’ to fly.
While 470 found a way to drop the extra kilos, the other 130 must have had a little trouble, because according to the UK’s Telegraph, they were told this week that they are ‘permanently unfit’ for their roles.
6. Aussies follow Jarryd Hayne to the USA
Australians are more than just crushing on Aussie footballer Jarryd Hayne, they’re following him from his old stomping grounds in Western Sydney to San Francisco.
According to Skyscanner figures, flight searches to The Golden Gate City spiked drastically earlier this month when the former Eels player made his NFL 49ers’ debut.
Overall Aussie searches to San Francisco jumped 38.7 percent in the lead up to his first big game against the Minnesota Vikings compared to the same period last year.
7. Brisbane Airport gets Smart
Brisbane Airport has become the first Australian gateway to launch an App for the new Apple Watch.
Unveiled today, the new app allows passengers to view all departing/arriving information; track flights; access saved car park location; and use the Digital Departure Card.
Brisbane Airport Corporation’s General Manager of Strategic Planning and Development, Roel Hellemons, said the Apple Watch App will provide passengers the best possible experience.
8. Mantra takes over Surfers Paradise property
Mantra Group is set to operate Australia’s largest apartment hotel situated in the heart of Surfers Paradise – the Towers of Chevron Renaissance.
The Group purchased management rights this week for the 711 apartments building.
The property has rebranded as Mantra Towers of Chevron Surfers Paradise and will bring the number of Mantra branded properties to 12 on the Gold Coast. Mantra Group now operates 21 properties on the Gold Coast across its Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree brands making it the largest hotel operator in the region.
The adjacent Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre boasts a retail, dining and entertainment precinct and the landmark property is a popular choice for families featuring full resort facilities, including indoor and outdoor lap pools, plus a 600m² lagoon swimming pool known as ‘Beaches in the Sky’ on level 5, connecting the three towers.
Accommodation options range from One, Two and Three Bedroom Apartments through to Superior Sub-Penthouse Apartments accommodating up to seven people. Each apartment enjoys scenic views ranging from the Pacific Ocean to the Nerang River and Gold Coast hinterland.
9. Hong Kong joins the helloworld RELAY
On Sunday 27 September, Hong Kong will join up to 60 countries around the globe, including Oman, to participate in the Helloword Global Instagram Relay.
In each destination, the lead influencer will post 12 images (one per hour of daylight), in their location. During the day, each influencer will host an instameet with up to 10 other grammers to join them in their destination.
Hong Kong’s lead instagramer and fellow Australian and Hong Kong resident, Geneva Vanderzeil, blogger and lifestyle guru of, will take on the special journey to some of her favourite parts of Hong Kong, taking in the best places to shop, eat, explore and enjoy the stunning views across Victoria Harbour.
Geneva’s amazing day will culminate in an extraordinary instameet gathering where she will catch up with other influential Hong Kong instagramers to experience the Fire Show and the Tai Hung Fire Dragon Dance as part of the Mid Autumn Festival celebrations in Victoria Park.
10. Flight Centre & Sunrise soak up Niagara Falls
Sunrise’s trip around the world continues & Flight Centre’s Social Media Specialist, Millie Yervantian is right alongside them. Here’s her day four blog from Niagara Falls.
We landed in Buffalo at midnight and it was straight onto the bus, which took us across the US/Canada border. We jumped out just after 1.00am to get our passports stamped and then continued on until we reached the Marriott Gateway at the Falls and checked in at 2.00am.
After a full night’s sleep, Sunrise headed straight onto the Hornblower boat, where we donned red raincoats and cruised past the American and the Horseshoe Falls, which make up the spectacular Niagara Falls.
