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. More low-cost competition to Bali
Virgin Australia is following in the footsteps of its major competitor, Qantas, by sending its budget off-shoot Tigerair to Bali.
Currently, Virgin Australia’s premium operations are up against low-cost carrier Jetstar on services between Australia and Denpasar.
However, from 23 March next year, Virgin will move its budget airline, Tigerair onto flights from Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth to Bali – Tigerair’s first international destination. On the same date, Virgin will withdraw its services on the same routes.
2. Are alliances putting airfares at risk?
Not everyone was celebrating when Qantas expanded its trans-Pacific relationship with American Airlines last month or when Virgin extended its partnership with Delta by another five years.
While codesharing agreements are often seen as a positive for consumers, Hawaiian Airlines boss, Mark Dunkerley, said they’re actually having the opposite effect.
Speaking at the CAPA Aviation Summit this week, Dunkerley explained that codesharing agreements between US and Australian airlines are likely to hurt travellers by driving up airfares.
3. Skyscanner powers MSN Travel
Travel search engine, Skyscanner, has announced it will now power flight search for MSN Travel in 31 markets, including Australia, New Zealand, U.S., United Kingdom, India, Singapore, France, Hong Kong and Mexico.
The partnership will allow consumers to search for itinerary options and book flights via MSN.
The announcement comes after Google announced a similar partnership with Sabre.
Hugh Aitken, Director of Business Development, Skyscanner, said the company aims to ‘power the travel Internet’.
4. A new way attract MICE
TFE Hotels is bringing MICE planning and bookings into the 21st century with the launch of the first booking engine for the events industry.
Unveiled this week, the next-generation technology gives event planners the freedom to search, book and pay function space, drink and food menus plus accommodation whenever and wherever.
According to the hotel group, the booking platform makes it easier and faster for planners while giving TFE more centralised control over its MICE bookings and inventory functions.
5. Rugby gives Tasman searches a big push
Flight searches from New Zealand to Sydney more than doubled this week, with an army of Kiwi supporters keen to arrive in Aus in time for the Bledisloe Cup rugby kickoff this weekend.
Data released by Skyscanner revealed a 188 percent spike in flight searches from NZ from Sydney compared to the prior week.
This trend looks set to repeat itself for the second match held in Auckland on 16 August. Skyscanner data also showed a 74 percent increase in Aussies looking to travel to Auckland for the match.
Out of all the New Zealand cities, Christchurch and Queenstown saw the biggest growth of rugby fans searching to visit Australian shores to show their support.
The two Australian cities that showed the biggest growth in outbound travel searches to New Zealand were AFL hot spots Perth and Melbourne.
According to Skyscanner, figures demonstrate the growing trend of ‘sports tourism’ a sector which is worth $600 billion to the global travel industry.
6. Another day of cancellations
Another 20 flights to and from Australia and Bali’s Denpasar Airport have been cancelled today, as ash continues to spew from Mount Raung.
Today marks the third consecutive day of flight disruptions, and according to Jetstar could move into a fourth if poor flying conditions persist overnight.
Both Virgin and Jetstar said they continue to monitor the situation and will add additional services once operations are back up and running.
Travellers have been urged to avoid travelling to the airport as queues are longer than usual.
Airline guests will receive updates via SMS and websites.
7. Agents are packing their bags and heading to…
A record number of luxury travel advisors from around Australia and New Zealand are heading to Las Vegas next week for the annual Virtuoso Travel Week (VTW).
This year, 100 Aussies and Kiwis will be among the 4,500 agents and products from around the world taking part in over 350,000 one-on-one meetings.
Virtuoso Asia Pacific Managing Director, Michael Londregan, said VTW the rise comes as more agents recognise VTW’s role as a ‘relationship steroid’.
“Our business model is founded on the relationship between advisors and suppliers who, in harmony, create wow for the clients.”
Michael Londregan, Virtuoso Asia Pacific Managing Director
“The market reality is that clients can’t VIP themselves and for many the process of being treated to an exclusive experience starts with the hard work our Virtuoso advisors and suppliers do this week.”
Among this year’s Asia Pacific agents is Danny Englman from FBI Travel, who is attending the expo for the third time.
He said the the event gives him access to invaluable knowledge of the best luxury products on the international market.
Will you be attending VTW this year?
8. Last chance to claim your points
Agents have until 15 August 2015 to activate their Scenic Rewards account and claim any points or they’ll all be lost.
The deadline comes after Scenic announces the closure of the Passport to Rewards program. Remaining reward points have been rolled over the new program, Scenic Rewards.
However, agents must active their account to claim their earnings. For instructions on how to do so, email support@scenicrewards.com.au with your full name, Passport to Rewards number and current email address.
9. Travel to winter wonderland with Intrepid
Intrepid Travel has added to its popular range of festival themed trips with the new China’s Harbin Ice Festival experience.
The five-day trip makes the most of China’s chilly winter with a journey to the northeast corner of the country where Harbin’s festivities will make anyone forget about numb fingers and toes.
Beginning in Beijing, travellers take an overnight sleeper train to Harbin, where a walking tour of the city will introduce them to its Russian influence and heritage – Harbin was built to accommodate Russian engineers working on the Trans-Siberian Railroad in the 19th Century. Saint Sofia Cathedral is just one landmark that speaks to this.
A full day and night at the Ice and Snow Festival will be an exploration of life-size ice sculptures, sledding, ice hockey and even ice mini golf.
Travellers will take the bullet train back to Beijing where the trip will end.
China’s Harbin Ice Festival is from $1650 per person and departs on 9 January 2016.
10. Cruise lines take ‘reality’ out to sea
Having delivered celebrity chef restaurants, water slides and revolutionary technology, cruise lines are now looking at popular culture on the small screen to entice travellers to holiday at sea.
Cruising and Hollywood have always had somewhat of a close relationship, with ships featuring in a number of hit TV shows and movies throughout the years. Remember ‘The Love Boat’?
And while it seemed like their close ties may have simmered in the early 2000s, cruise lines like Holland America, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are tapping back into that relationship to offer travellers familiar entertainment onboard.
