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. Why Qantas keeps winning our hearts
Try as they might, competitors just can’t seem to replace Qantas as Australia’s favourite airline and this was no more evident that at last month’s NTIA Awards.
The industry’s night of nights saw the Flying Kangaroo take home the title of ‘Best Domestic Airline’ for the fifth consecutive year.
In a Q&A with KarryOn, Head of Agency Partnerships Rob Harrison attributed this year’s win to the business’ transformation, saying it went beyond reducing costs and into customer service.
2. Virgin Australia en-route to profitability
Virgin Australia’s ambitious cost-cutting plan is working more efficiently than expected, with the airline now predicting profits by as soon as next year.
The announcement comes after the airline reported an Underlying Loss Before Tax of $49 million for the year ending 30 June 2015.
The figure was a drastic improvement on the $211.7 million loss reported during the prior year.
3. Virgin flies back to Bali
Virgin Australia said it will operate services to and from Bali today and tonight while conditions around Denpasar remain favourable.
The announcement comes after days of cancellations caused by volcanic ash as from Mount Raung.
Virgin Australia has scheduled additional services in order to get affected guests to their intended destination as quickly as possible.
Affected guests will be contacted by Guest Contact Centre or via email with revised flight details.
The airline is advising guests currently in Bali not to travel to Denpasar Airport without a confirmed rebooked flight.
4. Do people prefer rail or plane?
The comfort and convenience of rail officially outweighs the speed and availability of planes, according to a new study.
A survey conducted by Rail Europe throughout April and May this year found 73 percent of travellers said they’d prefer to travel around Europe via trains – more than the 61 percent that preferred plane.
Sounds a little hard to believe until you hear the reasons why.
5. Singapore Airlines’ Premium seats arrive in Sydney
Singapore Airlines launched its first Premium Economy Class flight in Sydney today, with the cabin arriving at Kingsford earlier this morning.
Sydney is the first destination to receive the Premium Economy Class.
Each seat has a width of either 18.5 or 19.5 inches, depending on aircraft type, with an 8-inch recline and a seat pitch of 38 inches.
Together with active noise-cancelling headphones and a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor which is the largest in its class, customers can look forward to an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience.
Other features include a full leather finishing, calf-rest and foot-bar for every seat, individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, cocktail table, and more stowage space for personal items.
6. Everest is safe once again
A report carried out on the iconic mountain trekking region has confirmed ‘minimal damage’ to the majority of accommodation and trails in the region after April’s major quakes.
The report was handed over to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Kripasur Sherpa on August 7, 2015 amidst the press conference in Kathmandu.
In it, the report notes minor hazards and recommends rerouting a section of the trail and relocating buildings in the villages of Tok Tok and Benkar to the opposite side of the river.
Despite some challenges identified in the report, tourism industry leaders and government officials have welcomed the information in this assessment, which provides a baseline to improve infrastructure in the region.
“As far as we’re concerned the report is all good news, because even where it’s identified issues it means that we now have the information needed to rebuild Nepal stronger than ever before, and ensure the safety of our staff, travellers, and the local communities we visit.”
Darrell Wade, Intrepid Travel CEO
7. A new waterfront hotel opens its doors in Brisbane
Queensland’s Deputy Premier helps open the new Capri by Fraser hotel in Brisbane over the weekend.
The Hon Jackie Trad MP assisted John Aitken, CEO of Brisbane Marketing, (Mr) Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Frasers Hospitality and Mariusz Tymosiewicz, General Manager of Capri by Fraser in the launch of the group’s fourth Australian property.
The waterfront hotel adds 239 rooms to the city and features an extensive range of hotel facilities, including iPad-activated check-ins, e-Concierge, e-Print facilities, fast and free wireless Internet.
8. Agents get a taste of Exotic India
Exotic India was on the menu for a group of Globus Family of Brands’ top-selling agents during a recent famil.
The group spent 10 days in early July enjoying a Cosmos Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as well as a customised Kerala extension to Cochin, Periyar and Alleppey.
Among the highlights of the trip was a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, an excursion to Jaipur’s legendary Amber Fort and an overnight houseboat cruise.
Picture L-R: Anu Krum – tour director; Elizabeth Levy, Darren Perry – Globus; Melanie Bray – Globus; Bryn Davies, Gina Broom, Kelly Simpson.
Middle Row: Sandra Maytom, Florence Huss, Susan Clark, Tara Wells, Holly Weir.
Front Row: Aaron Erlers, Sneha Pedankar – TBI India; Luke Cochrane, Sunil Panchal – TBI India.
9. Pilot’s incredible emergency landing
#hail storm @delta #DeltaFlight1889 emergency landing #DIA pic.twitter.com/0nn9iZl9kb
— Jack Thompson (@rovingwaves) August 8, 2015
A Delta Air Lines pilot has been praised for his incredible flying skills after successfully landing a beaten A320.
The plane was pelted with so much hail while flying from Boston to Salt Lake City this month, its nose cone broke off and nearly every inch of the windshield was cracked.
A passenger onboard, Beau Sorensen of Provo from Utah told the Denver Post that it felt like air was dropping from under the plane.
He explained that babies and other passengers were screaming and crying, despite not being able to see the actual damage to the plane.
After successfully landing the plane only one person was taken to hospital for minor injuries and passengers were transferred to another plane for the rest of their flight.
Mr Sorensen took to Twitter to thank the airline and the pilot for ‘saving our butts’.
10. Canberra Airport lights up in rainbow colours
Canberra Airport comes out in rainbows for equal marriage #WeCanDoThis http://t.co/3bMDRyWAlo pic.twitter.com/hUTUHvcg4L
— PinkNews (@pinknews) August 9, 2015
MPs flying into Canberra Airport last night received a colourful welcome as the gateway’s owners showed their support for same-sex marriage.
A display of purple, red, yellow, green and orange lit up the main entrance and highlighted the enlarged text: #WECANDOTHIS
Airport’s Managing Director, Stephen Byron, told Fairfax that the display aimed at supporting the end of ‘ridiculous’ discrimination.
He explained that he thinks its ridiculous that same sex couples, including his brother, are forced to travel overseas to tie the knot.
