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. One year on and still no sign of MH370
The search continues for the missing Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370, 12 months after the plane and its passengers disappeared without a trace.
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary since the Boeing 777-200ER lost contact with ground control with some 227 passengers and 13 Malaysian crew onboard.
Flight MH370 fell from radars around 1.21 am on 8 March 2014 an hour into its flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.
2. Would your clients be keen on this new product?
SeaLink is expanding its operations Down Under with a new and unique tour, after noticing the need for new tourism products in Australia.
Unveiled to media in Sydney last week, SeaLink has teamed up with the traditional owners of the Tiwi Islands to launch overnight tours to the destination.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the Tiwi Islands are a remote group of five islands located 70 miles north of Darwin.
3. CruiseNet adds World’s Leading Cruise Lines
Agents now have access to exclusive live pricing and availability on all World’s Leading Cruise Lines Brands as part of an expansion to CruiseNet.
The change introduced late last week by the Cruise Team, included the addition of Carnival Australia (Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend); Cunard; P&O Australia; P&O World Voyages; Princess Cruises; Holland America Line; and Seabourn.
Through the online portal, agents can access live pricing and availability, select sailings, cruise sale weeks, dynamic deck plans and instant booking confirmations.
The introduction of these additional cruise lines means CruiseNet now offers live pricing and booking capabilities across 14 major cruise lines.
David Clark, National Manager at The Cruise Team said the enhancement is a ‘game changer’ and offers more inventory choices available to agents 24/7.
4. Agents can access Travelport’s revolutionary solution
Travelport has announced a first-of-its-kind solution, which allows airport express services to be offered to travel agency customers.
Airport express services operate frequent fast rail services between an airport and local city. So far, Heathrow Express is the first customer to have signed up.
So what does it allow agents to do? Using a plugin on Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform, agents can book electronic tickets for an airport.
In addition, travel agents will be able to offer travelers the same priced tickets on Heathrow Express services as those buying direct.
Other benefits include booking multiple airport express service providers connectivity through a single application; providing all available classes of service to the agent; offering electronic ticketing; and it automatically integrates PNR data.
5. Hey Britannia!
Britannia arrives in Southampton.
There’s a new ship in town and she goes by the name of Britannia.
That’s right, P&O Cruises World Cruising this weekend took delivery of its newest and largest ship.
The 143,000-tonne ship arrived in Southampton on Friday ahead of her official naming ceremony, which will take place in the UK on 10 March.
As well as being the largest ship designed for the UK market, Britannia is the second P&O vessel to sport the new Union Jack livery (see above).
Last week, P&O confirmed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will officially name the vessel during the christening.
6. Spicer is the new face of industry networking
Tracey Spicer appointed as new ambassador for Q2Connect.
The travel industry’s social network platform, Q2Connect.com has a new, familiar face.
Australian TV/Radio host Tracey Spicer has been appointed as the official ambassador of the platform, which serves as a networking tool for businesses and individuals in travel.
Q2Connect Founder said Tracey was selected to be the face because she ’embodies the qualities’ of the website’s users.
“She loves to travel with her family or for work and understands how Q2Connect enhances her travel experience.”
Peter Mansour, Q2Connect Founder
Tracey is an avid traveller, both for work and with her family. She has recently discovered the benefits of new social networking site Q2Connect and is excited to share the website with her friends, family and colleagues.
7. DTG goes to the Out Back with new client
Sydney Out Back cruise vessel on the Hawkesbury Rifer.
Marketing specialist, Dynamic Tourism Group (DTG) has expanded its client portfolio with the addition of new cruise and coach operator, Sydney Out Back.
Sydney Out Back takes visitors to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and West Head lookout by coach before transferring passengers onto a 60-seater catamaran for a cruise on the Hawkesbury River.
Product highlights include a fully guided tour of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and West Head Lookout by Aboriginal guides visiting rock art and cultural heritage sites and learning about the region’s wildlife and history.
There’s also hands-on activities such as leaning how to make a boomerang and a didgeridoo.
DTG Managing Director Jeff Skinner said Sydney Out Back is an ‘exciting development’ for the company and local tourism.
8. Qantas’ oldest plane retires
It was a bitter sweet welcome for Qantas over the weekend, as its oldest plane arrived at her final destination at Illawarra Regional Airport.
The Boeing 747-400 named ‘The City of Canberra’ retired in Wollongong after 25 years of service.
Instead of retiring at a plane graveyard, she will live on as the newest addition to the aviation museum based at the regional airport.
As seen in the video above, the aircraft’s arrival attracted a large crowd that cheered her on as she touched down.
The City of Canberra holds a record for the longest ever non-stop commercial flight, flying from London to Sydney in 1989.
Her last commercial flight was made in January this year when she travelled from Johannesburg to Sydney.
9. Female pilots step out in gear
(L-R): First Officer Seini Koroitamana, First Officer Selai Saumi and Second Officer Vanika Itautoka.
Fiji Airways has selected three of its five female pilots to be at the forefront of the launch of its new pilots uniforms to commemorate yesterday’s International Women’s Day.
The new pilot uniform combines the industry standardised style with distinctive Fiji Airways brand design elements such as the use of masi motifs on the brown tie.
The navy pants have been replaced with black slacks. They accompany the black shoulder epaulets with silver stripes and the white shirt.
Detailed Masi motifs are featured on the new brown tie and the silver winged-badge showcases the iconic Fiji Airways Teteva.
Silver chinstraps with black braid design along with a Fiji wordmark adorns the pilot hat and the winged badge has been adapted to showcase the Fiji Airways Teteva.
Each pilot uniform is decorated with insignia representing duties and rank.
The new uniforms have been rolled out for immediate use.
Late last month, Fiji Airways revealed a major financial surplus, which it said it will share amongst its employees.
10. Egypt outraged over Pyramids porno
Screenshot of Egypt pyramids porno shared by Al Masru Al Youm
If you thought the story of two male tourists taking nude pics at Cambodia’s ancient Angkor temple was bad, then you’re about to get a shock.
Egypt is reportedly outraged over what has been described as a pornographic film made by foreign visitors at the Giza Pyramids.
Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty said in a statement to a public prosecutor that the ‘unlawful footage’ was made by an international female tourist and was posted online last year.
Contents of the 10-minute video have yet to be confirmed, according to Reuters, however screenshots published by Egyptian newspaper ‘Al Masru Al Youm’ show blurred images of a woman’s breasts.
The paper also said the video included nudity and sexual acts by Russian-speaking visitors near the 4,500-year-old pyramids.
Meanwhile, last week a new study showed ongoing political disruptions in Egypt has made it one of the cheapest destinations for Aussie travellers.
Hotel rates in the country are at an average of $117 – making it the fifth cheapest destination.