Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best today and tomorrow.
1. Virgin Australia finances to take a hard hit over restructure
The cost of restructure and cost-cutting is expected to hit Virgin Australia’s full-year finances by some $450 million, according to the airline.
The one-off loss was revealed by the airline in an investor update on ASX, weeks after the carrier found investors to replace the loss of its major shareholder, Air New Zealand.
The carrier said around $100 million will be put towards restructuring and $175 million in non-cash balance sheet impairments from its three-year Better Business program. These charges along with other restructuring charges recorded during the year will reach between $410-$450 million.
2. Auckland Airport operations return to normal
Air New Zealand confirmed its services from Auckland Airport are operating as normal this morning after yesterday’s fog disruptions.
A thick blanket of fog caused significant disruptions to services to and from the city all day yesterday, including the cancellation of Air New Zealand’s regional turbo-prop services.
A statement from the carrier ensured that “Auckland airport is not impacted by fog this morning and all services are operational”.
3. Singapore Airlines upgrades going once, going twice
Singapore Airlines has just joined Qantas and South African Airways with its very own upgrade auctions, where passengers can bid their way into First or Business Class.
Launched this week, mySQupgrade gives travellers the chance to move one-cabin up days before their flight at a price of their choice.
The system works by invitation-only, with eligible bookings receiving an invite to bid around seven days before departure. All bids need to be made in dollars and within a preset range.
4. KarryOn Comedy: Flight Centre to open pop-up store on Emirates A380
In what’s being dubbed ‘an innovation of mile high proportions’, secret plans have been discovered to open a Flight Centre branded pop up store on board an Emirates Airbus A380 in mid-flight.
The secretly leaked plans, found left on a table in ‘The Coffee Club’ on Ann Street in Brisbane feature transforming the cocktail bar area on the Business Class upper deck of an Emirates A380 into a pop up Flight Centre store at 35,000 feet.
Details in the plan include Emirates cabin crew being replaced on their breaks by two Flight Centre Consultants, bar shelves that slide down to reveal brochure racks, a digital airfare special board and even a specially created ‘Captain’s Martini’ (shaken not stirred) served with a red olive that passengers could enjoy as they’re buying travel.
5. TravelManagers land in Doha with Qatar
Personal travel managers, Ric Pattaro, representative for Haberfield and Vicki O’Dea, representative for Lane Cove, were invited on an exclusive famil with Qatar Airways to celebrate the launch of the carrier’s new Doha to Sydney services.
The whirlwind three-day trip saw the group take in the city’s rich history, Islamic traditions and architecture while enjoying the high-end luxury of the Shangri-La Hotels and Resort.
The two consultants said it was “great to see a city in the making”, and believes it will offer a “new and unique holiday experience for travellers en route to Europe”.
6. Travellers Choice Gold winners go on a Scenic adventure
All recipients of Travellers Choice’s annual Gold Choice awards were treated to an eight-day voyage along the Rhone taking in its Medieval charms, gastronomic delight and spectacular weather on board Scenic Sapphire.
The group enjoyed a range of activities, from exploring medieval castles to learning how to cook their favourite French cuisine on board. Along with the picturesque scenery, other highlights included riding electric push bikes through the streets of Lyon, an exclusive concert at the Pope’s Palace in Avignon (a venue only Scenic and the French Parliament can access for events), wine tasting in Beaujolais, and the luxurious, highly-personalised on board experience.
Travellers Choice Managing Director Christian Hunter said the weather in the south of France was magnificent, but heavy rainfall in May meant the rivers were difficult to navigate.
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