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. Delays at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport
Heads up travellers booked on flights to or from Amsterdam’s Schiphol today, there’s been a bit of a technical glitch that has affected over 100 services.
Cancellations and delays hit the European gateway overnight after a major computer malfunction at the Netherland’s Air Traffic Control, The Australian reported.
A spokesperson said a reboot of the system failed to resolve the glitch and IT teams are looking into the issue, however, the cause is currently unknown.
2. Flights to China are on sale from $199
What better way to celebrate the launch of a new route than by dropping fares down, down, down to crazy low levels like $199 one-way to China?!
That’s exactly how AirAsia X – the carrier that is on the verge of launching to the US – is commemorating the start of its new daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Wuhan.
For Aussies – from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast – the new A330-300 flights mean gaining access to a one-stop connection to the most populous city in Central China and the capital of the Hubei province.
3. Uniworld adds Dame Joan Collins to its incredible dynasty of godmothers
Austria’s Princess Anita von Hohenberg has had the honour of breaking champagne on a Uniworld ship, as has French actress Catherine Deneuve and soon so too will one of the most recognisable women on this planet, Dame Joan Collins.
The award-winning actress, producer and best-selling author was this week named the Godmother of Uniworld’s forthcoming Super Ship, S.S. Joie de Vivre.
4. Etihad’s new agreement with Lufthansa
Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa German Airlines have entered a new commercial partnership that includes a US$100 million global catering agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on aircraft maintenance.
The four-year catering contract will see Lufthansa’s LSG Sky Chefs provide catering services to Etihad Airways in 16 cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. This makes LSG the largest provider of catering services to the UAE’s national airline, outside its Abu Dhabi home base.
Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa Technik (LHT) also signed an MoU to explore cooperation in maintenance, repair and overhaul services across Etihad Airways and its airline equity partners, and opportunities for synergies with Etihad Airways Engineering.
5. Meet the new GM of Australia for Scoot…
Scoot has appointed Jared Simcox as the new General Manager for Australia effective immediately.
Jared’s roots have been firmly planted in all aspects of aviation, having worked at Curry Aviation before landing his latest gig as Wholesale Travel Manager at Groupon ANZ.
He considers turning on-line business into offline revenue critical, in today’s aviation industry. That knowledge will be invaluable, further establishing Scoot in Australia as the low-cost carrier of choice, with its planned long haul European expansion in June 2017.
Jared said: “What really excited me about this role at Scoot, is that this company is out to challenge the status quo. Since Scoot’s launch in 2012, the highly visible, yellow liveried and quirky airline, has quickly risen to become a benchmark and trendsetter in the low-cost market segment.”
Click here for Scoot’s $369 air deal to Europe.
6. The first Ever Wondered sessions for 2017 will be held on…
Scenic’s Ever Wondered sessions are back this year, whereby Agents can invite their clients to attend and learn all about new products.
The events will run nation-wide from 28 February to 30 May with the first being held at Novotel, Parramatta (28 February); QT Hotel, Canberra (2 March); Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (7 March); Sofitel, Melbourne (9 March); NEX, Newcastle (14 March); Hilton, Gold Coast (16 March); Sofitel, Sydney (21 March); Crowne Plaza, Adelaide (23 March); Novotel Wollongong (28 March); Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads (28 March); and Mingara Recreation Club, Central Coast (30 March).
Dates continue with Maroochy RSL, Maroochydore (3 April); The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, Hobart (4 April); Crown Casino Convention Centre, Perth (6 April); and Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston (6 April).
Click here to register and for more dates.
7. New exploration tours in Japan with Collette
Collette has released a new 13-day explorations tour to Japan tour personally craft by the company’s CEO, Dan Sullivan Jnr.
Commencing from September 2017, the ‘Cultural Treasures of Japan’ trip includes a Collette Chauffeur that picks guests up from within 40km of international Australian airports.
“We’re really excited to add Japan to our program and this represents excellent value for money, especially the date to coincide with the Cherry Blossom bloom in early April 2018. Our explorations program, with an average group size 18, is increasingly popular in Asia and we are guaranteeing more and more dates,” Alison Mead, General Manager Collette Australia said.
8. What’s this pilot so happy about?
Enhanced comfort touched down in Victoria this week when Cathay Pacific’s A390-900 commenced daily flights between Hong Kong and Melbourne.
The new aircraft features the latest in aviation technology to take travelling to a new level such as LED mood lighting and quieter cabins.
Cathay Pacific’s General Manager Southwest Pacific, Nelson Chin, said: “We’ve been flying into Melbourne for 40 years and we’re very excited to introduce our first Australian-based Airbus A350 into the Victorian capital. As an airline we know that air travel is much more than simply getting from A to B. We continue to improve the journey for our passengers; and this aircraft does just that. It is transforming the way our passengers are travelling – it’s faster, smarter, and greener, and boasts our newest cabins.”
Click here for more information.
9. Seabourn Encore makes her debut in Sydney
Seabourn’s newest vessel, Seabourn Encore, made her debut in Sydney last night with some 600 exciting guests on board.
The young ship arrived only three weeks after her official christening in Singapore.
As the most luxurious vessel in the Seabourn fleet, Encore offers guests all-suite accommodation, award-winning cuisine, an open-bar policy and the comfort and exclusivity of private cabanas.
Click here for more images of her arrival.
10. TravelManagers experience Europe in winter with APT
The winter vacation gave the group to experience some of the highlights available to their clients on the APT cruise.
Among the standout moments from the trip included a visit to Budapest’s Parliament building, which one Agent described as a “true masterpiece”. There was also a visit to the grand old city of Cilek in Vienna and St Stephen’s Cathedral plus a private orchestral concert at the beautiful City Palais Liechtenstein.
Click here for more images.