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. Travel companies appear on the no-tax list
More than a third of all large public and foreign companies earning over $100 million annually and operating in Australia paid no tax last year, including a few travel companies.
A Tax Transparency report released by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) today found that 579 of the 1,539 corporate businesses reviewed didn’t fork over any cash in 2014 either because they had offsets against profits that reduced their tax to zero or they made a loss.
Commissioner of Taxation, Chris Jordan, said the report was published to improve corporate transparency between big companies and the public.
2. The world’s leading destination is…
Maybe it’s the tall buildings, the unique attractions, the incredible sites, the friendly culture or maybe it’s a combination of it all that makes Dubai the world’s leading destination.
The UAE city won the title for the third consecutive year at the 2015 World Travel Awards Grand Final, beating 16 other ideal travel locations including Australia’s very own Sydney, New Zealand’s Queenstown and New York.
It was the destination’s fifth time receiving the award in 19 years, with past wins in 2014, 2013, 2008 and 2004.
3. Air India employee ‘sucked’ into aircraft engine
It was a shocking and tragic day for Air India and its employees yesterday when a service engineer was accidentally sucked into a live engine.
The 40-year-old worker, identified as Ravi Subramanium, was supervising the back push of a A319 aircraft at Mumbai airport when the incident occurred.
Aircraft can only move forward and needs external help to reverse from the parking bar. A tow van is usually used to push back the aircraft and an engineer is positioned in front of the aircraft nose and is always visible by the pilot. Subramanium was manning the back of the plane when a source says they heard the technician ‘sucked into the engine’.
4. Potential flight delays in Chile
Travellers are being warned of potential flight delays and cancellations to and from Chile today as traffic controllers walk off the job.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) issued the warning overnight after receiving news of a 48-hour strike running today and tomorrow.
According to local news sources, the strike comes after two months of negotiations with the government over working conditions.
5. Costa Cruises into the future with humanoids
Robot employees are all the rage right now with hotels, cruise lines and even airports recruiting mechanical devices to aid their human workers.
While Royal Caribbean may have its robot bartenders and Crowne has its ‘botlr’, these artificial employees lack the intelligence and intuitive capabilities of the Costa Group’s Pepper.
What’s a Pepper?
6. Myrmell takes the wheel at P&O Cruises
A new year will bring in new leadership over at P&O Cruises as Sture Myrmell takes the reins from Ann Sherry.
The current Senior Vice President will step into the role of full-time President from Sherry on 1 January next year, who steps down after eight years.
Sherry’s departure comes after her appointment to Executive Chairman for Carnival Australia where she will continue to work closely with the Australian cruise line.
7. More Aussies are flying with Cebu
When it comes to travelling to the up and coming Southeast Asian destination, more Aussies are choosing to do it through Cebu Pacific Air, according to new figures.
Based on research conducted on September 2014 to September 2015, around 38 percent of Australians travelling on the Manila-Sydney route did so with the low-cost carrier.
And with a 67 percent increase in traffic between the two destinations, it means Cebu was carrying more passengers to and from Australia this September compared to the same month last year.
Candice Iyog, the carrier’s VP for Marketing and Distribution, said she was pleased to see growth in the market and aims to continue momentum by studying the destination.
“We look forward to serving more guests, and creating more tourism and business opportunities to benefit the destinations we fly to.”
Candice Iyog, CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution
8. Delta debuts new sleepwear to Sydney
This will surely give the carrier an edge on the highly competitive trans-Pacific route.
Delta is making its Business Class passengers a little more comfy with new sleepwear on its Los Angeles-Sydney and Los Angeles-Shanghai services.
The ‘sleep and lounge suits’ are being rolled out this week and compliment the carrier’s spacious Business Class cabins featuring flat-beds and direct aisle access.
Allison Ausband, the Senior VP of Delta, said the carrier understands the importance of sleep to its guests, especially when travelling halfway around the globe.
“With a full flat-bed seat, a Westin Heavenly duvet and now new Delta One loungewear, settling in on a long flight has never felt more like home.”
Allison Ausband, Delta Senior Vice President
Customers on other services will have access to the new sleepwear from March next year.
9. TravelManagers let loose for Xmas
The feather boas and reindeer ears were out for the annual TravelManagers Western Australia Christmas party, which took place on the recently launch Pacific Eden.
Dozens of home-based agents from the state boarded the ship for an overnight cruise to nowhere.
Alison Banks, a TravelManager on the cruise, said the group created ‘quite a buzz’ on the ship.
One of the highlights of the cruise was the “Bianco” (or white) –themed party held on the Saturday night.
“We decided to reinterpret the white dress code by showing up dressed in black, but with white gloves and feather boas, plus reindeer antlers for an extra, festive touch!”
Alison Banks, Personal Travel Manager
“Everyone looked amazing and made a huge visual impact amidst the sea of white.”
10. Secret location for NTIA after-party
The biggest celebration in the travel industry calendar, the National Travel Industry Awards, will culminate with an After Party at a secret undisclosed venue in Darling Harbour.
The After Party will follow the Gala Dinner on the 16 July at the Pavilion Darling Harbour and the Australian Federation of Travel Agents has decided to bring the post event celebration back due to popular demand.
The much loved After Party will be exclusive sponsored by Singapore Airlines, which has financed the event since 2010.
Details of the After Party will be revealed closer to the event.
