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. Taiwan airline’s second crash in 12 months
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km1RnVRK-9c
A Taiwan-based airline had its second fatal incident in less than 12 months, when one of its planes hit a bridge and crashed into the local river.
The crash can be seen in the video above. The footage could almost be taken from a scene of a major Hollywood blockbuster, as the plane barely misses an apartment block only to hit the bridge, clip a taxi and then plunge into the river.
Reports are still unconfirmed, but it is believed that around 31 people died in the TransAsia crash. 15 others are said to have survived.
2. New insurance company conquers ageism
A new travel insurance company has launched to offer your over 50 clients an easier and simpler means of obtaining travel insurance.
Boomers Travel Insurance has been established in response to what the new company’s managing director described as mistreatment by other insurers to the baby boomer market.
Ian Jackson said despite the growing number of over 50 travellers (think about how quickly those river cruises are selling), they’ve been getting the ‘raw deal’ from insurers that aren’t accommodating to their requirements.
3. INCENTIVE: win a river cruise
This year, Uniworld will launch its second Super Ship SS Maria Theresa. She will be a sister to SS Catherine (pictured)
They’re sleek, elegant, delightfully floral and now is your chance to get onboard and experience a Uniworld ship for yourself.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has launched a new trade incentive giving one lucky agent and a guest the chance to experience everything that is Uniquely Uniworld.
The agent with the highest number of bookings made and deposited between 1 February – 31 March 2015 will experience what makes Uniworld different than any other river cruise line with the opportunity to travel on an eight-day European river cruise to the destination of their choice.
But that’s not all.
4. We don’t want AirAsia Down Under: TWU
QZ8501’s crash has Australian industry leaders concerned about the airline’s safety standards, and have even called for the government to ban AirAsia Indonesia from flying Down Under.
The airline currently has flights between Indonesia and Darwin and Perth, but the Transport Worker’s Union wants to put those on pause and for an audit to be completed to test out the airline’s training and aircraft maintenance, SBS reported.
TWU’s national secretary Tony Sheldon criticised the airline for delaying the preliminary report into QX5801.
He also said that early reports suggest the crash was from a lack of pilot training that lead to the death of all 162 people onboard.
“We need to ensure that a rapidly expanding airline like AirAsia Indonesia is not cutting corners.”
Tony Sheldon, TWU national secretary
5. The Flying Kangaroo returns to Vancouver
Qantas has announced it will return to Vancouver with an extended seasonal schedule, providing customers with new travel options over the North
American summer and winter holiday seasons.
Qantas executive manager international sales Stephen Thompson said the decision to return to Vancouver came at the end of a successful first season of flying during the December-January travel period.
Qantas will operate 33 return services between Sydney and Vancouver – 13 return services in June/July, and 20 return services from mid-December to late January 2016, operated by a three cabin 364-seat refurbished B747 aircraft.
“Our direct Vancouver services proved really popular so we’re pleased to expand them this year, offering customers more flights on more days over winter and summer, and delivering another boost for inbound tourism for Australia.”
Stephen Thompson, Qantas executive manager international sales
Vancouver flights are on sale now, with special fares starting from $1,990. The sale is available on flights booked from 4-9 February 2015.
6. How many languages do you understand?
If your answer to the question above is 35, then you’re all set to fly with Emirates.
The airline has launched a new inflight entertainment system with content in more than three dozen languages.
The new ice Digital Widescreen system has feature films in over 10 European languages including Amelie in French and Borgman in Dutch. There are 10 South African films, 20 in Hindi as well as in Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Urdu, Telugu and Bengali.
Travellers from China will enjoy the Mandarin and Cantonese flicks. There are also movies for those from Korean, Tagaloh and various Arabic speaking countries.
February sees the introduction of films in the Pashto language, and in March, Emirates’ customers can look forward to movies in Igbo – a language spoken primarily in southeastern Nigeria.
Customers can also enjoy a staggering choice of over 2,000 channels of entertainment, with almost 500 movies from around the world, hundreds of hours of TV including box-sets of popular shows like Mad Men, Luther and Anger Management and thousands of hours of music from contemporary to classical.
Emirates’ new Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft offer the ice system on larger personal TV screens with HD resolution: 27-inch in first class, 20-inch in business class and 12.1 inch in economy class.
7. Another female flies ahead Down Under
We are loving this growing trend of female pilots advancing their careers in Australia.
In December last year, Jetstar’s Georgina Sutton made history when she became the first female chief pilot in Australian aviation. Read on
Now, Air Serbia’s Australian-born female pilot is coming home to support the airline in promotional activities.
Raised in Western Sydney, Biljana Savic started her career over 12 years ago and is now one of three female pilots flying with the airline.
At 28 years old, First Officer Savis has completed Air Serbia’s extensive training program in Germany and is qualified to fly the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft.
The airline’s chief executive said he’s proud to have three female pilots onboard, who play an important role in the history of Serbian aviation.
“Although women have traditionally found it difficult to become pilots, times are changing. Air Serbia is breaking boundaries and I am proud to be part of this exciting change.”
Biljana Savic, Air Serbia pilot
8. Carnival encourages more selfies at sea
Carnival Cruise Line is hopping on the selfies wave with the launch of a new app that allows guests to capture their cruise in a series of selfies.
Available for download free of charge at the Apple and Android stores, the Selfies at Sea app collates a series of onboard photos into a mini-movie which can be shared on social media channels.
All cruisers have to do is point and shoot and the easy-to-use app does the rest (click here for tips on how to take a great holiday selfie). There are even flattering filters to ensure everyone looks like a selfie star.
The app also features a guide to the best selfie spots onboard Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend including the ships’ striking red funnel, Green Thunder waterslide and Lido deck with the sounds of the cruise making a fun soundtrack.
The travel industry has really taken to the selfie phase, even the Irish government has decided to let its citizens use the self portrait on official documentation.
9. AAT’s project gets a cute, cuddly new face
Isn’t he adorable!
Meet Sam the Koala (pictured above). He’s not only incredibly cute and cuddly, he’s also been selected to help AAT Kings raise money for its project to protect Australia’s koala population via its partnership with Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Warrior’s koala rehabilitation group.
Tell your clients they can buy Sam for only $15 while on tour. A percentage of all sales are donated to the Wildlife Warrior’s Hospital – an establishment set up by the late Steve and Terri Irwin in 2002.
AAT Kings’ managing director Anthony Hayes said the company is passionate about protecting koalas.
“Many of our Australian guided holidays, short breaks and day tours bring our guests up close and personal with koalas and it’s always a highlight whether they’re from Australia or across the globe.”
Anthony Hayes, AAT Kings managing director
10. Argh! There’s a snake on the plane
A Tiger Snake is one of the most dangerous in Australia. This is just a generic image of a Tiger Snake. Image: mark higgins/Shutterstock
Could you image looking down at your feet and finding a snake onboard your flight!
Eek.
That’s not exactly what happened to Jetstar this week, but it’s close enough.
A tiger snake at about 183 centimetres long was found on a Jetstar plane in Melbourne.
The snake was found by workers while they were off loading the aircraft, which had just arrived from Melbourne.
The worker that found the snake, Steve, believes the snake would have been onboard during the one hour flight.
Steve told Melbourne’s radio show 3AW Mornings that he went to put a container back onto the machine and the snake was sitting right next to his leg.
“It sort of startled me and I jumped back to see if it was moving.”
Steve, Jetstar staff
The snake was picked up by another staff member using a rain jacket. No one was bitten.
This isn’t the first time wild animals have snuck onboard a flight.
In 2012, a passenger found a snake during an EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Kuwait. The plane made an emergency landing.
Need to Know Extra: All hands on deck for Travel Corp’s Regatta Day
James Gaskell (Creative Holidays), Ashlee Galea (Hawaii Tourism) and Jacqui Brown (Creative Holidays) on-board the Creative Holidays boat that finished second place in the Regatta.
The Travel Corporation yesterday held their annual Regatta Day on Sydney Harbour.
With brands in attendance including Contiki, Creative Holidays, Adventure World, Trafalgar, Uniworld, AAT Kings and Insight Vacations all taking crewed boats out, the racing was a competitive affair with the AAT Kings boat captained by Travel Corporation Australia and NZ CEO John Weeks taking out the overall trophy.
10 boats in total went out to race with revenue enjoying a glorious afternoon sailing on the harbour followed by drinks and canapés at East Sail, d’Albora Marinas in Rushcutters Bay.