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. Airlines cancel flights to Brussels in the wake of recent airport attacks
Image: Newsweek/Twitter
Belgium’s capital city, Brussels, is dealing with the emotional and travel aftermath of twin explosions at its international airport yesterday, which killed 11 and injured 81 holidaymakers.
The twin blasts hit an hour before an attack at the city’s metro station, which brought the death toll up to around 30.
According to reports, the blasts at Zaventem Airport occurred at around 8.00am local time in the departures area. Authorities say a suicide bomber was ‘probably involved’ and are currently looking for a man who was spotted walking around the gateway with a luggage trolley. It’s believed that he was accompanied by two other suspects who were killed during the blast.
2. Bestjet granted injunction against AFTA
Online travel agency, Bestjet, has been granted an injunction by Queensland’s Supreme court against AFTA after the industry body refused to renew the agency’s membership and ATAS accreditation.
According to the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), Bestjet didn’t satisfy certain criteria of the ATAS Charter – specifically, section 2.5 “Close Associate” – and has since refused to renew Bestjet Pty Ltd’s (trading as Bestjet.com.au) ATAS accreditation and AFTA membership.
3. More Dreamliners fly to Australia with Air NZ & Vietnam Airlines
It’s a ‘Dream’ come true for Australia as both Air New Zealand and Vietnam Airlines announce new local destinations for their Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Commencing 1 December, Vietnam Airlines will send its first Dreamliner to Australia, moving the aircraft to both its Melbourne and Sydney routes.
The plane will fly daily between Ho Chi Minh and the two cities offering three classes of service, Business, Economy Deluxe and Economy.
4. Air Canada takes inflight wi-fi around the world
Air Canada has announced it will offer satellite connectivity on international flights so customers can email, surf the internet and stream entertainment at broadband speeds while flying anywhere in the world.
Already, Air Canada is the only Canadian carrier to offer customers in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity across its entire fleet of narrow-body aircraft in North America.
“While business travellers will welcome satellite Wi-Fi service as a productivity tool, it will have widespread appeal for all travellers by allowing them to stay in touch, access the internet and enjoy additional entertainment options throughout their entire journey.”
Benjamin Smith, Air Canada President, Passenger Airlines
Air Canada will begin installing Gogo® 2Ku satellite technology on its wide-body fleet commencing September 2016 with its Boeing 777 aircraft.
5. Tigerair is off to Bali
Tigerair Australia has taken off to Bali, launching its inaugural services to the destination today.
Tigerair Australia will operate daily return flights to Denpasar from Melbourne and Perth, along with five weekly return flights from Adelaide to Denpasar, delivering over 6,800 additional visitor seats weekly through Denpasar Airport.
Tigerair Australia CEO Rob Sharp, who is flying on the inaugural service from Melbourne, said the airline was excited to be able to launch its first ever international services, providing more value and choice for leisure travellers than ever before.
“This is a significant milestone for Tigerair Australia as we continue to grow in line with consumer demand.”
Rob Sharp, Tigerair Australia CEO
“Bali is renowned as a popular holiday destination for many Australians looking for an affordable tropical holiday year round and we are confident our new services will prove popular with our core market of leisure travellers.”
Customers aboard the first Tigerair international flight will be farewelled in Melbourne with a special Balinese themed check- in experience and greeted on arrival at Denpasar Airport with a traditional Balinese welcome featuring local dancers.
Tigerair Australia is using three recently reconfigured Boeing 737-800 aircraft for its international services. These aircraft feature 180 all economy seats, including five rows of seats with extra legroom (18 seats in the front of the cabin and 12 seats in exit rows).
For the first time, passengers will also be able to access a mix of free and paid wireless inflight entertainment for use on their own devices on-board the new international services.
6. Skal Sydney & TIME work together
At the March SKAL Sydney North Club lunch President Scott Thomson announced that SKAL Sydney North Club members will be eligible for a fully paid “SKALarship” to become a Mentee on the TIME Program in 2016.
During the launch of the ‘SKALarship “SKAL Members, including some visiting from the Sunshine Coast and Orlando Florida, and guests were addressed by Sharon Hannaford from the TIME Committee and recent TIME graduate Duan Irmak from Turkessence Tours who explained how TIME operates, the benefits of the mentoring program and the invaluable networking events available to participants.
Duan shared insights into how he had benefitted from his participation in the TIME Program and how much he had gained from his Mentor.
SKAL Sydney North is proud to be the first SKAL Club in Australia to provide this opportunity for Members and is committed to fully supporting the TIME Program.
7. Tickets now on sale for Aladdin the Musical in Sydney
You can now book your clients visiting Sydney this August to the American premiere of Disney’s blockbuster musical, Aladdin.
Tickets for the show which opens at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on 12 August 2016 went on sale this week.
Visitors, theatre buffs, and Disney fans are encouraged to start planning their trip to experience this much-loved story and world-class production featuring exhilarating choreography, show-stopping musical numbers and astonishing visual effects.
Adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” Aladdin is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.
The Australian premiere of Aladdin has been secured exclusively for Sydney by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said it was the perfect opportunity for visitors to “get a world-class Broadway experience in Sydney, a world-class harbourside city and Australia’s capital for art, culture and theatre”.
8. Radisson Blu keeps guests active on different routes
Radisson Blu Hotel Sydney is making it easier for guests to commit to their healthy lifestyle resolutions with the launch of their #BluRoutes – a series of walking and running routes around the city.
The #BluRoutes can be downloaded on the hotel’s One Touch app so hotel guests have the information conveniently at their fingertips. They will also be available on the website and in printed form from the Concierge team.
The routes have been carefully planned by Radisson Blu’s team members to ensure Sydney’s views, harbour, heritage, gardens, architecture, iconic buildings and landmarks can all be enjoyed by guests while maintaining their exercise routine.
There are four different routes offering diversity in distance, time, difficulty and sites to meet the needs of all their guests from amateur joggers to keen runners.
9. Aussies wake up to helloworld
Helloworld’s new sponsorship deal with Volleyball Australia continues to gain national media traction, as Channel 7’s breakfast show Sunrise visited iconic Manly Beach to meet with some of the helloworld Volleyroos.
The world’s best beach volleyball players are on display as part of Volleyfest, the huge beach volleyball festival running in Manly until Monday 28th of March. The Asian Beach Volleyball Championships and the Four Nations Cup are being run as part of Volleyfest, in one of Australia’s largest beach volleyball competitions.
Helloworld recently signed on as the major sponsor and travel partner of Volleyball Australia, including gaining the naming rights to the national men’s and women’s teams, now known as the helloworld Volleyroos.
Helloworld CEO Andrew Burnes said the company was delighted with the sponsorship of Volleyball Australia and the coverage the sport was receiving.
10. Australia’s first ever Aquameets held on the Sunshine Coast
To celebrate Tourism Australia’s Coastal and Aquatic campaign, Visit Sunshine Coast staged an Australian first by hosting five Aquameets with high profile social influencers across the Sunshine Coast region.
Influencers included Caz & Craig Makepeace (@ytravelblog), Matthew Vandeputte-Matjoez (@matjoez), Mark Fitzpatrick (@_markfitz), Jaharn Giles (Mr Weekender) and Rod Toschini (@snapair).
Sunrise and sunset Aquameets were held at Maroochydore, Caloundra, Noosa, Maleny and Rainbow Beach attracting both local photographers and some of Australia’s leading instagrammers, with a combined following of over 392,000 people.
