Our weekly ‘Hot or Not’ series brings you some of the highs and lows in this week’s travel news headlines.
HOT, HOT, HOT!
1. Are pink-coloured ‘women-only’ airport spaces sexist?
This women’s only car parking space at a German airport was a hot topic this week because it sparked a heated debate, with some saying it’s convenient and others seeing it as offensive.
The women’s only car parking spaces featuring pink paint and wider bays.
But that’s not all. The spots received brighter lighting and are located closer to the terminal at Frankfurt Airport.
Some ladies found the spots offensive because they promoted stereotypes that women are bad drivers. Others saw the chance to park closer to the terminal as a major positive.
2. Helloworld’s profitable year
Shout out to helloworld, which recorded an adjusted profit before tax of around $7 million for the year ending 30 June.
Unaudited trading results for the year show the travel agent company’s Adjusted EBITDAI to be in the range of $27 million to $28 million.
Speaking to KarryOn, CEO Elizabeth Gaines attributed the rise to marketing efforts of the entire company.
3. Travel agent wins… a brand new
Oh how we wish we were Ina Choy.
The travel consultant from Wing On Tours took home a brand new $30,000 Peugeot 208 at this year’s AccorHotels Sydney Showcase.
Every year, the hotel group gives away a car as well as several other incredible prizes such as flights, accommodation and more.
NOT, NOT, NOT!
1. Bali disruptions, again
No, you’re not reading an old article.
Bali flights were disrupted once again this week, with Jetstar and Virgin cancelling flights to Denpasar on Wednesday and Thursday.
Over 30 services between Australia and Bali were cancelled within the two days, leaving thousands ‘stuck in Bali’.
Services to Bali have been on and off over the last few weeks due to ash from Mount Raung.
2. Watch out or you’ll hit the… catering truck
It was a scary moment for around 143 passengers and a truck driver when a Southwest aircraft collided with a catering truck.
The Boeing 737-700 was pushing back from the gate at Denver International Airport when its wing knocked over the vehicle, causing it to overturn.
The truck driver inside was hospitalised for minor injuries and the 143 passengers were forced to deplane so that the plane could undergo inspection and repairs.
A taken by passenger Gina Whitlow and shared on the Daily Mail showed flight SWA4309 surrounded by fire engines.
Southwest Airlines confirmed the incident, saying there were no injuries.
3. Don’t bring them babies onboard
A British reporter has re-sparked the popular ‘should babies be allowed on flights’ debate after calling for more child-free zones in the air.
Kelly Rose Bradford said on UK television show, ‘This Morning’, that it would ‘better for everybody’ if airlines looked at introducing child-free flights or child-free sections aboard aircraft for the people that don’t want sit next to the ‘kicking’ and ‘wailing’.
Bradford, who has a 12-year-old son, admitted that she didn’t travel or fly with her own child between the ages of 18 months to two-and-a-half because she ‘didn’t want the grief’ or subject anyone else to travelling with a child.
“I know how irritating it is when you are the person sitting next to that family, behind them or in front of them”.
Kelly Rose Bradford