It’s back! Due to popular demand we are relaunching our weekly Hot or Not series, bringing you some of the highs and lows in this week’s travel news headlines.
HOT, HOT, HOT!
1. Universal’s ‘Fast & Furious’ ride shifts into gear
Vin Diesel’s arms – HOT, HOT, HOT!
Just joking, this week’s first HOT goes to Universal Studios Hollywood for the officially launch of its highly anticipated thrill ride based on the hit movie franchise.
Actor Vin Diesel was joined by fellow cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Jason Statham at the ribbon cutting.
He gave a quick speech before being among the first to experience the new ‘Fast & Furious—Supercharged‘ ride.
The ride debuts as the grand finale to the world famous Studio Tour.
2. Fun, new way to promote travel
The travel industry should never be underestimated when it comes to effective and innovative market – we have incredible product to move and we do it well.
Just look at Air New Zealand. It’s an airline that offers flights on routes that are operated by a number of carriers, but it sets itself apart with creative, fun and pop-culture inspired safety videos.
Then there’s the team at helloworld Hunter Travel Group, which surprised the industry last week with a pop-up store inside Costco Auburn.
3. Could robots replace immigration officers?
Boeing is hoping to introduce smaller aircraft lavatories, a Spanish carrier is aiming for personalised airfares and now a technology company wants to replace humans with robots at airport immigration.
Seems like flying in the future will have us early 21st century folk wishing for the ‘good ol’ days’.
A French electrical systems company called Thales unveiled new airport technology at the Paris Air Show this week, which basically removes the need for human employees.
NOT, NOT, NOT!
1. Passenger goes berserk mid-flight
Male passengers jumped in to help flight attendants on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne last week, when a man allegedly attacked a female staff member.
According to reports, the man became violent during the long-haul flight when he was told he couldn’t smoke in the aircraft.
Witnessing the event, around six or seven other passengers stepped in to assist the woman from the man who was reportedly shouting and screaming.
The men were allegedly forced to hold down the man while crew used cables to tie him to a seat.
Australian police met the plane upon arrival in Melbourne and detained the man.
2. Malaysia Airlines axes Brisbane services
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed to KarryOn that it will no longer fly the Brisbane – Kuala Lumpur route from 9 August this year.
The last flight to and from Brisbane will be on 8 August.
The termination comes as the airline revises its Australian network to make it a more profitable destination.
3. Flight Centre shares bruised by lower earnings
This week’s first NOT is the drastic fall in Flight Centre shares earlier this week.
Within a day the company’s shares dropped 16 percent to reach.
It came after Flight Centre downgraded its profit expectations and warned full-year earnings for 2014/15 would fail to meet record profits of the prior 12 months.
In a market update, Flight Centre said based on current trading results, it expects to report an underlying profit before tax of between $355 million and $365 million. The mid-point ($360 million) is at the bottom of the company’s targeted range of $360 million to $390.