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. Qantas brings dreams to life
You could say Qantas makes dreams come true on a daily basis, flying people straight to their ideal getaways and then bringing them home to their loved ones.
But the airline took generosity to the next level this month, by giving a baggage handler his dream trip on an A380 aircraft.
Ian Goldswain also known as ‘Ginger’ is part of a UK documentary series called ‘Britain’s Busiest Airport’.
2. The best Vietnam Airlines advert EVER!
An astonishing video clip shows Vietnam Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner stun the world with a jaw-dropping vertical jumbo stunt.
In a video posted on the verified account of Boeing on YouTube, the Vietnam Airlines 787-9 performs a mind-blowing “rocket-like” takeoff that is almost vertical.
The video has already clocked up more than 7 million views.
2. Vivid Sydney breaks records
Artwork, music, lights and ideas prove to be a huge draw card for Australian tourism, as Vivid Sydney visitation breaks a new record.
According to NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, some 1.7 million people attended the Vivid Sydney festival in 2015.
This was an increase of 19 percent on the record of 1.43 million last year.
3. Nepal reopens major attractions
Good news is flowing out of Nepal for the first time since it was hit by two major earthquakes.
The country this week started reopening attractions in a bid to entice travellers.
The destination, popular for its trekking and cultural activities, was left devastated in April this year when the earth shook, leaving some 8,000 people dead.
NOT, NOT, NOT!
1. Two planes come close to collision
Two passenger planes came very close to collision in the USA this week, when they both began to take off at the same time on intersecting runways.
Southwest Airlines Flight 3828 had been cleared for takeoff at Chicago’s Midway International Airport and was speeding down the runway.
At the same time, an air controller noticed Delta Air Lines Flight 1328 beginning its takeoff without receiving proper clearance.
Springing into the action, the controller shouted over the radio for one of the pilots to halt takeoff.
“1328, stop, stop, stop!”
The pilot then responded with a calm “1328 stopping”.
The Southwest plane also safely halted its takeoff and both planes were directed to different taxiways.
A Delta spokesperson said the incident is under investigation.
2. 30 dangerous animals on the loose in Georgia
Georgia has not seen anything like this before in their capital city. These are not tourists on a sightseeing trip, but wild, dangerous animals.
Over 30 wild animals, among them a hippo, seven bears, six lions, six tigers, jaguars, 13 wolves and others are roaming the streets of Tbilisi, the capital city of the Republic of Georgia.
Residents in the Georgian capital have been warned to stay indoors.
3. Tourist fondles his way off the plane
A drunk tourist has been fined up to $2,500 for groping a woman’s breast during a flight.
The two were travelling from Chile to Perth when the incident occurred.
It started during a stopover at Auckland Airport, when the man drunk a bottle of vodka in the toilets, he then boarded the flight.
Mid-flight the man reached through the seats to touch the woman sitting in front, The Daily Mail reported.
A fellow passenger objected to his behaviour, which the tourist responded to with verbal abuse.
Of course, after that he was escorted off the flight and arrested.
The man’s defence team admitted he had drunk the bottle of vodka and that he could not remember his actions.