News in Brief: Friday February 7
Tourism Australia has confirmed the airline sponsors for the 2014 Australian Tourism Exchange as Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways.
Virgin Australia is the platinum airline partner for the event which will take place for the first time in Cairns from May 11 to 15, attended by 600 buyers from 38 countries and around 1,200 Australian sellers.
It represents the first time Virgin Australia has sponsored ATE, with the event previously supported by Qantas before its rift with Tourism Australia.
The airline will provide return flights for international buyer delegates from North America and New Zealand, as well as domestic flights to Cairns.
Meanwhile, gold airline partner Etihad will provide return flights for international buyers from the UK, Europe, Singapore and the Middle East, including connections onto its alliance partner Virgin Australia's domestic flights to Cairns.
Emirates has launched the first regular A380 service to Spain with the daily A380 flights to Barcelona replacing the Boeing 777 previously operated on the route.
The deployment of the aircraft adds more than 2,200 seats per week between Dubai and Barcelona, with the expansion in "direct response" to strong passenger demand, according to the airline.
Qantas has formally applied to operate on the Moree – Sydney route, under the NSW Government’s five-year regulated route licensing agreement.
The airline launched short-term relief flights for the Moree community before Christmas last year, following the collapse of Brindabella Airlines.
It currently operates two daily return services in place until March 21, when the interim period ends and the five-year regulated route license agreement commences.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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