Hawaiian Airlines has today launched their fourth non-stop flight between Brisbane and Honolulu.

The new flight will add more than 20,000 seats to the Australia-Honolulu travel markets in 2014. With the introduction of this additional flight, Hawaiian Airlines will also adjust the scheduled days of operation for the Honolulu – Brisbane route, beginning April 14, 2014.

Hawaiian Airlines is currently the only US carrier that flies to Brisbane.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has today released is Preliminary Draft Master Plan for the future development of the airport for public comment.

The release sets the scenes for a $2.5 billion investment in airport infrastructure over the next two decades.

Information covered in the draft plan includes growth forecasts, regional economic benefits, commercial development and a comprehensive ground transport plan, among others.

Julieanne Alroe, BAC CEO and managing director, said the finalised Master Plan would ensure airport planning addresses industry demand and growth while focusing on achieving a balance between economic development and sound environmental management and sustainability.

The public comment period runs for 60 business days from today, after which time the master plan will be submitted to the Australian government for approval.

Creative Holidays has revealed that despite declining consumer confidence and the Australian dollar falling below record highs, travellers are continuing to opt for high-end hotels, a trend that is indicative of the still strong Australian travel sentiment.

“More and more we’re seeing Australians are opting for five-star, top-end luxury hotels in favourite, close to home destinations such as Fiji, Malaysia and Queensland as well as in emerging short-haul destination New Caledonia,” said Managing Director, James Gaskell,

“We also see travellers trading up in higher-end destinations such as the Maldives and in growth regions such as Dubai, Brunei, Croatia and China that are increasingly on Australian’s travel radar. 

Luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent has released its 2014 Australia and Papua New Guinea brochure.

The new brochure offers an extensive range of journeys across Australia, and of varying lengths. The collection includes adventure cruising in the Kimberley, PNG and Indonesia, outback touring, food and wine tours and family holiday ideas.

STA Travel has today launched its new Visa prepaid travel card, CashFlex.

Available from April 2, CashFlex offers travellers the ability to make transactions in any country without the need to carry local currency and further offers 3% cashback on purchases made at STA Travel stores.

Developed in collaboration with Visa, travellers are able to access their money anywhere in the world where Visa is accepted and enable them to load Australian dollars then make purchases in foreign countries or withdraw foreign currency. CashFlex is personalized with the user’s name to ensure it will be accepted in countries such as the USA, where unnamed cards can often be refused by retailers.

 In an effort to meet increased demand for services on Sydney Harbour, Sealink Travel Group has commissioned the construction of a fourth new ferry for its subsidiary Captain Cook Cruises.

The decision to build a new ferry follows recently signed contacts with Harbour City Ferries, the Biennale Festival and the temporary Convention Centre.

The new ferry will join the Captain Cook cruises fleet in Sydney in November this year.

Hotel price comparison website, HotelsCombined.com has expanded its presence in Asia by partnering with Zodio, a popular Thai based iPhone search app.

Zodio provides tips and reviews on a variety of difference businesses ranging from nightclubs to spas and, as a result of this partnership, now allows hotel price comparison as powered by HotelsCombined aggregation platform. Users can browse hotel ratings and reviews, check rates and availability, and complete their bookings with one of a number of major travel websites.

Zodio is currently live in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, and is expected to launch into Malaysia and India within the second half of this year.