Tigerair Astralia has today officially launched its new services between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast Airport, the first direct air route between the two destinations.

The new flight route will provide 56,000 additional visitor seats annually through Whitsunday Coast Airport, and runs from Sydney to Whitsunday every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Following the incorporation of the Downunder Adventures brand, AAT Kings is now offering an expanded Aussie Adventures program in Sydney, the Top End and South Australia.

Contiki has launched its new Australia and New Zealand brochure for 2014/15, designed to make it even easier for agents to help 18 to 35 year olds pick the right trip.

Features include “Australia: 4 Ways To Go’ and ‘New Zealand: 2 Ways To Go’ which showcase the best of both sides of the ditch.

“We’ve been operating tours in New Zealand and Australia for thirty years so we know the iconic experiences that our passengers want and the not-so-well known gems that they didn’t know existed,” Managing director Contiki Holidays Katrina Barry said.

“We’re always on the lookout for other experiences we think our passengers will love and have recently added events such as Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay, Ultimate NZ Ski and New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour.”

Travellers are able to save $300 per couple on over 30 small group tours with Back-Roads Touring when booked and paid in full by April 15.

The discount applies to all summer 2014 tours across the UK and Europe, including the five-day old Old Pubs and Great Grub, the seven-day Corners of Cornwall and 11-day London to Paris via the Channel Islands itinerary. 

Emirates has become the first airline worldwide to launch an A380 double-decker service from Gatwick Airport.

The new daily A380 service will replace the existing afternoon Boeing 777-300ER flight EK 009 and adds an additional 9700 seats per month in both directions.

In an effort to address growing demand for premium air travel, Qantas has unveiled a new regional lounge at Broome Airport.

Qantas domestic chief officer, Lyell Strambi, said the lounge would help cater for the increased traffic in the region and give passengers more room to relax and work prior to their flight.

Alliance partners Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia will operate an additional 40,000 seats to and from Queenstown over the peak winter period of July to September.

As a result of five additional alliance services per week between Queenstown and Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, trans-Tasman capacity will increase by more than 12%.

Domestically, Air New Zealand will increase capacity to the region by 11% from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

With the launch of its new trade website, Tourism New Zealand has made changes to its travel seller and international media discount programme Explore New Zealand.

The program is set to become fully automated, with a new option to upload business cards and a unique user ID to replace the physical card normally issued.

Global airline alliance Star Alliance is now offering TAM Airline’s Red and Black frequent flyer card holders a special offer that allows them to maintain their Alliance Gold status following the airline’s depart from Star Alliance.

To participate, customers must register with one of nine flying flyer programmes ny May 30 and then request retention of their Star Alliance gold status by logging onto the Star Alliance website.

Peregrine Adventures has launched its 2015 Arctic season with five itineraries and a final opportunity to voyage to the North Pole by ship.

Travellers are able to book passage aboard icebreaker 50 Years of Victory for when it makes three voyages to the North Pole next year. Travellers are able to secure free charter flights from selected locations if the trip is booked by 15 May 2014.

Creative Holidays is offering travel agents a 15% bonus commission on all land bookings and a bonus 2% commission on air throughout April.

The bonus commission is valid for all destinations and on wholesale airfares booked with land with participating airlines.  Travel must be booked and deposited by 30 April and is valid for travel anytime.