Big Fat Airline Wrap
This week’s BIG FAT AIRLINE WRAP
Emirates to Launch Daily Flights to Croatia
Emirates announced that it introduce daily flight from Dubai to Zagreb (ZAG), the capital of Croatia from June 1, 2017. The new southeast European destination will be served by an Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft, the only wide-body service operating from Zagreb. This will allow for a seamless connection for Australian travellers.
The new Zagreb flight opens a whole new exciting region for Emirates’ passengers to explore. The city itself is steeped in culture and history, with an abundance of charming pavement cafes and restaurants to be enjoyed during the spring and summer months. On Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, the picturesque resort of Split and the exclusive islands of Hvar and Brac can be found.
Business travellers into Zagreb will appreciate the convenient early afternoon landing into Franjo Tuđman (Pleso) International Airport from Dubai. Scheduled flight times for EK129 (departing Dubai at 08:15 and arriving in Zagreb at 12:20 local time) and the return flight EK130 (departing Zagreb at 15:35 and arriving in Dubai at 23:05).
Finnair adds capacity to popular European destinations for 2017
Due to the popular demand of the new Reykjavik route which begins on 11 April, Finnair will be adding a fifth weekly frequency on Wednesdays between 31 May and 11 August.
The route to Reykjavik will also become a year-round destination with three weekly frequencies during the winter season. These services are complemented by flights operated by Icelandair where Finnair has a code-share.
Finnair will increase capacity in Denmark with an additional daily frequency on weekdays to Copenhagen and a larger aircraft on the Billund route. From 14 May, five weekly frequencies will be added year-round to the Copenhagen route. i
Finnair will also be adding frequencies to: 1) Vilnius on weekdays from 15 May to open additional European and long haul connections from Lithuania’s capital, 2) Warsaw for the peak summer season between 5 June and 4 August, 3) Dublin route for the European Winter 2017 season, 4) Saturday flight to Alanya-Gazipasa, Turkey, will be extended until the middle of December 2017.
Munich Airport sets new record of over 42 million passengers in 2016
The number of passengers increased by 1.3 million, or 3 percent, over the previous year to a new all-time high of 42.3 million, and the number of aircraft movements was up by almost 4 percent. The total of 394,430 take-offs and landings represented an increase of 14,500. Last year’s strike-related disruptions affected approximately 330,000 travellers. The airfreight segment posted the strongest growth with more than 334,000 tons of freight handled at the airport represented a 5 percent year-on-year increase.
Continental traffic, with a total of 25.8 million passengers in 2016, remained the strongest segment at Munich Airport. This was a 4 percent increase over 2015. Domestic routes within Germany experienced a slight 0.5 percent increase to approximately 10 million passengers.
Once again last year, there were substantial additions to the global route network served from Munich: The 257 destinations – 10 more than in the previous year – was the most extensive range of destinations ever offered to passengers at the Bavarian hub. The number of airlines offering scheduled services in Munich increased by three to 100.
Cathay Pacific to launch new seasonal service to Barcelona in Summer 2017
Cathay Pacific announced the introducion of a new four-times weekly seasonal service between Hong Kong and Barcelona from 2 July 2017 (subject to government approval), offering travellers an exciting getaway destination and directly linking two of the world’s most dynamic cities for the very first time.
The seasonal operation, scheduled to operate throughout the peak travel months until 27 October, complements the airline’s existing four-times weekly service to Madrid, meaning Cathay Pacific will soon provide more non-stop flights to Spain from Asia than any other airline.To be operated by Cathay Pacific’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the new service gives both business and leisure passengers the fastest, most direct option to Spain’s second most populous city, while also providing passengers from the Iberian Peninsula easier access to key destinations in Asia and Southwest Pacific through the airline’s hub in Hong Kong.
In addition to the latest seats and an enhanced inflight entertainment system, the aircraft is Wi-Fi equipped, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout their journey.
Cathay Pacific moves New York JFK operations to Terminal 8
Relocation of services to Terminal 8 will increase connectivity and enrich the travel experience for the airline’s passengers at the busiest international air gateway in the United States. The move commencing 15 January will benefit its customers through added convenience and enhanced connectivity.
Flight CX845, with a scheduled departure of 00.45 local time on 15 January, will be Cathay Pacific’s final departure from Terminal 7. All subsequent flights to Hong Kong will depart from Terminal 8.
“The first-rate facilities and amenities available, in addition to the significant connectivity advantages that the move brings, will further enhance the delivery of our brand promise of a Life Well Travelled,” Cathay Pacific Director Service Delivery, James Ginns said.
Cathay Dragon hosts ‘Marriage in the Air’ at 35,000 feet
Winning couple of online travel competition say “I do” onboard flight KA877 from Shanghai to Hong Kong and celebrate in style with friends and family. Mr Ha and Ms Zhen, whose respective popular travel blogs on the Sina Weibo social media network have close to 1 million followers combined, were voted winners of the competition through a public online ballot, thereby earning them the title of “China’s favourite online travel couple”.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
airline barcelona BFAW cathay pacific emirates JFK Airport MunichLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.