Kentucky: Why the Bluegrass State is more than just horses and bourbon December 7, 2022 As we all pay more attention to what we are eating and drinking, flavour tourism is growing, particularly in the world of drinks. Visits to mezcal makers in Mexico, cognac chateaus in France, and now bourbon distilleries in Kentucky are on the up. If the idea of a well-made Old Fashioned, Mint Julep or simple [...]
Global travel inflation easing for first time this year December 6, 2022 For the first time this year travel inflation has eased worldwide, including in Europe. According to data from business travel platform TravelPerk, inflation in the fourth quarter of 2022 went down to -8 per cent from 15 and 3 per cent in the second and third quarter respectively. Overall the price of European flights has [...]
Govt will not introduce airport-specific EU visas post-Brexit, says aviation minister December 6, 2022 In a bid to strengthen its UK workforce, the government will not introduce any specific visas for EU labourers to help airports with staffing levels. Aviation minister Baroness Vere told journalists it was up to everyone working in the sector to establish a “sustainable and secure UK workforce that meets our needs, [and] that is [...]
Number of EU school visits to UK tanks after list of travellers’ scrapping November 10, 2022 The number of EU school visits to the UK has tanked after the list of travellers’ scheme was scrapped in October 2021. Data published today by the Tourism Alliance showed that the number of students sent to the UK through EU tourist operators plunged to around 37,000 – 83 per cent down on 2019 levels. [...]
Subsidies should not be relied upon to ramp up green aviation fuel production, says charter boss November 8, 2022 The aviation industry should not rely only upon government subsidies to ramp up the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), according to private charter company Victor. Produced from the likes of solid waste and food scraps, SAFs reduce CO2 by up to 80 per cent over their life cycle and are considered the best way [...]
Across the pond: Transatlantic travel booms following US border reopening November 8, 2022 Transatlantic travel has boomed over the last 12 months following the US border’s reopening last November. Data published today by aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that flights from the UK to the US have increased 79 per cent on last year’s level, going up to 92 per cent of pre-pandemic times. Heathrow was the UK’s [...]
Wizz Air’s losses widen as soaring fuel prices hit low-cost carrier’s profitability November 2, 2022 Hungarian airline Wizz Air today said soaring fuel prices had caused its losses to more than triple over the previous year. The budget airline said surging commodity prices and an unfavourable exchange rate had seen the price it pays for jet fuel double, as it posed losses of €384.4m (£330.6m) for the second quarter of [...]
Airbus warns of ‘material adverse impact’ from Qatar Airways lawsuit October 30, 2022 Plane manufacturer Airbus has warned investors it faces “material adverse impact” as the result of an ongoing court battle with Qatar Airways, over the Qatari airline’s claims it was forced to ground multiple aircraft due to an underlying “design defect” in Airbus’ planes. In a financial statement, Airbus said Qatar Airways’ lawsuit could have an [...]
Brits take 5* holidays as On The Beach bounces back from Covid in second-half of 2022 October 25, 2022 Travel retailer On The Beach reported its sales were up from pre-pandemic levels despite external shocks such as the war in Ukraine and economic turmoil. The medium and short haul specialists said its second-half sales were 25 per cent up on 2019 and 16 per cent up on the year as a whole. It also [...]
Spike in package holidays and foreign travel may be ‘rare positive legacy of pandemic’ October 11, 2022 Foreign holidays are back with a bang with 45 per cent of people going abroad in the last year. The latest study from travel agent association ABTA found the level of foreign travel in the last 12 months was equivalent to 70 per cent of that in 2019, pre pandemic. With coronavirus restrictions lifted, a [...]