Essential

Ambassador unveils debut fly-cruise programme weeks after merger

The line will offer a fly-cruise Caribbean programme in October with charter flights being operated by Virgin Atlantic

Gatwick expansion: transport secretary signals support for second runway plan

Heidi Alexander confirms government’s backing for airport expansion, with a decision on a second runway at Gatwick due on Thursday, but reiterates growth must be balanced against environmental realities

Cunard reveals first wave of 2025 educational opportunities for agents

The luxury line expects more than 250 agents to benefit from one of the ship visits or fam trips on offer and plans to announce more ship visits in autumn this year

Scottish agency creates sensory room for neurodivergent children

Moorelands Travel has turned a former vault into a sensory room equipped with toys, lights, bean bags – even a projector

Norse Atlantic to launch budget Gatwick-Bangkok route this winter

Up to four-times-weekly flights will get under way from 26 October 2025, with return fares leading in from £295pp including taxes.

Bangkok will become Norse’s first UK route to Asia; it currently flies transatlantic from Gatwick, and also to South Africa. "The introduction of this service marks a significant expansion of the airline’s operations in the UK market," it said.

Oslo-headquartered Norse has operated to Bangkok from the Norwegian capital since 2023, and will also serve the Thai capital from Stockholm this winter for the first time.

Strikes set to disrupt flights to Italy and Greece this week

Pilots and air traffic controller strikes in Italy and Greece will take industrial action next week, disrupting services from the UK

New HS2 station to massively boost rail connectivity at Birmingham airport

The new high-speed rail link will cut the journey time between the airport and central London from 70 minutes to less than 40 minutes

Govt 'seeking reciprocal overseas worker deal with EU'

Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly drawing up plans to offer the EU a youth worker programme deal, meaning travel firms can post seasonal workers overseas again

Peter Shanks to stand down as Silversea MD and retire after 45 years in travel

Shanks will stay on until the end of Q2 to ensure a smooth handover to his successor Andreas ’Andy’ Nuessel

Celebrity Cruises hands Hawke and Stirrup promotions in management shake-up

The premium ocean line has restructured its senior management team to ensure its better positioned to ’meet its strategic goals and respond to the evolving needs of the business’

US warned its airports won't cope with 'mega decade' of sporting events

Country’s airports not ready for ’Thanksgiving-like travel extremes’ ahead of next year’s Fifa World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, warns the US Travel Association

Explore Worldwide teams up with International Rail to offer flight-free breaks

The deal is part of Explore Worldwide’s ongoing focus on sustainability and providing customers with greener travel options

Abta reinstates Baldwins Travel membership as agency appeals expulsion

Baldwins Travel has had its Abta membership reinstated pending an appeal after the association began an investigation into its finances

Royal Caribbean to base third Icon-class ship in Barcelona in 2026

The family-focused cruise line will launch Legend of the Seas in July 2026 following the debut of Icon of the Seas last year and Star of the Seas in August 2025

Jet2CityBreaks adds Iceland self-drive packages

Jet2CityBreaks has introduced Iceland self-drive holidays featuring hotels outside the capital close to hot spring, mountain and beach destinations

InteleTravel agent repeats clever sales trick to land three more group bookings worth €600,000

The new sales come after Dublin-based Lucille Furlong made a booking for 234 people earlier this year, which included members of the Star Struck Dance Academy

UK regains place as Malta’s number one market after record year for island

UK visitation to Malta grew by nearly a third in 2024 making it the Mediterranean island’s number one source market

Elegant Resorts and If Only managing director Lisa Fitzell to stand down

Fitzell to stand down at the end of the month after seven years, with If Only general manager Gordon McCreadie poised to take over as MD of the two luxury brands

Air India ramps up summer schedule but suspends Kochi-Gatwick route

Air India will put on extra services from Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham this summer, but its non-stop Kochi-Gatwick flight will cease operating from 30 March

Crystal commits to paying agent commission faster

Luxury line will also back date speedier commission payments for all existing, qualifying bookings

Kuoni parent Dertour Group acquires Hotelplan Group and UK brands

Deal covers Hotelplan’s Inghams, Inntravel, Santa’s Lapland and Explore Worldwide brands, but not holiday home specialist Interhome

Off Broadway Travel acquires south London agency Travel Designers

It follows Travel Designers owner Nicholas McKay’s decision to step back from day-to-day running of his agency and transition towards retirement after 25 years

Heathrow to upgrade Terminals 2 and 5 ahead of third runway push

Heathrow has made a number of commitments to invest in Britain’s busiest, including increasing capacity at Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, as it pushes ahead with its plans to expand via a third runway

Preferred Hotels & Resorts targets agents with smart new tech

Independent hotels brand unveils “innovative” portal to help the trade book its properties