Essential

Barrhead Travel expands to second shop in Northern Ireland – and 'sees scope' for more

The Scottish independent has chosen Newtonabbey as the location for its second shop in Northern Ireland, seven years after it opened its first in Belfast

Jet2 'mindful' of £25 million Budget blow despite record results

The airline and operator estimates its labour costs will jump by around £25 million a year following the Budget, adding it also continues to be ’mindful of the potential indirect impacts of ongoing geopolitical political challenges

Half the world's top travel firms making progress on sustainability, says WTTC

A new roadmap from the World Travel and Tourism Council says more than half the world’s top travel brands are taking sustainability initiatives

SPAA puts business rate reform top of Scottish Budget wish list

The SPAA has set out its wish list for the Scottish government ahead of the forthcoming Budget on 4 December

Miles Morgan Travel to open first new branch since Hays Travel takeover

The new store in Trowbridge, which will open in the new year, will grow Miles Morgan Travel’s shop network to 20 across the South West and South Wales

UK snow prompts Jet2 and Ryanair winter weather warnings

Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place across large swathes of the UK on Wednesday (20 November)

Jet2 ramps up summer 2024 schedule at hometown airport Leeds Bradford

An extra based aircraft – the airline and operator’s 15th at LBA – will allow Jet2 to put on more flights to Palma, Faro and Kefalonia, among others, amounting to an additional 40,000 seats

EasyJet to launch flights and holidays to Cape Verde next summer

EasyJet will fly to Cape Verde next summer, offering packages with its tour operator to the island of Sal

EasyJet launches five new winter routes from Birmingham airport

New winter sun routes include Marrakech and Hurghada, while festive favourites like Reykjavik, Prague and Krakow join easyJet’s BHX network

EasyJet holidays puts summer 2026 on sale through the trade

EasyJet holidays is the latest to unveil its summer 2026 package holidays programme, which is aimed at families with more free child places

Avalon Waterways to sell exclusively through agents in Ireland

Following a recent uptick in demand for river cruising in the country, the line has agreed a partnership with ASM Ireland to start selling its sailings via the Irish travel trade

New funding sees Doncaster Sheffield inch closer to spring 2026 reopening

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board has agreed to commit £3 million from existing earmarked resources to progress reinstatement activity and advance commercial negotiations

Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports to expand under new owner

The new owner of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports promises more routes and investment at each

Celestyal revamps fare structure in response to customer feedback

The Greek Islands specialist’s new Celestyal One fare includes the cruise fare, WiFi, coffee, tea, water and juice, soft drinks, port fees, taxes and gratuities. Plus, the line is also adding cabins to Celestyal Discovery in the coming months

Inside the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales ahead of summer debut

Belmond is set to launch the regal train with three different routes next summer.

Air India absorbs former rival carrier and confirms Singapore Airlines stake

Air India Group has completed the latest stage of its privatisation revamp, absorbing former rival Vistara and confirming Singapore Airlines involvement

Balkan Holidays promotes Lynsey Jones as part of trade team shake-up

The specialist, which has also recruited two new regional sales manager, insists trade remains a ’crucial’ sales channel

Tui ramps up Thailand winter sun offering with new ex-UK flights

Tui will add 6,000 extra seats this winter and a further 9,000 next year from Gatwick and Manchester airports

Crystal to launch new ship in 2032 after firming up option with Fincantieri

The order comes after the ultra-luxury line agreed a ‘two-unit’ deal with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in the summer

Tourism minister pledges to amplify outbound sector's voice at government level

Speaking to TTG at WTM London, tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant pledged to invite more outbound industry members onto a key government committee, saying he wants to listen

Industry leaders unite behind new air travel accessibility taskforce

Jet2.com and Manchester Airports Group are among the travel businesses to welcome the new taskforce, which will set out to make air travel more accessible for disabled passengers

Ponant bolsters UK trade team with Celebrity BDM hire

Andrew Bolton moves from the premium cruise line – part of Royal Caribbean Group – where he spent more than 20 years in a range of roles including acting head of sales

Ade Adepitan hails Spain's ‘game-changing’ accessibility report ‘a blueprint for progress’

TV presenter and basketball paralympian Ade Adepitan linked up with Spain to help the country launch its ‘transformative’ report into accessibility, which he hailed a ‘blueprint’ for progress

Israel begins laying the ground for tourists' return at WTM London

Israel has returned to WTM London after withdrawing last year following the 7 October attacks by Hamas