Mid haul

Lack of aircraft means higher air fares set to continue, industry warned

Leading aviation lawyer tells Abta Aviation Forum the lack of supply of new aircraft and leased alternatives mean consumers will face high air fares for some time to come yet

UK could suffer repeat of last summer’s air traffic control delays – Iata

Iata’s UK and Ireland boss warns the issues that plagued air traffic control last summer have still not been resolved as this year’s peak season approaches

Jet2 chief: Luton base launch opens up ‘whole new catchment’ for ‘loyal agents’

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays boss Steve Heapy has played down any crossover between its existing Stansted base and its newly launched Luton base

Limitless Travel secures £6.5 million investment to fuel expansion plans

Limitless Travel has secured a multi-million pound investment, with plans to take the brand to US consumers and offer more product to existing UK customers

Luton becomes Jet2.com and Jet2holidays' second new base launch of 2025

Airline and operator will base two Airbus A321neo aircraft at Luton, where Jet2’s first based flight – to Majorca – took off on Tuesday morning (1 April)

'We're well on our way': easyJet holidays chief spells out market leadership ambition

Garry Wilson has said it would easily possible for it to become market leader in packages using its parent company’s soon-to-be 100 million seats

EasyJet holidays credits agents for new Southend base's early success

EasyJet says its new Southend base has sold more package holidays as a percentage of sales than any other base and thanks local agents

Jet2holidays sets deadline for agents to transition to self-serve platform for amendments

Trade will be required to use online trade portal for changes to clients’ bookings from 9 April

Jet2 earmarks 'potential six-figure sum' to help up to 10 agencies grow high street presence

Agents invited to compete for funding and expert advice through launch of new Scale Up Your Street campaign, announced last year

Six feared dead after Red Sea tourist sub sinks weeks after FCDO warning

A tourist submarine has sunk off Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, with six Russians reported to be killed, raising more questions about safety standards in the country

Suppliers urged to do more to help agents tell them apart

TTG’s first Agenda event of the year ’unpacked peaks’ and explored some key market trends, including demand for ’differentiated product’ and more long-haul options, as well as the impact of a second Donald Trump presidency

Independent operators can be successful in Trump era, Aito insists

Aito chair Chris Rowles says he believes members who got through Covid will be able to overcome anything that Donald Trump throws at them in the coming four years

Aito to return to Spain for its 2025 overseas conference

The trade body has chosen a region of northern Spain for this year’s overseas conference, saying it will provide a very different experience from the 2024 event

Tui reveals location of 500th own-brand hotel and plans expansion to 600

Tui has confirmed a location in Morocco for its 500th own-brand hotel development, which is set to open in 2027

Tui to debut first sensory rooms for neurodivergent guests this summer

Tui is increasing its offering for neurodivergent travellers and their families at two Tui Blue properties this summer – the Tui Blue Nausicaa Beach hotel in Larnaca and Tui Blue Aura hotel in Ibiza

EasyJet holidays to support Manchester-Cape Verde launch with agent fam places

Five agent fam places up for grabs with year-round holiday departures starting from 28 October

Gatwick second runway approved in principle but final decision deferred to autumn

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has granted provisional permission for Gatwick airport to bring its standby runway into daily use, but a final decision will now be made in the autumn

Tui accused of violating its own animal welfare policy by selling attraction with pregnant orca

World Animal Protection (WAP) raised concerns after it discovered Morgan, Loro Parque’s only female orca, was still participating in shows this month even though she is heavily pregnant

Gold Medal brands launch fam trip hub for agents to share knowledge

Gold Medal and dnata UK B2B brands have launched an online hub for agents to share their experiences of fam trips

Time-poor youngsters turning to agents to book TikTok-inspired trips, says Tui boss

Tui Group CEO Sebastian Ebel reveals what he’s learned about younger people’s holiday purchasing habits from his own children

Netflix and Amazon Prime 'inspiring Tui's differentiated product strategy'

Chief executive Sebastian Ebel says being able to guarantee the quality of its product was giving the operating ’one big advantage’ over rivals like Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays

Jet2 predicts 10% profit lift, but warns of pressure on margins in coming year

Jet2 says it is on course for an 8-10% increase in profits this year, but has also warned its next financial year – beginning as the summer season commences – could see a squeeze on margins

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

Hotelplan UK brands tipped to flourish in Kuoni parent's safe hands

’It does seem like a very good move by Dertour,’ one expert tells TTG after Kuoni’s parent acquired Hotelplan Group and its UK brands, including Inghams and Explore Worldwide