Topics

British Airways restarts London-Abu Dhabi service after four-year pause

Daily Heathrow service took off at the weekend (21 April)

Princess Cruises pushes back launch of new ship following review

Princess president John Padgett confirmed ‘additional time’ is required to ensure Star Princess is delivered to the ‘highest standards’

‘Spain and Britain created tourism – now we must invent sustainable tourism’

Spain’s second sustainability day brought some less commonly discussed sustainable and responsible tourism issues to the fore – TTG’s Ilaria Grasso Macola was there to find out how the two countries can continue working together

Brexit ban on overseas staff may be overturned as EU urges talks

The European Commission has said it wishes to open negotiations on allowing young Britons to work in the EU again after the right was removed by Brexit

Nine key takeaways from Abta's Adventure Travel Conference

1. The sector is thriving

In her keynote speech, Intrepid’s managing director EMEA Zina Bencheikh said she had witnessed massive growth for adventure travel in the 14 years she has worked for the adventure tour operator: “It was niche, but it’s becoming more mainstream.”

The Homeworker: 'I'm living my best life now I've returned to travel'

Emma Gibson started out in travel in the 1980s aged 14, but while the skills she learned stood her in good stead during a varied career, it wasn’t until she returned to the industry last year she finally found balance – and fulfilment

Travel Counsellors ups responsible travel focus with digital brochure launch

The homeworking firm has released a digital brochure with information about how customers can make changes to their usual holiday plans

Star Clippers to host biggest-ever agent fam this month

Star Flyer will depart Malaga on 26 April, calling in Ibiza, Majorca and Bonifacio before reaching Rome on 4 May

Aito brings HQ team back up to full strength with two new hires

Christina Brazier joins the association as head of industry affairs while Emma Taylor joins as head of membership

Valladolid to host 2024 Aito conference in November

The event will be held over 21-24 November

Abta sustainable travel conference to explore social and environmental successes and challenges

The full-day Abta event in London on 15 May will give delegates insights into the success and challenges that travel businesses have faced in ensuring growth that benefits communities and the environment

SPL Villas continues to strengthen trade ties with TTNG deal

The agreement means TTNG members can sell the villa brand’s 1,500 properties across more 100 destinations

Ponant unveils 2024 ship visit programme for UK and Irish agents

The French line will invite agents to join one of 24 ship visits on Le Lyrial, Le Boreal, Le Champlain and Le Dumont d’Urville

New charter programme to restore non-stop UK-Cuba flights next month

UK flights to Cuba will restart in May following an initiative by a European charter carrier backed by specialist operators

Iceland's Play to launch seasonal Cardiff service this winter

Play will operate two flights per week for six weeks to coincide with school holidays in Wales from 28 October to 1 November

Norse Atlantic Airways to begin Cape Town flights next winter

Budget long-haul carrier is to start flights to Cape Town next winter from Gatwick but will ditch its Caribbean services

Cunard cancels Queen Anne's ‘test’ event for agents before maiden

The 3,000-passenger ship had been due to host up to 400 agents onboard five days before its inaugural from Southampton

Gold Medal extends opening hours to support demand for Disney deal

Trade-only operator opened its phone lines an hour early on Thursday (18 April) and will open for calls from agents on Sunday (21 April) from 11am to 3pm

Family holiday prices ‘stabilising’ despite ongoing economic uncertainty

Biggest year-on-year fall in prices was in Spain’s Costa Dorada, while the biggest year-on-year increase also came in Spain along the Costa del Sol

Strong demand for packages set to ease easyJet's winter losses by £50m+

EasyJet issues an interim trading update outlining its performance over the winter, which includes a strong contribution from easyJet holidays and an increase in ancillary sales

Royal Caribbean amends Anthem's ex-UK programme to avoid Red Sea

The 4,180-passenger ship had been due to sail through the Red Sea in October on its way to Singapore but Royal has changed its course

European tailor-made brand targets agents with UK market launch

Paris-based Worldia has launched in the UK after it was granted an Atol, aiming to become a go-to tech-led B2B brand for agents

The art-splashed corner of France that makes a big impression

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Impressionism – here’s how to follow in the artists’ footsteps on a meandering tour from Paris to Normandy’s cinematic coast.

Why Turkey's SunExpress is ready to make its mark on the UK after 35 years

The Turkish carrier’s chief executive, Max Kownatzki, caught up with TTG this week to outline his plans for UK market expansion off the back of a big aircraft order that will see the airline’s fleet double in size in less than a decade