Travel industry news

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

The £20 device that could save your clients' lives

A charity has gained FCDO recognition of a £20 device that warns if lethal gas emissions are found in holiday accommodation

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

EasyJet to base three aircraft at Southend airport this summer

Carrier’s 10th UK base will create around 1,200 jobs and support 140 direct roles

Thai tourism operations resume as Intrepid launches Myanmar earthquake appeal

Tourist attractions and transport hubs open as normal in Thailand after devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar

Seaside Travel's Richard Lowrey-Heywood joins Not Just Travel as BDM

Lowrey-Heywood, whose career in travel has seen him rep for Thomas Cook in Rhodes and work in Jet2’s contact centre, will work with Not Just Travel’s more than 700 franchisees and consultants to help grow their businesses

Virgin Atlantic returns to profit after record £3.3 billion revenue in 2024

Record revenue of £3.3 billion and ’continued cost discipline’ contribute to carrier’s highest-ever annual pre-tax earnings of £230 million

Holidays experiencing biggest post-pandemic rebound in consumer spending – Nationwide

Nationwide survey illustrates how consumers are continuing to prioritise holidays and travel over other areas of discretionary spending five years on from the onset of the Covid pandemic

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

Thai airports operational as Bangkok rocked by powerful Myanmar earthquake

The 7.7 magnitude quake struck 800 miles away in neighbouring Myanmar on Friday (28 March)

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

Start-up Global Airlines puts two transatlantic charters on sale amid ongoing UK licence bid

Global Airlines is selling seats onboard two transatlantic flights scheduled for May as its application for a UK Air Operator’s Certificate continues

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

Air Canada expands transatlantic network with new Edinburgh-Montreal link

Three-times-weekly peak summer service to take off on 27 June

Spring Statement: chancellor insists consumers will have more disposable income this year

Average consumer will be £500 better off this year says chancellor Rachel Reeves allowing them to spend more on non-essentials like travel

Azamara, Not Just Travel, InsideJapan: all the latest travel trade people moves

Recent moves see a familiar face return to Not Just Travel, and new roles for two senior leaders at small-ship cruise line Azamara

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

InteleTravel acquires sport and entertainment ticketing platform

InteleTravel has paid an undisclosed sum for a ticketing specialist that will operate as a stand-alone brand and provide product for its agents

New Channel Tunnel train operator hopes to challenge Eurostar

A new train operator has been set up with hopes of launching services to Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel

Inside Travel Group creates dedicated agency sales team after record Q1 for trade business

Asia specialist to transition to single point of contact for agents, led by senior team leader Claire Brothers

'It's morally wrong': hotels 'milking' Heathrow closure, says agency boss

Phil Nuttall, chief executive of Travel Village Group, slammed hotels that have looked to profit from the Heathrow power outage on Friday and increase prices by 500%

Hays Travel branch the latest to leave the high street – why are agencies moving shops?

By relocating its Bishop Auckland store, Hays Travel has followed in the footsteps of rivals such as Tui and Barrhead Travel

Heathrow boss welcomes investigation into power outage as full operations resume

Nearly 300,000 passengers were impacted when an electrical substation in Hayes – north of Heathrow – erupted into flames last week