Travel industry news

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

'Don't underestimate the power of influence when marketing in 2025'

’Influence isn’t just about selling. It’s about guiding, inspiring and earning trust. Get that right, and conversions will follow,’ writes We Are Llama’s Andrew Shelton for TTG

APT, Oceania, Jules Verne: all the latest travel trade people moves

Recent moves include a new, permanent role for a TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus, and a return for an experienced travel trade pro. Elsewhere, a river line and touring firm is looking for a new BDM

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

Noel Josephides: ‘What damage is travel's relentless pursuit of growth doing?’

‘We’re all rushing to find answers to travel’s emissions problem – so would the best solution not be to moderate growth?’ writes Sunvil chair Noel Josephides for TTG

Abta terminates Baldwins Travel's membership after agency 'failed to provide required financial information'

Association’s membership committee resolves to terminate southeast agency’s membership with ’immediate effect’, although its consortium the Advantage Travel Partnership tells TTG Baldwins remains a member ’as it stands’

Abbie Heaton: ‘None of our agents have targets – making money is in their DNA’

Blue Bay Travel group manager explains the group’s laissez-faire approach to how its homeworkers go about their business to TTG’s Harry Kemble

Jo Rzymowska: 'As a gay woman, how can I feel welcome in Donald Trump’s America?'

Having been Celebrity Cruises’ vice president and managing director, EMEA and now as a non-executive director at Hays Travel, I’m proud to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. And my partner Lynne and I have no desire to travel to the States in the next four years.

New courses launched with aim to offer agents route to accreditation and drive up standards

Former Abta head of membership Danny Waine has worked with training provider Talent Vista on the new courses, who have been endorsed and accredited by the Institute of Travel and Tourism

Virgin Atlantic seals WestJet codeshare ahead of Toronto launch

Virgin Atlantic will offer codeshare connections to 13 Canadian destinations via Toronto under a deal with WestJet that starts next month

'No fatalities' following Delta Air Lines crash in Toronto

Delta Air Lines flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crashed and overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson airport on Monday (17 February)

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

Tui flight nearly ran out of fuel after weather diversion, report finds

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 service from Cancun to Manchester, was first diverted to East Midlands and then Birmingham where it landed safely

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

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

Aviation minister hints government won't pay for Heathrow third runway groundwork

Aviation minister Mike Kane has indicated funding for the enormous cost of moving the M25 for Heathrow’s third runway won’t come from the public purse

Royal Caribbean, AmaWaterways, Ambassador Cruise Line: all the latest travel trade people moves

Moves this week see a top-selling agent for Royal Caribbean join the line, while AmaWaterways and Ambassador Cruise Line have also shaken up their trade operations in the UK and Ireland

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

Scammer behind £400,000 cruise voucher fraud jailed for five years

Richard Lester, 56, ran a website selling people vouchers and listing the cruises for which they could supposedly be exchanged at discounted rates, but booked few of his clients and kept the money for himself

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

Eight places on ITT board up for election this year

The association is also looking to fill a currently vacant position on the board representing the hotel sector