Travel industry news

Six reasons to work with Florida this year, from new trade show to fly-drive mission

A new UK trade event was among a number of exciting updates from this year’s Florida Huddle. Madeleine Barber reports from Ocala in Marion County where the annual get-together was held

Eurostar vows to restore full London-Amsterdam capacity by September

European rail operator has restarted direct services between London and Amsterdam following works at Amsterdam’s central station, and hopes to increase the route to five daily services by 2026

Increase in January customers offset by fall in spend with agents – Barclays

Barclays Consumer Spend report finds transactions through agents in January grew but at reduced value, with airlines not faring so well

Heathrow begins finalising third runway plan following govt support

Heathrow will submit a plan for its third runway in the summer, its chief executive has confirmed after the chancellor indicated support for the project

Tui heaps praise on independent agents, but focus on app sales bears fruit

Tui has said independent agents are ’very important’ to its business in the UK, but has also highlighted the success of its app during peaks

Tui bullish about growth prospects despite tough winter for UK and Ireland

Group reveals significant uptick in early winter revenue and earnings, although seasonal losses in its northern Europe region – which comprises the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries – have deepened by more than 75% to €88.5 million

Tui chief pins slow start to peaks on change in UK strategy

Tui’s boss has said a change in direction towards more dynamic packaging meant its January sales were slower than normal, with fixed capacity remaining tight and sold at higher margins

From toes to travel: why this Essex chiropodist switched careers after 15 years in healthcare

Joe McDonnell spent 15 years as a footcare clinician before making the switch to travel in late 2024

New EU border rules 'pushed back to November', says Dover chief

The EU’s biometric Entry-Exit Scheme will now be phased in from November says Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister, three years later than originally planned

'I had Christmas dinner with Namibia's late president Sam Nujoma – it shaped the future of tourism there'

Following the passing at the weekend of former Namibian president Sam Nujoma, Sunvil chair Noel Josephides recalls a chance encounter with Nujoma, which helped forge a new and enduring tourism link with the country

Tui's new UK and Ireland chief Neil Swanson joins Abta board

Swanson, who was named Tui managing director UK&I in September, joins board at ’exciting time for the travel industry’

TTG Sustainability Festival returns in March – sign up to attend

TTG’s online festival helping travel agents boost their knowledge and confidence for selling more responsible travel is back!

Why agents should embrace sports tourism this year

Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors within the travel and tourism industry and it is expected to reach $1.33 trillion by 2032. So why UK agents aren’t embracing it? Ilaria Grasso Macola investigates

Shrinking the world: is mid-haul about to have its moment?

A combination of new aircraft economics and strain on Mediterranean hotspots could drive rapid evolution of the mid-haul market, and potentially bring destinations like Cape Verde, Senegal and Ghana into the mainstream

Travel Counsellors delivers record £138 million in January sales

Travel Counsellors has detailed a record-breaking January, helped by increased premium sales as well as corporate travel

Take a fly-through video tour of MAN’s new £1.3bn terminal

Set to be completed by the year’s end, Manchester airport’s Terminal 2 will have a sleeker and more modern look as well as additional amenities and restaurants

Pakistan International Airlines prepares to resume London flights

Pakistan’s flag carrier is preparing to relaunch UK services after it was banned by the UK and EU on safety grounds in 2020

‘People said retail travel was coming to an end – thankfully, I didn't listen to them!’

Don Bircham, whose agency business this year marks its 25th anniversary, tells Ilaria Grasso Macola how a big risk paid off

Riviera, Hurtigruten, G Adventures: all the latest travel trade people moves

Recent moves include promotions for two TTG 30 Under 30 alumni and a change at the top at a river cruise line, while an operator group has created its first agent engagement panel

Jet2 launches Bournemouth base and confirms plan for third based aircraft

A bullish Jet2 has confirmed it will add a third aircraft to its Bournemouth fleet as it starts flights from the south-coast airport on Tuesday (4 February)

Doncaster Sheffield airport: major European operator named as strategic partner for reopening

Munich Airport International will provide operational and management services to FlyDoncaster, the company set up by City of Doncaster Council to run DSA should it reopen

New UK boss for A&K as operator looks to ‘strengthen position’

Fox takes up the new managing director for AKTG, UK and APAC role in April and will relocate here from Australia.

Previously based in Melbourne as managing director Australasia A&K & EVP APAC and trade sales for A&K & Crystal, Fox has been with the company just under two years.

AKTG said the move aligns with “ongoing global expansion and commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences in key markets”.

Stansted airport seeks to raise passenger limit, targeting 51 million

Stansted airport wants to add another 21 million passengers in the next 20 years, claiming no additional flights will be needed

Intrepid Travel acquires €60-million-revenue brand from Travelopia stable

Amsterdam-headquartered Sawadee offers more than 250 trips across 100 countries and will bring an additional 20,000 customers a year to Intrepid