Travel industry news

Perfect Getaways' singing staff hit the road to drive new business

Agency bosses Dave and Nicola Palmer decided to launch its On the Road series to help introduce team members to the local communities in which their branches served

Portuguese ground handlers firm up weekend strike plans

Portugal’s transport workers’ union confirms plans for walkout on Sunday 31 August and Monday 1 September, which will impact all of the country’s national airports – including Lisbon and Porto

Prime minister plays down prospect of EU youth mobility scheme

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out seeking an immediate deal with the EU for 18 to 30-year-olds to work in Europe and to let EU nationals work in the UK, in a blow to the travel industry

APT, PTS, Vintage Travel: this week’s travel trade people moves

This week’s travel trade people moves include a new hire at Vintage Travel and promotions for two members of APT’s sales, while PTS has taken on a new colleague to bolster its commercial relationships

SAS hails new era as it exits bankruptcy with Air France-KLM onboard

SAS Scandinavian Airlines says it will join SkyTeam as Air France-KLM becomes a major shareholder following its exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

'We see it as integral to our future': Tui ready to grow retail estate

Tui stands out as the last – and only – vertically integrated tour operator to maintain a high street retail presence; TTG’s Gary Noakes catches up with the operator’s UK retail chief Stephen Bracegirdle to find out what the plan is as independents continue to make their mark

Finalists revealed for Diversity Trailblazer accolade at The Travel Industry Awards

The accolade, new for 2024, recognises an individual putting diversity and inclusivity at the heart of everything they do

Norse Atlantic to slim fleet, review network and embrace the GDS after latest loss

Norse Atlantic is working on a restructuring of its operations after another three-month loss that will see it review its route network, lease aircraft and start selling fares via the GDS

Michael O'Leary calls for two-drink limit to stem in-flight antisocial behaviour

O’Leary said the budget carrier had started searching the bags of passengers heading to Ibiza for water bottles containing vodka

Govt pledges £10 million to smooth transition to new EU border rules

£3.5 million pledges each to the Port of Dover, Eurostar at St Pancras and Eurotunnel at Folkestone to guard against ’excessive queues’ when the EU Entry-Exit System comes into effect in November

Hays Travel expands Big Thank You to Travel House and Miles Morgan colleagues

Over the coming months, Hays staff will be in with a chance of winning £500 towards their bills for six months, £2,000 towards a holiday or a £2,000 shopping spree

Travel facing race against time to get ready for new EU border rules

For many travellers, 10 November will be the day Brexit gets real; TTG explores the ins and outs of the new EU border rules set to take affect in November

Gold Medal, Simpson Travel, BHX: this week’s travel trade people moves

This week’s moves include Birmingham and Liverpool airports appointing their new travel trade executives and senior partnerships manager Allison Cockburn leaving Gold Medal

Govt hints at restoring right for under-30s to work in EU travel jobs

The UK government is keen to open talks with Brussels about granting under 30s the right to work in the EU, with reciprocal arrangements for UK businesses to attract EU staff.

Storm Lilian prompts Heathrow cancellations ahead of 'busiest day of the year'

British Airways confirmed to TTG on Friday morning (23 August) it had made ’some minor adjustments’ to its schedule owing to the high winds forecast

EasyJet adds Malta and mainland Spain packages at Southend airport

EasyJet adds more routes and packages to its base at Southend ahead of its return to the Essex airport next spring

Holidays By Design buys shop premises following 'runaway success'

Agency acquires Cleethorpes shop from its landlord seven years after opening having massively exceeded its trading expectations

Agency rebrands after 30 years following Fred Olsen Travel acquisition

Woodbridge agency TravelQuest has relocated to new premises and reopened as a Fred Olsen Travel concept store, more than a decade after it was acquired by the south coast miniple

Finalists revealed for John Hays Entrepreneur Award 2024

For the first time, finalists will be interviewed face-to-face by Dame Irene Hays and a Hays Travel/TTG judging panel

One third of new Travel Counsellors 'new to the travel industry'

Homeworking firm reveals membership swell to mark World Entrepreneurs Day (21 August)

Clia to host agent webinar ahead of new EU border rules taking effect

The trade body will welcome its agent members to hear about updates on the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) at the 16 September webinar

Abta seeking ‘pragmatic solutions’ as EU confirms start date for new border rules

EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson has confirmed the EU’s new biometric border checks will take effect from 10 November, with its proposed new visa waiver scheme to follow in 2025

London City airport's plan to attract more leisure flights thwarted

The government has ruled out allowing London City airport to open on Saturday afternoons, limiting its ability to expand the number of leisure routes it offers

‘We’re not sprinkling sawdust in random places – it’s got to have impact’

Sandals Resorts International chair talks TTG’s Sarah Dennis through some of the work the Sandals Foundation is doing in communities across the Caribbean, and its latest eye-catching fundraising mission