Until 29 July 2026, AA’s policy allowed passengers to cancel a ticket purchased as little as two days before departure and receive a full refund within 24 hours, one of the most flexible schemes in the industry.

Instead, it will now follow the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) minimum legally mandated requirement, which only obliges airlines to offer a 24-hour refund window for tickets bought at least seven days before departure, a rule instituted in 2012.

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The agency’s rules state that, for tickets purchased at least seven days before a flight’s departure, airlines must either “allow consumers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without a penalty for 24 hours” or “allow consumers to reserve a ticket (place it on hold) at the quoted price without paying for it for 24 hours”. Airlines are not required to offer both options to customers.

This change aligns American Airlines’ policies with those of JetBlue, Southwest and United, while making its refund policy stricter than Delta Air Lines’, which continues to offer greater flexibility for last-minute bookings.

“We also offer customers the ability to get a full refund if they purchase a ticket within 24 hours and booked at least seven days before departure,” AA said in a statement to CBS News.

Before the DOT rule came into effect, American Airlines had a 24-hour hold system, under which travellers could reserve a ticket at the quoted price for 24 hours without paying, rather than receiving a refund. This changed during the pandemic, when the airline began offering full refunds instead of simply holding tickets, in order to reassure hesitant flyers.

For tickets purchased less than seven days before travel, and therefore outside DOT protection, cash refunds will now be replaced by a travel credit. American will still issue travel credits for last-minute changes, but only for certain fare classes. Basic economy travellers are not eligible for a refund or a hold, as the fare is non-refundable and non-changeable.

American does allow AAdvantage members to cancel a basic economy ticket, but charges a $99 fee to recover the remaining value as credit. Non-members receive nothing.

Among low-cost carriers, Frontier allows free changes within 60 days, after which a fee of $99 applies. JetBlue, on the other hand, has a tiered fee schedule similar to American’s.

The pandemic prompted many airlines to adapt their policies in response to travel restrictions and to prevent the loss of market share. The leniency introduced then is now being rolled back as carriers look to recoup lost revenue. However, the leniency introduced then is now being phased out as carriers seek to recoup lost revenue. In August 2020, United eliminated change fees on standard economy and premium tickets, a move that American and Delta matched within 24 hours.

Travellers may also be able to mitigate the stricter refund policy by using the travel insurance included with some credit cards. Depending on the card and policy, cardholders may be reimbursed for the cost of a non-refundable ticket if they have to cancel their trip for a covered reason. However, this protection generally only applies to specific circumstances rather than a change of heart, so passengers should carefully weigh up the benefits of an insurance policy against the cost of purchasing a more flexible fare.

L’article American Airlines drops flexible refund policy for last-minute bookings est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to the latest air traffic report from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, passenger numbers across the European airport network increased by 2.6% compared with the first half of 2025. While growth slowed during the second quarter as the conflict in the Middle East affected aviation markets, Europeans continued to prioritise travel, and North Americans visited the continent in record numbers this summer.

Geopolitics reshape growth

Passenger traffic growth eased from 4.3% in the first quarter to 1.3% between April and June, reflecting reduced traffic to the Middle East and capacity cuts by some airlines as higher jet fuel prices increased operating costs. As a result, domestic traffic (+3%) outperformed international traffic (+2.5%) for the first time since the aviation industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is no escaping the fact that geopolitics have increasingly been shaping traffic performance this year,” said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe. While acknowledging that growth has lost momentum, he argued this reflects supply-side pressures rather than weaker demand.

“Europeans continue to prioritise air travel while North Americans continue to visit our continent in record numbers this summer,” he said, adding that the evolution of the conflict in the Middle East will largely determine how European aviation performs during the remainder of the year.

EES remains a major concern

Alongside geopolitical uncertainty, ACI Europe warned that the EU’s Entry/Exit System is becoming an increasing obstacle to smooth travel.

“Looking ahead, fixing the Schengen Entry/Exit System must be Europe’s immediate priority,” Jankovec said, warning that “long, unpredictable and unacceptable waiting times” at border controls are beginning to deter travellers.

The comments add to growing pressure on the European Commission. As Travel Tomorrow recently reported, nine European countries have asked Brussels to extend emergency flexibility measures allowing biometric checks to be temporarily suspended during periods of exceptional demand. The Commission has acknowledged that there is “still a lot to do” to improve the system, while continuing to defend the EES as a key element of the EU’s border management strategy.

Italy and Spain outperform Europe’s biggest markets

Passenger traffic varied widely across Europe. Within the EU+, Slovakia (+101.3%), Malta (+15.6%) and Slovenia (+14.7%) recorded the strongest growth, while Iceland (-7.1%), Cyprus (-4.4%) and Austria (-2.6%) saw the sharpest declines.

Among the continent’s largest aviation markets, Italy (+4.2%) and Spain (+3.7%) led growth. France (+0.6%) and the United Kingdom (+0.4%) posted only modest gains, while Germany (-1.2%) remained the weakest major market.

Outside the EU+, North Macedonia (+27.9%), Moldova (+21%), Albania (+17.2%), Uzbekistan (+15.7%), Armenia (+11%) and Montenegro (+10.4%) all recorded strong growth. In contrast, Israel (-19.2%), Azerbaijan (-3%), Georgia (-2.5%) and Kosovo (-1.5%) experienced declines, highlighting the uneven impact of regional geopolitical developments.

Heathrow keeps the lead

London Heathrow remained Europe’s busiest airport during the first half of the year, welcoming a record 40 million passengers (+0.2%), narrowly ahead of Istanbul Airport with 39.84 million (+1.6%).

Among Europe’s largest hubs, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (+6.4%), Barcelona (+4.4%) and Madrid (+4.2%) posted the strongest growth. London Gatwick (-5.2%), Munich (-4.2%) and Frankfurt (-0.8%) all recorded declines, while Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Rome Fiumicino remained broadly unchanged.

Overall, airports handling more than 40 million passengers grew by just 0.8%, making them the slowest-growing airport category during the first half of the year.

Smaller airports continue to outperform

The strongest growth came from smaller airports, with those handling fewer than one million passengers recording an 8.6% increase, driven by low-cost carrier expansion and resilient leisure travel. They nevertheless remain the only airport category yet to recover to pre-pandemic passenger levels.

Among larger regional airports, Tirana, Tashkent, Malta, Kraków and Milan Linate all achieved double-digit growth, while Bratislava led medium-sized airports with a remarkable 122.7% increase in passenger traffic.

Freight traffic remained broadly stable, increasing by 0.7% compared with the first half of 2025 and remaining 11.2% above pre-pandemic levels. Aircraft movements also rose by 1%, although they are still slightly below 2019 volumes.

L’article European airport passenger traffic grows 2.6% despite Middle East tensions and EES disruption est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said funding would come from the airport’s operator, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, municipal bonds, airlines such as United, which operates 70% of traffic there, as well as MWAA and others.

Expected works include improved parking for at least 32,000 more cars, as well as check-in facilities, a tunnel system to eliminate the airport’s notorious “people mover” mobile shuttles, and the modernisation of “temporary” concourses built 40 years ago. Trump also wants large windows and gilding throughout.

$22.5 BILLION, ZERO of which are taxpayer dollars, are going to a new Dulles International Airport (IAD) thanks to the expertise and leadership of the GREAT AMERICAN BUILDER, @POTUS

The “Gateway to America” will soon be the most BEAUTIFUL airport in the world! pic.twitter.com/cMMG8aM66s

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) July 30, 2026

Trump revealed the plans by commenting that Dulles is “considered one of the worst airports anywhere in the world” but went on to claim, “we’re going to make it maybe the best with some hard work.” The President said the time had come “for a ​major and long overdue renovation and reconstruction of Washington’s really horribly-thought of Dulles.”

The investment comes amid data showing Dulles was the fastest-growing large U.S. airport ​last year by passenger traffic, handling 29 million total passengers, an increase of 6.4%, in 2025.

The airport renovation also forms part of Trump’s wider ambitions to leave his mark on the wider capital region, and has been described by Duffy as the “cherry on top” of Trump’s plan to “make DC safe and beautiful.” The President is reported by the Washington Post as having spent months looking at pitches and said himself he had considered more than 30 proposals.

That wider Washington plan has entailed multiple Oval Office construction and renovation proposals, such as those for the Oval Office itself, which has been gilded; a new life for the White House Rose Garden, new sidewalks for Lafayette Square, a new visitors’ complex, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a triumphal arch, and the National Garden of American Heroes.

But Trump’s apparently Washington-centric policy is not popular among the electorate, with 58% expressing dissatisfaction or anger about the building projects, a recent CNN poll found. A record 73% of US adults accuse Trump of neglecting the country’s most important problems.

Meanwhile, with the airport works funded through private finance, flyers and aviation stakeholders have also questioned what the cost of the Dulles renovations, which are slated to take place over the coming eight years, will do to the cost of air tickets, which remain elevated after the Middle East security crisis and its effect on fuel prices.

L’article Trump reveals $22 billion overhaul of Washington Dulles Airport est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Passengers can currently get from London St Pancras to the historic Belgian port city’s Central Station with Eurostar, but it’s via a three-and-a-half-hour journey and a change at Brussels. The new direct London–Antwerp journey will slash 20% off that trip time, taking just two hours 41 minutes, and timetables appear to promise, will not add any additional delay before reaching other existing stops along the route in Lille (France), Brussels (Belgium), or Rotterdam (Netherlands).

There is one drawback, however: the direct Antwerp stop will happen on the existing London to Amsterdam route, but not on the way back from Amsterdam to London. Eurostar explained in a statement that it’s not possible to board in Antwerp for direct travel to London because Antwerp Central Station is not equipped to carry out the necessary international border and security checks. That means those checks will continue to be conducted at Brussels.

Known for its world-famous diamond quarter and design credentials, Antwerp was a medieval powerhouse port that once handled 70% of international trade. It boasts an “intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral.” Those delights go hand-in-hand, Lonely Planet says, with a “vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.”

Eurostar says, “the new timetable enhances rail connectivity between London and Belgium’s second-largest city, offering a faster and more convenient option for both business and leisure travellers.”

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On the Eurostar website, passengers can purchase a combined ticket, covering both the outward Eurostar and the return domestic rail trip from Antwerp to London, including the necessary change and border checks at Brussels-South. Travel Tomorrow found return tickets ranging from around €110 to €383 for a week-long trip starting on the service launch date in mid-December.

That launch comes in time for Antwerp’s Christmas season. The city’s Christmas Market is spread across some of the city’s most iconic locations including the 16^th-17^th century Grote Markt, Handschoenmarkt, the Groenplaats, and the charming Hendrik Conscienceplein. The 2025 market and Winter in Antwerp festivities attracted over 1.5 million visitors, an uptick of 200,000 year-on-year.

Looking further ahead, an exhibition on the so-called Antwerp Six fashion school will be coming to Antwerp’s MoMu in spring 2027.

L’article Eurostar to launch new direct London to Antwerp service from December 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The initiative, designed and operated by Extime Travel, Groupe ADP’s airport retail and hospitality brand dedicated to tourism experiences, aims to transform connection time into an opportunity for travellers to discover Paris rather than simply wait at the airport. The service is particularly targeting international visitors, as around 50% of Air France customers arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle are connecting to another destination.

Air France and Extime Travel unveil Paris Stopover, allowing the airline’s customers with a long layover at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to make the most of their time between flights by discovering Paris and its surrounding region.
Learn more: https://t.co/1gYfLWqw4n pic.twitter.com/fhLtQrPDwU

— Air France Newsroom (@AFnewsroom) July 22, 2026

Available when booking an Air France flight, passengers can choose to extend their connection in Paris on either their outbound or return journey and select a Paris Stopover package through Extime Travel. The offers are available for stays ranging from one to four nights and include services such as accommodation, transfers and curated activities, with options adapted to travellers’ preferences and stopover duration.

The programme includes experiences designed to showcase Paris and the surrounding region. The initial packages include “Paris Essentials”, featuring four-star hotel accommodation, airport transfers, a Seine River cruise and a guided visit to either the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, as well as a Disneyland Paris option including accommodation, transfers and entry to the parks. Both packages start from €449 per person.

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The launch comes as demand grows among connecting passengers for opportunities to leave the airport and explore destinations during longer layovers. A study published by the Pégase Chair in April 2026 found that 81% of customers with a connection in Paris were somewhat or very interested in using their time between flights to visit Paris or attractions near Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Interest was even higher among Brazilian and Indian travellers, at 92.3% and 90% respectively. 

Paris Stopover is part of the “Connect France” strategic partnership signed by Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP in June 2025, which aims to strengthen the international appeal of the Air France hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and promote France as a leading tourism destination. The service makes Paris-Charles de Gaulle the first major European hub to offer such a tourist experience between flights.

The offer is available to all eligible Air France customers travelling in Economy, Premium, Business or La Première cabins. Bookings can be made through Extime Travel up to 48 hours before departure, subject to availability, for passengers whose itinerary includes a minimum connection time of 27 hours.

With Paris Stopover, Air France is seeking to encourage travellers to add an extra chapter to their journey, turning a traditional layover into a short city escape. The initiative follows a growing trend among airlines to turn layovers into opportunities for destination discovery. Turkish Airlines’ “Tour Istanbul” programme, for example, allows eligible passengers with layovers of between 6 and 24 hours to take part in free guided city tours, with hotel accommodation options available for longer transit times.

L’article Air France launches Paris Stopover programme to turn layovers into city breaks est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The funding will support research and development projects focused on both electric aircraft and hydrogen-powered planes. Up to £3.2 million (€3.7 million) will go to projects involving BETA Technologies and Vertical Aerospace, which will demonstrate how next-generation aircraft could be integrated into commercial airport operations. The remaining funding will contribute to a wider £43 million (€50 million) package dedicated to future aviation technologies. This package also includes work on the safe handling of electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft.

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Electric aircraft use batteries to power their engines, while hydrogen aircraft use hydrogen as an alternative energy source. Both technologies are being explored as possible solutions to reduce aviation emissions. However, introducing these aircraft requires more than just developing the planes themselves. Airports will also need new infrastructure, including charging facilities and systems to safely manage new types of aircraft.

“The next generation of flight is taking off in the UK,” said Heidi Alexander, the UK Secretary of State for Transport. She added that electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft could bring passengers closer to the flights of the future while creating skilled jobs and supporting businesses. According to the government, cooperation between companies, airports and regulators will be essential to develop cleaner aviation.

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Flying taxis are one of the technologies receiving increasing attention in the UK. These aircraft, also known as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), can take off and land vertically without needing a traditional runway. This makes them suitable for short-distance connections between airports, cities and nearby regions. Research from the University of Birmingham found that flying taxis could improve connectivity, support economic growth and contribute to cleaner transport.

Several companies are already preparing for a future where air taxis become part of everyday travel. During the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026, Virgin Atlantic and Joby Aviation signed an agreement to bring electric air taxi services to the UK. The partnership focuses on launching services in London and Manchester, with Virgin Atlantic planning to offer bookings through its digital platforms.

Under the agreement, Joby Aviation will remain responsible for operating the aircraft, managing routes and obtaining approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The company’s aircraft are designed to carry one pilot and up to four passengers. They use six tilting propellers, allowing them to take off vertically and fly with less noise than traditional helicopters.

The potential travel benefits are mainly focused on short connections. A future air taxi route between Heathrow and central London could take around eight minutes, compared with more than an hour by car. A connection between Manchester Airport and Leeds could also be reduced to around 15 minutes. The technology is not expected to replace traditional flights but could offer a new option for reaching airports and travelling between nearby cities.

Before passengers can use these services, companies still need to complete testing and receive regulatory approval. The UK Civil Aviation Authority is working towards certifying passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft from the end of 2028. Vertical Aerospace, one of the companies involved in the government-backed projects, expects passenger services to begin from 2029.

The investment is part of the UK’s wider strategy to reduce emissions from aviation. In May, the government announced a £46.5 million (€54 million) investment supporting flying taxis and drones for applications such as medical deliveries and police operations. The UK is also investing £2.3 billion (€2.7 billion) over the next decade through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme to support the development of new aviation technologies.

Airlines, airports and technology companies are increasingly working together to prepare for a different aviation landscape. Discussions at the Farnborough International Airshow focused on how innovations such as electric aircraft, hydrogen technology and artificial intelligence could help reduce emissions. With new aircraft designs being tested and regulations being developed, the UK is preparing the infrastructure needed for the next generation of air travel.

L’article UK invests £7.3 million in electric aircraft as flying taxis move closer to reality est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The latest technical report from ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal estimates that the Luís de Camões Airport will require investment of between €7.9 billion and €8.9 billion, at 2024 prices. The range updates an earlier preliminary estimate of around €8.5 billion presented in 2025. 

Under ANA’s baseline timetable, agreements for the new airport are expected to be signed in April 2029, with construction beginning around mid-2030 and concluding towards the end of 2036. Operations would then start in 2037, meaning travellers could still be waiting another 11 years before using the new gateway.

The Portuguese government, however, wants to accelerate the project. Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz has indicated an ambition to bring the opening forward to 2035, with an accelerated construction schedule potentially running from 2029 to 2034.

The project will be built at Campo de Tiro de Alcochete, on the south bank of the Tagus, more than 50 kilometres from central Lisbon, and is intended eventually to replace the existing Humberto Delgado Airport.

Costs could rise further

ANA, which is owned by French infrastructure group Vinci, has warned that the final bill could rise beyond the current estimates as geopolitical uncertainty, pressure on global supply chains and market volatility push construction costs higher.

At its initial stage, Luís de Camões Airport is expected to handle around 56 million passengers annually, with capacity eventually increasing to 85 million. Plans include two runways, 120 aircraft parking positions, 64 boarding gates and 76 passenger boarding bridges.

Ground transport will be a crucial part of the project due to the airport’s distance from Lisbon.

Plans include a high-speed rail connection with a journey time of approximately 26 minutes and services every two hours. A conventional rail connection from Entrecampos is expected to run every 15 minutes, with a journey time of around 45 minutes.

Infraestruturas de Portugal has also proposed a direct shuttle between Lisbon’s Oriente station and the airport, with an estimated journey time of 20 minutes and departures every 30 minutes. ANA has called for a higher frequency and stressed the importance of ensuring high-quality and affordable public transport to the new airport.

Road access is also planned, including a new 17-kilometre connection to the A33 motorway and links to several national and municipal roads.

Existing airports face growing demand

The long wait for Luís de Camões Airport means Portugal is simultaneously investing in its existing aviation infrastructure.

More than €400 million is already being invested across the national airport network, according to the government’s recently presented airport strategy. The programme is intended to increase capacity, improve passenger experience and prepare the country’s infrastructure for further growth in tourism, the economy and mobility. 

The pressure comes as Portugal continues to attract growing numbers of visitors. In 2025, tourist accommodation establishments recorded 32.5 million guests and 82.1 million overnight stays, increases of 3% and 2.2% respectively. International visitors accounted for 57 million overnight stays. 

Growth has continued into 2026. Between January and May, Portugal welcomed around 12 million guests, generating 28.7 million overnight stays. In May alone, the country recorded 3.3 million guests, up 3.9% year-on-year, and eight million overnight stays, up 2.8%. 

The government’s immediate response is therefore to expand and modernise airports serving the country’s main tourism destinations while the new Lisbon hub is developed.

Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, which currently handles around 17 million passengers per year, is undergoing runway renovation, terminal modernisation and expansion, as well as the construction of a new Airport Operations Control Centre. The longer-term ambition is to prepare Porto to accommodate as many as 30 million passengers annually.

Faro Airport, the principal gateway to the Algarve, handled around 10 million passengers in 2025. Work includes modernisation and expansion of airport infrastructure, operational areas and the terminal, with the aim of providing additional capacity as tourism demand grows.

The same approach is being taken on Portugal’s islands. Madeira Airport handled more than five million passengers in 2025, almost double the approximately 2.6 million recorded a decade earlier. Its terminal and passenger facilities are now being renovated and modernised.

In the Azores, João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada handled close to three million passengers in 2025, compared with around one million in 2015. Its terminal is being renovated and modernised as part of efforts to improve capacity and connectivity for the archipelago.

Pinto Luz has presented the investments as part of a wider airport masterplan designed to bridge the period before Luís de Camões Airport becomes operational and ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with Portugal’s tourism and economic growth. The government says more than €400 million is already being deployed across airports including Porto, Faro, Lisbon and the Azores. 

With the new Lisbon airport still potentially more than a decade away, those upgrades will play an increasingly important role in accommodating passenger growth and maintaining Portugal’s connectivity in the years leading up to the opening of Luís de Camões Airport.

L’article New Lisbon airport faces 11-year wait as costs reach up to €8.9 billion est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The four-passenger Apache model hails from the 1950s and was one of the first twin-engined tourist aircraft, built by American firm Piper, considered one of the “Big Three” general aviation manufacturers, alongside Cessna and Beechcraft. Nearly 7,000 PA-23 Apaches were produced in total between 1952 and 1981.

Now, one lucky aviation enthusiast has the chance to acquire an example of the aircraft for the price of a round of coffees. The plane, which has been at the southern Spanish airport since 2018, has been officially declared abandoned, allowing it to go up for auction, with bids starting at just €10.

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European aviation law states that authorities must try to contact aircraft owners to recover the costs of storing the aircraft. Those avenues have been exhausted, officials said.

“We have tried to contact the owner many times,” a spokesperson for Seville Airport said. “Since we didn’t manage to reach anyone, the airport announced the situation of this aircraft three times in the Official State Gazette, in case the owner came forward to claim it.”

The plane has been described by Spanish airport authority AENA as in “bad condition, with the agency confirming to Euronews that it “cannot fly.” That means would-be purchasers will have to be prepared for potentially costly repairs, and even shipment.

Despite those liabilities, AENA is reported to have received numerous expressions of interest in the plane by email. Prospective buyers could include aviation fans, collectors of aviation memorabilia, and even people looking for an interesting real estate project.

But the Apache in question will have to compete in what is a crowded marketplace. Aircraft carcasses are a familiar scourge on airport tarmac, taking up valuable room in a pressured environment.

Like AENA, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), in charge of East African hubs, Wilson Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, has had to hold mass aircraft auctions to recover its costs. Meanwhile, one of the eeriest aircraft “boneyards” in the world sits in the Arizona desert within Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) is a large plot of land where more than 4,000 airplanes are kept and cannibalised for parts. At 10.5km² in size, it is the largest aircraft graveyard in the US.

L’article Seville Airport auctions abandoned plane with starting price of just €10 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Airline easyJet and package holiday provider easyJet holidays are set to take 370,000 families on holiday throughout the summer of 2026. A survey unveiled that 78% of parents take their child’s favourite toy with them on family holidays, while 65% of parents indicated that their child had lost a favourite soft toy or comforter while on holiday. In 31% of cases, this made bedtime much harder, with children taking an average of six weeks to mourn their cuddly friend.

Furthermore, easyJet’s survey highlighted how 33% of parents consider their child’s favourite toy as a member of the family. 37% said the toy regularly appears in family photos, while 33% of the kids talk about it as if it is a real person.

In order to prevent children from losing their dearest belonging in the future, easyJet is now collaborating with family connection and safety app Life360. The airline and holiday provider will be offering free Life360 Tile Trackers – or Teddy Trackers – to families travelling with them over the summer. 

“We know that it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference to a family holiday. For many children, a favourite teddy or comfort toy is an important part of the journey and losing it can be upsetting at what should be an exciting time. That’s why we’ve launched Teddy Trackers, giving families extra peace of mind while they’re away. Creating brilliant holiday experiences is at the heart of what we do, and we’re delighted to be offering another simple way to make family holidays as smooth and stress-free as possible,” said Stuart Wright, Customer Director at easyJet holidays.

To put it concretely, the trackers can be put on or inside the toys, allowing parents to keep track of them through the Life360 app. According to the company, 40,000 toys have been actively tracked in the last 12 months around the world through its Tile trackers.

“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with easyJet right in the middle of the busy summer holiday season, helping families to avoid teddy-related disasters. By slipping a Life360 Tile tracker onto a soft toy, the fear of losing it disappears. Whether a beloved bear is left behind at security or vanishes under a poolside sunbed, parents can pinpoint its location in seconds using the Life360 app. Best of all, the Tile is theirs to keep, meaning families will never have to worry about a lost furry companion on future adventures,” stated Tom Rizzo, GM International at Life360.

The easyJet and easyJet holidays Teddy Trackers will be available this summer for easyJet customers flying from London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast. Families can collect their teddy tracker for free at easyJet bag drop from 31 July 2026, while stocks last.

L’article easyJet launches free Teddy Trackers for stress-free family travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

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The €2.4 million network was developed with funding from the EU’s Next Generation programme and implemented by the regional government as part of its sustainable tourism strategy.

Castilla-La Mancha is home to one of Europe’s highest concentrations of protected natural areas and now offers cyclists a route linking two national parks, seven natural parks and two UNESCO Global Geoparks, passing through provincial capitals and remote rural communities along the way.

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The path weaves together historical trails, disused railway lines and existing paths. More than 3,200 signposts have been installed to help cyclists stay safe and on course, and the surface of 168 kilometres of the route has been upgraded.

Sights to slow down for include Tablas de Daimiel National Park, where cyclists can dismount and explore on foot along one of three self-guided walking routes, including one leading to a viewpoint described by Spain’s tourism board as offering one of the finest sunsets. Other highlights include Cabañeros National Park, which has 16 marked walks through lush greenery, diverse birdlife and wildlife, framed by vast Mediterranean plains and rugged mountains.

Beyond nature, the route passes through Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its Jewish and Moorish heritage, before descending into the canyons of Cuenca and passing the windmills of Ciudad Real, the very same La Mancha windmills that were made famous in Don Quixote.

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The project was spearheaded by the region’s Ministry of Economy, Business and Employment. Its head, Patricia Franco, described the new network as an “invitation to enjoy nature and active tourism”, adding that it also serves as “a starting point and a route throughout our region”.

Franco said the project would help “strengthen and consolidate” the region’s tourism prospects, which she described as “very positive so far this year”.

According to the latest Exceltur Barometer, Castilla-La Mancha recorded the strongest growth in Spain’s tourism sector in the second quarter of the year, with revenues rising by 11.9%.

This is a positive sign, given that Spain is still dealing with the issue of overtourism in popular destinations such as Barcelona, Mallorca and the Canary Islands, and is trying to divert some of this pressure towards its less popular regions.

This off-main-attraction-track initiative, with its eco-charming outlook likely to appeal to younger generations, could be a turning point and have a huge impact. Rather than depositing coachloads of tourists in villages unprepared for such numbers, it has the potential to inject fresh income into rural communities one bicycle at a time.

The network has been designed for cyclists of all abilities, with routes ranging from gentle, paved sections suitable for families and occasional riders, to gravel tracks and mountain bike trails for more experienced cyclists.

Plans are also in place to eventually connect Rural Bike Conecta CLM to EuroVelo, a network of 17 long-distance cycle routes spanning the continent. These routes run from London to Amsterdam, Brussels to Luxembourg and as far as Zagreb, Bucharest and Athens.

L’article Spain launches 2,180 km cycling route through the landscapes of Don Quixote est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.