The tunnels, which lie beneath the ruins of the White House Glass Cone, date back to the 18^th century and once played an essential role in the region’s world-famous glassmaking industry. They were used to store raw materials, regulate heat and support the production process inside the cone, helping establish Stourbridge as one of Britain’s leading centres of glass manufacturing. 

As part of a major redevelopment project, the museum intends to transform the underground network into a permanent immersive attraction combining virtual reality, projection mapping and animated displays. Visitors will be able to follow more than 400 years of Stourbridge’s glassmaking history, with projections illustrating the entire production process in the very spaces where it once took place.

Although the museum already offers occasional guided tunnel tours, the new project will make the underground passages a permanent part of the visitor experience for the first time. Before opening, the site will undergo a series of health and safety improvements, including upgraded lighting, signage and accessibility measures designed to create what the museum describes as a “safe and free-flowing visitor experience”.

Museum director Alexander Goodger said the development forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen both the museum and the surrounding area.

“This is just one part of our new phase of capital development designed to boost the site for locals, expand the offer, give it a wider appeal and bring in tourists to the area who then go on to stay in hotels and eat in restaurants, regenerating the area,” Goodger said.

He added: “We want to bring in investment for the Black Country’s heritage. We have an incredible and unique history.” 

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The project also reflects broader ambitions to reinforce the Stourbridge Glass Quarter’s reputation as a centre for industrial heritage and cultural tourism. The museum houses a collection of around 4,000 objects documenting the area’s glassmaking legacy, alongside demonstrations and interactive exhibits celebrating a craft that shaped the region for centuries. 

The tunnels sit beneath the site once occupied by the renowned Stuart Crystal factory, one of England’s best-known manufacturers of cut glass until it closed in 2001. The loss marked part of the wider decline of the traditional Glass Quarter, where four major manufacturers disappeared by the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

The new attraction aims not only to preserve an important chapter of Britain’s industrial past but also to create a distinctive tourism experience capable of attracting visitors to Stourbridge and the wider Black Country.

L’article UK’s 250-year-old glassmaking tunnels to open as immersive tourist attraction est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Another offering from European Sleeper, the train provides a “hassle-free, direct connection from Paris and Brussels to Hamburg, via Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons and Liège,” the company says, inviting passengers to “Travel overnight and wake up refreshed, ready to explore.”

Tickets start from €69.99 in a classic shared compartment, which European Sleeper describes as “ideal for small groups, families and solo travellers.” This fare would give access to a compact couchette bed, with bedding, in a five-person compartment, with the possibility of private reservation from €209.

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Budget options, such as a reserved seat in a six-person compartment, are available too, as are upgrades to Comfort Class. The latter is, European Sleeper says, “The most comfortable travel option” and is best suited to “couples and solo travellers seeking comfort.” It includes a three-person compartment, more premium bedding, the option to go private, and a separate seating area. Women-Only compartments are also part of the proposition.

The first departure left Hamburg for Brussels and Paris on 13 July 2026. The schedule sees Hamburg departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Paris departures on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Good news! Three new stops on our #Paris–Berlin night train ⁠
⁠
From 26 March, you can now board in⁠
Aulnoye-Aymeries⁠
Mons⁠
Liège-Guillemins⁠
⁠
Where will you start your #nighttrain journey?⁠
⁠
Bookings are now open.⁠
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https://t.co/byPd3Zbw5i pic.twitter.com/TG0l1ItKta

— European Sleeper (@EuropeanSlpr) March 11, 2026

As the world’s most visited destination, Paris and its delights are well-known, but Germany’s second city, Hamburg, is perhaps less so. Lonely Planet describes this gem as “one of the coolest cities on Earth,” highlighting its unpretentious vibe, history and riches stemming from worldwide trade since medieval times, its vibrant neighbourhoods, and live music.

Echoing that assessment, European Sleeper suggests itineraries including “early coffee by the water, a slow stroll through the Speicherstadt, or an evening of live music and cosy bars.” It also notes the way the old town and harbour sit alongside “bold new architecture,” with grand public spaces next door to hidden courtyards, and plenty of marketplaces, parklands, and waterways to explore.

The service is an expansion of European Sleeper’s Paris-Brussels-Berlin route, launched in March 2026, and provides a stepping stone to Scandinavia thanks to existing train lines that already link Hamburg to Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo.

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Commenting on the new connection in an interview with RailEarlier this year, Michael Otremba, CEO of the Hamburg Tourist Board, said, “The addition of Hamburg as a stop on European Sleeper’s Paris–Berlin route underlines the city’s position at the heart of Europe’s rail network. As a key gateway between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, Hamburg offers international travellers seamless rail connections alongside a rich cultural, culinary, and waterfront experience.”

European Sleeper services are complemented (and rivalled) by Austrian rail’s ÖBB, which also operates “Nightjet” trains from the Belgian capital to Vienna.

L’article European Sleeper launches new international night train from Paris to Brussels and Hamburg est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Weight-loss medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have moved rapidly from specialist clinics into mainstream culture. They are discussed at dinner tables, in boardrooms and across social media, and they are increasingly shaping how people think about food, health, confidence and mobility. Yet a fresh analysis published in The BMJ offers a cautionary message for stakeholders hoping to interpret the trend too narrowly: weight loss does not automatically translate into better quality of life.

The review assessed 262 randomised trials involving 99,791 participants and 19 obesity drugs. It found that some treatments produced substantial reductions in body weight after one year, led by tirzepatide and CagriSema, but most did not show clinically meaningful improvements in quality-of-life measures. Greater weight loss was also associated with more side effects, higher discontinuation rates and, in some cases, loss of lean mass.

Why this matters for travel

Travel is closely tied to physical comfort, confidence, and perceived freedom of movement. For some travellers using obesity medicines, weight loss may make long-haul flights, walking tours, adventure activities, or resort experiences feel more accessible. Destinations and operators may see growing demand for wellness trips, active holidays, and post-weight-loss lifestyle travel from people who previously avoided certain kinds of journeys.

But the BMJ findings suggest the tourism sector should avoid assuming that pharmacological weight loss equals a straightforward improvement in travel experience. Gastrointestinal side effects, fatigue, treatment burden, and muscle loss can all affect how people plan and enjoy trips. A traveller may lose weight but still need flexible itineraries, rest periods, accessible transport, medical guidance or reassurance around food and medication storage.

Airlines and hospitality may need to rethink comfort, not just capacity

The travel industry has sometimes framed obesity in terms of seat width, passenger weight, and operational costs. The new evidence points to a more human-centred interpretation. If many users do not report meaningful quality-of-life gains after one year, airlines, hotels, cruise operators, and attractions should continue investing in inclusive design rather than assuming medication trends will reduce the need for it.

That means comfortable seating, clear mobility information, non-stigmatising service, flexible dining options, and easy access to medical support remain commercially relevant. GLP-1 use may change some passenger profiles over time, but it does not remove the need to serve travellers with different body sizes, health conditions, and levels of stamina.

A new chapter for medical and wellness tourism

The boom in obesity medicines is also likely to influence medical tourism. Patients already travel for bariatric surgery, cosmetic procedures, and lower-cost care. As GLP-1 access expands, a new category of traveller may emerge, as people seek consultations, prescriptions, follow-up care, or post-weight-loss procedures abroad. Some may look for destinations offering integrated programmes that combine medical oversight, nutrition, exercise, mental wellbeing, and recovery.

However, the study’s findings also underline the risks of marketing weight-loss travel as a quick transformation. Tourism businesses entering this space will need credible clinical partners, transparent pricing, realistic claims, and strong aftercare pathways. Because weight regain after stopping treatment remains a concern, short-term packages that promise lasting change could expose travellers to disappointment and providers to reputational risk.

Food tourism faces subtle shifts

GLP-1 medicines can reduce appetite and alter eating patterns, which may have implications for restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, and gastronomy and food production tours. Some travellers may prefer smaller portions, lighter menus, protein-forward meals, or alcohol-free experiences. Others may want to participate in food culture without overconsumption, making tasting menus, shared plates, and flexible dining formats more attractive.

For destinations known for gastronomy, this does not mean food tourism will decline. Instead, it may become more experiential and less volume-driven. Storytelling, provenance, local producers and sensory experiences could matter more than abundance. The opportunity is to design hospitality that welcomes travellers whose relationship with food is changing without making them feel singled out.

L’article Weight-loss drugs are changing travel but not always as industry expects est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

North America and North Africa links

Air Canada will launch a unique North America–Tenerife route on 25 October, flying Toronto to Tenerife Sur twice weekly. From Halloween, the Canadian flag carrier will also serve Gran Canaria weekly from Montréal to Las Palmas on Saturdays, returning on Sundays.

Lufthansa’s leisure carrier Discover Airlines will fly two Morocco connections from October 2026: Frankfurt to Agadir and Munich to Fes. Between December 2026 and April 2027, it will add weekly Munich–Ivalo flights in Finnish Lapland.

Eurowings, Lufthansa’s budget branch, is adding direct connections from Berlin, Cologne / Bonn, Hamburg, Hanover, and Stuttgart. The schedule is unconfirmed, but likely candidates from November include Alicante and Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, Cairo in Egypt, Klagenfurt in Austria and Pristina in Kosovo.

Lufthansa itself meanwhile is set to fly Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur from late November.

easyJet expands from UK airports

EasyJet will launch 13 routes from 10 UK airports, starting with Manchester to Nuremberg from 2 November, twice weekly. Nuremberg flights from London Gatwick begin on 19 November, followed by London Luton on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 23 November. The links will support seasonal market trips and corporate travel to Nuremberg’s business and trade fairs.

Like Lufthansa, easyJet is adding Morocco flights to Rabat from Luton and London Southend in early November and early December, respectively. North Africa also gains twice-weekly London Southend–Sharm El Sheikh flights from January 2027.

Bristol and Belfast will both connect to Budapest on Tuesdays and Saturdays from mid-November, joined by a twice-weekly Liverpool service on Thursdays and Sundays.

EasyJet is also targeting Norwegian short breaks, flying to Tromsø from Edinburgh from late November. Scotland gains another link with Glasgow to Poland twice weekly from mid-November.

EasyJet’s twice-weekly Manchester–Vienna service starts on 19 November, while a weekly Isle of Man–Geneva flight begins on 19 December.

Winter sun and long-haul additions

Air France is anticipating demand for premium winter sun. It will serve the Maldives twice weekly from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Malé until 7 March 2027, and increase Dominican Republic flights to three weekly.

The Caribbean is in ITA’s sights too, with a weekly Rome–Dominican Republic flight launching on 30 November and later rising to twice weekly.

Finnair will connect mainstream European cities to Lapland, with Brussels and Zurich flights to Kittilä and Paris operations to Rovaniemi. It also launches its first Australia service on 25 October, flying Helsinki to Melbourne via Bangkok.

Low-cost and regional European growth

Ryanair is closing some airport operations over cost complaints, but expanding elsewhere with 30 confirmed routes, mostly for winter 2026-7. Warsaw gains 12 routes, including Bratislava and Bristol, underlining Ryanair’s regional focus. Bratislava also gains Turin. Tirana, Paphos, Parma, Reggio, and London Stansted will also benefit.

Singapore Airlines will launch a Southeast Asia–Madrid service via Barcelona from 26 October, flying five days a week and reflecting Spain’s surging popularity, as well as long-haul premium demand from Europe.

Spain’s Soltour is also chasing city-breaks and winter sunshine, linking Almeria with Strasbourg, Asturias with Ljubljana, Badajoz or La Rioja with Prague, Murcia with Cologne, Palma de Mallorca with Budapest, and Zaragoza with Venice. Alicante, Bilbao, and Seville routes to Istanbul are also forthcoming.

SWISS will begin flying to India’s Bengaluru over the winter.

And, after focusing on Italian growth, Wizz Air is again rapidly expanding, this time in Spain. From Madrid, it will fly to Asturias, Palma de Mallorca, and Santiago de Compostela. Valencia gains links to Asturias, Bilbao, Palma, Santander, and Santiago. International additions include Pisa, Brașov, Naples and more Milan Malpensa flights, plus Bilbao–Malaga, Bilbao–Santiago and winter links involving Spain, such as London Luton to Asturias, Granada and Malaga, Bucharest–Almeria and Wrocław–Bilbao. New non-Spanish routes include Varna–Basel and Vilnius–Berlin.

L’article New flight routes launching to and from Europe in autumn and winter 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although the two pastries look almost identical, their names reflect different histories. Pastel de Belém can only be made at the historic Fábrica Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon using a closely guarded recipe dating back to 1837. The original recipe was created by monks from the nearby Jerónimos Monastery, who used leftover egg yolks in their baking. Similar custard tarts produced elsewhere are known as Pastéis de Nata, which have since become one of Portugal’s best-known culinary exports and are now enjoyed around the world.

While Portugal claimed the top two positions, the ranking shows that excellent desserts can be found across the globe. The rest of the top 10 includes:

3. Antakya künefesi, Türkiye

Dessert made with shredded pastry, filled with unsalted cheese, baked until crisp and soaked in sweet syrup.

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4. Cornish clotted cream ice cream, England

Rich ice cream made with the region’s famous clotted cream, giving it a smooth and creamy texture.

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5. Strudel, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Flaky pastry traditionally filled with apples, raisins, cinnamon and pine nuts.

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6. Gelato al pistacchio, Italy 

One of Italy’s most popular gelato flavours, made with pistachios, often sourced from Sicily.

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7. Fıstıklı sarma, Türkiye

Pistachio-filled variation of baklava wrapped in a thin layer of phyllo pastry.

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8. Tembleque, Puerto Rico 

Coconut milk pudding topped with cinnamon that is especially popular during celebrations.

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9. Gaziantep baklavası, Türkiye 

The city’s famous pistachio baklava, considered one of the country’s best-known traditional sweets.

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10. Crêpes sucrées, France 

Thin sweet crêpes served with fillings or toppings such as fruit, chocolate, whipped cream or sugar.

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The full Top 100 demonstrates just how diverse the world’s dessert traditions are. Italy features repeatedly with regional specialities including tiramisù, different gelato flavours, brioche con gelato and pistachio-based desserts. France is represented by classics such as crème brûlée, chocolate soufflé, crêpes Suzette and kouign-amann, while Greece, Brazil, Poland and Peru each have several entries. The Netherlands also makes the list with Nonnevot, Appeltaart, Stroopwafel and Poffertjes, showing that many countries are known for far more than a single signature dessert.

Many of these desserts also reflect centuries of cultural exchange. Portugal’s famous custard tarts inspired similar pastries elsewhere, including Hong Kong’s popular egg tarts, which developed after Portuguese influences reached nearby Macau. Italian tiramisù depends on ingredients such as coffee, chocolate and sugar that arrived through international trade, illustrating how recipes often evolve through the movement of people and products.

For travellers, these desserts have become attractions in their own right. Visitors travel to Lisbon to taste the original Pastel de Belém fresh from the bakery, while Türkiye’s cities of Gaziantep and Antakya are renowned for their baklava and künefesi. Italy continues to draw visitors with its regional gelato culture, and many travellers make a point of stopping at local cafés and pastry shops to sample traditional sweets. Whether it is enjoying a Belgian waffle in Liège, a stroopwafel in Gouda or a slice of Basque cheesecake in San Sebastián, desserts often provide a delicious introduction to a destination’s history and culinary identity.

TasteAtlas says the list is intended to celebrate local food traditions rather than provide a definitive verdict on the world’s best desserts. To produce the ranking, the platform filters out suspected bot activity and local patriotic voting while giving greater weight to users it considers knowledgeable about food. The result is a list that showcases both internationally famous classics and lesser-known regional specialities. Readers looking for more sweet inspiration can explore the complete Top 100 ranking on the TasteAtlas website.

L’article TasteAtlas names the world’s 100 best desserts, with Portugal taking the top two spots est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Gravel routes are a popular choice among cyclists who want to avoid busy roads without going off-road altogether. However, such paths aren’t necessarily easy to find – in West Flanders, for example, unpaved paths are a rare sight according to Jesse Clarysse of Sport Vlaanderen, Flanders’ sports administration. Putting together an entire gravel bike route is therefore no light task.

“Of course, West Flanders already possessed gravel routes. But these were provided by commercial partners or via online route planners such as Strava, Komoot, and RouteYou. The problem with these routes is that they are not always officially accessible; sometimes they run across private land or through nature reserves where cyclists are not permitted,” Jesse Clarysse told Belgian media outlet VRT NWS.

In order to expand the existing cycling network in West Flanders and to add a gravel bike path to the list of possibilities, a new cycling route has now opened in the town of Diksmuide. With a length of 50 kilometres – approximately half of which are gravel paths – and just 12 altitude meters overall, the route has been designed specifically for families and beginning (gravel) cyclists.

“There is also a strong focus on safety. And more experienced gravel cyclists can incorporate the route into a longer ride,” Clarysse explained.

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Data from the Belgian mobility federation Traxio show that over 23,000 gravel bikes were sold in Belgium during 2025, a number that increases by 3,000 to 4,000 bikes on a yearly basis. While sales for mountain bikes are slightly decreasing, the more versatile gravel bikes are thus gaining in popularity.

Along the Frontzate route, cyclists will not only be able to marvel at the natural beauty of the region, but they will also get to see a number of World War I monuments and locations. Starting from the IJzerboomgaard provincial estate, the route takes visitors past the Dodengang memorial site and the so-called Trench of Silence, among others.

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Moreover, a selection of cafés and restaurants along the route allows for a comfortable stop every now and then. Sport Vlaanderen specifically mentions Café de IJzerboomgaard (at the start), Perron 74 (11 kilometres in), Boer Bart (15 kilometres), and restaurant Zannekin (36 kilometres).

For the town of Diksmuide, which is already known for its many World War I sites, the opening of the path marks a new way to attract visitors, while also adding an extra option for locals.

“We want to stimulate residents as well as visitors to get on their bike and to discover our region in an active way. Over the next few years, we aim to develop even more offroad routes”, Diksmuide’s alderman for Sports, Marc De Keyrel, told the Belgian newspaper HLN.

Although the Frontzate route has been officially inaugurated, the path is not signposted. Cyclists who want to follow the path can download the GPX file online.

L’article Diksmuide’s new gravel bike path takes cyclists past World War I monuments est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In a joint letter dated 7 July and addressed to European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland reaffirm their support for the new biometric border system but argue that its first months of operation have exposed “significant difficulties” that should not be underestimated.

Nine countries seek to maintain emergency safeguards

The letter requests that the current partial suspension mechanism, due to expire on 6 September 2026, remain available beyond that date. The mechanism allows border authorities, in exceptional circumstances, to temporarily suspend the collection of travellers’ biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, while continuing to register all entries and exits from the Schengen Area.

“The scheduled end of the partial suspension mechanism on 6 September is a source of serious and legitimate concern, shared not only by several member states, irrespective of their level of preparedness, but also by the transport sector as a whole,” the ministers wrote.

They added that it was “essential” for member states to retain this capability beyond September. According to POLITICO, the signatories have also requested written guarantees from the European Commission confirming that the flexibility will remain available if required.

Responding to the letter, European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert welcomed the countries’ “explicit commitment” to the full implementation of the EES and the systematic registration of all non-EU travellers. He reiterated that the legislation already contains built-in flexibility measures and said the Commission remains in “close and constructive contact” with the “few member states” experiencing difficulties at certain border crossing points.

“There is a strong joint will to make the system work everywhere,” Lammert said, without indicating whether the current emergency measures would be extended beyond 6 September.

Aviation industry steps up pressure

The latest intervention follows mounting criticism from airports, airlines and tourism organisations, which argue that the EES is already creating significant operational challenges during Europe’s busiest travel period.

As Travel Tomorrow reported earlier this month, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) jointly urged the European Commission to introduce greater flexibility after reporting border delays of up to five hours at some airports. The organisations called for border authorities to be allowed to suspend biometric checks whenever passenger volumes exceed operational capacity, warning that prolonged queues risk disrupting flights, airport operations and the overall travel experience.

Securing EU borders since 12 October: our new Entry/Exit System. Member States have caught human traffickers, stopped potential terrorists, and uncovered fraud in unprecedented ways. All thanks to our new system that collects and matches biometric data at border crossing points. pic.twitter.com/21IS4Z8H5k

— Magnus Brunner (@magnusbrunner) July 6, 2026

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) also backed a more pragmatic rollout, recommending faster deployment of the Travel to Europe app for digital pre-registration, improved communication with travellers before departure and greater operational readiness at border crossings.

Budget airline Ryanair similarly called for the system’s implementation to be postponed until September, arguing that travellers should not be “used as guinea pigs” for a border control system that was not fully prepared for the peak summer season.

Airlines and airports warn of worsening disruption

Concerns have continued to grow in recent weeks. EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis described the border queues caused by the new controls as “completely unacceptable”, arguing that authorities should make full use of the flexibility already available.

“Border authorities must make full use of the permitted flexibilities now, and if this cannot be done effectively, the system must be reviewed and those flexibilities extended beyond their September cliff edge, to ensure our customers do not continue being disrupted,” he said.

Alexander Zinell, chief executive of Fraport Greece, which operates 14 airports across the country, believes the current problems reveal more fundamental weaknesses in the system.

@hannahewhitlock The new EU entry system is screwing everyone over #airport #airportcustoms #eu #europetravel #travel ♬ original sound – leah

Speaking to the Financial Times, Zinell said airports had been forced to install gazebos to shield passengers waiting in lengthy queues from the summer heat, while vulnerable travellers were being prioritised to reduce health risks. “It is very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous,” he said.

According to Zinell, the emergency suspension mechanism is the only reason the system has continued to function during periods of heavy demand.

“These are just temporary fixes,” he said. “The system needs to be overhauled. It needs a new version, an update, and probably a reconfiguration in order to allow people to register before they fly, before they get on a plane, before they go to the airport.”

A critical summer for the EES

The Entry/Exit System officially entered into operation on 10 April 2026, replacing manual passport stamping with the electronic registration of non-EU nationals entering or leaving the Schengen Area. The system records biometric information, including fingerprints and facial images, for travellers staying in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

While the European Commission maintains that the impact has remained limited across most border crossing points and continues to work with member states facing operational challenges, governments and transport operators argue that further improvements are needed before the emergency safeguards can safely be withdrawn. With the current flexibility mechanism due to expire in less than two months, pressure is mounting on Brussels to decide whether temporary measures should become a longer-term feature of the system.

L’article Nine European countries urge EU to extend flexibility on new border checks amid EES disruption  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The friendly wager was agreed ahead of Sunday’s match, with the two airlines promising that the losing carrier would temporarily adopt the winner’s logo on its Instagram account. Following England’s comeback victory, Norwegian honoured its side of the deal, congratulating both British Airways and the England team.

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A bet that went beyond the football pitch

The playful rivalry began in the days leading up to the match, when Norwegian challenged its British counterpart to “risk its logo” should Norway’s national team emerge victorious. British Airways accepted the challenge, setting the stage for a marketing campaign that quickly attracted attention across social media.

Norway looked set to win after Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring in the 35^th minute. However, England turned the game around thanks to two goals from Jude Bellingham, securing a 2–1 victory and a place in the semi-finals, where they will face Argentina on 15 July.

Keeping its promise, Norwegian replaced its Instagram profile picture with the British Airways logo and posted a message congratulating its rival.

“Well played,” the airline wrote. “While the tournament is over for us, this friendly bet will forever live in all our hearts.”

The airline also wished England success in the remainder of the tournament, saying it sincerely hoped the Three Lions would “bring football home”.

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British Airways embraces the rivalry

British Airways responded in equally good spirits, stressing that the rivalry had only lasted 90 minutes.

“While our rivalry lasted only for the match, we’ll be friends forever,” the airline wrote on Instagram.

Drawing a parallel with football stars Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, British Airways added: “Just like Haaland and Bellingham, we feel a blossoming friendship between our two airlines.”

The carrier also jokingly offered return flights between London and Norway for Norwegian’s social media team, promising: “We’ll be in touch.”

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Turning defeat into a marketing opportunity

Despite the result, Norwegian quickly turned the loss into a promotional campaign of its own.

“Well played, England. Fancy a trip to Norway?” the airline posted shortly afterwards, announcing a flash sale on flights to what it described as its “Norwenglish” destinations.

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The exchange has been widely praised as an example of creative social media marketing in the aviation industry. Several airlines had joined the online banter before the match, but the wager between Norwegian and British Airways became one of the tournament’s most talked-about brand interactions.

Rather than focusing on rivalry, both carriers used the occasion to showcase humour, sportsmanship and customer engagement, demonstrating how major sporting events can provide airlines with an opportunity to connect with travellers far beyond the airport.

L’article Norwegian swaps its logo for British Airways after losing World Cup bet est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The incident took place on 4 July near Toledo, in the province of Córdoba, during a routine training flight operated by the Flying Parrot Córdoba flying school. Prosecutors disclosed further details this week as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

According to investigators, 42-year-old flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo and his 22-year-old student had taken off in a Cessna 150 for what was expected to be a standard training session. The student, identified only as Rosario, had already obtained her pilot’s licence but was still accumulating the flight hours required to qualify further.

Shortly after take-off, Bertazzo reportedly removed his headset, unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the aircraft door while the plane was flying at an altitude of around 850 feet (260 metres). Before leaving the aircraft, he is said to have turned to his student and told her: “You know what you have to do. Carry on.”

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Rosario later told police that she initially believed her instructor was joking before realising what had happened. Left alone at the controls, she managed to remain calm enough to fly the aircraft back to the airfield and complete a safe landing without damage.

After landing, she alerted the emergency services and helped investigators identify the area where she believed Bertazzo had fallen. His body was later recovered near Toledo.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office No. 2 in Córdoba is continuing its investigation into the incident. Authorities have not suggested that anyone else was involved, and no criminal charges have been filed. Investigators are examining flight records, witness statements and evidence from the scene to reconstruct the instructor’s final moments.

Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flying school, said Bertazzo had completed another training flight earlier that day and had shown no obvious signs that anything was wrong.

“He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side,” Álvarez told Argentine broadcaster TN. “It’s impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex.”

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Álvarez also described Bertazzo as “a beautiful person with a great smile” and said colleagues had been left stunned by the incident. According to the flying school, the instructor had worked there since 2022 and was regarded as an experienced pilot.

Local media later reported that Bertazzo’s family said he had been experiencing personal difficulties and had sought psychiatric treatment before his death, although colleagues said they had been unaware of his struggles.

While student pilots are routinely trained to deal with emergencies such as engine failures, adverse weather or technical problems, aviation professionals noted that they are not prepared for the possibility of suddenly finding themselves alone after an instructor disappears mid-flight.

Rosario’s successful landing has therefore been widely described as an extraordinary display of composure under extreme circumstances.

The tragedy has drawn international attention not only because of the unusual nature of the incident, but also because of the student’s ability to safely recover the aircraft in exceptionally distressing circumstances.

L’article Student pilot lands plane alone after instructor jumps from aircraft mid-flight est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Gen Z are “leading the trend,” Mastercard reveals. During a February 2026 survey asking more than 27,000 holidaymakers across 28 European countries about their travel and tourism motivations, the financial products and services firm found 57% of 18–24-year-olds and 52% of 24–34-year-olds had already gone ahead and planned a dedicated skill-based trip this year.

Experiences over things

Across all age groups, more than a third (37%) of people had already booked up to boost their skills. More than half (51%) of travel consumers said travel feels more meaningful when they learn something new, and a similar number (48%) believe new skills are now “a more valued memento than souvenirs.”

The data reflects a wider spending trend where consumers increasingly value experiences over things—an important phenomenon for Mastercard, which, through its experience platform, Priceless.com, is offering a variety of skills-based experiences, such as traditional candy-cane making or Dala-horse painting in Sweden, making art by the sea in Croatia, or perfume creation in France. The strength of the trend is also shown by the fact that Mastercard is not the only one getting in on the act. Airbnb is offering bookable experiences, Netflix is going immersive with Netflix House, and even premium goods brands such as LVMH are partnering with Orient Express on an ultra-luxury yacht.

Skillcations spread tourism’s benefits more evenly

But back to skills and holidays. Despite the cringe-worthy neologism (“skillidays”) that Mastercard insists on using, the appetite for learning displayed by today’s consumers is opening a new revenue opportunity for tourism SMEs, which employ one in nine people in Europe, and account for 10.5% of EU GDP, World Travel and Tourism Council figures say. For any of those providers wondering what to call their offer instead of “skillidays,” perhaps “learnaways,” “skillcations,” “upstays” or even “learning escapes” are more elegant solutions.

Whatever term is used, two in five tourists (42%) are “happy to pay more for a trip that teaches them a skill,” Mastercard says, boosting the bottom lines of local providers that can offer authentic experiences. As Natalia Lechmanova, Chief Economist, Europe, Mastercard Economics Institute, puts it: “From winemaking and woodworking, to pottery, painting and even permaculture, consumers are opening their wallets for local businesses that can give them a taste of the culture, and a lesson that lasts long after they’ve arrived home.”

It’s also a trend that can balance footfall and income-generation, helping to mitigate overtourism, as Lechmanova explains: “Skill-based travel tends to draw people beyond the crowded hotspots and into smaller towns, rural areas and quieter seasons, helping to spread tourism’s benefits more evenly.” 

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Languages, food, wellness, and crafts dominate the wishlist

When it comes to which skills travellers want to acquire, unsurprisingly languages top the European wishlist, with 30% of tourists aiming for at least some conversation with locals during their trip. Cookery workshops are the next most popular choice, for 28% of consumers, and cheese and wine or “food production” workshops are equally attractive. The wellness sector can once again pat itself on the back, with yoga, meditation, dance, and martial arts attracting 25% of travel consumers. And 24% are interested in traditional arts and crafts such as pottery, woodwork, weaving, and textiles.

Mastercard has also drawn up a map showing which skills appeal most to which nationalities. A desire to get to grips with food and drink production dominates the northern European countries, while southern European consumers are more interested in culinary skills and cooking with local chefs. A streak of passion for the creative arts runs down the spine of Europe from Denmark to Italy, while Benelux consumers stand out for their yearning for wellness and movement-oriented vacations.

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Finally, Mastercard’s latest travel report reveals which European nationalities are spending the most on life experiences when on the move around the region. Amsterdam cardholders are the biggest spenders on experiences in France, accounting for 9.7% of total spend, while Netherlands-based cardholders make up 4.9% of experience spending in the UK, and Italians account for 3.1% in Spain.

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