The letter describes the package as “a huge leap forward for rail passengers and climate friendly travel, which Youth on Track largely applauds the EU Commission for.” But ticketing has not kept pace with the growth of the rail network, the coalition says, describing booking systems that “are stuck in the stone age.”

Recent research by T&E found half of the EU’s busiest flight routes are “hard or impossible” to book on trains. That means “there’s a lot of work to be done to help young people easily travel by train with cheaper tickets and better rights,” the coalition said.

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A post shared by European Youth Card Association (@europeanyouthcard)

The EU Commission’s proposal goes in the right direction, the group argues, but with research showing that 71% of 15–24-year-olds blame high ticket prices for not choosing rail, the campaign says that improving visibility of the cheapest tickets is vital. “Being able to see all available journeys on major booking platforms will enable young people to access the cheapest journeys available,”

Secondly, Youth on Track supports transparency on carbon emissions, saying “young people are very aware of the climate impact of our travels,” and welcoming “the mandate for planes, buses, trains, and boats to show greenhouse gas emissions data before passengers book.

Strengthened passenger rights, where transEuropean journeys can be treated as a through ticket from a reimbursement or assistance perspective would also help to build confidence, allowing young people to know they will not be left stranded, the open letter says.

A truly connected European rail network is possible!

New #EuropeOnRail recommendations, coordinated by @Germanwatch call for a stronger #ERA and a core EU cross-border train network.

More info: https://t.co/txUuropHzl#RailTransport #SustainableMobility #CrossBorderRail pic.twitter.com/xm6YrOgFfZ

— ecounion (@ecounion) March 11, 2026

The group also wants to see discounted tickets and subscription tickets including youth discounts, made visible in the moves to give independent platforms access to operator tickets. It notes T&E research that found “the same tickets can be up to 6x more expensive depending on which platform you book on. We want to see youth discounts available on platforms, who often are better providers when travelling longer distances across Europe.”

In the months ahead, Youth on Track argues that the bloc needs to broaden the geographical scope of the ticketing proposal, going beyond the current situation otherwise “most of the rail alternatives for the top thirty most frequently flown international routes in the EU will remain difficult, or impossible to book.”

It also highlights the importance of enshrining passenger rights throughout the EU “regardless of whether we are booking with a single ticket. It is essential that Youth Discounts, or public transport passes (such as Climate Tickets which may require different booking mechanisms) still maintain passenger rights and the positive benefits that the EU Passenger Package embodies. Let’s protect passengers’ rights and climate friendly travel across the EU,” the group said.

The letter was signed by a range of Civil Society Organisations made up of youth NGOs (EU&U, Erasmus by Train e.V., European Youth Card Association, Generation Climate Europe, JEF Europe, World Scouting), consumers’ group (BEUC, European Passengers’ Federation), and environmental groups (T&E, Europe on Rail) aiming to leverage the quality of rail services in Europe to make it the most convenient way of travel across Europe, especially for young travellers.

L’article Youth on Track open letter calls for EU Passenger Package to incentivise rail travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The aim? “To create a smoother travel experience for passengers and advance the EU’s climate objectives,” the Commission said, proposing the measures to facilitate single-ticket journeys across the bloc’s multiple rail operators.

Mark Smith, also known as The Man in Seat 61, has summed up the gap the Commission is trying to address. Speaking to Simon Calder, of The Independent, he described the problem of today’s fragmentated marketplace: “There are no through tickets from London to Rome. It’s a Eurostar ticket to Paris, an Italian or French ticket from Paris to Milan, then a Trenitalia ticket or Italo ticket from Milan to Rome,” he said.

One journey. One ticket. Full rights.

Travelling by train across Europe can still be complicated, especially across borders and multiple providers.

We want to change that.

Our new package will make it easier pic.twitter.com/8e1ProT4Om

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) May 14, 2026

But as early as summer 2026, von der Leyen wants to ensure that “In the event of missed connections during multi-operator rail journeys, passengers with a single ticket will benefit from new, full passenger rights protection, including assistance, rerouting, reimbursement and compensation.”

Smith blames the problem people face on the advent of budget airlines such as easyJet and dynamic pricing and their headline fares at £39 (€45) from Luton to the French Riviera. They controlled expenditure and matched pricing to demand, drawing passengers away from rail and into the skies. In the effort to compete, railways have struggled with a model that meant they needed to book out a whole train to fix a price point.

But under the new system, passengers who buy multiple tickets in one single transaction – as they would through Trainline – would effectively be in possession of a “through ticket,” as far as their passenger rights were concerned. This would give travellers the confidence that, in the event of a problem, they could switch without paying a surcharge, to the next available departure.

Smith is wary though of conflating “through tickets” with “through prices.” He notes that the cost of individual legs of the journey will still be considered in final prices offered to customers.

“A journey from Stockholm to Barcelona will still be composed of the price from Stockholm to Copenhagen, the price from Copenhagen to Cologne, the price from Cologne to Paris, and the price from Paris to Barcelona,” he warns. “But” he went on to explain: “the idea is twofold. First of all, there will be a better exchange of information, allowing you to book this series of tickets seamlessly. Secondly, it’ll be a sort of virtual through-ticket.”

At this stage, both demand for European rail travel and impatience with its systems are running high, and von der Leyen could be argued to have chosen easy pickings where ratings are concerned. Calder, has highlighted that any “rational traveller wanting to get from the “City of Kings” to the “City of Light” will probably opt to hop off a southbound stopping train at Luton Airport Parkway, and fly instead. EasyJet has a choice of two flights to Paris under £50: one at lunchtime, one in the early evening.” He damned efforts to compete by European rail as “lacklustre.”

Rising airfares and fuel costs are prompting travellers to swap short-haul European flights for rail travel, with nearly 45% of agents in a recent Travel News poll reporting increased demand for intra-Europe train journeys. pic.twitter.com/ymxqjBy6Dl

— TAG Travel Assignment Group (@TAGTravel_Za) May 29, 2026

The antiquated system has also come in for criticism from Georgia Whitaker, a rail campaigner at Europe’s Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank. Booking equivalent train tickets is “difficult or impossible” on almost half of the EU’s busiest international air routes, her analysis shows, with flight routes as simple and popular as Lisbon-Madrid or Amsterdam-Milan either not available, or only bookable through one operator.

Whitaker argued that the impact of the outdated rail system is undermining rail consumer confidence as well as potential climate action. “In the world we live in you can get pretty much most things, for better or worse, with one click. When you can’t do that to travel by rail – despite people’s best intentions – we are not going to see the full potential being utilised.”

Meanwhile, Brian Caulfield, a transport researcher at Trinity College Dublin, independent of the report, slammed the “stone age” process that makes it unnecessarily hard for travellers who seek alternatives to carbon heavy flights. “We are making it structurally difficult for even the most climate-conscious travellers to choose the greener option,” he said.

L’article Can the EU finally fix Europe’s fragmented rail ticket system? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Spending a couple of hours, or even an entire day, at these wellness destinations is always a treat.
And while there is no need for an excuse to book a bit of me-time, those who are still looking for a reason to
go are in luck. The new 80-minute Deep Relaxation Face Ritual is the perfect opportunity to relax, whether it
is to prepare for an event, to take a much-needed break from daily life, or just because you can.

Not only is the treatment offered exclusively at Thermae Boetfort and Thermae Grimbergen, but it was also
custom-developed for the company. The goal? To restore the skin to top condition in a gentle way.

According to Thermae, the Deep Relaxation Face Ritual is suitable for all skin types. It cleanses and deeply
nourishes the skin, while reducing eye puffiness and dark circles. Moreover, it decreases fine
lines, minimises enlarged pores, firms the skin, and restores a beautiful glow in five steps.

1. Warming ritual and lymphatic drainage massage

The treatment begins with a gentle warming ritual to open up the skin and melt away any tension. During a
light lymphatic drainage facial massage using slow, rhythmical movements, and the removal of waste products
and excess fluid is stimulated.

2. Fruit-acid peeling for instant glow

Next follows a mild but effective peeling with fruit acids. The peeling removes dead skin cells and other
impurities without damaging the skin barrier. The gentle treatment refines skin texture, promotes a clearer
complexion, minimises enlarged pores, and ensures a beautiful glow. Not unimportantly, the peeling
stimulates cell renewal, meaning the effect will last quite some time.

3. Collagen infusion with massage

A powerful collagen-rich serum is massaged into the skin during an extensive massage. During this massage,
the use of warm hands and cold crystals is combined for a firming effect. The massage hydrates the skin, reduces redness, and boosts cell renewal.

4. Scalp massage with argan oil extracts

The scalp massage, using a scalp serum with argan oil extracts, is the moment to really let go of any tension.
Pressure points on the head, around the temples, and in the neck are stimulated for the best results, while the
argan oil extracts nourish and soften the scalp, stimulating blood flow. Meantime, a collagen sheet face mask
provides extra firmness and hydration.

5. Cold finish with ice globes

The end of the treatment consists of a massage with day cream using ice globes, small liquid-filled balls. The
cold reduces puffiness and dark circles under your eyes while yet again boosting blood flow and firming the
skin. The result will show immediately.

Those who feel tempted to book their 80-minute Deep Relaxation Face Ritual can do so by phone or online. While choosing a time slot, it is worth noting that your hair might look a little messy afterwards.

L’article Thermae introduces new 80-minute deep relaxation face ritual est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In a statement issued this week, the UN aviation agency said there was no evidence that commercial air travel posed a heightened risk of Ebola transmission and stressed that existing international health and aviation protocols were designed to manage such outbreaks without disrupting global connectivity.

“ICAO is coordinating with WHO and its Member States to provide risk-based and evidence-informed mitigation measures to prevent the transmission of the disease through air travel while protecting the health of aviation personnel and passengers, reassure travelers, and maintain essential air connectivity,” the organisation said, pointing to strengthened coordination procedures developed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICAO stressed the importance of adhering to WHO recommendations to mitigate any risks linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which health authorities say does not spread through casual contact or through the air, but through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or blood. 

The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May after confirmed cases were reported in eastern Congo and linked cross-border infections emerged in Uganda. According to the UN health agency, the global risk of transmission remains low, even as authorities intensify surveillance and containment measures in affected regions.

Ebola outbreak: @WHO Director-General @DrTedros has arrived in DR Congo.

“I came here to show the communities in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu that they are not alone,” he said, urging the international community to step up support. pic.twitter.com/RuknxhLbXb

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) May 29, 2026

Aviation systems introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic are helping authorities respond more effectively. These include rapid information-sharing protocols between governments, airlines, airports and health agencies, as well as the use of digital health declarations and contactless border procedures.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, new protocols have been established by ICAO for rapid, standardized information sharing among States, airlines, airports, and health agencies,” the organisation said. ICAO added that updated health-related provisions have also been integrated into Annex 9 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and into its Facilitation Manual.

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Публикация от UNDPUganda (@undp_uganda)

The outbreak has nevertheless sparked debate over airport screening measures, particularly in Europe. Questions have been raised over whether European airports should begin screening passengers arriving from affected regions, although WHO has not recommended widespread screening outside outbreak zones. Instead, the UN health agency is urging national authorities to work closely with airlines and the tourism sector.

“Countries should not close borders or impose restrictions on travel and trade,” WHO said in its latest recommendations, advising targeted exit screening in affected countries, where travellers displaying symptoms consistent with Ebola can be identified before departure.

Several countries have already stepped up monitoring procedures for arriving passengers, particularly those travelling from Central Africa. Aviation and public health authorities are also reviewing preparedness measures and contingency plans should the outbreak expand further.

In partnership with @inrb_kinshasa, we are scaling up #Ebola diagnostic capacities in the #DRC, and strengthening the laboratory network to deliver real-time data, rapidly identify confirmed cases, save their lives and swiftly contain the outbreak. pic.twitter.com/WKhaSmAe4t

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 28, 2026

Health officials continue to emphasise that Ebola is far less transmissible through casual contact than airborne diseases such as influenza or COVID-19. WHO has repeatedly stated that the likelihood of transmission during air travel remains very low because infected individuals are generally too unwell to travel once symptoms develop.

Aviation officials insist that safeguards introduced since COVID-19 have significantly improved the industry’s ability to respond to public health emergencies without grounding international travel networks.

ICAO said it would continue monitoring the situation, working closely with WHO, member states and the aviation industry as the situation develops, while maintaining that international air transport operations can continue safely under current guidance.

L’article ICAO says international air travel remains safe as Ebola outbreak sparks global monitoring est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Bulut Bağcı said the conflict is creating both a shock and a turning point for global tourism, as travellers increasingly prioritise safety, flexibility and political stability when choosing destinations.

Tourism faces immediate disruption

While tourism has historically shown resilience during geopolitical crises, Bağcı noted that travellers are already changing their behaviour.

“People continue to travel, but they change their destinations, the airlines they use, and sometimes even the entire nature of their holidays,” he told Al Jazeera.

The impact is being felt across the wider travel ecosystem, including airlines, airports, hotels, travel insurance providers, tour operators and investors.

According to forecasts from Tourism Economics, international arrivals to the Middle East could decline by between 11% and 27% in 2026 depending on how long the conflict continues. Under an early resolution scenario, the region could lose 23 million visitors and around $34 billion in tourism spending. A prolonged conflict could push losses to 38 million visitors and $56 billion in spending.

Air connectivity under pressure

Aviation remains one of the sectors most exposed to the crisis. The Middle East serves as one of the world’s most important transit regions, accounting for around 14% of global international transit activity. Airspace closures and flight cancellations have already disrupted travel across multiple markets. According to Tourism Economics, more than 5,000 flights were cancelled during the first days of the conflict.

Bağcı warned that Gulf countries face a particularly complex situation because their tourism growth is closely linked to aviation connectivity and perceptions of stability.

Destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh have built strong international tourism brands over the past decade, but disruptions to regional airspace can quickly affect traveller confidence.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid reviews report of the Emirates Tourism Council and achievements of the UAE's tourism for 2025

Key results and achievements:
+32 million guests stayed in hotel establishments, reflecting an increase of 5.1% compared to 2024.
AED 49.21 billion in… pic.twitter.com/G78AsKYHd3

— Sinan (@SinanYTRR) May 26, 2026

According to Reuters, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport fell significantly during the first quarter of 2026 as travel demand weakened amid the conflict.

Safety becomes a competitive advantage

For Bağcı, the crisis reflects a broader shift taking place across the tourism industry.

Tourism is no longer defined solely by beaches, landmarks or luxury hotels. Security, political stability and strong airport connectivity are increasingly becoming central components of the tourism product itself.

Countries capable of providing safety, streamlined visa procedures, reliable infrastructure and effective crisis management are expected to gain a competitive advantage as travellers reassess their priorities.

“The countries that can provide security, facilitate visas, offer strong airports and maintain political stability will attract more tourists in the future,” Bağcı said.

Alternative destinations may benefit

As demand shifts away from perceived conflict zones, several destinations could benefit from changing traveller preferences.

Bağcı highlighted countries including Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia and the Maldives as destinations that could attract additional visitors due to perceptions of greater stability.

Southern European destinations, in particular, may benefit from strong air networks, established tourism infrastructure and continued demand for sun and cultural tourism experiences.

A changing global tourism landscape

Despite the scale of the disruption, Bağcı does not believe global tourism demand will collapse.

Instead, he expects a redistribution of travel flows, with tourists favouring destinations that offer confidence, security and predictability.

The conflict, he argues, may ultimately reinforce a new reality for the travel industry: in an increasingly uncertain world, safety and stability are becoming just as important as attractions, hospitality and climate.

L’article Middle East could lose 23 million visitors due to Iran conflict est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since 26 May 2026, easyJet has been officially being investigated by the Italian competition watchdog Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM). The organisation argues that the carrier misleads customers during the booking process on the website and app, particularly when they opt to travel with checked baggage.

Off to Italy in the morning and get a notification from Easyjet – and you are absolutely sure they are cancelling your flight..
They're not – they are just checking that I really don't want to pay for extra baggage.

— Michael Volpe OBE (@NoisyMV) December 15, 2023

Allegedly, the airline automatically shows bundled purchases of checked baggage and/or sports equipment for round-trip flights as the default option. One-way travellers and those who only want to bring additional luggage on one leg of their trip are required to interrupt the booking and to override the airline’s default option.

“Only the average price of the service was advertised, and the default option was set to the combined purchase of the service for both legs of the journey, even when the customer was not actually interested,” the AGCM writes.

This means that travellers were consistently shown the average price of the service instead of the actual fee, thus leading to unfair commercial practices according to the watchdog. The misleading and aggressive commercial practice particularly goes against Articles 20, 21, 22, 24, and 25 of the Consumer Code, the AGCM argues. The launch of the investigation by the watchdog allegedly follows a request for voluntary compliance with which easyJet has not complied.

“We are aware of the proceedings opened by the AGCM and will fully cooperate with the Authority throughout its investigation. We believe we have always acted in line with applicable consumer laws and remain committed to ensuring transparency and fairness for our customers. We will now carefully review the Authority’s notice and consider our next steps,” an EasyJet spokesperson said about the matter.

AGCM investigations in the past

It is not the first time for the AGCM to be investigating a budget airline, or easyJet in particular. In May 2021, for example, the organisation handed out a €2.8 million fine to easyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea. The three airlines did not offer cash refunds for cancelled flights once Italy lifted its COVID-19 restrictions, opting for vouchers instead. Although easyJet appealed, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court in Rome rejected their claim in February 2025.

#Antitrust: sanzione di 4,2 milioni a #Ryanair per mancato #rimborso dei #volicancellati#easyJet #Volotea #tutelaconsumatori #pratichescorrette #trasporti #trasportoaereo #voucher #COVID19 #emergenzasanitaria https://t.co/JUs0AwMGeM

— Autorità Antitrust (@antitrust_it) May 24, 2021

Just last year, in December 2025, the AGCM issued a €255 million fine to Ryanair. The reason for its decision was the airline’s “abusive strategy” in obstructing third-party travel agencies, which allegedly started in April 2023. The antitrust organisation judged that the budget carrier used an elaborate strategy that included facial-recognition checks, payment blocks, and mass account deletions to deter travel agencies from purchasing its flights. However, Ryanair immediately decided to appeal the decision, and a definitive ruling hasn’t been made yet at the time of writing.

L’article Italian competition watchdog launches investigation into easyJet baggage policy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran at the end of February 2026, many airlines have been avoiding the otherwise busy airports in the Middle East. Flights to the region have been cancelled en masse, and carriers have been privileging other hubs for their flight connections.

Dutch carrier KLM, part of the Air France-KLM group, has cancelled its flights to the Middle East since 1 March 2026. Since the airline has been keeping its travellers updated regularly while gradually extending the duration of the ban.

“Your safety remains our top priority. We will not resume flights until the airspace is confirmed safe for civil aviation. We understand this situation may significantly affect you, whether you are travelling, have plans, or are awaiting news from loved ones. Our teams are working around the clock to support passengers in the region or with upcoming travel plans. We assess each case individually to determine options for continuing, rebooking, or cancelling your journey. To provide more alternatives, we are coordinating closely with Air France and Delta Air Lines,” KLM’s CEO Marjan Rintel shared in a press release on 1 March 2026.

Until this week, the latest update was published on 6 May. At the time, KLM decided to cancel its flights to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam up to and including 28 June 2026.

On 26 May 2026, that ban has been extended even further into the future. The airline shared that it would cancel all flights to Dubai up to and including 2 August, while flights to Riyadh and Dammam have been cancelled up to and including 12 July 2026. It is uncertain whether KLM’s regular schedule to the Middle East will actually be resuming as of then or if the airline will once again extend the cancellations, as that decision will be made according to the development of the conflict.

The impact of the conflict in the Middle East

The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has been heavily impacting the travel industry. According to data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in May 2026, air passenger bookings in the Middle East fell by 50% in March and April 2026 for travel between June and September 2026.

Global air passenger bookings, however, grew by 6% over the same period according to IATA. Previously, a report by Airports Council International (ACI) EUROPE already revealed that European air passenger traffic had expanded by 3.8% in March 2026. Passengers seem to be shifting their booking behaviour by waiting until closer to the date of travel before making reservations and by choosing regional travel instead of long-haul flights.

L’article KLM extends Middle East flight cancellations until mid-summer est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A survey of 192 respondents in April 2026, the majority of whom (60%) are corporate travel buyers/managers/bookers, found that 97.5% of corporate travel professionals do not think the US government should be permitted to request this information. Less than one percent agreed with the idea in principle, but only if tourists were targeted.

Among corporate travel professionals, there is an almost 50/50 division between those who think the policy will never be implemented and those who think it will, but a whopping 85% are against the proposal outright.

Over 40% of corporates said they would send fewer travellers to the US if the social media disclosure came into force. Nearly 17% said they would go back to using video conferencing, as many did during the COVID-19 travel restrictions. However, 18.5% said that the rule would not affect their business travel planning.

Corporate travel consumers are conscious, a press release about the survey said, of “concern around data privacy and the administrative burden such a requirement could create for global mobility teams.”

In February 2026, two Democratic senators, Ed Markey and Ron Wyden, said the US Customs and Border Protection policy would deter would-be visitors and represent an unreasonable expectation that would not be acceptable to American citizens going abroad. At that time, the proposal was intended to apply to citizens of 42 nations when they visit the US under visa waiver rules, bringing them in line with applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas who are already subject to similar social media disclosure rules, introduced in 2019.

The change would mean that visa-waiver applicants must reveal their social media handles during completion of their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form. All email addresses used over the last 10 years, plus the names, dates, and places of birth, and addresses of the visitors’ spouses, children, parents, and siblings, would also be required information.

Speaking out against the measure, Louis Magliaro, Executive Vice President, The BTN Group, said: “Corporate travellers already navigate complex visa processes, security checks and compliance requirements. Adding mandatory disclosure of personal social media history could add more red tape when travel managers are already under pressure to increase efficiencies, cut costs and improve traveller wellbeing.”

The findings come amid reports of strong demand in the premium segment, according to the CEO of American Airlines, speaking to Bloomberg TV, tempered by the spectre of high jet fuel prices, as the end of Q2 looms.

Coinciding with that waymarker, the Business Travel Show Europe – where 3,000 buyers, suppliers and industry leaders will come together to discuss travel trends and topics, meet, and do business – takes place 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London.

L’article Business travel industry rallies against Trump’s proposed social media disclosure rule est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The expanded network comes as carriers outside the Middle ​East reroute flights between Asia and Europe ​away from major travel hubs in the region, ⁠in response to the severe disruption in air travel ​caused by the US- Israeli war on Iran.

The Air New Zealand-SIA alliance will add 72,000 seats for the Northern Winter season, boosting overall seat capacity between the two countries by 17% from late October 2026.

Air New Zealand ​will operate three flights per week between Singapore and Christchurch aboard its ‌Boeing ⁠787 aircraft. The Kiwi carrier will also ⁠add four weekly Auckland services, to be operated using Boeing 777 and 787 ​aircraft.

SIA, on the other hand, will drop down a third, to just two flights between Singapore and Auckland, served by Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER.

But together with SIA’s existing scheduled Christchurch service, which operates 12 flights per week, the two airlines will operate 15 weekly services between November 2026 and February ​2027.

The announcement marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic wiped flights from schedules that Air New Zealand will fly long-haul from the country’s second-largest city.

Also coming in November 2026, the flag carrier’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service from Christchurch to Tokyo Narita Airport, and to Perth, Australia, which will be the shortest of the new long-haul routes.

Expanded schedules and increased seat capacity on routes operated by some of the world’s largest aircraft are a boost for Christchurch and further evidence of strong demand across the Asia-Pacific region. Air New Zealand also recently added a non-stop flight to Rarotonga, and Singapore and Air New Zealand are not the only long-haul operator eyeing the market.

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A post shared by Air New Zealand (@airnz)

Emirates flies from Christchurch to Dubai via Sydney all throughout the year, while the Northern Winter season sees Cathay Pacific, China Southern, and United Airlines add routes to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and San Francisco, respectively. In addition, Jetstar offer nonstop flights to Cairns, and Solomon Airlines is due to launch a non-stop link to Port Vila.

L’article Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand boost trans-Tasman seat capacity with long haul connections est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Ipson said the strength of revenue, premium demand and the corporate segment could help shield the carrier from an additional $4 billion to $5 billion financial hit on fuel costs this year, repeating the profitability it had last year.

The conference came shortly after a US Memorial Day weekend (in fact six days) over which the number of travellers and crews passing through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints fell by nearly one percent year-over-year to roughly 16.1 million, agency figures reveal.

But Isom highlighted that demand among high-income consumers is outperforming that of lower-income customers, in a K-shaped pattern. He also insisted on the growth he has seen across income groups, with the airline booked to about 80% capacity for the second quarter, corporate ⁠travel up 13% year over year and leisure demand “incredibly” strong. “People still want to and travel is still a bargain,” he remarked in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Isom went on to note a short-term lift in basic-economy ticket purchases after Spirit’s recent demise, but said that represented only 1.5% of the market at the time, and has now levelled out. Rivals, including Allegiant Air, American, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines, joined United in upping their budget offer after Spirit’s bankruptcy.

Isom’s encouraging words on demand were echoed at the conference by United Airlines CEO, with both chief executives commenting on the market’s resilience despite geopolitical uncertainty.

Isom appears to have cushioned the blow of the airline’s profit revision a month ago, taking the firm’s 2026 results to between 40 cents per share and a profit of $1.10 per share, down from previous expectations of profits between $1.70 and $2.70 per share. Revenue for Q2 was expected to increase 15% year on year based on capacity growth of five percent, meaning 10% comes from unit revenue. The airline’s shares rose one percent during afternoon trading.

The airline is betting on premium products and customer experience in its efforts to catch Delta Air Lines and United on profitability. It has invested in more premium capacity, including lie-flat options, which it is expanding at twice its main cabin seating. Isom said these premium buy-ups, sales and distribution changes, stronger hubs and bag fees would boost revenue.

L’article American Airlines forecast remains stable with premium demand balancing fuel costs est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.