As a result, Auckland increasingly looks like Qantas’ eastern counterweight to Perth. Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International, told Executive Traveller he sees Auckland as “a growing eastern hub for us”, supported by Qantas services from Australian cities and partner flights, including those operated by American Airlines. The airline’s new Auckland lounge, part of a wider hospitality investment programme, reinforces that ambition. Wallace said partner connectivity gives Qantas “a strong kind of underlying network proposition”, while describing lounges as “a really core part” of the customer offer.

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The Apia route shows why this matters for airline planning. Simple Flying notes that a Sydney-Apia nonstop service is technically possible with a Boeing 737-800, but by routing it via Auckland and selling Auckland-Apia as a fifth-freedom leg, Qantas can tap into stronger New Zealand-Samoa traffic while maintaining an Australia-origin option. For the industry, it is a pragmatic example of post-pandemic network design: shortening the more challenging sector, improving load potential and spreading revenue across more than one market.

The Gold Coast-Auckland service widens the competitive front. Qantas is linking two non-hub airports three times weekly with a 737-800, giving Gold Coast travellers an international option without first travelling through Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. It also puts fresh pressure on Air New Zealand and strengthens the wider Qantas Group position in New Zealand, where Jetstar is also expanding.

The New York service remains central to the Auckland story. It began partly because current Boeing 787 operations could not support the same Sydney-New York nonstop mission, but now the stop is becoming a network asset, rather than just an operational fix. Wallace said Sydney-Auckland-New York would be “complementary to the direct services” once nonstop Sydney-New York and Melbourne-New York flights launch, giving travellers from Auckland and several Australian cities more than one way to reach the US East Coast.

For travellers, the benefits include more choice, stronger competition and potentially lower fares, particularly on Gold Coast-Auckland and New Zealand-Samoa routes. A stronger lounge and alliance proposition could also improve the premium experience. The trade-off is complexity: some Australia-origin passengers bound for Apia may face longer journeys via Auckland, making schedules and connection reliability increasingly important.

For competitors, the strategy raises the stakes beyond fares. Air New Zealand is preparing refreshed Boeing 787 cabins, including enhanced premium seating and economy rest options, while Qantas is emphasising lounges, partnership feed and greater trans-Tasman connectivity. The rivalry is therefore likely to play out across schedules, cabin products, loyalty benefits and the airport experience.

Qantas’ Auckland build-up is not a wholesale shift away from Sydney for the Australian flag carrier, but it shows how airlines can use nearby international markets, fifth-freedom rights and partner networks to make thinner routes more viable. If the model succeeds, Auckland could become an increasingly important Pacific connection point for premium and leisure traffic, with consequences for airports, competitors and passengers on both sides of the Tasman.

L’article Qantas turns Auckland into growing Pacific hub with new international routes est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers has reduced its traffic forecast for the financial year ending 31 March 2027 from 216 million to 214 million passengers. The decision is intended to limit Ryanair’s exposure to expensive unhedged fuel during the winter season, when airlines traditionally face weaker demand and profitability.

Jet fuel has recently been trading at around $140 (€120) per barrel, approximately double the price at which Ryanair secured most of its fuel requirements for the current financial year.

The airline has hedged 80% of its fuel at $67 per barrel, providing significant protection from current market prices. Hedging allows carriers to agree fuel prices in advance, protecting them from sudden fluctuations in energy markets.

However, Ryanair said it was “prudent to strategically limit exposure to unhedged aircraft fuel during the unprofitable winter season”, which runs from November to March.

Two million fewer passengers

As a result, Ryanair expects its passenger numbers during the winter to remain broadly unchanged compared with the previous year rather than continuing the growth recorded during the summer.

The airline expects to carry around 145 million passengers between April and October, up more than 5% from approximately 138 million during the same period last year. In August alone, Ryanair carried 22.2 million passengers, an increase of 6% year-on-year.

The reduction in winter capacity is expected to cut seasonal losses by between €70 million and €100 million.

Ryanair nevertheless expects to remain profitable for the full financial year, although profits are likely to fall below the record levels achieved during the previous 12 months.

European air fares could rise in 2027

The airline has also warned that persistently high energy prices could have wider consequences for European aviation next year.

“If high oil prices continue through to summer 2027, Ryanair believes short-haul air fares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices, as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season,” the carrier said.

The warning echoes concerns raised earlier this year by the wider aviation industry. IATA Director General Willie Walsh had already warned that higher fuel costs would inevitably feed through to ticket prices as geopolitical tensions disrupted energy markets and increased costs for airlines.

The pressure on Ryanair itself has also been building for months. In April, the low-cost carrier revealed additional fuel costs of $50 million (€42.6 million) in a single month, with CEO Michael O’Leary warning about the consequences of persistently elevated fuel prices for less financially resilient European airlines.

Fuel represents one of the largest operating expenses for airlines, but the impact of rising prices varies significantly depending on how much fuel each carrier has hedged and at what price.

Ryanair’s relatively high level of hedging gives it substantial protection against current market prices, but its decision to reduce capacity illustrates the scale of the pressure even for carriers that secured much of their fuel in advance.

If elevated prices persist into 2027, airlines will progressively have to purchase a larger proportion of their fuel at higher rates as existing hedging contracts expire. That could force carriers to reduce capacity, increase fares or find savings elsewhere.

Network cuts

Ryanair has already made adjustments to parts of its network amid wider geopolitical disruption. The carrier suspended 17 routes to Amman, Jordan, during the summer. When services return, the airline is expected to initially connect the Jordanian capital with only four airports: Budapest, Bucharest, Madrid and Vienna.

For passengers, the immediate effect of Ryanair’s winter reductions will depend on which routes and frequencies are removed. But the airline’s broader warning is clear: if fuel prices remain close to current levels, European travellers could face fewer flights and higher fares in 2027.

L’article Ryanair cuts winter flights as fuel prices soar and warns of higher fares in 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Sabi Sabi is a family-owned South African hospitality group, running safari lodges since 1979, which also operates the long-established Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and the Claremont Boutique Hotel in Cape Town. Sandringham is its newest and, it says, most exclusive property.

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The nearly 5,000-hectare reserve, which borders the Timbavati and Thornybush game reserves, is made up of two camps of six suites each: N’weti, named for the Drakensberg Mountains, and Shisaka.

The opening of Sandringham Private Game Reserve marks a significant victory for conservationists who, with patience and careful rehabilitation, have worked to rebuild trust between humans and animals, helping wildlife relearn that human presence no longer necessarily equates with danger. Guests can now explore the reserve on game drives and walking and birding safaris.

It also reflects a deliberate shift away from a still-viable revenue model, as hunting concessions continue to operate in South Africa, making Sandringham’s bet on eco-tourism instead all the more commendable.

As part of the project, Sabi Sabi also partnered with the Tracker Training Academy, which trains young people from neighbouring communities for careers as professional wildlife trackers.

For Jacques Smit, Sabi Sabi’s marketing director, “watching the land recover and wildlife return has been one of the most rewarding journeys in our history”.

Smit further explains that what drew the company to the project was the opportunity to nurse an exceptional landscape back to health while building a safari business with staying power, creating lasting value for wildlife, local communities and future generations of travellers.

The newly built suites come with private infinity pools, indoor-outdoor bathrooms and nest-like relaxation decks drawing on Tsonga architectural heritage. The central lodge has a spa, gym and children’s education centre, while meals are served in an open-air boma, complete with a wine display showcasing South African estates. Guests can even fly in via the reserve’s private airstrip.

For those seeking even greater privacy, Shisaka has two private villas, while the four-bedroom Sandringham House, set upstream from the main lodge, offers an exclusive 1,100-square-metre residence for up to eight guests, complete with a dedicated chef, butler and ranger, as well as private safari vehicles.

The rehabilitation itself took years, involving the removal of old fencing and man-made barriers, the repair of eroded soil and the restoration of the reserve’s water catchments – the natural systems of land and vegetation that collect rainfall and feed it into rivers, in this case the Timbavati. Taking down the fences also reconnected Sandringham to the wider, unfenced Greater Kruger Protected Area, allowing predators, elephants and other wildlife to move freely between reserves.

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Four rivers cross the property, which the reserve says keeps water available year-round, even during the dry season. For visitors, that also means plenty of opportunities to spot animals as they come to drink, swim or simply cool off in the water.

This is in keeping with a broader shift towards sustainable, unfenced wildlife corridors across the continent, as operators increasingly lean on the language of sustainability and conservation to appeal to high-end, eco-conscious Western travellers.

Sabi Sabi frames Sandringham as a possible model for other conservation efforts across the continent, a bet that is already being watched elsewhere in Africa, arguing that rewilding degraded land for high-cost, low-density tourism can generate more revenue than hunting, while pointing to Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Laikipia Plateau as places already grappling with similar pressures on land and wildlife.

L’article Former South African hunting reserve reopens as luxury safari retreat est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Farmers, landowners, firefighters, and cross-party lawmakers are supporting moves towards a ban on sales of disposable barbecue equipment as a way to reduce the chances of wildfires being ignited by sparks, discarded charcoal, and matches.

Please don't bring BBQs into our parks!

Disposable and portable BBQs can:

Cause grass fires
Damage parkland and wildlife habitats
Leave dangerous hot surfaces behind

A single spark can spread quickly during hot, dry weather.

Help us protect Birmingham's green… pic.twitter.com/c593V6Xvlq

— Birmingham City Council (@BhamCityCouncil) August 2, 2026

The landowners’ Country Land and Business Association (CLA), is backing a barbecue ban but wants to reintroduce “controlled burning” which it says would help to manage the vegetation that can feed fires but has been prohibited in England under wildlife and carbon emissions laws.

National Farmers Union deputy chief, Paul Tompkins, has pointed to the additional risk that unintentional fires pose to harvests and farmers’ livelihoods, coming on top of poor yields, saying: “A stray match or single spark, and months of hard work can be wiped out in just minutes; crops destroyed and harvest ruined, vital machinery and infrastructure damaged and livestock put at serious risk.”

56% of Britons would support a ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, amid wildfires across the UK triggering renewed calls for supermarkets to stop selling them during summer months

Support: 56%
Oppose: 25% pic.twitter.com/tKrkoMJLOb

— YouGov (@YouGov) August 4, 2026

Tompkins also highlighted the potential lasting impact of wildfires for the sector: “Beyond the immediate losses, there could be long-term consequences for soil health, grassland productivity and confidence of farm businesses already facing significant pressures,” he said.

He is urging shops to stop sales of disposable barbecues, and, going further, wants local authorities to head off public demand by bringing in rules against lighting barbecues, campfires, and camping stoves. The Liberal Democrat party and some Labour MPs are supporting that campaign, alongside a range of big retailers who have already ceased selling such items in line with guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Asda has paused disposable barbecue sales nationwide, Co-op and Morrison’s have introduced temporary bans, Sainsbury’s has pulled all single-use barbecues, and Tesco has also stopped sales. Meanwhile, retailers such as Aldi, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose already prohibit such products.

Some smaller retailers, DIY stores, and online sellers, however, are still offering them for purchase.

From Welsh valleys and national parks to Scottish and Northern Irish mountains and coastal Suffolk, where all eyes were on a blaze near Sizewell B nuclear facility, wildfires have occurred throughout the UK in 2026, with 393 responses from English and Welsh fire crews in July alone.

While the government has so far resisted an outright ban on barbecues, for UK residents and leisure visitors who want to avoid being the cause of wildfire catastrophes, both the NFCC guidance and the reduced availability of equipment on sale mean adjusting outdoor eating plans to take a prepared picnic instead, or eat at a nearby establishment, rather than lighting up cooking equipment in the wild.

High Peak MP Jon Pearce said: “This isn’t about stopping people enjoying the outdoors. It’s about protecting our countryside, supporting our firefighters and preventing avoidable fires before they start.”

L’article Wildfire risk raises pressure to ban disposable barbecues in England and Wales est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The fourth edition of Transport and Tourism in the European Union: Current trends and issues brings together the latest indicators on the competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, connectivity and safety of Europe’s transport system, alongside a detailed assessment of the EU tourism sector and individual country factsheets.

Transport remains a major part of the European economy, with around 1.4 million private and public companies employing approximately 10.4 million people across the EU. But despite progress in electrification and alternative fuels, the Commission’s figures underline the scale of the challenge involved in decarbonising mobility.

Oil still dominates European transport

In 2024, transport accounted for 32.3% of the EU’s final energy consumption, with oil-derived fuels representing 92.3% of all energy consumed by the sector.

Road transport was by far the largest consumer, responsible for 73.1% of transport energy consumption. International maritime transport represented 11.2%, followed closely by international aviation at 11.1%.

Long-term trends also vary considerably between modes. Aviation energy consumption increased by 100% between 1990 and 2024, while rail energy consumption declined over the same period.

At the same time, the transition towards alternative fuels is becoming increasingly visible in European infrastructure. The number of electric vehicle charging points across the EU increased from around 130,000 in 2020 to more than 1 million in 2025, representing growth of approximately 735%.

Progress on rail infrastructure is more mixed. Around 57.4% of the EU’s active railway network was electrified in 2023, although approximately 80% of rail traffic already runs on electrified lines.

The Commission is also looking towards further expansion of high-speed rail. The EU network reached around 12,000 km in 2023, with Spain accounting for approximately 28% and France for 23% of the total.

EU tourism exceeds 3 billion nights

Against the challenges facing transport, the report depicts a European tourism industry reaching unprecedented levels of activity.

In 2025, the EU recorded more than 3 billion nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments for the first time, setting a new record. Spain, France, Germany and Italy together accounted for more than 60% of those overnight stays. 

International demand has also continued to recover. The EU received 582 million tourist arrivals in 2025, representing around 38% of worldwide tourist arrivals. That compares with 540 million arrivals in 2019.

However, Europe’s share of global tourism has fallen from 47% in 2022, even as the absolute number of visitors has increased.

The economic importance of the sector is substantial. EU residents spent an estimated €618 billion on tourism trips in 2024, of which 42% was spent on trips within their own country, 34% elsewhere in the EU and 24% in the rest of the world. 

Growth brings new tourism challenges

Record visitor numbers also come with growing pressure on some destinations.

Nearly 20% of all EU overnight stays are concentrated in just seven regions: Canarias, Jadranska Hrvatska, Île-de-France, Cataluña, Andalucía, Veneto and Illes Balears.

Seasonality remains another challenge, with 42% of overnight stays in 2024 taking place during July and August. The Commission identifies overcrowding and overdependence on tourism in some areas alongside underdeveloped tourism potential elsewhere.

The structure of the industry presents additional vulnerabilities. SMEs represent 99.9% of tourism companies, while the report points to challenges including environmental pressures, staff and skills shortages, digitalisation and dependence on larger tour operators and online booking platforms. 

These issues are expected to feed into the forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, due in 2026. The Commission says the strategy will aim to support a more competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism model, strengthen local communities and increase the industry’s resilience to future challenges.

L’article EU transport still relies on oil for 92% of its energy as tourism hits record high est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, the “sea” is in fact an inland body of water — the largest on the planet — a brackish lake fed by 130 rivers, with the Volga the main source. A remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea (alongside the Aral Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov), it now has no outlets, so the amount of incoming water from rivers and rain, and the rate of evaporation are the factors that affect its levels. Those water levels have been declining since the mid-1990s, satellite imagery shows.

But now, scientists have found that global warming is worsening the situation, and even casual observers can see that the former shoreline along Azerbaijan’s Absheron Peninsula is shrinking to expose the seabed. The sea suffered a two-metre drop in water level between 1996 and 2023 and experts predict a loss of between five and 18 metres by 2100. 

“Climate change is accelerating evaporation and disrupting the water balance of the Caspian Sea,” says Dr. Elnur Safarov, of the IDEA Public Union and coordinator of the Caspian Integrated Scientific Network (CASPISNET).

It’s important because the declining water levels are impacting wildlife and humanity along the basin’s delta, wetlands, and reed beds. “Fish in the Caspian Sea, which include sturgeon and other endemic species, are losing their natural habitats,” says zoologist Dr Nijat Hasanov, adding that “Nesting, breeding and resting habitats for millions of birds, including pelicans, flamingos and ducks” are also in jeopardy.

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Other creatures who feed on the fish such as the endangered Caspian seal are now at greater risk, and human fishers face food insecurity too. Azerbaijani fishing communities now “have to go deeper into the sea to catch the same amount of fish they used to catch nearby the shore,” explains Farhad Mukhtarov, water governance specialist with the International Institute of Social Studies.

The “delicate hydrological balance” that needs to be achieved to address these serious concerns requires cooperation among “all five Caspian littoral states,” according to Mahir Aliyev, Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention. Marine safeguards and sustainable development principles have already been adopted by the five Caspian coastal nations, but Aliyev is calling again for “coordinated regional action” that he deems “essential to manage the environmental consequences across the basin.”

L’article Caspian Sea shrinking threatens wildlife and habitats, experts warn est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The feature works by integrating travel options into the existing TikTok experience. Users can discover hotels and activities through videos, search results, and location-based pages. When they find something they are interested in, they can view details, check availability, and complete a booking without leaving the app. TikTok GO is available only for users aged 18 and older who want to book travel-related services. The system is designed to reduce the number of steps between inspiration and purchase.

TikTok GO includes partnerships with several major travel companies, including Booking.com, Expedia, Trip.com, Viator, GetYourGuide, and Tiqets. These partners provide access to hotels and a wide range of activities across different destinations. GetYourGuide alone offers more than 200,000 experiences in over 12,000 destinations, showing the scale of content available through the platform. Pricing is set by each partner individually, depending on the service offered.

The launch highlights how TikTok is becoming more than a platform for travel inspiration. It now aims to connect discovery directly with booking, turning short videos into actionable travel decisions. The idea is to shorten the time between seeing a destination and booking it. This approach reflects a broader trend where social media platforms are increasingly involved in the travel planning process. TikTok has already tested similar booking features with a limited group of users in the United States before this wider rollout.

Creators also play an important role in TikTok GO. Travel content creators can connect their videos directly to bookable services and earn commissions through these links. This creates new opportunities for creators to monetise travel-related content beyond traditional brand deals. Businesses and tourism providers benefit from direct access to users who are already interested in travel inspiration. The system connects creators, travellers, and service providers in one ecosystem inside the app.

Users in the U.S. can now use TikTok GO to book hotels, tours, and experiences directly on the platform.

We’re making it easier to turn discovery into action. From your feed to your next destination, book in just a few taps.

Details: https://t.co/N7dF9Jwdos

— TikTok USDS Joint Venture (@tiktokusdsjv) May 12, 2026

The launch also reflects a wider shift in how travel is discovered and booked online. Social media platforms are increasingly influencing travel decisions, with many users relying on content to plan trips. Industry data suggests that social media inspiration often leads to travel-related purchases or decisions, although the path to booking is not always immediate. Travel remains a complex purchase, and users may still compare options before confirming a trip. TikTok GO aims to simplify this process by reducing friction between discovery and booking within the same platform.

TikTok GO is currently available only in the United States, but similar initiatives already exist in markets such as Indonesia and Japan. The company has also been expanding its travel-related advertising tools, showing a broader interest in the travel sector. With this launch, TikTok positions itself more directly within the travel booking ecosystem, moving closer to online travel agencies and established booking platforms.

L’article TikTok rolls out in-app hotel and experience bookings est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The project is designed as a phased experiment rather than a simple short-term test. Teams will first analyse airport operations in detail to identify where robots can be used safely and effectively. This will be followed by repeated trials that simulate real working conditions on the ground. The idea is to gradually build a system where robots and humans work together in a structured way. In the long term, the partners hope to create a more sustainable model for airport operations. 

The robots will initially be used for physically demanding tasks such as loading and unloading cargo containers and moving equipment on the tarmac. These machines are built in a humanoid form, meaning they can move in a way that is similar to humans and operate in spaces designed for people. This allows them to work within existing airport infrastructure without major changes. During demonstrations, a robot measuring around 130 centimetres was seen carefully pushing cargo onto a conveyor belt and even waving to a colleague. The robots can operate for two to three hours before needing to recharge, and they are currently controlled remotely by human operators, mirroring human movements. 

One of the main reasons behind this initiative is the growing labour shortage in Japan’s aviation sector. The country is dealing with a declining working-age population while at the same time welcoming a rising number of international visitors. More than seven million tourists arrived in Japan in just the first two months of 2026, adding pressure to airport services. Ground handling work is often physically demanding and requires long shifts, making it harder to attract and retain staff. By introducing robots, airlines hope to reduce the physical strain on workers and maintain smooth operations. 

The issue goes beyond aviation and reflects a broader national challenge. Japan may need more than 6.5 million foreign workers by 2040 to meet its economic goals as the domestic workforce continues to shrink. This creates political and social pressure, as immigration levels remain a sensitive topic. In this context, automation and robotics are increasingly seen as part of the solution. The use of humanoid robots in airports is therefore not only about efficiency, but also about responding to long-term demographic changes. 

The technology behind the robots combines artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and remote operation. This allows them to perform tasks that require both strength and precision while still being supervised by human operators. GMO Internet Group, the parent company involved in the project, has even declared 2026 as the “First Year of Humanoids”. The aim is to accelerate the use of this technology across different industries, not just aviation. Airports are being used as a testing ground because they present real-world challenges that require adaptable solutions. 

Robots are already present in some Japanese airports, where they are used for tasks such as security patrols and customer service. The introduction of humanoid robots for ground handling is, therefore, a continuation of an ongoing trend rather than a completely new development. What makes this project different is the focus on physically demanding back-end operations that have traditionally relied on human labour. These tasks are less visible to passengers but are essential for keeping flights running on time. 

Japan’s labor shortage is so severe it burned through its entire 5-year quota for foreign restaurant workers in record time.

The food service sector (restaurants, hospital/nursing home meal services) hit its 50,000 cap early – new Specified Skilled Worker visa applications…

— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) April 26, 2026

Despite the growing role of automation, human workers will remain essential in airport operations. Certain responsibilities, especially those related to safety and decision-making, cannot be handled by robots. Officials involved in the project have made it clear that the goal is to support employees rather than replace them. By taking over repetitive and physically heavy tasks, robots could help improve working conditions and reduce fatigue. Human oversight will continue to be necessary to ensure that all operations meet strict safety standards.

The trial at Haneda Airport reflects a wider shift in the global aviation industry. Airports around the world are exploring new technologies to handle increasing passenger numbers and improve efficiency. These include biometric boarding systems, automated baggage handling, and autonomous vehicles. Humanoid robots could become another tool in this transition, especially in locations where labour shortages are becoming more severe. Their ability to work in human-designed environments gives them an advantage over more specialised machines.

In the future, the role of these robots could expand beyond cargo handling. Japan Airlines is already considering using them for tasks such as cleaning aircraft cabins and operating ground support equipment. As the technology improves, robots may become more autonomous and capable of interacting more naturally with both staff and passengers. If the current trial proves successful, similar systems could be introduced at other airports in Japan and beyond. This would mark an important step towards a more automated and flexible airport environment.

L’article Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to trial humanoid robots for ground operations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Known for being the most sensitive to every movement of the aircraft, it comes with a host of additional drawbacks. It sits right next to the economy class lavatories, where queues tend to form, people linger, chat, lean, and occasionally perch while waiting their turn. And to top it all off, you often cannot even recline your seat.

Not to mention the lingering mix of odours, once partially masked – or perhaps worsened – by cigarette smoke, back when the rear rows were reserved for smokers.

In an effort to remedy this and revamp the least desirable seats on board, Collins Aerospace has reimagined the space as a “semi-private retreat”, or “mini-suite”, aptly named SkyNook.

The aim is to turn it into a space travellers might actively seek out, rather than avoid. The design isolates the seat from the aisle with a deployable privacy divider, reducing noise and shielding passengers from passing traffic — an approach reminiscent of layouts typically found in premium business- and first-class cabins.

The company notes that the cocoon-like space allows passengers “extra seclusion to feed and soothe young children, minimise disruptions to fellow passengers, or simply relax in a more peaceful retreat”.

The design also makes use of an often-overlooked structural constraint, as “widebody fuselages taper inward toward the back of the aircraft, often reducing the standard triple economy row of seats into a double”, explains Collins. This, in turn, leaves “unutilised space between the sidewall and the seat”, which SkyNook turns into an asset.

The result is a more cocoon-like space with just two seats, where the additional room can be used for a bassinet, a pet, or simply a place to work or eat. The trade-off, however, is that it removes the possibility of lying across three seats. A Facebook user called it “a wasted opportunity” and said, “wider seats would make it much more attractive”.

In a press release, Jeffrey McKee, director of customer experience design at Collins Aerospace, said the concept is part of a broader effort to improve flying for all passengers, “transforming a frequently overlooked area into a serene retreat that maximises functionality, comfort and flexibility for families, passengers with service animals, or those with sensory considerations”.

The design has already received industry recognition, winning first prize in the passenger comfort category at the Crystal Cabin Awards, presented during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, a benchmark for cabin innovation.

Online, reactions have been mixed. Some users remain sceptical, dismissing it as “the same thing with a new way to charge more”, or doubting it will reach production, noting that “manufacturers love to show concepts that rarely make it onto planes”. Others see a practical fix. “This was the row clients complained about most,” one former travel agent wrote. “Great to make it more appealing.”

There is also cautious enthusiasm for the added space, though the branding raised eyebrows: “A suite? I guess I have a very different idea of what a suite is.”

SkyNook is not the only concept attempting to rethink economy class. United Airlines plans to roll out a lie-flat option for economy passengers in 2027, while other designs include double-level seating concepts such as the Chaise Longue. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand is taking a more immediate step by introducing bunk beds for economy passengers, allowing travellers on long-haul flights to book a dedicated sleeping space for a few hours.

L’article New aircraft design transforms most dreaded seat into a semi-private retreat est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

This new feature reflects a broader shift in how people consume content online. Instead of searching for a title or browsing through menus, many users now prefer to scroll and discover content in a more passive way. Platforms like YouTube have already adopted this approach with short-form videos. By bringing this format into its own app, Netflix is trying to keep users engaged for longer periods. The idea is to reduce the time it takes to choose something to watch and make the experience more intuitive.

Netflix has been testing this vertical feed since last year and is now ready to launch it more widely. The company believes that short clips can directly lead users to watch full-length content. This approach also opens the door to new formats, such as video podcasts, which are becoming more popular. By including them in the feed, Netflix is expanding beyond its usual mix of films and series.

Artificial intelligence is another key part of this strategy. Netflix already uses AI to recommend content, but it now wants to improve these systems further. Last year, the company introduced a search tool powered by AI, allowing users to find content using more natural language. It helps Netflix understand what viewers like and suggest content that matches their preferences more accurately.

“We have been in personalization and recommendation for two decades, but we still see tremendous room to make it better by leveraging newer technologies,” Gregory Peters said. He explained that new AI systems help improve recommendations and make updates more efficient. This means the platform can better adjust suggestions depending on what users are watching, whether it is a series, a documentary, or a short clip. The goal is to make it easier for users to find content they like, without spending too much time searching.

Competition in the entertainment industry is evolving. Netflix is no longer only competing with other streaming services, but also with social media platforms that capture a large share of people’s screen time. Short-form video has become one of the most popular ways to consume content, especially on mobile devices. By adopting this format, Netflix is trying to stay relevant in a crowded digital landscape.

There are also potential benefits for travellers, which fit with changing viewing habits. Many people watch content on their phones while commuting, flying, or waiting in airports. A short video feed can help them quickly find something to watch during a limited amount of time. It may also highlight travel documentaries or series that users would not have found otherwise. This makes the platform more flexible for people who are often on the move.

Netflix’s strategy is supported by strong financial results. The company reported revenue of $12.25 billion (€10.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of more than 16% compared to the previous year. Profit rose sharply to $5.28 billion (€4.7 billion), showing that its business model remains strong. At the same time, co-founder Reed Hastings is expected to step down from the board, marking a new phase for the company. With more than 300 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix continues to look for new ways to grow. 

The introduction of a vertical feed raises new questions about the future of streaming. It could lead to new types of content, including shorter videos created specifically for mobile viewing. It may also change how films and series are promoted, with clips becoming a key part of discovery. Other streaming platforms could follow this approach if it proves successful. For now, Netflix is aiming to combine long-form entertainment with the fast-paced style of short-form video. 

L’article Netflix adds vertical video feed and boosts AI to reshape content discovery est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.