EasyJet holidays will stick to its usual schedule and release summer 2028 flights and holidays at the turn of the year, despite Jet2holidays putting its programme on sale early. Speaking during  the ABTA Convention in Madeira, easyJet holidays CEO Garry Wilson said there was 'some demand' for advance bookings, but that the operator doesn’t have the team capacity to go earlier, as it is already managing the end of summer 2026, winter 2026/27, summer 2027 and winter 2027/28. "Releasing [our programme] that far out is probably something we wouldn't look at," Garry added. He said some customers would book 24 months in advance to secure a particular flight or hotel, but he said easyJet holidays doesn't generally have customers who want to book 'that far out'. Looking at destinations, Garry predicted North Africa will continue to grow in popularity thanks to its value for money, while demand for Spain will ease. "I think Spain is a bit over-heated in terms of capacity at the moment and we will see that slow down a little bit," he said. Taking part in the debate called Leading Through Adversity, Barrhead Travel President Jacqueline Dobson said cruising now accounts for a third of its business, which she expects to rise to 45% in 2027. She said there was 'huge opportunity' due to extra capacity coming through, especially on the rivers. Garry, meanwhile, said easyJet holidays still has no plans to launch cruise itineraries. Instead, the operator is focussing on luxury after the 'really successful' rollout of its Luxury Collection, which had performed beyond expectation, he said. Launched in October 2025, the Luxury Collection offers stays in five-star properties including the Fairmont and Four Seasons hotel chains, combined with added extras such as premium transfers. Garry said the average price of an easyJet holidays beach package is £800, while a luxury beach package sits at £2,800. "There has been a lot of demand; tens of thousands of customers have already booked the Luxury Collection, so that is an area we will continue to focus on," he added.

Travel companies selling travel to the Maldives are advised to 'prepare to register' to pay the new tourism tax by 30 October, even though the introduction might be delayed until next year. The Maldives Government announced on 11 September that it was extending the Goods and Services Tax to overseas tour operators and travel agents on 1 October. Firms required to pay the tax must register with the Maldives tax authority. Following lobbying from ABTA and other international travel associations, it’s been reported that the Government announced on 3 October that the extension to overseas travel companies would be delayed until April 2027. However, Naomi Quant, Indirect Tax Director at travel accountants Xeinadin, said: “We have been unable to verify these reports from the Maldivian authorities, and accounting firms in the region are advising that operators need to prepare for registration by 30 October 2026, until there is official confirmation of the delay and a change to the legislation.” Speaking at the ABTA Travel Convention in Madeira, ABTA Director of Public Affairs Luke Petherbridge said it was his understanding the tax has been postponed until 1 April 2027. He added that the UK Government has confirmed ‘it has heard it is not being enforced’ and the Maldives authorities are ‘considering what is the best mechanism to proceed’. However, ABTA has still not received official confirmation from the Maldives Government, said Luke. “They clearly listened [to the lobbying] but there has not been any active dialogue. There needs to be a discussion.” EasyJet holidays CEO Garry Wilson said it was ‘unfair’ of destinations that have ‘built enormous positions’ to ‘pull up the bridges’ by adding taxes. He said this ‘goes back to the days of travel being only for the rich’. Garry pointed out that holidaymakers already pay multiple taxes, including Air Passenger Duty, however, he said that if the money is spent on tourism infrastructure, they ‘might be easier to swallow’. ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer agreed: “It is becoming more widespread; it is becoming more and more normal for destinations, even the UK now has the ability to introduce a tourism tax,” he said, adding: “The Maldives tax came out of nowhere. “It is what destinations do with the taxes. If they can show that the money raised is going back into tourism infrastructure or, at the very least, is going back to residents, that is probably the way to go.” How will the Maldives tourism tax work? As it stands, holidays already booked and paid for will not be affected, said Naomi. “The time of supply will be deemed to be when the booking is paid for.” Currently, any holidays booked with a deposit paid from 1 October 2026 (or 1 April 2027 if it is postponed) will be within the scope, she said. The 17% tax will apply to the margin – or, in the case of travel agents, commission - on any tourism-related service that takes place in the Maldives. This will include accommodation, internal flights, transfers and tours, but not international flights. The tax also applies to any booking fees for holidays in the Maldives where the overseas supplier acts as an agent rather than a principal, added Naomi. In addition to requesting a delay to the tax, ABTA has called for agents who act on behalf of a named tour operator to be exempt from the tax.

Strikes by air traffic controllers at Leeds Bradford Airport this weekend have been suspended after a late pay offer from the airport. Workers were due to walk out from Friday to Sunday (16-18 October), but union Unite has paused the action to allow members to vote on the offer. If the offer is rejected, strikes planned from 23 October to 2 November will still go ahead, falling over the half term holiday. The union warned that the airport could be forced to shut if the strikes go ahead, as air traffic controllers would be unable to facilitate flights taking off and landing. Meanwhile, a separate ballot is under way on an offer for hourly paid staff, including security, check-in, passport control and passenger assistance workers. The ballot closes tomorrow (14 October). If the offer is rejected, these workers will strike from Friday to Sunday (16-18 October) as planned. Unite Regional Officer Neil Whitaker said: “Following negotiations, we have suspended the air traffic controller strikes taking place this week to allow members to have their say on a new pay offer.”

EasyJet holidays CEO Garry Wilson has warned that airfares will increase due to rising fuel costs, first sparked by the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking at the ABTA convention in Madeira, he said there was 'no doubt that costs coming through will put fares ups' but said this could be mitigated by maximising load factor. "That way the cost is divided among passengers, which keeps the cost down," Garry added. He also pointed to AI, with predictive technology able to model various scenarios, including fluctuating costs, to help airlines with forward planning. Garry said: "It's just a case of understanding what customers are willing to pay, being competitive and looking at load factor." TUI UK and Ireland Managing Director Neil Swanson told Travel Gossip that TUI could guarantee it would not offer surcharges but that prices could also increase. Asked whether easyJet could trim summer capacity, Garry responded 'maybe', but said it would not be cut more than other years. It comes after easyJet announced winter capacity had been slashed by another 700,000 seats, taking the total reduction to 1.4 million seats. Chief Executive Kenton Jarvis said the airline was scaling back during quieter periods to offset rising fuel costs.

UK travel spending continued to grow in September, rising 2% year-on-year, while spending through travel agents increased by 3.2%, with transactions up by 5.5%, according to the latest Barclays UK Consumer Spend Report. The report, which analyses UK customers’ credit and debit card spending, shows the rate of growth in agent spending slowed from August, when it rose by 4.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile airline spending increased 2.2% in September, with transactions up by 0.4% compared with 3.5% spending growth and a 1% increase in transactions in August. Spending on hotels, resorts and other accommodation providers also grew, up 2.7% year-on-year. Public transport was the only travel category to record a fall, with spending down 0.8%. The figures came as overall UK consumer card spending increased 2% year-on-year in September, slightly below August’s 2.1% growth and the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.3%. However, confidence in household finances reached a seven-month high of 67%, despite uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget. The report found 68% of consumers were concerned about the potential impact of the Budget on their household finances, while 30% said they were reducing non-essential spending. Head of Spend Insights Rohan Kumar said: “Spending maintained momentum in September, with growth across both essential and non-essential categories as confidence in household finances reached a seven-month high. Warmer weather supported another strong month for hospitality and leisure, while the rise in digital subscriptions suggests consumers are balancing socialising with autumn nights at home, even as pre-Budget uncertainty keeps value and careful decision-making front of mind.”

ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer described the past year as ‘interesting and challenging’ but he told the ABTA Convention taking place in Madeira this week that he was still feeling ‘positive’. He said the headlines of ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits report were ‘broadly positive’ with the number of people going on holiday nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. "Demand has held up well despite a range of challenges this year, and that looks set to continue, as does the willingness to prioritise spending on travel over other discretionary items,” he said. During the opening session of the Convention, Mark added: “Our research shows that if you have got disruption, people tend to go back to travel agents.” However, he admitted that 2026 had been ‘a tough year for the travel industry’. “The conflict in the Middle East shook the sector, not just in terms of the initial disruption to travel, but also the ripple effects of changes to fuel supply and prices. How we travel to and through the Middle East has changed and there does not appear to be an immediate resolution of the disruption on the horizon. “Closer to home, Europe’s new Entry/Exit System, and climate-related events such as wildfires and extreme heat, have also affected people’s travel plans. Together, this is a lot for an industry to deal with over a short period,” he added. “Perhaps, though, it is the cost of living – more than anything – that has been the constant challenge shaping customer behaviour. While people do continue to spend on travel, they are leaving it much later to departure before committing to their holiday. It is a pattern that is becoming regular for travel businesses, adding increased pressure and unpredictability. “However, whenever there is disruption it’s an opportunity for the organised travel sector to show its strength and value. More people book with travel agents and tour operators, and more people are choosing a package holiday for the protections it offers, with customers seeing these ways of booking as routes to securing good value for money during these cost-conscious times. “The difficulties of the last 12 months aren’t behind us but, as an industry, we can move forward with confidence that organised travel remains in demand, and we are part of a growing industry that now contributes £57bn annually to the UK economy.” Mark said he was also positive about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new Government’s initial response to the tourism industry, but urged it not to ‘pile more costs’ on the industry in the forthcoming Budget, including further rises in air tax. In an interview with Sky news presenter Jonathan Samuels, Mark also said he didn’t see AI as a threat, saying it should be viewed as a ‘member of the team’, not a replacement for the team.

Confidence in travel has wavered amid a challenging environment for the industry, including the EES rollout, conflict in the Middle East and escalating fuel prices. But while ABTA's travel confidence index reported that confidence dropped by three points compared to last year to plus 50, it is still the second highest score since the research began. This year, 88% of UK travellers went on at least one holiday, which has 'fallen back to pre–pandemic levels', Director of Communications Graeme Buck told the ABTA Convention in Madeira. A growing number also booked a holiday with a travel professional (an agent or operator) in the past 12 months, increasing to 38% from 34%. It rose the most among 18–24 year-olds, up 6% to 35%, with Head of Media and Communications Emma Brennan attributing the trend to parents recommending travel professionals to their children, as well as younger generations' desire for the 'little luxury' of an arranged holiday. "We get asked on a weekly basis if booking through a travel professional is more expensive, but travellers see them as a way to get good value holidays," she added. Across all age groups, value for money was a growing reason why travellers booked with a travel professional, increasing by 5% to 44% in the past year. However, ease of booking was the primary motivation for booking with a travel professional at 60%, up from 56% last year. Travellers are also becoming increasingly cost–conscious compared to the previous 12 months, ABTA found, with 32% saying they would spend more on holidays next year, down from 34%. Of the 15% who said they would spend less, 52% said the increased cost of living was the main reason, up from 47%. While city breaks were the most popular type of holiday in the past 12 months, cruises increased by 1% to 13%, with value for money cited as one of the primary motivators at 52%, up from 49%. The same proportion of 18–24 year-olds and 35–44 year-olds took a cruise last year at 14%, which is an increase of 4% and 3% respectively, proving its appeal 'all age groups', Graeme said. Young families – those with children under the age of five – were also a core market for cruises, with 23% taking a cruise in the past year, up 3%. Some 17% intend to take a cruse next year, with Graeme highlighting the sector's potential. "It remains strong and stable and is holding up well," he added. ABTA's data also found an increased demand for package holidays, with 63% of people who travelled overseas in the past 12 months having booked a package, up 2% compared to the previous year. Value for money was the primary reason for booking a package holiday at 48%, while families were the core market, with 78% of young families booking a package and 75% of families with older children. This year, 36% of UK travellers visited Spain, making it the most popular destination, followed by France and Italy at 24% and 15% respectively. Graeme noted demand cooled for Turkiye, with 9% of UK travellers visiting there, the same as last year, which he said was due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, with travellers wanting to 'wait and see' before booking. He also said there was a slight uplift in travellers visiting Egypt, from 2% to 3%, due to 'good deals and good availability'. Elsewhere, travel intentions for the next 12 months overall remain steady, with 70% of adults planning to travel abroad and 56% planning a UK holiday. Looking ahead, Spain remains the top destination for UK travellers, with 26% considering a visit in the next 12 months, followed by France and Italy, both at 14%. Chief Executive Mark Tanzer said: “We continue to love our holidays and the desire to travel remains strong; this looks set to continue despite the ease of getting away, for some, being affected by geopolitical and economic challenges. “When times are uncertain, booking with an expert ABTA member gives holidaymakers added confidence. And, in a ‘value for money’ market, they are excellently placed to find people a fantastic holiday at a budget that works for them.”  

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has warned guests and agents about fraudulent emails containing personal information and genuine reservation details. The emails, reported by guests over the weekend, impersonate the cruise line and ask recipients to click on links to verify payment details or complete security checks. Some warn that reservations will be cancelled if guests fail to take action. Guests who shared the emails online reported that the messages contained accurate reservation details, including their names, ship and departure date. NCL has sent a letter to travel advisors alerting them about the scam and said it will also share the warning with guests booked to depart within the next 30 days. The letter, which was shared on social media, said: "We are aware of reports of fraudulent emails falsely claiming to be from Norwegian Cruise Line being sent to guests and are actively investigating the matter." The line is urging guests not to respond to the emails, click on links or provide personal or payment information. NCL has not confirmed how the scammers obtained the accurate booking details. A statement on the cruise line's website said: "We are investigating reports of fraudulent emails claiming to be from Norwegian Cruise Line. We advise guests not to click links, respond to these emails, or provide personal or payment information. Norwegian Cruise Line emails come from @ncl.com, @e.ncl.com or @nclcorp.com. For reservation questions, contact your travel advisor, call 0333 2412319, or visit www.ncl.com/uk/en/contact-us." Travel Gossip has contacted NCL for comment.

EU member states can keep suspending EES border checks at busy crossings until the end of 2026, ABTA has confirmed. The planned fourth-quarter launch of the ETIAS visa waiver has also been dropped. Speaking at the ABTA Travel Convention in Madeira today, Director of Public Affairs Luke Petherbridge said ABTA research showed fewer than half of Brits who have travelled to Europe have been through EES since its phased rollout began a year ago. Most of those saw little disruption, he said. Half got through the border in under half an hour, and 87% waited less than an hour. Contingency measures in the legislation already allowed checks to be suspended when queues built up, up to 6 September. Luke said the Commission has now confirmed it will not take infringement proceedings against countries that stand down checks for the rest of the year. At least nine countries have raised concerns that the system still can’t cope. Checks can only be paused at specific border points where significant queues are building, not across a whole country. “We need to see a continued pragmatic approach,” he said. ABTA wants the contingency measures extended into 2027 and, if necessary, changes to the legislation so the rollout can be completed smoothly. ABTA’s Holiday Habits research, with responses from more than 2,000 people, found 6% are less likely to visit the EU because of the checks. However, the majority said EES wouldn’t affect their plans. Missing exit records Luke warned that anecdotal evidence suggests a growing number of travellers are being registered on arrival but not on departure when checks are suspended. That makes it look as though they have overstayed in the EU, which can cause problems on their next trip. Travellers can ask the relevant national border authority to correct their record, said Luke. "What we are hearing is that Border Guards will correct this the next time you go through," he added. No launch date for ETIAS The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS visa waiver) was due to launch this quarter for UK citizens and other non-EU nationals. However, the date has been removed from all official EU websites. “There is now no official launch date for ETIAS,” said Luke. He reminded agents that ETIAS cannot be bought yet, even though more than 150 websites already claim to sell it.

Almost 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are set to escalate strike action, threatening a potential airport 'shutdown' during the busy October half-term period. The workers, who are members of the union Unite, include air traffic controllers, security staff, cleaners and customer experience staff. They plan to strike from this Friday (16 October) to Sunday (18 October), followed by a second round of industrial action from 23 October to 2 November, coinciding with the school half-term in England and Wales. The union warned that the airport could be forced to shut if the strikes go ahead, as air traffic controllers would be unable to facilitate flights taking off and landing. The dispute centres on pay, with workers seeking parity with staff at Newcastle Airport. The union said a starter air traffic controller at Leeds Bradford earns around £34,000, compared with £55,000 for the same role at Newcastle, despite Newcastle having a lower cost of living. Unite reported that many hourly paid staff are earning just above the minimum wage, leaving them struggling with rising living costs. Hourly paid workers have received a pay offer and are currently being balloted on it, but air traffic controllers have yet to receive an offer. Unite said that even if air traffic controllers are the only group to continue striking, the airport could still face a shutdown. General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is wrong that workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are paid far less than those doing the same job at another nearby airport. "These are essential workers who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the airport and the safety of passengers and deserve fair pay. Unite will always fully back our members taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport.” Regional Officer Neil Whitaker added: “We appreciate those travelling to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear that there are further strike dates, but the situation is completely the fault of the airport’s management. "It can end this dispute, but that relies on it coming back to the table with a fair deal for our members.”    

JTA Holidays generated more than €1 million in holiday quotations within its first 48 hours of trading in the Republic of Ireland. The operator officially launched in Ireland on 6 October, securing its first booking worth more than €30,000 on launch day. Country Manager Katie Nolan, who heads JTA Holidays Ireland, said they had seen strong engagement from the Irish travel trade. The launch marks JTA Holidays’ first expansion outside the UK. She added: "The response from our agents has been fantastic. It’s been wonderful to see such immediate interest in our products and such strong support for the launch. "We’re all genuinely excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to building stronger, long-lasting partnerships across our wonderful country.” JTA Travel Group Director of Business Development Dave Green said: "We couldn’t have asked for a better welcome from the Irish travel trade. The level of engagement, enthusiasm and business generated in the past few days has been phenomenal. "The numbers speak for themselves and we would like to extend a huge thank you to our new travel agent partners across Ireland for their amazing support and confidence."  

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has expanded its UK trade team with the appointment of Lydia Gibbs as Senior Executive, Trade Marketing. Lydia will support the UK trade through marketing campaigns, training and fam trips, helping agents and tour operators promote Hong Kong to customers. She joins from marketing agency MMGY Global, where she worked as an Account Executive in sales and marketing across a range of tourism clients. Based in HKTB’s London office, she will report to Joëlle Watkins, Senior Manager, Trade Marketing, UK and Northern Europe, who joined the role in February 2026. Her appointment comes as arrivals from the UK to Hong Kong increased by 14.8% in the first half of 2026. Hong Kong Tourism Board Director for Europe Anette Wendel-Menke said: "With Lydia on board, we are even better placed to deliver our trade strategy: driving increased visitor arrivals, developing new and diversified products, and building greater awareness of, and confidence in selling, Hong Kong. "This timing aligns perfectly with our ongoing 'Only in Hong Kong' campaign and plays a crucial role in our strategy to boost both the volume and value of UK visitors. Lydia's expertise will enable us to collaborate even more effectively with our industry partners to achieve this."

Not Just Travel has appointed Hayley Patterson to a newly created BDM role to support its Platinum travel consultants. Hayley steps into the new position, known at Not Just Travel as a Business Consultant and more widely across the industry as a Business Development Manager, working alongside Richard Lowrey-Heywood. She joins from Kuoni’s retail marketing department, where she worked on event planning and social media. Her campaigns covered cruise, Black Friday and consumer email marketing, driving engagement and bookings through Kuoni’s stores. She has 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, including nearly 17 years as an agent at Thomas Cook. Not Just Travel said she has a track record of turning social media engagement into bookings and completed a two-year marketing course alongside her day job. Co-founder Steve Witt said: "Hayley brings a huge amount of experience from across the travel industry and adds a diverse set of skills to our business consultant team. We continue to keep the best ratio of support to travel consultants anywhere in the industry, and we keep investing in it: more business consultants and more skills to help our travel consultants grow." Hayley added: "Even with strong recommendations from industry colleagues, I researched Not Just Travel extremely thoroughly before joining, and I did a lot of digging. I love how it does things differently. One of the biggest opportunities I see is that it gives people a real shot in life. "Many come from outside the travel industry and just need a chance to get into the most exciting industry in the world. They come to it fresh, with no preconceptions, so they can build their businesses differently from people who have been in the industry for years. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know each travel consultant personally and understanding why they set up their business, because everyone is different. Each person has their own goals and their own focus, and I want to support them as they grow."  

Ryanair has unveiled 11 new routes from UK airports as part of the first 29 new services for its summer 2027 schedule. Leeds Bradford gains the most, with four services to Bari, Budapest, Corfu and Tirana, followed by Newcastle, which will fly to Reus and Rhodes. The remaining new flights are Norwich to Malaga, Birmingham to Wroclaw, Bournemouth to Porto, East Midlands to Gdansk and Exeter to Porto. The airline plans a network of more than 2,500 routes serving 230 destinations next summer. All the additions are now on sale via the Ryanair app and website. Chief Marketing Officer Dara Brady said: “Ryanair is pleased to launch the first 29 new routes of what is set to be a bumper summer 2027 schedule, giving our cost-savvy customers an early opportunity to start planning next year’s getaways. "These are the first of our new summer 2027 routes to go on sale, with more exciting additions to be announced as Ryanair continues to expand Europe’s largest route network. "Customers looking to secure the lowest fares for their summer 2027 travel should head to the Ryanair app/website and book now to get ahead of the curve.”

The outbound travel industry contributes £57bn a year to the UK economy, up 9.6% on pre-pandemic levels, according to new research from ABTA. ABTA's latest Outbound Travel Report found the sector’s economic contribution has increased by 9.6% since 2019, while employment has risen by 5.7% meaning outbound travel now supports 865,000 jobs across the UK. The findings were published as ABTA’s Travel Convention gets under way in Madeira this week, bringing industry leaders together to discuss the sector’s opportunities and challenges. The report revealed that the North East of England has the highest contribution from outbound travel as a proportion of regional economic activity, at 2.6%, followed by the North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and East Midlands, all at 2.4%. London has the highest proportion of jobs linked to outbound travel, at 2.6% of regional employment, followed by the North East, North West, East of England and West Midlands, each at 2.4%. ABTA is calling on the Government to work with the industry to support further growth, citing challenges including geopolitical instability, rising costs, climate-related disruption and the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). With the next Budget approaching, the association has stressed its key policy demands. ABTA is urging the Government to 'work with us, not against us' to help the outbound travel industry continue to grow and support jobs and businesses across the UK. It is calling for a freeze on Air Passenger Duty (APD) and for children to be exempt from the tax, arguing this would help families with holiday costs and support growth. ABTA also wants the Government to review business rates for travel retailers, saying travel agencies continue to contribute to high streets and local economies. The report highlights the pressure of holiday costs on consumers. Of those surveyed who said they planned to spend less on holidays next year, 52% cited the cost of living, up from 47% last year. ABTA is also calling for a UK-EU youth experience scheme to help young people access tourism jobs in Europe, a reciprocal agreement to make school trips to the EU easier, and reforms to apprenticeships and vocational qualifications to improve career pathways into travel and tourism. ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer said: “For many people, holidays are their most important time of the year, a special opportunity to make lifelong memories. But as an industry our value extends beyond these amazing experiences, as our research shows, making a significant contribution to communities right across the UK. “But this doesn’t come easy, the geopolitical situation, climate related events and the wider economy have all had an impact on how people travel, and when they book. There is an increasing trend for people to book much closer to departure, sometimes just weeks before, which makes it very challenging for businesses. “The recommendations we outline in the report would help to strengthen our sector and ensure that travel remains affordable and continues to be a driver of growth. It should also help to future-proof the industry, recognising that growth can’t come at any cost - while growing our industry we also need to continue the work to mitigate and minimise its impact, both environmentally and socially.”

The Foreign Office (FCDO) has expanded its travel advice for Saudi Arabia following two days of deadly strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, warning that further attacks against airports are 'very likely'. Updated yesterday, (11 October), the FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to all airports in Saudi Arabia except Medina International Airport. It also now advises against all but essential travel to the cities of Dammam and Jeddah, which is on the Red Sea. It has advised British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital until it is secure, adding that those wishing to leave the country should consider travelling by land to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE or Jordan to catch a flight. The updated advice follows a second attack on the Riyadh airport on Sunday, which killed one person and injured 11 others, according to Saudi authorities. A strike the previous day killed 13 people and injured more than 300, with a fire reported in a passenger terminal. Further attacks were also reported at the airport earlier in the week. The attacks were claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement, which has also reported targeting Dammam airport and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. The group has warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace. The FCDO also advises against all travel within 10km of Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen, and against all but essential travel to several other areas, including Riyadh, Aseer, Najran and Jizan provinces, and the city of Taif. Flight disruption has been widespread across the country, with 2,018 of 6,608 scheduled departures between 8 and 13 October listed as cancelled or not operated, representing 30.5% of flights, according to aviation analytics data from Cirium. The FCDO update said: "Following a serious incident at King Khalid International Airport on 10 October 2026 at approximately 1500 (local time), we advise British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport until the airport is secure and to monitor the advice of the Saudi authorities. "Since 13 July, the Houthis (a military group in Yemen) have launched missiles and drones targeting several locations in Saudi Arabia. There is a heightened threat against airports, military bases, ports and energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu, as well as shipping in the Red Sea. Further attacks against airports are very likely. Follow Saudi Civil Defence alerts. "British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruption." British nationals are advised to follow local authorities’ instructions, sign up for travel alerts, monitor the news, avoid military facilities and oil infrastructure, check flights and travel advice before heading to airports, keep travel documents up to date and seek shelter indoors if instructed.

Inside Travel’s Asia specialist brand, InsideAsia, has expanded into Sri Lanka, adding seven new itineraries as 'a starter'. The new tours, ranging from 13 to 15 nights, include cultural, wildlife, family and luxury trips, with options combining tea plantations, national parks, heritage sites and coastal areas. Indian Subcontinent Programme Manager Jess Andrews said: "These trips are just tasters of what we can do and a starter for us. There are lots of exciting things to come as we continue to develop the destination and our connections across Sri Lanka." The new programme includes the customisable 13-night 'Sri Lanka Uncovered' tour, which features tea plantations near Ella and Wilpattu National Park, and starts from £3,895pp. It also features the 14-night 'Wilder Sri Lanka' tour, focusing on the country’s jungles, mountains, national parks and coastline, which starts from £5,250pp. InsideAsia has also introduced a family adventure itinerary, reflecting an increase in family bookings across its destinations, and a luxury trip featuring boutique properties and experiences in the Hatton Hill Country. Jess added: “We are so excited to be able to offer Sri Lanka as our latest destination. It is a place that has an incredible amount of depth and variety for its size and a place that continues to spark the imagination of travellers. "Having lived in Sri Lanka for three years and developed programmes for both Ampersand and A&K, I believe that we as a B Corp tour operator can bring something different to the market with the trips that we offer, through the people we work with.” Co-founder and Director Alastair Donnelly said Sri Lanka was the 'logical next step' following the development of the operator’s India programme, which launched in 2025. He added: “As a B Corp and a company committed to ‘travel as a force for good’, the team are developing some special experiences and initiatives in keeping with Undertourism work that we have been pioneering across some of our other destinations, working with communities to ensure positive impact for both local people and travellers alike. "We are looking forward to making further announcements as we close 2026 but this is just the beginning of plans for Sri Lanka which has so much more to offer.”  

Agents are invited to nominate their favourite suppliers and destinations in the Travel Gossip Awards 2027, launched today. The awards will be presented at the fifth annual Travel Celebration next March. There are a total of 23 categories, including, new for 2027, Agents’ Favourite Premium Cruise Company. Also new is Travel Gossip Supplier of the Year, to be chosen from the winners of the other categories. The Awards will be presented during a gala evening held at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on 24 March 2027. Travel Gossip CEO Bruce Martin said: “I’m delighted to launch the Travel Gossip Awards 2027 to recognise some of the best suppliers in the industry, as chosen by travel agents. “It’s been a tough year for the industry, not least because of the conflict in the Middle East, but the Travel Celebration in March 2027 is an opportunity to recognise the resilience and professionalism of our top suppliers and thank them for their hard work." The deadline for nominations is 20 November, and the shortlist will be revealed on 30 November. Agents will then be invited to vote on their favourites, up to 8 January 2027.  

After her recent promotion to Head of Sales – UK, Europe and Ireland, Polly Poulton is vowing to make TTC Tour Brands a 'household name' in the UK. Polly has been at the operator since January 2024, when she arrived as National Account Manager UK and Europe from G Touring. Born and raised in the sleepy Hampshire village of Horton Heath, Polly set her sights on the travel industry, studying Leisure Management at Southampton Solent University, after her professional swimming career was aborted... because of her height. Here she reveals more about her early starts in the pool, her learnings from G Touring and Carnival UK, the agent she admires, and why she's not planning a major overhaul at TTC. I was very sporty as child. At the age of nine, I would train in swimming at 5am in the morning, multiple times a week. I blame my height for not going further: I'm quite short and you've got be a certain height to really make it as a swimmer. My love of travel was sparked after a family holiday to Egypt. I actually qualified there as a scuba diver when I was 15. I remember it just blew my mind how crystal clear and blue the water was. We also used to camp loads on the south coast of England and I loved it. Camping for me is still very nostalgic. My mum found my first job in travel at Cunard. The summer after I graduated university, my mum gave me a kick up the butt and told me I needed to get a job by the time she came back from visiting family in Australia. She cut out a newspaper advert for a Reservations Consultant at Cunard and I got the job. It was one of the hardest job interviews I've ever done: it was a full day assessment centre, but it put me in good stead for my career. My time at Carnival UK and G Touring was invaluable. Working in cruise and touring has given me a wide breadth of the industry, as well as an understanding of its differences and opportunities. To my new role at TTC, I'm bringing all the relationships I've made. The connections I've made are lifelong; I had so much love about my promotion from ex-colleagues and people I've not spoken to for years. I always say you should never burn a bridge. There won't be loads of changes at TTC now I'm Head of Sales – UK, Europe and Ireland. My biggest focus is on growth; one that's sustainable and genuinely works for our trade partners. We have two amazingly strong brands – Trafalgar and Contiki – that appeal to very different travellers. So there's a huge opportunity to make sure we're giving agents the right proposition, right training and right reasons to sell both. We're going to be listening to what they need and make them easier to sell. We launched river cruising itineraries through Trafalgar this year for the first time and demand has been really strong. We were thrilled with the launch and, as a result, new ships are coming. We appreciate it's been a tough summer with low water levels, but customers have been booking for next year. They haven't been put off, which I'm shocked about. Even my parents are looking at river cruises for next year. There is room for us on the rivers. I went to the CLIA River Cruise Forum last year and the consensus was there is space for us. I don't think companies like us would make a business decision to grow in that area if there wasn't that opportunity – and there certainly is. The UK is TTC's smallest market but I've got big plans. There's a lot of investment, as well as investment to grow our agent partners. We're currently working with lots of consortia and agents to grow their business with TTC. For us it's about education, as even when I joined TTC, not many UK agents knew about it. We're not a household name in the UK yet, like we are in North America, Australia and Asia, but that's my aim. We're serious about growing business. I want to win awards! TTC Specialist and Adventure Division CEO Alastair Campbell inspired my career. When I was at G Touring he was Managing Director, and I reported directly into him post-pandemic. He gave me the courage to believe in myself and to go after the opportunities out there. I was also mentored by AAT Kings Managing Director Les Cox through TTC's annual mentorship programme. He compared leadership to netball, as I'm a netball umpire. For both, you need to be empathetic and thick-skinned, with the emotion taken out of it. It's given me the tools to recognise where I thrive and how I can grow. This year, I'm mentoring someone, and it's been really rewarding. The best thing about it was seeing them acknowledge and recognise that they can do it. I'm always in awe of agents who've built their businesses from scratch. Hannah Porter of Marlborough-based Travel By Hannah is incredibly aspirational. She's still young and grown her agency impressively. I would also love to pick G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip's brains for the same reason. I feel it's important to keep learning, ask questions and be inquisitive. Every day should be a school day. Canada was the most memorable fam trip I've been on. We saw a mummy bear hanging in the tree with her three babies, teaching them how to climb. It was such a varied trip: we also went rafting and had the full Canadian ice hockey experience. We got to put on all the gear, skate on the ice and have a go hitting the puck. The diversity of that trip just made me realise how incredible touring is. I always take my Kindle when I'm travelling. I love murder mysteries, especially Frieda McFadden's books. I also listen to true crime podcasts. At the moment, I'm listening to Morbid: A True Crime podcast, which is co-hosted by a pathology technician and she goes into the ins and outs of how a victim died. I find them fascinating – it's my brain detox from work. In another life, I would've been a detective. My New Year's resolution was to read a book a month. I've not only stuck to it, but I've read more than that. Now I love it, and I never used to be into reading. I'm also part of a girls' book club – I think it's more of a gin club but we do talk about books too! My guilty pleasure is sweets. If I am on a long car journey, I can't have a bag of pick and mix next to me as I literally can't stop eating them until they're all gone.

Agents are unconvinced by eDreams ODIGEO's move to let customers book flights, hotels and car hire via Alexa+, with several questioning whether voice-activated bookings will be trusted. The travel subscription platform's members – expected to reach 13 million globally by March 2030 – can search for and book flights, hotels and car rentals via Amazon's next-generation AI assistant. It is being positioned as a 'new shop window' for travel, with bookings available on the eDreams, Opodo, GO Voyages and Travellink platforms. EDreams said the collaboration is 'opening a new channel for customers to plan their trips', backed by 'round-the-clock' customer support, but agents said some might worry about technical errors leading to incorrect bookings. Wanderlux Luxury Travel Owner Sarah White said her own Alexa 'randomly plays without being spoken to', and expressed concern the same could happen with holidays. "Imagine waking up to a holiday booked, like one of those £99 mystery holidays, but you didn’t even want to go and it costs a lot more then £99," she said. Middlesborough-based Seaside Travel agent Kev Watson was also unconvinced. He said Alexa+ struggles to play the radio on certain devices in his home, adding: "I wouldn't be booking a holiday with her." Reigate Luxury Travel Director and founder Alexandra English added: "I’d love to see Alexa sort it out when something goes wrong." EDreams claims customers can tell Alexa+ what they're looking for in a holiday and it will search eDreams ODIGEO and present options 'within the natural conversation'. Chief Technology Officer Carsten Bernhard said: “Every major technological shift in history has made travel bigger and easier to discover, book and enjoy.   “Conversational artificial intelligence is the latest of these waves and a powerful accelerator for our business. We are delighted to bring the world’s largest travel subscription platform to Alexa+.   “This collaboration takes our travel offering to a major new audience and allows customers to reach everything we do through a single conversation. Not long ago, planning a trip meant an evening lost across dozens of tabs. The next generation of travellers will never know that happened.”  Alexa+ is free to Amazon Prime members or costs £19.99 a month.

Inghams Walking has rebranded to Inghams Summer to reflect the full range of experiences on offer. While walking continues to be central to its holidays, the specialist operator said its new name puts the spotlight on the wider choice and flexibility available to travellers. Inghams Summer is also introducing a new sales guide, a summer booklet, training sessions and social media content for agents. Managing Director John Mansell said: "We've listened carefully to what our customers and trade partners have been telling us. While walking remains an important part of what we do, it's only one part of the experience our holidays offer today. Our new name, Inghams Summer, better reflects the variety, flexibility and freedom that our customers are looking for when they travel. "What customers know and trust about Inghams isn’t changing. We'll continue to offer expert advice, handpicked properties, and destinations perfect to enjoy the great outdoors. What is changing is how we communicate the breadth of experiences available across our summer programme. From walking and cycling, to sightseeing, lakes, culture and relaxation, Inghams Summer captures that wider appeal and represents an exciting next chapter for the brand." Sales and Service Director Christie Green added: “We are very excited to be giving a new focus to our summer product offering. Alongside the launch of Inghams Summer, we are introducing new tools, including a new sales guide, a summer booklet, training sessions and social media content to help our agent partners share inspiration with their customers.” Inghams Summer offers itineraries in Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Madeira, Andorra and Norway, with flights from 16 UK regional airports. Summer 2027 deals include seven nights half board in Interlaken, Switzerland, from £1,551 per person, and seven nights half board in Selva, Italy, from £1,457 per person.

Agents are reminded that the deadline for entries to The Travel Agent Awards North East is today. The awards will return to Gosforth Park in Newcastle on 3 March 2027 following the success of this year’s inaugural event.  There are 12 award categories including New Agent of the Year, Homeworking Agent of the Year, Cruise Agent of the Year and Team Leader of the Year.  Agents can nominate themselves, or you can nominate someone else for one of these prestigious awards, and finalists will be invited to attend a black-tie gala for 250 guests. You’ll find the entry forms and more information here.  And if you'd like to take a look at last year's Travel Agent Awards North East, you can watch the official video and see photos of the evening here.  

EasyJet has cut its winter capacity by another 700,000 seats, taking the total reduction to 1.4 million seats. The airline announced an initial cut of 700,000 seats earlier this summer. Chief Executive Kenton Jarvis said the airline was scaling back during quieter periods to offset rising fuel costs. “People are taking capacity out, we see that across all competitors,” he told the FT, adding that was 'no surprise' given fuel costs. “I honestly think it’s been quite a surprise for the industry that fuel has stayed as high as it is.” Other airlines have also trimmed capacity, including Wizz Air which reduced it by 5% for the July-to-December period, blaming fuel price swings and geopolitical uncertainty. The cuts follow a tough third–quarter for easyJet, in which pre–tax profit fell from £286 million to £85m as fuel costs rose by £105m.

Flights have been disrupted after a ballistic missile struck Riyadh's airport in an attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Almost half of departures from King Khalid International Airport had been cancelled by 3pm yesterday (8 October), according to aviation analytics company Cirium, with a further 31 cancellations expected across Saudi Arabia’s airports today. Lufthansa and three Indian airlines, Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air, have suspended flights to the Saudi capital following the attack, with all travellers advised to contact airlines to check the status of flights. A parked Saudia Airlines aircraft caught fire and was badly damaged in the incident on Thursday, Reuters reported. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) continues to advise against all but essential travel to Riyadh province, as well as Aseer province, Najran province, Jizan province and Taif city and Taif International Airport. It advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen. Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the latest attack, but said three people were killed in airport strikes earlier this week. The Houthis said they were targeting Saudi Arabia because of its support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government in the civil war. The FCDO advice said: "Since 13 July, the Houthis (a military group in Yemen) have launched missiles and drones targeting several locations in Saudi Arabia. There is a heightened threat against airports, military bases, ports and energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu, as well as shipping in the Red Sea. Further attacks are possible. "British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruption."

Tourist rentals in Spain will be subject to 10% VAT from 1 December 2026 under a new housing decree issued yesterday (8 October). The accommodation had previously been exempt from VAT, meaning the change could affect the cost of villa and apartment holidays. The legislation also gives town halls in designated ‘housing pressure zones’ the power to increase property taxes on homes used for tourist accommodation. The additional annual property tax, known as IBI, can be increased by 50% for properties used as tourist rentals. This can rise to 100% for owners with two or more such properties and 150% for those with four or more. The measures come amid growing pressure over housing affordability in Spain, where tens of thousands of people have protested this week in major cities, including Madrid and Barcelona. The Spanish Government reported that tourist accommodation accounts for 10% of Spain’s rental market.  

Norse Atlantic is leasing two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to Pakistani airline PIA to boost long-haul capacity between the UK and Pakistan. The airline is providing the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI), with PIA planning to launch additional flights to the UK from November 2026. The routes will 'bridge multiple destinations' between the UK and Pakistan, meeting rising demand for 'direct and premium' connections, according to Norse. The deal follows a July 2025 report that start-up HB International Airlines was promoting Norse-operated Boeing 787 flights from Birmingham and Manchester to Islamabad as a 'joint venture'. Norse declined to confirm the plans at the time. PIA currently operates direct flights to both London Heathrow and Manchester, having relaunched services to the UK last year following a five-year gap during which it was banned after a fatal crash revealed some 200 of its pilots had fake licences. It previously also operated flights to Birmingham. Norse said it is also in 'active discussions' with 'leading international airlines' about further ACMI deals and said it will share more details as those opportunities take shape. Norse CEO Eivind Roald said: "As previously communicated to the market, we deliver according to what we have said by now gradually redeploying capacity into new ACMI opportunities. We are pleased to support PIA’s long-haul capacity expansion and to strengthen connectivity between the UK and Pakistan by providing the large Pakistani community in the UK with more options for travel between the two countries. We see this as the start of a strategic partnership between the two companies. “Charter and ACMI agreements are integral to our balanced business model, enabling us to capture attractive capacity opportunities worldwide with a clear focus on utilization, predictable cash flows and long-term value creation." PIA CEO Amir Hayat said: “The UK is an important market for PIA, and this agreement will allow us to expand the much-needed capacity and provide greater choice and connectivity for passengers travelling on these routes. "We are pleased to partner with Norse Atlantic as we continue to strengthen our international network and respond to strong demand for direct travel between the two countries. This is the first set of Dreamliners that is being adopted by the Pakistani market and we hope they will provide a dream journey to our valued guests who expect premium services from their national carrier.” In August, IndiGo ended its damp lease agreement with Norse, returning six aircraft with crew, which it has used to launch flights from Europe, including Heathrow and Manchester, to India. The low-cost carrier citied ‘challenging operating environment triggered by the ongoing geopolitical tensions.’

In August, former travel agent Kirsty Bachelor joined Titan Travel as its new Head of Trade Sales, moving from Venture Ashore. Travel Gossip caught up with Kirsty to find out a bit more about her, and reveals her love of Joanna Lumley, beef Monster Munch and her rabbit, Coco. I never travel without... my phone, without a doubt! I always download my favourite programmes before I travel, especially for those longer journeys, and if I’m being honest, there’s usually a healthy dose of reality TV in there too! It’s my guilty pleasure and the perfect way to switch off. The famous person (dead or alive) I’d most like to sit next to on a plane is… Joanna Lumley, she’s had such a fascinating life and travelled to so many incredible places, so I think she’d be brilliant company. She’s been a Bond girl of course, and I’m a big fan of Absolutely Fabulous, so I’m sure we’d have plenty to talk about and she’d have some amazing stories to tell. She really shows that it's never too late to start exploring the world. If I had a tattoo, it would be... well, I already have tattoos, but if I could go back and have a word with my younger self, I might have thought twice before getting them! So I think I’ll leave it there, and not add further to the collection. The next place I’ll visit is… Parga, it’s one of my favourite places. I love the lazy days, beautiful scenery and fab food and drink, it has such a great mix of being cosmopolitan while still feeling classically Greek and it’s somewhere I’ll never get bored of returning to. The last place I visited was... Lake Maggiore, I’ve just returned from the Barrhead conference, and it was absolutely beautiful. The scenery was stunning and definitely one of those places that makes you want to come back and explore further. My most memorable travel experience was… snorkelling in the Maldives, it had always been a dream destination for me, so finally getting there was pretty special in itself, but the highlight was seeing the sea turtles whilst snorkelling. It’s something I will never forget. The worst thing I ate or drank abroad was… Taramasalata! I know it’s a Greek favourite, but it's absolutely not for me. I gave it a try, but definitely never again. My bucket-list destination is… Alaska. It’s been on my bucket list for a while. I’d love to see the scenery and wildlife and just experience somewhere that feels completely different from anywhere I’ve been before. It’s definitely one I’m hoping to tick off the list. Born in… Coventry, and brought up in Burbage, a village in Leicestershire. Live in… Sapcote, another village in Leicestershire. Only about five miles from where I grew up, so I haven’t moved very far! The best piece of advice I’ve been given is…“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” It’s something my best friend shared with me a while back and it’s stuck with me ever since. Basically, when something feels overwhelming, you don’t try to tackle it all at once, you break it down and take it a bit at a time. If I could eat one thing/meal for the rest of my life it would be… beef Monster Munch! I love them and could happily eat them forever. The thing I miss most while travelling is… I should probably say my partner, but it’s actually my bunny, Coco! She’s a six-year-old mini lop and I treat her like she’s my actual child. When I left school, I wanted to be… a travel agent... and that’s what I did! I started as an apprentice in a Holiday Hypermarket in Coventry and I’ve been in the travel industry ever since. The thing I’m most proud of is… my two nieces, they are three and six, and I absolutely adore them. I’m a very proud auntie and love watching them grow up, they never fail to keep me entertained. In my new role, I’ll be… leading the Titan Travel trade team and helping to take our trade business to the next level. I’ll be working with the team to champion Titan with our agents and ensure they have everything they need from us to be successful. What attracted me to the job was... the product without a doubt. Titan has such a great reputation and an incredible history in the travel industry, and when you look at the destinations and experiences on offer, there’s so much to get excited about. I’ve worked in travel for a long time, so joining a company with such a strong heritage and such a fantastic product really appealed to me. Outside work, you’ll usually find me… spending time with my family and friends. I’m very family-orientated, so weekends normally involve catching up with everyone. And at this time of year you’ll also find me watching Formula One, I’m a big fan. The first thing I notice about a person when I meet them is… probably their sense of humour, I love meeting people who don’t take themselves too seriously and can have a good bit of banter. I think you can tell quite quickly when you’re going to get on with someone. If I won the Lottery tomorrow, I would…probably spend the first week in total shock, before working my way through my shoe and handbag wish lists, I’ve already got a few ideas in mind!

Cunard has promoted Gareth Reast to Regional Sales Manager for southern England. Gareth joined parent company Carnival UK in 2009 as a Personal Cruise Expert in the contact centre, before becoming Partnerships Executive at Cunard in 2021. Reporting into Business Manager Development and Engagement John Garbutt, Gareth will work directly with agents, providing training, sales support and business planning to help boost luxury cruise sales. He will also focus on developing relationships with new partners looking to expand their cruise offering, while introducing more customers to the line. Gareth's promotion comes after Carnival UK announced Cunard ship Queen Anne's transfer to P&O Cruises in May 2029. Cunard Associate Vice President EMEA Sales Iain Baillie said: "Gareth's appointment reflects both his passion for supporting travel agents and the strength of talent within Cunard. "Over the past five years, he has built excellent relationships across the trade and earned a reputation as a trusted and valued partner to many agents. "His experience, energy and understanding of the market make him ideally placed to support agents across the South, helping them inspire their customers and grow their Cunard business." Gareth added: "I'm delighted to take on this role after spending the past five years working closely with agents. I've seen first-hand the vital role agents play in helping guests discover Cunard, and I'm looking forward to supporting both existing and new partners across the South helping them grow their business through training, business planning and regular personalised support."

Some flights will be grounded at Brussels Airport on Friday (9 October) due to a national strike taking place in the Belgian capital. The airport said 'a number' of flights handled by Alyzia will be cancelled as some of its staff are participating in the industrial action. Local media suggests this figure is 140. Airlines working with Alyzia, which include Brussels Airlines, will contact passengers directly to inform them about the status of their flight and their options, it said. No impact is currently expected by flights handled by Aviapartner. A second strike is also planned for Monday 12 October, but the airport does not anticipate any effect on flights. It warned, however, that disruption to public transport is expected, and advised passengers to plan their journey to and from the airport accordingly. The UK Foreign Office advised: "Monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures. Always check with your travel operator for the latest updates."  

Unforgettable Travel Company has launched a new luxury Asia specialist brand, aimed at making complex, multi-destination trips easier for agents to sell. Unforgettable Asia launched yesterday (7 October) with 50 itineraries across 11 destinations, covering Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo and Indonesia. The launch follows a 226% increase in enquiries for Asia travel between 2022 and 2025, with agents now accounting for 54% of the company's Asia bookings across their global market. The new specialist offers end-to-end trip planning and operational support, including private chauffeur transfers, luxury hotels, expert guides, multi-country logistics, complimentary concierge services and 24/7 in-destination assistance. Agents will also have access to white-label destination and restaurant guides, monthly updates and selling tips, alongside support from a dedicated partnerships team. The company said its Asia specialists have lived and travelled extensively across the region and work with local teams to create 'slower-paced itineraries' focused on 'high-touch experiences'. These include a private blessing from Kamakura's 'Merry Monk' at Hasedera Temple in Japan, after-hours access to a private Peranakan home museum in Singapore and a visit with one of Taiwan's few female tea merchants. The collection has also been designed around luxury demand from multigenerational families, families travelling with teenagers and honeymooners. The company creates bespoke trips tailored to individual clients, with launch sample itineraries including a 12-night 'South Korea and Japan Wellness Journey' from £9,070pp, a 10-night Japan family itinerary from £5,108pp and a 12-night Indonesian honeymoon from £6,479pp. A 14-night Mekong Kingdoms journey from Laos to Angkor, including five nights onboard Bohème on the Mekong, starts at £7,836pp. Speaking at a media lunch at Sushisamba in London yesterday, co-founder Graham Carter said Asia bookings now account for 32% of the travel group's business. He added: "These figures have given us confidence to invest, and to give Asia a dedicated specialist brand. "We've seen with Unforgettable Croatia and Unforgettable Greece how much of a clear destination focus this has brought to the business: deeper knowledge, stronger local relationships and more thoughtful trips." The company plans a phased rollout of further destinations across Asia later this year and in Q1 next year. Graham said: "Looking ahead, Japan has been a standout destination for us. But I'm also equally interested to see where curiosity takes people next." While trade sales in the UK are lower than the company’s global figure, Graham said the UK trade market is 'definitely an area we want to expand' and that the company is looking at how to 'establish themselves more with the UK trade', with fam trip opportunities for UK agents with Unforgettable Asia in the pipeline over the next six months. Graham added: "Our ambition is to become the leading luxury Asia specialist that advisors can put their trust to, and help us deliver trips to their most valued clients."

Jet2 has put its 2028 summer flights and holidays on sale, covering 64 destinations from across 14 UK airports, including two brand new routes. The airline and operator claims it is the first major operator to make its 2028 programme available, with the launch a few days earlier than last year. It has more than 20.9 million seats on 533 routes on sale. The new routes are Belfast International to Bourgas in Bulgaria and Bristol to Enfidha, Tunisia. Other destinations include the Canaries, Balearics, mainland Spain, Greece, Türkiye, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta, Bulgaria, France, Austria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Portugal. During peak periods, the airline and operator said it will operate more than 1,800 departing flights every week. CEO Steve Heapy said: “We are already hearing from customers asking when they can book their holidays for summer 2028, so we have responded by putting an exciting programme on sale nice and early. We know our customers work hard for their well-deserved holidays and this exciting announcement really gives them something to look forward to. “By booking early, customers have the best choice when it comes to where they want to go and when they want to travel. Early bookers also get the pick of the best hotels, which are always the first to sell out, as well as the best rooms such as family rooms, interconnecting rooms and rooms with a sea view, which fill up quickly too. "With 2028 being a particularly special summer for us as we celebrate 25 years of Jet2, we look forward to showcasing our industry-leading customer service and helping our holidaymakers create unforgettable memories.” Key summer 2028 highlights by airport: Belfast International Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bourgas, Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes, Tenerife, Verona and Zante. * 56 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Birmingham Airport * Agadir, Alicante, Almería, Antalya, Athens, Barcelona, Bergerac, Bodrum, Bourgas, Catania, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Innsbruck, Izmir, Jerez, Jersey, Kalamata, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, La Rochelle, Larnaca, Lanzarote, Lesvos, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Marrakech, Menorca, Naples, Nice, Olbia, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Pisa, Porto, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Samos, Santorini, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Split, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Venice, Verona and Zante. * 241 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Bournemouth Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Corfu, Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Jersey, Kos, Lanzarote, Madeira, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Reus, Rhodes, Tenerife, Verona and Zante. * 28 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Bristol Airport * Alicante, Almería, Antalya, Bergerac, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Izmir, Jersey, Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Larnaca, Lanzarote, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Preveza, Reus, Rhodes, Skiathos, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Verona and Zante. * 115 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   East Midlands Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Izmir, Jersey, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Verona and Zante. * 115 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Edinburgh Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Santorini, Skiathos, Split, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Verona and Zante. * 97 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Glasgow Airport * Agadir, Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Izmir, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Tenerife, Verona and Zante. * 111 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Leeds Bradford Airport * Agadir, Alicante, Almería, Antalya, Barcelona, Bergerac, Bodrum, Bourgas, Catania, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Izmir, Jerez, Jersey, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Pisa, Preveza, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Santorini, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Split, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Verona and Zante. * 192 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   London Gatwick Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Heraklion), Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Lesvos, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Verona and Zante. * 89 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Liverpool John Lennon Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kos, Lanzarote, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes, Tenerife and Zante. * 69 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   London Luton Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Madeira, Málaga, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Preveza, Reus, Rhodes, Skiathos, Tenerife, Thessaloniki and Zante. * 55 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   London Stansted Airport * Agadir, Alicante, Almería, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Catania, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Izmir, Jerez, Jersey, Kalamata, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Lesvos, Málaga, Malta, Menorca, Naples, Olbia, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Split, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Verona and Zante. * 232 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Manchester Airport * Agadir, Alicante, Almería, Antalya, Athens, Barcelona, Bergerac, Bodrum, Bourgas, Catania, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Innsbruck, Izmir, Jerez, Jersey, Kalamata, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, La Rochelle, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Lesvos, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Marrakech, Menorca, Naples, Nice, Olbia, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Perpignan, Pisa, Porto, Preveza, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Samos, Santorini, Sharm el Sheikh, Skiathos, Split, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Venice, Verona and Zante. * 347 departing weekly flights during peak periods.   Newcastle Airport * Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Bourgas, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Izmir, Jersey, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Madeira, Málaga, Malta, Marrakech, Menorca, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Porto, Preveza, Reus, Rhodes, Rome, Skiathos, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Verona and Zante * 112 departing weekly flights during peak periods.

Riviera Travel has launched a new loyalty programme for agents, rewarding bookings with points and exclusive benefits in addition to their usual commission.  Riv Rewards is available through the operator’s trade platform Riviera Explorer and is open to agents who have reached ‘Passionista’ level in either Riviera’s river cruise or escorted tour training programmes. Agents earn one Riv Point for every £1 of eligible commissionable revenue on qualifying bookings, with bookings made from 1 October counting towards their balance. Riv Rewards has four tiers, Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with benefits increasing as agents progress. Rewards include fam trip opportunities, personal travel discounts, dedicated trade support, and the chance to win a £250 marketing support package.  Higher tiers will unlock rewards including a European river cruise for two, invitations to Riviera Travel Awards and ship christening ceremonies, and dinner with Riviera Travel’s senior leadership team. The programme also brings back The Vault, which offers instant rewards such as high street vouchers.  The Milestones feature will recognise and reward key booking achievements including an agent’s first river cruise, their first European escorted tour or first long-haul escorted tour booking. Agents can also earn additional points through Campaign Boosters linked to selected products, launches and promotional campaigns. Riviera Travel Director of Trade, Partnerships and Loyalty Vicky Billing said: “Our travel agent partners continue to play a vital role in our success, and Riv Rewards is our way of recognising, rewarding, and supporting those partners that consistently choose to book with Riviera. "The Vault has always been a firm favourite with our agent partners, so we’re delighted to bring it back as part of Riv Rewards. We wanted to take something agents already know and love and build it into a much broader loyalty programme, giving them even more ways to earn, unlock rewards and access exclusive benefits as they grow their Riviera business. "Best of all, it all sits alongside their usual commission, making every booking feel more rewarding.”

The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) has opened nominations for its 2026 Awards, celebrating those who are making a positive impact across the travel industry. The awards are open to the whole industry, and neither nominees nor nominators need to be AWTE members to take part. Nominations close on 23 October, with the winners announced at the AWTE Christmas Lunch & Awards at Church House Westminster, London on 27 November. This year's awards recognise excellence across six categories: Outstanding Achievement, Male Ally, Most Supportive Workplace, Community Champion, Rising Star of the Year (in partnership with ITT), and The Gillyan Shebbeare. The Gillyan Shebbeare award celebrates an outstanding contribution to the travel industry, with the winner also able to nominate a charity of their choice to receive a donation. Nominations will first be reviewed by the AWTE board to create a shortlist. The winners will then be chosen by an independent panel made up of ABTA Head of Membership Roberto Balasco, Audley Travel Managing Director Lisa Fitzell, Evan Evans Group Managing Director Tom Macklin and AC Group Chief Operating Officer Mafalda Teixeira. AWTE Chair Debbie O'Neill said: "These awards are about recognising the people who make our industry better. Whether they're early in their careers, championing others, driving positive change or inspiring those around them, we want to celebrate the those who are helping shape the future of travel." To submit a nomination, visit the AWTE website here. Image is from the AWTE Christmas Lunch & Awards 2025

G Adventures has named Joshua Preston as Global Purpose Specialist for Central and East England. Part of the operator's sales team, Joshua will carry out in-person visits to high street agents and homeworkers, as well as providing tailored product training and joint marketing initiatives. He will also focus on helping partners convert interest in responsible, community-led adventure travel into bookings. Joshua joins G Adventures from Royal Caribbean International, where he served as Sales Development Manager. He previously worked at Baldwins Travel and Bolsover Cruise Club. National Sales Manager Stu Darnley said: “Agents remain at the absolute heart of our business and are vital partners in our mission to change lives through travel. “Community-led tourism isn’t just about the positive impact we make globally, it starts locally with the agent communities on our high streets. Joshua brings immense energy and a deep passion for travel that will be invaluable across Central and East England. "By having dedicated, on-the-ground support, he will bring our global purpose directly to our trade partners' doorsteps, giving local agents the tools, authentic stories, and confidence they need to turn enquiries into bookings.” Joshua added: "Throughout my career, I’ve learned that the most powerful travel memories come down to the people you meet and the connections you create. I’m thrilled to join G Adventures – a team with an incredible track record of showing the world that travel really can be a force for good.”  

European Sleeper has launched a new booking tool allowing passengers to combine Eurostar journeys with its night trains from Brussels. The new connections will allow travellers to continue from Brussels to Berlin, Prague, Milan, Lake Como, Dresden, Hamburg and 'more connected cities to follow soon'. London is the first city to be connected to the European Sleeper network, with Eurostar services selected with 'carefully chosen transfer times' in Brussels to connect with the sleeper trains. The connecting train service is being delivered through a partnership with Choo-Cho, a Dutch 'specialist in international train connections and cross-border ticket sales'. European Sleeper said: "Through a smart integration between European Sleeper and Choo-Choo, we can offer carefully selected rail connections beyond the European Sleeper network, making it easier to reach more destinations across Europe by train. "For all connecting train journeys, Choo-Choo provides customer support before, during and after your journey. "This partnership allows European Sleeper travellers to enjoy a simple booking experience while benefiting from Choo-Choo’s expertise in international rail ticketing and customer service."

Passengers arriving to the UK will be able to pass through airport e-gates without showing their passport under a new contactless system currently being rolled out. East Midlands Airport became the first UK airport to introduce the technology yesterday (6 October), with all UK e-gates due to be upgraded by early 2027. E-gates are currently available at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted airports. The system uses facial recognition technology to photograph passengers as they approach the gate and check their identity against verified immigration and passport information. If the checks are successful, the gate opens automatically without passengers needing to scan their passport. Passengers who require further checks may still be asked to scan their passport or be referred to a Border Force officer. Government testing found the contactless system was up to 25% faster than using a passport at an e-gate, as reported by the BBC.  Travellers still must keep their passports with them at all times, and Border Force officers will continue to monitor the gates. The rollout, which is being introduced through software updates rather than by replacing the existing e-gates, will initially apply to British citizens before being expanded to other nationalities who are already eligible to use e-gates. Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said: "This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country. "By using state-of-the-art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK's robust border security. "Our digital transformation also builds on our work this summer to extend e-gates to children aged eight and above, making life a little easier for families."

Travel subscription platform eDreams ODIGEO is allowing members to search for and book flights, hotels and car rental via Alexa+.  Bookings via Amazon’s next-generation AI assistant can be made on the eDreams, Opodo, GO Voyages and Travellink platforms.  Alexa+ is free to Amazon Prime members or costs £19.99 a month. EDreams said the collaboration with Amazon is ‘opening a new channel for customers to plan their trips’.  It claims they can ask Alexa+ to find and book trips based on their preferences and it will connect to eDreams ODIGEO to search and present options directly ‘within the natural conversation’.  EDreams ODIGEO expects to have 13 million global subscribers to its platform by March 2030.  Chief Technology Officer Carsten Bernhard said: “Every major technological shift in history has made travel bigger and easier to discover, book and enjoy.   “Conversational artificial intelligence is the latest of these waves and a powerful accelerator for our business. We are delighted to bring the world’s largest travel subscription platform to Alexa+.   “This collaboration takes our travel offering to a major new audience and allows customers to reach everything we do through a single conversation. Not long ago, planning a trip meant an evening lost across dozens of tabs. The next generation of travellers will never know that happened.” 

Norse Atlantic has adjusted its winter programme to place more emphasis on the Far East, weeks after saying it was considering more transatlantic flights. In August, CEO Eivind Roald said the airline saw an opportunity to increase capacity in its own network, including adding more routes to New York and Orlando, as fuel prices eased and demand remained strong. Now the airline is leaning further into the Far East, building on the Southeast Asia routes it announced earlier this year: three new weekly flights from London Gatwick to Phuket and four weekly flights from Manchester to Bangkok from December. It is not clear which Far East destinations Norse is targeting. Currently, no flights to the Far East are on sale on its website. Eivind said: "In line with our flexible fleet deployment strategy, we have adjusted our winter programme with increased focus on the Far East and see continued positive momentum for initial bookings. "Norse continues to pursue attractive opportunities for additional fleet allocation in the charter and ACMI markets." Norse's latest results also showed a decline in passengers carried due to targeted capacity reductions, with 109,202 passengers transported across its network and ACMI/charter operations in September, down 32% year-on-year. However, load factor across its network and ACMI/charter operations rose from 95.2% to 96.9%, while unit revenue (TRASK) climbed 35% year-on-year to ¢5.8 per available seat kilometre. Eivind said: “Unit revenue to date in 2026 is up 25% from last year, as Norse maintains a strong network performance with close to full airplanes and stabile operational performance. We continue to fly with reduced capacity in response to the prolonged high fuel prices, while continuously optimising our fleet allocation going forward."

Glasgow-based coach holiday operator Eclipse Breaks has announced it has ceased trading after 13 years. Directors Kevin Miller and Claire Davidson said they made the 'difficult decision' to close Eclipse Breaks due to rising operating costs and the cost-of-living crisis. In an announcement on its website, the operator said tours had stopped departing from 5 October 2026. Bookings are protected by the operator's Financial Failure Insurance arrangements, managed by TMU Management Limited and underwritten by Accelerant Insurance Europe SA, in accordance with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Affected customers are being contacted. A petition for the winding up of Eclipse Breaks Limited, and the appointment of a liquidator, has been presented to Glasgow Sheriff Court. Affected suppliers will hear from the liquidator in due course. Kevin and Claire said: "We are genuinely sorry that our journey has come to an end, but we did not want to continue in circumstances where we could no longer be confident of maintaining the quality and service our customers have come to expect from us. "We are extremely proud of what Eclipse Breaks has achieved over the past thirteen years. We are equally proud of our team, who have worked incredibly hard to look after our customers and deliver the standard of service that we have always wanted Eclipse to be known for. "[We] would like to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of customers/suppliers who have travelled/worked with us. It has been a pleasure to build relationships with you all and we will sorely miss helping you with your holiday arrangements."

Travel and tourism leaders say Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new government has got off to a positive start for the industry, but they are waiting to see what his first Budget brings on 28 October. Speaking at the Travel Leaders Summit, hosted by travel accountants Xeinadin, Advantage Travel Partnerhip CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said said it was hard ‘not to feel a little bit excited’ when listening to Andy. “At last we have somebody who sounds really excited, sounds really enthusiastic,” she said. “It feels like he's given us all hope and something to wake up and feel positive about.” However, she said the Budget would show ‘whether this Government actually does support business growth’. Julia said the last Budget's rise in employer National Insurance contributions had made employing people ‘generally prohibitive’. "We've got a skills strategy, but what is the point if you can't employ people because it's too costly?" she asked. Julia also said outbound travel still suffered from a perception problem in Whitehall, where it is seen as money leaving the UK rather than an economic driver. ABTA Director of Public Affairs Luke Petheridge said the Government was ‘talking a good game’ across the industry’s three main challenges of competitiveness, skills and decarbonisation. “The administration, even where the Ministers have remained the same, are engaging in a more responsive manner than what they were prior to the change of government,” said Luke. “I think in engagement times, across government, we're getting really, really positive messages from them.” He said scrapping Air Passenger Duty in the Budget would be ideal, but more realistically, he is hoping for a real-terms freeze, saying that the tax is now affecting  where airlines choose to base aircraft. Luke also called for business rates reform that helps high street travel agents. Chief Executive of UKinbound Joss Croft said an early win from the new Government was a commitment not to introduce entry fees for international visitors to the UK’s national collections. "People choose a destination based on whether they will feel welcome and whether it offers value for money. Introducing a charge for international visitors cuts across exactly those two,” he said. However, Joss urged the Treasury to review its claim that reintroducing tax-free shopping would cost £2 billion. "I don't think anyone believes that £2 billion cost," he said.  The figure ignored the extra spending from longer, more frequent visits, he said, while pointing out that the UK is the only major European destination not to offer tax-free shopping. An overnight visitor levy in England now looks inevitable, added Joss, but how it works is ‘still up for grabs’. He praised the fixed-rate schemes in Manchester and Liverpool as simple for customers and businesses. By contrast, he said Edinburgh's percentage-based levy takes accommodation providers an average of eight minutes per booking to reconcile. He saw a ‘silver lining’ to the levyl as regional mayors who rely on its income will have ‘skin in the game’, which could make them allies in lobbying central government on VAT, tax-free shopping and visa costs.

Carnival UK has announced that Cunard ship Queen Anne will join the P&O Cruises fleet in 2029 at the end of her 2028/29 world voyage. Queen Anne will be 'extensively' redesigned and renamed before she enters service with the sister brand in May 2029. The decision does change Carnival UK's commitment to Cunard or its future and is a result of a careful review of its portfolio, Carnival UK, P&O Cruises and Cunard President Paul Ludlow said. He added that Queen Anne has a more 'natural affinity' with P&O Cruises, with the shift also allowing Cunard to focus on a 'unified' offering of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. In a related move, Arcadia will complete a special farewell season with P&O Cruises ending on 21 August 2029 before transferring to Holland America Line. All currently published voyages before the ships’ respective transfer dates will operate as planned. Paul said: “These decisions reflect a careful, long-term view of our portfolio and where the individual strengths of each ship can best support guest demand and the future direction of our two cruise lines. “Queen Anne was created as a bold and contemporary expression of Cunard, combining the brand’s hallmark service and sense of occasion with modern design, an extensive choice of dining and entertainment, and highly flexible public spaces. “Those qualities give her a natural affinity with the modern P&O Cruises holiday experience. Following her reimagining, she will introduce a new class of ship to the P&O Cruises fleet and broaden the choice available to guests through a different scale, style of onboard experience and range of itineraries. This choice will complement the existing fleet and make her a defining addition to the next chapter of P&O Cruises." “At the same time, the change will give Cunard a more closely unified fleet centred on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Each has a deeply established identity and embodies the timeless style, heritage and sense of occasion that guests around the world most closely associate with Cunard. “This decision does not change our commitment to Cunard or its future. We will continue to invest in the ships, service, itineraries and guest experiences that make Cunard unique, while building on the strong following enjoyed by each of its three Queens. “Arcadia has been a much-loved part of P&O Cruises for more than two decades and has created countless special memories for our guests. We are immensely proud of her place in the line’s history and pleased that, following a celebratory farewell season, she will continue her career within the Carnival Corporation family.” Queen Anne will play an important role in the Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028, with details of celebrations marking her final Cunard season to be announced in due course. Paul said: “Queen Anne has established a special place within the Cunard fleet and she has an exciting programme ahead, including a central role in the Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028 and her final World Voyage as a Cunard ship in January ‘29. We will ensure that the seasons ahead are a fitting celebration of her time as a Cunard Queen." Elsewhere at Cunard, a major upgrade of flagship Queen Mary 2 will be completed next year. "As the world's only ocean liner providing regular transatlantic service, it’s a one-of-a-kind asset, and our investment is designed to ensure it continues to delight guests for decades to come," Paul added.

USAirtours has appointed Sarah Barry as Trades Sales Consultant as it continues its sales team expansion. Sarah is the trade-only operator's fourth new hire this year, joining from Hays Travel in Hastings, where she was a Travel Consultant. Reporting into USAirtours Head of Sales Jessie Manzi, Sarah will support the company's trade partners and promote its range of itineraries. Her role is effective immediately. Jessie said: “Sarah brings a wealth of experience and a strong understanding of our partners. Her expertise will be a great asset as we continue to expand our sales team and strengthen our relationships with agents, reinforcing our commitment to providing outstanding service and support.” Sarah added: “I’m looking forward to working closely with agents, developing strong relationships and helping them make the most of the vast range of product available through USAirtours."

Leger Shearings Group Chief Executive Liam Race and Chief Financial Officer Andrew Oldfield have taken full ownership of the coach company after completing a management buy-out worth more than £50 million. The deal gives Liam and Andrew the remaining shares in the the UK's largest escorted coach tour operator, with continued backing from NatWest. The pair began their journey to full ownership of the Rotherham-based company in 2019 when they, alongside Chief Product Officer Chris Plummer, acquired a 30% stake in Leger Holidays from Ian Henry, who had led the company for more than 35 years. In 2020, Leger Holidays acquired the assets of Shearings after the collapse of former owner Specialist Leisure Group, creating Leger Shearings Group. The trio increased their stake to a majority holding in 2024, when Ian Henry became Non-Executive Chairman. The latest deal sees Liam and Andrew acquire the remaining shares held by the Henry family. Ian Henry is leaving the business, while Chris Plummer is retiring from the group after 20 years. The new owners Liam and Andrew paid tribute to both Ian and Chris, crediting them with playing a key role in the group’s growth. The group has more than doubled in size since the first management buy-out in 2019. The acquisition of Shearings drove much of that growth, while the 2022 acquisition of Arena Travel expanded its specialist-interest offering. Leger Shearings Group has now recorded 20 consecutive months of growth, reporting that sales and forward bookings are both ahead of any previous year at this stage. Liam and Andrew will now focus on the 'premiumisation of the Leger brand', including the launch of Lumina, the group’s new flagship touring experience, which will make its first departure in April 2027. Chief Executive Liam Race said: “This is a hugely proud moment for Andy and me, and the natural next step in a journey we started in 2019. Ian built something remarkable over more than 30 years and taking full ownership of Leger Shearings Group is both a privilege and a responsibility we don’t take lightly. “The business is in the strongest shape it has ever been. We’ve delivered 20 consecutive months of growth, forward bookings are ahead of where we have ever been at this point, and we have ambitious plans to build on that. We’re premiumising the Leger brand, and our new flagship experience, Lumina, sets off on its first departures this April, with more exciting developments still to come. Through all of it our focus stays exactly where it has always been — on the customer, and on the repeat business that great service earns us.” Chief Financial Officer Andrew Oldfield added: “Completing this buy-out puts the business on the firmest footing it has ever had, and we’re doing it from a position of real strength — record forward bookings, sustained growth and the continued backing of NatWest, who have been alongside us every step of the way. "It gives Liam and me the platform to keep investing in our product, our brand and our people, and to pursue the growth opportunities we can clearly see ahead.”

JTA Holidays is expanding outside the UK for the first time with the launch of JTA Holidays Ireland. The new operation will give agents in the Republic of Ireland access to the product range of JTA Holidays and Belleair Holidays, alongside dedicated trade support and competitive pricing, it said. JTA Holidays Ireland, which officially launches today (6 October), will be headed by Country Manager Katie Nolan. Katie has more than 18 years’ experience across retail, corporate and leisure travel and extensive knowledge of the Irish travel market, having also held roles at Trailfinders, Centre Travel and O'Callaghan Travel. The launch will be supported by a programme of trade activity including agent training, supplier events and visits across the Republic of Ireland. Agents will also have the chance to win prizes in launch competitions, including a 10-night Orlando holiday, a weekend in Athens and a place on a fam trip. JTA Travel Group CEO Wayne Darrock said: "Expanding beyond the UK is an important step for JTA Travel Group and one we have approached with considerable thought and investment. "We have built the business over many years by working closely with the travel trade, and we see a strong opportunity to establish JTA Holidays Ireland in the market."

Solmar Villas has appointed Lydia Taylor as Sales Development Executive. Lydia moves into the role after three years with Solmar Villas’ operations team, working across pre-travel and guest care. She will cover trade sales responsibilities during Ellie Willis’ maternity leave, while also supporting the wider distribution channels and will report to Head of Distribution Lewis Cooper. Lydia said: “I have been with Solmar for nearly three years now, working within the operations department and gaining experience across our pre-travel, in resort Holiday Helpline and guest care teams. I’m looking forward to bringing that experience into my new role as Sales Development Executive and building on our relationships with our trade, wholesale and OTA partners. "I’m excited to work closely with the team, strengthen our existing partnerships and help identify new opportunities for growth and success.” Sales and Distribution Director James Howlett added: “Lydia’s appointment gives us further support and focus across our trade partnerships, as we look to amplify Solmar Villas’ presence in the UK and Irish travel trade. “Our ambition is to be the number one villa company of choice for our partners, and trade is already our standout growth channel for 2027. Forward bookings are significantly ahead year on year, and revenue is growing even faster than booking volumes - reflecting a stronger mix of higher-value bookings. “We’re also seeing strong demand from multigenerational families, where the villa proposition really comes into its own – better quality, more space and greater freedom for families travelling together. Our priority is to build on that momentum by developing both existing and new relationships, making Solmar as easy as possible to do business with, and delivering the best and most consistent experience for our partners and customers.”

British Airways has unveiled details of a retrofit across its fleet of A380 aircraft as part of a multi-billion pound investment. The airline claims it is 'one of the most extensive cabin refurbishment programmes ever undertaken by an airline'. The retrofitted aircraft will feature all-new First, Business (pictured), Premium Economy and Economy cabins, with brand-new seats. Passengers can also expect larger in-flight entertainment screens, new amenity kits, dining and bedding, alongside redesigned galleys and stairways. The first completed A380 is expected to enter service in the coming months. Elsewhere, BA is upgrading its Heathrow Airport lounges, with a redeveloped Arrivals lounge set to open at the end of 2027 followed by a new lounge at Terminal 5 C Gates at the end of 2028. Lounge redevelopments are also underway in Boston and Newark, with Geneva and San Francisco to follow next year Meanwhile, First customers will get a new check-in experience at Heathrow Terminal 3 this winter, developed in collaboration with its oneworld partner American Airlines. Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle said: "This is a major milestone for British Airways and the future of our A380 fleet, marking one of the most significant transformations we’ve ever undertaken on any aircraft. "We've completely reimagined the customer experience, introducing new and updated seats in every cabin, all carefully considered to deliver greater comfort and an elevated customer experience. "At the heart of the transformation is our brand-new First suite, but this investment goes far beyond a single cabin. From redesigned interiors and upgraded dining to new amenities and service delivery, every detail has been thoughtfully designed with our customers front and centre, helping them to have a more seamless and memorable experience when they fly with us."

Agents can now sell wedding packages in Italy through Specialist Holidays Group (SHG) brand Citalia, Travel Gossip can reveal. The Italy specialist operator has partnered with Sorrento-based wedding planning company That's Amore Weddings, which will work directly with clients to plan and personalise their wedding day. The 'Weddings in Italy' collection launches initially in Sorrento, where customers can marry in the Cloisters of San Francesco. The core ceremony package includes the Cloisters venue, wedding officiant, legal certificates, bridal bouquet and groom’s buttonhole, live music, ceremony set-up and dedicated wedding planner support. Clients will also have access to Citalia's in-resort concierge service, giving them a point of contact on the ground during their wedding. Citalia can also arrange the wider trip, including flights, accommodation, transfers and the honeymoon. SHG Director of Trade Partnerships Jorge Quibell said: "It feels like a natural extension for Citalia and gives us something genuinely new to talk about, particularly with Italy already being such an iconic destination for romance and weddings."

Almost 130 air traffic control, customer experience, security and cleaning workers are set to strike at Leeds Bradford Airport this month over pay. The industrial action will take place from 3am on Friday 16 October to 6am on Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff, while air traffic control workers will walk out from 6am on Friday 16 October to 6am Sunday 18 October. Union Unite said no flights would be able to operate without air traffic control, and passengers would be unable to depart or arrive without passport control. It added there would also be no staff in the terminal to assist passengers. The union said it has been in pay negotiations since December 2025 after the workers came to the end of a four-year pay deal, but the airport's formal offer did not go far enough to address the lack of pay parity. Unite also highlighted the airport's financial performance, with turnover rising to £61.5 million for the year ending 31 March 2025, up from £54m the previous year. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations. "Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay." Unite Regional Officer Neil Whitaker added: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike. "The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."

Visit Orlando is bringing travel advisor events to London and Dublin later this month. The destination organisation will host its 'Elevate Orlando Live' events at Emirates Stadium in London on 26 October and Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on 27 October. The events will bring together travel advisors and industry partners for destination updates, product news and networking. Visit Orlando is also running a consumer activation in London as part of its wider UK campaign. The free 'Play Your Way to Orlando' mini golf experience will take place at Westfield Stratford City from 23-25 October, featuring five Orlando-themed holes highlighting theme parks, space, live sports, resorts and natural springs. Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej said: "Through our integrated advertising, consumer and trade campaigns, we're creating meaningful opportunities to connect with British travellers and travel advisors while showcasing the breadth of experiences that make Orlando a destination unlike any other. "Play Your Way to Orlando brings that story to life through an engaging, family-friendly activation designed to inspire future visits."

Disruption is continuing at Barcelona El Prat Airport today following severe thunderstorms and flooding across Catalonia. A number of flights were still showing delays on the airport’s website this morning, after almost 250 flights were cancelled at Barcelona on Saturday (3 October), according to Flightradar24. Some other flights were delayed by more than four hours. The wider transport network has also been affected by the storms, with disruption reported on local trains, roads and the Barcelona metro. The Catalan government issued a further alert today (5 October) warning of torrential rain until 2pm and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from rivers, streams and ravines. The forecast for thunderstorms continues into tomorrow. Girona Airport has also been affected by the severe weather, with delays and cancellations over the weekend.