Travel

Updates on travel industry trends, tourism, and economic impact.

Travel
United States reviews 55 million visas for violations
The Trump administration is cracking down on travellers by reviewing over 55 million people who have had valid United States visas for any violations that could lead to deportation. The news was first reported by the Associated Press, who were told by the state department that all foreigners holding a U.S. visa are subject to “continuous vetting” for any indication they could be ineligible for the document. “The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organisation,” a department spokesperson said. This follows announcements earlier in the week that the Trump administration would be looking for any “anti-American” views on social media when assessing applications of people who want to live in the U.S. The administration has been imposing more restrictions and requirements for visa holders, including requiring them to submit to in-person interviews. The reviews will include new tools for data collection on past, present and future visas with a complete scouring of social media sites. Si
Travel
Apple introduces new features for travellers
Apple are adding new features for travellers in the iOS 26 update, including a digital passport. The new update will allow U.S. users to save a digital version of their passport to their Apple Wallet. According to Apple, this will be secure and private and compliant with the USA’s Real IS standard, which allows for Real ID-compliant forms of identification to be used for air travel. “Like all IDs in Apple Wallet, this new solution takes advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch,” a 10 June release from Apple said. The iPhone’s digital passport will be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration for TSA Precheck or Clear checkpoints in more than 250 domestic airports ahead of the flights. While the passports will be valid for domestic flights in the U.S., travellers will still need their physical passports for international trips or land border crossings. Apple’s digital passports are similar to those that can already be created on Android phones using Google Wallet. Alongside the digital passports, Apple also plans to improve boarding passes in the Apple Wallet. This includes new functionality, such as real-time flight updates that can be shared with
Travel
Air Canada flights to resume; agreement made with union
Air Canada will begin resuming flights after reaching a tentative agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). CUPE, which represents more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, said the two sides struck a deal after nine hours of talks with the assistance of a chief mediator appointed by the federal government. According to CBC, the tentative deal secures Air Canada flight attendants at least 60 minutes of ground pay for their time before each flight, at a 50% rate of a flight attendant's hourly pay, with the rate increasing 5% every year. The airline also proposed an immediate 12% pay increase for flight attendants with five or less service with Air Canada and an 8% pay increase for those who have worked there longer. Salaries would increase 3% in the second year, 2.3% in the third and 2.75% in the fourth. The only thing flight attendants will need to vote on is the proposed salary increase. “Unpaid work is over. We have reclaimed our voice and our power,” CUPE said in a statement. “When our rights were taken away, we stood strong, we fought back — and we secured a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.” Air Canada will begin resuming flights, with 155 scheduled on the first da
Travel
Melbourne Airport to begin $3bn runway project
Construction of Melbourne Airport’s third runway is about to pass a new milestone with early construction works about to begin and community consultation over noise mitigation already underway. The 12 month preliminary works program which is expected to start this month involves upgrading a nearby road to improve flow and safety for vehicles using the airport ahead of the main runway construction works scheduled for next year. Airport representatives have started talking to people likely to be affected by noise from aircraft using the new runway, including those using schools and public buildings, about potential upgrades roof insulation, double-glazed windows and improved seals. The 3,000-metre-long runway will be built parallel and 1.3 kilometres west of the north-south runway, along with new taxiways and other enabling infrastructure, at a cost of about A$3 billion (US$1.95 billion). Melbourne Airport’s Executive Director for the third runway project Peter Lellyett said the works and consultation marked an important step forward in construction of the runway, which is scheduled to open in 2031. “The third runway is critical to keep Victoria connected, ensuring we can meet future demand for travel and support the
Travel
Melbourne is Shenzhen Airlines' first Australian airport
Melbourne will become Shenzhen Airlines’s first Australian destination, with direct flights beginning on 23 December. The airline’s flights to Melbourne will operate three times a week, using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The route will host more than 95,000 seats each year. “Shenzhen Airlines’ decision to choose Melbourne as its first Australian destination reinforces Melbourne Airport’s position as Australia’s 24/7 international gateway,” said Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Jim Parashos. “This announcement is a significant milestone in Melbourne Airport’s international growth story as we continue to bring competition and choice into the market for our passengers.” “Shenzhen is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city for travellers to explore, but it’s also a global hub for tech, electronics, and manufacturing that Victorian producers will now have direct access to.” China is Victoria’s largest international visitor market, according to the state’s government. Around 411,000 Chinese travellers spent $2.9 billion in Victoria in the twelve months to March 2025. The agreement was funded through the Visit Victoria Industry Partnership Program, the state’s $7 million scheme to encourage tourism through cooperative marketing with

Travel
Air Canada strike continues despite back-to-work order
More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants will resume their strike, despite being ordered to go back to work by the Canadian Government. The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) told staff to return to work and said that a collective agreement that expired on 31 March would be extended until a new one was signed after Canadian jobs minister, Patty Haju intervened using Section 107 in the Canadian Labour Code. However, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe) defied these orders and directed members to ignore the order. “At this time, you are still on Strike and locked out! Please remember, while we are locked out there is no obligation to be in contact with the employer, no responsibility to check Globe or your work email or to contact them for reassignment or reserve duties,” the union wrote in a committee update. Haju said the flight attendants' not returning to work is hurting the Canadian economy and leaving many Canadians in a difficult position. “In a year in which Canadian families and businesses have already experienced too much disruption and uncertainty, this is not the time to add additional challenges and disruptions to their lives and our economy,” Haju said. Air Canada urged passenger
Travel
Australians turn their back on US travel, ABS data shows
Australian travellers have steered away from the United States, as Japan overtakes it as the third most popular country for Aussies to travel to. The U.S. is now the fourth most popular destination, falling 25% lower than 10 years becoming the only country top 10 to fall below 2014-15 volumes according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. More restrictive U.S. trade and entry policies after U.S. President Donald Trump’s taking office in January this year could be dampening Australians’ want to visit the country. In May, the Department of Foreign Affairs toughened travel advice three times in just over a month in response to Trump’s border control, despite not changing the country's overall rating from green. This comes as China becomes the fifth most popular destination, despite SmartTraveller recommending holidaymakers “exercise a high degree of caution”. After the downfall in American travel, Flight Centre reported a reduced profit forecast as a result of Australians travelling closer to home, despite 3 in 5 Australians holidaying overseas. “This volatility temporarily disrupted traditional travel and booking patterns during Flight Centre’s peak trading period as some customers either booked closer-to-home o
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EU introduces new Entry Exit System for travellers
The European Union will be rolling out a new digital border control system in October that will replace the manual stamping of passports. The new “Entry/Exit System” (EES) will include automated registration for msot travellers outside of the EU. The initiative has been pushed back many times, as it is nationally scheduled to start in 2022, but is now set to be rolled out over a period of six months starting six months. While the system aims to eventually create shorter waiting times at passport control, the Australian government has warned it may initially create longer queues on the Smartraveller platform. EES will apply to any non-EU nationals who are admitted into the Schengen Zone for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The Schengen Zone is made up of 29 countries, including four non-EU countries. Australian travellers wishing to enter the zone will need to have their fingerprints and photo taken, and answer Schengen Border Code questions on their first visit to Europe. People will be able to do this at a self-service system if available at the location or, once it's up and running, use a mobile app. It will apply to anyone who is travelling for tourism, medical treatment, or business medical t
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Amtrak's new high-speed Acela trains launch in August
Amtrak’s new high-speed trains from Washington, DC to Boston will launch on 28 August, part of Amtrak's effort to upgrade its train system. Five of its NextGen Acela trains will begin service on the Northeast Corridor route this month, with a further 23 trains rolling out through 2027. The route will also pass through cities like Philadelphia, New York City, and Baltimore. “NextGen Acela is more than a new train — it’s an evolution of travel,” said Amtrak president Roger Harris. “In just a few weeks, history will be made with the debut of NextGen Acela as we launch a new standard for American train travel.” The NextGen Acela trains include 27% more seats than the current models, as well as amenities like free 5G Wi-Fi and individual power outlets. They will host onboard cafes with grab-and-go self-service. These trains have a top speed of 160 miles per hour (257.5 km/h), and are able to tilt for smoother travel. While Amtrak has not announced an expected travel time for its NextGen Acela trains, the journey lasts around six hours and 40 minutes with current models. The route will have expanded schedules on both weekdays and weekends. Amtrak will also roll out its new Airo trains on routes through the Pacific N