Travel

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

Travel
Virgin Atlantic notes travel slowdown between Europe, US
While Virgin Atlantic has posted profit for the first time since 2016, there are early signs of a slowdown in demand for transatlantic flying from United States consumers. The airline, which is mostly owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, reported an annual pre-tax profit of £20 million, up from a pre-tax loss of £139 million last year. The company also hit record revenues of £3.3 billion, an increase of £183 million in 2023, thanks to passenger capacity growth of 7.5% and continued demand for business and premium leisure travel. However, demand could begin to dwindle due to rising tensions between the U.S. and Europe. "I think we've seen very strong trading for the first quarter," Chief Financial Officer Oli Byers said after the airline reported full-year results on Monday. "In the last few weeks, we have started to see some signals that U.S. demand has been slowing." The slowdown of transatlantic travel demand has prompted a drop in shares for rival British Airways owner, IAG hours after Byers comments, becoming the top FTSE faller on Monday. Economic troubles in the U.S. have also caused a slowdown in domestic travel in the country, which could trickle down to international travel deman
Travel
The most expensive countries for travel insurance
Travel insurance can be expensive, and according to Southern Cross Travel Insurance, some countries can be more costly than others. In 2024, one traveller claimed A$627,630 on travel insurance after suffering a stroke in Albania and spending 10 weeks in the hospital, making it the largest claim of 2024. This was followed by a $362,034 claim from a woman who suffered a collapsed lung in Thailand. The most costly countries for Australians to travel to based on medical claims are the U.S., Canada, Peru, Greece, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand, Japan, Cyrus and Spain. According to Mozo Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand, Japan, and the U.S were also some of the most popular destinations for Australians in 2024. Southern Cross Travel Insurance chief executive Chris White said that anyone could need medical treatment regardless of how healthy they are. “Medical incidents occurring on holidays are extremely stressful due to the compounding factors of being away from a familiar home environment, not speaking the language, and not knowing the local healthcare system,” White said. “We know that when we take away the worry of managing hospital arrangements, medical costs and payment uncertainty, it can reall
Travel
Australia joins US Global Entry Program
Australia has joined the ranks of those eligible for the United State's Global Entry program. Under the new agreement, Australian business travellers who enrol in the program can access the U.S. for travel with faster customers and immigration screening upon arrival, as well as TSA pre-checks which speeds up the airport security process. Defined as a “Customs and Border Protection program” the benefits are only available to pre-approved, low-risk travellers, who will all undergo a background check before being granted entry into the program. The program will also seek to offer new processing technology option in the future in the form of a Global Entry Mobile App, allowing members to validate their arrival to the U.S. on their iOS or Android before arriving in the Federal Inspection Services area. It is now the latest in a select group of countries in the program, with others including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UAE, and the UK.
Travel
ACCC: Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia - double flights
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted approval for an integrated alliance between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, marking a significant development in international air travel. This five-year alliance will double the frequency of flights between Doha and key Australian airports, enhancing connectivity and expanding options for travellers. The agreement will add 28 supplementary weekly return services between Doha and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with Virgin Australia utilizing Qatar Airways’ aircraft and crew under a wet lease arrangement. These upcoming routes will complement Qatar Airways' existing international services, substantially increasing capacity on the Australia-Middle East corridor. ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey highlighted the public benefits of the alliance. These benefits include increased flight availability, downward pricing pressure on these routes, and enhanced connectivity for both airlines' customers. The partnership also strengthens loyalty program benefits, offering more travel opportunities for members. The ACCC’s draft determination issued in February received majority support from stakeholders. However, concerns were raised about potential imp
Travel
Canada, Europe add new travel advisories for US
Canada has added a new travel advisory for its citizens entering the United States, amid a U.S. crackdown on immigration that has detained at least one Canadian. Several European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, have also updated travel advisories for the U.S. in response to increasingly harsh immigration law enforcement or the detention of their citizens. “Canadians and other foreign nationals visiting the United States for periods longer than 30 days must be registered with the United States Government,” the Canadian government’s travel advisory website now says. “Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution.” An executive order from United States President Donald Trump in January would require foreign nationals aged 14 or older to register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, beginning on 11 April. While a similar law had been in effect since 1952, it had not been enforced against Canadian travellers. Around 20% of preexisting leisure trips to the U.S. from Canada have been cancelled in the past three months, according to Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. Bookings to the U.S. by Canadian travellers declined by 40%

Travel
Batik Air entry lifts Melbourne-KL route competition
The number of airlines flying between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur will rise to three when Batik Air introduces year-round flights in July. Melbourne Airport said the Malaysian full-service airline, which is part of Indonesia’s Lion Air group and flies to Melbourne seasonally, would operate four times a week using a 377 seat Airbus A330-300, with 12 seats in business class and 365 in economy. Batik will join Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia in flying between the Malaysian capital and Australia’s most populous city, supplementing the carrier’s daily flights between Melbourne Airport and Bali. Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said Batik Air’s year-round service would provide more choice for Victorians heading abroad and international students and visitors looking to visit Melbourne. “Having three airline groups offering year-round service between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur makes this route more competitive than most Australian domestic routes,” Argus said in a media release. “Batik Air prides itself on being a premium carrier and serves more than 70 destinations across India and Southeast Asia, and we are confident both inbound and outbound travellers will welcome the extra choice. “To keep pace
Travel
Norwegian Cruise Line's Aqua sets sail in Lisbon
Norwegian Cruise Line has brought its first passengers aboard the Norwegian Aqua vessel, the inaugural ship in its new Prima Plus Class. The cruise line’s Prima Plus Class will feature larger ships than its Prima Class. Its maiden voyage will sail from Lisbon, Portugal to Southampton in the United Kingdom, before crossing the Atlantic to be christened in Miami. “This is a milestone moment for Norwegian Cruise Line as we set sail aboard Norwegian Aqua, a ship designed to offer our guests MORE — more wide-open space, more thrills, more culinary experiences, and more immersive entertainment,” said Norwegian Cruise Line president David J. Herrera. “During this inaugural season, we look forward to welcoming our travel partners from around the world and to give them the exclusivity of being the first to experience our newest product and to fully understand how guests can ‘Experience More at Sea’ with us.” For its first voyage, the ship will host more than 2,000 guests out of a 3,571 double occupancy capacity. After arriving in Southampton, it will cross to Boston, Massachusetts. It is set to be christened in Miami on 13 April. The Norwegian Aqua’s home ports will be Miami, Port Canaveral, and New York City, targeting
Travel
Heathrow reopens as probes launched into closure
Heathrow Airport and the British Government have launched investigations into how a power outage resulted in one of the world’s busiest airports closing for almost a day. Heathrow said it had asked independent board member, former Transport Minister Ruth Kelly, to review the airport's crisis-management plan and response to the incident last Friday, Reuters reported in an article. The airport, the world's fifth-busiest, resumed normal operations on Saturday, a day after 1,351 flights flying up to 291,000 passengers were affected by the closure of the crowded London aviation hub due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband ordered an urgent investigation, led by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). "We are determined to properly understand what happened and what lessons need to be learned," Miliband was quoted as saying in a BBC story. The fire broke out at the North Hyde substation in west London that supplies power to the airport. The last disruption of this scale at a European airport was during the 2010 when Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded 100,000 flights. Heathrow Airport, Britain’s busiest airport is owned by FGP Topco Limited, a consortium owned and led by A
Travel
Carnival Corp reports record revenue, raises outlook
Carnival Corporation reported robust financial results for the first quarter of 2025 on Friday, exceeding market expectations and raising its full-year earnings forecast. The cruise operator delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13, surpassing market expectations of $0.02 per share, while revenue reached a record $5.81 billion, coming in above estimates of $5.75 billion. First-quarter revenues climbed $400 million year-over-year as the company cited “strong close in demand and continued strength in onboard revenue”. Net yields significantly outperformed the company's December guidance, and operating income nearly doubled from the previous year to $543 million. “Our first quarter was truly characterised by outperformance. This was across the board and led by incredibly strong demand throughout our portfolio including exceptional close-in demand that exceeded expectations for both ticket prices and onboard spending,” said Carnival’s CEO, Josh Weinstein. Given the strong results, Carnival raised its full-year adjusted EPS outlook to $1.83, up from the prior estimate of $1.70. Weinstein highlighted that the revised forecast "incorporates our increased first quarter yield results and reduced interest exp