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CTO Names interCaribbean Airways Official Airline Partner for SOTIC 2026

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has named interCaribbean Airways the Official Airline Partner for the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) being held in Georgetown, Guyana, Oct. 5-9. Under the agreement, interCaribbean Airways will offer a 25% discount on flights for SOTIC delegates and CTO members traveling to the conference. The partnership is designed to strengthen regional participation and improve accessibility for attendees from across the Caribbean.

Breaking Travel News7 Aug

EasyJet’s £5.7bn Takeover: What Apollo’s Arrival Could Mean for One of Europe’s Biggest Airlines

The familiar orange airline is preparing to enter a new era. EasyJet has agreed to a £5.7 billion takeover by US private equity giant Apollo Global Management, bringing one of Britain’s best-known aviation brands under private ownership and raising a bigger question: what happens when private equity takes control of a low-cost airline built on scale, simplicity and relentless efficiency?

Breaking Travel News7 Aug

TAP MILES&GO CUSTOMERS CAN NOW EARN MILES WITH AIRBNB

TAP Air Portugal has just expanded the benefits of its TAP Miles&Go loyalty programme through a new partnership with Airbnb. From now on, TAP Miles&Go Customers can earn two miles for every euro spent on eligible stays and experiences booked on the platform. The partnership integrates Airbnb into the TAP Miles&Go ecosystem and creates an opportunity for programme members to earn more miles when planning their next trip.

Breaking Travel News7 Aug

In July 2026, Latvian airline airBaltic carried 558 000 passengers across its network

In July 2026, Latvian airline airBaltic carried 558 000 passengers across its network, a 3% year-on-year increase. During the same month, the airline operated 4 786 flights, representing a 7.4% increase compared with July 2025. The load factor in July 2026 was 84.2%, down 2.3 percentage points year-on-year, mainly due to increased capacity compared with the same period last year.

Breaking Travel News7 Aug

Norwegian Group with 3.1 million passengers in July

In July, the Norwegian Group had 3,061,053 passengers, of which Norwegian had 2,701,132 and Widerøe 359,921. For Norwegian, this represents the highest number of passengers in a single month since before the pandemic. Both airlines delivered a strong operational performance with high regularity in the busiest travel month of the year.

Breaking Travel News7 Aug

Wexford Festival Opera Announces Major Partnership with British Airways Ahead of 75th Anniversary

Ahead of its landmark 75th anniversary Festival in October, Wexford Festival Opera is delighted to announce a new partnership with the airline, British Airways. Under this new partnership, British Airways will be the Festival’s official airline and production sponsor for Mascagni’s Iris, the highly anticipated production that will open the 2026 Festival on 15th October in Wexford’s National Opera House. Beyond the stage, British Airways will also support the Festival’s learning and engagement programmes.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

Flying more sustainably with “shark skin”

An Airbus A319 of Lufthansa City Airlines is the world’s first test aircraft for a new generation of fuel-efficient AeroSHARK technology. Lufthansa Technik will test approximately 70 transparent film patches measuring 20 × 20 centimeters each on the short-haul aircraft with registration D-ABGK together with its development partner Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings) through February 2027. These material samples are attached to selected areas on the sides of the fuselage as well as on the inside and outside of the engine cowlings. Their performance will be analyzed over the next few months during regular flight operations between Munich and Hamburg and is expected to provide insights for the further development of the AeroSHARK technology. The long-term goal is to tap into additional efficiency potential in flight operations through the broader use of AeroSHARK, thereby contributing to greater sustainability in air travel.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

Emirates Skywards uncorks another exclusive ‘money can’t buy’ experience with Moët Hennessy

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is once again partnering with Moët Hennessy to offer members an extraordinary money-can’t-buy experience through Skywards Exclusives. The exclusive four-night journey through France’s celebrated Champagne region and Paris, will showcase the pinnacle of French hospitality, exceptional gastronomy and the heritage behind some of the world’s most prestigious champagne maisons.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

American Airlines and Citi elevate premium travel

American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard today announced updates to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®, introducing new and enhanced premium travel and lifestyle benefits designed for frequent American Airlines travelers. Cardmembers can now unlock up to $2,300 in value, including Admirals Club® membership and faster path to AAdvantage® status. The refresh reflects a shared commitment to deliver a premium travel experience with benefits that extend beyond the airport.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

SriLankan Aviation College Recognised as IATA ATC Preferred Partner for 2026

SriLankan Aviation College (SLAC), the training arm of SriLankan Airlines, has been recognised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as an IATA Authorised Training Centre (ATC) Preferred Partner for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to excellence in aviation training and further strengthening its position among IATA’s leading global training partners. The College, recognised as one of the 10 best-performing IATA Training Centres in the world, has received this award for the second consecutive year.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

Eurowings with more than ten million passengers in the first half of the year

Eurowings has completed the first half of 2026 with stable operational performance and high customer satisfaction ratings. Despite weather-related disruptions to flight operations at the start of the year and strikes by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) trade union, Eurowings operated 75,000 flights with a regularity rate of nearly 99 per cent. Eurowings was forced to make significant last-minute adjustments to its schedule due to the conflicts in the Middle East. In total, more than ten million passengers chose Germany’s largest holiday airline in the first six months of 2026.

Breaking Travel News6 Aug

NDC Transition: How Intermediaries Bridge Legacy GDS and Modern Airline APIs

As airlines seek to use state-of-the-art APIs to provide unique fares, on-demand offers, and bountiful ancillary offers directly, they are pursuing the New Distribution Capability rollout at an increased pace. Many carriers impose surcharges by waiving content availability on traditional EDIFACT-based global distribution systems at the same time.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

flynas Launches Direct Flights between Madinah and Brussels from October 5

flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, announced the launch of direct flights between Madinah and Brussels, the capital of Belgium, starting October 5, 2026, as part of its efforts to strengthen its network and provide its guests with more travel options.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

flydubai to host UAE National Careers Open Day, showcasing aviation career opportunities

flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, will host its UAE National Careers Open Day on 16 August at the flydubai Campus, inviting UAE nationals to explore rewarding careers with one of the region’s fastest-growing airlines and learn more about the carrier’s specialised training and development programmes.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

Riyadh Air Creates Unforgettable Family Journeys with Disney

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, and The Walt Disney Company, are bringing some Disney joy to the skies. Created for Riyadh Air, young travelers will be treated to amenity kits featuring Disney’s Mickey & Friends characters, with several bespoke designs depending on age group.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

Riyadh Air Launches Three Employment-Linked Scholarship Programs

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, has announced the launch of three additional employment-linked scholarship programs under the “Wa’ed” track of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. Delivered in collaboration with leading specialized educational institutions in the United States, the initiative reflects the airline’s commitment to developing Saudi talent and preparing national capabilities in high-demand aviation disciplines that support the future of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

Emirates and South African Airways Expand Codeshare Partnership

Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) today announced an expansion of their codeshare partnership, enabling access to nine cities and establishing the start of a reciprocal codeshare agreement between both carriers. The expanded partnership opens more destinations across central and southern Africa, simplifying connectivity for customers. Since launching their codeshare agreement, Emirates and SAA have operated on a unilateral basis, with SAA placing its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, as well as interline access to 68 Emirates destinations worldwide via Dubai. With regulatory approvals secured, the new agreement will see Emirates place its code on SAA-operated flights, extending its network deeper into South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

Qatar Airways Reconnects Doha and Philadelphia with First Flight

Qatar Airways has reconnected Doha and Philadelphia with the launch of a daily non-stop flight between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), its 14th destination in North America, which resumed on 1 August 2026.

Breaking Travel News5 Aug

Vietnam Airlines partners with Miss England for the 75th Miss World Festival in Vietnam

National flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, is delighted to announce its role as the official travel partner for reigning Miss England, Grace Richardson, as she travels nonstop from London Heathrow to Vietnam for the 75th Miss World Festival from 29 August to 5 September 2026. Grace will fly in style and comfort with one of Asia’s leading international airlines, ensuring she will arrive refreshed and ready to represent England on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.

Breaking Travel News4 Aug

British Airways Appoints Patrice Gordon as Director of Global Sales

British Airways has announced the appointment of Patrice Gordon as Director of Global Sales. Taking up her new post in September 2026, Patrice will lead the airline’s global sales, distribution and account management teams, with responsibility for driving revenue growth and strengthening commercial performance worldwide.

Breaking Travel News4 Aug