(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement with Royal Buildspace LLP to launch Garner Kutch in Gujarat in early 2026, marking the third Garner brand signing in India since its IMEA debut. Garner, IHG’s midscale conversion offering, focuses on reliable comfort, flexible spaces, and local touches for value-driven travellers. The 40‑room… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) EVA Air has introduced a new co‑branded prepaid UATP card for corporate clients, in partnership with UATP’s dedicated air‑travel payment network. Unlike traditional credit cards, businesses preload funds and unlock tiered benefits—ranging from free Economy tickets to Royal Laurel Class upgrades—according to deposit levels. The card can be used with any UATP‑accepting airline… Read the full news article
New collaboration reshapes cargo payments and boosts efficiency for freight forwarders and cargo players across the UAE (IN SHORT) PayCargo has launched its digital cargo payment platform in the UAE, with Emirates SkyCargo as the first regional carrier to adopt the system. The integration allows freight forwarders and other stakeholders to make instant payments via… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Emirates has released the Aircrafted by Emirates 2025 Collection, a second limited run of 167 handmade luggage and bag pieces created from upcycled materials taken from retrofitted A380 and 777 aircraft. Available now at the Emirates Official Store, the items—priced USD 80–350—are expected to sell out quickly. The lineup includes three new trolley… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Emirates Group has begun a global recruitment push to hire 17,300 people across 350 roles in FY 2025, reinforcing rapid growth at Emirates and dnata. Roles span cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, HR and finance, with dnata alone adding over 4,000 cargo, catering… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) dnata has signed an MoU with International Airlines Group, becoming the inaugural ground handler in IAG’s Preferred Partner Programme. The pact establishes a long-term framework to drive innovation, consistency and value across North American stations, with services due to commence in Q4 2025. David Barker of dnata and Gurm Nijjer of IAG emphasized… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Helsinki Airport has been voted one of the world’s top ten airports in Travel + Leisure’s July 2025 Best Awards—the only European airport to make the list. Earning seventh place out of nearly 180,000 reader votes, the airport was assessed on factors like accessibility, passenger processing, dining, shops and design. This is Helsinki… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Wizz Air is celebrating eight years at its Varna base, Bulgaria’s first summer base, having served more than 4.8 million passengers since 2017. In April 2025, the airline added a second Airbus A321neo in Varna to match growing demand. The carrier now offers 13 routes to six countries, including exclusive services to Milan… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Wizz Air has surpassed 8 million passengers at Iași International Airport, marking more than ten years of operations since launching flights in December 2014 and opening its base in July 2016. The 8,000,000th traveller, arriving from Milan Bergamo on July 22nd, received a €100 voucher. Today, Wizz Air offers 21 routes to 13… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Travelport has accelerated its Travelport+ platform’s air search speed to 0.84 seconds—23% faster—despite a 200% increase in search volume since 2023. Enhanced booking capabilities and integrations like Content Optimizer and Productivity Automator provide travel agents with streamlined workflows and greater upsell potential. Independent research by Dynata and user feedback on G2.com rank Travelport+… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Globespan Travel Management is now reselling Amadeus Cytric’s corporate booking solution throughout North America, granting full use of Cytric Easy—including Microsoft Teams integration. As part of this launch, Globespan became the first TMC in Canada to execute a live NDC booking for Air Canada via an OBT powered by Amadeus, enhancing access to… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) ARI has named ten ESG Champions—leaders from each of its global units—to implement the company’s “Journey with Purpose” strategy across four pillars: People, Planet, Product, and Passenger. Headed by Tracy Ross, this team will balance global directives with local action, driving inclusion, environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing, and passenger empowerment to meet ARI’s ESG… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) American Airlines and Mastercard have extended their nearly 40‑year partnership, naming Mastercard the exclusive network for all AAdvantage® co‑branded credit cards. The renewed agreement harnesses Mastercard’s payment technologies and analytics to tailor offers, enhance reward redemption, and secure transactions throughout the travel process. AAdvantage® members will also access more Mastercard Priceless Experiences—VIP events,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Expedia TAAP has unveiled significant platform updates shaped by travel advisor feedback. Enhancements include extending deferred payment term limits to 365 days and introducing Hard Change functionality for flexible modifications to booked trips. A new bank transfer option is now available in seven European markets, and the agency service charge feature—allowing up to… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Amadeus and Luxair have renewed and expanded their long‑standing PSS and FCA partnership, marking over ten years of collaboration. The updated agreement introduces four advanced Amadeus solutions—Self‑Reaccommodation, Reference Experience, Segment Revenue Management Premium, and Anytime Merchandising—to enhance passenger autonomy, streamline booking interfaces, optimize pricing strategies, and enable personalized ancillary sales. Luxair’s CEO, Gilles Feith,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Amadeus has enabled Saudia to convert traditional PNRs and e‑tickets into single, dynamic Order records, positioning the carrier among the first worldwide to operationalize this approach. Each Order consolidates all services a guest purchases, offering Saudia real‑time visibility to deliver personalized offers, tailored pricing, and fully digital servicing. The transition leverages Amadeus’ smart… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) KLM and Air France have initiated a collaborative arrangement in which Air France pilots will fly a KLM Boeing 777‑200 on the JFK–Schiphol route through October 25. The first combined flight, KL641, left Amsterdam at 1:25 p.m. today with an Air France cockpit team and KLM cabin staff. Achieved after extensive planning with unions and regulators,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has forged a 10‑year strategic alliance with India’s Cygnett Hotels & Resorts to introduce La Quinta by Wyndham and Registry Collection Hotels in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The partnership aims to open over 60 properties by 2035, with the first planned in late 2026. An exclusive deal will establish 50+ La Quinta upper‑midscale hotels, while… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Leeny Oberg, Marriott’s CFO since 2016 and EVP of Development since 2023, will retire on March 31, 2026, after a 26‑year career marked by the Starwood integration, pandemic management, and strategic portfolio growth. Jen Mason, a 33‑year Marriott executive and current Global Treasurer, will become CFO, while Shawn Hill, who has overseen Asia Pacific Excluding China’s expansion, will… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Marriott International and FÁBRICA DE HOTÉIS LTDA have signed a multi‑unit development deal to open seven City Express by Marriott hotels in Northeast Brazil, part of a 15‑year plan to establish 30 properties across the region. The announcement, made at a ceremony in Porto de Galinhas, extends the brand’s rapid growth in the CALA… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts and FET SYSTEM INC. will convert two existing properties into ANA Holiday Inns in 2026, introducing the first internationally branded hotels in Sanda and Tosu City. The 130‑room Kobe Sanda hotel and 126‑room Tosu hotel will undergo major refurbishments and adopt Holiday Inn’s Open Lobby concept. This move aligns with… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) WFS, a subsidiary of SATS, has opened a new 4,800 m² E‑Commerce & Freight Forwarder Handling warehouse at Copenhagen Airport, raising its total cargo space there to 21,500 m². The expanded facility supports freight forwarders with services ranging from weight and dimension capture, security screening, and consolidation/deconsolidation to customs preparation, labeling, repacking, and transportation logistics…. Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) All Nippon Airways has secured the 2025 FlightGlobal Executive Leadership: Asia‑Pacific Award—the first time the airline has claimed this prestigious distinction. Recognized for transformative leadership under President and CEO Shinichi Inoue, ANA was applauded for its strategic recovery from the Covid‑19 crisis, record financial and operational results, and ongoing enhancements to passenger experience…. Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) All Nippon Airways has partnered with Hitachi and Hitachi Consulting to launch an automated system that rapidly generates optimal flight‑schedule overhaul plans in response to disruptions such as severe weather. The new platform integrates ANA’s operational insights with Hitachi’s optimization algorithms to analyze aircraft schedules, maintenance plans, crew rostering, and airport conditions in… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Ryanair is adding 35 cabin crew roles at its Shannon base to meet increased passenger demand. Recruitment events are scheduled for 15 July in Shannon and 16 July in Limerick, featuring company presentations, full assessments, and Q&A with current crew. Successful candidates will receive a €2,000 signing bonus, competitive pay, travel discounts, and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) London Luton Airport’s operator and owner have committed £11.5 million to refurbish two former Monarch hangars into maintenance hubs—a new easyJet facility with an apprenticeship campus and a second major airline’s engineering base—alongside a logistics consolidation centre. These projects, housed in previously vacant structures acquired in February 2024, will create up to 150… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) TUI Group unveils TUI Blue Xiamen Seaside Hot Spring—its sixth hotel in China—featuring 340 rooms and a “Beauty Spring” marine hot spring rich in beneficial minerals, located seven kilometres from Jimei Beach. Owner Chen Aiqin highlights the decade of dedication behind the property and anticipates a bright future under the TUI Blue banner…. Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Emirates has opened its first Travel Store in Seoul’s Jongno-gu district, delivering an immersive retail environment that mirrors the airline’s premium onboard experience. The 132 sqm space, designed with soft beige tones, ambient lighting and the UAE’s Ghaf Tree motif, features a full-scale First Class Private Suite, dedicated travel consultancy counters and smart… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) dnata Catering & Retail and PT IAS Hospitality Indonesia have formed a strategic partnership under which dnata will manage and support IAS Food Services’ inflight catering operations at Denpasar International Airport. The 3,005 sqm facility, currently producing over 3.8 million meals per year, will benefit from dnata’s global best practices to expand capacity,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Wizz Air is launching “My Journey,” a new mobile app feature that centralizes flight tracking, disruption assistance and alternative-travel options. As summer 2025 air traffic in Europe outpaces 2024 by 5% and pre-Covid volumes, the app consolidates status updates (check-in, gate, boarding), eligibility for meal vouchers, hotels or compensation, and the ability to… Read the full news article