Historic Scotland reported 1,692,611 visitors for June – August 2013, growth of 14.8% YoY

2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — From June – August 2013, the organisation, which is Scotland’s biggest operator of visitor attractions, reported 1,692,611 visitors, an increase of 14.8% on the same period last year. Across the agency’s 78 ticketed attractions, records were broken at flagship site Edinburgh Castle – up 26% on 2012 for the period June –… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2013

2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2013, a 2.0 percent decrease from the 9.4 billion RPMs flown in August 2012.  Available seat miles (ASMs) in August 2013 increased 1.4 percent to 11.3 billion from the August 2012 level of… Read the full press release

Spirit Airlines released its preliminary traffic results for August 2013

Miramar, Florida, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) today reported its preliminary traffic results for August 2013. Traffic (revenue passenger miles) in August 2013 increased 28.0 percent versus August 2012 on a capacity (available seat miles) increase of 22.1 percent. Load factor for August 2013 was 90.7 percent, an increase of 4.2 points as… Read the full press release

International Council on Clean Transportation report named Alaska Airlines the Most Fuel-Efficient U.S. Airline

Report by International Council on Clean Transportation is first to quantify airline fuel performance SEATTLE, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines is ranked No. 1 in fuel efficiency in a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. The ICCT study is the first to quantify… Read the full press release

United Airlines to launch new nonstop service from its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport to Elmira, N.Y., and State College, Pa

CHICAGO, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — United Airlines today announced plans to launch new nonstop service from its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport to Elmira, N.Y., and State College, Pa. The airline also plans to begin new service from Chicago to Topeka, Kan., subject to government approval. ExpressJet Airlines will operate the United Express flights using 50-seat regional jet… Read the full press release

easyJet to increase its Jersey network with the introduction of a year-round service to London Gatwick

2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — easyJet, the UK’s largest airline has today, Wednesday 28 August 2013, announced it is increasing its Jersey network with the introduction of a year-round service to London Gatwick. From 30 March 2014 easyJet will operate three flights per day between Jersey and London Gatwick, offering the choice of a morning, afternoon and… Read the full press release

Auckland Airport welcomed Jetstar’s new thrice-weekly direct flights between Auckland and Adelaide

Auckland Airport has welcomed today’s announcement by Jetstar that it will start a new thrice-weekly direct service between Auckland and Adelaide. 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The new service, which will commence on 16 December 2013, will be operated by an Airbus A320 and will see Adelaide join Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast to become the fourth… Read the full press release

Drug detector dogs at New Zealand airports to be trained to also sniff out large amounts of currency as new way to target proceeds of crime

Drug detector dogs at airports around the country will soon be trained to also sniff out large amounts of currency as part of a new method of targeting the proceeds of crime. 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — A recent trial of two of the detector dogs at Auckland Airport resulted in the seizure of more than $350,000… Read the full press release

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier Cebu Pacific cited as one of Asia’s Most Promising Brands at Asian Brand and Leadership Summit in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE, 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) was cited as one of Asia’s Most Promising Brands during the Asian Brand and Leadership Summit last August 26-27, 2013 in Dubai. The event was organized by the World Consulting and Research Corporation (WCRC) and iBrands 360. “We are very proud… Read the full press release

Mainsail Lodging and Development becomes Oakwood Worldwide’s First Oakwood Brand Franchisee

Mainsail Lodging and Development to Exclusively Manage Company’s Florida Operations LOS ANGELES, 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Oakwood Worldwide, the global leader in corporate housing and serviced apartments, recently expanded its relationship with Mainsail Lodging and Development by signing the company as its first Oakwood® brand franchisee. Mainsail, based in Tampa, Fla., will exclusively manage the Florida… Read the full press release

Bristol Airport launches marketing campaign across Devon and Cornwall to raise region’s awareness of 100+ destinations

2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bristol Airport launches a marketing campaign across Devon and Cornwall today (Monday 2 September) highlighting the wide range of routes available to passengers across the South West. The campaign comes on the back of significant growth in market share in the two counties which indicates that Bristol is increasingly seen as the… Read the full press release

Airport Commission’s emphasis on noise as central to expansion selection welcomed by London Gatwick as its noise impacts are lower than those of Heathrow

The Airports Commission has rightly emphasised that aviation noise will be a central issue in any decisions about new airport capacity Gatwick’s noise impacts are many times lower than those of Heathrow because aircraft using our airport do not overfly highly populated areas in London. Nothing in the future can change this basic fact, which… Read the full press release

AIRFRANCE KLM August 2013 traffic figures: passenger +4.9%, cargo -1.3%

Passenger: rise in traffic (+4.9%) and unit revenue ex-currency Cargo: decline in traffic (-1.3%) and unit revenue Passenger 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — In August 2013, passenger traffic rose by 4.9% for capacity up by 2.3%. The load factor stood at 87.9%, up by 2.2 points. The group carried 7.15 million passengers (+3.0%). Unit revenue per available seat kilometre… Read the full press release

Air France first European airline to serve Shanghai by Airbus A380

First European airline to serve Shanghai by Airbus A380 Three weekly flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Shanghai-Pudong by Airbus A380 516 passengers on board and optimum comfort in all cabin classes 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Starting today, Air France now offers customers three weekly flights to Shanghai-Pudong by Airbus A380, becoming the first European… Read the full press release

Norwegian to launch 787 Dreamliner flights between Scandinavia and Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland-San Francisco (OAK) and Orlando (MCO)

2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Norwegian launches new routes between Scandinavia and Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland-San Francisco (OAK) and Orlando (MCO) in spring 2014. Norwegian will operate the 787 Dreamliner on the routes. At the same time Norwegian launches a new route between New York (JFK) and Copenhagen. Norwegian continues to launch new intercontinental routes as it… Read the full press release

UAE’s RAK Airways launched four flights per week to Amman, Jordan

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — UAE’s RAK Airways just launched Islamabad on 05 August 2013 with its first flight carrying 150 passengers from Ras Al Khaimah to Islamabad, Pakistan. 7 August 2013, the airline launched Amman, Jordan, thus expanding its wings into the Levant region. The launch flight was inaugurated with rose flowers… Read the full press release

RAK Airways made its first flight from Ras Al Khaimah to Islamabad on August 5, 2013

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The commercial growth path of RAK Airways is strategically winning attention. The first destination launch for the airline, in 2013 is into the capital of Pakistan – Islamabad. On July 2, Mr. Murabit Al Sawaf, President and CEO of RAK Airways at a press briefing in Hilton Resort… Read the full press release

Vermont Tourism’s Seventh Annual Apples to iPods Contest to start on Sunday, September 8 at 16 Vermont pick-your-own apple orchards

Vermont Tourism spices up fall with Apples to iPods: find a wooden apple hidden at 16 apple orchards & win an iPod. MONTPELIER, Vt., 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards will offer a chance to win an iPod during the Apples to iPods promotion that kicks off Sunday, September 8. In this technology-meets-agriculture contest, one specially… Read the full press release

Macau Government Tourist Office promoted Macau tourism at “The China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition” (CIBTM) in Beijing

2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) joined hands with Macau Economic Services and 19 local tourism business delegates to promote Macau business and incentive travel at “The China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition” (CIBTM) in Beijing, an occasion to enhance connections and collaboration with industry partners from the Mainland as well. Co-organized… Read the full press release

Ethiopian Aviation Academy announced it graduated 254 Trainees

2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian Aviation Academy graduated 71 cabin crew, 43 aviation maintenance technicians and 140 marketing professionals, including trainees from Equatorial Guinea, in a ceremony held at Ethiopian Airlines headquarters on September 5, 2013. Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said “Human resource development is one of the four pillars of our… Read the full press release

SAS Group released its August 2013 traffic figures

SAS Group’s August 2013 traffic figures  SAS Group’s capacity (ASK) was up by 11.7% as capacity was increased on leisure routes to southern Europe. The Group’s traffic (RPK) increased by 10.3%. The SAS Group’s load factor decreased by 1.0 p.u. to 77.8%. SAS Group carried 2.4 million passengers in August, up 3.3% vs last year…. Read the full press release

UK transport operator FirstGroup to sponsor four of the north east’s most promising young golfers

2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, today confirmed that it has strengthened its relationship with former Open Champion and Ryder Cup veteran, Paul Lawrie, by sponsoring four of the north east’s most promising young professionals, all of whom have emerged from Paul Lawrie’s Junior Golf Foundation. Aberdeen… Read the full press release

Avis Car Rental reached more than 300,000 vehicle exchange/upgrade transactions for its vehicle selection service Avis Preferred® Select & Go

PARSIPPANY, N.J., 2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Avis Car Rental is celebrating more than 300,000 vehicle exchange/upgrade transactions for Avis Preferred® Select & Go, the Company’s vehicle selection service. Launched in June 2012, and now available at top airport locations in North America, Avis Preferred Select & Go empowers frequent renters to select the vehicle that best fits their… Read the full press release

Around 7,000 Lufthansa employees and several thousand external personnel are active in Lufthansa sports clubs (LSV)

2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — In addition to its promotion of top-class sport, the Lufthansa Group also supports athletes within its own ranks. As an active contribution to protection of health, the Group has long supported its employees with a diverse offer of sports – providing an ideal balance to the various requirements which career and family… Read the full press release

Lufthansa crew in traditional Bavarian dress for Oktoberfest

From Munich to New York, Chicago and Tokyo – Experience the “Oktoberfest on board” on all long-haul flights from Germany 2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — This year a Lufthansa crew wearing traditional Bavarian dress will once again take off from Munich during the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, bringing with them a touch of local colour to selected… Read the full press release

The District at Auckland Airport launched Facebook page

It’s easy to find out exactly what’s going on at The District at Auckland Airport  – just head to Facebook. 2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — At The District, the airport is creating New Zealand’s best business location by making it more than just a place to work or catch a plane. The area boasts attractions such as Butterfly… Read the full press release

Firefighters from Queenstown, Wanaka and Auckland Airport raised money for Wakatipu’s Bruce Grant Youth Trust in the annual Chill Factor Challenge

Anyone who caught a glimpse of a group of firefighters racing each other down Coronet Peak in their firefighting gear last month might have thought they were just having a bit of fun … and that they were maybe a little crazy. But it was all for a good cause. 2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — The firefighters… Read the full press release

Expedia Affiliate Network to enhance hotel offering for Air France’s customers worldwide

Expedia Affiliate Network brings retail expertise and superior inventory to revitalise Air France’s hotel offering. PARIS, France, 2013-09-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Expedia, Inc., one of the world’s largest online travel companies, today announced that Expedia® Affiliate Network (EAN), the private-label arm of the company, has signed a new partnership agreement with Air France. The collaboration will see… Read the full press release

Customer at Auckland International Airport’s Relay store won $250,000 with Instant Kiwi ticket

2013-09-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — One customer at Auckland International Airport’s Relay store left with more than a few magazines after winning $250,000 on a very lucky Instant Kiwi ticket. Samima Bano was working on the day and says it was exciting to be able to sell someone a major winning ticket. “He [the customer] was over the moon… Read the full press release

Queenstown Airport was New Zealands second busiest for Australian arrivals durinng July 2013

2013-09-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Queenstown and Auckland Airports have welcomed the latest Statistics New Zealand international travel and migration data which shows Queenstown Airport was the second busiest airport in New Zealand for Australian passenger arrivals in July. According to Statistics New Zealand: 19,344 Australians arrived at Queenstown Airport in July this year, up 15.8% from… Read the full press release