Qatar Airways announced six new destination to Saudi Arabia beginning 2 October 2013

Airline to launch sixth destination in Saudi Arabia beginning 2 October 2013 DOHA, Qatar, 2013-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways announced it will begin flights to Ta’if, in the Mecca province of Saudi Arabia, beginning 2 October 2013.  The non-stop service from Doha will operate four-times-a-week. “For nearly 20 years we have been steadily growing our presence… Read the full press release

Japan Airlines (JAL) to introduce new in-flight service on Honolulu routes

The first installment for new in-flight meal service TOKYO, 2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Japan Airlines (JAL) will introduce new in-flight service on Honolulu routes and new services in Honolulu, starting from this autumn. As the first installment, JAL will offer new in-flight meal service from Japan to Honolulu in collaboration with star chef and popular restaurants from… Read the full press release

Qatar national airline Qatar Airways to host 46th Annual General Meeting of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) in Doha November 5 – 7, 2013

DOHA, Qatar, 2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, is hosting the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) in the capital city of Doha. The three-day event will take place between 5 and 7 November at the Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel. Established… Read the full press release

Tourism Australia gears up for more Indian travellers as new market insight names India one of the world’s fastest growing outbound travel markets

2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — New consumer research carried out in six of India’s fastest growing cities is being used by Tourism Australia to further shape its 10-year marketing plan for the country, aimed at tapping into the future tourism potential of a market estimated to be worth up to A$2.3 billion for Australia by the end… Read the full press release

Dianne Sassenhagen Appointed New Senior Tourism Sales Manager at San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (SACVB)

San Antonio, TX, 2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Dianne Sassenhagen, CTA joins the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (SACVB) – Tourism Division as the new Senior Tourism Sales Manager. Dianne has been with the SACVB for six years and was formerly the National Sales Manager for the Midwest Region. In her new role, she will be… Read the full press release

Malaysia Airlines evacuates 280 Malaysian students from Egypt

280 students arrive today at KLIA ferried by the national carrier Sepang, 2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Malaysia Airlines MH8100 left to Cairo yesterday, 25 August 2013 to ferry Malaysian students in Egypt. The A330-300 aircraft departed Kuala Lumpur at 11.10am and arrived at the Cairo International Airport at 3.00pm local Egypt time. Meanwhile, MH8101 which was… Read the full press release

Germany’s second largest airline airberlin started accepting PayPal as a payment method on many bookings

2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Germany’s second largest airline is constantly enhancing the service provided for its guests. From now on, airberlin will accept PayPal as a payment method on many bookings. “We would like to make travelling as easy as possible for our guests. PayPal acts as a digital purse, thus eliminating the laborious process of… Read the full press release

Milford Track in New Zealand’s famed Fiordland wilderness region celebrates 125th anniversary

2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Visitors to New Zealand’s famed Fiordland wilderness region will have the chance to experience the majestic beauty of the Great Walks Milford Track as never before when one of the world’s best known multi-day hikes celebrates a special anniversary. To mark the 125th anniversary of the opening of Milford Track, a unique… Read the full press release

airberlin to launch additional flights to Antalya on the Turkish Riviera

2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — airberlin is soon to launch additional flights from several German airports to Antalya on the Turkish Riviera. This is the airline’s reaction to the current situation in Egypt and, as such, offers its guests another alternative to holiday destinations on the Red Sea. The additional flights to Antalya will start in the… Read the full press release

Philippe Kronberg new General Manager at Stamford Plaza Brisbane

Brisbane, Australia,  2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Stamford Hotels and Resorts announce the appointment of Philippe Kronberg as General Manager at Stamford Plaza Brisbane. Philippe returns to Brisbane directly from his most recent position as General Manager at Hilton Pattaya, Thailand. Before then he worked with Hilton Worldwide around the globe including China, Japan, Australia and Europe working… Read the full press release

Allegiant announced new, nonstop seasonal jet service between Fort Wayne and Phoenix via Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) announces today new, nonstop seasonal jet service between Fort Wayne and Phoenix via Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, beginning Oct. 30, 2013. Allegiant also announced today, service in 10 new communities, marking 99 U.S. cities served by Allegiant’s low-cost, nonstop service to popular vacation destinations, more than any other low-cost carrier in… Read the full press release

British Airways Holidays study: millions of Brits book trips abroad but confuse their destination on the world map

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Millions of British holidaymakers are booking trips abroad but can’t pinpoint their destination on the world map, according to new research. A study of 2,000 people who travelled abroad last year shows that 53 per cent of those who went to Cyprus have no idea where it is in reality – confusing… Read the full press release

Canadian Tourism Commission’s Global Tourism Watch: Australians kept their wanderlust in 2012

Fast-growing outbound travel market sent record numbers of visitors to Canada, says CTC’s latest Global Tourism Watch report. 2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — While the economic storm raged around the world from 2008, Australia stayed relatively sheltered by high commodity prices and a steady hand at the financial tiller. The ensuing economic growth has been one of the motivators for Aussies… Read the full press release

High passenger traffic at Bahrain International Airport during Eid Al Fitr break

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced today that Bahrain International Airport (BIA) has witnessed high passenger traffic during Eid Al Fitr break. During the period between 5th and 12th of August, the airport received 94,423 embarking and 67,940 disembarking passengers as well as 2524 transit passengers which brought the total passenger movement during… Read the full press release

Schiphol Group 2013 Interim Report: revenue +3.3%, operating result +5.1%, net result +18.9%

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Building together a Mainport Future Net revenue up by 3.3% to EUR 658 million (2012: EUR 637 million); EBITDA up by 1.0% to EUR 266 million (2012: EUR 264 million); Operating result up by 5.1% to EUR 148 million (2012: EUR 141 million); Net result of EUR 110 million (2012: EUR 93… Read the full press release

Oscar Award winner Tom Hanks and his family watched hurling match while transiting Shannon Airport en route from Greece to the US

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Passenger numbers may be rising significantly at Shannon Airport this summer season but even in the rush these days, some still stand out more than others – particularly if they are world famous celebrities! Among others, in June the airport had Irish-American royalty in Jean Kennedy Smith, last month it was Bruce… Read the full press release

The Eastern Iowa Airport and Allegiant Air launched direct service between Cedar Rapids and Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers Florida

Cedar Rapids, IA, 2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Eastern Iowa Airport and Allegiant Air are announcing direct service between Cedar Rapids and Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers Florida. The service will begin on December 18 with two non-stop flights per week. Allegiant will introduce the new service with fares as low as $99.99 each way. To take advantage… Read the full press release

High-speed rail operator Eurostar expects over 110,000 passengers during the bank holiday this weekend

2013-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Eurostar is set for another bumper bank holiday this weekend, as over 110,000 people are expected to travel with the high-speed rail operator –  a 3% rise in passengers compared with the equivalent 2012 August bank holiday weekend *. Almost 60,000 Brits will take advantage of the long weekend to enjoy a… Read the full press release

Pacific Asia Travel Association: Asia Pacific destinations international visitors figure grew by eight per cent in first half 2013

2013-08-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — International visitor arrivals into Asia Pacific destinations have expanded at better than eight per cent over the first part of the year according to preliminary estimates released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today. Across the 31 destinations for which data is currently available, this translates into more than eight million additional arrivals… Read the full press release

Cape Town International Airport grants R1.5M to seven flagship beneficiaries from communities in its vicinity

2013-08-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport (ACSA CTIA) prides itself in giving back to communities. The airport handed over R1.5 million today to seven flagship beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are selected according to the company’s strategic Corporate Social Investment pillars. The airport took its management team and staff volunteers on a… Read the full press release

JAL Group revised its flight frequency and fleet plans for the remaining of fiscal year 2013

TOKYO, 2013-08-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — JAL Group (JAL) today announced revisions made to its flight frequency and fleet plans for the remaining of fiscal year 2013(ending March 31, 2014). In regards to the airline’s domestic network, flight frequencies on select routes will be adjusted to better meet demand as well as the changes in customer travel patterns… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways launched flights to Sulaymaniyah which is its fifth destination in Iraq

SULAYMANIYAH, Republic of Iraq, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways today launched flights to its fifth destination in the Republic of Iraq, Sulaymaniyah, increasing the airline’s frequency across Iraq from 16 to 20 flights each week. The new services, which will operate four-times-a-week non-stop from the airline’s Doha hub, brings the carrier’s global network to 129… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines announced HOT low fares starting at $69 one-way for flights to select nonstop destinations nationwide

2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines Challenges YOU to Seize Your Vacation with Fares Starting as Low as $69 One-Way to Select Nonstop Destinations Nationwide Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and wholly-owned subsidiary AirTran Airways are challenging Americans to stop allowing their vacation days to go unused and to seize the moment to Carpe Vacay!  According to… Read the full press release

Key Customer Innovation and IT appointments at Alaska Airlines

SEATTLE, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines has named three new managing directors to strengthen its growing Customer Innovation and Information Technology divisions as part of an effort to become the easiest airline to fly. “These new positions highlight Alaska Airlines’ continued investment in customer-friendly technology and innovation,” said Kris Kutchera, the carrier’s vice president of… Read the full press release

New increased baggage allowances announced by Qatar Airways

Check-in Up to 30kg in Economy, 40kg In Business And 50kg In First Class Doha, QATAR, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Effective 1 September 2013, passengers flying Qatar Airways routes worldwide will have enhanced baggage allowances with additional baggage weight allowed per person. Economy weight allowances have increased from 23kg to 30kg while Business and First Class… Read the full press release

airberlin offers members of its frequent flyer program topbonus to win additional 2,000 topbonus award miles

2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Members of airberlin’s frequent flyer program, topbonus, not only earn award miles on flights but also with numerous partner companies and these miles can be redeemed for free flights. topbonus members who take one flight before 15th October, rent a car, stay in a hotel for a night and write a review… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways adds four additional weekly flights between Doha and Nairobi, Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today, Kenya’s East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Phyllis Kandie, welcomed Qatar Airways’ decision to increase its frequency between Doha and Nairobi by adding four additional weekly flights to and from the capital city.  Beginning Sept. 1, 2013, the airline will increase its A320 aircraft flights to 18… Read the full press release

Travelport to relocate its Benelux helpdesk to the local Travelport office in Brussels

Relocated helpdesk to further enhance customer service Brussels, Belgium, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, a leading distribution services and e-commerce provider for the global travel industry, today announces the relocation of the Travelport Benelux helpdesk. The helpdesk, which will continue to be manned by leading, global helpdesk provider, Stefanini IT Solutions, will be relocated to the local… Read the full press release

Ryanair named best performing airline at Bristol Airport

2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (20 Aug) celebrated receiving an inaugural Bristol Airport Tracker Award, which recognised outstanding flight performance by Ryanair aircraft at Bristol Airport. Ryanair was the best performing airline at Bristol having achieved a 100% record for correct departure routes on take-offs, minimising the noise disturbance… Read the full press release

New consumer verification security system introduced on Ryanair.com website

2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (20 Aug) launched a new consumer verification security system on the Ryanair.com website, which offers increased security when booking Ryanair’s lowest fares on Ryanair.com. Delivered through CardinalCommerce’s Centinel® technology platform, the new system has been introduced across all Ryanair markets and provides consumers with… Read the full press release