Author: Shawon Hannan
Tui Travel, an international leisure travel group with its headquarters in Crawley, UK, has announced booking figures for the forthcoming holiday season that should spread optimism through the tourism market. The company, which has the Thomson and First Choice holiday brands under its umbrella, announced today that the ‘very strong trading momentum’ that it has enjoyed in recent times is extending into the coming summer season. To add substance to the claim, it revealed that it has already experienced an increase of 9 percent on its bookings from the UK and Nordic region this year, and with higher margins than…
Travellers can now make and receive phone calls in foreign countries at no extra charge with the installation of a new app. Users of i-pod touch, smartphones and tablets will be able to access free roaming after downloading the i-mobb app, which is available at http://www.i-mobb.com. Once the app has been installed, the user’s device makes and receives calls as if it was operating in its home country. The app is currently available to users based in eight countries: U.S.A., Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Canada, Japan, and Netherlands. It assigns the user with a number in their country of origin…
Gatwick Airport, which serves London, UK, is now prepared to welcome the world’s biggest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380. A £6.4 million investment at the airport has culminated in the opening of a new, pier-served A380 stand. Stand 110 on pier 6 is officially christened today when Emirates makes a one-off flight to the airport with one of its fleet of A380’s. Following the celebration, Gatwick will be looking to attract regular scheduled flights from other operators of the giant aircraft. Gatwick’s chief commercial officer, Guy Stephenson, said, ‘Gatwick is delighted to officially open its A380 stand today, marking an…
Travel Channel UK, a travel-based television channel that is available on Sky channels 251 and 252, has announced a corporate re-brand in conjunction with an update of its services. As part of its re-brand, the channel has adopted a new logo to help underline a major makeover of its programming, the new talent at its disposal and its intention to provide first rate entertainment for devotees of travel and travel-themed programs. The new look follows the channel’s purchase by Scripps Networks Interactive, which was completed last year. Among the programmes to be broadcast are offerings that feature adventure travel, food,…
The Bluebell Railway, a steam powered heritage line that has, until now, run for nine miles along the border of East and West Sussex in England, has extended its line to join the national rail network. The extension of service marks the first time in 55 years that the steam trains can operate as far as the town of East Grinstead in West Sussex, with the Grinstead Belle locomotive making the inaugural journey yesterday. The line between Sheffield Park, the locomotive’s previous terminus, and East Grinstead was closed in 1958, but the culmination of an £11 million project that saw…
Easyjet, a UK-based budget air carrier, is to close its check-in desks and promote on-line advance check-in for all of its passengers. All of the check-in desks across the company’s network will become bag drop desks from April 30 this year, and it hopes that the measure will see all passengers downloading their boarding cards in advance from its website. Passengers are currently being notified of the change by e-mail. In a statement the airline said, ‘Easyjet is always looking to make travel easier and more affordable. Online check-in has proved popular with passengers, for whom it saves time queuing…
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the agency responsible for British travellers overseas, is maintaining a warning for visitors to the island of Cyprus. In light of the financial crisis that is currently sweeping the nation, forcing bank closures and the threat of a tax on deposits in Cypriot banks, the FCO has advised UK nationals intending to visit the country to take adequate cash reserves and to be extra vigilant with regards to the possibility of theft. Although a EUR10 billion bailout was agreed early this morning, the Foreign Office warning, which was first issued last week, remains…
Passengers using Reading railway station in the UK are likely to experience disruption this Easter, during a planned 10-day changeover to new station facilities. The changeover is scheduled to begin this Friday, March 29, and various levels of disruption can be expected until Sunday April 7. During this period passengers have been advised to check before they travel, but new facilities, including four new platforms, two new entrances and a new footbridge will be available for commuters to use from Tuesday April 2. However, platform changes are to be expected during the 10-day period, and passengers should check their platform…
The refurbished luxury Venice Simplon Orient Express is ready to take to the rails around Europe this coming season, with iconic journeys spanning London, Venice and Budapest along its route. Following the end of the 2012 season last November, the train has spent the winter months under a period of refurbishment, particularly to two of its three restaurant cars. In planning for years, furnishings have been removed, sandblasting has taken place, and the exterior has been repainted in the train’s iconic royal blue shade before varnishing. Covering the routes once favoured by Agatha Christie, the train has kept its 1920’s…
Cunard Line, the Anglo-American cruise company, has eased back on its long standing reputation for strict dress code at evening events, by introducing a new ‘elegant casual’ option. Previously, the company held a tradition of two evening wear options – ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ – aboard its ships. Starting this year before the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria begin their voyages this sailing season in April and May, a third option will be available, with the new codes now being ‘formal’, ‘semi-formal’ and ‘elegant casual’. Evenings where formal dress is required will now be down to three times…