Author: Shawon Hannan
The UK-based travel company, Thomas Cook, has reported that its recent financial procedures are currently having a positive impact on its bottom line. The company, which until recently, was under severe financial strain, has implemented several financial initiatives to improve its revenues and control costs, and is pleased to report that its efforts are bearing fruit. Harriet Green, the new group chief executive, said, ‘I have spent my first two months reviewing the business, learning about our customers and meeting our people across the world. Working together with the management team, my priority has been to ensure a renewed focus…
British Airways, a UK based airline, has announced a partnership with Japan-based, Japan Airlines (JAL), for services between Europe and Japan. The two airlines will be combining their operations and introducing a revenue sharing model to operate on the routes between the two regions. The joint operations are effective from October 1, 2012, and are offering more connectivity between Europe and Japan, a wider range of flight options for passengers, and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. The joint operation will be venturing into more routes soon. Willie Walsh, the chief executive officer of IAG, the parent company of British Airways, said,…
When it comes to planning a winter holiday, Australia is still one of the most popular destinations with travellers from the UK. A recent report from Tourism Australia, the government agency that is responsible for the promotion and marketing of Australian destinations to international tourists, has confirmed that around 30,500 visitors from the United Kingdom arrived in the country in July 2012, which might reflect a decrease of 4.4 percent on the same period in the previous year, but around 50 percent of holidaymakers to Australia were repeat visitors, reflecting that British holiday makers still have a lot of affection…
Britain may be a nation of forgetful travellers, according to a recent report conducted by TravelSupermarket, a UK-based online travel company. While nearly 50 percent of British travellers forget to pack holiday essentials like plug adapters, 12 percent of the respondents admitted to forgetting phone chargers, and 12 percent also admitted to forgetting sunglasses. Around 3 percent even admitted to forgetting to pack their underwear for travel. But it is not only the travel essentials that British people forget; they also forget to complete some essential household chores before leaving for a break. 21 percent of travellers have forgotten to…
The US government has announced a plan to introduce e-travel to transform civilian travel. The move has been encouraged by complaints from travellers and agents that current systems were confusing and hard to navigate. As a specific example, some travel agents had complained that booking a simple trip could take hours, when the deal should have been completed in minutes. This had led to a significant drop in consumer satisfaction. The government has sourced a new civilian travel platform from Concur Technologies that will use a new cloud solution to help ease online booking processes. It is expected that the…
Visit Britain, the promotional guise of the tourist board of Great Britain, is looking to the enduring popularity of movie secret agent, James Bond, to boost tourism for the country. The organisation has announced plans for a massive tourism campaign to coincide with the release of Skyfall, the latest blockbuster to feature the super-spy. The campaign will target 21 countries from this Friday, October 5, using the slogan, ‘Bond is GREAT Britain,’ to encourage fans of the film franchise to choose Bond’s home country for their next holiday. Cinema, press and outdoor advertising formats will all be exploited during the…
Thomson Airways, a UK based charter airline company, will be the first leisure carrier to operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline is planning to induct the initial aircraft to its flight schedule from May 1, 2013. The aircraft should be delivered to the airline by the first quarter of 2013, and it is intended to offer better travel options to the airline’s passengers. Thomson proposes to redesign the aircraft to carry around 291 passengers, with a Premium Club cabin seating 47 passengers, and the Economy Club cabin seating 244 passengers. The airline intends to acquire eight of the 13…
Those tourists holidaying in Bath, UK, this month will have the opportunity of joining in the Great Bath Feast, where local chefs gather to show off their creative talent. The Great Bath Feast is held every year to celebrate culinary delights and local produce, and this year will feature talented chefs including Mark Hix, Angela Hartnett and Raymond Blanc. The events will include street food, specialist producers, a celebrity book release and signings, guest appearances by celebrities at local delis, and wine tasting at various venues. The city’s restaurants are gearing up to offer seasonal and local ingredients, with their…
Glasgow Airport, in Scotland, is providing passengers with a guide to its 2012 winter schedule. The new handy, pocket size, comprehensive winter 2012 flight guide is designed to ensure that travellers have the latest information at their fingertips. The guide focuses on all types of flights to various holiday destinations, and is claimed to be ideal for city breaks, adventure trips, skiing holidays or business travel. The book also offers information on parking options, shopping outlets, eating venues and the relaxation options that are available at the airport. Francois Bourienne, the commercial director at Glasgow Airport, said, ‘We have worked…
First TransPennine Express, a British train operating company, has reported that its modernisation project for Stalybridge station is expected to be completed by November 2012. The £20m modernisation project includes the addition of platforms; a new coffee shop; the redesigning of tracks around the station and at junctions; and an upgrade of all signals. Jo Kaye, the route managing director for Network Rail, said, ‘The old design dates back nearly 100 years and simply does not meet the needs of a modern railway. The extra platforms and new design will make it much easier to operate trains and improve reliability…