Author: Shawon Hannan

With a view to enhancing the convenience for holiday travellers, Arizona-based Allegiant Airlines has announced new non-stop itineraries to popular destinations. The company said that the new flights on popular routes would help travellers who do not want to break their journeys to reach their destinations faster. In addition to the prospect of a faster onward journey, customers would also be offered the facility of combining their air, hotel and car-rental reservations together, and doing away with the hassle of extensive travel preparations. The firm said that it has launched two new, non-stop jet services between Mesa and St. Cloud,…

The state of Oman has said that it will make efforts to attract more tourists to the nation. The state, which has been slow to attract tourists in the past, has now announced a plan to attract 12 million travellers, and has made a serious start to the effort. Though located in the dry Gulf region, the state has pristine beaches, man-made farms and rugged mountains that have ample potential to fire the imagination of travel fans. In addition, the nation boasts a rich heritage and is famous for its hospitality; factors that can only enhance its tourism aspirations. Oman…

British Airways, the UK based airline, will be offering a new instructional video for nervous flyers. To be introduced on the airline’s in-flight entertainment system from September 1, 2012, the new film will explain the technical aspects of flying, have advice from psychologists, and will also showcase relaxation techniques. Specifically catering to nervous passengers, the film will offer explanations for the most common passenger concerns, including air turbulence, and other disturbances, as well as ways to deal with anxiety or a panic attack. The airline is offering a preview clip of the video on its YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEPeDhkrSzY. The…

Business travellers from the UK are opting to travel with more than one type of device to keep them connected with their work environment. A recent survey of UK business travellers by Four Points by Sheraton hotel brand, revealed an increased use of tablet devices such as iPads on business trips, instead of laptops. The hotel brand surveyed 1,000 business travellers in six markets, the UK, Germany, US, China, India and Brazil, and has reported that 67 percent of UK travellers prefer to carry tablets rather than laptops when taking a business trip. The research also suggested that around 73…

The downturn in the economy is forcing many UK parents to consider the option of taking their children on holiday during the school term, and thereby take advantage of lower holiday rates. A survey conducted by Mintel, a market research company, has suggested that around half of those British parents polled are seriously considering taking their children out of school for a term time break in order to enjoy a cheaper holiday, even though the government has registered its disapproval of parents that do so. The slowdown in the UK economy is forcing six out of ten families to cut…

Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, is urging its passengers to buy their tickets from the company’s own website, rather than from on-line travel agents. The airline claims to have received around 300 complaints from passengers that have booked their air tickets with travel booking website, ‘On The Beach’ an online travel agent (or screenscraper) that the company is now taking legal action against. The passengers complained of being overcharged by such websites, as well as not having been provided with basic services, including the confirmation of special assistance arrangements, advice regarding flight changes, or the provision of a copy…

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a company specialising in business travel management, has reported that its UK sales have increased by 1.6 percent to £627.8 million in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The business travel agency achieved a top listing on Buying Business Travel’s list of the UK’s top 50 travel management companies (TMC). In the year to date, the company has acquired around £60 million in new business, as well as retaining 97 percent of its active clients. The company chief executive officer, Douglas Anderson, said, ‘Our first half performance for 2012…

Flybe, a UK-based airline company, has gained support from British passengers in its battle with the UK government over Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax. The government will charge APD to travellers flying out of the UK in aircraft that have an authorised take-off weight of more than ten tonnes, or more than twenty seats for passengers. The passengers have to pay the tax twice when they undertake a return journey, which adds around £26 to a return fare. The airline has reported that thousands of passengers have supported its Fair Tax on Flying campaign, being held in a collaboration with…

A firm in the US has created a site for dental tourism; not a trip to view notable dentures, but one that includes low-cost dental check ups. Jaime Bellos and Richard Dziurda have created a website called mydentaltrip.com that connects dental patients with dentists. The initiative is expected to help patients find less-costly dental treatment in countries other than the US. It is believed that about a quarter-million Americans each year travel to have their teeth tended to in other countries. The company is now exploiting that trend with its own website that offers low-cost dental care in other nations.…

Saga Holidays has announced that it has launched its new travel itinerary for 2013, and has added a tour to the little known African country, Mozambique. Saga Holidays says that it is showcasing Mozambique and its diverse natural riches to those travellers that seek fun, thrills and natural beauty all rolled into one. Mozambique has beautiful beaches, wildlife and a diverse history. Neglected by travellers for many years, the nation, a former Portuguese colony, has begun to attract the attention of those tourists and adventure seekers that have already visited other better-known destinations in Africa. One popular destination in Mozambique…