Here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening on the global travel landscape:
Aviation appeared to bounce back to pre-pandemic highs in 2024, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium has revealed. The industry had the highest number of passenger seats available on flights in a single year.
Airline carriers in 2024 offered 5.85 billion seats on scheduled flights, exceeding the 5.72 billion seats record of 2019. Surging demand in air travel saw seat capacity rise by 6% in 2024, while scheduled flights were at 36.4 million, around 5% below 2019 levels.
Falling space junk continues to cause problems for Qantas on South Africa routes. The airline said its Sydney-Johannesburg flights were delayed because of debris entering the atmosphere in parts of the southern Indian Ocean.
“Over the past few weeks we‘ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets,” Qantas said.
South America is firmly on the radar for Qatar Airway from this summer. The carrier has announced two new weekly flights to Colombia’s Bogotá El Dorado International Airport on Wednesdays and Sundays. It then continues to Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport in Venezuela. The return flight from Caracas will operate nonstop to Doha.
Qatar Airways is the first and only airline to offer nonstop flights from the Middle East to Colombia and the only Middle Eastern carrier operating in Venezuela.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “The launch of these flights marks a transformative moment for travellers to South America. We are creating new opportunities to connect people, cultures, and commerce.”
Sri Lanka is to benefit from the opening of a fourth hotel under the Radisson Collection. The Radisson Collection Resort, Galle, is Radisson Hotel Group’s second resort in Galle, and marks this luxury lifestyle brand’s inaugural hotel in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region.
Located near Unawatuna, Radisson Collection Resort, Galle features 70 guest rooms and 36 suites with bright, contemporary interiors and views of the Indian Ocean. The resort offers a 1,200 sqm Grand Penthouse featuring five bedrooms, a spiral staircase, and an infinity pool.
Xavier Masson, General Manager, Radisson Collection Resort, Galle, said: “Guests can indulge in unparalleled dining, rejuvenate in our state-of-the-art wellness facilities, or let their children enjoy the fully equipped Kids Club.”
Expansion plans for London Gatwick could boost UK-China connectivity as demand continues to grow. Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick, said:
“China accounts for 5.1% of total UK trade and is the UK’s fifth largest trading partner in 2024. This market is vitally important to the UK economy.
“We have seen huge demand for growth of these routes. If approved, our Northern Runway plans could provide even greater opportunity to support communities the economy and the Government’s wider plans for growth.”
China’s three largest carriers already fly from London Gatwick. Air China, China Southern and China Eastern fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Zhengzhou.
Carnival Cruise Line has launched four new ‘Carnival Journeys’ Asia-Pacific sailings for 2026 and 2027. The itineraries will feature seven inaugural ports of call for the cruise line and visit destinations in Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Carnival Luminosa’s new itineraries include a 14-day Tokyo to Singapore cruise, departing October 9, 2026. Inaugural visits to Hong Kong; Osaka (Kyoto) and Fukuoka (Hakata) in Japan; South Korea’s Seogwipo (Jeju); and Keelung (Taipei) in Taiwan. It will also visit Phu My (Ho Chi Minh) in Vietnam.
Carnival Adventure will operate a 14-day cruise from Sydney to Singapore, departing January 27, 2027. It will visit Airlie Beach and Darwin, Australia; and Bali and Lombok, Indonesia.
It will also offer a nine-day Southeast Asia cruise, departing February 27, 2027, roundtrip from Singapore, with visits to Koh Samui and Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, and Sihanoukville, Cambodia, as well as Phu My (Ho Chi Minh).
Shanghai Airlines has completed its inaugural flight between Shanghai and Casablanca, providing a bridge between China and Morocco. The flight with 237 passengers onboard landed with a conventional water salute at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport on January 19.
The new route is set to promote exchanges and operations between the two countries and enable Chinese travellers to travel more conveniently to the African country.
Travellers outside the EU who have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK face a price hike less than a month into the scheme.
International visitors had to apply for a permit as of January 8. But just weeks in, the UK Home Office plans to increase the fee from £10 to £16. However, transit passengers will no longer need to pay the fee.
Andy Probert is an independent PR writer and journalist who writes about travel experiences, airlines, airports, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror, as well as many newspapers/magazines globally.
