Starfish Travel Corporation Team

Air Canada accomplished its first flights utilizing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with sustainable jet fuel from Montreal to Amsterdam. Air Canada is advancing initiatives in its Climate Action Plan in conjunction with the opening of its second route from Amsterdam to Canada by extending its collaboration with Neste, a producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Europe, to include Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel on some of its flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. When compared to using conventional jet fuel, the usage of SAF might cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80%* during the fuel’s lifetime. This decrease is estimated using a comprehensive lifecycle analysis. In addition to our year-round flights between the Dutch capital and Toronto, we are excited to introduce our new, non-stop service between Amsterdam and Montreal for the summer of 2023. The beginning of our flights between Montreal and Amsterdam also signifies the beginning of our SAF supply in Europe and highlights the usefulness of this time-tested technology. We believe Canada should invest in SAF manufacture and urge the government and other stakeholders to give it top priority, together with the whole Canadian aviation sector, said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “For Air Canada, the expansion of our partnership with Neste to supply our first flight from Europe with SAF means that we are taking it a step further and offering more SAF through our Leave Less Travel Programme on a book and claim basis, further supporting our journey towards our ambitious 2050 net zero emissions goal,” Mr. Rousseau said in his conclusion. An Air Canada Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with three service classes flies between Montreal and Amsterdam. The five times weekly service will supplement Air Canada’s daily service between Toronto and Amsterdam in the summer of 2023. Customers on both sides of the Atlantic have easy options to visit and experience each other’s continents thanks to up to twice as many flights per day operating between Canada and Amsterdam from two of Air Canada’s international hubs. * When estimated using recognised life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches, such as the CORSIA methodology, and utilized in neat form (i.e., unblended). Source: traveldailymedia

In response to its partner’s request, Thai Vietjet will run the following schedule of international direct flights between Bangkok and Yangon from June 1 through June 20, 2023. Every day at 10:30 and 11:35 a.m., Thai Vietjet operates flights VZ8700 Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) – Yangon, and VZ8701 Yangon – Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), arriving at 12:20 and 14:10. With its warm and delightful service, Thai Vietjet, which was founded in 2014, has been working with Vietjet to expand its flight network and give more options for tourists to visit Thailand and many other countries. The airline offers flying options with cost-saving and flexible pricing as well as various services to satisfy customers’ requests, with an emphasis on cost management capability, effective operations, and performance. Thai Vietjet, which was named “The Fastest Growing Low-Cost Carrier of the 2020” by Global Business Outlook Magazine, has been steadily growing its youthful, cutting-edge fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. In addition, the airline was recently recognised by International Finance Magazine as the “Most Passenger-Friendly Cabin Crew – 2021” airline, underscoring its status as the “airline of hospitality” and reiterating its core values of “Friendly & Fun” along with “Safety,” “Punctuality,” and “Affordable Price.” Thai Vietjet now runs 10 domestic routes inside Thailand, including services from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani, as well as cross-regional services from Phuket to Chiang Mai. Additionally, the airline is rapidly growing its international flight network to several locations around Asia-Pacific, linking Thailand with Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Taipei, and other popular locations in the area. Source: traveldailymedia

Beijing Daxing Airport saw the arrival of British Airways’ first flight from London to Beijing in more than three years. Since the pandemic-related closure of the route in January 2020, this was British Airways’ first passenger flight between the two cities. With the restart, the airline reclaims its exclusivity as the only British airline running a direct flight between Beijing and the UK. Beijing to London flights will run four times each week, leaving Daxing Airport on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Customers can now travel more easily between the UK and China thanks to British Airways’ and China Southern’s joint operations out of Daxing, which also offers easier transfers, a larger selection of onward flights, and improved perks. Benefits for frequent travellers from the joint venture include more chances to earn points, the opportunity to book through the websites or mobile apps of both airlines, improved lounge access, and access to high-quality Chinese and British goods and services both in the air and on the ground. Louise Street, Director of Worldwide Airports for British Airways, welcomed the maiden aircraft and greeted passengers and staff as they disembarked to mark the moment’s long-awaited arrival. For all of us at British Airways, the resumption of one of our busiest routes after more than three years has been eagerly anticipated, according to Louise Street. We are thrilled to be back in Beijing as well, reconnecting relatives and friends and once more enabling international student and business travel after the successful restart of flights between Shanghai and London in April. To give our clients in China and the UK more transit alternatives and advantages, we are eager to collaborate with our joint venture partner China Southern. Customers flying between the two cities may take advantage of the airline’s newly created Club Suite (business class) cabin, which features direct aisle access, a suite door for further privacy, and plush flat-bed seats arranged in a 1-2-1 arrangement. boasts WiFi, enviable 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens, high-definition gate-to-gate programming, PC / USB power, plush new furnishings like a plush new pillow and a warm quilt from The White Company, new amenity kits, improved service, and an improved dining experience. It also has 40% more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror. Source: traveldailymedia

The revised Constitution of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has been made available for member approval. The amended Constitution has received unanimous approval from the Board, and full members will be asked to vote on it at the AGM on June 21, 2023. The AFTA Annual Report, which covers the organization’s extremely successful year spent working to ensure that ATAS is appropriate for agents, tour operators, and wholesalers, as well as continuing to lobby for its members and their clients, has also been made available. The election results for the Board were also made public by AFTA. All six finalists found success: Christians Hunter Laurette Ruffles Cindy Burnes Invoking Danielle Russom Sheldon Beasley Turner, Graham “When we started the consultation on the draught constitution, the Board undertook a detailed review of what the Sector needs from its peak body,” Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) CEO Dean Long said. The response was very favourable, and everyone agreed that our strategy struck the ideal balance for members and represented a considerable improvement. “On June 21 at our AGM, Members will vote on this Constitution, a significant turning point in our 65-year history. The Board as a whole is asking the Members to vote “YES” on the revised document. “Our Annual Report demonstrates that the previous 12 months were once again extraordinarily successful. We made every effort to make sure ATAS was appropriate for use by wholesalers, tour operators, and agencies. We continued to direct our advocacy programme on producing beneficial results for our members and their clients. “For the first time in more than ten years, ‘travel consultants’ was reinstated on the Federal skills list, a crucial first step to expanding the pool of individuals who are qualified to work in our Sector. NTIA and the first Women in Travel Summit were two more high-impact events we hosted, allowing AFTA to interact closely with its members across all business sectors. “As CEO of AFTA, I am pleased with our achievements and the part AFTA plays in assisting our members and the Sector. This year, we’ve started reform initiatives to reaffirm our commitment to encouraging our sectors’ growth via collaboration and to keep AFTA at the forefront of the travel industry. Thank you to our newly elected Directors. I want to express my gratitude to the Board for their ongoing dedication and leadership over the previous 12 months. The important initiatives and effort carried out this year will guarantee that AFTA continues to be a major force for development and cohesion within our sector. Source: traveldailymedia

Air Canada has launched two crucial non-stop routes from its global headquarters in Montreal to Europe with the arrival of two planes there today. Toulouse is Air Canada’s fourth destination in France and the sole year-round service between North America and southwestern France, linking two important hubs for the aerospace industry as well as two vibrant francophone cities. Air Canada also offers seasonal service from Montreal to Copenhagen in addition to its year-round service from Toronto. “We are thrilled to have started our much-anticipated, year-round new flights connecting our global headquarters in Montreal and Toulouse to the French-speaking globe! Additionally to establishing a convenient connection to France and giving travellers from Toulouse connections to a variety of destinations via our Montreal hub, we are also connecting two significant business cities in the global aerospace industry, according to Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning. “We’re excited to launch our second route from Canada to Copenhagen, giving visitors on both sides of the Atlantic additional options to go to and discover one another’s nations. Our clients will be able to quickly connect to the wider Scandinavian market via Copenhagen, a Star Alliance gateway. This commitment to Montreal as a key hub in the expansion of Air Canada’s international network is further demonstrated by these two exciting new routes, said Galardo. “ADM Aéroports de Montréal is pleased to welcome Air Canada’s newest flights, Copenhagen and Toulouse. Service to these two locations will increase Montréal’s travel options and solidify YUL’s position as a significant global air traffic hub, according to ADM CEO Philippe Rainville. These two cities are significant travel destinations. The stunning architectural icons of the Danish capital are located in Copenhagen, a key entry point to the Nordic nations. Including Toulouse, the aerospace hub of the world, will definitely improve business ties. The YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel, a genuine beacon of knowledge and competence for the province of Québec, houses our own aeronautics sector, and this is excellent news for them. Source: traveldailymedia

‘Hit that subscribe button: subscription services in the travel industry’ is the headline of a comprehensive white paper about the travel subscriptions market that WayAway has just released. The report examines the history of subscription services in the travel industry and conducts interviews with experts like Adam Levinter, author of Subscription Boom, and Mauricio Prieto, founder of eDreams, in addition to developing a formal definition of what constitutes a travel subscription service and surveying the market to identify the current players in the US. The relatively little research we’d seen into travel subscriptions seemed to vary wildly in what was and what was not classified as either travel or a subscription. In addition, not much of it was up-to-date or took into account the long evolution of such services from as far back as 2011 when Usingmiles.com introduced the first plan. Therefore, we determined that before starting any investigation, we should define the space at a basic level and map out the universe of present participants. There are much fewer travel subscription services than you might think—only 49 in the US market, which shocked us on two fronts. Additionally, the fact that the majority of these are recent—they date from within the past few years—indicates a boom with a very distinct tendency towards increased expansion. We are adamant that years from now, we will look back and realize that this was a turning moment. WayAway was established in the summer of 2022 to provide passengers with a website that compares flight prices and has the lowest prices on airline tickets. The business also provides a premium membership programme called “WayAway Plus” as part of its services, which pays customers real’ payback on all bookings in the form of money delivered to their bank accounts. Source: traveldailymedia

The return of “Ladies Night” is being announced by CLYMB Abu Dhabi for this Thursday, June 8th, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Every second Thursday of the month, CLYMB Abu Dhabi’s most popular event delights ladies and their friends with an exclusive evening featuring two world records and in complete privacy, where female guests can enjoy an unforgettable sporting experience at the UAE’s ultimate indoor adventure hub. At CLYMB Abu Dhabi, women will have the chance to test their limitations by starting a one-hour climbing experience, giving them the chance to go on a special adventure with their loved ones. The world’s largest indoor skydiving chamber allows women to fly to new heights alongside their girlfriends for an unparalleled experience that is available to both young and old. Source: traveldailymedia

With the first aircraft landing on the Anatolian side of Istanbul on June 1, 2023, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen will be the newest addition to British Airways’ network. A combination of A320 and A321 aircraft will fly the new route four times each week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays between London Heathrow (LHR) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). The number of connections from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport has increased, and in June, the airport will add three more destinations to its large network. These include Mytilene (MJT), Rhodes (RHO), and London Heathrow (LHR). 154 locations in 51 different countries are serviced by Sabiha Gökçen via flights run by 45 different airlines. The City Airport had approximately 14 million passenger movements in the first four months of 2023. British Airways chose an all-female flight crew to honor the airport’s namesake, Sabiha Gökçen, the first female fighter pilot in history. Captain Jessica Telford and First Officer Kerry Bennett flew the maiden flight. “As we continue our investment programme into new products, services, and technology, we’re excited to open up even greater connectivity between two of the world’s leading cities, Istanbul and London,” said British Airways’ Head of Corporate Sales in Europe, Elisabeth Ruff. “British Airways has become the 45th airline to operate to Sabiha Gökçen and our passengers can now take advantage of its vast global route network,” said Berk Albayrak, CEO of Sabiha Gökçen Airport. With 200 destinations served by British Airways across more than 65 countries, the arrival of this route will definitely improve our clients’ travel experiences even more. Prices for round-trip travel on British Airways begin at £368 for Club Europe (business class) and £130 for Euro Traveller (economy). Customers of British Airways have access to one of the largest flight networks in the world, both domestically and abroad. Flights are available at convenient times to and from major airports, and the airline is dedicated to achieving net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 through its sustainability programme, BA Better World. Source: traveldailymedia

Travel firms are advised by Spencer Hanlon of Nium, a pioneer in real-time worldwide payments, not to allow this year’s high season rise in foreign personnel to turn into a costly nightmare. All types of travel agencies are adding personnel as the peak travel period approaches. In our industry, there are more work-from-anywhere and work-from-home employment regulations than ever before, so many of these new hires will be stationed abroad. Could paying them all turn out to be more of a hassle than most expected? Spencer Hanlon, from the leader in real-time global payments Nium, comments at the Bavel Travel Summit in Barcelona, which is organized by Voxel Group: “Many companies have now begun to feel brave and venture into new markets – or return to old ones they withdrew from – and that means hiring and then paying new overseas staff. But frequently the places where these people are situated may have a distinct payments environment and currency for enterprises to handle, which can boost costs, especially when talking about small individual quantities. For example, the exchange rates for paying someone in Bali, the Philippines, or Turkey may result in an additional 10% wage expense. “Exchange rate risk also causes headaches and takes up time. Yes, had you thought about how the cost of that wage may suddenly be half or twice what you had initially anticipated in your currency when the exchange rate fluctuates? Meanwhile, paying your employees on time is almost as crucial as paying them the appropriate amount. Many individuals schedule their rent and other monthly expenses to be due the day after they are paid. If you make a mistake once, there will be many complaints; if you make a mistake again, resignations will follow. In other words, the payroll for international employees can suddenly become significantly more difficult. This justifies our prediction at Nium that there will be a tonne of pointless payroll bottlenecks. How can travel businesses approach this difficulty if they decide to hire personnel from abroad? Nium advises that if you’re still dependent on conventional bank transfers to make this happen, something is very likely incorrect. Due to the delayed wire transfers made possible by SWIFT as well as the fact that this approach is exceedingly expensive when all related expenses, including unintended ones like unfavorable exchange rates, are taken into account. Additionally, you can never be certain that the recipient will receive the precise amount in their local currency, so if they don’t, you have to make another transfer. Source: traveldailymedia