THE world’s longest sea crossing will open in China on Wed, linking Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland city of Zhuhai via a 55km road bridge and tunnel.

The road will also link with Hong Kong International Airport and provide an alternative to existing Macau ferry services.

Source: traveldaily

SEP’S typhoon and earthquake have hit Japan’s visitor arrivals, with the country posting its first monthly decline in almost six years.

Govt figures show arrivals in Sep were 2.16 million, down 5.3% on the same month last year.

Source: traveldaily

APT has cancelled four European river cruises this week due to low water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers.

The cruises were due to depart on 26 and 27 Oct, travelling between Amsterdam and Budapest, and are in addition to a Travelmarvel depature on 29 Oct that has also been cancelled.

A hot dry summer has reduced water levels throughout central Europe, however APT said until now it had been able to operate all cruises successfully by implementing ship swaps in affected areas.

Guests with reservations for the cancelled departures have been offered full refunds.

Agents can call 1800 792 775 or CLICK HERE for more details.

Source: traveldaily

Guidance represents profit growth of about 9% on record 2017/18 result. 

Flight Centre Managing Director, Graham Turner, has just updated shareholders on the company’s current prospects, with an update indicating expectations of underlying profit before tax of between $390 million and $420 million for the full year to 30 June 2019.

For the current half the result is forecast to be between $140 million and $150 million, or growth of up to 7% on the prior corresponding period.

Turner said TTV was tracking slightly above the company’s longer term target of 7% annual growth, with overseas businesses driving profit increases, particularly the Americas operations.

However he said profit in the Flight Centre Australian leisure business was currently down year-on-year. The operation had not yet benefitted from the changes implemented last year – which included brand consolidation and technology updates – while the current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations and disruption associated with the ABC story on Flight Centre had also impacted profit.

“We believe the disruption is now abating and this, coupled with various other initiatives and refinements that are underway, will lead to better second half results,” Turner said.

Ongoing changes include network changes which will see the relocation of about 35 shops to better locations, and increases in staff numbers to return the network to capacity after its contraction last year.

Turner said the move to an EBA within Flight Centre and Student Flights in Australia was an “extremely positive step”. Assuming it is ratified it will result in a simpler structure, with higher base pay for staff while continuing to reward them with additional incentives. The EBA had also allowed the formalisation of other benefits such as additional leave, while other initiatives will see Flight Centre build on its success in retaining sales people including mentoring, a traineeship program, Money Coaches and Health Coaches.

More information in today’s issue of Travel Daily.

Source: traveldaily

Strong domestic sales driving surge in revenue. 

Virgin Australia has just released a trading update, saying it expects its Underlying Profit Before Tax for the six months to 31 December 2018 to be at least $100 million.

Last year the underlying result for the same period was $81.9 million, so the forecast is a 22% increase, and that includes an $88 million higher fuel bill for this year.

The company said Group revenue for the three months to 30 September 2018 was up 9.7% year-on-year, while current booking trends, particularly in the domestic business, see Virgin Australia anticipating a 10% increase for the current quarter, compared to the same period in 2017.

Virgin Australia said given the second half of the financial year is traditionally weaker for the aviation industry, it would “continue to monitor current trends and update the market if required”.

More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily.

Source: traveldaily