The post Active Travel Group reports bumper first-half trading, up 26% year-on- year appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Bookings across all product categories have performed ahead of expectation, showing strong forward momentum into 2025. Wilderness Group sales in the six-month period for 31^st October are up 45%, with ‘phenomenal growth’ in premium custom bookings both direct and from international trade partners.

Commenting on the hot trends for next summer, Wilderness Group Managing Director, Stevie Christie comments: ‘All things bike are speeding along for next year. Whether it’s road cycling through the Highlands, e-biking through the islands, or getting into the wilderness on our new gravel bike trips, two wheels seems to be the way to travel in 2025! Also popular, backed by a plethora of nature documentaries across all streaming channels, are our wildlife trips, with journeys to the northerly outpost of the Shetland Isles proving particularly popular for next summer.’

Ski Solutions report bookings for this winter as ‘exceptionally positive’, pacing 19% ahead of an already record-breaking prior year. Excitement is building for the season ahead, with key resorts due to open from the beginning of December.

For the second year in succession, Norway is trending as the fastest growing destination, with bookings up 75%, boosted by the addition of Gausta and Narvik, new to the programme for this winter.

Italy has also seen significant year on year growth as weekend break demand has bounced back to destinations such as Courmayeur and Cervinia. Skiers have appreciated the relative value for money in like for like luxury hotels, and easy access to the mountains via Ski Solutions’ new British Airways flight from Gatwick to Turin.

Commenting on the performance, Group CEO Craig Burton said: ‘With another summer season delivered, and with a world class NPS of 82 secured across the Wilderness brands, we are delighted with performance year to date. The run rate growth for summer 2025 is striking in itself, but we are further buoyed by the pipeline of new trade partners the team are signing up for 2026 and 2027.

On Ski, we continue to innovate and deliver material revenue growth and profitability in a niche we are deeply passionate about, and with a breadth of programme which is second to none’.

 

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The post RAK Govt launches ‘Heart of RAK’ appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Under the patronage of and in the presence of Sheikh Saqr bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Ceramics, Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office (RAKGMO) has announced the official launch of Heart of RAK, a comprehensive online platform dedicated to showcasing all aspects of livability in the Emirate.

Held at the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa, the launch also welcomed several directors and heads of departments from local and federal government entities across the Emirate.

Heba Fatani, RAKGMO Director General said: “The launch of Heart of RAK aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, to position the Emirate as a premier global destination to live, work and explore.

“Heart of RAK embodies the Emirate’s commitment to fostering a strong sense of community. It serves as a comprehensive guide to Ras Al Khaimah for those wishing to live and work, establish or manage businesses here, supporting their success and growth.”

Fatani asserted that the Heart of RAK was launched to share Ras Al Khaimah’s story with the world, highlighting its unique strengths and abundant opportunities for the future. The platform aims to reach local and global audiences, conveying that Ras Al Khaimah offers not only a thriving economy and exceptional natural environment, but also a vibrant, dynamic community.

The event included a panel discussion titled ‘Quality of Life in Focus’, uniting key figures behind pivotal developments that enhance livability in Ras Al Khaimah and featuring innovative projects reshaping urban life in the Emirate.

Moderated by Rouba Zeidan, RAKGMO’s Head of Special Projects, the session featured His Excellency Eng. Abulla Al Abdouli, Chief Executive Officer of Marjan; Donald Bremner, Chief Operations Officer at RAK Hospitality; and Her Excellency Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

Commenting on Ras Al Khaimah’s growing global reputation as a destination of choice, Rouba Zeidan said: “We believe that one well-curated, up-to-date comprehensive platform is essential for anyone looking to make the most of their time in the Emirate. Whether these are long-time residents seeking new experiences or newcomers eager to research and explore, Heart of RAK will become their trustworthy companion, ensuring they navigate the Emirate with confidence and discover all that it has to offer.”

Heart of RAK caters to both long-time residents and newcomers, as well as the diverse community of nationals and expats looking to visit the Emirate or seeking to make it their home.

With a dedicated website and extensive social media presence, Heart of RAK offers a wealth of information on Ras Al Khaimah’s lifestyle, tourism and business landscape, from its local communities and educational institutions to a wide array of accommodation, shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Users will find a range of content, including updates on government initiatives, new developments, family-friendly weekend activities, event coverage and a comprehensive guide to Ras Al Khaimah’s rich culture, history and traditions.

In addition to featuring Ras Al Khaimah’s vast array of educational, healthcare and transport services, the Heart of RAK will showcase a range of exciting tourist attractions to help visitors explore the Emirate and create unique experiences. The platform will also highlight Ras Al Khaimah’s resilient and diversified economy, facilitating access to the vast opportunities created by its robust manufacturing and industrial sectors.

The world is taking notice of the Emirate’s fast-growing status on global indices. In the annual InterNations Expat City Ranking 2023 report, which surveyed more than 12,000 expats across 172 countries, Ras Al Khaimah ranked fourth out of 49 destinations – a testament to the high quality of life its residents enjoy.

The Heart of RAK platform complements Ras Al Khaimah’s strategic vision to build a robust digital infrastructure, joining a suite of digital services delivered across the Emirate, including 690 government e-services available on RAK.ae.

 

 

 

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The post Air Canada to launch direct flights to Europe and the U.S. in 2025 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

Air Canada will add new seasonal services and increase capacity into popular destinations across Europe, the United States, and Asia to offer more exciting options for travellers in Summer 2025. Among the new and restored routes are Montreal to Naples and Porto, Toronto to Prague and to Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, and Ottawa to London.

“Air Canada is pleased to provide our customers a wide array of destinations for their Summer 2025 travel. By leveraging our hubs in Toronto and Montreal we will offer more than 100,000 weekly seats to 30 destinations across Europe and North Africa at the peak of next summer,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

“This will include new services from Montreal to Naples and the Amalfi Coast, as well as Porto and the Douro Valley, opening up new regions for travellers to explore throughout Southern Europe that complement existing services across the Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula. And we are also excited to be resuming service to Prague from Toronto, restoring another popular destination to the Air Canada network, and to London-Heathrow from Ottawa, restarting Air Canada’s intercontinental flying from Canada’s capital. In addition, we are restoring Toronto to Port of Spain flights, with year-round service.”

Also, for Summer 2025, there will be added frequencies to Rome and Athens to provide travellers up to three daily flights to each destination from Canada. Air Canada is also adding capacity between Toronto and Stockholm, which will return with up to four weekly frequencies, between Toronto and Madrid, increasing to daily service, and to Paris, with the Boeing 777-300ER to be deployed from both Toronto and Montreal to offer up to 1,300 daily seats on three daily flights between Canada and the French capital. From Montreal, Air Canada will also increase service to Casablanca to daily, a 17 per cent increase over Summer 2024. Additionally, Air Canada will add year-round, four-times weekly service from Toronto to Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago.

Transborder

Air Canada will expand its transborder services with new routes to Nashville from Vancouver and Cincinnati from Montreal, complementing existing service from Toronto into Ohio and Northern Kentucky. The carrier is also resuming its service to Jacksonville from Toronto, the only non-stop service between Canada and Jacksonville.

“We will be offering 160,000 weekly seats to the U.S. during the peak of next summer, including new routes from Vancouver to Nashville and Montreal to Cincinnati. Our expanded transborder service will build upon our leading transborder network in conjunction with increased frequencies to seven key U.S. cities. For customers, Air Canada’s transborder flights are timed to allow for easy connections at major hubs with our international network and travellers returning to the U.S. can save time on arrival with the convenience of U.S. customs pre-clearance during their connection in Canada,” said Mr. Galardo.

For summer 2025, Air Canada will add extra daily frequencies from Toronto to Indianapolis, Boston, Tampa and Dallas-Fort Worth. From Montreal, an extra daily flight will be added to Denver, Nashville and Raleigh-Durham, as well as an increase in service to Tampa to daily from three-times a week in summer 2025. Air Canada continues to be the largest carrier serving the Transborder market and will offer customers more than 200 daily flights to over 45 destinations in Summer 2025.

Pacific

Air Canada will also bolster capacity in Summer 2025 to key Asian markets. Air Canada will resume summer seasonal service to Seoul from Montreal and to Osaka from Toronto on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Both launched in Summer 2024, these services provide a convenient, non-stop option for customers travelling between the East Coast of North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

“Serving destinations across the six inhabited continents, Air Canada’s global network continues to be the bridge that brings the world closer, and we look forward to welcoming our customers onboard with our enhanced Summer 2025 schedule,” said Galardo.

 

New for Summer 2025 Europe

Flight	Depart	Arrive	Days of Week	2025 Operating dates
AC882	Montreal 19:15	Naples 09:30 +1 day	Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat	May 16 to Oct. 11
AC883	Naples 11:40	Montreal 14:50	Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun	May 17 to Oct. 12
AC928	Montreal 21:55	Porto 09:45 +1	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun	Jun. 4 to Sep. 28
AC929	Porto 12:15	Montreal 14:35	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat	Jun. 5 to Sep. 29
AC934	Toronto 20:25	Prague 10:45 +1	Tues, Fri, Sun	Jun. 6 to Sep. 28
AC935	Prague 12:35	Toronto 15:45	Mon, Wed, Sat	Jun. 7 to Sep. 29

 

Ottawa-London Schedule

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Days of Week	2025 Operating Dates
AC888	Ottawa 18:40	London 06:30 +1 day	Mon, Thurs	Mar. 31 to Oct. 23
AC889	London 14:05	Ottawa 16:45	Mon, Thurs	Mar. 31 to Oct. 23
AC888	Ottawa 20:55	London 08:35 +1	Wed, Sat	Apr. 2 to Oct. 22
AC889	London 12:40	Ottawa 15:20	Wed, Sat	Apr. 2 to Oct. 22

 

Port of Spain Schedule

Flight	Depart	Arrive	Days of Week	Start (year-round)
AC984	Toronto 20:00	Port of Spain 01:35 +1 day	Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sun.	May 1, 2025
AC985	Port of Spain 02:35	Toronto 08:25	Mon., Tues., Fri., Sat.	May 2, 2025

 

New for Summer 2025 Transborder

Flight	Depart	Arrive	Days of Week	2025 Operating dates
AC8686	Toronto 18:00	Jacksonville 21:38	Daily	Year-round, starting May 22
AC8685	Jacksonville 10:00	Toronto 12:45	Daily	Year-round, starting May 22
AC8565	Montreal 18:10	Cincinnati 20:29	Daily	May 22 to Oct. 14
AC8564	Cincinnati 13:15	Montreal 15:25	Daily	May 23 to Oct. 15
AC1310	Vancouver 13:10	Nashville 19:43	Tues.,Thurs., Sat.	May 1, to Oct. 23
AC1311	Nashville 08:15	Vancouver 11:10	Wed., Fri., Sun.	May 2, to Oct. 24

 

In the Summer 2025 peak, Air Canada will offer over 100,000 weekly seats to Europe and North Africa, and over 160,000 to the United States, to provide more options for travelers to explore both sides of the Atlantic. Combined with a global network that spans over 145 compelling destinations across six continents and a leading partnership portfolio of over 150 air and intermodal partners, whether from Vancouver to Stockholm or Halifax to Athens, Air Canada offers excellent connectivity to facilitate travel around the world. In Canada alone, Air Canada will offer more flights than any other carrier, with more than 75,000 daily seats and 600 daily flights to 50 airports across Canada.

 

 

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The post Canberra’s SpringOUT 2024 festival marks a quarter century of rainbows! appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

As the blooms of spring bring color to Canberra, the city comes alive with another vibrant tradition: SpringOUT, the annual pride festival that’s celebrating 25 years of supporting, uplifting, and showcasing the LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s lineup spans everything from art exhibitions and comedy shows to sports events and reflective gatherings, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone.

In case you’re visiting Australia in November, you must take a trip to Canberra and experience this vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and inclusivity.

Art and Music for All

For art lovers, Kaleidoscope III at the Belconnen Arts Centre remains open through November, showcasing the creativity and diversity of queer artists. Curated by Dionysus Soteris, this exhibition presents a wide range of artistic media, including photography, sculpture, painting, and installations that explore themes of identity, resilience, and expression. It’s a moving experience, connecting the community through art that speaks to the heart.

Laughter and Reflection: Comedy and Queer Literary Events

What’s a celebration without a little humor? Queer Comedy at Smith’s Alternative on 9 November promises an evening of laughs, with a lineup of comedians who share sharp, witty reflections on identity, love, and the queer experience. Comedy has long been a tool for connection and resilience, and this event brings a perfect mix of humor and heart, inviting audiences to connect through shared stories and laughter.

For a more contemplative experience, Pride in the Gardens at the Botanic Gardens from 22 to 24 November offers a serene journey through nature. These guided walks provide a peaceful atmosphere for participants to connect with nature and each other, celebrating community and connection in Canberra’s beautiful gardens.

Sports and Community Spirit

Pride and athleticism come together at the Pride Rugby Matches on 16 November, where players and spectators alike witness the power of inclusivity in sports. With fast-paced action on the field, these games emphasize that respect, diversity, and unity are integral to both sports and life.

A Grand Finale: One Night in Heaven

SpringOUT 2024 concludes with One Night in Heaven, a grand retro dance party on 30 November that celebrates the iconic HEAVEN Nightclub Canberra. Dance the night away to the music, glamour, and magic of the 90s and early 2000s, reliving the energy of a legendary era. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a month of pride, joy, and unforgettable memories.

SpringOUT Canberra is more than a festival; it’s a celebration powered by community, inclusivity, and visibility. As a not-for-profit organization, SpringOUT brings these values to life every November and throughout the year, welcoming everyone—queer individuals, allies, families, and friends—to join the festivities. So, whether you’re laughing the night away, soaking up art, enjoying sports, or dancing to retro beats, SpringOUT 2024 is a celebration of pride, unity, and the vibrant spirit of Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ community. Join in and make memories that last a lifetime!

 

 

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The post Christmas and winter market at Munich Airport charms appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

From Friday, November 15 2024, the Forum of the Munich Airport Center (MAC) will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland: Until December 31, the Christmas and winter market invites travellers and guests to stroll along the fir-lined square every day from 11 to 21 o’clock. Only on Christmas Eve the market closes at 16 o’clock.

This year, the focus is particularly on the younger generation: every Tuesday, parents and their children can take advantage of Family Day, when all exhibitors offer discounted products. Whether you’re looking for gifts, mulled wine or winter treats – there’s something for everyone at over 40 stands in Europe’s largest open-air hall. The centerpiece is once again the over 600 square meter ice rink with curling lane.

Santa Claus, together with his angels and Krampus, visits the airport four times. On November 23rd and of course on December 6th, he distributes sweets and gifts to the children. At the “House of Santa”, the man in the red robe will be sharing merry holiday stories on November 30 and December 14.

In addition, the Christmas and winter market offers a varied entertainment program: guests can swing their skates at the ice disco every Wednesday from 18 o’clock. Live performances of jazz, pop or gospel create a festive atmosphere on stage every Thursday to Sunday from 18 o’clock. For the first time, from Thursday to Sunday, there will be a creative workshop where children and adults can design their own mugs, plates and other ceramics. The courses are free of charge, only the ceramic pieces have to be purchased.

The popular light tours across airport will also be offered this year. The guided bus tours last about 50 minutes and can be booked online on the website in advance. For those who decide at short notice, there are remaining places available directly on site at the ‘Lichterfahrten Hut’ in Munich Airport Center.

Visitors can park for three hours free of charge in the P20 parking lot with a special QR code. The QR code can be found on the Christmas and Winter Market flyers and on the airport website.

 

 

 

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The post Air Astana completes first 12-year C-check appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Air Astana announced that it is now the first Kazakh carrier to carry out a heavy maintenance 12-Year C-check, which was conducted on an Air Astana Airbus A321 aircraft.

Roberto Dando, director of Astana Technical Centre and C-Check maintenance, remarked: “Our successful completion of the first heavy maintenance 12-Year C-check on an Airbus A321 serves to confirm the sophisticated and growing capability of Air Astana’s engineering resource and staff.

Dando added that the ongoing commitment to develop in-house maintenance strength has significantly reduced costs previously incurred when heavy maintenance tasks were undertaken outside Kazakhstan.

What happens during such a check-up?

During the 12-Year C-check, comprehensive in-depth inspections and tests were conducted on all parts of the aircraft.  

The aircraft is systematically stripped down and a full inspection of the aircraft structure and components is performed, including inside the fuel tanks. The use of non-destructive testing methods are used to achieve some of these inspections. 

Major components such as the engines were removed for the inspection of their attachments and structure. After completing these tasks, the aircraft was rebuilt, and then extensive system tests were carried out.  

After all maintenance is complete, a maintenance check flight is performed to ensure everything is functioning correctly, from flight controls to in-flight entertainment, and then the aircraft can be released for passenger operation.

The Airbus A321 that underwent the 12-Year C-check has been flying in Air Astana’s fleet since 2012. The company plans to perform another 12-Year C-check by the end of this year. 

Air Astana was approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency to conduct 12-Year C-checks on Airbus A320/A321 aircraft in 2023. 

Air Astana performed its very first 1C-check in 2019, the first 2C-check in 2022 and the first 6-Year C-check in 2023, and, in total, Air Astana has now completed 32 C-checks in-house.

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The post CWT turbocharges its business intelligence and reporting solution with new AI-powered features appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

CWT has added new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled capabilities, powered by ThoughtSpot, to its Analytics business intelligence and reporting solution, making it easier and quicker to search, visualize, and analyze travel data and make insightful decisions.  

Users can now enter search queries in natural language, instead of keyword-based phrases. For example:

• “What were the average CO2 emissions for international flights taken by travelers in Germany last year?”
• “How has the online adoption rate in India changed from 2022-2024? Use a bar chart.”
• “Show me a list of travelers who are currently in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.”

Analytics can interpret these requests, uncover insights in near real-time from booking data, and present clear, easy-to-digest answers. Users can even customize the search results by asking it to visualize the data in a particular format such as a table, graph or chart.

In addition to surfacing relevant search results, Analytics can quickly analyze user-created Liveboards¹ to provide a summary of any expected and unexpected changes in the data – for example, a drop in online adoption rates or an increase in carbon emissions. The AI-generated summary includes possible causes of the change and the overall impact on KPIs, so the user can take swift action.

Users can also provide instant feedback on search results, which trains the AI model to better understand their intent and provide more accurate and personalized responses with each use.

“Integrating these enhanced AI capabilities into our Analytics reporting solution revolutionizes how our customers interact with their travel data,” said Erica Antony, CWT’s Chief Product Officer. “By enabling natural language queries, we simplify the process of uncovering critical insights, allowing businesses to make informed decisions swiftly and confidently. This enhancement underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive value for our clients.”

CWT has been deploying advanced AI capabilities across its suite of products and services to create a better user experience for its customers. This includes recent upgrades to its messaging support channel and airfare optimization service.

 

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The post Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand announce expansion at Christchurch Engine Centre appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a US$150 million, 14,000 square metre expansion of its Christchurch Engine Centre. 

The expansion will add maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine in New Zealand, with capacity for up to 140 GTF engine overhauls planned annually by 2032.

Construction of the facility expansion begins this month, and the first GTF engine overhaul is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said of the initiative: “This project between Air New Zealand and global aviation leader Pratt & Whitney marks a significant investment to New Zealand’s economy, helps expand our aviation industrial capability, and adds 200 high-value jobs into the Canterbury region.”

Pratt & Whitney president Shane Eddy added: “The Christchurch Engine Centre has a proven track record of delivering exceptional performance and quality with a highly capable workforce. With the Asia-Pacific region projected to experience the highest aviation growth globally over the next 20 years, it is a strategic imperative for us to invest here and partner with Air New Zealand as we continue to expand the GTF MRO network in support of the growing fleet.”

A necessary expansion

Air New Zealand chair Therese Walsh said the 14,000 square metre expansion will allow the airline to service its V2500 engines powering the A320ceo aircraft and PW1100G-JM GTF engines on the A320/A321neo aircraft right here in Aotearoa.

She said: “The introduction of new GTF repair capability will be completed in 2026, and the Christchurch Engine Centre will maintain, repair or overhaul both the V2500 and PW1100G-JM engines for many years to come.”

As Air New Zealand’s fleet of Airbus aircraft continues to grow, with another four expected to arrive over the next three years, the importance of this facility to the airline also grows allowing it to continue to deliver on our purpose of connecting Kiwis with each other and the world.”

For the local economy

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger remarked: “The investment is a real vote of confidence in the Christchurch Engine Centre and our city. The creation of 200 new jobs is great news for our local economy and further positions Christchurch as a world-class technology and aerospace hub. I can’t wait to see the new facility take off.”

Christchurch Engine Centre is committed to Pratt & Whitney’s sustainability vision to protect the environment along with the health and safety of its employees and the community around it. 

The expansion of the facility will continue the journey of this commitment as well as bring in innovations and new initiatives for a greener business and greener world.

A centre with a history

The Christchurch Engine Centre was founded in 1948 by Air New Zealand. 

In 2001, the airline and Pratt & Whitney partnered to develop the joint venture, focusing on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of JT8D then V2500 engines. 

Today, the Christchurch Engine Centre employs more than 400 highly skilled staff and has overhauled more than 1,500 IAE International Aero Engines AG V2500 engines.

The GTF engine is the most fuel-efficient and sustainable engine for single aisle aircraft available today. 

GTF engines lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions up to 20% relative to previous generation aircraft and have a 75 percent  smaller noise footprint. 

Around the world, GTF engines have saved airlines 2 billion gallons of fuel and 20 million metric tons of carbon emissions since entry into service in 2016.

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