Airline, Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

The islands of The Bahamas is advancing plans to accelerate and revolutionize the robust return of Amphibious Seaplanes Airlift.
According to Dr. Kenneth Romer, Bahamas Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of Tourism, “Amphibious air services is a prominent component of the recently launched National Aviation Strategic Plan, as we seek to diversify and innovate stopover air arrivals to and within our major islands and cays to position The Bahamas as a luxury cachet that cannot be matched by any other destination in our region”.On July 12, 2023, The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort on Paradise Island, hosted a Coco Bahamas Seaplane landing on the property, bringing in a group of leading luxury travel advisors and influential media partners for a special familiarization trip to mark the country’s 50th Independence Celebrations.
On hand to mark the occasion, were regulators from The Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas, Law Enforcement Officers along with Tourism, Aviation and Hospitality Executives.
“As we promote The Islands of The Bahamas as an extended-stay, multi-destination travel experience, seaplanes afford visitors ease of access to more destination offerings throughout our picturesque archipelago, while delivering the best way to lower the total cost of air transportation per mile flown”, said Dr. Romer.
Piloting the seaplane landing at The Ocean Club, were two young Bahamian pilots, Kyle Glenn Fernander and Brandon Fernander.ADVERTISEMENT

Older
One&Only One Za’abeel Dubai Now Accepting Reservations

Newer
AROYA Cruises announces its three-year Gold Sponsorship agreement of Al Nassr Football Club More

Delta SkyMiles® Members can now get even more out of a dream trip with Delta Vacations thanks to major program enhancements that begin today:
Increased Value: Miles are now worth at least 15% more when put toward any Delta Vacations destination, at any time. This means SkyMiles Members can get more vacation value for their miles than ever before.More Rewards: When booking Delta Vacations packages, SkyMiles Members can now earn more miles and MQDs than ever before*. Additionally, Members can use their miles to cover all or a portion of the vacation package, including hotels, transportation and activities/excursions.Better Booking Experience: Delta Vacations has a new booking experience making it easier for customers, on any device, to find and book the right vacation package for their needs. Delta Vacations allows travelers to choose from flights, hotels, rides and activities all over the world, all in one place.“We believe the whole point of earning miles is to go on a bucket-list vacation, and we are dedicated to making it easier than ever for SkyMiles Members to earn, book and plan the trips of their dreams,” said Kama Winters, President of Delta Vacations.
Delta Vacations is just one more reason for Delta customers to become SkyMiles Members. The SkyMiles Program is free to join, allows travelers to earn and use miles that don’t expire, and continues to lead the industry with benefits like free Wi-Fi on most domestic flights and the ability to earn miles beyond the flight with customer-favorite brands.
For more information, visit: www.delta.com/vacations

Older
Wyndham Teams Up with Roadchef to Launch First Super 8 Hotel in the UK

Newer
ST. KITTS MARRIOTT RESORT & THE ROYAL BEACH CASINO CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY More

From left to right: Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Americas; His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Canada; Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer; Philippe Rainville, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADM Aéroports de Montréal; Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal; Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Network & Revenue at Air Canada; Serge Bijimine, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Transport Canada; and Shaz Peshimam, Emirates’ Country Manager – Canada
Emirates made a landmark touchdown in Montréal, marking the start of its scheduled services to its second gateway in Canada. The inaugural flight was operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, which will offer premium passenger services on its daily services to the city. Emirates now serves Canada with 14 flights per week.
Emirates executives onboard included: Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Americas; and David Broz, Vice President Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs.
Flight EK243 arrived at Montréal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport at 0830hrs local time on 5 July and was greeted with a procession of follow-me vehicles to the gate. Airport officials and representatives from the aviation authorities were present to witness the touchdown, which also drew interest from aviation fans and media excited to capture the inaugural flight’s landing in Québec. 
On arrival, the VIP delegation travelling from Dubai were welcomed by Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President – USA and Canada and Shaz Peshimam, Emirates’ Country Manager for Canada.
Following a welcome ceremony and symbolic gift exchange between the airline, airport officials, and Montréal’s tourism board, Emirates showcased its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration to government representatives, media, guests and members of the travel trade industry. The aircraft features eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class for the daily service.ADVERTISEMENTAdnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer emphasised the significance of the new destination and said: “Emirates is excited to launch our service to Montréal, and to grow our network with a second gateway into Canada. We take this opportunity to thank the UAE and Canadian authorities and partners for supporting the launch of the service, which is expected to positively impact tourism, business and trade in both countries.
“Complementing our services to Toronto, customers will now have more choice when planning trips to Canada – they now can fly directly to the country’s second largest metropolis whether for business, leisure, education or for visiting family and friends. Since we announced our plans to launch direct services to Montréal, we have witnessed healthy bookings from travellers planning trips to Canada from points in the UAE, India, Iran and Lebanon in addition to many Far East and African countries. The strong demand is testament to the quality of our product and travel experience we provide. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard to experience our “fly better” proposition across all classes.”
On the commencement of Emirates’ services to Montréal, Philippe Rainville – President and Chief Executive Officer of ADM Aéroports de Montréal said: “ADM Aéroports de Montréal is delighted to welcome one of the world’s most prestigious airlines to YUL for the first time. This is an exceptional opportunity for our passengers to live the Emirates experience on a flight that will take them nonstop to the majestic city of Dubai. For an international airport like ours, this is particularly exciting news, especially since this route will offer arrivals and departures at less busy times of the day. It’s very much in line with ADM’s goal of offering more connections to popular destinations outside of peak travel times. We are very privileged that Emirates has chosen YUL as the second Canadian airport for its operations in the country.”
Emirates’ flights to and from Montréal operate as EK243 and EK244. The daily flight departs Dubai International airport at 02:30hrs, arriving in Montréal at 08:00hrs local time. The return flight departs Montréal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport at 10:20hrs, arriving in Dubai at 06:30hrs (local time) the next day.
The new daily service to Montréal complements Emirates’ seven weekly services to Toronto and takes the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations and a total of 18 across the Americas. The service will provide travellers from Canada convenient access to Dubai, as well as connectivity to popular destinations such as Lebanon, India, Iran, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal added: ‘’This new direct flight is an important step in the expansion of our air network and reinforces our position as a leading tourist destination. It opens up countless opportunities for both leisure and business travellers. Thank you to Emirates for making Montréal more accessible than ever to travellers from all over the world wishing to discover Montréal’s rich culture, diverse gastronomy and vibrant festivals. Welcome to Montréal!”
Expanding network and Air Canada partnership
Customers of Emirates and Air Canada have access to an expansive network of destinations thanks to the strategic partnership between the two airlines. In addition to over 130 destinations that Emirates flies to, through their codeshare relationship, its customers currently can access 19 Canadian destinations beyond Toronto, while Air Canada customers are able to access 17 cities in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Far East beyond Dubai. Additionally, Emirates passengers are able to choose from over 140 routes operated by Air Canada on an interline basis, including 27 points in Canada beyond Montréal and 53 routes between Montréal and the US and South America, while also enjoying the simplicity of flight itineraries on a single-ticket. 
Emirates Skywards members can earn Miles on all eligible Air Canada flights and can redeem Miles for reward tickets across Air Canada’s network.
Fly Better with inflight and on the ground services
At Dubai International airport, Emirates has a range of lounges available for its premium class customers and select Skywards members, to enjoy before their flights in Dubai. Chauffeur drive services to and from the airport are also available to First Class and Business Class customers in both Dubai and Montréal.
Extending its fly better promise, customers flying with Emirates can enjoy superior levels of comfort onboard, indulge regionally-inspired dining and world-class entertainment aboard its widebody fleet of aircraft. Customers on flights between Dubai to Montréal can get a taste of Canadian fare for breakfast and enjoy pancakes, garnished with berry or cherry compote, maple syrup and other toppings, or dine on French toast, served with berry compote, maple syrup, apples and more.
Passengers traveling with Emirates have endless entertainment options to choose from. Its award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language entertainment to suit all ages and interests. Ice features over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages. Passengers are set to enjoy Montréal-themed entertainment before getting there with stand-up comedy specials from Just for Laughs. Music lovers can also enjoy albums from legendary Canadian artists and time will fly with documentaries and biopics that explore the life and work of renowned Canadian musicians including Celine Dion.
Trade between UAE and Canada
The UAE is Canada’s largest export market in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2022, bilateral trade between Canada and the UAE exceeded C$2.6 billion, growing 53% over the last five years. According to Statistics Canada, it is estimated the UAE’s foreign direct investments stock in Canada was valued at C$1.3 billion in 2021.
Canada features in Dubai’s top 20 source markets for inbound tourism with 158,000 Canadian visitors in 2022, more than double the number in 2021 (Source: Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism). More than 40,000 Canadians also live and work in Dubai.
To support the movement of commodities and goods around the world, Emirates provides cargo services to Canada with a capacity to carry 20 tonnes in the bellyhold of its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft and up to 15 tonnes aboard its A380 aircraft.
Vibrant city of Montréal
Montréal is known for its fascinating neighbourhoods celebrating modern city style with a quaint old European feel, making the cultural hub a bucket list destination for locals, students and international travellers. Travellers can explore the famous Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal and visit the various museums nearby to discover how Montréal found its roots. Visits to Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the Phi Centre, enjoying the street performances, or major festivals, are a must on everyone’ s bucket list.
Travellers can look forward to the shopper’s paradise with chic boutiques and malls along Rue Sainte-Catherine, which are also abundant with street art in the vibrant Plateau Mont-Royal. The destination is a favourite amongst foodies and is known for the culinary delights it has to offer, from the iconic Montréal bagels that rival New York, to low-to-high-end restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. The famous poutine – a classic French-Canadian dish of fries, gravy and cheese curds – is also not to be missed.

Older
Plan your nuptials and honeymoon in Saint Lucia for memories that will be cherished for a lifetime

Newer
All set for the TAAI Convention hosted by Sri Lanka Tourism held from 6th – 9th July More

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, has celebrated the 15-year anniversary of its Bournemouth base. Ryanair was the first low-cost airline to operate at Bournemouth Airport, starting with its first flight from Dublin Airport in 1996.
Ryanair opened its base at Bournemouth Airport, growing to now carry over 776,000 passengers per year to/from Bournemouth Airport.
Ryanair’s Bournemouth Summer ‘23 schedule will deliver:
2 based aircraft – $200m investment18 total routes incl. 3 new routes to Carcassonne, Edinburgh, and Venice120+ flights per week28% growth on S22Supporting over 640 jobsThis summer, Ryanair operates its biggest ever summer schedule at Bournemouth Airport with over 120 weekly flights across 18 routes incl. new sunshine destinations, like Carcassonne and Venice, offering Bournemouth’s customers/visitors unbeatable choice at the lowest fares when booking their summer ’23 getaways and driving invaluable inbound tourism for the region at the same time.
To celebrate the 15-year anniversary since our base opening, as well as its record-breaking Bournemouth schedule for Summer ‘23, the airline has launched a special seat sale with fares from just £29.99 for travel between July and Sept available only at Ryanair.com.ADVERTISEMENTRyanair’s Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan said:
“We are delighted to celebrate 15 years since our base opening at Bournemouth Airport. Ryanair has operated at Bournemouth Airport since 1996 and our record Summer ’23 schedule of more than 18 routes will not only provide Bournemouth’s customers/visitors with an unbeatable selection of sunny hotspots and vibrant European city break destinations for their Summer ’23 getaways, particularly the likes of Budapest, Dublin, Faro, Venice, and Zadar where we operate exclusively to/from Bournemouth Airport, but will continue to promote important regional development through the support of over 640 local jobs, and delivery of even greater connectivity with Europe and its millions of holidaymakers.
To celebrate this significant milestone, we have launched a special seat sale with fares from £29.99 for travel between July and Sept available only at Ryanair.com.”
Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport added:
“In the 15 years since Ryanair opened its base at Bournemouth Airport our partnership has gone from strength to strength with more routes, more choice and more low fares for local people. We look forward to continuing that long association and celebrating further growth in the years to come.”

Older
easyJet holidays, have announced they will launch 15 new routes for next summer from Birmingham

Newer
HEALTH & WELLNESS IN SAINT LUCIA More

On 30th June 2008, the first Jet2.com flight landed in Corfu from Newcastle International Airport and a decade and a half later the leading leisure airline is celebrating 15 years of operating award-winning flights to Corfu. Since 2008, when Jet2.com operated just one route to Corfu, the company has enjoyed tremendous growth, both through Jet2.com and the UK’s largest tour operator Jet2holidays, with over one million customers having travelled to the destination.
Today, the companies operate to Corfu from nine of their UK bases (Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International) and have over 300,000 seats on sale to the destination this summer. 
In addition, Jet2holidays has nearly 100 hotels on sale in Corfu for Summer 23 and Jet2Villas, which offers customers their own villa and complete privacy alongside the benefits of a package holiday, has over 30 villas on sale this summer to the ever-popular Greek island. 
With up to 41 weekly flights arriving from the UK during peak periods this summer, customers and independent travel agents have unrivalled choice and flexibility when it comes to booking and travelling on award-winning flights and ATOL package holidays to Corfu this summer.
In addition to booking and travelling on award-winning flights and package holidays, customers can experience and enjoy the company’s VIP customer service which has seen Jet2.com and Jet2holidays win high-profile accolades, such as Which? Recommended Provider.  ADVERTISEMENTThis VIP customer service includes friendly low fares, great flight times and a generous 22kg baggage (plus 10kg hand baggage) allowance through a flight-only booking with Jet2.com. Holidaymakers booking through the UK’s largest tour operator, Jet2holidays, receive that very same VIP customer service and flights through Jet2.com, as well as in-resort Customer Helpers, 24/7 customer helpline, transfers, free child places and ATOL protection, all for a low £60 per person booking deposit. 
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This year marks 15 years since we started operating to Corfu, when we had just one route on sale. Today, we operate an enormous programme with unrivalled frequency to Corfu from the UK and have flown over a million customers to this magnificent destination. Such growth and success over the last two decades would not be possible without the fantastic partnerships we have in Corfu, and I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to hoteliers, airports, tourist boards and all our partners. As we continue to grow and take more customers to Corfu on our award-winning flights and holidays, we will continue to put that partnership approach at the very heart of everything that we do and bring even more happy holidaymakers to the destination.” 
Eleni Skarveli, Greece National Tourism Organisation, Director UK & Ireland, added: “Congratulations to Jet2.com on their 15th anniversary of connecting travellers to the picturesque island of Corfu! Over the years, Jet2.com has provided exceptional service and unforgettable experiences to all their customers visiting Greece. The bond between British travellers and Corfu runs deep, with shared history, cultural exchanges and cherished memories of ginger beer and cricket. Corfu’s idyllic landscapes, adorned with olive groves and turquoise waters, have beckoned British travellers for generations. This strong connection has been nourished by Jet2.com over the last 15 years, offering memorable holidays in Corfu and creating amazing stories. Here’s to reaching 100!”

Older
Saudia launches new route to Birmingham

Newer
ITB Asia 2023 Unveils Top Exhibitors and Introduces New Hall for Travel Tech Asia 2023 More

As Jamaica’s tourism sector continues its robust recovery, the island has been dubbed the number one Caribbean destination for Delta Vacations in terms of growth. With over fifty years in business, Delta Vacations, a Delta Airlines company, is one of the largest vacations providers in the United States. Delta Airlines is a major airline out of the United States and is a legacy carrier.
The announcement, which follows the island’s double-digit growth in terms of demand and outpacing one of its major competitors, Mexico, was shared during a high-level meeting with Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett and Senior Executives of Delta Airlines at their headquarters in Atlanta yesterday (June 13).
“Jamaica’s tourism products and offerings continue to be top of mind for consumers of our major airline partners like Delta. Coming out of the pandemic, we have seen the demand for Jamaica grow as people search for the real and authentic experiences that we have to offer. It is truly gratifying to see that this growth is evident amongst our key tourism partners and will allow for further discussions for additional seats and routes,” said Minister Bartlett.
The meeting with Delta airlines Senior Executives, forms part of an overarching marketing blitz led by Minister Bartlett and his team, with a series of tourism engagements in the United States, the country’s largest source market.
Atlanta is one of the major cities from which Jamaica welcomes a large influx of American visitors. It also has a strong Diaspora that usually choose to return to Jamaica to vacation and spend in the destination. Data from Delta airlines has also indicted that seats to Jamaica are up ten percent for the upcoming summer, which will add to the very favourable projections as the best summer for the destination.ADVERTISEMENTMr. Bartlett and his team of senior tourism officials have also engaged with other critical stakeholders in New York and Miami to ensure the sector leverages the strong projections for summer.
“Our discussions also explored the possibility of multi destination experiences through Delta’s long-haul routes that coincide with our target for emerging markets like India and Africa. We are looking at visitors from countries opting to make Jamaica a destination spot through these routes,” said Minister Bartlett.

Older
Saadiyat Island’s ultimate Eid staycation guide

Newer
Premier Inn launches four-day flash sale, with rooms from AED110 More

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) welcomes the announcement by JetBlue to launch its first-ever nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Nassau.
The new service connecting the United States West Coast to the Islands of The Bahamas will debut on 4 November, with a once- weekly Saturday flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Nassau’s Sir Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS).
“Over the past nine months, the Ministry has been in constant dialogue with key international aviation stakeholders, including JetBlue to increase airlift capacity to meet the demand for travel to our destination.” said the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.“We are thrilled that within a few short months, travellers will be able to board a JetBlue flight in Los Angeles and be in The Bahamas within a matter of hours, to enjoy the beautiful beaches, the rich culture and the myriad of experiences on offer in Nassau and Paradise Island,” said DPM Cooper.
JetBlue’s announcement of the launch of nonstop service from Los Angeles to Nassau comes only days in advance of the Ministry of Tourism’s “Bringing The Bahamas to You” Global Sales Mission Tour scheduled for California 12th – 15th June. The 3-day tour will make stops in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, to showcase the 16-island destination’s latest tourism offerings and developments, spotlight The Bahamas’ longstanding film legacy and celebrate the milestone 50th Anniversary of Independence.
The Los Angeles/Nassau nonstop route will also allow for more connectivity from major markets in Asia and the Pacific, putting The Bahamas’ 16 destinations in easier reach for new visitors. The new Los Angeles/Nassau route will also feature JetBlue’s award-winning Mint premium service.ADVERTISEMENTLos Angeles International Airport is the world’s fifth busiest airport, with 645 daily commercial flights to 162 destinations.

Older
PLANS TO BUILD THE BAHAMAS’ FIRST CORAL GENE BANK

Newer
Spirit’s Bright Yellow Planes are on Their Way to San José More

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce a new partnership with JetBlue Airlines, New York’s Hometown Airline®, which today revealed the first-ever nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Belize’s Phillip S.W. Goldson.
Marking New York as the 11th U.S. city to offer nonstop service to the Central American nation, JetBlue will operate year-round roundtrip flights three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays – with the inaugural flight scheduled for Dec. 6, 2023.
“We’re thrilled to announce the new partnership between Belize and JetBlue and can’t wait to welcome JetBlue’s first-ever flight to our country in December,” said Hon. Anthony Mahler, Belize’s Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. “This is a huge win for our ongoing efforts to make Belize accessible to more U.S. visitors, with JFK being one of the biggest air travel hubs for tens of millions of travelers. We’re excited for JetBlue to join the family of airline partners offering nonstop flight options to Belize and we invite everyone to visit and discover the beauty of this enchanting country and all that it has to offer.”
“JetBlue is committed to delivering exceptional travel experiences to our customers and our expansion to Belize reflects our dedication to connecting customers to the most popular and unique destinations,” said David Jehn, vice president of network planning and partnerships, JetBlue. “We look forward to not only introducing our low fares and great service to Belize customers but also providing access to all the cities we serve from New York.”
Belize is quickly becoming a popular destination for American travelers. As of April 2023, more than 68% of all overnight arrivals to the destination came from the United States. This is expected to increase thanks to the new direct flight service and represents a very optimistic outlook for the dynamic growth of the Belizean tourism industry.ADVERTISEMENTAs one of Central America’s most biodiverse countries, Belize is home to the largest Barrier Reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres, indigenous cultures, mystical Maya caves, pristine Caribbean waters, wondrous aquatic habitats, lush tropical jungles, wildlife reserves, and cascading flora and fauna. Belize is the only English-speaking country in the region where the U.S. dollar is widely accepted making it an ideal vacation destination where numerous adventures are waiting to be had. To learn more, visit travelbelize.org.

Older
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts Celebrates the Return of its Signature Au Soleil Programme More