Travel Industry News

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has said the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 may constitute a “war crime”. The Boeing 777 aircraft came down on route from Amsterdam on July 17th with the loss of 298, mostly Dutch, lives. → Read More

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has confirmed it will stop routing flights through Iraqi airspace in order to protect against the threat of Islamic militants. The decision follows the crash of Malaysian Airlines MH17 earlier this month, which came down over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. → Read More

Jet Airways and Etihad Airways have outlined plans to reinforce their long-term commitment to the growth of India’s economy and aviation industry, including a major new turnaround strategy for Jet Airways to return to profitability in three years. The two airlines have been codeshare partners since 2008 and their relationship was strengthened in November 2013, after Etihad Airways received approvals to acquire a 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways, marking it the first investment by a foreign carrier in India’s airline industry. → Read More

Almost two years to the day from the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games a new report from the British Government shows that the Olympic Games continue to provide significant legacies for the city of London – and Britain as a whole. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach explained: “Ensuring a positive legacy from the Olympic Games for a host city and country is very important for the IOC.” → Read More

British Airways is introducing football highlights and sports magazine shows on a number of long-haul flights, following the boost in interest this summer. The airline is introducing popular Saturday cable show ‘Soccer AM’ on flights from August 19th. → Read More

TripAdvisor has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Viator, a leading resource for researching and booking destination activities around the world, for $200 million. Viator features more than 20,000 bookable tours and attractions and more than 600,000 reviews, photos, and videos submitted by travellers. → Read More

Passport workers in the UK have gone on strike in a dispute over staffing numbers and pay. In what is described as a “bid to end staffing shortages that have caused the ongoing backlog crisis”, members of the Pubic & Commercial Services Union walked out on a 24-hour strike this morning. → Read More

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts have unveiled Spa by JW. Created to demystify and re-imagine the spa experience, this new concept offers guests an intuitive experience that is luxurious yet purposeful with treatments and products designed to address four core benefit states: Calm, Indulge, Invigorate and Renew. → Read More

Hyatt Hotels and Playa Hotels & Resorts are planning to introduce the Hyatt Ziva brand to Cancun. Formerly Dreams Cancun, the resort’s multi-million dollar renovation began in early June, and it is expected to reopen in late 2015 as Hyatt Ziva Cancun. → Read More

The Hotel Indigo brand has opened its first hotel in Cleveland. Prior to its conversion to the Hotel Indigo brand, the four-story 100-room hotel underwent an $8 million renovation, funded by ownership. → Read More

Air Canada is planning to introduce a new seasonal non-stop service operated by Air Canada rouge between Vancouver and Palm Springs, California this winter. → Read More