Travel Technology News Page 9
QANTAS' PROJECT SUNRISE A350-1000ULR COMPLETES MAIDEN TEST FLIGHT
Qantas' Project Sunrise Airbus A350-1000ULR has completed its maiden test flight, marking a significant milestone ahead of the launch of commercial flights that will connect Australia’s east coast to London and New York, non-stop, for the first time ever. Operated by two Airbus Flight Test Pilots, three Flight Test Engineers and one Ground Test Engineer, Qantas’ ultra long range A350 took off for the first time from Toulouse yesterday afternoon local time and flew for three hours 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic Coast.
DerbySoft Group Transaction with Constellation Software’s Juniper Group Officially Closes
DerbySoft Group, a global leader in high-performance connectivity and distribution for the travel industry, and Juniper Group, an operating group of Vela Software and part of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), today announced the completion of Juniper Group’s previously announced acquisition of a majority interest in Derbysoft. With the transaction complete, DerbySoft Group, including PKFARE, has joined Juniper Group’s portfolio of vertical market software companies and continues to operate independently under its existing leadership team, led by Ted Zhang as Chief Executive Officer.
Massport Opens America's First Remote Airport Terminal, Powered by SITA
Boston Logan passengers on select Delta Air Lines and JetBlue flights can check in, drop their bags, and clear TSA security in Framingham, Massachusetts, before they ever reach the airport. The Logan Airport Remote Terminal at Framingham, launched today by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), is the first off-airport security checkpoint in North America. SITA's common-use check-in technology is the platform that makes it work.
Web Summit Rio: How Latin America’s Biggest Tech Stage Is Reshaping the Industry
Web Summit Rio has become more than another stop on the global conference circuit. It is now one of the clearest signals that Latin America is moving from the margins of the technology conversation to the center of it.
SITA acquires Big Blue Analytics, developer of OCC Assistant Manager (OCCam)
Airlines around the world will now have access to the most advanced and proven AI-enabled disruption management platform in airline operations. Disruption is aviation's most expensive unsolved problem, costing airlines tens of billions of dollars every year. To address this, SITA has acquired Big Blue Analytics, the team behind OCC Assistant Manager (OCCam), and will scale the platform to airlines worldwide as the foundation of a broader Intelligent Operations Control Center vision.
From Havana to Rio: How IATA Helped Build the Modern Aviation Industry
As aviation leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS), they return to a city that occupies a unique place in the history of global aviation. Rio was where, in 1999, IATA formally introduced the World Air Transport Summit, recognising that its annual gathering had evolved into something much larger than a trade association meeting. Aviation had become one of the defining industries of globalization, carrying more than 1.5 billion passengers annually and generating over $300 billion in revenues. The AGM had become the forum where airline leaders, governments, manufacturers, airports and regulators debated the future of an increasingly interconnected world.
AI Helps Travelers Spot Booking Red Flags
Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the way people plan travel. For many travelers, AI is no longer just a tool for finding destination ideas or building sample itineraries. It is becoming part of a more practical decision-making process: helping people understand whether a hotel, Airbnb, or vacation rental is actually the right place to stay before they commit.
AI and Content Reshape Attractions & Tours at Trip.com Group's Global Partner Forum
Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, explored the future of the Attractions & Tours (A&T) sector at the Attractions & Tours Global Partners Forum, part of the Group's annual Envision.2026 conference. Held at the prestigious Shanghai Concert Hall, the event brought together partners, including attraction providers and travel-sector KOLs, to examine how technological innovation, experience enhancement, and global collaboration are reshaping the fast-moving travel and attractions industry.
TripWorks launches Lead Center: The first native CRM purpose-built for tour and activity operators
TripWorks, the operating system for modern tour and activity businesses, today announced the launch of Lead Center, the first native customer relationship management (CRM) and sales pipeline built directly into a booking platform for tour, activity, and attraction operators. For years, operators have been forced to duct-tape together spreadsheets, inboxes, third-party automations, and generic CRMs to manage high-value sales activity. But traditional CRMs were built for software pipelines – not live departures, fluctuating capacities, guide schedules, guest counts or inventory that moves in real time.
Travelport and Cognizant Bring Claude AI to Travel Platforms
The new Travelport Cognizant AI partnership is a significant step for both companies. Travelport is taking a significant step into AI-enabled travel technology through a new collaboration with Cognizant. The companies will incorporate Anthropic’s Claude AI into Travelport’s retail and distribution platforms.
Hotels Race to Be Found as AI Takes Over Travel Search
Artificial intelligence is changing how people search and book travel, and hotels are entering a new era of digital competition.
As Demand for Immersive Entertainment Experiences Increases, Sandbox VR Opens its Third Location
Sandbox VR, the world's premier destination for premium location-based virtual reality experiences, today announced the opening of a new location at Town Square near the Las Vegas Strip. This marks the third location in the city, which can draw more than 40 million tourists per year (source: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority) and is a hub of consumer demand for immersive entertainment experiences, an industry valued at $137.70B in 2025 and projected to reach $1,024.55B by 2033 (source: Grand View Research). The new location, which will open on June 12, is ideal for Las Vegas locals, conveniently located just off the freeway with free parking.