Travel News Page 409
Austrian Airlines and Miles & More enter into new partnership with “Erste Bank und Sparkasse”
Austrian Airlines, Austria’s largest airline and part of the Lufthansa Group, and Miles & More, the Lufthansa Group’s loyalty programme, are launching a change to their credit card portfolio in Austria. “Erste Bank und Sparkasse”, one of the largest banking groups in Austria, won the tender. At the beginning of 2026, Austrian Miles & More credit cards will be issued in combination with George, the multi-award-winning internet banking platform. Mastercard will remain on board as the payment service provider.
Passenger Surge Expected at Shannon Airport with 10% Growth Forecast for August Bank Holiday Period
Shannon Airport is preparing for a bustling August Bank Holiday, with almost 60,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the period, marking a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This continued growth reflects Shannon Airport’s strong performance in 2025, with over 1.04 million passengers recorded in the first half of the year – a 7% year-on-year increase.
TUI River Cruises reveals new venues onboard TUI Bahareya
TUI River Cruises unveils its new venues onboard the fully refurbished Arabic inspired décor ship, TUI Bahareya, which is due to set sail on its maiden voyage this November on the River Nile. The TUI Bahareya will be equipped with 74 cabins accommodating 146 guests per sailing and it has been designed with flexibility and choice in mind to cater for all customer’s needs. The ship’s new venues onboard bring together the cultural immersion from the destinations it sails through and modern Arabic inspired décor, with each venue having a flare of Egypt.
American Airlines expands Premium Economy service to New York-Los Angeles route
For travelers looking for extra comfort when traveling between New York and Los Angeles, American Airlines will begin offering Premium Economy service on the transcontinental route in October. “We are excited to provide customers the opportunity to experience our Premium Economy service on our premier domestic route,” said Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer. “With the domestic debut of Premium Economy, customers will enjoy a more comfortable seat, enhanced amenities and elevated dining with hot entree choices when traveling coast-to-coast.”
Lufthansa, Fraport, and zeroG drive innovation at Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa and Fraport AG have signed an agreement to further optimize aircraft handling at Frankfurt Airport. Together with Lufthansa subsidiary zeroG, the partners are introducing the innovative AI-based camera solution “seer”. The goal is to use real-time data to make the turnaround process– i.e., the procedures involved in aircraft handling – more transparent, punctual, and efficient.
TUI acquires 20 per cent stake in Bentour Reisen
The antitrust authorities have approved the acquisition of 20 per cent of Bentour Reisen AG by the TUI Group and the takeover of 20 per cent of TUI subsidiary Nazar Nordic by Bentour. The transaction is therefore now effective. David Schelp, CEO Markets & Airline TUI Group, comments: ‘The all-inclusive market is developing very well. It offers customers a great deal of security. Demand is encouraging, especially in holiday destinations such as Türkiye and Greece. As a subsidiary of TUI Nordic, Nazar is well positioned in the Nordic markets and has great potential for further growth. Bentour is an excellent company with whom we want to shape our growth. Customer focus and quality standards are values that both companies share.’
Stay22 reports 187% growth in the first half of the year 2025
2025 has been a record-breaking year for Stay22 so far. The business performance of the travel tech company based in Montreal has surpassed its expectations in financial terms during the first half of the year, at the same it has increased its staff and the number of partners in its affiliate programme. From January to June 2025, Stay22 achieved an estimated Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of 372 million USD. As for the number of transactions made through its software solution, it grew by nearly 187% to more than 1.3 million. In parallel, the number of employees of the travel tech company increased by 50%
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai Unveils Bespoke Amenity Program
At Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, luxury extends beyond design and service—it’s a reflection of each individual guest. With more than a decade of heritage in Northern Thailand, the resort’s new Bespoke Amenity Program takes personalization, wellness and sustainability to the next level, inviting guests to curate their own welcome experience from the moment they step through the door.
Ireckonu launches cutting-edge marketing automation to supercharge hotel campaigns
Ireckonu, the hospitality tech company behind some of the world’s most intelligent middleware and Customer Data Platform (CDP) solutions, today announced the launch of its new marketing automation feature — a powerful enhancement to its CRM offering designed to transform how hotels engage with guests.
Minor Hotels Appoints Michael Robinson as General Manager of Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Minor Hotels, a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 560 hotels, resorts and branded residences across 57 countries announces the appointment of Michael Robinson as General Manager at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort effective from 30 June 2025.
Korean Air celebrates 30 years of service to Washington, D.C.
Korean Air celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Washington, D.C. route with a special event at Dulles International Airport on July 25. To commemorate the milestone, the airline awarded a complimentary round-trip ticket from Washington D.C. to Seoul Incheon to the 30th passenger checking in for flight KE094. All passengers on the flight received special anniversary gifts, including limited-edition travel pouches.
South African Airways (SAA) will inaugurate its first direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius
South African Airways (SAA) will inaugurate its first direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, marking a strategic expansion of its network and enhancing connectivity for travelers in the Western Cape. This milestone underscores SAA’s continued commitment to connectivity, customer choice, and strategic growth.