Category Airline, Tourism, Organisations & Operators

Madeira is set to strengthen connectivity from the UK for the summer season*, with increased frequency on both London and some regional routes.

London will remain a key getaway to Madeira, with a consistent schedule of 31 weekly flights operating across the capital’s airports throughout the summer season, up from an average of 28 weekly flights last summer. The Bournemouth service, which launched last summer, returns for the summer season, and Bristol will benefit from increased frequency, rising from four to five flights per week, offering improved flexibility for travellers from the South West.

British Airways is expanding its nonstop London Heathrow to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport service to six weekly flights from 29 March 2026, boosting capacity by 55 to 60 percent in response to rising demand. The timing could not be better. The Cincy Region, where German heritage meets urban energy and Southern hospitality, is gearing up for a standout year of landmark events, culinary innovation and major cultural moments, making 2026 the perfect time to visit.

As tensions and military confrontations intensify across parts of the Middle East, the aviation sector has seen significant disruptions. Airlines, governments, and international aviation authorities are grappling with safety concerns, rapidly changing flight plans, and economic fallout as the region’s airspace becomes increasingly volatile.

Global airlines suspended flights across the Middle East on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the region into a renewed military confrontation.
Flight maps showed the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty as Israel said it struck Iran and the U.S. military initiated a series of strikes against targets in the country. Iran retaliated with a salvo of missiles.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) UK & Ireland has warmly welcomed today’s announcement that Aer Lingus will launch a new direct service from Dublin (DUB) to Barbados (BGI), with seats
going on sale from Thursday, February 12th.
The new route represents a significant milestone for Barbados in the Irish market, providing direct connectivity between the two islands. Operated by Aer Lingus’ new fuel-efficient Airbus A321XLR aircraft, the service will strengthen ties between the two destinations while offering Irish travellers a seamless and sustainable way to get to Barbados.

With no sun in sight and freezing conditions set to sweep across the UK this week, families are chasing affordable sunshine abroad this winter for some much-needed vitamin D.

A new ‘Holiday Hotlist’ index has been published that factors in criteria such as typical winter temperature, hours of sunshine per day, time difference with UK and average price of a meal out for four to pinpoint the best spots for winter sun.

Loyalty programs remain deeply embedded in how travelers plan, book and experience travel, but a new 3-part research series from Phocuswright shows that heavy participation does not necessarily translate into consistent brand usage.

Instead, travelers are navigating an increasingly complex rewards economy strategically, prioritizing value, convenience and fit over long-term brand devotion.
According to Phocuswright’s latest consumer research, 84% of leisure travelers engaged in at least one loyalty “gaming” behavior in the past 12 months, underscoring how normalized optimization has become across points, miles and status programs.

Riyadh Air and Mastercard today unveiled a bold strategic alliance that brings together payments, travel and technology to reshape how people and businesses experience global travel. With no legacy programs in place, Riyadh Air is in a unique position to jointly create an extensive financial and payment ecosystem that is unprecedented from day one. The collaboration introduces a powerful suite of innovations spanning consumer payments, premium airport experiences and next-generation B2B travel payments – positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global travel evolution.

Get ready to pair world-famous port wine cellars with “Euro Summer” adventures thanks to new service from American Airlines to Porto, Portugal (OPO) in summer 2027. Operated with the airline’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, customers will have the opportunity to elevate their travel with the Flagship Suite® experience on this route.

Wizz Air, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, has closed calendar year 2025 with growth, an expanded and refocused network, and continued improvements in operational performance. The airline added new aircraft, opened hundreds of new routes, and carried record passenger volumes, while also strengthening punctuality and reliability across its network.