The Week In Travel

This week has seen a sharp rise in demand for air travel in China, as authorities lift Covid-zero policies. Data from Chinese aviation data company VariFlight has revealed that domestic flight activity has jumped to around 65% of pre-pandemic levels on Monday – a leap of 43% in just two weeks. A regional industry analyst at HSBC was quoted in Bloomberg saying that China’s major airlines will likely make a small profit in 2023 before generating record earnings in 2024.

Staying in the Far East, Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, has announced the easing of a number of restrictions this week for international arrivals to the city. The changes mean that passengers will now be able to visit bars and restaurants after landing, provided they show proof of vaccination as well as negative tests.

In US news, Delta Airlines has issued an extremely upbeat forecast for consumer demand in 2023. In an investor update, chief executive Ed Bastian says that Delta expects a 15% to 20% year-on-year revenue growth from 2023, and to generate more than $2 billion in free cash flow next year.

With the spectre of strikes looming for travellers in much of Europe over the festive period, the French Minister for Transport has reassured people that he believes there will be ‘no major disruptions’ on the rail network or at airports. Unions representing Air France cabin crew as well as multiple rail-worker unions are planning industrial action over the winter holidays.

And finally, it has been a bad week for believers in true love after one air traveller pretended to propose to his friend in order to get free gifts from the cabin crew. After getting down on one knee and giving a seemingly heartfelt declaration of love for his apparent beau, the man and his friend were subsequently treated to copious amounts of champagne. The emotional crew then serenaded the couple with their ‘special song’ by Ed Sheeran.