The Week In Travel

Flight disruptions are set to continue, according to a report published by Amadeus this week. The study, which involves 150 airline and airport leaders, indicates that disruption levels are set to persist above pre-Covid norms for at least another three years. Factors expected to contribute to the disruption include increased schedule changes and challenges in staff recruitment, automation, and decision-making platforms.

In the UK, London Heathrow kicked off 2024 on a high note, hosting nearly six million passengers in January, marking a 9.4% increase compared to the previous year. Top destinations included the EU and North America, with notable growth seen in Asia Pacific following the region’s reopening. CEO Thomas Woldbye anticipates continued success amid upcoming travel peaks.

Connecting Europe to East Asia, Korean carrier T’way Air, will launch routes from Seoul to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Frankfurt later in 2024. This development has been facilitated by Korean Air’s takeover of the airline, utilising ‘remedy slots’ to ensure market competitiveness.

Elsewhere, Tui has announced a collaboration with Ryanair, which will see Ryanair flights added to holiday packages. This deal marks Tui as Ryanair’s third approved OTA partner, ensuring transparent pricing and streamlined customer processes. These additional flights complement the already extensive range of Tui flights and existing connections with partner airlines.

And finally, a prank sparked excitement at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas when a man dressed up as a chauffeur and arrived at the airport pretending to be waiting for the arrival of Taylor Swift. Holding a sign bearing her name, his presence caused a stir with a number of ‘Swifties’ at the airport – who were aware she was heading to the city to watch the Superbowl. In a video posted on X, passers by became increasingly curious before eventually discovering that it was all a ruse. Most passengers saw the funny side, and despite their disappointment were able to ‘Shake it Off’.