The Week In Travel

Air France-KLM announced this week that it recorded its ‘highest revenue in history’ in 2023, reporting a 14% rise from the previous year. The airline group raked in record revenue despite weathering losses in the fourth quarter from incurring higher costs and disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The group attributed this growth in revenue to the fact that they saw passenger numbers climb 11% compared to 2022, transporting over 72 million travellers to their destinations.

In encouraging news for the travel industry, a study from Flight Centre Travel Group found spending money on travel still remains a priority for many. The CEO of the Australian-based travel group, Graham Turner, has commented on the resilience of travel spending following the announcement of a year-on-year rise of pre-tax profits. The increase was attributed in part to the booming cruise sector that Flight Centre Is aiming to increase its presence within moving forward.

In Europe, Lufthansa City Airlines, the subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, has announced its first flight destinations. The short-haul airline has announced it will launch flights from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen Dusseldorf Cologne and Hanover, as well as services to Birmingham and Manchester in the UK, and Bordeaux in France. Plans are in place for these services to operate from summer 2024 with tickets planning to go on sale in April.

Across the pond, the International Airlines Group has announced that it has made its largest purchase agreement for SAF to date. California-based producer Twelve has agreed to supply IAG with a huge 260 million gallons of the sustainable view which will be used across group’s airlines including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, LEVEL and Vueling.

And finally, a penguin that was spotted trying to make its first flight on the southern end of Wellington International Airport has this week been released back into the wild. The six-week-old fledgling had been seen on the airport’s runway earlier this year. Following his adventure, the Kororā received some quality care from the New Zealand vets and as soon as it was confirmed he was fit to swim, the brave young bird was released back into the wild. Hopefully next time he tries to fly he’ll remember to buy a ticket!