The latest figures show that global leisure travel spending reached USD6.15 trillion in 2025, up 3.5% year-on-year and accounting for 80.5% of total global travel expenditure. Of this, Europe attracted USD2 trillion, equivalent to USD1 in every USD3 spent worldwide on leisure travel, highlighting the region’s enduring appeal as travellers embark on this year’s summer holidays.

Southern European destinations remain at the heart of this success. France, Spain, Italy and Türkiye remain among the most sought-after summer destinations globally, benefiting from strong international demand, diverse source markets, world-class tourism offerings and robust connectivity.

As Europe experiences another busy summer season, the region’s tourism performance reflects not only strong seasonal demand but also its longer-term competitiveness. Leisure spending growth remained resilient across key destinations in 2025, with France expanding by 3.6%, Spain by 2.6% and Italy by 2.2%.

Looking ahead, Europe’s growth momentum is expected to continue beyond the summer months and into 2026, when the region is forecast to expand by 3.7%, outpacing the global average of 3.1%.

Italy is projected to lead this next phase of growth with a 4.7% increase in leisure spending, followed by Spain (+4.3%), Türkiye (+4.1%) and France (+2.6%), reinforcing Southern Europe’s position as a powerhouse of global tourism demand.

This sustained growth is also being supported by evolving global travel patterns, with Southern European destinations increasingly benefiting from demand redirected from other regions, further strengthening their competitive positioning.

WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara, said: “With summer travel at its peak, Europe continues to set the pace for global leisure tourism, capturing one-third of all spending worldwide and demonstrating the strength, diversity and resilience of its tourism sector.

Southern Europe remains the engine of this growth. Destinations such as Spain, Italy, France and Türkiye continue to attract strong international demand thanks to their unique visitor experiences, excellent connectivity and competitive tourism offerings.

With millions of travellers currently holidaying across the continent, destinations must continue investing in infrastructure, connectivity and sustainable tourism management to support future growth and maintain their global competitiveness. The outlook for 2026 shows Europe is well positioned to continue leading global Travel & Tourism.”

WTTC’s Economic Impact Research is produced in partnership with Oxford Economics and is among the world’s most authoritative datasets on the economic contribution of Travel & Tourism. 

Forecasts for 2026 are based on current economic and geopolitical conditions at the time of publication and include assumptions related to inflation, energy prices, consumer demand, and regional geopolitical developments. As the global situation evolves, projections may change.

(Source: WTTC)

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A Lufthansa Airbus A320neo will be the first to offer passengers internet bandwidth above the clouds that, in many cases, will be faster than their home or office internet connection.

Starlink is collaborating with the Lufthansa Group to equip 850 aircraft across all of its airlines by 2029. The system is supported by low Earth satellite technology and enables viewing of video content, cloud-based work, and other high-speed applications during the flight. This makes Lufthansa Group the largest airline group in Europe to equip its fleet with this modern high-speed internet product. 

The project is part of the Lufthansa Group’s extensive investments in new aircraft as well as product and service innovations across the entire travel chain.   

Other group airlines — SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines, and Eurowings — are currently preparing to roll out the new technology.

The new Wi-Fi will allow passengers to browse the web once they agree to etiquette terms and guidelines gleaned from recent surveys of Lufthansa Group customers. In short, passengers are required always to wear headphones when playing audio and video content, refrain from making voice and video calls, and refrain from broadcasting live streams aboard the aircraft. 

The Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi portal is sponsored by Mastercard, which has already been a partner of the previous FlyNet.

The new internet service will be free of charge for all Miles & More customers and Travel ID users – across all travel classes.

(Source: Lufthansa Group)

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With over 50 years of experience, Piñero has an integrated business model covering development, management, and services across the travel value chain.

Its hospitality division operates 25 owned hotels across Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, under a range of management models. 

Real Estate & Golf focuses on developing premium residential communities and operating PGA of America-accredited golf courses in the Caribbean. 

Soltour, an independent tour operator in Spain and Portugal, leads its travel sector. At the same time, the mobility segment delivers land and maritime transport solutions that complement the broader tourism offering.

WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara, said: “As an international tourism group with over 50 years of experience, Piñero brings valuable expertise across hospitality, real estate, travel, and mobility. Their strong commitment to a regenerative approach to tourism and creating positive impact in destinations aligns closely with WTTC’s priorities. It will further strengthen our collective efforts to drive a more sustainable and resilient Travel & Tourism sector worldwide.”

(Source: WTTC)

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The cruise ship Rotterdam will once again homeport in Rotterdam for the 2028 Europe season.

Featuring Holland America Line’s highest number of Europe port calls in nearly a decade, the 2028 season includes record numbers of visits to Norway, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands. Guests can discover more than 200 UNESCO World Heritage sites — including in-depth exploration of Norway’s UNESCO-listed fjords — and experience each destination through regional cuisine, local traditions and immersive shore excursions.

Holland America recently expanded its European deployment year-round, with departures from January through early December 2028 and itineraries ranging from seven-day getaways to 48-day Legendary Voyages. 

Five ships — Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam — will sail throughout the region, giving guests a wide range of options across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and transatlantic crossings. Overnight stays, extended calls and late-night departures in select ports provide additional time to explore destinations from Northern Europe’s historic capitals and fjord communities to the sun-soaked coasts of the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean Sailings 

The Mediterranean features prominently in Holland America Line’s 2028 Europe season, with voyages ranging from seven to 11 days and departures from six homeports. Sailings visit destinations across Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. At the same time, Nieuw Amsterdam returns to Europe for the first time in more than a decade, allowing travellers to experience several of the ship’s signature offerings, including Morimoto by Sea, Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s only dedicated restaurant at sea. Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam offer spring and fall departures, and Zuiderdam returns following her Evolution enhancements.

Many of the itineraries are designed for guests to sail back-to-back, seeing more of the Mediterranean on a longer vacation with few or no repeat ports. Travellers looking for a more extended exploration can also choose the 48-day Legendary Mediterranean Voyage, sailing roundtrip from North America and visiting destinations across the region. The season includes Holland America Line’s highest number of visits to Spain since 2017 and a record six calls at Portofino in 2028.

Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam will sail Northern Europe voyages ranging from seven to 28 days, visiting Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles and the Baltic. Itineraries pair major cultural capitals with smaller coastal destinations while offering opportunities to combine multiple regions into a single vacation.

(Source: Holland America)

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In a press statement last week, the airline said the Warsaw-Hanoi route would operate year-round, with three flights per week, adding a fourth frequency at the start of the winter timetable in October 2027.

Hanoi will become the fifth city in the airline’s Asian long-haul flight network, complementing the existing connections with Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, and Bangkok (starting October 2026).

Asia has long attracted travellers with its cultural richness and some of the world’s most interesting tourist destinations. The growing interest in travelling to Asia is reflected by the consistent expansion of LOT Polish Airlines’ route network, with the latest addition, Hanoi, served year-round with three flights per week. 

Departures from Warsaw’s Chopin Airport will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while return flights from Hanoi will take to the skies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 

Flights from Warsaw to Hanoi will last approximately 10 hours and 25 minutes, and the return journey will take 11 hours and 20 minutes, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a three-cabin configuration of 252 seats — business 18, premium economy 21, and economy 213.

Vietnam is one of the most dynamic markets in Asia, and its importance to Polish business and tourism is steadily growing. It is a country of exceptional cultural and natural richness, captivating with its authenticity, exquisite cuisine, and diverse landscapes – from the vibrant city of Hanoi to the picturesque Ha Long Bay. 

“The launch of the Hanoi route reflects our ambition further to strengthen LOT Polish Airlines’ presence in Asia and continue developing our Warsaw hub as a gateway between Central and Eastern Europe and some of the world’s most promising destinations,” said

LOT Polish Airlines Board Member, Chief Commercial Officer, Robert Ludera. 

Flight schedule

LO061 departs Warsaw (WAW) at 1505 and arrives in Hanoi (HAN) at 0635 plus a day. Flights depart Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
LO062 departs Hanoi (HAN) at 0825 and arrives in Warsaw (WAW) at 1440. Flights depart Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets and fares for this new route are now on sale directly through LOT Polish Airlines’ official website (lot.com). Round-trip fares start at USD1322 (Trip.com).

However, because the route has just been announced for a 31 March 2027 launch, some third-party aggregators and general metasearch tools (like Google Flights) may need more time to reflect live pricing and the flight schedules across all external booking platforms. 

(Source: LOT Polish booking website)

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However, AAPA shares concerns voiced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which noted earlier that a unilateral expansion of the EU ETS for aviation would be inconsistent with the objective of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the only global market-based measure applying to CO2 emissions from international aviation, and risks duplicative measures.

CORSIA was approved by ICAO Member States in 2016. AAPA believes that a unilateral, regional extension of the EU ETS risks setting a precedent for fragmented, extraterritorial climate measures that could undermine this multilateral framework over time.

AAPA’s statement read: “We encourage the European Parliament, Council and Commission, as this proposal is negotiated in the months ahead, to reaffirm their support for CORSIA and the integrity of the global, consensus-based approach it represents.

“We will continue to monitor this proposal as it moves through the EU legislative process and engage constructively with European institutions and ICAO on behalf of our member airlines.”

(Source: AAPA)

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Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 2.5% to 23.2 billion during May 2026 from USD22.6 billion for the same period of 2025.

Cargo/Mail carried during May 2026 increased by 8.6% from May 2025, totalling 203.1 thousand tons.

January-May 2026 traffic results

Passengers increased by 7.3% to 36.4 million compared to the same period of 2025.

Total load factor recorded 83.6%. International load factor reached 83.5% and the domestic load factor 84.3%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 6.5% to 112.1 billion from 105.3 billion for the same period of 2025.

Cargo/Mail carried during this period increased by 13.5% to 954.6 thousand tons from 840.7 thousand tons in the same period of 2025.

By the end of May 2026, the number of aircraft in the fleet reached 542.

Traffic results are consolidated and include Turkish Airlines’ main brand and AJet data.

(Source: Turkish Airlines)

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ITB Berlin scheduled for 16 to 18 March 2027) is adapting its hall layout to allow for the construction of dock9, the new multi-purpose convention and event venue, on the site of the former Hall 9.

During the construction of dock9, the exhibition grounds will undergo forward-looking development, and the hall layout will be individually optimised. 

Exhibitors from Halls 7.1c, 8.1, 9 and 10.1 will find a new home in the CityCube Berlin. The new layout creates theme-oriented clusters and short distances between halls. 

The CityCube Berlin will be even more closely integrated into ITB Berlin, expanding the exhibition grounds with state-of-the-art, high-quality floor space. As an integral part of the new hall layout, it will play a pivotal and effective role in enhancing the trade show concept.

“The adapted hall layout is more than just a response to the construction of dock9. It allows us to align ITB Berlin even more closely with the requirements of our international exhibitors and trade visitors and make thematic focal points more visible“, said ITB Berlin Director Deborah Rothe. 

Dock9 is a new multi-purpose conference and event centre being built on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and replaces the existing Hall 9. From October 2026, Hall 9 will be demolished to make way for the new building. ITB Berlin is using this change to adapt its hall layout and organise the available space even more efficiently.

ITB Berlin 2027 is in contact with the exhibitors affected by the relocation plans. Through close coordination, individual and, wherever possible, suitable reallocation solutions are being developed. This process is purposely being carried out in stages, as exhibitor reallocation is still undergoing final coordination. 

The final assignment of stand space will be completed later this year. 

(Source: Messe Berlin).

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The agreement forms part of the airline’s original commitment for up to 50 A350-1000s announced in 2025. Riyadh Air will become the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000 and will use the aircraft to support its international growth ambitions and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

“The firm-up of these additional aircraft reflects Riyadh Air’s continued confidence in its growth trajectory and in the future of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector,” said  Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida. “Increasing our A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030 while delivering a premium guest experience.”

 “We are proud to deepen our partnership with Riyadh Air as it continues to build a pioneering carrier for the Kingdom,” said Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business Benoît de Saint-Exupéry. “This additional A350-1000 commitment reflects the airline’s confidence in the aircraft’s exceptional efficiency, range and passenger appeal. As Riyadh Air advances its ambitious growth plans, the A350-1000 will play an important role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives and helping position the Kingdom as a leading international aviation hub.”

The A350 is designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles /18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. 

The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering efficiency and comfort. Its latest-generation Rolls-Royce engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous-generation competitor aircraft.

At the end of June 2026, the A350 Family had won 1,595 firm orders from 68 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

(Source: Airbus)

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The route will operate with five weekly frequencies according to the following schedule:

AZ838 will depart from Rome Fiumicino at 1505 and arrive in Riyadh at 2120, local time, operating daily except Mondays and Saturdays.
AZ839 will depart from Riyadh at 0145  local time and arrive in Rome Fiumicino at 0615, operating daily except Tuesdays and Sundays.

The airline will deploy an A321 with 165 seats on the route with a flight time of five hours and 15 minutes.

The resumption of this service confirms ITA Airways’ commitment to developing traffic between Italy and Saudi Arabia, a strategic and rapidly growing market, particularly for business travel. Through its hub at Rome Fiumicino, passengers travelling from Riyadh will also benefit from convenient connections to the airline’s main domestic, European, and intercontinental destinations.

(Source: ITA Airways)

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