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ITA Airways returns to Riyadh

ROME, 20 July 2026: ITA Airways will resume direct service between Rome Fiumicino and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, effective 15 September 2026.

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

Photo credit: ITA Airways.

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)

Local Alike gains gold

BANGKOK, Thailand, 20 July 2026: The best tourism stories are not always found in hotel openings, visitor records or glossy campaigns. Sometimes, they begin with a family earning more from its own knowledge, a young person choosing to stay in their hometown, or a community deciding for itself how tourism should grow.

That is the work behind Local Alike’s Gold Award at the Responsible Tourism Awards Southeast Asia 2026.

Photo credit: Local-Alike. Check out: Local Alike.

The Thailand-based social enterprise was recognised for creating meaningful local economic benefits through community-based tourism, helping communities turn culture, food, nature and local knowledge into visitor experiences while keeping more of the value close to home.

For Local Alike, the award reflects years of close collaboration with local partners, community leaders and travellers who believe memorable journeys should also create lasting benefits.

Somsak “Pai” Boonkam founded Local Alike with a clear idea —  communities should not simply appear in tourism products. They should help shape them, manage them and benefit from them.

“This achievement is not only an award for our organisation,” Boonkam said. “It belongs to every community that has helped prove tourism can create real economic, social, cultural and environmental value.”

The company works with residents to develop experiences rooted in local life, from food and farming to crafts, heritage, nature and storytelling. The goal is not to turn communities into attractions, but to help local people welcome travellers on their own terms.

At the heart of Local Alike’s operations is Wanvipa Phanumat, chief operating officer, who helps turn the company’s vision for community-led tourism into practical results.

Together, Boonkam, Phanumat and the Local Alike team have built a model that connects purpose with professional delivery. Communities receive support in product development, service standards, partnerships, and market access, while travellers gain deeper, more respectful ways to experience Thailand.

The Gold Award also places Local Alike on the road to the Responsible Tourism Global Awards, to be held during World Travel Market London later this year. (3 to 5 November).

That opportunity will allow the company to bring a Southeast Asian story of community-led tourism to an international audience.

It is a story the wider industry needs to hear.

Tourism has long depended on the landscapes, traditions and hospitality of local people. Yet too often, those communities remain at the edge of the tourism economy while others capture most of the rewards.

Local Alike offers a different answer.

Its work shows that responsible tourism is not simply about reducing harm. It is about creating better choices, fairer opportunities and stronger local futures.

The company has pledged to continue advancing community-based and regenerative tourism, ensuring travel becomes a force that helps communities move forward without losing what makes them special.

Awards can recognise success, but the real achievement is found in the communities themselves: in the confidence to lead, the pride in sharing local culture, and the opportunity to build a future without leaving home behind.

For Local Alike, gold is not the end of the journey.

It is proof that when tourism begins with respect, listens carefully and shares its rewards, everyone travels further.

IATA WATS plots premium class progress

SINGAPORE, 20 July 2026: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the latest edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), providing comprehensive statistical data through to 2025.

Updated annually, WATS provides data on demand, supply, and operational performance. WATS also includes data collections on the global airline fleet, top routes, employment and financial performance (costs and revenues).

WATS incorporates data from the 1,315 airlines in the IATA Annual Statistics collection, including more than 250 international airlines providing specific data contributions to WATS.

Insights from WATS — premium-class travel shows strong growth

In 2025, the number of international premium-class passengers — business and first class — reached 109.7 million, up 4.5% year-on-year. This accounted for 5.5% of all international travellers.

Latin America saw the largest jump in premium-class passengers, rising 22.1% to 4.0 million. Europe remained the biggest market for premium travel, with 39.7 million passengers in 2025. However, North America (10.4%) and the Middle East (9.5%) accounted for the highest shares of premium-class passengers as a proportion of total passenger numbers.

Asia dominates the busiest airport pairs

Asia Pacific dominated the ranking of the world’s busiest airport pairs, with Jeju International Airport-Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport (CJU-GMP) remaining the most popular route globally, with 13.3 million passengers travelling between the two airports. 

In the top 10, only one airport pair, Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport-Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (JED-RUH), was outside the Asia Pacific region. All 10 of the busiest airport pairs were domestic connections.

An overview of the regions showed:

  • Cape Town International Airport-Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (CPT-JNB) was Africa’s busiest airport pair in 2025, with 3.4 million passengers.
  • Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport-Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport (BOG-MDE) were the busiest airport pair in Latin America with 3.5 million passengers.
  • Barcelona’s Josep Tarradellas-El Prat Airport-Palma de Mallorca (BCN-PMI) remained the busiest airport pair in Europe with 2.1 million passengers. 
  • Stockholm Arlanda Airport-Malmö Airport (ARN-MMX) was the airport pair with the fastest growth in Europe, with passenger numbers surging 85% to 271,031.
  • New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport-Los Angeles International Airport (JFK-LAX) was the busiest domestic airport pair in North America with 2.2 million passengers, and JFK-London Heathrow (JFK-LHR) was the busiest international airport pair from North America with 2.1 million passengers.

Top passenger markets by country

The US remained the world’s biggest passenger market, with 890.1 million passengers (both arriving and departing) recorded in 2025. However, it recorded the slowest growth of the world’s top 10 markets, up just 1.6% year-on-year compared to 2024. China was the second-largest passenger market, with 776.1 million passengers in 2025, representing growth of 4.8% over 2024.

Several Central Asian countries were among the world’s fastest-growing passenger markets. Kazakhstan recorded a 40.0% year-on-year surge in 2025 to 18.1 million passengers, while Uzbekistan welcomed 12.5 million passengers, up 16.9% on the previous year. Outside of Central Asia, Vietnam also recorded strong growth, with 80.9 million passengers in 2025, up 14.8% year-on-year.

Most used aircraft types

Over the past six years, newer, more efficient widebody aircraft have taken to the skies. The Boeing 787 (+40.8%) and Airbus A350 (+117.4%) recorded significantly more flights in 2025 than in 2019. By contrast, the Airbus A380 showed a considerable decline in usage, operating 24.4% fewer flights in 2025 than in 2019.

Narrowbody aircraft from Boeing and Airbus maintained their position as the most-used aircraft in 2025. Boeing 737 aircraft (including all variants) operated 10.8 million flights in 2025, up 12.0% from 2024. The Airbus A320 followed this with 8.7 million flights, and the Airbus A321 with 4.2 million flights.

For more information and a video presentation, visit: IATA – World Air Transport Statistics (WATS)

(Source: IATA)

Vietnam Airlines expands network

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, 20 July 2026: Vietnam Airlines expands its route network to three new destinations — Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Phuket, Thailand and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Photo credit: Vietnam Airlines.

Amsterdam

Vietnam Airlines expanded direct flights in June from Hanoi to Amsterdam, adding to its existing popular European destinations — Paris, Frankfurt, and London — with three weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday serving the route with a 304-seat A350.

Flight schedule

VN83 departs Hanoi (HAN) at 0350 and arrives in Amsterdam (AMS) at 1100 the same day (Flight time: 12 hours 10 minutes).
VN82 departs Amsterdam (AMS) at 1400 and arrives in Hanoi (HAN) at 0600. (Flight time: 11 hours). 

Phuket

Vietnam Airlines kicked off its direct service from Ho Chi Minh City on 2 July, connecting the southern Vietnamese city to Phuket Island in Thailand, doing away with the need to connect via flights from Bangkok,

The airline is offering four round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, operated by an A321 with 184 seats. Flight duration is one hour and 50 minutes.

Flight schedule

VN621 departs Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 1600 and arrives in Phuket (HKT) at 1750. 
VN620 departs Phuket (HKT) at 1845 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 2055. 

Colombo

Vietnam Airlines schedules three weekly services between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Colombo (CMB) starting 16 August 2026 using an A321 with a flight time of five hours.

Flight schedule

VN671 departs Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 1945 and arrives in Colombo (CMB) at 2335. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. 
VN670 departs Colombo (CMB) at 0035 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 0715. Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines reports in a Facebook post that it is expanding its Northeast Asia network with additional flights. From Hanoi, flights to Taipei will increase to 11 per week, while the Hanoi–Osaka route will gradually expand to 14 per week from 1 December 2026. 
From Da Nang, Vietnam Airlines now operates 14 weekly flights to Seoul, 11 to Tokyo, and five to Osaka.

(Source: Vietnam Airlines)

TransNusa to fly to Phuket this September

JAKARTA, 20 July 2026: TransNusa will launch direct flights between Bali and Phuket starting 9 September, with four weekly services, increasing to daily flights in October until the end of Phuket’s peak travel season in March 2027. 

The new route underscores TransNusa’s commitment to enhancing its international connectivity while supporting tourism, trade and cultural exchanges between Indonesia and Thailand. 

Photo credit: TransNusa. CEO Datuk Bernard Francis.

TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer, aviation industry veteran Datuk Bernard Francis, commented: “With the launch of this new route to Phuket, TransNusa will offer four international services from Bali to Perth, Australia, Singapore, and Guangzhou in China.”

The launch comes amid growing demand for intra-regional travel as more travellers seek unique leisure experiences across Southeast Asia. The route is expected to attract holidaymakers, families, digital nomads and adventure seekers looking to experience the distinct cultures, cuisines and attractions of both destinations.

Ticket sales for the Denpasar, Bali, to Phuket service opened for bookings on the airline’s website on 3 July, priced at USD167.60 (IDR 2,799,000).

Using an A320-200 aircraft with 174 seats, the airline will operate four flights weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday effective 9 September. Flight time is approximately four hours.

Flight schedule 

8B541 will depart Denpasar (DPS) at 0850 and arrive in Phuket (HKT) at 1150.
8B852 will depart Phuket (HKT) at 1350 and arrive in Denpasar (DPS) at 1850.

Last week, TransNusa announced the launch of its first direct flights from Jakarta to Bangkok, scheduled for 6 August. The airline schedules twice-daily flights on the route.

About TransNusa
TransNusa Airlines received its AOC certification on 9 September 2022 and launched its first three A320 operations on 6 October, 14 October, and 12 December, 2022. It introduced its first international flight on 14 April, 2023. The airline currently operates hubs in Jakarta and Bali.

(Source: TransNusa)

Dusit Thani Maldives unveils refurbished villas

BANGKOK, Thailand, 17 July 2026: Dusit Thani Maldives, a luxury resort on Mudhdhoo Island within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, has unveiled refreshed villas that build on the resort’s signature blend of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, generous sense of space, and natural island character.

Drawing inspiration from the resort’s lush tropical setting and spectacular 360-degree house reef, the refurbishment spans several signature accommodation categories, including Beach Residences, Overwater Pool Villas, and Overwater Pavilions. 

Throughout, the refreshed interiors introduce a lighter, more contemporary aesthetic while preserving the spacious layouts and relaxed atmosphere guests have long appreciated. Updated furnishings, renewed timber ceiling finishes, and contemporary lighting combine to create a brighter, more inviting atmosphere that reinforces the resort’s connection to its tropical surroundings while reflecting a modern expression of Dusit’s Thai heritage.

Selected villas have seen layout adjustments, while others retain their familiar sense of space, ensuring returning guests can enjoy a renewed experience without losing the comfort and character they know.

“Many of our guests return to Dusit Thani Maldives year after year because they value the resort’s natural beauty, generous sense of space, and warm Thai-inspired gracious hospitality,” said Dusit International Area General Manager, Maldives, Jean-Louis Ripoche.

“These enhancements allow us to preserve everything guests already love while introducing a fresher, more contemporary expression of the resort. Whether discovering the resort for the first time or returning for another stay, guests can now enjoy an even more refined and relaxing island experience.

The villa refurbishment marks an important milestone in Dusit Thani Maldives’ wider enhancement programme, which is designed to continually elevate the guest experience while preserving the resort’s distinctive character. Further guest-focused enhancements, including updates to selected dining spaces, are planned from Q3 2026 onwards, with the wider programme scheduled for completion in Q3 2027.

Alongside the physical enhancements across the resort, Dusit Thani Maldives has also introduced a refreshed website, making it easier for guests to explore accommodation options, discover experiences, and plan personalised stays before they arrive.

“Exceptional hospitality extends well beyond a guest’s stay,” said Mr Ripoche. “From the moment they begin planning their visit to the lasting memories they take home, we want every interaction with Dusit Thani Maldives to reflect the warmth, care, and gracious hospitality that define the Dusit experience.”

Located just a short journey from Malé by seaplane, domestic flight, or speedboat, Dusit Thani Maldives offers a blend of natural beauty, wellness, dining, and meaningful island experiences. Guests can snorkel directly from the island’s house reef, explore the rich marine life of Baa Atoll, enjoy treetop wellness journeys at Devarana Wellness, and discover a variety of curated experiences across the resort.

For more information, visit dusit.com/dusitthani-maldives.

(Source: Your Stories — Dusit International)

A million passengers connect to Air India Wi-Fi

NEW DELHI, 17 July 2026: More than 1 million users connected to the inflight Wi-Fi service aboard Air India flights, according to the latest usage tracking from June 2025 through June 2026.

Operating across a schedule of over 55 daily flights, Air India travellers enjoy seamless internet access during their flight, enabling them to catch up on emails or browse social media. Usage has grown steadily over the year, with onboard Wi-Fi consumption surging from 30% in June 2025 to 55% in June 2026. This clear upward trajectory underscores an increasing demand for inflight internet connectivity. 

Photo credit: Air India.

Nearly 89% of connected passengers choose to stream content on social media while in transit. The remaining 11% opted for web browsing, emails and messaging apps. The consistent demand for the service resulted in nearly 500 TB worth of data consumption over the year. By category, streaming services accounted for 86% of total usage, while web browsing accounted for the remaining 14%.

These numbers are currently driven by an initial fleet of 28 Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft that operate flights across the globe to cities including London, New York, Newark, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Manila and Mauritius, with more aircraft and cities to be added progressively. As the connected fleet grows, so will the opportunities for passengers to carry their digital lives with them, wherever they fly.

(Source: Air India).

Crystal Grace focuses on family spaces

SYDNEY, 17 July 2026: Crystal released new details on Thursday for Crystal Grace, which introduces family and outdoor spaces that will elevate the guest experience aboard the brand’s newest ship set to debut in 2028.

Located on Deck 11, Crystal Grace’s dedicated youth area is a vibrant gathering place where younger guests can enjoy the freedom of open-air play, surrounded by the sea.

Photo credit: Crystal Cruises.

The space will feature a shallow pool, outdoor recreational games and comfortable areas for families to spend time together in a safe and welcoming environment. Designed to encourage active play and social interaction, this new concept reflects Crystal’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for younger guests while maintaining the sophisticated aesthetic that defines the brand.

Also located on Deck 11, the all-new Waves Teen Centre has been significantly expanded to offer the largest teen space in Crystal’s fleet.

Created exclusively for guests ages 13 to 17, the venue features a larger entertainment lounge complete with an oversized screen for gaming, movies and group activities, card and board game areas and a music and dance space featuring a sound system and dance floor.

The teen programme will operate daily with dedicated programming and activities during peak family travel periods, including summer months and the holiday season.

Younger guests will enjoy a refreshed Fantasia Children’s Playroom, designed specifically for children ages 3 to 12.

Crystal’s family-friendly approach includes drop-off programming for younger children, supervised activities for older children and the continuation of the brand’s in-room babysitting services.

The enhanced playroom is designed to create an engaging and welcoming environment where children can learn, create and make new friends while parents enjoy the ship’s many amenities.

At the heart of Crystal Grace’s outdoor spaces is the Seahorse Pool, the largest pool in the Crystal fleet. Spanning the centre of Deck 10, the expansive pool area will feature 140 loungers between Deck 10 and 11, creating ample space for guests to relax, socialise and enjoy uninterrupted ocean views. 

A large outdoor LED screen will serve as a focal point throughout the day and evening, hosting everything from live sporting events and destination programming to movie nights under the stars.

For the first time, Crystal Grace will introduce a collection of 60 private cabanas on Deck 11, offering guests an exclusive retreat overlooking the Seahorse Pool. Designed for relaxation and privacy, each cabana accommodates two guests and provides elevated views of the pool deck and surrounding seascapes.

Crystal Grace’s inaugural voyage will embark on 11 June  2028, on an eight-night sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Venice. 

(Source: Crystal Cruises)

Visa refreshes its Infinite suite

SINGAPORE, 17 July 2026: Visa unveiled a refreshed Visa Infinite in Asia Pacific on Thursday, designed for the modern affluent and how they live, spend, and travel today. 

The refresh introduces a more flexible and personalised offering, anchored in a three-tier card suite. Alongside Visa Infinite, the portfolio includes the two newly launched tiers of Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, each tailored to distinct affluent segments within a unified premium offering.

Photo credit: Visa.

Affluence in Asia Pacific continues to grow, with affluent households projected to increase at an 8% compound annual growth rate through 2030. 

The region is home to nearly 31% of the world’s ultra-high-net-worth population. At the same time, affluent consumers are redefining what premium means — less about status and more about how experiences fit into their lives. 

The enhanced Visa Infinite brings together curated experiences and a global network of partners, underpinned by Visa’s intelligent payment capabilities, to deliver a seamless and connected offering. These intelligent payment capabilities help simplify everyday payments, support higher-value spending, and enable secure card sharing with trusted delegates. 

“Visa has long helped shape premium experiences for affluent consumers across Asia Pacific,” said Visa Head of Products & Solutions, Asia Pacific, TR Ramachandran. “As expectations evolve toward more intentional and globally connected experiences, we are building on that momentum. The refreshed Visa Infinite brings together our scale, innovation and partnerships to deliver more relevant and differentiated value for today’s affluent customers.”

The refreshed Visa Infinite introduces a clear progression of benefits and access across three tiers, underpinned by intelligent payments capabilities including elevated transaction limits, smart authorisation, cross-border issuance and always-on security. 

Visa Infinite anchors the suite, delivering elevated everyday value and enhanced travel and lifestyle rewards. Visa Infinite Privilege builds on this with broader access and more curated experiences. At the top tier, Visa Infinite Private is an invitation-only offering, designed for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with bespoke services and exclusive access to rare and highly personalised experiences.

Curated programmes 

The refreshed proposition comes to life through curated experiences built around the passions of today’s affluent, from travel and dining to wellness and entertainment.

From Infinite Tastes: Beyond the Menu, a chef-led culinary programme unlocking deeper access to the stories, craft, and culture behind Asia Pacific’s dining scene, to Visa Destinations, a global travel platform offering curated journeys and exclusive access, each programme offers more immersive, behind-the-scenes access and opportunities for deeper discovery. 

These experiences reflect the growing influence of affluent consumers, whose spending is increasing at nearly three times the rate of other cardholders, particularly across travel, entertainment, and retail. Demand for wellbeing and more personalised services is rising among affluent consumers, with around 90% seeking health-focused experiences and 84% expecting more high-touch curated experiences. 

(Source: Visa)

UA Q2 profit ahead of expectations

SINGAPORE, 17 July 2026: United Airlines reported this week a second-quarter profit that exceeded expectations and is near the top end of guidance. 

United delivered pre-tax earnings of USD1.0 billion, with a pre-tax margin of 5.8%. Adjusted pre-tax earnings were USD843 million, with an adjusted pre-tax margin of 4.8%.

“Our results show why we have been investing in customer improvements throughout every cabin and winning brand-loyal customers,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “United is built to thrive in every environment, and when oil prices spiked in March, we quickly and decisively acted to adjust our schedules, while simultaneously doubling down on our customer investments. Our brand-loyal customers value their travel on United, whether they are in Polaris or in economy. Our network expansions, investment in Starlink, and innovations such as Relax Row are giving customers new reasons to choose United.”

Based on oil prices as of 14 July, United expects nearly USD6 billion in added fuel expense for the full year 2026 compared to the expectation at the start of the year. 

In the second quarter, fuel expense was up USD2.3 billion, or 84% year-over-year, and the company recovered approximately half of this increase. In the third quarter, the company expects to recover approximately 80% to 90% of the increase, and 100% by the fourth quarter. Yields were up 12% during the quarter, showing strong demand for United’s product.

Diverse revenue streams all contributed to this quarter’s success and United’s ongoing resilience: Premium revenue was up 16% compared to the second quarter of 2025, basic economy revenue was up 11%, loyalty revenue was up 11%, and cargo revenue was up 23%. Close-in demand remained robust, with contracted business revenue up 27% in the quarter. The economy cabin continues to recover with unit revenue up 12%, marking two consecutive quarters of positive growth.

United is investing in customers throughout the aircraft, including the United Relax Row across a row of United economy-class seats. During the quarter, United installed Starlink on its first widebody aircraft, and Starlink is now installed on 450 United mainline and United Express aircraft. 

United remains on track to bring Starlink to its entire fleet by the end of 2027 — ahead of its major US competitors. Starlink is free for MileagePlus members.

United’s first “Born to Explore” Airbus A321XLR is expected to enter domestic service this fall and will be connecting the US to international destinations by early next year.

Key Highlights

Flew the largest domestic schedule in company history, serving 240 airports in the US and Canada.

Took delivery of United’s first A321XLR aircraft, the first narrowbody featuring United’s Elevated interior, including updated United Polaris and United Premium Plus seats, screens with Bluetooth connectivity at every seat, and a self-serve snack bar.

Increased MileagePlus credit and debit cardholder benefits, allowing cardholders to earn even more miles, get redemption discounts of at least 10% on every United award flight they book, and have special access to additional inventory of lowest-priced award tickets.

Customer Experience

Launched 27 new routes in the US and Canada, including nine new domestic routes from Chicago-O’Hare. 

Began service from New York/Newark to four new transatlantic destinations: Bari, Italy; Split, Croatia; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; and Glasgow, Scotland, and launched service between Washington/Dulles and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Began offering United customers the brand new 787-9 with an elevated interior on flights between San Francisco and Singapore and London. The new premium-configured aircraft features 99 premium seats in total, including 8 United Polaris Studio suites and 56 United Polaris seats.

United announced plans to launch service later this year to five new destinations: Caracas, Venezuela; Cartagena, Colombia; Sapporo, Japan; St Croix, US Virgin Islands; and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico.

Announced four new routes to existing destinations, including Chicago to Tokyo-Narita; Washington/Dulles to Los Cabos, Mexico; Denver to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; and Houston to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

(Source: United)