Air Austral flydocs partnership

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

New consumer preferences and habits have emerged in the first half of 2024 in an Asia Pacific tourism sector which is recovering from the pandemic years in an uneven manner.

A sole ski lift operator stood, hands clasped, looking up the mountain at four children running circles on a 50-meter-long makeshift sledding slope.

Afar partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the Afar editorial team.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Tourism Western Australia announces the first major speaker for the 24th Global Summit, with conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin taking to the stage in Perth (Boorloo), Western Australia, from 8-10 October. A passionate wildlife warrior, TV presenter, producer, author, and photographer, Irwin is known for his advocacy for the natural world and his efforts in conservation.

Flying to Argentina for sizzling spit-roast barbecues, tango along the bohemian boulevards of Buenos Aires, and beach days with whale watching to boot? Once you're all buckled up and ready for take-off, turn that phone to airplane mode and prep for the trip in the best ways possible: a podcast, a movie, and a good, old-fashioned book. Here's what to read, watch and listen to if on your flight to Argentina.

Economy class is exactly what it sounds like: a standard airplane seat with very few frills. Basic economy has even fewer. A lot of times that’s OK; we’ll put up with it just to get where we’re going. But sometimes we travelers want something better—say, a little extra legroom and little more dignity. That’s where airlines’ premium offerings come in. In some cases, that’s called Premium Economy; other times, though, the cabin class is an additional step up from that—closer to the business end of the spectrum than the coach end. The perks of this upper-middle part of the plane vary from airline to airline—as does the price—so we asked our staff and reporters to weigh in on which airlines offer a version of Premium Economy that is worth the cost. In my own travels, I recently tried out KLM’s “Premium Comfort” class, which is yet another level up for fliers. Here’s what we all had to say.

Cerulean waves crash into limestone cliffs and plump koalas doze in ghostly white gum trees on the wild southwestern coast of Victoria, a rugged natural wilderness within easy reach of Melbourne.

Starting 11 June 2024, Air France introduces new concierge services at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, offering personalized assistance for passengers across all travel classes from arrival to departure.

British Airways will resume flights to Riyadh on November 4, 2024, boosting connectivity with four weekly flights operated by Boeing 787s.

This summer, Air France introduces a dedicated La Première check-in lobby and private suites at Paris-CDG, enhancing the airport experience with exclusive services and French elegance.

Google is fully in its Gemini era. That’s what the CEO said during the tech giant’s latest developer conference, and we’re seeing it with the company’s own consumer-facing products, and also through partnerships with travel companies.