Every year, more than 20 million passengers take a cruise.
30.04.2024 - 10:59 / skift.com / Sebastian Ebel / Rashaad Jorden / Colin Nagy / Jose Marmolejos / Christian Scherer / Gordon Smith
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, April 30. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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One of China’s largest airlines, China Southern, is buying 100 domestically-built planes – the C919, produced by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).
The plane is considered an emerging competitor to Airbus’ A320 and the Boeing 737. And Airlines Editor Gordon Smith examines if other airlines will look to buy these Chinese-built aircraft.
Just last week, Air China signed a similar agreement with COMAC for 100 C919 jets. The bigger question is if international carriers will be tempted to buy.
Christian Scherer, the CEO of Airbus’ commercial aircraft division, has said the C919 “isn’t going to rock the boat.” However, one Boeing executive said the planemaker is factoring in competition from the C919 in its long-term forecast.
Next, TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel believes recent protests in the Canary Islands against mass tourism aren’t about the industry itself. He says residents are angry about a shortage of housing, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz.
Protestors are calling on authorities to limit tourist arrivals to ease pressure on the environment, infrastructure and housing supply. Chase-Lubitz notes many Canary Islands residents argue that mass tourism is pricing them out of their homes.
However, Ebel said the unregulated online booking platforms are the reason housing prices have gone up — not tourism as a whole. Ebel blamed individual trips, which include people booking local apartments, for causing more housing to be offered as holiday accommodation.
Finally, columnist Colin Nagy argues the ideals of luxury hospitality have been distorted so much that guests are struggling to understand reality: Great properties don’t get the attention they deserve, and others serve up superficial goods but fail to deliver. He looks at the problems and suggests ways to fix them.
Nagy cites the decline of travel media as one area of concern, noting he believes thoughtful, unbiased commentary on hotels is disappearing. He lists writers and publications worth reading. Nagy also writes that luxury offerings all look the same, and urges readers to support brands carving out unique spaces.
Producer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos
Every year, more than 20 million passengers take a cruise.
Christopher Columbus’s fortunes have changed over the past several decades. Monuments that once celebrated his memory have been toppled or spattered with paint. Disdain for his colonialist ways is unmistakable. But few interventions are as thoughtful as the art of Hew Locke.
TUI, one of Europe’s largest tourism companies, detailed the operational challenges posed by ongoing Boeing delivery delays during an earnings call on Wednesday.
There’s been a late change of plan for Airbus’ new plane. The A321XLR is the company’s flagship single-aisle jet and until recently, Aer Lingus was due to fly it before anyone else.
From the Renaissance splendour and symmetry of the Boboli gardens in Florence to the trickling fountains and rose gardens of the Alhambra in Spain, Europe has no shortage of “must see” gardens, but a tranquil escape from the tourist crowds they are not. Instead, we’d love to hear about your favourite “secret gardens” in continental Europe; oases of green that offer cool respite from a busy sightseeing itinerary and where you won’t be jostling for elbow room with coach parties of tourists. It could be a leafy public park, the grounds of a museum or gallery, or a botanical garden that turned into an unexpected highlight of your trip.
As April showers turn into May flowers, it's time for another memorable Memorial Day weekend. This time every year holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans, especially those who eagerly plan and pack for upcoming travel. As the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, this end-of-May vacay is a quintessential American experience. Whether it's a quick getaway or an extended 3-5 day weekend, MDW serves us all as an open door of endless potential for summer fun (and, of course, the outdated societal approval to wear white jeans). In any case, who doesn’t love a long weekend?
Airbnb execs have used the phrase “expanding beyond the core” to mean launching new products and services for guests and hosts, and also their hope to lift growth beyond the company’s main five markets: The U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and France.
Most travelers see little more than the duty-free store during a short connection, but there’s an alternative approach that’s gaining momentum.
Spain’s network of luxury and historic hotels, Paradores, is delighted to invite British holidaymakers to experience its most beautiful terraces this summer. Set in stunning locations across Spain, these terraces offer breathtaking views, exceptional gastronomy, and a chance to immerse in the local culture and history.
‘Do you ever get seasick?” Timm Schirmer, a 27-year-old DJ with a fabulous blond moustache, asks me shortly before we board the Techno Train. “When you’re dancing on the train it can feel like you’re at sea, because you can’t always see that you’re moving.” Worryingly, I have indeed spent many a past holiday retching on boats. But Timm’s question comes after I’ve paid €100 for a non-refundable ticket for what social media suggests is the most intense train ride in Europe. I knew it wouldn’t be plain sailing.
The search for a missing cruise ship employee who disappeared during an around-the-world voyage has ended, BBC News reported.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, May 1. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.