Headlines
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AFTA pushing beyond June
Thursday | Mar 18 2021AFTA is urging the Federal Government to extend the grant period for the COVID-19 Consumer Support Program beyond its current 30 Jun end date, with a meeting in Canberra yesterday also focusing on the “design principles” for the $130m second round of the scheme.
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Shorten urges pay support
Wednesday | Mar 17 2021FORMER ALP leader Bill Shorten has highlighted the looming travel industry cliff being faced with the end of JobKeeper, yesterday in Parliament urging the Government to allocate the $130 million in additional funding announced last week to pay wages, rather than operating as a grants program.
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Viking confirms May UK restart
Wednesday | Mar 17 2021VIKING Cruises has announced the recommencement of limited operations, offering three special English coast sailings aboard the brand new Viking Venus in May.
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LATAM re-signs Amadeus
Wednesday | Mar 17 2021AUSTRALIAN travel agents are breathing a sigh of relief after LATAM Airlines signed a new agreement with Amadeus, after weeks of being forced to make bookings outside of the GDS.
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Jan arrivals hit rock bottom
Wednesday | Mar 17 2021THE closure of Melbourne Airport to international arrivals due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Jan this year pushed Australia’s inbound numbers to a new low, with just 7,990 short-term visitor arrivals – a reduction of 9.5%.
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A cracking week for spend
Tuesday | Mar 16 2021THE latest exclusive News Corp Australia consumer travel spending figures showed a jump in consumer confidence, with the overall figures in the “best shape since the pandemic began,” according to News Corp Head of Travel Dwayne Birtles.
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Intrepid goes upmarket
Tuesday | Mar 16 2021INTREPID Travel this morning launched a new Intrepid Premium range of tours, targeting “discerning travellers” with hand-picked accommodation, private transport, train journeys and signature experiences.
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No more lounging around
Tuesday | Mar 16 2021VIRGIN Australia has now completed the reopening of all its domestic lounges, with Canberra the final location to formally relaunch to the public today.
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Grants scheme 2.0 details
Monday | Mar 15 2021THE second tranche of the Government’s COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program will be “adjusted to address identified issues with Round One,” meaning that agencies paid on the basis of TTV in their G1 submission in the first round will be denied a second payment (TD breaking news Fri).
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Singapore vax hub plan
Monday | Mar 15 2021TOURISM Minister Dan Tehan has confirmed work on a plan with his Singaporean counterparts for the establishment of a travel bubble which could be in operation as early as Jul.