London has been named the best European city for foodies......

London has been named the best European city for foodies, as new data reveals it has the highest number of 5-star reviews for restaurants, cafés and bars. 

Paris is next in second place, while Barcelona follows in third. 

Dutch lifestyle magazine, Dailybase, checked Tripadvisor data to uncover the number of 5-star reviews for eateries in European cities. This resulted in a ranking of 193 cities in Europe where Tripadvisor data was available. 

Taking the crown as the best city in Europe for foodies is the UK’s capital London, with an impressive total of 2,906 5-star reviews for its eating and drinking establishments. London is renowned for its traditional pub culture where you’ll find homemade pies and roast dinners, as well as a plethora of Michelin Star restaurants to tantalise your tastebuds, making it the perfect destination for your next city break. 

The French capital, Paris, closely follows in second place, with a total of 2,898 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor for its eateries. Foodies are clearly enjoying Paris’s culinary specialities such as escargot and entrecôte, which is a premium cut of steak to relish with chips in top-rated French bistros and cafés. 

 

Rank	City	No. of 5-star Tripadvisor reviews
1.	London	2,906
2.	Paris	2,898
3.	Barcelona	1,475
4.	Rome	1,407
5.	Athens	1,403
6.	Madrid	1,395
7.	Lisbon	1,177
8.	Berlin	1,074
9.	Prague	1,015
10.	Milan	814

The lively city of Barcelona takes the third spot, with a total of 1,475 5-star Tripadvisor reviews for its restaurants, cafés and bars. Popular for its exciting nightlife, this Spanish city will wow foodies with its tapas, which includes patatas bravas, which are cubes of potato in a spicy tomato sauce, and as well as the classic rice dish, paella.   

Rome ranks fourth, with 1,407 reviews awarding the Italian capital city 5-stars for its food and drink joints. As well as sampling the street food bites in Rome, venture into the city’s restaurants to try traditional pasta carbonara and cacio e pepe, two simple yet flavourful spaghetti dishes, to find yourself in foodie heaven.  

Kansas City International Airport wins civil engineering award

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has named the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport as one of 11 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement award winners in 2024. The program honours projects across the globe that represent significant advancements in the engineering profession and enhance their local built environments.

Kansas City International Airport is the largest single infrastructure project in the region’s history. Encompassing 1.1 million square feet, its structure is separated into 14 independent parts, each calibrated for aesthetic appearance and function. The majority of the terminal is designed in an efficient series of 30-foot-by-30-foot grids—minimizing the use of materials and allowing for column-free interiors that will keep the airport flexible for future change. In the headhouse, the terminal’s signature space, a series of Y-shaped columns support a cantilevered roof over the roadway—making the architecture and the structural engineering one and the same.

Among the honorees, the overall winner and medalists will be named at the ASCE 2024 Convention in October.

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AerCap Holdings becomes Associate Member of the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP)

 AerCap Holdings announced that it has become an Associate Member of the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP), a convention of airlines and service providers sharing technical resources to generate economic savings, and support on-time dispatch reliability and operational safety.

AerCap was inducted as a member at the 129th IATP Conference in Guangzhou, China. The conference was attended by more than 400 delegates from around the world, representing member airlines and service providers, who gathered to discuss and finalize terms and conditions for pooling agreements regarding spare parts, aircraft recovery equipment and line maintenance support. 

“AerCap Materials is delighted to become an Associate Member of the IATP. This will enable us to provide greater support and collaborate with members through the IATP network of parts exchange pools,” said Aimee Craig, the CEO of AerCap Materials. “We would like to extend our thanks to the IATP Advisory Committee for this great honor, and to the existing supporters of IATP including Member and Guest Airlines, Associate Members and guest vendors who have helped us achieve this goal.” 

Delta adds second eclipse path-of-totality flight

After selling out its first special flight in under 24 hours, the U.S. mega-carrier has added a second special flight to enjoy or experience a sky view of the eclipse in the path of totality, this time out of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on April 8.  

Delta flight 1010 will depart from DFW at 12:30 p.m. CT and arrive in Detroit together with the other path-of-totality flight (DL 1218 from AUS to DTW) at 4:20 p.m. ET*.  

Following the first flight announcement flight, searches for flights from AUS-DTW on Delta channels spiked by more than 1,500%**.  

DL 1010 will be operated on an A321neo — a larger plane than the AUS-DTW A220-300 — to allow more customers to experience the eclipse path of totality. The A321neo is Delta’s most fuel-efficient aircraft featuring 20 domestic First Class seats, 42 Delta Comfort+ seats and 132 Main Cabin seats, all with memory foam cushioning for improved comfort.  

For booking information, visit delta.com.  

*While Delta flight plans have been designed to maximize time within the path of totality, this is subject to change due to factors outside of Delta’s control such as weather and air traffic control that could impact timing and aircraft.  

**Searches on Tues., Feb. 20, as compared to the average search volume between Feb. 1-18.

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Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays

Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays, reports Joanna Plucinska of Reuters. 

Ryanair will receive even fewer Boeing aircraft by the end of June than previously expected, CEO Michael O'Leary said on Friday, potentially causing the budget carrier to cut its summer schedule at the busiest time of the year.

The Dublin-based airline is the first in Europe to warn of disruption due a deepening crisis at Boeing, which has been mired in a regulatory audit and has been prohibited from ramping up 737 MAX production since the Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout of a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9.

Ryanair was due to receive 57 Boeing MAX 8-200 planes by end-April, but just over a week ago Boeing told the airline it would receive around 50 aircraft by end-June, O'Leary said. That could now change.  "We don't really know how many aircraft we're going to get from Boeing," O'Leary told a media briefing. "We're pretty sure we're going to get 30 to 40. We're reasonably confident we're between 40 and 45. And now we are far less confident we're going to get between 45 and 50."

In a statement to Reuters, Boeing confirmed it had told some airlines that deliveries could be delayed as the company ensures planes meet all regulatory standards.  "We deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer Ryanair," Boeing said. "We're working to address their concerns and taking action on a comprehensive plan to strengthen 737 quality and delivery performance." 

The delays mean Ryanair might have to remove some flights from its summer schedule, O'Leary said, cutting capacity for what is expected to be a record summer of travel.  "If we only get 40, by the end of March we will have to announce some minor schedule cuts," he said.  That means Ryanair is likely to carry only 200 million passengers for the financial year beginning in April, versus the 205 million previously forecast.  Further capacity constraints could make the carrier less competitive against low-cost rivals like easyJet,  Ryanair's stock has risen by a quarter over the past two years, making it the best-performing European airline as the industry rides a post-pandemic boom in travel.

United to fly daily nonstop between Guam and Tokyo-Haneda

New flights create a more direct link between Guam and Tokyo's city centre 

Service is scheduled to start on May 1 

United Airlines will launch daily nonstop flights between Guam and Tokyo Haneda International Airport on May 1*. Flights will operate year-round and create a more direct link between Guam and Japan's capital, given the Haneda airport's proximity to the city centre. These new flights build on United's 32 weekly flights between Guam and Tokyo-Narita and tickets will go on sale tonight.

"As we grow our global network, we're always looking for opportunities to give our customers more choice and strengthen links between countries. This route – connecting Tokyo's most convenient airport with our unique Guam hub – accomplishes just that. I appreciate the support of the Department of Transportation in recognizing the importance of this route to our customers and stakeholders," said Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. 

United plans to operate a 737-800 on this route, which has room for 166 customers – including 16 business class seats. The flight is scheduled to depart Guam at 19:00 local time and arrive at Haneda at 22:00 on the same day. On the return, the flight will depart Haneda at 23:55 and arrive in Guam at 04:45 the next day.

easyJet celebrates flying five million passengers to and from Birmingham Airport ahead of new base opening

easyJet recently celebrated  flying over five million passengers to and from Birmingham

The airline started operations at Birmingham airport 17 years ago, flying its first customers from Birmingham to Geneva in 2007

easyJet launched operations at Birmingham airport in 2007, flying its first customers from Birmingham also to Geneva. 17 years later, the launch of a new three-aircraft base is enabling the airline to further expand its Birmingham network with 16 new routes taking off with the base opening on 18 March 2024 including to Antalya, Barcelona and Sharm el Sheikh meaning easyJet will connect customers in the Midlands via 29 routes across the UK, Europe and North Africa.

The airline’s first base opening in the UK in over a decade will create around 100 direct jobs for pilots and crew and over 1,200 more indirect jobs. easyJet is the largest airline in the UK and currently employs around ten thousand people across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The new base opening will also see easyJet holidays, the UK’s fastest-growing tour operator, offer thousands more package holidays and city breaks from Birmingham to over 100 European destinations with a choice of up to 5,000 hotels. 

All easyJet holidays include flights, hotel, 23kg luggage per person, and transfers on beach holidays secured with a deposit of just £60 per person. All breaks are covered by Ultimate Flexibility, which includes a Best Price Guarantee meaning if customers find holidays cheaper elsewhere, a discount of the price difference will be applied to their booking.

Ali Gayward, easyJet's UK Country Manager, said:  “We are delighted to celebrate carrying over five million passengers from Birmingham as we prepare to open our new base next month and start flying customers to even more destinations in the UK, Europe and North Africa.  We remain focused on offering great value fares, convenient connections and more choice for our customers in the Midlands, and we can’t wait to welcome them onboard.”

Tom Screen, Aviation Director of Birmingham Airport said:  "With just 25 days to go until easyJet launch based operations at Birmingham Airport, it was a pleasure to present the five millionth easyJet passenger with their prize. Reaching this milestone is a testament to the ever-strengthening relationship between Birmingham Airport and easyJet."

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Emirates Skywards announces exclusive, multi-year partnership with Visa

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, has announced an exclusive, multi-year strategic partnership with Visa, a world leader in digital payments.

 

The new partnership with Visa will strengthen collaboration between Emirates Skywards and co-brand issuer partners across the GCC; enable the loyalty programme to work more closely with its partners on personalization and data-driven decision making; improve digitization and innovation; and increase opportunities for more personalised rewards and products on co-brand card propositions.

The agreement was signed in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, and senior executives from both Emirates and Visa.

Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “We’re excited to announce this landmark partnership with Visa – a strategic agreement which will unlock incremental value for our loyal members across the GCC and will tighten our collaboration with our banking partners in the region. This agreement is a major milestone for Emirates Skywards as it continues to lead the industry with innovative digital-first products and experiences.” 

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC at Visa, added: "This multi-year exclusive deal with Emirates Skywards, one of the largest of its kind worldwide and the largest in scale in the region, is a testament to Visa's global leadership in travel co-brands and a significant milestone in our journey to enhance the payment experience for travelers worldwide. Here in the UAE, our Global Travel Intentions study revealed that 70% of outbound travelers consider digital payments integral to a secure and rewarding travel experience. This large-scale partnership is a step towards fulfilling that need and we are thrilled with this opportunity to work with Emirates in bringing new experiences to Visa cardholders in the UAE and GCC.’’

Strategic partnership between two global brands

This strategic partnership between two global brands will drive growth for both organisations; increase investments into the co-brand programme; and open new opportunities for Emirates Skywards to work closely with financial partners across the region. Members will benefit from personalised rewards and enhanced travel opportunities through the optimised use of data, technology, and resources.

Emirates Skywards and Visa co-branded cardholders can look forward to an improved customer journey and exclusive offers including accelerating Miles earning opportunities; customized promotions; and other experiences tailored to member preferences.

One of the world’s most valued loyalty programmes

Valuedynamx Powers Emirates Skywards with the Launch of "Pay with Points / Miles" Offering Via Skywards Miles Mall

 

Valuedynamx, a Collinson Company, gives Emirates Skywards members more redemption options across hundreds of global retail brands

In a commitment to elevating customer loyalty experiences through innovation, Valuedynamx, a Collinson Company and leading global provider of curated, data-driven purchase rewards, is powering Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty program of Emirates and flydubai, with the launch of a "pay with points /miles" redemption offering via the 'Spend Online' section with Skywards Miles Mall. This redemption offering provides a convenient way for Emirates Skywards members to use their Miles to spend on more everyday options.

With Skywards Miles Mall's expanded spend offerings, Emirates Skywards members can spend Miles earned on travel with Emirates and flydubai, partner airlines and lifestyle partners worldwide, in real time for digital gift cards at more than 500 brands across 5 markets globally, including the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Australia and India. Skywards Miles Mall provides access to a variety of new redemption opportunities, including popular local brands that cater to everyday lifestyle needs across fashion, fitness, technology, food and beverage, and more. Emirates Skywards members can now spend rewards with globally recognized brands they know and love.

Ethiopian Airlines to start passenger services to Freetown

Discover Freetown with Ethiopian's new service via Ouagadougou

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operator in Africa, is pleased to announce  a launch of a thrice weekly passenger services to Freetown, Sierra Leone via Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso starting from 31st of May 2024. This new route marks yet another milestone in the airline's extensive network expansion endeavor, connecting more African countries and providing travelers with convenient and efficient travel options.

The new thrice weekly services to Freetown will be operated using the most modern and eco-friendly Boeing 787-800 aircraft, offering passengers a comfortable and enjoyable flight experience. The B787 is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including spacious seats, personal entertainment systems, and onboard Wi-Fi, ensuring a pleasant journey for all passengers. The flight schedule for the new service is as follows:

ET 943 Addis Ababa (ADD) Ouagadougou (OUA) Freetown (FNA) Tues, Thurs, Sat

ET 942 Freetown (FNA) Ouagadougou (OUA) Addis Ababa (ADD) Wed, Fri, Sun

Regarding the commencement of the new route Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: “We are delighted to expand our West Africa network with the addition of Freetown, Sierra Leone. This new route, set to launch in May 2024, will not only provide our passengers with more options for travel, but also facilitate increased tourism, trade and investment opportunities between Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. As we continue to grow and connect with more destinations, we are committed to fostering cooperation and partnership between our countries.”

Hyatt Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

Record Total Fee Revenue Led to the Highest Cash Flow from Operations in Company History

Full Year System-Wide RevPAR Increased 17%

Hyatt Hotels Corporation last week reported fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results. Highlights includes:

Net income was $26 million in the fourth quarter and $220 million for the full year of 2023, and exceeded the full year outlook for 2023. Adjusted net income was $68 million in the fourth quarter and $276 million for the full year of 2023.

Diluted EPS was $0.25 in the fourth quarter and $2.05 for the full year of 2023. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.64 in the fourth quarter and $2.56 for the full year of 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA was $241 million in the fourth quarter and $1,029 million for the full year of 2023, and exceeded the full year outlook range for 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA does not include Net Deferrals and Net Financed Contracts of $33 million1 in the fourth quarter or Net Deferrals and Net Financed Contracts of $158 million1 for the full year of 2023.

Comparable system-wide RevPAR increased 9.1% in the fourth quarter and 17.0% for the full year of 2023, compared to the same periods in 2022, and exceeded the full year outlook for 2023.

Comparable owned and leased hotels RevPAR increased 5.9% in the fourth quarter and 15.5% for the full year of 2023, compared to the same periods in 2022. Comparable owned and leased hotels operating margin was 26.2% in the fourth quarter and 25.4% for the full year of 2023.

Comparable Net Package RevPAR increased 11.3% in the fourth quarter and 15.3% for the full year of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022.

Net Rooms Growth was 5.9% for the full year of 2023, in line with the full year outlook for 2023.

Pipeline of executed management or franchise contracts was approximately 127,000 rooms.

Share Repurchases were approximately 890 thousand Class A shares for $95 million in the fourth quarter and approximately 4.1 million Class A shares for $453 million for the full year of 2023.

Capital Returns to Shareholders were $500 million for the full year of 2023, inclusive of dividends and share repurchases, in line with the full year outlook for 2023.

1 Represents the sum of Net Deferrals and Net Financed Contracts. Refer to Apple Leisure Group Segment Statistics on schedule A-18 for additional details.

Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt, said, "The fourth quarter marks the completion of a transformative year and demonstrates the progress towards our strategic vision and earnings evolution. RevPAR growth exceeded the high end of our guidance range and we had industry leading net rooms growth for the seventh consecutive year. This led to a record level of fees and the highest free cash flow in Hyatt's history. We returned $500 million to our shareholders and achieved an asset-light earnings mix of approximately 76% for the full year, a testament to the successful execution of our strategy."

CUPE National President responds to Lynx Air's end

CUPE National President Mark Hancock made the following statement today in response to the news Lynx Air will be shutting down operations on Monday.

“We are devastated for our members at Lynx and all the employees who lost their jobs today. While this is a hard day for the employees of Lynx, they are better off for belonging to Canada’s largest union. CUPE will represent them and defend their rights in these difficult times. We will fight to ensure the employees get everything they are legally entitled to.”

CUPE represents 240 flight attendants at the airline, which completes its last flights today before ceasing all operations. 

Best in Alaska! UnCruise Adventures nabs 4 prestigious travel awards

UnCruise Adventures, a US-flagged leader in small-ship, expedition-style cruising, proudly owned and headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, is officially named “Best Small-Ship Expedition Line” by U.S. News & World Report and “Best in Alaska” in the Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks’ Awards. 

Additionally, two ships, the Wilderness Legacy and the Wilderness Discoverer, occupy two top-five spaces in USA Today’s annual “10Best” Best in Alaska category (the only company to have two ships listed in the top five). UnCruise Adventures is proud to show the strength of a family-owned, locally run business that provides services and experiences that mega ships can’t offer. These accolades also highlight UnCruise Adventures' commitment to excellence and reinforce its standing as a premier choice in Alaska tourism. To celebrate, UnCruise Adventures is excited to share "Leap into Adventure Savings" for its 2024 cruise season.

Leap into Adventure Savings, Celebrating 28 Years of Adventure

UnCruise Adventures is offering whale-sized savings for 2024. Early-bird savings include 15% off on early Alaska departures in April and May 2024, special rates for groups and solo travelers, and $500 off on summer departures starting June 1, 2024. Additional offers are available for back-to-back itineraries, and there are significant savings for families traveling with kids 8-17 on select departures.

“History is happening in front of us. I have never seen a cruise company, of any size, receive four Best in Alaska Awards in a single year! And I have been in Alaska tourism for nearly 40 years!” shares UnCruise Adventures Owner and CEO Captain Dan Blanchard. “Alaska is a must for the adventuresome soul, there are so many things to see. Untamed Alaska with her tidewater glaciers, whales, bears, sea otters, and critters of all kinds. All this with hikes, beach strolls, skiff explorations, and kayaking in Glacier Bay National Park. Unique to this year is a very good opportunity for Northern Lights in the early season and after mid-August. Mother Nature is ready to put on a show, and UnCruise is ready to share that experience with the world!” Captain Blanchard adds.