News

World Travel Market has launched its first-ever cruise programme for WTM 2009.

The UK cruise industry is bucking the trend and continues to grow despite 2009 being one of the most challenging years on record for the wider holiday market.

Allbury Travel Group has appointed Mr Christos Loris as General Manager.

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened their 15th Radisson Blu hotel in the UK ? the new-build Radisson Blu Hotel, Bristol.

Butlins is offering half prices breaks for 2010 with savings of up to 50% off midweek and seven night breaks and up to 20% off Schools Out and Weekend breaks.

Thomson and First Choice are increasing the number of ten and 11 night holidays available for customers travelling next Summer, to reflect a reported 64% increase in demand throughout this Summer season.

Oman Air?s brand new First Class Mini Suite is launched this week, together with new Business and Economy class seats, menus and uniforms, when the airline?s new three-class Airbus A330-300 is unveiled.

The three-class service will be introduced to a range of routes across Europe and Asia, including non-stop direct flights between Muscat and London Heathrow.

The First Class Mini Suite feature an 82-inch long, fully-flat bed within a pitch of 85.5 inches, a seat width of 25.5 inches, electrically-operated backrest, leg rest and seat depth controls, and an eight-point massage system and six seats in the First Class cabin. In addition, each First Class seat offers a 23-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitor, a wireless IFE handset, a backup IFE handset, two USB ports, an Ethernet socket (RJ45), an audio and video assumption (RCA) plug and a PC power outlet.The 77.5-inch long, lie-flat Business Class seat with a pitch of 82 inches is 22 inches wide and offers electrically-controlled backrest, leg rest and seat depth.

Oman Air?s Chairman, His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, says: ?The introduction of our brand new First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins, together with the expansion of our international fleet, illustrates our commitment to offering unbeatable levels of quality, value and choice for all our customers across all areas of our business. These new products are an important and very visible part of Oman Air?s strategic growth and we look forward to introducing more routes, more aircraft and more products going forward.?

Oman Air?s chief executive officer, Peter Hill, adds: ?We?re excited about bringing this industry-leading concept to our customers. The centerpiece of the new Airbus A330-300 cabin is our new First Class seat, which marks a further milestone in Oman Airs ongoing drive for quality and comfort. Indeed, the new seat sets a new standard for individual travel in an exclusive inflight environment, all of which will create an exceptional First Class experience. With our Business Class product that provides our customers with a supremely comfortable and relaxing lie-flat seat, as well as state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and one of the most spacious Economy Class cabins on the market, we are putting ourselves way ahead of many of our competitors.?

The three-class service will be introduced to a range of routes across Europe and Asia, including non-stop direct flights between Muscat and London Heathrow.

The First Class Mini Suite feature an 82-inch long, fully-flat bed within a pitch of 85.5 inches, a seat width of 25.5 inches, electrically-operated backrest, leg rest and seat depth controls, and an eight-point massage system and six seats in the First Class cabin. In addition, each First Class seat offers a 23-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitor, a wireless IFE handset, a backup IFE handset, two USB ports, an Ethernet socket (RJ45), an audio and video assumption (RCA) plug and a PC power outlet.The 77.5-inch long, lie-flat Business Class seat with a pitch of 82 inches is 22 inches wide and offers electrically-controlled backrest, leg rest and seat depth.

Oman Air?s Chairman, His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, says: ?The introduction of our brand new First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins, together with the expansion of our international fleet, illustrates our commitment to offering unbeatable levels of quality, value and choice for all our customers across all areas of our business. These new products are an important and very visible part of Oman Air?s strategic growth and we look forward to introducing more routes, more aircraft and more products going forward.?

Oman Air?s chief executive officer, Peter Hill, adds: ?We?re excited about bringing this industry-leading concept to our customers. The centerpiece of the new Airbus A330-300 cabin is our new First Class seat, which marks a further milestone in Oman Airs ongoing drive for quality and comfort. Indeed, the new seat sets a new standard for individual travel in an exclusive inflight environment, all of which will create an exceptional First Class experience. With our Business Class product that provides our customers with a supremely comfortable and relaxing lie-flat seat, as well as state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and one of the most spacious Economy Class cabins on the market, we are putting ourselves way ahead of many of our competitors.?

ABTA is launching ABTA Travel Buddy, a new email and mobile SMS text service for Members which will enable them to provide essential holiday information to customers after they book, before they travel and in emergencies while they are away.