Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Lorenza Maggio appointed CEO of Brussels Airlines (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:29:27)
    The Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG has appointed Lorenza Maggio as the new CEO of Brussels Airlines. The decision is still subject to approval by the Board of Directors of SN Airholding.Alongside leading the Belgian airline, Lorenza Maggio will assume the role of “Executive Board Representative to the European Commission.” Her predecessor, Dorothea von Boxberg, is leaving the company at her own request with effect from 31 August 2026. The date for Lorenza Maggio’s transition from Rome to Brussels will be determined shortly.
  • Emirates redefines Economy Class journeys with world’s first U-Dream headrest (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:25:10)
    Emirates is revealing another world first in the sky, transforming journeys for Economy Class passengers with the introduction of the U-Dream Headrest - a game-changing new seat addition that enables Economy Class customers to experience a whole new level of support and comfort inflight. Backed by a significant investment, installation is already underway across Emirates’ fleet, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to helping Economy Class customers fly better.The U-Dream is a multi-way adjustable headrest designed to provide full neck and head support during sleep or relaxation, which will be incorporated onto Emirates Economy Class seats across all Emirates A350’s and most of its Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. As the first airline in the world to introduce it, the U-Dream headrest is already garnering outstanding praise from Emirates customers.
  • Riyadh Air Accelerates Global Expansion at Farnborough Airshow (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:21:26)
    Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new full-service global airline, has today announced it will exercise purchase rights for an additional six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The landmark agreement, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, drives the airline’s strategic expansion that brings Riyadh Air’s total Airbus A350-1000 confirmed fleet to 31 aircraft, significantly boosting its ultra-long-haul capacity. Riyadh Air also has 60 Airbus A321 aircraft on order, totaling 91 aircraft ordered with 19 options/purchase rights for the A350 aircraft still available to exercise, allowing greater future flexibility.
  • Riyadh Air Commits to Purchase 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Adds 787-10 to Future Fleet (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:19:25)
    Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the airline is exercising options for 28 more 787 Dreamliner jets as part of its growth plan. The agreement to exercise most of the options from Riyadh Air’s 2023 order also includes the conversion of 20 airplanes to the larger 787-10 variant.The announcement includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 of the ultra-efficient widebody jets. Once the remaining 17 airplanes are finalized, Riyadh Air’s firm order count will grow to 67 787 Dreamliners.
  • Brand USA Thanks World Cup Visitors and Encourages them to Return (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:15:53)
    Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation for the United States, has unveiled “More to Love,” an all-new social-first series featuring “Take Me Home, Country Roads” that thanks international fans who travelled to and through the United States during the World Cup and invites them to return and experience more of the country. Timed to the tournament’s closing, the series pairs real moments shared by visitors with the landscapes, communities, and experiences waiting to be explored beyond the host cities.
  • Dubai’s Latest Multi-Cuisine Restaurant Developed By Three Continents, Two Chefs, and One Belief (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 12:10:21)
    Dubai is set to welcome “The Crunch,” an inventive new dining destination started by two expert chefs whose careers have taken them through some of the world’s most respected kitchens to create the ultimate modern yet authentic multi-cuisine concept. Founded by partners Mukhtar Kosbayev and Anastassiya Kosbayeva, the casual chic eatery will officially open doors on 31st July, alongside Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah, Dubai, converging culture and flavours from world-renowned kitchens to an everyday format. The Crunch is poised to become a place where guests can grab a cup of specialty coffee on their way to work, enjoy a warm breakfast with family, meet colleagues over a luscious lunch break, or simply immerse themselves in a delightful course worth a long drive from across the city.
  • Anguilla Bolsters Winter Connectivity with Expanded North American Airlift (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 11:55:52)
    The island of Anguilla is set to welcome a surge of visitors this coming winter season, bolstered by a significant expansion of air service from key gateways in the United States and Canada.Under the AnguillAir brand, BermudAir has announced a robust new schedule that promises to enhance accessibility to the destination’s renowned 33 beaches, upscale culinary landscape, and signature “barefoot luxury” experience. This strategic increase in flight frequency reflects a growing demand for premium Caribbean travel and marks a new chapter in the island’s international tourism reach.
  • Regulator publishes report marking important progress towards hydrogen aviation in the UK (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:26:11)
    The UK Civil Aviation Authority has today published findings from its Hydrogen Challenge, alongside a new Hydrogen roadmap marking a step forward in understanding how hydrogen technologies could be safely introduced into UK aviation.The Hydrogen Challenge brought together the regulator, industry and academia to explore the potential of hydrogen powered aircraft, airport operations and supporting infrastructure, its efficiencies and risks of hydrogen and identify possible gaps in existing regulations.
  • BRITAIN’S LONGEST SERVING TRAVEL AGENT, 77, CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF HOLIDAYS (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:23:35)
    A 77-year-old travel agent who started selling holidays before the moon landing has helped customers book hundreds of thousands of getaways over six decades at TUI and still has no plans to retire.Ellen Davey, from TUI’s Stevenage store, is Britain’s longest serving travel agent after she first started selling holidays in July 1966, when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, England won the World Cup at Wembley and Britain still used pounds, shillings and pence.
  • Civil Aviation Authority brings innovation and safety expertise to Farnborough International Airshow (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:22:52)
    As innovation in the aerospace industry accelerates, the UK Civil Aviation Authority will be at the Farnborough International Airshow to engage with industry on the safe integration of new technologies, airspace modernisation and the sustainable future growth of the sector, while maintaining high safety standards.
  • Discover a Different Side of Greece Through Costa Navarino’s Villa Collection (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:17:37)
    As luxury travel continues to evolve, more travellers are choosing the comfort and flexibility of private villas over traditional hotel stays. Yet while many villa holidays promise privacy, few offer a genuine connection to the destination beyond their front door. At Costa Navarino, the sustainably driven destination in Greece’s southwest Peloponnese, the Villa Collection offers exactly that: the opportunity to experience Messinia at a slower pace while enjoying the comfort of a private residence and the exceptional hospitality of one of the Mediterranean’s most authentic luxury destinations.
  • Singapore Tourism Board and Traveloka Renew Partnership (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:15:10)
    To drive the next phase of tourism growth, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Traveloka yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote Singapore as a preferred destination for travellers across five key source markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia.
  • TAAG INTRODUCES BOEING 787-10 DREAMLINER ON LISBON ROUTE (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 10:12:49)
    TAAG Angola Airlines has introduced the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on its Luanda–Lisbon–Luanda route, marking the aircraft’s first commercial operation on the airline’s European network and representing a new milestone in the modernisation of its long-haul fleet. The deployment of the Boeing 787-10 on TAAG’s flagship intercontinental route follows the successful completion of the aircraft’s certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
  • How can corporate travel leaders take advantage of artificial intelligence today? (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 08:04:47)
    Mark Cullen, Chief Commercial Officer with Amadeus Cytric, guides Breaking Travel News through the latest AI innovations and discusses what they mean for the corporate travel experience
  • Family City Breaks: discover Milan through a new lens with NEMI Hotel (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:59:28)
    Well known as Italy’s capital of fashion and design, Milan is increasingly emerging as a destination for family travel. Beyond its iconic landmarks, the city offers a wealth of experiences designed to engage visitors of all ages, from interactive museums and green parks to cultural attractions that turn every day into an adventure.Responding to the growing demand for urban getaways tailored to families, NEMI, Milan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, in particular with its Family Suites, is the ideal accommodation for guests travelling with children.
  • Foundation model company StepFun and Alipay announce a system-level partnership (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:56:09)
    At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), foundation model company StepFun and Alipay announced a system-level partnership, further expanding the capabilities of AI agents from conversations to complete complex tasks in everyday life.Under the partnership, users will be able to access AI-powered daily life services through Alipay’s Ah Bao by speaking to the AI agent on StepFun’s AI-native terminal or via its large model.
  • Sarai, Mirai’s AI assistant and conversational booking engine, now supports multi-room bookings (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:54:31)
    Mirai, a company specializing in technology to boost hotels’ direct sales, announces that Sarai, its AI assistant and conversational booking engine, now handles bookings for two or more rooms within a natural conversation (“I need two rooms for a family with children”), with no forms or intermediate steps. This feature is available across all channels where Sarai operates -webchat, WhatsApp, email, Instagram and phone, as well as ChatGPT (via Apps) and Claude (via MCP)- and is included at no extra cost for all Mirai booking engine clients.
  • Plans announced to bring The Ritz-Carlton Residences to The World Islands, Dubai (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:49:37)
    Dubai-born AVENEW Development announces plans for The Ritz-Carlton Residences Dubai, The World Islands, the latest addition to its growing portfolio of distinguished addresses and its second collaboration with Marriott International. The project reflects AVENEW’s founding principles of thoughtful design, distinctive location selection and timeless quality.
  • Virgin Voyages brings back True Crime Voyage for 2027 (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:45:41)
    Virgin Voyages has announced the return of its True Crime Voyage for 2027, following the sell-out success of its inaugural sailing in 2025.Created in partnership with iHeartMedia – America’s largest podcast publisher - the cruise will feature a new line-up of true crime podcasts including:Disgraceland - hosted by Jake Brennan, who explores the criminal stories behind some of music’s most famous names.Buried Bones - journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and forensic investigator Paul Holes revisit compelling historical crimes, using modern investigative techniques to uncover new perspectives on old mysteries.Wisecrack - a true crime series produced by Jodi Tovay about a comedian whose disturbing stage routine sparks an investigation into a real-life case.
  • Frasers Hospitality expands into historic Jiangnan with Fraser Residence Wuzhen (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:39:11)
    Frasers Hospitality, a business unit of Frasers Property, announced the soft opening of Fraser Residence Wuzhen. Located in the heart of the historic 1,300-year-old water town dating from the Tang Dynasty, the property marks Frasers Hospitality’s first entry into one of China’s renowned cultural and tourism destination.