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the review
Flybe adds routes ahead of Virgin rebrand Flybe’s 2020 summer schedule will feature 104 routes across the UK and mainland Europe, including seven new routes – six from Southend and one from Manchester. Passengers will be able to fly from Southend to Belfast City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Isle of Man and Jersey, plus a new route from Manchester to Stuttgart. From next year, Flybe will become part of the extended Virgin family as Virgin Connect. The rebrand will see the airline focus on business and visiting family and friends. flybe.com
ABTA’s 2020 predictions
NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF Jet2.com will offer flights to Innsbruck, Austria, for the first time from Summer 2020. The carrier will operate twice-weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday) from Manchester, running from May 23 through to September 19, as well as weekly Wednesday services from Birmingham from June 3 through to September 16. jet2.com
BY STEVE HARTRIDGE
ABTA’s Travel Trends 2020 report reveals that nearly nine out of 10 Brits took a holiday this year, with package holidays proving an enduring choice despite the demise of one its biggest exponents in 2019. This was also the year when sustainability issues and concern for the environment started to influence bookings, with 62% of people wanting to book a holiday that helped the local community. The report said that 2019 was notable for a range of excellent-
value package holidays to destinations including Turkey and Egypt - which both saw doubledigit growth – Mainland Spain, the Balearics, Greece and Italy. ABTA also noted that the ability to tailor-make an experience is key to the continued popularity of the package holiday. The travel body also released 24 destinations to watch in 2020, including Grenada, Chicago, Morocco, Namibia, Singapore, South Korea and Uruguay. abta.com
Touring offers from Cosmos and Globus BY JESSICA POOK
Cosmos and premium sister brand Globus are offering early booking discounts of up to 10% on escorted tours, when booked before January 28. Agents can book a Cosmos 10-day Hightlights of Morocco tour-only trip from £699pp. The tour includes a visit to Fez and Marrakech with the following 2020 departure dates: January 2, February 21, March 6, May 1, July 10, September 18, October 16 and November 13. Agents that book a flight-inclusive holiday to the USA or Canada before February 21, 2020 will receive a £150pp discount by quoting: NA150 when booking. Agents will earn a £5 Love2shop voucher for every Cosmos booking made and £10 for every Globus booking. cosmos.co.uk
Air Transat will expand its services to Toronto and Montreal next summer. The airline will offer twicedaily flights from Gatwick to Toronto and increase its Gatwick to Montreal flights from three to five times weekly. Many will be operated by the new Airbus A321neo LR aircraft. From Glasgow and Dublin Air Transat will operate a five-times-weekly service to Toronto. airtransat.com Clients will benefit from a complimentary room upgrade and a free night’s stay when they visit the newly opened Il Palazzo Experimental in Venice and Menorca Experimental in Spain. Agents willl also be rewarded with the chance to win a two-night stay for two at either of these hotels when they book by December 25, 2019. exsus.com Lufthansa is to double its daily service from Bristol to Frankfurt from March 30, 2020. The new service will operate twice daily, six days per week and once daily on Saturdays. Flights depart from Bristol at 09.35 and 17.50 with return flights at 08.20 and 16.30. Economy fares start from £105 return. lufthansa.com
sellingtravel.co.uk
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