Welcome to this week’s Orbit Travel Brief.
Your snapshot of the latest travel advisories, airline updates and key developments across the travel industry, helping you stay informed and in control of your travel programme.
Travel conditions across parts of the Middle East remain fluid, with airline schedules continuing to adjust in response to evolving conditions. For the latest updates, refer to Smartraveller or the Orbit Travel Hub for airline alerts and official advisories.
Australian citizens can now travel to Türkiye visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, effective 17 April 2026.
This removes the need to apply for an eVisa prior to travel, simplifying entry for both business and leisure travellers.
Travellers arriving into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) must now complete a digital pre-arrival declaration up to two days before arrival.
The requirement applies to all foreign passport holders entering Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese nationals travelling on foreign passports. Transit passengers are exempt.
The scheme is currently limited to Ho Chi Minh City, with plans to expand to other major gateways including Hanoi and Da Nang.
Qantas is boosting international services from Sydney between May and July, adding capacity across key long-haul routes.
The additional services are expected to support strong demand across Europe and North America during the mid-year travel period.
Cathay Pacific has reopened its newly redesigned flagship First Class lounge, The Wing, at Hong Kong International Airport.
Located in Terminal 1, the refreshed space has been redeveloped in partnership with London-based StudioIlse, marking a new direction in the airline’s lounge experience.
Renovations will now shift to The Wing, Business lounge, which has closed for refurbishment.
Jetstar has launched its upgraded Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring new Business and Economy seats, inflight Wi-Fi, and extended range capabilities.
The first refurbished aircraft has entered service, with the remainder of the 11-aircraft fleet set to be upgraded progressively through to late 2027.
Brisbane Airport is introducing a major upgrade to its dining precinct, with 13 new and enhanced food outlets set to open progressively through to 2027.
The redevelopment will deliver a mix of fast, casual and premium options, alongside a broader precinct featuring international cuisine, bar concepts and grab-and-go offerings.
Launceston Airport has begun a $12 million upgrade to enhance the departures experience, as part of its largest terminal transformation to date.
The project includes a 600sqm expansion of the gate area, a new boarding gate, and upgrades to existing gates, alongside improvements to check-in, security screening and the departures hall.
Dubai is preparing to launch the world’s first commercial vertiport for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with the facility near Dubai International Airport now technically complete.
Designed to support both air taxis and helicopters, the four-level facility will handle up to 170,000 passengers annually, with integrated check-in, operations and ground transport connectivity. Commercial services are expected to commence by the end of 2026.
Jetstar has ranked 10th globally in the latest Cirium Emerald Sky Global Airlines Rankings, earning Silver status for its emissions performance.
The airline reduced emissions by 1.9% compared to 2024, recording 56 grams of CO₂ per available seat kilometre (ASK). The rankings were largely dominated by low-cost carriers operating short to medium-haul routes with high seat density.
Scoot took out the top position with 51 grams of CO₂ per ASK, followed by Wizz Air and TUI Airways. Virgin Atlantic was the highest-ranking full-service carrier, placing seventh and demonstrating that long-haul airlines can compete through fleet modernisation and efficient cabin configuration.
The report highlighted fleet age and seat density as key drivers of emissions performance, with the most efficient airlines typically operating newer aircraft and higher-capacity configurations.
If you would like support with upcoming travel, or to understand how these updates may impact your travel programme, our team is here to help.
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