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.
Wildfires are affecting parts of Spain, with localised evacuations underway in some areas.
Travellers should avoid affected areas, monitor local updates and follow the advice of authorities. Delays may also occur at some border crossings, with temporary checks possible for travellers arriving from Italy.
Those travelling through affected areas should allow additional time and check local conditions before departure.
A number of destinations are introducing or considering new tourism taxes and entry fees:
What this means for travel programmes: Confirmed increases should be considered in forward travel budgets, while proposed changes in Thailand and Indonesia continue to progress through approval processes.
Korean Air is increasing capacity between Australia and Seoul over the summer season:
The Melbourne service takes over the route previously operated by Asiana Airlines following the carriers’ merger.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will increase its direct Perth-Tokyo Narita service from three flights per week to daily from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027.
The seasonal increase provides additional capacity between Western Australia and Japan and follows the same increase operated by ANA last year.
Air New Zealand reported improved operational performance in July, with more flights arriving on time and 246 fewer cancellations compared with the same period last year, despite increased weather-related disruption.
The airline is also rolling out automated rebooking internationally, allowing most passengers affected by cancellations to be rebooked within minutes.
From 1 October 2026, eligible CommBank Yello customers will be able to earn Velocity Points through a range of Commonwealth Bank products, including savings accounts, home loans, insurance and credit cards.
The partnership is part of planned changes to Velocity’s financial services offering ahead of upcoming RBA changes to credit card interchange and surcharge arrangements.
Virgin Group has received regulatory approval to operate cross-Channel rail services between London and Paris from 2030, potentially introducing competition to Eurostar.
Approval allows for up to 20 daily return services from 1 October 2030, with Virgin also approved for proposed services to Brussels and Amsterdam.
Further steps are still required before services can launch, including securing trains, network access and safety approvals.
Melbourne Airport will introduce its biggest road network change in more than 50 years this October, with the opening of the new T123 Transport Hub and new passenger pick-up and drop-off zones.
The changes will alter how vehicles access the terminals, with significantly more space being created for passenger pick-up and drop-off.
Melbourne Airport has launched an interactive Journey Planner with step-by-step guides to help travellers, drivers and those arranging airport transfers familiarise themselves with the new routes before the changes take effect.
The project also paves the way for Melbourne Airport’s planned $4.5 billion international terminal expansion.
Auckland Airport has begun the next phase of its international terminal redevelopment, with upgrades underway across departure and arrival areas.
The staged works include refreshed duty-free, retail and dining areas and will continue while the terminal remains operational. Travellers passing through Auckland in the coming months should allow additional time for security and boarding, with construction and temporary wayfinding changes in place.
The current phase is expected to be completed by December 2026.
While much of aviation’s sustainability conversation focuses on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and next-generation aircraft, improvements to the way flights operate are already delivering measurable emissions reductions.
Airservices Australia reports that User Preferred Routes have delivered more than 42,700 tonnes of CO₂ emissions savings, with 53% of international flights benefiting from optimised flight profiles.
Rather than relying solely on fixed air routes, User Preferred Routes allow airlines to plan more efficient flight paths based on factors including weather, winds and individual aircraft performance. More efficient routing can reduce the distance flown and fuel consumed, helping lower emissions without requiring changes to the aircraft itself.
For organisations focused on reducing the footprint of business travel, it’s a useful reminder that aviation decarbonisation isn’t reliant on one solution. Alongside SAF, fleet renewal and carbon reduction strategies, improvements to how aircraft move through the network are already contributing to lower emissions.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or reviewing your corporate travel programme, our team is here to help.
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