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.
Smartraveller has lowered its travel advice for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to Level 2: exercise a high degree of caution, following a review of the security situation.
Regional tensions remain elevated and conditions can change quickly, with the potential for airspace closures, flight delays and cancellations at short notice.
Travel advice across the Middle East continues to vary, so travellers should monitor developments and check the latest advice for their destination before departure.
A proposal to trial more seamless travel between Australia and New Zealand could eventually allow eligible passengers to cross the Tasman without physically presenting a passport at airport immigration.
The proposed trial would use biometric technology for pre-registered Australian and New Zealand citizens, with the aim of creating a more seamless Trans-Tasman travel experience.
The initiative would require cooperation and regulatory changes in both countries and has not yet been confirmed or implemented.
If progressed, it could simplify travel across one of Australia and New Zealand’s busiest business travel corridors.
British Airways has unveiled a major refurbishment of its Airbus A380 fleet, with new cabins across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
The refurbished aircraft will reduce overall capacity from 469 to 421 seats while significantly increasing premium seating, including 106 Club Suite Business Class seats across the entire upper deck.
The first upgraded A380 is expected to enter service in the coming months.
Singapore Airlines is enhancing its in-flight dining across all cabin classes, introducing more than 100 new and refreshed dishes, expanded beverage options and new serviceware.
The changes form part of a broader investment in the airline’s end-to-end passenger experience, with further cabin, entertainment, connectivity and ground service enhancements to be unveiled in November.
Qatar Airways is introducing further enhancements to its premium experience, including new First and Business Class menus on flights departing Australia from February to July 2027.
Created with Australian chef Ross Lusted, the menus will be complemented by new cocktails and mocktails, along with Diptyque amenity kits.
The airline is also continuing its rollout of Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi, with more than 150 widebody aircraft now equipped with the technology.
Air India will increase Sydney-Delhi services from seven to 11 flights per week from 16 December 2026, adding four weekly Boeing 787-8 services.
The airline will also progressively introduce the larger Boeing 777-300ER on its existing daily service, beginning with three weekly flights from 3 December, before all seven weekly services move to the larger aircraft from 1 January 2027.
The changes provide additional capacity and greater choice between Sydney and India.
American Airlines has introduced a new app feature allowing eligible AAdvantage members to select preferred seat characteristics and be automatically moved if a matching seat becomes available.
Available up to 24 hours before departure for eligible single-passenger bookings, the feature removes the need for travellers to repeatedly check the seat map for a preferred window, aisle or middle seat.
China Eastern Airlines has expanded its codeshare partnership with Aerolíneas Argentinas, providing more onward connections for travellers using its Auckland-Buenos Aires service.
The expanded agreement adds connections from Buenos Aires to destinations across Argentina, as well as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santiago, providing more seamless onward connections across South America through a single itinerary.
The UK has begun rolling out new contactless eGate technology that will eventually allow eligible passengers to clear border controls using facial recognition without presenting their passport at the gate.
The technology launched for British passport holders on 6 October and is expected to expand to other eGate-eligible nationalities, including Australians, as the rollout continues. All UK airports are expected to have the technology by early 2027.
Australian travellers must continue to carry and present their valid passport when required.
Sunshine Coast Airport has opened its new arrivals precinct and baggage claim as part of its ongoing terminal transformation.
The new facility is almost three times the size of the previous arrivals area, with a 92-metre baggage carousel, additional seating, upgraded amenities and improved terminal cooling.
The larger facility is designed to provide a smoother arrival experience as passenger numbers continue to grow.
British Airways has announced the next stage of its Heathrow lounge transformation, including a new lounge at Terminal 5C, redevelopment of its Terminal 5 Arrivals Lounge and a new First check-in experience at Terminal 3 in partnership with American Airlines.
The investment forms part of a wider programme to redesign British Airways lounges at Heathrow and across its international network.
Brisbane Airport’s annual Lost Property Auction is now live, with almost 700 lots of unclaimed items available for bidding.
The auction includes laptops, phones, smartwatches, luggage and other items left behind by passengers, along with aviation memorabilia and donated experience packages.
100% of proceeds will support the Children’s Hospital Foundation, helping fund research, equipment and programmes for sick and injured children and their families.
Bidding is open until 8 November, concluding with a livestreamed auction.
Amsterdam is introducing further measures to manage the impact of tourism on the city, including an increase to its overnight tourist tax from 12.5% to 16% of the accommodation price in 2027.
The move forms part of the city’s broader approach to creating a more sustainable balance between tourism and liveability, as it looks to manage visitor numbers, reduce pressure on local communities and protect the character of the city.
Amsterdam is one of a growing number of destinations looking at how tourism can deliver economic benefits while managing its environmental and social impacts.
For corporate travel programmes, the change is a reminder that sustainability measures at destination level can increasingly influence the overall cost of travel, with the higher tax set to increase accommodation costs from 2027.
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Whether you’re planning your next trip or reviewing your corporate travel programme, our team is here to help.
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