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.
Travellers to France are being advised to remain alert as large-scale protests and demonstrations continue across the country.
Recent demonstrations have resulted in clashes with police, arrests and disruption to public transport and other services, with authorities imposing partial and localised curfews in some areas.
Smartraveller continues to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in France and recommends avoiding demonstrations and areas with significant police activity.
Travellers should monitor local developments and allow additional time for journeys where protests or increased security measures are in place.
Typhoon Champi has brought severe winds, heavy rainfall and rough seas to northern Taiwan, including Taipei, resulting in flight and transport disruption.
Local authorities have announced closures in affected areas, with travellers advised to check the status of flights and transport arrangements before travelling.
Smartraveller continues to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in Taiwan, while monitoring local weather updates and following the advice of local authorities.
The Maldives Government has introduced legislation to reverse a recently implemented 17% Goods and Services Tax on inbound tourism products sold overseas.
The tax took effect on 1 October and attracted concern from the international travel industry over its potential impact on the cost and sale of Maldives travel products.
The proposed changes would remove the levy from tourism products and services sold overseas to visitors and require refunds for GST already collected under the new rules.
The amendment is still progressing through the legislative process, so the change is not yet finalised.
For travellers and businesses planning travel to the Maldives, the development could remove an additional cost that had only recently been introduced.
Finnair has launched its first Australian service, connecting Melbourne with Helsinki via Bangkok.
The new route operates daily using an Airbus A350, providing another option for travellers between Australia, Thailand and Europe.
Passengers can travel point-to-point between Melbourne and Bangkok or continue through to Helsinki, with onward connections available across Finnair’s European network.
The new service also brings Finnair’s renewed long-haul Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins directly to the Australian market.
Qantas is increasing Airbus A380 services between Sydney and Singapore, adding more capacity and premium seating on the popular international route.
The larger aircraft provides First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, along with Qantas’ international lounges onboard the upper deck.
The additional A380 capacity also provides greater connectivity through Singapore for travellers continuing to destinations across Asia and Europe.
Virgin Australia is seeking regulatory approval to significantly increase capacity between Australia and Bali, including a return to the Perth-Bali route for the first time in almost a decade.
The airline has applied to operate 17 weekly Perth-Bali flights from June 2027, while also seeking additional services from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
If approved in full, the proposed expansion could add approximately 265,000 seats annually between Australia and Bali.
The application is subject to approval by the International Air Services Commission, with competing requests for additional Australia-Indonesia capacity also under consideration.
Indonesian airline TransNusa has commenced direct services between Melbourne and Bali, providing another option on one of Australia’s busiest international leisure routes.
The Airbus A320 service initially operates four times weekly, increasing to daily flights from 16 November.
The new service will add approximately 120,000 annual seats between Melbourne and Bali, while TransNusa’s wider network provides connections to destinations across Indonesia.
Singapore Airlines has unveiled the next generation of its KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, with new technology and personalisation features planned for its refurbished Airbus A350 fleet.
The upgraded experience will include 4K high-resolution touchscreen displays, Bluetooth connectivity for personal headphones, noise-cancelling headphones in selected cabins and a redesigned user interface.
Passengers will also have access to more than 2,500 entertainment options, alongside personalisation and wellness features.
The new KrisWorld system will roll out across 41 retrofitted Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft entering service from 2027.
Qatar Airways has become the latest international airline to commit to Western Sydney International, announcing direct services between WSI and Doha from 15 December 2027.
The airline will initially operate three flights each week, with plans to increase to daily services by the end of 2028.
The new route will provide Western Sydney travellers with direct access to Qatar Airways’ Doha hub and onward connections across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
Flights are scheduled to go on sale from 19 December 2026.
Western Sydney International Airport has officially opened to passenger services, marking a major milestone for Australian aviation.
Jetstar operated the airport’s first commercial passenger departure on 25 October, with a service from Western Sydney to the Gold Coast.
Air New Zealand followed as WSI’s first international passenger airline, commencing three weekly services between Auckland and Western Sydney.
Seven airlines have now committed to operating from WSI, including Jetstar, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Fiji Airways, Vietjet and Qatar Airways.
Unlike Sydney Airport, WSI operates 24 hours a day without a curfew, creating greater flexibility for domestic and international airline schedules.
With additional international services set to commence over the coming months and years, the new airport will provide travellers across Western Sydney and surrounding regions with greater choice and an alternative gateway for domestic and international travel.
Travellers arriving at Western Sydney International can now complete the new Australia Travel Declaration, replacing the traditional paper Incoming Passenger Card for eligible arrivals at the airport.
WSI is the first Australian airport where all arriving passengers can use the digital declaration.
The free declaration can be completed online up to 72 hours before arrival, with travellers providing passport, flight, accommodation and customs declaration information before entering Australia.
For now, the digital Australia Travel Declaration is only available for passengers arriving at Western Sydney International. Travellers arriving at other Australian airports must continue to complete the existing Incoming Passenger Card.
The broader digital declaration is expected to progressively replace the paper arrival card across Australia.
oneworld and all 15 of its member airlines have committed to a global initiative aimed at combating illegal wildlife trafficking through the aviation network.
The airlines have signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration, developed through The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, becoming the first airline alliance to secure unanimous member support for the initiative.
The commitment will see member airlines strengthen staff training, screening and reporting processes across passenger and cargo operations, while increasing information sharing and collaboration with governments, customs authorities, law enforcement and conservation organisations.
Frontline teams will also receive enhanced training to help identify and respond to suspicious activity.
The initiative recognises the role global transport networks can play in both enabling and preventing the illegal wildlife trade, with the aviation industry well positioned to help identify and disrupt trafficking routes.
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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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