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.
The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau near Lampung is causing disruption to air travel across parts of Indonesia, with volcanic ash affecting operations at major airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Smartraveller advises that airports in affected areas may close at short notice, with further delays and cancellations possible. Volcanic ash may also affect air quality.
Travellers due to travel to, from or within Indonesia should monitor their flight status, check with their airline or travel provider before departure and follow the advice of local authorities.
Orbit is continuing to monitor developments and contacting clients who may be affected.
Stay up to date here: Smarttraveller Indonesia
Thailand will introduce new visa exemption rules from 15 September 2026, reducing the permitted visa-free stay for Australian passport holders from 60 days to 30 days.
The new 30-day visa exemption applies to tourism travel. Business travellers should check the visa requirements applicable to the purpose of their visit before departure.
Travellers who enter Thailand before 15 September can remain for the period granted when they entered the country.
Qantas has announced several updates across its network, loyalty programme and baggage arrangements:
Rex will change its flight change and cancellation fees for applicable fares booked from 15 September, moving from $44 per person, per sector to a flat $99 per person, per ticket, plus any applicable fare difference.
The change means the fee will no longer increase with the number of sectors included in a booking. Bookings made before 15 September will remain subject to the conditions and fees that applied at the time of ticketing.
From 1 October, Rex will also remove credit card surcharges and its website booking fee.
Philippine Airlines will increase its direct Melbourne-Manila service from five flights per week to daily from 20 November 2026.
The additional services will provide greater flexibility for travellers and improve onward connectivity through Manila to destinations across the airline’s network.
Jetstar has launched its new direct service between Melbourne and Colombo, providing another non-stop connection between Australia and Sri Lanka.
The year-round service operates three times weekly using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, adding more than 100,000 seats annually between the two cities.
Singapore Airlines has introduced a new First Class Concierge service at Singapore Changi Airport, providing eligible First Class passengers with personalised assistance through key airport touchpoints.
A dedicated team will escort eligible passengers from the SilverKris Lounge to their departure gate and between gates for connecting flights.
The service is provided automatically to eligible passengers and does not need to be booked. Buggy transfers may also be available, subject to operational requirements.
Qatar Airways has signed an agreement with Priority Pass to expand benefits available through its Beyond Business corporate travel programme.
Beyond Business members will soon be able to redeem Qrewards for access to more than 1,900 airport lounges and travel experiences worldwide through the Priority Pass network.
The partnership will provide corporate travellers with more ways to use Qrewards across their journey.
United Airlines has introduced a new app feature giving travellers affected by flight disruptions more flexibility to secure an earlier departure.
Passengers rebooked onto a later flight can join standby lists for up to three earlier flights while retaining their confirmed booking. The app monitors availability and notifies travellers if a seat becomes available.
The feature adds to United’s existing self-service tools for managing rebooking, baggage and other disruption-related services.
Virgin Australia has been named Australia’s Most Trusted Travel & Tourism Brand in the 2026 Roy Morgan Trusted Brand Awards, marking the fourth consecutive year the airline has received the recognition.
The annual awards are based on Roy Morgan research with Australian consumers, measuring trust and distrust across a broad range of industries.
Auckland Airport will close its Strata Club rewards programme and airport app on 30 November 2026, as it moves more digital services to its website.
Strata Club members can continue earning points until 30 September, with eligible points and benefits available for redemption until 30 November. Existing Strata Club logins will transition to an AKL login from 1 December.
The Strata Lounge is not affected and will continue operating as normal.
Brisbane Airport has announced Brisbane’s first Costco warehouse, set to open opposite the International Terminal in late 2029.
The development will be one of the first major projects within a new 51-hectare mixed-use precinct, with road network improvements and further commercial development planned as the area expands.
The precinct forms part of Brisbane Airport’s broader $5 billion Future BNE transformation.
Nashville International Airport could be renamed in honour of Dolly Parton, following the recent death of the Tennessee-born music icon and philanthropist.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport have announced their intention to name the airport in her honour, creating a permanent tribute to her contribution to Tennessee and her global legacy.
The proposal will require further approval before any official name change takes place.
A growing number of destinations are rewarding travellers for making more sustainable choices during their stay.
Copenhagen’s CopenPay programme, first launched as a pilot in 2024, has expanded its approach to encourage visitors to make more sustainable choices through activities such as cycling, using public transport and participating in environmental initiatives.
The concept is also spreading. Berlin recently completed its own BerlinPay pilot, rewarding visitors and locals for activities including cycling, collecting litter and supporting environmental projects. Exmoor National Park in England has also introduced Pay with Care, offering visitor discounts in return for actions such as arriving by public transport or bike, collecting litter and recording wildlife sightings.
The initiatives reflect a broader shift in sustainable tourism, moving beyond simply asking travellers to reduce their impact towards actively encouraging and rewarding more responsible choices.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or reviewing your corporate travel programme, our team is here to help.
1800 067 819
