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.
Severe flooding and landslides have caused significant damage to roads and infrastructure across parts of Nepal and Tibet, China, disrupting transport, power, food and water supplies, emergency services and medical care.
Australian crisis response teams have been deployed to the region, with consular officials working with local authorities and international partners to locate missing Australians and confirm their welfare.
Phone and internet services have largely been restored, although coverage remains limited in some remote areas.
Travellers planning to visit Nepal or Tibet should monitor the latest travel advice and reconsider travel to flood-affected areas, where there remains an ongoing risk of flooding and landslides.
Australians who have recently travelled in affected areas are also being asked to contact family, next of kin or their travel provider to confirm they are safe.
Stay up to date here: Smartraveller Crisis Alert
Fiji Airways will launch direct flights between Western Sydney International Airport and Nadi from 19 March 2027, operating three times weekly with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The new service will add more than 53,000 seats annually and complement Fiji Airways’ existing Sydney-Nadi services, providing another option for travellers based in Western Sydney and onward connections across Fiji Airways’ network in the Pacific, Asia and North America.
Sydney Airport has announced two new international services expanding connectivity into Africa, the Middle East and China:
Air India will increase its Melbourne-Delhi service from daily to 11 flights per week from late October, adding further capacity between Victoria and India.
The additional services also provide more connection options through Delhi to destinations across India, the UK and Europe.
Cathay Pacific will introduce its Aria Suite Business Class on selected Perth-Hong Kong services from 26 October 2026.
The retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER will operate selected CX171 and CX140 services through to 27 March 2027, bringing the new Business Class suites, updated Premium Economy and refreshed Economy cabins to the Perth route.
The Aria Suite features a sliding privacy door, direct aisle access, wireless charging and a 24-inch 4K entertainment screen.
Virgin Atlantic will launch a new seasonal London Heathrow-Phuket service from 18 October 2026, operating three times weekly with Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The service will be the only direct link between Heathrow and Phuket, creating another option for travellers combining the UK and Southeast Asia within an international itinerary.
Emirates will introduce its retrofitted A380 with Premium Economy on the Dubai-Paris route from 25 October 2026, operating daily on EK071 and EK072.
The change means Paris, Lyon and Nice will all be served by Emirates aircraft featuring Premium Economy.
Emirates has also unveiled a new Premium Economy seat for newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft, featuring an electrically operated full-height privacy divider between seats, along with electric seat controls and wireless charging.
Etihad Airways will commence services between Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg from 21 October 2026, creating another European connection through its Abu Dhabi hub.
The route will be operated by Airbus A321LR aircraft, with Australian travellers able to connect from Sydney through Abu Dhabi to Luxembourg.
SriLankan Airlines is offering an additional 10kg checked baggage allowance in Economy between Melbourne and Colombo, bringing the total allowance to 40kg per passenger on eligible bookings.
The offer applies to tickets issued in Australia by 15 December 2026 for eligible Melbourne-Colombo return journeys, subject to applicable travel dates and fare conditions.
Auckland’s City Rail Link opened to passengers on 13 September, marking one of the biggest changes to the city’s public transport network in decades.
The 3.45km underground rail link connects Waitematā Station with new city-centre stations at Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau, providing faster journeys and improved connections across Auckland.
For business events, Auckland Transport has also introduced the Hui Pass, providing delegates with five days of unlimited bus and train travel, including the AirportLink service. The pass is available to event organisers in bulk purchases of at least 50 cards.
Auckland Airport is progressively changing the order of its international departure process, with travellers to complete security screening before passport control.
Known as “The Flip”, the project will align Auckland with the processing sequence used at many major international airports and support the airport’s future integrated domestic and international terminal.
The change will be introduced in stages, with all international travellers expected to follow the new sequence by the end of 2027. Travellers do not need to take any additional action during the transition and should follow airport signage and staff directions.
Adelaide Airport is upgrading passenger processing technology as part of its broader Project Flight terminal expansion.
The programme includes an expanded check-in hall, new self-service facilities and replacement of existing check-in equipment, with works continuing progressively through to mid-2028.
The airport has also completed six upgraded security lanes, meaning passengers no longer need to remove laptops, tablets or aerosols from carry-on baggage during screening.
Singapore will introduce a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel levy for passengers departing Singapore from 1 January 2027, applying to tickets sold from 1 October 2026.
The levy will appear as a separate item in the fare breakdown, with funds directed towards purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel and associated environmental attributes.
For flights from Singapore to Australia, the levy will be:
For corporate travel programmes, the levy is an early example of how aviation decarbonisation measures are beginning to translate into identifiable costs within airfares.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will bring together aviation, government, energy, finance and technology leaders in Brussels on 13-14 October for its World Sustainability Symposium.
Discussions will focus on the practical steps required to progress aviation towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel supply and adoption, financing, carbon markets, emerging technology and broader policy settings.
For organisations with business travel programmes, developments in these areas will continue to influence how aviation emissions are reduced, measured and managed.
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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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