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Happy Christmas and New Year!
From your Irish Travel Trade News team!
This may have been a difficult trading year for Ireland's travel industry, but at Irish Travel Trade News we have been busier than ever. On 1st July we launched our new website, along with Facebook and Twitter feeds, and we are thrilled to bits with your appetite for it! We are pleased to announce that in its first six months www.ittn.ie has received 65,000 hits, 25,000 visits and 17,000 unique visitors – who have been able to access more than 600 news stories, or an average of 25 per week.
We have new developments planned for 2012 too, which we will reveal in the New Year. In the meantime, we wish you all a Happy Christmas holiday – and when you get your 2012 Diary, make a date for Friday 30th November and our celebratory 21st Irish Travel Trade Awards and 2nd Irish Travel Industry Christmas Party!
Don't forget, you can send your news and pictures to [email protected] or email any one of us at (firstname)@belgravegroup.ie – and please make a New Year's Resolution to 'Like' Irish Travel Trade News on Facebook or to Follow us on Twitter!
Your Irish Travel Trade News Team
Ronan, Michael, Neil, Ian and Conor
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Emirates Bringing A340 to New Dublin Route
Emirates is already planning to offer additional ex-Dublin seat capacity during 2012 with the introduction of the Airbus A340 – even before the Dubai carrier commences operating its new daily Dublin – Dubai service with an A330-200 on 9th January next.
The change of equipment will see an increase in Economy Class seats from 183 to 213, an extra 30 seats each way. First and Business Class seats will remain the same at 12 and 42 respectively.
Read more >>>
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Aer Lingus Decision Imminent on Premium Economy
A year ago, Irish Travel Trade News reported that Aer Lingus was to consider the introduction of a Premium Economy Class option on transatlantic flights. We now understand that a decision is imminent and that Premium Economy will be introduced in 2012.
Removing one row of Economy Class seats to create Premium Economy Class rows with four to five inches of extra seat pitch is easy to do and can be 'revenue positive' as a result of the higher fares obtainable from Premium Economy passengers. The downside is that some Business Class passengers may opt for Premium Economy instead on medium-haul routes.
Read more >>>
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Etihad Airways Buys Big into Airberlin
The likelihood of Etihad Airways buying a major shareholding in Aer Lingus looks a little less likely this week with the news that Etihad is taking a 29.21% stake in the Airberlin group, Europe's sixth largest airline, and thus becoming Airberlin's largest single shareholder. The strategic partnership offers a combined global network of 239 destinations across 77 countries.
Airberlin will move its Middle East operation from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and will operate four A330-200 flights a week between Berlin and Abu Dhabi from 15th January 2012.
Read more >>>
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'The Complete Italy' – from Topflight
'Stay & Explore' holidays in Tuscany and Rimini, as well as four touring holidays are new additions to the Italy programme from Topflight for 2012 – and clients booking by 29th February can save €150 per couple on 31 selected hotels.
There are five departure dates from May to September for the new Stay & Explore Tuscany option, staying seven nights in Marina di Pietresanta while exploring Florence, Lucca, Montecarlo, Pisa and Volterra. The five departures for the new Stay & Explore the Adriatic Riviera option commence in April, staying seven nights in Rimini while exploring Assisi, Ravenna, and the Republic of San Marino.
Read more >>>
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MSC Cruising to and from Cork
MSC Cruises has announced that, for the first time, it will be adding Cork and Dublin to four new itineraries next August and September. Customers will be able to embark and disembark in Cork. They will also be able to visit Dublin for excursions, while ship visits will be available for local residents and visitors.
With no-fly cruising becoming increasingly popular, Irish passengers will now be able to enjoy a cruise on board the luxurious MSC Lirica without the hassle and additional expense of having to fly to their embarkation port.
Read more >>>
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