Travel Technology News

Flight Centre Travel Group has announced the appointment of Peter Gianusso to the role of global chief technology officer, core systems, for the corporate division of the company.Based at the Americas headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey, Gianusso will be responsible for overseeing the central platforms that are leveraged to power...

British Airways has teamed up with AirPortr to create new fast bag drop areas at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.With the first drop-off point planned at the Heathrow Express train platforms, customers will be able to quickly and securely drop-off their luggage at peak times, before travelling bag-free straight through to security....

British Airways has unveiled its new inflight digital ordering platform.The tool gives customers in Euro Traveller (economy) the option to order additional snacks and drinks mid-flight, directly to their seat.The new inflight ordering system will complement the airline’s current ‘Buy Before You Fly’ offering, where customers are encouraged to order...

The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa has launched a new contactless and touchless experience with a bespoke app. The digital tool is integrated with operating systems at the hotel to offer a seamless guest journey. It allows guests access to a wide range of hotel services, at the click of...

Oracle has announced that the Saudi Arabia Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has completed a major Oracle Cloud implementation.The technology is designed to support investment in the local tourism sector.With a capital of US$4 billion, TDF aims to be the key enabler of tourism development in the kingdom. The implementation, which...

Travelport has appointed Tom Kershaw as its new chief product and technology officer.Kershaw is a seasoned product and technology executive, with more than two decades of experience leading innovation, technical strategy and execution.He most recently held the title of chief technology officer at one of the largest independent advertising platforms...

Emirates has reached a commercial agreement that will allow Travelport-connected travel agencies to avoid the airline’s surcharge on bookings via global distribution systems.The charges are due to come into effect today.Furthermore, the companies announced a new long-term agreement to enable the distribution of Emirates NDC content via Travelport’s next-generation platform,...

Sabre Corporation and Virgin Australia have reaffirmed their long-standing relationship with the renewal of their global distribution agreement. Under the renewed agreement, Sabre will continue to distribute Virgin Australia flights and services through the Sabre GDS marketplace, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of Sabre-connected agencies will continue to have access...

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has renewed its distribution agreement with British Airways and Iberia. This will allow GBT customers and members of its Partner Solutions group to confidently shop within Supply MarketPlace.      The multi-year agreement has been expanded to cover a collaboration between GBT, British Airways...

Flight Centre Travel Group has selected technology solution provider HotelHub to provide a hotel booking and distribution solution for its global corporate brands.The HotelHub platform aggregates hotel content from multiple GDS and non-GDS sources and includes an intuitive tool for agents that fully automates the hotel booking workflow and includes...

Skyscanner has appointed Clive Peoples, former customer marketing leader at eBay and Expedia, as senior vice president of marketing. Peoples, who will be based out of the London office, reports to chief operating officer, Kris Beyens, and is a member of the executive team.He is tasked with leading Skyscanner’s global...

American Airlines is expanding its pre-flight Covid-19 testing program with new self-administered and more in-person testing options to make travel easier and safer for its customers. Customers can now order an Abbott BinaxNOW Home Test through telehealth provider eMed.These 15-minute, self-administered tests are supervised virtually by an eMed Certified Guide...

British Airways will begin trialling the IATA Travel Pass on flights from Heathrow to Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland from this week.The app can be downloaded onto a mobile device directly from the app store. Once downloaded, customers will create a secure account and will be presented with the entry...

The United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Google have signed a new agreement to work together and lead global recovery of tourism through innovation, education and market intelligence.The new memorandum of understanding builds on past cooperation between the UN agency for tourism and Google. Notably, the pair will host...

New research from Amadeus has sought to examine how the hospitality industry has adapted to Covid-19, as well as the trends hoteliers think are likely to stay as the industry rebuilds. Amadeus’ Demand360 business intelligence data shows that hotel occupancy levels are now on an upward trajectory. Worldwide occupancy reached...

British Airways has revealed it will be trialling new queuing technology from Qmatic.The carrier hopes the system will enable customers to virtually queue at check-in by pre-booking their slot time in advance of arriving at the airport.The technology, that is optional for customers, will be trialled by British Airways for...

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has made a binding offer to acquire Egencia, Expedia Group’s corporate travel arm. As part of the transaction, Expedia Group would become a shareholder in, and enter a long-term strategic commercial agreement with, GBT.  Paul Abbott, GBT chief executive, said: “Our strategy is to...

London City Airport has become the first major international airport in the world to be fully controlled by a remote digital air traffic control tower.The news follows intensive testing and live trials of the revolutionary technology during lockdown.All flights on the summer schedule are being guided to land by air...

Emirates and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) have begun to implement full digital verification of Covid-19 medical records connected to testing and vaccination for travellers based in the UAE.Customers who have undertaken a PCR test in Dubai can choose to check-in without presenting their physical Covid-19 PCR test report. Moreover,...

Skyscanner has announced the launch of Arabic language website on desktop and mobile.In an effort to offer travellers a more localised and user-friendly experience, Skyscanner has rolled out the Arabic language offering across all domains, including UAE and Saudi Arabia. Travellers visiting Skyscanner on desktop, mobile web or via the...