January 15, 2025

Early booking of rental cars and campers is worthwhile

Stephen Steiner 15 January 2025 06:06

The ÖAMTC recommends that anyone who needs a rental car or a camper van for their summer vacation should book as early as possible. This is especially true for popular travel destinations such as Spain, the USA, Greece and Italy. Early bookers benefit not only from cheaper prices, but also from a larger selection. The ÖAMTC also advises paying attention not only to the price, but also to the overall package, such as included insurance and possible additional costs for accessories such as navigation devices or child seats. The ÖAMTC travel agencies and the platform www.oeamtc-mietwagen.at offer comprehensive comparison options for rental vehicles in more than 60 destinations worldwide. In addition to transparent pricing, rebookings or cancellations are possible without fees, and fully comprehensive insurance is always included. The demand for campers has also risen sharply. With a new offer in cooperation with the Dutch provider Travelhome, the ÖAMTC enables the booking of campers in Europe and popular long-distance travel destinations such as Canada, Australia or Namibia. ÖAMTC members enjoy additional benefits such as discounts and support with excesses in the event of damage. Those interested can also find out more at the ÖAMTC stand at the Vienna Holiday Fair from 16 to 19 January and book holidays or rental vehicles on site.

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Graz Airport records growth spurt: passenger numbers increase

Jan Gruber 15 January 2025 05:33

Graz Airport ended 2024 with significant growth. With 819.273 passengers, the airport recorded an increase of 11,8 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a new high. Charter traffic in particular contributed significantly to this success. At the same time, the 2025 summer flight schedule was presented, which promises numerous new destinations. With an increase of 86.000 passengers compared to 2023, the positive development at Graz Airport continued. The charter segment recorded impressive growth of 31,1 percent, reflecting the increasing desire to travel in the private sector. Scheduled traffic also increased by 6,5 percent. A total of 10.251 flight movements were registered, an increase of 6,2 percent compared to the previous year. Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of the airport, emphasized the importance of these figures: “People's strong desire to travel continues to be evident. It is particularly pleasing that more and more foreign guests are arriving in Styria by plane.” However, this is offset by a stagnating business travel segment, which is affected by economic uncertainty. Summer flight schedule 2025: New destinations and more connections The summer flight schedule 2025 brings with it numerous innovations. A total of 30 destinations in 14 countries are on the program. These include seven scheduled destinations, five of which are major transfer airports such as Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna. These hubs enable connections to around 190 other destinations worldwide. The range of holiday flights has also been expanded. In addition to classics such as Palma de Mallorca, Antalya and Heraklion, Dalaman, Malta, Palermo and Riga will also be served directly from Graz for the first time from 2025. Mallorca is particularly in demand: 30 additional departures are planned here. Challenges with freight

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Edelweiss celebrates 30 years and modernizes long-haul fleet

Jan Gruber 15 January 2025 05:09

To mark its 30th anniversary, the Swiss holiday airline Edelweiss is planning extensive innovations. The expansion of the long-haul fleet with six Airbus A350s marks an important milestone. The first aircraft of this type will initially be used on short and medium-haul routes from April 1, 2025, to prepare the crew for the new aircraft type. From summer 2025, the Airbus A350 will be used on long-haul routes, including the Zurich-Las Vegas and Zurich-Vancouver routes. Edelweiss is not only investing in its fleet, but also in the training of new employees. Over 2025 training positions for cabin crew and more than 300 cockpit positions have been advertised for 40. This is intended to support the airline's growth and keep service quality at the highest level. Edelweiss is also expanding its route network. Halifax (Canada) and Seattle (USA) are new long-haul routes. On short and medium-haul routes, destinations such as Bristol (England), Calvi (Corsica), Tbilisi (Georgia), Terceira (Azores) and Zadar (Croatia) complement the offer. These expansions consolidate Edelweiss' position as Switzerland's leading holiday airline.

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Austrians remain keen to travel – A look at holiday plans for 2025

Belinda Borg 15 January 2025 04:31

Austrians' desire to travel shows no signs of waning in 2025. According to the current "Ruefa Travel Compass 2025", 89% of the Austrian population plan to travel next year as well. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and rising living costs, the desire for sun, relaxation and adventure travel remains strong. Holiday destinations in other European countries are particularly popular, but holidays in Austria also remain an important goal. The survey, which was conducted by Ruefa in cooperation with Marketagent, reflects the longings of Austrians: 85% of Generation Z are drawn to Europe in 2025, 77% of Millennials prefer European destinations and 71% of Generation X also prefer to stay in Europe or Austria. Even though traveling far away is still popular, European destinations in particular are seen as attractive options. The travel boom continues: A look back at 2024 In 2024, Austrians' desire to vacation was unmistakable despite economic challenges. The average expenditure on a holiday was 2.071 euros per person, which represents an increase compared to the previous year. The combination of several holiday trips was particularly popular: around 26% of Austrians travelled twice, 23% even three times. The preferred travel duration was 8 to 14 days, which is likely to continue in 2025. The desire to travel is also pronounced in the different age groups, with older generations tending to plan higher expenditure on their holidays. The survey shows that the highest holiday budgets can be found in the west of Austria in particular - in Tyrol, Carinthia and Vienna. The Tyroleans spend the highest amount at 2.414 euros per person.

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Air Serbia starts direct flights to Shanghai

Amely Mizzi 15 January 2025 04:01

Air Serbia has been offering direct flights between Belgrade and Shanghai for the first time since January 11, 2025. The connection will be offered twice a week in the winter season, on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Belgrade to Shanghai and back on Wednesdays and Sundays. In the summer season, from March 30, 2025, the flight days will change to Tuesdays and Fridays for flights to China. The first flight was celebrated with an official ceremony in Belgrade, attended by representatives of the Serbian government, Chinese Ambassador Li Ming and industry representatives, among others. Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia, emphasized the importance of the new route as a strategic step to strengthen the airline's international position. Shanghai, as one of the most dynamic cities in the world, offers a wide range of opportunities for business and leisure travelers. The flights will fly to Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), which is located around 30 kilometers from the city center. The new connection will also enable travelers from cities such as Vienna, Budapest or Ljubljana to travel comfortably to Shanghai via Belgrade. The flight time from Belgrade is about 15 hours.

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More articles from the category

Early booking of rental cars and campers is worthwhile

Graz Airport records growth spurt: passenger numbers increase

Edelweiss celebrates 30 years and modernizes long-haul fleet

Austrians remain keen to travel – A look at holiday plans for 2025

Air Serbia starts direct flights to Shanghai

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