Backtrack: A recap of the travel news in July

2. Hilton reveals it is considering more sites in WA, following the announcement it will open its first DoubleTree property in Karratha.
2. Hawaiian Airlines reveals ambitions to deepen its relationship with Virgin Australia with a codesharing on domestic Australian routes in its sights.
3. Jetstar Japan takes to the skies with its inaugural service between Tokyo Narita and Sapporo.
4. Qatar Airways confirms it will fly daily between Doha and Perth from December as its inaugural service arrives in the WA capital. Chief executive Akbar Al Baker also reveals the airline is in talks with Qantas over a potential partnership and predicts it will join an alliance within the next 12 months.
4. Aerolineas Argentinas starts its direct service between Sydney and Buenos Aires, eliminating the need to travel via Auckland.
5. Etihad reports it carried a record number of passengers in Q2, with revenue up 31% year on year.
5. Qantas submits a new application to continue its codeshare with South African Airways between Australia and Johannesburg.
5. Emirates ends long-term speculation by confirming it will fly to Adelaide from November.
5. Flight Centre upgrades its profit forecast with the retailer anticipating record profits between $285 million and $290 million.
6. Garuda Indonesia announces it will hike its fuel surcharge despite a drop in the cost of oil.
6. ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures for May showed overall international arrivals rose 1.8% year on year, propped up by strong growth from China.
6. Government ministers agree to adopt a new form of consumer protection that will see the Travel Compensation Fund face the axe, but what will replace it remains unclear.
10. SAA warns it will cut flights between Perth and Johannesburg if its renewed codeshare with Qantas fails to win the approval of the competition regulator.
11. US cruise specialist Cruise Holidays makes a move into the Australian market with Queensland-based CruiseMart to drive expansion of the brand locally.
12. President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Dan Hanrahan, announces he will step down at the end of the month to pursue an “exciting new opportunity”.
12. Prime minister Julia Gillard awards hosting rights of the 2014 G20 summit to Brisbane, flaring up concerns about capacity restrictions at Sydney Airport.
13. Air NZ signs a global two-movie partnership with the makers of the new Hobbit moves to make it the official airline of Middle Earth.
13. Air France KLM launches a new campaign to capitalise on Australia’s thriving mining sector, leveraging its links with African resources regions.
16. Hawaiian Airlines is set to become the only US carrier to fly to New Zealand with the launch of direct services to Auckland in March 2013.
16. Qantas announces it will boost air capacity to Canberra and Tasmania from October.
16. The government rules to allow three cruise ships to berth at Sydney’s Garden Island over the next two seasons, but industry maintains calls for a longer-term solution.
17. China Southern Airlines’ new direct service to London will rise to daily from October, as the carrier reports a strong start for its “Canton Route”.
17. Jetstar confirms it will launch a new Darwin-Singapore-Osaka service to feed into its fledgling Jetstar Japan network.
17. Tourism minister Martin Ferguson unveils a new $8.5 million industry training scheme.
18. Qantas launches its new “social commerce” hotel booking site, Hooroo.com.
18. Destination NSW launches its Make Some Our Time Campaign, designed to lure Sydneysiders into regional NSW.
18. Up for sale hotel group Mantra reports a 9% rise in earnings to $60.6 million for the financial year.
18. Adventure travel firm Kumuka Worldwide goes into liquidation, as agents scramble to rearrange the travel plans of affected clients.
19. G Adventures’ Pete Rawley warns continued heavy discounting could see other follow in the steps of ill-fated Kumuka.
19. The Australian government gives Etihad the green light to increase its stake in Virgin Australia to as much as 10%.
19. The TCF reminds agents they must continue to fulfil their obligations to the scheme despite uncertainty over its future.
19. Singapore Airlines announces it will add a second daily A380 service between Melbourne and Singapore from August.
20. Qantas and SAA welcome the air regulator’s approval of an interim extension to their codeshare agreement until March 2013.
20. China Eastern Airlines confirms it will fly to Cairns later this year.
23. The government appoints consultants and technical experts to explore the viability of a second Sydney airport.
23. Webjet announces its first international franchise agreement with South African firm BidTravel, which will see its brand spread into Africa.
24. Air Canada reveals it will up services between Sydney and Vancouver for the next ski season.
25. Accor to open its first Ibis in Adelaide in early 2014, the first economy new build in the city for 20 years.
25. The ACCC gives final approval to an affiliation agreement between Emirates and FlyDubai, a commercial alliance between Etihad and Air Berlin and Star Alliance for its Corporate Plus, Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus programs.
25. AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani slams Tourism Australia’s latest campaign, saying it puts the country “beyond the reach” of prospective tourists.
25. Tourism Australia hits back at AirAsia X comments, insisting the new ad is “hitting the mark”.
27. Singapore Airlines reports a 73% hike in net profit for Q1, but says high fuel prices continue to plague the airline.
27. Air NZ slashes domestic fares in an effort to fill additional capacity.
27. Former Qantas group executive Rob Gurney revealed as the new CEO of Jetset Travelworld as Peter Lacaze announces his retirement.
27. Mexico-based travel firm Bamba Experience reveals it has taken over the South American operations of freshly fallen Kumuka Worldwide.
31. Etihad and Aer Lingus deepen their relationship with the signing of a new codeshare agreement which will see the Irish carrier put its code on services to Australia.
31. The date for the trial of two men accused of killing Perth travel agent Michelle Smith is set as August 6.
31. Travel agents awaiting refunds related to the collapse of Air Australia earlier this year are informed they will receive just 21.88% of the total refund approved by the failed airline.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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