Kate Harden-England

✈ AirHelp, a travel tech company, published the first half of its 2024 AirHelp Score, ranking 239 airports from 69 countries based on over 17,550 passenger ratings. Bergen Flesland Airport in Norway ranked 25th globally with 8.07 points, followed by Bodø Airport with 8.06 points. Leeds Bradford Airport was the highest-ranked UK airport at 69th. European airports struggled, with only eight in the top 50. Doha Hamad Airport leads worldwide with 8.52 points. Large airports like Detroit Metropolitan excelled with 8.20 points, while Belém Val-de-Cans led smaller airports with 8.26 points. Gatwick scored low at 6.53 points.

📍 Flight-free travel tech start-up Byway raised £5 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round, led by Heartcore Capital and with contributions from Eka Ventures and returning Byway angels. The funds will fuel team expansion, entry into new markets, and development of Byway's JourneyAI, the world’s first 100% flight-free holiday planner. Byway, riding the wave of sustainable travel demand, plans to enrich holidays by making journeys integral to the experience. Upcoming months will see new tech, product, finance, business development, and customer support roles launching. CEO Cat Jones expresses delight at investor enthusiasm for flight-free travel's future.

🏖️ Travelgenix integrates Darina Holidays as a premium supplier, offering Travelgenix clients access to DMC services in UAE, Qatar, and Oman via API. This partnership enables travel agents to deliver better service, particularly for popular British travel market destinations like Dubai. CEO Andy Speight highlights the enhancement for tour operators and travel agents, and anticipates client benefits from the enhanced booking capabilities.

🛫 Thai Airways, the flag carrier of Thailand, has announced an upgrade in their modernization process through advanced Amadeus technology solutions. The airline renewed and expanded its distribution agreement with Amadeus, aiming to increase revenue and improve the passenger experience post-pandemic. Thai Airways' website and mobile booking channels will be revamped for a smoother, personalized experience, including a more robust booking flow. The Amadeus Reference Experience will provide a new user interface, and Amadeus Travel Ready will enable document verification during online check-in to expedite airport processes. Additionally, Thai Airways will employ Amadeus Network Revenue Management to optimize pricing and accept various payment methods through Outpayce's Xchange Payment Platform. Nuthaphol Amawatana, head of pricing and revenue management, envisions this as a significant step in Thai Airways' business transformation.

🏖️ HBX Group partners with PerfectStay to lead B2B2C package travel solutions globally. Collaboration since 2023 aims to enhance airline, hotel, and bank offerings in EMEA, focusing on customer loyalty and user experience. Brands like Air France, Emirates, and American Express are clients, with Kenya Airways being the latest addition. HBX Group's investment in PerfectStay comes through its TravelTech Lab venture, supporting innovative startups in travel technology.