American Airlines to buy 260 new planes from Boeing, Airbus and Embraer to meet growing demand

DALLAS — DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines announced a massive order for new planes on Monday, splitting 260 new aircraft between Boeing, Airbus and Embraer in a move designed to meet growing travel demand and increase the airline’s supply of premium seats. American said it placed options for up to 193 more planes over the … Read more

Airfares were already dropping. Here’s why they could go even lower in 2024

Inflation has hit most of the economy, but that’s hardly the case with airfare. Not only are airfares down 6% year-over-year based on January 2024 prices, but they’re even down 15% versus a decade ago. That’s according to consumer price index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published in February. Some experts predict … Read more

Hong Kong lifts curbs on property market, to spend more on tourism

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government has lifted curbs on property deals after home prices fell to a seven-year low, adding to the Chinese territory’s woes. Finance minister Paul Chan announced the move in a speech presenting the territory’s budget, which also raised spending on tourism promotion. He said all curbs, such as extra taxes, … Read more

Dubai International Airport had 86.9 million passengers last year in a post-pandemic surge

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The number of passengers flying through Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, surged last year beyond its total for 2019 — just before the coronavirus pandemic grounded global aviation. While still shy of its all-time high in 2018, the figures for 2023 showed just how far the … Read more

Thousands of vehicles stuck on highways in China as snow snarls Lunar New Year travel

BEIJING — Icy conditions trapped thousands of motorists on highways in central China as snow and freezing rain snarled travel by air, train and road during the annual Lunar New Year holiday rush. A Chinese travel blogger said she and her boyfriend were waiting with others Tuesday for de-icing work to be completed after covering … Read more

Spain’s 85.1 million foreign visitors last year set a tourism record

MADRID — Spain received a record 85.1 million international tourists last year, 19% more than the year before, the National Statistics Institute reported Friday. The number of foreign visitors in 2023 surpassed the 83.5 million who went to Spain in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic ruled out most leisure travel. The U.K., France … Read more

Peru gives in to protesters in Machu Picchu and rescinds ticket sales contract with private firm

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s government on Wednesday backtracked on plans to outsource the sale of entry tickets to Machu Picchu to a private company, a week after protesters blocked access to the country’s most famous tourist attraction and rail service to the area was suspended. Despite the resolution, the streets, hotels and restaurants around the … Read more

North Korea to welcome Russian tourists in February, the country’s first since the pandemic

SEOUL, South Korea — Russian tourists reportedly going on a ski trip to North Korea will be the first international travelers to visit the country since border closings in January 2020 amid the global pandemic lockdown. The tour, published by the Russian state-run Tass news agency and advertised by a Russian tour agency this week, … Read more

Modi’s beach visit to a remote Indian archipelago rakes up a storm in the Maldives

NEW DELHI — NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a series of photos on social media last week showing him snorkeling, strolling on a white-sand beach and lounging in a chair next to turquoise waters in Lakshadweep, an island chain in the Indian Ocean. It was an “exhilarating experience,” he wrote … Read more