The Week In Travel

As world leaders travelled to Glasgow this week to discuss climate change at COP26, members of the travel industry revealed new plans to reduce their current and future impact on the environment.

Sustainable aviation experts Zeroavia revealed plans to launch zero emission flights between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and London in 2024. The company will work in partnership with the airport, Royal Schiphol Group and Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport Foundation to create a 19-seater aircraft that will be powered using hydrogen fuel cells.

In the UK, Manchester Airport is set to become the region’s first airport to receive a direct supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The supply from the new Fulcrum NorthPoint biorefinery could see up to 10% of fuel used in aircraft at Manchester Airport replaced with SAFs within the first five years of operation.

Meanwhile, the latest research from the European Travel Commission (ETC) found increasing travel confidence among European citizens, with 66% now planning trips through March 2022. More than one in two Europeans with short-term travel plans intend to journey to other European countries, representing a 41% jump on figures recorded in September 2020.

The International Air Transport Association has called on governments to use commitments made at the ICAO High Level Conference on COVID-19 to accelerate the restoration of global air connectivity. The commitments include promoting a ‘harmonised and inclusive approach to facilitate safe international air travel’, and implementation and recognition of testing, recovery and vaccinations certificates.

And finally, a man separated from his girlfriend for nearly two years was finally able to see her again thanks to a new vaccinated travel lane – and greeted her with a marriage proposal. The pandemic had prevented American Scott Bustabad from seeing his girlfriend Khoo Su Rei in Singapore. However, the easing of travel restrictions between the two countries allowed him to board a plane and surprise her with an engagement ring. Thankfully, she said yes.