At Orbit World Travel, we strive to stay up to date with the latest news from airlines and airports around the world. View a small section of the latest updates below.
From 1 July, 2024 to 31 December, 2025, those who hold ordinary passports from New Zealand, Australia and Poland can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for no more than 15 days. Those from the listed countries who do not meet the visa exemption reasons and time limits, along with those holding official passports still need to obtain a visa before entering China.
Qatar Airways has unveiled its new Qsuite Next Gen, the latest iteration of the carrier’s hugely popular business class offering, and arguably one of the most anticipated cabin reveals. Debuting at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, it boasts fully customisable Quad Suites and Companion Suites in window aisles, each with 4K OLED manoeuvrable in-flight entertainment screens and digitally controlled dividers for those wanting privacy. The new product also has increased space for dining together, larger lie flat and double beds, and in the Quad Suite, passengers will even find turn-down service. The Qsuite Next Gen will be featured onboard the Qatar Airways Boeing B777-9 aircraft by 2025.
Hawaiian Airlines is resuming their seasonal direct services from November 2025, and to meet peak demand, the carrier has announced that it’s already extended its upcoming season by a month. The Honolulu-based carrier will now fly between the two cities from 15 November, 2024 to 30 April, 2025, with flights operating from Monday to Saturday. A 278-seat Airbus A330 will operate on the route, offering 18 Premium Cabin lie-flat leather seats, 68 Extra Comfort seats and 192 Main Cabin seats. Customers will also be able to stay connected in-flight with free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi which is being rolled out on all Hawaiian Airline A330s by the end of the year.
Auckland Airport reminds passengers departing on international flights out of Auckland that they can now keep their electronics (laptops, phones, iPads) and liquids, powders, and gels in their bags. However, the liquids, aerosols and gels volume limits and restrictions still apply, and those travelling with camera film will need to pack it into their checked-in bag. Auckland Airport’s new CT scanners will progressively be rolled out in the International terminal over the remainder of the year.
The Delta One Lounge is now open at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, promising what the carrier says is a lounge experience like no other, with everything from fine dining and specialty cocktails to special rooms to help travellers acclimatise. At more than 11,887 m2, it’s DL’s largest Sky Club, and offers a bar ‘serving elevated takes on classic cocktails’, a market and bakery for quick bites and a 140-seat restaurant offering three-course meals. Wellness-wise, the lounge has nine reservable relaxation pods with full body massage chairs and nap chairs, a Serenity Lounge with lighting to help passengers acclimatise to the time zone to which they will be flying, a Rejuvenation Bar offering non-alcoholic beverages and eight well-appointed shower suites. Theres’s also eight individual soundproof booths for those working. The JFK Delta One Lounge is the first of its kind, and DL says Delta One Lounges will be coming to LAX and Boston Logan International later this year. The lounge is open to Delta One passengers with a same-day Delta One ticket, and it is open daily from 04:30am – 11pm.
