GD TRAVEL NEWS

GDTN - At least 12 planes have been forced to make emergency landings over bomb threats across Europe. French and Italian fighter jets were scrambled. Three flights to Bulgaria, including one from London, three to Italy, and four to Prague, with one each to Brussels and Vienna, have all been grounded after threats of explosive devices were received.

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - An Aer Lingus flight which departed from Dublin has been forced to make an urgent diversion following a bomb threat. The Rome-bound passenger jet was diverted to the Evreux air base in France after a mid-air emergency was declared.

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - A helicopter crash in Florida has left two people injured and one dead. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boats are believed to have arrived at the scene at around 11.50am EST (4.50pm GMT).

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - Fighter jets were scrambled as two Ryanair planes from Lisbon and Dublin were grounded at Rome's Fiumicino Airport following a double bomb threat.

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - A flight from London has made an unscheduled landing at Warsaw-Modlin Airport due to reports of an explosive device on board. The airport closed while inspections were conducted.

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - A Ryanair flight from Manchester was one of six European flights to be forced in to an emergency landing after bomb threats were given.

Today I think I found Sergey Lavrov’s long-lost twin sister in the lunch buffet! 🤣

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - A Wizz Air flight from Sofia, Bulgaria to London has been diverted to Budapest, Hungary after a bomb threat onboard was received. A Hungarian Gripen fighter jet was deployed to escort the passenger aircraft, which landed in safely Budapest with checks being conducted on the aircraft.

GD TRAVEL - No trip to the Dominican Republic is complete without visiting the most beautiful, tropical paradise that is Saona Island. Saona Island (Isla Saona) is a 110-square-kilometer (42 sq mi) tropical island located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) off the south-east coast in Dominican Republic's La Altagracia province. The island is a government-protected nature reserve and is part of Cotubanama National Park. Most people visit the island as a day trip, via boats or catamarans from the main island, but it is possible to stay overnight on the island too in an Airbnb. GD TRAVEL TIPS: 1. Book an EARLY arrival to the island, to get there before the crowds 2. Take photographs of the beach and sea as soon as you arrive (if arriving early) to get the uncrowded paradise beach shots (many arrivals come by mid-late morning and it can get really busy on the beach) 3. Take hand wipes... most excursions include lunch on the beach, usually pasta, seafood and/or chicken - with some of it you will use your fingers (chicken wings, prawns/shrimps) etc.

GDTN - Thai hospitality group Minor Hotels will introduce its Minor Reserve Collection to Asia for the first time at a mixed-use development in Phuket’s Layan district. Scheduled for completion in 2031, the property will comprise a 100-room hotel, three branded residential buildings with approximately 210 units and a wellness centre.

GDTN - easyJet will begin installing Starlink's ultra-fast inflight wifi service on its A320, A320neo and A321neo aircraft next year, with the roll out set to be completed by early 2028. The airline’s fleet of outgoing A319s will not be equipped with the technology, as they are set to be phased out as new Airbus A320neo aircraft are delivered.

GDTN - Latvian airline airBaltic plans to make approximately 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew members redundant as part of a workforce reduction. The final number of affected employees may change following the ongoing assessment process.

GDTN BREAKING NEWS - At least 39 dead and others injured as two high-speed trains crash and roll down embankment in Spain on the Madrid-Andalusia line between the towns of Yebenes and Urda in the province of Toledo.

GDTN - The opening of the Cape Town EDITION hotel marks the hotel brand’s African debut at Quay 7 on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. The142-room hotel overlooks the new superyacht marina and Table Mountain in South Africa, which GD TRAVEL visited back in February.

GDTN - Hilton has debuted its Outset Collection brand in Europe with the opening of Casa Verbena Madrid Outset Collection by Hilton, a 45-room property on Calle de Preciados. Many guest rooms look onto Preciados street, while Preciados Rooms open onto terraces with views across the city’s rooftops and towards the Royal Palace.

GDTN - Hilton’s lifestyle brand Tempo is expanding into Europe, with a new 199-room hotel in Munich, Germany. The hotel will be located in the entertainment district near the airport. The hotel will include a rooftop bar, gym and café. The brand currently has six hotels in the US, but more than 80 projects worldwide are already in the pipeline.

GDTN - Qantas passengers on flight QF672 from Sydney to Bangalore, India were in the air for 10 hours before touching down back in Sydney due to mechanical issues. The flight was five hours in to the journey when a problem with the plane's hydraulic system was discovered. The usual journey time is 11 hours and 50 minutes.

GDTN - Today saw the opening of Australia's newest airport Western Sydney Airport to passengers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at the official opening. The airport has been operating as a cargo airport since 27 July, with the passenger terminal undergoing tests for the grand opening today.

GDTN - United Airlines has opened what it calls the largest airline lounge in the Americas. The 54,000-square-foot club with 800 seats is located at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).