JetBlue has announced launch dates for its upcoming service to Amsterdam from New York JFK and Boston. Tickets for both routes are also now on sale. The carrier will begin daily JFK-Amsterdam service on Aug. 29. Daily Boston-Amsterdam service will follow on Sept. 20. Amsterdam will be the third European city and fourth European airport serviced by JetBlue, joining London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Paris de Gaulle.
The carrier will compete against twice-daily Delta service on JFK-Amsterdam. KLM, a joint venture partner of Delta, flies the route 18 times weekly. In addition, United flies daily to Amsterdam from Newark. JetBlue will compete against twice-daily Delta service on Boston-Amsterdam and four-times weekly KLM service.
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A new study from TTC Tour Brands reveals that many travelers are motivated to book guided tours that uncover hidden gems.
And, off-the-beaten-path experiences were found to be just as important as traveling to bucket list destinations when travelers book a TTC Tour Brand -- Trafalgar, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Brendan Vacations and Costsaver.
Another top trend: Travelers are choosing guided tours for the assurance of destination and logistical expertise, with around 80% of travelers trusting that TTC's guides and organizers are the key to having an ideal travel experience.
TTC also said travelers are more open to spending more money in a destination on travel if they get a premium and personalized experience, suggesting that travel advisors can convert more sales by diving into a destination's itinerary highlights and rich cultural elements with their clients.
"Beyond knowing the ins-and-outs of each brand and itinerary, understanding traveler sentiment and purchase consideration is crucial information that our advisors need in their pockets to personally pair each traveler with the right travel experience for them -- from premium to value, luxury or special interest," said Guy Young, chief engagement officer of TTC Tour Brands.
Further, the study found that about half of its travelers are seeking connection with like-minded travelers on their guided trips.
Most working Americans are opting for trips that last between eight and 14 days, which aligns with companies' standard policies for paid time off. Retirees are 10% more likely to book a tour that lasts for more than 15 days.
The top regions of interest are Europe and Britain (83%) with the top destinations being Italy (37%), England (35%) and Ireland (33%).
The Big Tour Study surveyed over 7,000 TTC Tour travelers who book trips with Trafalgar, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Brendan Vacations and Costsaver. The study is intended to provide travel advisors with insight into how TTC Tour travelers are choosing their trips so that they can match the right products to their clients.
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The number of tourists flocking to Jamaica's sun-drenched beaches soared nearly 100% in the first three months of the year, causing long queues and hours-long waits for arriving passengers at the island's main airport.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told The Associated Press that the problem stemmed from a shortage of airport staff to process the unexpected volume of people flying into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay since the end of the pandemic.
Bartlett told Parliament later that day that there were 1.18 million arrivals from January through March -- 94% more than the same period of 2022 and a record high for Jamaica's tourism high season.
He said authorities plan to spend more on technology as they strive to do away with paperwork at the airport, including ending a requirement for visitors to fill out a form upon arrival.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the problems at Sangster underscore the need to push through a $70 million modernization and expansion project that already was underway. The work is scheduled to be completed by 2025, and Holness said the improvements at the Caribbean's largest and busiest airport "will make Jamaica more attractive and make Jamaica more competitive with other countries in the region, which have also invested heavily in improving their infrastructure."
As part of the project, the runway is being lengthened at a cost of $34 million, work that is expected to be finished in June.
He said the Tourism Ministry's growth plan aims to have the island draw 5 million visitors annually by 2025. That would be a 35% increase from Jamaica's peak of 3.7 million tourists in 2022.
Bartlett said Asian and Middle Eastern countries are among new markets being targeted and the airport must be able to accommodate the larger aircraft that would be used on such long-haul flights.
In 2019, before the pandemic, the airport processed 4.7 million passengers, including citizens and visitors. The number of tourists to Jamaica peaked at 3.7 million in 2022, 70% of whom used the Sangster gateway.
Among some recent improvements, the airport operator has expanded the immigration hall and departure lounge. The check-in area was recently outfitted with 60 self-service kiosks, with plans to install more, to reduce passenger processing and waiting times.
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For current travel restrictions for Europe:
