Corporate Travel News - December 2025

Airline updates

Air Canada welcomes first Airbus A321XLR to fleet

The new versatile extra-long-range aircraft will be the first of Air Canada’s narrow-body aircraft to feature lie-flat seats in Business Class cabins. As well as new cabin interiors and Air Canada’s award-winning onboard experience, Aeroplan Members can also look forward to the introduction of free Wi-Fi when this is rolled out internationally in 2026. The A321XLR will serve key international routes, including Toulouse-Montreal and Edinburgh-Montreal. Read more

 

British Airways announces free Wi-Fi for all customers across every cabin

British Airways has partnered with Starlink to bring free, fast, reliable onboard Wi-Fi to all passengers in 2026. Customers will soon be able to enjoy complimentary gate-to-gate, fast Wi-Fi for streaming, working, and staying connected. Read more

 

 

American Airlines to launch new seasonal daily service connecting Edinburgh and New York

From March to October 2026, American Airlines will use a narrow-body Airbus A321XLR aircraft on this new international service, featuring economy, premium economy and Flagship Suite business class cabins. Read more

 

 

Emirates installs more than 200 facial recognition cameras at Dubai International’s Terminal 3

The new biometrics initiative means passengers will no longer be required to present their passports and boarding passes at several points across the airport, significantly reducing processing time. Read more

 

 

JetBlue announces summer flights connecting Boston with Milan and Barcelona

Flights to Barcelona will begin on 16 April 2026 and flights to Milan Malpensa Airport will start on 11 May 2026, both operated on A321 aircraft. These aircraft feature JetBlue’s Mint premium experience with fully lie-flat private suites and restaurant-style small plates. Read more

 

 

Austrian Airlines announces seven new destinations for 2026 summer schedule

Austrian Airlines’ 2026 summer schedule will include flights from Vienna to Ponta Delgada in São Miguel / Azores (late June – September), Alicante and Bilbao in Spain, Bastia in Corsica (early June – late September), Ohrid in North Macedonia (mid-May – late October), Mytilene in Lesbos, Greece (mid-June – late September), and Bergen in Norway (early June – mid-September). Read more

 

Emirates to introduce Starlink-Wi-Fi on 232 Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft

Emirates entire in-service fleet of 232 aircraft will soon have Starlink Wi-Fi, with the rollout set to complete by mid-2027. The ultra-fast connectivity will be free for all customers, across all cabins. Read more

 

 

Brussels Airlines adds Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to long-haul network

The new twice-weekly service from Brussels to Kilimanjaro will launch on 3 June 2026, operated on the Airbus A330-300 with 288 seats across Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. Read more

 

 

SWISS to operate new flights to Poznan, Poland and Rijeka, Croatia

Beginning 29 March 2026, SWISS will operate three weekly flights from Zurich to Poznan, Poland’s fifth largest city. The carrier will also fly to and from Rijeka twice per week on Mondays and Fridays. Read more

 

 

Gulf Air relaunches direct flights to New York

Gulf Air now operates direct flights between Bahrain International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport – offering customers convenient flights three times per week. Read more

 

 

Iberia announces new direct flights to Toronto and Newark

A daily service connecting Madrid and Newark Liberty International Airport will launch on 29 March 2026, complementing Iberia’s existing daily frequencies to Kohn F. Kennedy International Airport. Starting 13 June 2026, Iberia will operate five weekly frequencies to Toronto. Both routes will use the A321XLR aircraft, the airline’s most efficient aircraft for transatlantic routes. Read more

 

Hotel updates

Travelodge opens new 72-room Travelodge in Beckenham, Southeast London

Located on Beckenham High Street, the new 72-room hotel offers great links into Central London and beyond, with Beckenham Junction and Clock House stations a short walk away.

 

 

Hyatt Centric Reims opens in prime city-centre location, 15 minutes from Notre-Dame Cathedral

The hotel features 155 thoughtfully designed rooms, two distinct food and beverage experiences and eight flexible meeting rooms suitable for conferences, seminars and receptions.

 

 

The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton set to open in February 2026

Based in the heart of London’s historic financial district, the hotel will draw inspiration from the city’s banking heritage. It will feature 234 rooms including 13 suites, Rycrofte’s all-day restaurant serving British dishes, a 24-hour gym, bar, coffee house and private dining and meeting spaces for up to 20 delegates.

 

 

Accor opens the first ‘Emblems Collection’ hotel in the Cotswolds

The historic hotel is surrounded by 500 acres of rolling countryside, just six miles from Bath. It features 42 unique rooms and suites, nine luxury cottages, two restaurants (one with a Michelin Star), a wellness spa, and gardens. Read more

 

 

Radisson Blu Hotel, Florence opens with 1,500 square metres of event space

As well as a full-service spa, wellness centre, tennis courts, and 304 elegant guest rooms and suites, the new hotel is home to one of Florence’s largest conference facilities. Event spaces include a large ballroom with capacity for up to 450 guests. Read more

 

 

Ground updates

Avis Budget Group launches new premium service in Europe, Avis First

The concierge-style service was previously launched in North America earlier this year and will allow travellers to be met at airport arrivals and escorted to a premium BMW rental car. At present, the Avis First service is available at Rome Fiumicino, Geneva International and Zurich Kloten airports – with more locations launching soon. Read more

 

 

Blacklane launches operations in Tunis and Nairobi

Blacklane’s premium chauffeur services are now available in two of Africa’s most dynamic cities. Customers in Tunis can now book First, Business and Van options, including longer city-to-city journeys. In Nairobi, Blacklane is offering its Business and Van classes with a focus on airport transfers and chauffeurs by the hour. Read more