A round-up of other travel news in brief...
Air slump eases off
Airlines are starting to fill business-class seats again in a sign that a slump in trade is easing. Premium seat sales are still down, but by a little less, according to the International Air Transport Association. In July the number of international first- and business-class travellers fell 14.1 per cent from the same month last year, less than June’s 21.3 per cent decline. The improvement “is boosting business travel, but demand is still very weak compared to the recent past, and there remains much excess capacity, producing intense competition”, said a spokesman. This week IATA raised its forecast for total airline losses this year by almost €1.5 billion, to a record €7.5 billion.
Ikea ‘boosts hotel stays’
One north Dublin hotel says it is bucking the trend elsewhere with an increase in room sales last month. Travelodge at Ballymun reports a 15 per cent jump in occupancy compared with August last year and a 20 per cent increase on July. The hotel puts the increase down to the opening of the Republic’s first Ikea store, nearby, at the end of July. Travelodge is offering an Ikea Flat Pack room rate that starts at €39.