Divers

🛫 Sanae Takaichi, Japan's new Prime Minister, warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would trigger a military response. Chinese tourists halted travel to Japan as a result, affecting the tourism sector. In 2024, Chinese tourists comprised 21% of all visitors to Japan. Airlines like Air China have introduced refund policies despite continuing ticket sales. The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism advised reducing travel, potentially costing Japan 0.36% of its GDP.

✈ Iberia will launch a direct Madrid-Toronto route starting June 13, 2026, using the Airbus A321XLR. The route will offer up to five weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), providing 37,000 seats for the summer season. This is Toronto's debut as Iberia's 49th destination. The expansion is part of Iberia's "Plan de Vuelo 2030," which includes a €6 billion investment to grow its long-haul fleet from 48 to 70 aircraft.

🛩 En noviembre de 2025, el Embraer ERJ-145 sufrió un accidente al aterrizar en Kolwezi, al sur de la República Democrática del Congo. A bordo estaban el ministro de Minas, Louis Watum Kabamba, y 19 personas más. El avión se salió de la pista y se incendió, pero todos los pasajeros salieron ilesos. Las investigaciones sobre el accidente están en curso, sin detalles adicionales sobre las causas.

🛫 Ministro de Transportes, Óscar Puente, criticó a Ryanair el 2025 por eliminar el vuelo Valladolid-Barcelona. La aerolínea subió precios un 15%, mientras el gobierno aumentó tasas para beneficiar a Aena. Puente afirmó que la oferta de billetes supera la del invierno pasado. La presidenta madrileña, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, se alineó con Ryanair, sugiriendo que la decisión afecta negativamente a la economía, ya que Ryanair aporta 3.000 millones de euros.

✈️ Iberia plans to retire its smallest aircraft, the Airbus A319, after two decades. Only three units, EC-KHM, EC-KUB, and EC-LEI, remain in service. The A319 seats 141 passengers, while the A321 holds 172-200, the A320 has 136-171, and the A320 Neo offers 180-186 seats. Iberia focuses on long-haul flights for better profitability, expecting 23 new planes to address fleet issues.

✈ Blue Islands, a British regional airline, suspended operations immediately on November 7, 2025. The airline, which started in 2001 and rebranded in 2006, served the Channel Islands with five ATR72 aircraft. The financial strain started in March 2020 due to COVID-19, facing an £8.5 million debt. Jersey's government, which provided financial support, decided against further funding, leading to Blue Islands' cessation. Meanwhile, competitor Aurigny remains operational in Guernsey.

🚄 España, 2024: La línea AVE Madrid-Barcelona aumentará a 350 km/h, superando el límite previo de 320 km/h, gracias a traviesas que reducen un 21% la carga aerodinámica. Se realizarán mejoras graduales, iniciando en Madrid-Calatayud. Objetivo: viajes bajo 2 horas. En Madrid, se construirá un enlace nuevo entre Chamartín y Barajas, y en Barcelona, un acceso en La Sagrera. Esto responde a una demanda creciente y años de inversión insuficiente.

🗺️ 2025, Spain: Imserso's tourism program sees improvements in sales organization, but travel agencies call for further optimization. CEAV President Carlos Garrido notes a more orderly start compared to previous years, yet issues persist with reservations and long wait times. UNAV's Iván Méndez highlights widespread demand, surpassing previous years, predicting public success. Agencies seek better remuneration, pointing to unsustainable profit margins. Calls grow for agency representation in the program's oversight committee to enhance strategic roles and program execution.

🏨 The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 edition ranks Rosewood Hong Kong at the top, overtaking its previous third place. Located in Kowloon, it features 65 floors, 413 rooms, and rates beginning at $650 per night. Asia leads with 20 hotels on the list, followed by Europe with 17. Notably, no Spanish hotels made it to the top 50 this year. The ranking considers service excellence and transformative experiences, curated by over 800 international hotel experts.

🌎 Para el viajero curioso, el aventurero y el soñador, Omán ofrece una experiencia única. Muscat alberga la Mezquita del Sultán Qaboos y la Royal Opera House, mientras que los Sitios Arqueológicos de Bat, Al-Khutm, y Al-Ayn se remontan entre el 3000 y 1000 a.C. Los Aflajs, sistemas de irrigación de 2500 a.C., y la ciudad de Qalhât datan del siglo XI al XV. Visado no es necesario para estancias de hasta 14 días; más requiere un e-Visado.