Cathay Pacific has recently announced that the airline is adding another destination to its Southwest Pacific network this winter with the return of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Adelaide. The route will begin flying from 11 November 2025.

This seasonal service will run three times a week and will resume an important connection between the airline’s home base and the South Australian capital. This will help provide more choices for customers travelling between Hong Kong, the Southwest Pacific and beyond.

The addition of Adelaide will be Cathay Pacific’s eighth destination in the Southwest Pacific. Year-round, the airline has services between Hong Kong and Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and winter seasonal services to Cairns and Christchurch.

Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “We are thrilled to be reconnecting our home hub with Adelaide, a bustling city that holds particular significance for Cathay Pacific. We first launched passenger flights to the South Australian capital in 1992, and then two years later our first batch of cadet pilots arrived in the city to complete their flight training, marking the start of our more than three-decade collaboration with Flight Training Adelaide.

“With our return to Adelaide, we will be operating close to 90 return flights per week to eight destinations in the Southwest Pacific at the peak of this winter season, providing a great many choices for our customers travelling between the region and our home hub. Whether they are travelling for business, leisure or to visit friends and relatives, we look forward to welcoming customers onboard and experiencing our signature Cathay Pacific service.”

Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-Adelaide service will be operated using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This aircraft will provide customers with fully flat beds in Business, spacious seats in Premium Economy and comfort in Economy cabins.

Etihad has announced the return of its Chauffeur Drive service for First Class and Business Class “Deluxe” travellers, with a phased rollout expected to begin between the end of Q3 and early Q4 2025.

While an official date is yet to be confirmed, Etihad has shared that the service will first resume for First Class destinations, before expanding across the wider network.

In the UAE and other First Class routes, travellers can expect a truly seamless door-to-door experience. The service includes:

• Private chauffeur transfers to and from the airport

• Dedicated First Class check-in with personalised assistance

• Access to the Etihad First Lounge, offering premium comfort and hospitality

• Escorted boarding, ensuring a relaxed, stress-free departure

• On arrival, personal assistance from the aircraft to your chauffeur

• Porter services to manage luggage with care and ease

This elevated experience reaffirms Etihad’s commitment to premium travel, blending thoughtful service with world-class convenience.

Qantas has officially launched a new international route, giving customers the option to fly directly between Melbourne and Honolulu. The new service has taken off, marking the latest addition to the airline’s global network and expanding travel options between Australia and the United States.

Operating three return flights per week on Airbus A330 aircraft, the route introduces over 80,000 new seats annually between Melbourne and Hawaii’s vibrant capital. This direct link offers both convenience and comfort for those heading to the islands for business, leisure, or a little of both.

Key Details:

• • Flights will operate three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • QF105 Melbourne-Honolulu 1705-0735

• QF106 Honolulu-Melbourne 0935-1655+1
• Flight time: 10 hours 20 minutes
• Operated by Qantas Airbus A330 aircraft with 28 Business and 243 Economy seats.
• Eligible Qantas customers and Frequent Flyers will have access to the Qantas International First and Business Lounges in Melbourne and the Qantas International Business Lounge at Honolulu Airport.

Qantas’ connection to Hawaii runs deep, with a legacy that spans more than 80 years. The airline began flying to the region in 1941, initially through Pacific ferry operations, before launching regular passenger services in 1954. Since then, Honolulu has become one of Qantas’ most popular international leisure destinations, continuing to play an important role in its trans-Pacific offering.

IHG Hotels & Resorts are celebrating the upcoming opening of InterContinental Brisbane, set to transform one of the city’s most iconic buildings into a world-class hotel and dining destination.

InterContinental Brisbane will open late June following the signing of a long-term management agreement with ISPT, a leading property funds manager and developer of the150 Elizabeth Street precinct where the Hotel is located. The property will be converted from the former Hilton Brisbane and become a proud member of the world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand.

Primely positioned in Brisbane’s CBD on Elizabeth Street, and connected to the bustling Queen Street Mall, it is the only hotel in Australia designed by the renowned Harry Seidler, who is widely recognised for his Modernist architectural legacy. ISPT’s renewed vision for this precinct integrates the hotel, Wintergarden and the Regent Theatre into one destination seamlessly blending retail, dining, entertainment and hospitality into a dynamic urban setting.

InterContinental Brisbane will undergo a two-year transformation to elevate its luxury experience through brand hallmarks that embrace innovation, diversity and cultural discovery while retaining the features from Harry Seidler’s original designs that make the hotel iconic. Once complete, it will feature 321 beautifully appointed guest rooms, many with stunning views across the Brisbane skyline. The hotel will also boast four unrivalled restaurants and bars and showcase expansive conference and events facilities.

InterContinental Brisbane will open as the third InterContinental property in Queensland, joining InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort. It expands IHG’s fast-growing luxury & lifestyle portfolio and reinforces its focus on growing its presence in the region. In Australasia, IHG currently operates 21 hotels within its luxury & lifestyle segment, with five properties in the pipeline, spanning its InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection and Hotel Indigo brands.

In a move set to thrill families, film buffs and adventure seekers alike, Universal Destinations & Experiences (part of Comcast NBCUniversal) has revealed plans to open a world-class theme park and resort in Bedford, United Kingdom.

Pending planning approval, this will mark Universal’s very first foray into the UK entertainment park scene, following over a year of feasibility studies and consultations with both government stakeholders and local communities.

Known globally for creating some of the most immersive and technologically advanced attractions, Universal promises the UK park will deliver signature experiences for all ages.

“At Universal Destinations & Experiences, our mission is to offer guests the most innovative and popular entertainment experiences in the world,” a spokesperson said. “This new park in the UK is an exciting extension of that mission.”

No official opening date has been announced, all the same, travel lovers and theme park enthusiasts are already buzzing with anticipation. Watch this space!