In the news: We highlight The Travel Corporation’s new online travel portal, and reveal why 2017 was the safest year for air travel.
TRAVEL: The Travel Corporation ‘creates’ an online portal for agents and rolls out e-documentation
TTC launches new online portal for travel agents
Travel and leisure group The Travel Corporation (TTC) has introduced what it describes as an “innovative industry-first online travel portal”, and implements an e–documentation initiative to save both time (for agents) and the environment.
The family-owned international travel group said the My Travel Portal (MTP) was “carefully crafted” with its agent partners in mind. The portal provides them with a simplified platform for servicing their clients – from tailoring trips to their requirements to having their emergency contacts in the event of unforeseen circumstance.
Addressing pre-trip, on-trip and post-trip needs MTP provides clients access to online itineraries to view on their mobile devices instead of in paper format, share photos on social media, take trip notes in their journal and chat with their travel director and fellow travellers.
TTC has also partnered with One Tree Planted, a US-based non-profit organisation that focuses on global reforestation, to plant a tree for every guest who opts out of printed travel documents. The travel company has already committed to the reforestation of several hundred acres of barren and devastated land.
Brett Tollman, chief executive of TTC, said the roll-out of e-documentation and partnership with One Tree Planted was in line with the company’s sustainable tourism practices.
For the initial launch the singular platform encompasses Trafalgar, Contiki, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold and CostSaver. U by Uniworld and Uniworld will follow later this year, with the other brands from the TTC portfolio to be added to the MTP in the near future.
AVIATION: 2017 was the safest year on record for air travel
Air travel remains the safest form of travel. (Image credit: AlxeyPnferov/iStock-Getty Images)
“Flying is extraordinarily safe,” is the view of Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), when reviewing statistics on aviation performance for 2017.
Data released by the association showed there were only 10 major accidents last year involving western built aircraft with 55 fatalities last year. Three of these accidents involved large western-built commercial airline jets with 40 fatalities, and one involving Asia Pacific carriers with zero crew and passenger fatalities.
“This represents a loss rate approaching one major accident for every 4 million flights, further reinforcing the fact that flying remains the safest form of travel,” said AAPA in a statement.
Commercial turboprop operations also achieved significant safety performance improvements. There were seven major accidents involving commercial turboprop aircraft with 15 fatalities in 2017, including one involving an Asian operator that resulted in two fatalities.
“Last year’s achievement moves the industry closer to the aspirational goal of zero major accidents and fatalities, which is already the case in some countries,” added that statement.
AAPA attributes this reduction in major accidents to determined and relentless efforts from regulators and industry safety stakeholders working in close collaboration.
Herdman said that with the growing demand for air travel the world’s airlines are now responsible for safely transporting over four billion passengers each year.
“About one third of those passengers are being carried by airlines based in the Asia Pacific region on some of the busiest routes in the world. Understandably with this responsibility, safety is always our first priority.”
He points out this growth in demand for air travel brings with it challenges, requiring more attention.
“Governments need to focus on wider issues related to aviation infrastructure capacity constraints and congestion, the need for more effective regulatory oversight and investments that provide a future air transport system meeting prescribed international standards, not only for safety, but also for environment, security and other key performance standards.”
Herdman said AAPA “remains fully committed to maintaining and further enhancing aviation safety performance through the joint efforts of the region’s operators in strongly supporting ICAO safety initiatives and continuing our close collaboration with regulators and other aviation stakeholders.”
• Featured image credit: Murat Göçmen/iStock-GettyImages
