Swiss International Airlines Begins New Service From Toronto To Zurich

Great news for those in the Toronto area looking to travel to Switzerland, Europe and beyond: Today, SWISS launched five weekly flights from Toronto to Zurich, that will operate throughout the summer season. Toronto joins Montreal as the two Canadian gateways with SWISS service. With this new flight, and the recent addition of service to Washington DC from Zurich, SWISS is expanding its route network throughout North America.

“We are extremely excited to launch direct service from Zurich to Toronto,” said Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer, SWISS. “SWISS expands its intercontinental service again. We just launched flights to Washington DC, and now with this new Toronto flight, we have increased our footprint in North America to ten gateways.”

The Toronto flight is one of three new intercontinental routes SWISS is launching this summer season, with Washington DC launching on March 28 and Seoul, South Korea, which just began service on May 8.

SWISS flight LX81 departs Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) at 4:25pm and arrives in Zurich at 06:30am, the following day. SWISS flight LX80 departs Zurich Airport (ZRH) at 09:55am and arrives back in Toronto at 1:00pm. All times are local. The seasonal flights will be operated five times a week by an A330-300 long-haul aircraft with 236 seats in a three-class configuration on this new route.

SWISS – the airline

SWISS, the leading airline of Switzerland, operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe with 87 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. It has transformed Zurich Airport into one of the continent’s leading hubs. Currently serving 114 destinations from Switzerland, the airline carried some 16.5 million passengers in 2023 and is focused on continuing to offer customers in Switzerland and beyond a premium experience in all classes. As part of its investments for the future, SWISS has earmarked five billion Swiss Francs by 2027 encompassing new environmentally friendly aircraft, like the A350-900, entering service next year, as well as its Swiss Senses onboard long-haul product upgrade. The investments will also boost sustainability endeavors and new staff recruitment.

SWISS onboard experience

The SWISS A330-300 aircraft has a three-class configuration consisting of eight First Class armchair seats, 45 Business Class seats and 183 Economy Class seats.

In First Class, the seats can be turned into a lounge armchair, a table for two, or a bed with a mattress and privacy walls. Guests can adjust the integrated air cushions to suit their individual needs. Business Class seats offer a spacious workplace that converts into a roomy two-meter flat bed. Also, the seat’s integrated massage function will pamper guests while enroute and ensure that you arrive relaxed at your destination.

Culinary offerings while onboard

Since December 2002, SWISS has been taking First and Business Class travelers on its long-haul services from Switzerland on a journey of culinary discovery through its home country’s various regions. Every three months a new Michelin-starred and GaultMillau-point top chef is invited to create a varied selection of quality dishes from their ‘home’ canton, with a particular focus on regional and seasonal specialties.

Sustainability goals

SWISS has set the goal to redefine air travel for its customers, all while staying true to its ambitious sustainability goals for the future. The company plans to halve its 2019 net CO2 emissions by 2030 and make its business and operations entirely carbon-neutral by 2050, particularly by promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuels. The coming A350 aircraft will cut CO2 emissions by some 25 percent compared to its predecessor A340. While SWISS has one of Europe’s most modern aircraft fleets already, the A350s will assist in continuing to offer a high level of customer satisfaction while further reducing the carbon footprint.

Lufthansa Group in Toronto and North America

The Lufthansa Group carriers fly from 31 North American gateways, offering 484 weekly frequencies. At Pearson International Airport, Group carriers – Lufthansa and SWISS – now operate 19 weekly frequencies to Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich and 88 weekly frequencies throughout Canada.

SWISS brings Switzerland closer to Toronto

While SWISS is popular for its global network, as the airline of Switzerland it is eager to offer Canadian travelers a new service straight to the country’s leading tourist destinations.

“Switzerland is high on the list as one of Europe’s most breathtaking countries, offering skiing in the Alps, pristine landscapes and a stellar rail system that brings travelers to all parts of the country with extreme ease,” said Christina Meakin, Head of Sales Canada for the Lufthansa Group. “Our new SWISS flight brings a much-needed direct access to Zurich, and for this we are grateful,” she added.

Worldwide connectivity with the Lufthansa Group network

SWISS customers gain access to a worldwide network as the airline is a part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group. Passengers benefit from the direct connection to all major LHG hubs, as well as a continuous booking process and seamless transfers to destinations across the globe.

The New Service in Brief

Route Flight number Flight days Departure – Arrival (local times) Toronto – Zurich LX81 5x Weekly 04:25pm-06:30am Zurich – Toronto LX80 5x Weekly 09:55am-01:00pmRoute Flight number Flight days Departure – Arrival (local times) Toronto – Zurich LX81 5x Weekly 04:25pm-06:30am Zurich – Toronto LX80 5x Weekly 09:55am-01:00pm Route Flight number Flight days Departure – Arrival (local times) Toronto – Zurich LX81 5x Weekly 04:25pm-06:30am Zurich – Toronto LX80 5x Weekly 09:55am-01:00pm Flights are now available at http://www.swiss.com.Flights are now available at http://www.swiss.com. Flights are now available at http://www.swiss.com.

Travelore News: Airbnb Slumps As Gloomy Forecast Fans Slowdown Fears

Airbnb shares (ABNB.O), opens new tab tumbled nearly 7% in afternoon trading after weak forecasts for the second quarter stoked investor fears about slowing growth at the vacation rental firm and took the shine off a strong quarterly profit beat.

The Easter holiday occurring in the first quarter rather than the second and currency-exchange impacts were partly to blame for Airbnb projecting current-quarter revenue below lofty Wall Street estimates.

It also forecast the growth rate of room nights booked would be relatively flat on a sequential basis, but the company's average daily rate is expected to be modestly higher year-over-year.

Normalizing leisure travel demand in the U.S. has also been a concern for investors.

"Airbnb failed to deliver a beat/raise on nights, which we believe was necessary to ease concerns about slowing growth and risk of downside to consensus estimates for accelerating growth in (the second half of 2024 and in 2025)," Jefferies analysts said.

According to BTIG analysts, Airbnb's forecast implied nights booked of about 125 million to 127 million in the second quarter. That compared with consensus estimates of 129.2 million, LSEG data showed.

"While Airbnb topped the Q1 guide, it was shy of more aggressive buyside expectations in the quarter and the Q2 outlook," BTIG's Jake Fuller wrote in a client note.

Still, some analysts noted the slump in shares was stemming from undue investor concern.

"We think the pullback is an overreaction to weaker second-quarter guidance ... the outlook for 2024 is relatively unchanged, in our view," said Morningstar analyst Dan Wasiolek.

Shares of Airbnb, which have gained 16% so far this year through last close, were at $148.23 by 1625 GMT on Thursday. They were trading about 33.31 times their forward profit estimates, compared with Booking Holdings' (BKNG.O), opens new tab 19.40 multiple.

Reporting by Deborah Sophia, Kannaki Deka, Aishwarya Jain, Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Reuters.

Port Canaveral Plans New Cruise Terminal To Meet Growing Industry Demand

Port Canaveral announced its plan today to build a new cruise terminal to meet the growing demands of the cruise industry. The strategic decision to build a new multi-user cruise terminal at the Port’s existing North 8 berth provides significant cost savings, operational flexibility, and an expedited construction timeline of approximately two years to accommodate the largest ships in the world across a spectrum of brands.

“We have cruise partners with immediate needs to locate assets in Florida and Port Canaveral is where they want to be,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “Our ability to efficiently bring a new cruise terminal online was key to retaining and growing this important business segment that supports many jobs and delivers high value to our regional and state economy.”

Port Canaveral’s existing North 8 berth shares its basin with the Port’s Cruise Terminal 5 on the northside of Port Canaveral. Designed and built in 2018 for multi-purpose flexibility, North 8 berth will require minimal modifications to extend the current 1,020 linear feet bulkhead to 1,344 feet to accommodate large cruise vessels. Additionally, waterside improvements to the northside of the shared basin will also extend and improve the berthing capacity of Cruise Terminal 5.

The new multi-user cruise terminal and parking facility will leverage technology to provide optimal flexibility for multi-users, multi-brands. The North 8 location, current berth configuration and vacant uplands affords the opportunity for minimal disruption to current port and tenant operations during construction.

"A new cruise terminal and the business it will deliver builds on our Board’s commitment to the economic prosperity of our Port community," said Micah Loyd, Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners. “This proactive, business-oriented strategy reaffirms our commitment to ensure the State of Florida continues to prosper from cruise tourism and remains the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’.”

Timeline for design, engineering, and construction are in development with target completion for the new facility by summer 2026. The new terminal campus will include a multi-story parking facility to accommodate up to 3,000 vehicles and roadway improvements in and out of the new facility, including turning lanes and a “flyover” ramp directly connecting the site with State Road 401.

Four Seasons To Expand Saudi Arabian Portfolio Alongside Dar Al Omran Company With New Hotel In Madinah

Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons and Saudi-based development firm Dar Al Omran Company announce plans for continued expansion in the Middle East with Four Seasons Hotel Madinah, anticipated to open in late 2024.

The new-build hotel will be located at the heart of Madinah and steps from one of the most historic and significant sites in the region: Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, also known as the Prophet's Mosque. The city has a storied history, drawing millions of visitors each year to its art centres, museums and heritage sites that include the inspiring Mount Uhud and Quba Mosque, which is regarded as the oldest mosque in the world.

"As we continue to grow our portfolio in the Kingdom, we are thrilled to introduce Four Seasons Hotel Madinah to one of Saudi Arabia's most fascinating markets," says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development, Portfolio Management and Residential, Four Seasons. "Together with our partners at Dar Al Omran Company, we are dedicated to honouring the historic importance of Madinah and the significance it holds as a highly-revered destination for the Islamic world while welcoming a new generation of visitors to uncover all the city has to offer."

Four Seasons Hotel Madinah will feature 246 guest rooms and suites, multiple distinct restaurant and lounge concepts, expansive meeting and event space, a fitness centre and a well-appointed spa. HKS led the conceptual architectural design of the Hotel, while LW Design Group will lead the interior design of guest rooms and public areas, with AvroKO leading the interior design of the lobby, reception and dining outlets.

The new Hotel will be led by General Manager Waleed Sobhy, whose Four Seasons tenure began 20 years ago as Outlet Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. From there, Sobhy took on progressively senior roles, leading him to become Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence. Most recently, Sobhy played an integral role in the multi-million dollar renovation and enhancement project of the award-winning Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh as Resort Manager, introducing new accommodations, meeting and event spaces, culinary outlets, and beyond to the beloved property. Sobhy will soon begin building the preopening team that will bring the new Hotel to life.

"It is with great pride that I take this next step in my Four Seasons career with a new property that adds to Four Seasons growing, dynamic portfolio in the Middle East," comments Sobhy on his appointment. "It's an exciting time as we prepare to open our doors later this year, creating a new luxury experience that deeply honours the importance of Madinah, while introducing the legendary personalized and unscripted service that only Four Seasons can offer."

Modern design elements of the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, or the Prophet's Mosque, will be woven into the Hotel's aesthetic, ensuring that the cultural and spiritual identity of Madinah is reflected throughout while offering guests a tranquil sanctuary for gathering, celebration and self-reflection. Each detail of the upcoming Hotel has been curated with the guest in mind to provide an exceptional experience powered by Four Seasons service and genuine care for guests.

Four Seasons Hotel Madinah will be steps from the Prophets Mosque, closely connected to the cities of Makkah and Jeddah via high-speed railway network and 20 minutes from the Madinah International Airport. The Hotel will join the growing portfolio of Four Seasons properties in Saudi Arabia including Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre and the upcoming Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jeddah at the Corniche, Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island, Four Seasons Resort NEOM at Sindalah, and Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA at Triple Bay.

Jeddah Tower: Everything You Need To Know About The Soon-To-Be World’s Tallest Skyscraper

What do Philadelphia City Hall, the Empire State Building, and the Burj Khalifa have in common? They’ve all held the title of the world’s tallest skyscraper. And eventually Jeddah Tower, a neo-futuristic skyscraper planned in Saudi Arabia, will join the ranks among these iconic structures.

Designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the structure will stand at 3,281 feet tall when completed in the next four to five years, nearly 11 times the height of the Statue of Liberty. “The design for Jeddah Tower is rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia while looking toward the future by being technologically expressive,” explain Smith and Gill in a joint statement to AD. “Its slender, subtly asymmetrical massing evokes the new growth of palm fronds shooting upward from the land—a symbol of new life heralding future growth for the kingdom.”

Where will Jeddah Tower be located?

Jeddah Tower will be located in the city from which it gets its name, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A port area, the city borders the Red Sea and is the second-most populated in the Middle Eastern country. When complete, the skyscraper will join other architectural marvels in Jeddah, such as the Penang Floating Mosque and Al Balad, the town’s historic center featuring homes from coral.

The building is designed in a neo-futuristic style, an avant-garde aesthetic often underpinned by the use of world-class technology and a rethinking of both the form and function of developments. Renderings show a singular, slender tower, which subtly tapers towards its apex. As Smith and Gill explain, the shape is inspired by new palm fronds, which are abundant in Saudi Arabia.

Though the design is meant to honor its Saudi Arabian origins, it also represent the pinnacle of super-tall design and the technological evolution that has allowed such monumental design to become a reality. “The geometry of the tower starting at the base as a single tripod form then gradually separating at the spire, is tied to the wind performance characteristics of the tower—an analogy of new growth fused with technology,” the pair add.

When will Jeddah Tower be completed?

Jeddah Tower’s construction started back in 2013 but was paused in 2018. Its contractor, the Binladin Group, was taken off the project following the the 2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge when its president, Bakr bin Laden, half-brother to Osama Bin Laden, was arrested. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in further delays; though in September 2023 Dezeen reported that construction had restarted.

“Jeddah Tower construction has restarted…the tower is expected to be completed within four to five years,” the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the developer, confirms in a statement to AD. The business has solicited several contractors for proposal, and JEC is currently assessing bids. “We’re targeting to select a contractor within two to three months,” the statement finishes.

How much of Jeddah Tower is complete?

Before it was halted, builders had finished about a third of the building. When completed, the tower will stand at around 3,281 feet, or one kilometer. It will be about 564 feet taller than the Burj Khalifa, designed by Smith while he was working at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which currently holds the record for the world’s tallest skyscraper.

What will Jeddah Tower hold?

Similar to the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Tower is expected to be a mixed-use building, offering both residential, commercial, and office space. There will also be an observation deck (currently planned to be the world’s tallest), a Four Seasons hotel, and a 98-foot-diameter outdoor balcony, which was originally designed as a helipad.

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/contributor/katherine-mclaughlin

Cairo Is Bursting At The Seams, So Egypt Is Building A New $58 Billion Capital 30 Miles Away. Take A Look.

Like Indonesia, Egypt is building a new capital — although in this case, it's responding to the challenge of overcrowding.

The existing capital, Cairo, is home to about 22 million people, making it one of the world's most densely populated metropolitan areas. Policymakers believe that constructing new city could help to reduce congestion there.

It has yet to be given an official name but is often to referred to as the New Administrative Capital.

The city is being built in the desert 30 miles away from Cairo and already hosts an imposing skyscraper in the central business district.

Egypt's government has forecast that the new administrative capital will cost $58 billion to complete.

More than 1,500 families have already moved there, CNN reported, citing Khaled Abbas, chairman of the Administrative Capital for Urban Development, which oversees the project.

The plan is for it to eventually have 6.5 million residents. Take a closer look at the details.

Egypt announced its plan for a new capital in March 2015

Egypt's government unveiled its plan to build the capital over nine years ago, estimating at the time that the project would cost $45 billion. The new city is one of several mega projects announced under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's leadership. He's also mulling further whether the Suez Canal can be further expanded.

When the project was announced, then-housing minister Mostafa Madbouly said it was part of a plan to reduce congestion in Cairo over four decades. Greater Cairo's population was on track to double to about 36 million within that timeframe, he added.

Officials picked a site in the desert, 30 miles east of Cairo

The new city is located between Cairo and the seaport city of Suez. It's connected to the old capital by an electrified light railway system that opened in July 2022.
<>br />Here's what the area looked like before construction started

The Atlantic used past satellite imagery from Google Earth to take a snapshot of what the Egyptian government's chosen site looked like 10 years ago before construction started.

This is how it’s changed since then

The site now has government, business, and residential districts, and is home to many civil servants and their families. Fourteen government ministries and entities have relocated to the new capital as of this month.

At the center of the city is the Iconic Tower, Africa's tallest building

The skyscraper, which was completed last year, stands at around 396 meters. It has 77 floors for a mixture of residential, office, and hotel uses.

The new capital is also home to one of Africa's largest mosques ...

The Grand Mosque can hold 107,000 worshippers, the BBC reported. As of last year, it was home to the world's heaviest chandelier, which weighed more than 50,000 pounds.

... and a massive stadium

The venue, known as the New Administrative Capital Stadium, can hold nearly 94,000 people. It's part of the "Olympic City" complex, which the government hopes will help it win the right to host major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup.<>br />
But some are concerned about the project's huge cost

Egypt has said the project will be funded by state-owned enterprises and money it can rake in from selling land — but some critics believe the country shouldn't be spending so much money on a new capital.

Political analyst Maged Mandour previously told The New York Times that the government was "borrowing money from abroad to build a massive city for the rich," reflecting the fact it's taken out billion-dollar loans from the IMF.
https://www.businessinsider.com/author/george-glover

Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards Program Offering More Flexible Payment Options & Hotel Redemptions

Southwest Airlines Co. introduced Cash + Points,1 a new flexible payment option for Rapid Rewards®2 Members. For the first time, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Members can now use a combination of points (starting with as few as 1,000 points) and other eligible forms of payment to purchase Southwest® flights on Southwest.com/cashpluspoints.

"We launched several enhancements to our award-winning program last year that made it easier to earn more points and achieve tier status, said Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines. "This year, we're continuing our commitment to lean into Customer preferences by giving them extra flexibility to make points go further by offering new ways to use their points."

Business Travel Counts, Too!

Southwest also is launching new capabilities for Southwest Business Customers. Corporate Travel Managers can now use a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards Business points to purchase flights for their company's travel using Rapid Rewards Business points3 through swabiz.com.

From Flights to Hotels

But wait, there's more! Southwest Airlines® is going the extra mile and is now offering its Rapid Rewards Members the ability to use their Rapid Rewards points for hotel stays on hotels.redeemrapidrewards.com powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda. Additionally, Members booking travel with points can choose to pay for hotel bookings using only points, or a combination of cash and points, and can benefit from competitive rates for redeeming points for flights and hotel bookings at more than 400,000 properties worldwide.

"Our Purpose is to connect People to the places that matter most to them by offering a seamless travel experience," said Phil Gouel, Vice President Travel Products at Southwest Airlines. "These enhancements allow Members additional opportunities to redeem their earned points for hotel stays, with more flexibility and more value."

Join Rapid Rewards
The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is designed around a simple concept—to make earning reward flights faster and easier. With Rapid Rewards, every seat is a reward seat, there are no blackout dates, and points don't expire. Customers can create an account to become a Rapid Rewards Member at Southwest.com®.

1 Cash + Points will allow Rapid Rewards Members to combine points with other eligible forms of payment to purchase flights. Members will be presented with up to five options for Point redemptions, starting with as few as 1,000 points. The minimum redemption option for the selected flight(s) will be presented on screen. While Members who book using Cash + Points can make changes to their reservation, Cash + Points cannot be used for any fare increase related to a modification. Cash + Points bookings will not earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points for A-List or A-List Preferred status, or Companion Pass® qualifying points. Flights paid for with Cash + Points will count toward a Member's qualifying one-way flights for A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass status when flown.

2 All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms. 3 All Rapid Rewards Business rules and regulations apply and can be found at business.Southwest.com/Terms-and-Conditions. 4 Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021 5 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 6 1973-2019 annual profitability 7 Our net zero by 2050 goal includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 emissions only and excludes any emissions associated with non-fuel products and services, such as inflight service items.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.