Flight

FOR the beauty of the Caribbean that’s much closer to home, the Greek island of Lefkada comes pretty close.

Often dubbed the ‘Caribbean of Greece‘, the island is the biggest in the Ionian Sea and has direct UK flights.

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Lefkada is known for its bright blue waters, white sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs – much like you’d find in the likes of Barbados and Jamaica.

But luckily for Brits, this island is much closer as just under 4hr30 away, compared to the Caribbean’s nine hours.

Not only is it as warm as 26C in spring, but the island has some amazing beaches for spending the day on too.

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Some of the top sandy escapes include Porto Katsiki, Egremni, and Kathisma.

Porto Katsiki translates to ‘Goat Port’ and it was formerly home to just goats as it was largely inaccessible by people, because of its steep cliffs.

Now, the white-pebbled beach is accessible by a pathway down to the sand.

Egremni on the southwest coast of Lefkada is known for its ‘dramatic white cliffs’ and is hard to access unless by boat – if not, you have to take the steep staircase with over 400 steps.

Kathisma is easily accessible and much more family-friendly with a long stretch of golden sand dotted with sunloungers and beach bars.

Lefkada has a bustling town too; the capital is at the northern tip of the island and is easily accessed by the bridge from the mainland.

Here you’ll find colourful, traditional houses filled with shops, cafés, and churches.

The best part is that it’s all walkable in around 20 minutes.

For some culture, head to the Agia Mavra Fortress, a 14th-century Venetian castle at the entrance to the island.

If you want to find fresh food, head to Sikelianou Square near the seafront which is lined with Greek and Mediterranean restaurants.

Agios Nikitas is one of the most charming coastal resorts on the island.

It’s tucked around the bay of the same name and is built in amongst olive groves.

There are plenty of outdoor restaurants with sunny terraces like T’agnantio that overlooks the bay.

Here you can enjoy local specialities, salads, grilled meats, and fresh seafood.

One visitor even wrote on Tripadvisor that it has the “best food on the island”; another said it was the “best Greek food I’ve ever had”.

For more holidays in Greece, here are some of our favourite resorts…

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Blue Bay Beach Resort, Rhodes

The four-star Blue Bay Beach Resort sits a stone’s throw away from this beach, and has its own pools, splash park and water slides. Here you’re only a 15-minute drive away from Rhodes Old Town, where UNESCO-listed medieval streets wind through castle-like architecture. Make sure to check out the Street of the Knights, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe.

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Gouves Bay Hotel, Crete

Gouves Bay Hotel keeps things simple on a sunny Greek island location right by the sea. This hotel has a relaxed, family-friendly feel with two pools, a kids’ club and easy all-inclusive dining. And if you fancy a change of atmosphere, Gouves’ bars and tavernas are just a short walk away for your choice of evening drinks with a view.

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Aegean View Aqua Resort, Kos

The picturesque hotel is perched up high and surrounded by lush greenery in the historic harbour town of Kos. Here you’ll find a huge swimming pool and a waterpark, as well as activities like darts, tennis, football and more. There’s evening entertainment six days a week, and an on-site spa with a hot tub and sauna to unwind.

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TUI Blue Lagoon Queen, Halkidiki

This mega resort with six pools and its own waterpark is rated five stars by TUI. In the main restaurant, you’ll see show cooking displays as you take your pick from an extensive international buffet. Plus, Kalives beach is on the doorstep of this hotel, with its strikingly blue water and soft golden sands.

BOOK HERE

Across the island from Agios Nikitas is Geni Village.

It’s renowned for its waterfront dining, especially on Vlycho Bay where some restaurants actually feel like they’re floating.

It’s even easier to visit Lefkada now thanks to its new £3million marina which opened in April 2025.

If you’re not going to the island by boat, another way to get to Lefkada is by a 50-metre long car bridge that connects to the mainland.

In spring, you can fly to nearby Preveza from £29 with Ryanair which takes around 3hr20.

From there its just over an hour’s drive to the island.

For more on Greece, here are our top five Greek islands with white-washed houses and pretty beaches.

And here’s a Santorini-alternative Greek island that’s half the price has unspoiled beaches & cheap hotels.

A flight attendant has shared several plane safety tips that could make your next trip more comfortable – including the one item you should absolutely never wear

You could be picking up all sorts of germs by wearing the wrong clothes on a flight.

When travelling by plane, whether it’s for a work trip or holiday, you usually want to be as comfortable as possible. No matter how long your flight is, sitting in a cramped space surrounded by strangers isn’t ideal, so you normally want to make sure your outfit is something you can feel relaxed in for at least a few hours, if not longer.

But one flight attendant has said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, regardless of how comfortable you think it is. Charity Moore is a flight attendant who regularly posts travel tips on social media, and in a recent video, she shared several things she wishes more people did on flights.

Among her tips, Charity said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, as it puts your body in direct contact with the seats – which aren’t always the most hygienic things to be sitting on.

1. Wear the right clothes

Charity insisted you should never wear anything that exposes your legs on a plane, including shorts and skirts. She advocated for wearing trousers at all times, because she’s seen some “diabolical” things happen on plane seats that aren’t always cleaned as thoroughly as you might like.

She said: “I am letting you know, from a flight attendant, the amount of things I have seen on the seat. Wear pants. Shorts, skirts, dresses, absolutely not. Wear full pants. None of your skin should be touching that seat. I don’t care if you come on board and disinfect it. Nope, nope, nope. Wear full pants. Trust me, I have seen some diabolical things.”

2. Disinfect the seatbelts

The flight attendant also said that while she often sees passengers using antibacterial wipes on things like the tray table, she hardly ever sees anyone clean the seatbelt – which she believes is the most important part.

She explained: “You guys all come on board with your little Clorox wipes and your little disinfectants, and you start wiping everything down. That little tray table in front of you [and] the back of your seat. I don’t really get why you’re wiping the back of your seat, because if you’re wearing clothes, nothing really touches that.

“What you should be wiping that nobody wipes is that seatbelt. The metal part, because everybody touches it, but also you should be wiping the fabric part of the seatbelt, because everybody pulls on that. The amount of throw up, baby vomit, bodily fluids, liquids that have spilt, and random stuff that ends up on those seatbelts. Wipe them down, babe.”

3. Exercise proper toilet hygiene

Charity claimed that not enough passengers have proper toilet etiquette when using the bathroom on a plane. This includes washing your hands once you’ve done your business, making sure you flush the toilet, and even closing the door behind you once you’re finished.

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While these might seem like obvious things you would do after any toilet visit, whether it’s on a plane or not, the flight attendant insisted a large portion of passengers don’t do them.

She also said if you’ve taken your shoes off at your seat to make yourself more comfortable, you should not go to the toilet without putting your shoes back on.

The attendant noted: “It is never ever water on the floor in the lav. And your socks are like two big sponges.”

4. Bring food

Charity’s final piece of advice is to bring food with you. She said it’s a “huge misconception” that you can’t bring food through security, and encouraged people to bring snacks or even a fully prepared meal with them to help them survive their plane journey.

In the UK, food items and powders are allowed in your hand luggage, but may obstruct images on X-ray machines, so your bags might need to be checked again manually by security, which could cause you delays.

You are generally not allowed to bring liquid or gel-like foods such as soup, sauces, jams, and yoghurts in your hand luggage, and may not be able to bring certain fresh produce, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy, across some international borders, so always make sure you check the rules before you fly.

In most cases, you will be able to bring snack boxes with things like sweets, chocolate, and crisps onto a flight. You should usually avoid packing nuts into your snack box, as you may be asked not to open these if a passenger has an allergy.

Several UK airlines may have to cancel flights or hike prices ahead of summer with travel experts warning passengers to ensure insurance is in check with ‘refund’ update

As summer holidays are approaching and UK airlines are facing some disruptions due to the Middle East conflict, passengers have been urged to be aware of their refund rights.

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite ceasefire negotiations, and as the passage for over 20 per cent of the world’s fuel, this is impacting travel across the globe, including British travellers.

Travel experts are warning holidaymakers to be aware of how to protect your plans before summer commences.

Fuel prices have nearly doubled since the war began, with the International Energy Agency describing the situation as potentially the largest energy crisis the world has faced.

A document has been submitted to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority warning that if disruption “worsens” airlines in the UK will be forced to increase fares and cut flights.

Airlines UK, which represents a number of carriers, including EasyJet, Jet2, British Airways and Ryanair, say in the document that “the doubling of jet fuel costs (with fuel accounting for around one-third of airline costs) represents a major additional price shock”.

The letter is an attempt to get the government to step in to secure fuel supplies and give airlines more flexibility to cope with soaring costs.

One of the asks is to allow the temporary import and use of Jet A – a grade of jet fuel produced in the US, according to ITV.

The emergency document illustrates the financial fears of airlines, adding to the concern that flights may be cut or prices escalated.

A travel expert has warned that British travellers should ensure “travel insurance is in order” and “check booking terms” ahead of summer.

Airlines will still be required to offer full refunds, should flights be cancelled, or provide an alternative route.

The spokesperson for Ski Vertigo said: “This is a situation every traveller with a summer booking should be watching closely. Prices are already moving and the risk of cancellations is real, particularly on shorter intra-European routes where the economics are tightest.

“Our advice is to make sure your travel insurance is in order, check your booking terms, and keep a close eye on any communications from your airline.” They added: “If your flight is cancelled, airlines are still required to offer you a full refund or an alternative route, and their duty of care — covering meals, accommodation where needed, and rebooking — remains in place regardless of the reason for the disruption.

“However, because this crisis stems from a geopolitical conflict outside the airline’s control, it is likely to be treated as an extraordinary circumstance, which means financial compensation beyond a refund is unlikely in most cases.”

‘Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets’

The EU has issued a warning that Europe faces a “very serious crisis” as aviation fuel supplies begin to dwindle due to the conflict in Iran, and holidaymakers may need to alter their summer travel plans.

“Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets,” Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, told Sky News. “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”

Jorgensen added: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

The International Energy Agency has cautioned that significant supply problems could emerge within the next five to six weeks.

Airlines are already implementing measures to curb demand: the Lufthansa Group, among Europe’s largest airline operators, has confirmed the scrapping of 20,000 flights over the coming months. Meanwhile, other carriers are hiking ticket prices on long-distance routes to offset rising fuel costs.

“If we had peace tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens, I think we will manage without that happening, but I have to say that even in the best-case scenario, the price crisis will still last for quite some time,” Jorgensen warned.

“Gas infrastructure has been ruined to a degree that will take years to rebuild and this means for months and maybe years yet we will see much higher prices than we had before this crisis started.”

The head of Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority told Sky News that people should consider spending their summer holidays in their home countries.

“In the past petrol prices have reached and exceeded more than $100 without any significant side effects on air travel but this time, the psychological effect is having a destructive effect on passengers,” Pierluigi di Palma warned. “It is best to recommend holidays nearby, rediscovering beautiful places in our country. “For those who still want to risk taking a long trip, it’s a good idea to consider special insurance that can provide reassurance regarding a guaranteed refund in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight.”

READ MORE: Spanish airport shuts for five weeks from tomorrow – Ryanair flights cancelledREAD MORE: EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI send stark warning about summer holidays 2026

The EU has unveiled a raft of measures aimed at curbing the impact of the energy crisis, including proposals to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy sources and incentives for households to install clean energy solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels. The bloc is also pushing member states to slash tax on electricity, in a bid to encourage more motorists to make the switch to electric vehicles.

A group representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has given a stark warning to ministers about holidays this summer. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has told passengers, ‘you can forget your holidays’ according to Good Morning Host Susanna Reid.

The letter, which has gone to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, calls on the government and officials to change the rules to bring down passenger duty, allow more night flights, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.

Presenter Susanna said: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fairs or cut flights altogether.”

Co host Ed Balls added: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.”

ITV said airlines are urging the government to step in to protect business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East. A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, seen by ITV News, warns that if the disruption “continues or worsens,” airlines will be forced to cut flights and push up fares.

The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, warns that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel accounting for around a third of airline operating costs.

Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines are now at the stage where they are monitoring their reserves of jet fuel very carefully, very closely. There’s no indication just yet of any immediate cancelled flights or fuel shortages, but the airlines clearly need a backup plan in the longer term. And they are pushing for that. Now, some of the airlines have already taken steps. Lufthansa, the European airline, has cancelled thousands of its short-haul flights in an effort to conserve jet fuel. EasyJet, Virgin Airlines, as well as others, have expressed a lot of concern about the coming weeks.

“Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its long-haul routes. EasyJet has said, really, beyond the next few weeks into mid-May, they’re not entirely clear on what they will do for jet. Let’s just take a look at what the airlines are asking from the government in this letter that you mentioned.”

In terms of the changes the airlines want, he said: “So firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for nighttime flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that, of course, would have a huge impact. on passengers.

“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government, we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures. Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing. But it’s all quite vague really at the moment and very concerning for passenger passengers who have either spent hundreds if not thousands on flights or are looking to plan uh trips throughout the summer.”

Getting some rest on a long-haul flight can be tough, but a flight attendant with 27 years’ experience shares her top sleep hacks – including how seat choice makes all the difference

The summer holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re among the millions of Britons preparing to jet off abroad, there’s one crucial detail you need to be aware of. For those fortunate enough to be taking long-haul flights, catching any shut-eye during the journey is often considered an impossible feat — but that’s not strictly accurate.

Sherry Peters, an international flight attendant with 27 years’ experience and founder of Atlas + Wild, has revealed her top tips for managing to sleep on flights — and much of it hinges on where you’re seated.

She said: “Seats near the galley or toilets are the absolute worst if you’re trying to sleep. There’s constant foot traffic, people queuing, lavatory doors slamming, and constant crew activity, it’s almost impossible to get uninterrupted rest.”

She advises securing a seat as far from this area as you can — and if possible, try to bag a window seat for a better shot at some proper rest, reports the Express.

She said: “Being next to the window gives you much more control over your environment, which is key to falling asleep.

“You can close the shade, lean against the wall for support, and avoid being elbowed by people passing in the aisle. It’s one of the closest things to a controlled sleep environment on a plane, even if you only have one or two hours, it makes a huge difference.”

Peters explained that many travellers mistakenly assume sleep will simply happen naturally — but when you’re squeezed into an economy seat, you need to actively work at getting yourself to drift off.

There are, however, a few techniques you can use to fool your brain into getting some rest.

She said: “Most people blame jet lag or the flight itself, but often it comes down to how to control your environment and if you are staying hydrated.

“I may not be able to control the time of day, but I can control noise and light by closing the window shades and using noise-cancelling headsets. I may not be able to control that I’m surrounded by 300 people who are wide awake, but I can control how much I get jostled. That’s how I trick my body into thinking it’s time to sleep, even mid-flight.”

Shutting the window blind the moment the plane takes off, paired with an eye mask and a neck pillow, can significantly reduce light and boost comfort.

Opting for a window seat allows you to lean against the side of the cabin for a more restful position, giving you the best chance of grabbing a few hours of much-needed kip.

Peters said: “Even if I only have one, two, or three hours, every minute matters. I use various strategies to maximise rest wherever I am, planes, trains and hotels.”

For some frequent flyers, this might seem like a dream about to come true

If you’ve ever taken a long haul flight from London to Australia, you’ll be familiar with a standard refuel stop on route. Well, soon, an ultra-long-haul flight will be set to test out a non-stop route as Australian airline, Qantas, prepares a plane that will be a record breaker for the world’s longest flight.

Next year (2027), the first test flight of the new Qantas A350-1000ULR aeroplane will be trying out a non-stop route with the aim of reaching its destination as quickly as possible.

For some frequent flyers, this may seem like a dream about to come true, while other air passengers may prefer to stick with the standard stop-off option, which gives a chance to get off the aircraft and walk around a little before setting off again.

The airline’s pending launch of the world’s longest commercial flight next year is highly anticipated by many – and will see passengers strapped in for 22 hours in total.

Two new direct routes will connect Sydney to London and New York, beating the current longest commercial flight of 18 hours and 30 minutes, which connects Newark Liberty International Airport in the US state of New Jersey to Singapore’s Changi Airport.

A specially configured aircraft will soon be able to fly for longer, all due to an additional rear centre fuel tank with a 20,000 litre capacity.

The first of these aeroplanes is currently awaiting its destiny in Toulouse, France, with its engines fitted, and final ground checks will take place soon before it’s ready for its first test flight.

Inside the plane, first class can enjoy reclining armchairs along with a separate bed – and Qantas describe the cabins as having a “science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing”.

The aeroplane will boast a total of 238 seats, less than the standard 300 or more seats that other flight providers offer.

Extra space provides a unique “wellbeing zone” which both premium economy and economy cabin passengers can enjoy while flying long haul.

In total, there are six first class suites on board, 52 business class suites, 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats for passengers to book up (when the flight launches next year).

The new extra-long haul flight has been nicknamed “Project Sunrise” since it was first considered nearly 10 years ago.

Euro News explained the nickname as “a nod to the ‘double sunrise’ endurance flights operated by Qantas between Crawley in Western Australia and RAF Base Koggala in what is now Sri Lanka”.

During the Second World War, “both Airbus and Boeing were tasked with extending the flying range of their next generation of long-haul aircraft to accommodate such routes”, Euronews reported.

An air passenger found a handwritten note in the pocket of her seat and shared it on social media, as she admitted she “couldn’t stop smiling” after spotting it

A traveller who found an adorable note in the pocket of the seat on their flight admitted she “can’t stop smiling” after posting it online. Taking to Reddit, she shared a snap of the sweet handwritten letter from a “kid who wants to make the world a nicer place”.

“Hello, I don’t know who you are but I sat in this seat before you,” the note began. “I hope you have a good day and a good flight. However, if you are vomiting in this bag I feel for bad for you. I’m writing this message because I am a kid with a goal to make the world a nicer place”.

The child’s note proceeded to request that the “act of kindness” be passed on to create a “chain” of goodwill, meanwhile.

“So please, do an act of kindness today out of the good of your heart and tell the person to pay it forward,” it continued. “This way we can start a chain of good in this world. Have a good day.”

The note clearly struck a chord with numerous other Reddit users.

“This is absolutely adorable, that kid has an amazing goal!” one person declared. “It’s one of my goals too.”

A second exclaimed: “What a great kid! That is the most wholesome note. Hats off to the parents. The world needs more of this.”

A third individual agreed: “Very sweet. Even the kids feel that the world is rotten. Let’s all regardless of our origin heal the world. Let’s all be nice and kind, and it won’t hurt or take anything away from any of us.”

Whilst a fourth gushed: “That’s lovely and also good to see when we live in a world where there is so much selfishness and evil.”

Indeed, the note inspired others to do the same including on Reddit who shared snaps of their own similar gesture.

“Hopefully this helps someone in a bad spot at 30K feet,” they penned. “I was inspired by the internet (thanks Reddit) and wrote a letter on a Barf Bag. Hopefully someone eventually sees this and it makes someone’s day.”

They later added: “It felt really good to put positive vibes out there. Hopefully someone sees it and it brightens whatever mood they are in.”

The note comprised words of wisdom for those suffering difficult times, encouraging any readers to “hang in there”. It continued: “This sucks but will be over soon. Everyone will be able to relate to the misery you are going through. You can do it.”

MANY families looking to go on holiday this summer are worried that their plans may be spoiled by the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the war in Iran.

Those concerns were powered by the Head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warning that Europe has just six weeks of jet fuel left.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Will my flight be cancelled due to the fuel shortage?

In response to US and Israeli attacks, Iran has closed off the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, a key route for jet fuel out of the Gulf.

This has caused a massive increase in oil prices and resulted in fears of jet fuel shortages.

For example, the price of jet fuel has rapidly surged from £67 ($90) per barrel to a whopping £150 ($200).

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With Birol stating there is enough for just six weeks, airports will possibly be dealing with critical fuel shortages by as early as next month.

That would cause travel chaos for Brits heading abroad during the school May half-term holidays and potentially continue into the summer.

An almost certain consequence will be the effect on journeys to long-haul destinations, as airlines may not have enough fuel for the return journey.

Which airlines have cancelled flights already?

British Airways is amongst the airlines that have begun cancelling flights as they have suspended services to the Middle East.

Journeys to the likes of Dubai and Doha have been put on pause for now and are set to resume in July.

However, the airline has announced it will permanently close its service from London Heathrow to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 24, 2026.

Virgin Atlantic announced earlier this month that it has permanently scraped its London flight to Riyadh.

Other airways that have cancelled flights include:

How long will the fuel shortage last?

Sally Gethin, an aviation specialist, spoke on the matter and said the consequences could get severe if the Strait remains closed. 

She told the Daily Mail: “The best case scenario would be fares going up and some routes being cancelled. 

“The worst case scenario is if this carries on for six to eight weeks and the shortages start really biting. This could pose an existential crisis to airlines – even if they slap on fuel surcharges they still won’t recoup the cost.”

“You could be looking at tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands, of flights being cancelled globally.”

How will this affect my upcoming holiday?

Holidays should not be too seriously impacted as our main tour operators and airlines have hedged their fuel essentially meaning they have purchased their fuel far in advance at a fixed rate.

What could happen, however, is if the jet fuel crisis continues into June, tour operators could potentially start to add a surcharge to the price of holidays.

A limited number of flights may be cancelled but airlines and tour operators will attempt to minimise disruptions by focusing on routes where they have multiple daily flights.

Holidays would only be cancelled if the fco advises against travel to the destination.

This is highly unlikely to happen with any Med destination because there are no safety concerns right now in popular holiday resorts.

However if fuel supplies fall into short supply in Europe this could possibly impact flights and therefore your holiday.

Am I entitled to a refund?

If some or all parts of your getaway are cancelled by the provider, your rights to a refund depend entirely on whether you booked your trip as a package holiday (purchasing accommodation and flights, or car hire, together) or individually.

Your money tends to be much better protected with a package getaway and in this circumstance you will be offered either an alternative holiday or a refund.

So, is now a bad time to book?

There are some great deals to be had right now, just approach with caution.

It is vital that you take out travel insurance as if your flight is cancelled you may well have protection against the cost of other elements of your holiday such as accommodation or transfers.

If you’re looking at booking now, Europe is a very safe option.

Although the likes of Turkey and Cyprus in the eastern med have seen bookings drop, there is currently no reason for you not to visit them.

They’re on the safe list and currently have some great deals.

Always book travel insurance the minute you book your holiday and check the policy carefully.

A man on an 8-hour long haul flight was left gobsmacked when he saw what his fellow passenger had brought to amuse himself with– and the viral video has racked up more than 85,000 likes

Most of us do everything we can to keep ourselves entertained on a flight, particularly on a long-haul journey. However, one man was left completely stunned when he spotted what his fellow passenger had brought along to pass the time.

Influencer Tonio Guajardo, who has 23,100 followers on Instagram, took to the platform to share a reel of the incident. The clip began with Tonio filming himself before panning the camera round to reveal the man sitting beside him. Overlay text on the video read: “This guy brought a 1,500 piece Lego set on our 8-hour flight.” His fellow traveller was filmed pulling the Lego pieces from a small bag before leafing through the instruction booklet to guide his build.

Further text stated: “He kept dropping pieces,” as the man was shown attempting his Lego set on the cramped aircraft tray table, repeatedly bending down to retrieve fallen bricks.

A subsequent update then read: “Six hours in and we weren’t even close,” as the passenger’s rather modest Lego progress was revealed.

In the caption, Tonio wrote: “No flight is THIS long.”

The post went viral and garnered more than 85,000 likes, with viewers thoroughly enjoying it.

One person joked: “All fun and games until the plane hits some turbulence.”

While another commented: “Honestly this is a game-changer for flights. One bag at a time.”

A third chipped in: “Lowkey I’m going to start doing this.”

Even the official Lego account joined in, asking: “How did he manage to fit all that in his carry-on?”

LEGO remains enormously popular across the UK, firmly holding its place as a top brand in an expanding toy market.

The British toy industry recorded its first growth since the pandemic in 2025, with overall sales hitting £3.9 billion. Building sets, largely fuelled by LEGO, emerged as the fastest-growing category, surging by 25% on the previous year.

A key factor behind LEGO’s lasting appeal is its ability to captivate multiple generations.

So-called “Kidults” (adults and teenagers over 12) now represent roughly one-third of all toy sales in the UK.

As airlines grapple with the soaring jet fuel prices and global shortage due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, two more have been forced to increase their prices for passengers

Due to the escalating fuel crisis sparked by the Middle East conflict, two more airlines have been forced to raise their prices.

Air travel has been severely disrupted with cancelled routes and a sharp rise in jet fuel prices since US-Israeli strikes erupted on February 28, 2026. The situation was further heightened by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas passes, triggering a global shortage.

As a result, airlines have been grappling with rising jet fuel costs and have been forced to raise prices. Air France and KLM are the latest airlines to confirm they’ve had to increase ticket prices as a result.

READ MORE: Major European airport issues ‘arrive early’ alert for all passengers amid delaysREAD MORE: EasyJet boss warns of summer price hike after £25million hit from jet fuel costs

The airlines, which are part of the same company Air France–KLM, had previously added a surcharge last month to offset soaring jet fuel prices. At the time, economy fares were bumped up by an extra €50 (£43.47) for a round trip, reported The Sun.

Now, with another increase announced, a long-haul round trip with Air France or KLM could cost an additional €50, bringing the fuel surcharge to €100 (£86.98) on top of the standard fare. Meanwhile, flights to the United States, Canada and Mexico could increase by €70 (£60.89), and an economy round-trip could cost an extra €10 (£8.70).

The Mirror has contacted Air France and KLM for comment.

Air France and KLM aren’t the only airlines to raise prices amid the ongoing fuel crisis. Just this week, it emerged that Virgin Atlantic had increased some flight costs with an extra £50 fuel surcharge on economy-class tickets, while premium economy fares are climbing by £180 and business class by £360.

Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive, Corneel Koster, warned travellers that flight prices could climb in the coming months and potentially throughout the remainder of the year. He said: “We have never seen jet fuel at this level and airlines cannot sustain those sorts of high costs.”

“If the fuel price goes much higher, I think the surcharges may go higher. If they go up in a week and you book in two weeks’ time, you’ll be paying higher.”

While there are no fuel shortages at present, Koster acknowledged it was impossible to guarantee supplies in the months ahead. “We have contracts with multiple suppliers who have a wide range of diversity of where the jet fuel comes from,” he explained.

“We have good visibility and no concern for the coming one to two months – certainly for the remainder of April and May. Beyond that I have less visibility, but that is quite normal.”

Meanwhile, it’s also been reported that airlines, such as JetBlue, have increased luggage fees in a bid to offset the soaring fuel costs. For off-peak economy fares, bags are expected to cost $4 more (£2.95), jumping to $39 (£28.79), while peak economy fares are set to be $49 (£36.17).

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

An influencer bawled her eyes out after she was allegedly kicked off a plane at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania and abandoned after grabbing something she forgot in the airport

A tourist claimed she was left stranded late at night after a flight took off without her despite already boarding.

Influencer Emily Ball, 23, alleged that she asked to leave a plane to try to to grab her forgotten wallet, after realising she had left it in the terminal when she was already sat on the flight. The TikToker said she immediately told a flight attendant and asked if she could quickly run back to get it, at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, US.

But what the influencer thought would be a speedy dash to grab her goods quickly spiralled into chaos.

READ MORE: Ryanair asks tourists ‘please’ stop wearing clothing item on board planesREAD MORE: Brit tourist lands 80 miles from Frankfurt Airport after booking blunder

Emily, who shared her account of the moment on her TikTok page (@emily_ball), said: “I told a flight attendant right away and asked if I could quickly run to grab it, and she said yes.”

After leaving the plane, she tried to re-enter through the boarding door “but was stopped by security”. Emily said: “They told me to stay where I was. They said I had broken protocol by exiting and trying to come back that way, and security was called.”

Emily claims the situation escalated rapidly, with officials filing a report and escorting her away from the gate. Meanwhile, her belongings were removed from the aircraft.

She said: “In the moment, I was honestly shocked and overwhelmed because I thought I had permission and was just trying to grab something important.”

Emily said the situation became even more chaotic with the airport closing for the night. The influencer claimed the only option offered to her was a replacement flight from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 100 miles away, at 4am. The TikToker said she was forced to travel to the other city in the middle of the night and called the ordeal “exhausting and chaotic”.

She said: “While I understand there are strict airport security rules, I do wish there had been clearer communication about what I was actually allowed to do. The whole situation spiralled way faster than I expected, especially that late at night.”

The clip sparked a mixed reaction online with one person saying: “Poor girl.” Another person said: “As a former flight attendant, it’s insane that you opened the doors.” A third user added: “I would never open the plane door even if they told me to! That’s scary!”

A MAJOR European airline has announced even more strikes this week, set to impact thousands more Brits.

Lufthansa pilots have been on strike since Monday in a dispute over pensions, and now the Union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a further two days of strikes.

Pilots began striking on Monday, with hundreds of flights cancelled including many from the UK.

And now the union has announced that pilots will also be carrying out strikes this Thursday and Friday.

Cabin crew will also walk out today and Thursday.

It means that by the end of this week, there will have been six consecutive days of strike action.

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Over 200 flights departing Frankfurt Airport have been cancelled today, including the following flights to the UK:

• 9:50am to Manchester
• 2pm to London Heathrow
• 3:45pm to Glasgow
• 4pm to London Heathrow
• 4:10pm to Edinburgh
• 4:20pm to Newcastle
• 4:45pm to Manchester
• 5pm to Birmingham
• 6pm to London Heathrow
• 9:10pm to Birmingham
• 9:30pm to London Heathrow
• 9:50pm to Edinburgh
• 10pm to Manchester

As for flights with Lufthansa departing from the UK, the following have been cancelled:

• 9:30am from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 9:50am from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 10:25am from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 10:35am from Manchester to Munich
• 11:25am from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 12:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 1:35pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 3:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 4:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:10pm from Edinburgh to Munich
• 5:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 5:30pm from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 5:40pm from Newcastle to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:55pm from Birmingham to Munich
• 6:15pm from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 6:20pm from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 7:10pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 7:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 8:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich

With 34 flights – often operating around 150 passengers each – this works out to more than 5,000 passengers to and from the UK affected.

Disruption to flights tomorrow currently remains unclear.

Regarding the further strike action, VC president Andreas Pinheiro said: “The situation remains unchanged; there is absolutely no movement on the employers’ side.

“For us, this is not about political power struggles or egos, but about sustainable solutions.”

In a statement, the airline told passengers earlier this week: “Lufthansa and Eurowings are working intensively to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible.

“We are trying to have as many flights as possible operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and by partner airlines.

“However, despite these efforts, flight cancellations are unavoidable.

“Travelers who are affected by an irregularity will be informed accordingly, provided their contact details are stored in the booking.

“We ask passengers to check the status of their flight before setting out on their journey.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the disproportionate and very short-notice strike announcement.”

The airline has told passengers that if their flight is cancelled, they will be able to rebook once free of charge or their ticket refunded.

Though, all flights to the Middle East have been excluded from the strike action due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

In other flight news, here’s the first look at one airline’s new onboard bunk beds which even economy passengers can book.

Plus, a major UK airline is set to hike flights by up to £360 as they warn jet fuel prices have ‘never been this high’.

As it prepares for a potential future fight in the Pacific, the Marines tell us they are watching the progress of a wing-in-ground effect (WIG) drone concept that recently had its first test flight as a scale model. Being pitched as “the first ever Unmanned Surface and Aerial Vehicle (USA-V),” the Regent Squire is designed to conduct ISR, logistics, and combat search and rescue (CSAR) tasks in contested areas, the company states. It is also being eyed for counter-narcotics operations and anti-submarine warfare operations.

The WIG drone uses a hydrofoil to get airborne and then cruise in the air at an altitude of about one wingspan above the water. These ground-effect flights are designed to take advantage of the cushion of thick air above the earth’s surface, providing a sweet spot of increased lift and reduced drag. In theory, this should provide the Squire with high-efficiency and relevant speed, all without needing to operate from a traditional runway.

Such over-the-water logistics, ISR and CSAR capabilities would be particularly valuable in a future conflict in the Pacific. A high-end fight with China would see U.S. forces greatly dispersed, including to more remote locations without well-established infrastructure, to reduce their own vulnerability to attack. Existing traditional airlift and sealift assets would be heavily tasked in general to support those distributed operations. In some circumstances, they could also be highly vulnerable to enemy attack.

The eight-engined USV-A recently had a test flight in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, according to the company. A video of the event shows a Squire scale model going through its three stages of flight, from floating to hydrofoiling through the water to taking to the air. In the video, the company states that the Squire was traveling at speeds of up to 40 knots. As it gained altitude, Squire’s two hydrofoils retracted. Two support boats were in pursuit as it became airborne for an unspecified distance.

Squire Seaglider Drone Flight Demonstration

According to the company, the Squire has a planned operational 50-pound payload with a range of up to 100 nautical miles at a top speed of about 80 knots.

“The internally mounted payload bay of the Squire model measures 14 inches in length, 12 inches in height, and 14 inches in width, providing a total internal payload volume of 2,400 cubic inches for logistics, ISR equipment, or mission-specific cargo,” the company told us. “We’re designing the payload interfaces so that a two-person crew with minimal specialized training can execute a reconfiguration as realities change and mission requirements adapt.”

The company claimed this USV-A concept “combines the speed and maneuverability of an aerial vehicle with the persistent presence and endurance of an unmanned surface vessel.”

Since the U.S. Coast Guard – the U.S. regulator for this type of vessel – cleared Squire for testing last year, the company said it “has been validating systems, controls, and operational envelopes step by step. Moving forward, Regent will continue to expand Squire performance, autonomy, and operational capabilities for mission-ready maritime operations.”

The Squire concept is one of several WIG craft that the U.S. military is considering to solve the problems of delivering troops and cargo quickly over vast bodies of water, while limiting their vulnerability to enemy weapon systems, the Marines told us.

The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) recently received additional funds “to continue our investigation into Hydrofoiling Wing-In-Ground (WIG) capabilities,” MCWL project manager Matthew Koch told us Monday morning. Last year, we reported on MCWL’s interest in another Regent WIG offering, a crewed variant called Viceroy, designed to carry 12 passengers or 3,500 pounds of cargo.

The U.S. military’s largest WIG program hit some serious headwinds before the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) killed it last year. This was the Liberty Lifter X-plane program. Its core goal was to produce a huge flying transport design that employs the WIG effect principle. You can read more about that program in our story here.

Announcing REGENT Defense

“Some 70% of programs don’t meet their metrics,” Stephen Winchell, director of DARPA, said at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Aerospace Summit. “The idea there was to be able to move cargo quickly and securely across a vast theater with a lot of logistical challenges, and honestly, the manufacturing and a lot of the other parts of the program that needed to come together — we ended up finding out that it was harder than we thought.”

DARPA also stated that “instead of building a demonstrator aircraft, DARPA is working with industry and DOD stakeholders to accelerate transition of what we’ve learned to encourage rapid fielding of platforms leveraging the technologies developed at DARPA,” regarding the Liberty Lifter’s cancellation.

As we previously explained, the WIG principle is not new, but, as with Liberty Lifter, military applications have not seen much success. The Soviet Union remains the most notable operator of military WIG designs, known in Russian as ekranoplans – a term now widely used as a catch-all for WIG designs – but even their service was limited. Efforts to revive military ekranoplans in Russia in recent years have so far not produced any operational types.

The video below shows the only Project 903 Lun class ekranoplan, a cruise missile-armed design, that the Soviet Union ever completed being moved in the Caspian Sea in 2020 as part of a plan to put it on display.

Буксировка ракетного экраноплана «Лунь» в Дербент

Last year, we got our first full look at China’s WIG craft, loosely similar in scale to what we have seen of their new amphibious flying boat, the AG600, which is intended to perform resupply, search and rescue, and other missions, especially over the South China Sea. Though we noted that this WIG aircraft appears ideally suited for similar applications in the littorals, the status of its testing and whether it will ever be fielded remains unclear.

The Squire still has a long way to go before becoming an official program of record. The company is planning to demonstrate it at Silent Swarm 26, a two-week showcase for new and emerging technologies and conduct a full size test later this summer, Koch told us. He added that he will offer more insights into MCWL’s interests pending the outcome of those events.

“If the technology proves out in Silent Swarm this July and full-size flight in early August, I will have a statement on how the Marines intend to use it in the Pacific,” he explained.

There also appears to be interest in Regent’s WIG efforts from the Pentagon. In February, War Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the company’s headquarters as part of his efforts to spur technological innovation.

“We want capabilities that are driving what we are fielding and not the way it’s always been done,” Hegseth said during the encounter. “If you are able to show that you can fill a gap quickly with something that wasn’t already otherwise envisioned, you’re talking to the right kind of commander there who is going to say, ‘Okay, I am going to use that here.’”

REGENT Briefs Secretary of War on Seaglider Defense Capabilities

We have reached out to the Pentagon to gauge Hegseth’s current interest in the Squire project and see if there was any follow up activity from that meeting.

While still in the nascent phases, the WIG concept continues to draw interest from the U.S. military, though it has only invested a small amount of money in these projects. Given the challenges presented by a potential conflict with China, we will continue to monitor the progress of these efforts and provide updates when warranted.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

With EasyJet passengers missing flights, and tourists with other airlines left affected too, the Mirror can explain more about the rules that have come into affected at European Union nations

Brits have been plunged into travel chaos after long delays due to new EU border rules which have led to some passengers missing their flights home and ending up stranded abroad.

Around 100 EasyJet passengers were left behind when a flight from Milan’s Linate airport to Manchester left travellers behind who were stuck in massive lines, on Sunday. The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out across the EU on Friday and it requires people from third-party countries, including the UK, to go through biometric and facial recognition checks.

Huge lines hit major airports in several cities, including Paris, Lisbon and Milan, as desperate travellers were forced to wait to clear immigration.

Some stranded passengers claimed people were vomiting and passing out in the huge queues at Milan’s Linate airport, on Sunday, as they also dealt with a heatwave.

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What is the EES?

The EU’s Entry/Exit System started on October 12, 2025, but it was rolled out fully on Friday, April 10. It is a new digital border system for people from third-party countries, including the UK, entering the Schengen area, which is essentially anywhere in the EU and a few additional countries.

This new system has replaced the old method of officials manually stamping passports when people arrive into the Schengen area.

What does the new process look like for Brits?

British travellers are asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival, on their first visit to a Schengen area country after this new system. People do not have to fill anything out before they travel and the EES registration is free of charge.

Travellers could be asked to have a photo taken at a dedicated booth and submit their fingerprints. People could also be asked to provide fingerprints or a photo when they leave the Schengen area.

The government noted that the EES may take “each passenger a few extra minutes to complete”, but once done, the EES record is valid for three years.

Later this year, Brits will also need to participate in the new visa-waiver scheme, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which is set to be implemented in late-2026.

Not to be confused with EES, ETIAS will require Brits visiting the EU to apply for a visa-exemption, with the application costing €20 (about £17.42), although it will be valid for three years.

What countries are in the Schengen area?

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries.

What issues have travellers faced so far?

One Brit revealed she was among the 100 people desperate to get home after the EasyJet flight took off from Milan and abandoned them. Carol Boon, 59, speaking to the BBC, said she had been away for a hen do but was left stuck in a “very stressful” situation at the airport with “people arguing, someone fainted, someone was sick”.

Another traveller, Max Hume, from Leeds, told the BBC that he spent a staggering £1,800 to get back home as soon as possible and travelled through Luxembourg.

EasyJet told The Mirror that the ordeal was “outside of our control” and said it held the flight for nearly an hour, adding: “These delays are unacceptable and so we continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed so our customers’ travel plans are not impacted.

“Should a customer miss their flight due to EES delays they are offered free flight transfers on a later easyJet flight. For customers who book on other airlines they will need to contact their travel insurance to make a claim.”

Another passenger slammed EasyJet for the ordeal and claimed she was only offered £12.25 in compensation from the airline. Speaking to the BBC, the 17-year-old student, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said she was forced to wait 20 hours in the airport with her boyfriend until they could get a flight the next day.

Kiera said these new flights would set her mum back £520 and they were going to Gatwick instead of Manchester. The student added that the couple got to the airport hours ahead of their flight but still didn’t make it on. She said: “We got here at seven-thirty for our flight at eleven so were super early. We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people.”

Jet2 has issued a fresh alert to passengers at Faro Airport, in Portugal, after reports of “congestion” through the site. In response to a passenger’s post online, a spokesperson for the airport said “the queues are completely out of our control”, adding: “We kindly recommend customers arrive to the airport as early as possible, to allow plenty of time to make it through.”

A spokesperson for ABTA, the association of travel agents and tour operators, says: “We’re advising passengers to go straight to passport control as soon as you have gone through check-in and security; that way you get the EES checks out of the way as early as possible.

“We’re also advising passengers to follow their transport provider’s advice on when to arrive at airports/ports etc. If flying, the usual rule is to arrive at the airport for a flight from Europe at least two hours before, so we’d encourage people to apply that as a minimum, but to also check with their airline and airport.”

IF you want a taste of Central America without the long-haul flight, then there is somewhere a bit closer to home that is compared to it.

La Palma is a great alternative for anyone who wants the experience of Costa Rica without the 15hour flight, according to TUI.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @suntravel.

In fact, heading to La Palma from the UK takes just four hours and 40minutes.

La Palma is nicknamed “La Isla Bonita”, which translates to ‘the beautiful island’ – and during peak summer months it experiences delightful highs of 31C.

Its capital is Santa Cruz de La Palma on the eastern coast, where streets are lined with colourful homes.

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Heading further inland, the landscape of the island can be compared to Costa Rica with lush forests and even volcanoes.

Tajogaite Volcano on the Canary Island was formed just five years ago after the eruption of Cumbre Vieja.

One popular activity on the island is to take on the four-mile hike.

La Palma is littered with walking trails too – one of the top recommended is through the island’s natural park, Caldera Taburiente.

This is where you’ll see Cascada de Colores, a waterfall that’s rich in iron so it creates a rainbow effect.

Another popular spot for hiking is to the island’s highest point Roque de Los Muchachos which is 2,426 metres high – so it is quite the trek.

Around the coastline on La Palma are volcanic black sand beaches – some of the most popular include Playa Nogales which is described as being “remote” and “quiet”.

Another is Playa de Los Cancajos where one visitor went snorkelling and saw cucumberfish and octopus.

While Costa Rica tends to have ones with golden sand, it does have a number of black sand beaches too.

What Costa Rica has in abundance is National Parks filled with wildlife, but you can see lots in La Palma too.

There are plenty of lizards like the Canary Gecko, various bird species, and beautiful butterflies.

As for marine life, around the island are bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales.

TUI offers a ‘flipper whale watching‘ boat tour around the west coast of the island to Cueva Bonita which is a natural grotto carved into the cliff-face from £49.

For more TUI holidays, here are our favourites…

If you click on a link in this story we will earn affiliate revenue

Globales Montemar, Ibiza

This hotel sits on a quieter side of Ibiza, so you can soak up the island’s natural beauty away from the party crowds. This family-friendly option has a large pool that curves around the resort, surrounded by plenty of sunbeds, plus a kids zone. Here you’re just a 10-minute stroll from a horseshoe-shaped bay with clear waters.

BOOK HERE

Hotel Club Jandia Princess, Fuerteventura

This resort is set up like a small village, with low-rise buildings set among palm trees and six different swimming pools. Entertainment spans from DJ nights to bingo and live sports screenings, plus sports on offer include water polo, rifle shooting and shuffleboard.

BOOK HERE

Gavimar Cala Gran Costa Del Sur, Majorca

This hotel sits on Majorca‘s Cala Gran Beach, a beautiful cove just a short drive away from the coastal town centre, with its trinket shops and relaxed bars. The hotel itself has all the activities and entertainment you’d expect, including bingo and live music – as well as some unique extras like mini golf and archery. Week-long breaks start from £478pp.

BOOK HERE 

Riu Baobab, Senegal

The Riu Baobab is the only TUI hotel in the country, sat on the Pointe Sarane coastline. There are the four huge pools overlooking the beach, swim up pool bars and a copious amount of sunloungers to choose from. The sushi at the Asian Dorayaki and the pasta dishes at Veneto are the highlight meals of this standout hotel. Week-long breaks start from £883pp.

BOOK HERE

One great thing about La Palma is that it’s affordable too – you can grab a beer from as little as €1.50 (£1.31).

Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, these cost on average £2.41, according to Wise.

You can stay on the island with TUI and seven- night all-inclusive holidays start from £567 per person.

TUI also seven-night holidays to  Fuencaliente, La Palma staying at La Palma Princess on an all inclusive basis from £567per person.

It has six swimming pools, multiple restaurants and entertainment through the day and into the evening.

Price is based on two adults sharing a Twin Room with Balcony or Terrace flying direct with TUI Airways from London Gatwick on April 23, 2026 with 20kg hold luggage.

Or if you fancy going self-catered, you can do so at Apartamentos El Cerrito.

TUI offers seven-night holidays here at Los Cancajos on a self-catering basis from £545per person.

It has bright apartments with little kitchenettes, an outside pool, a separate one for kids, and gardens.

Price is based on two adults sharing a one Bedroom Apartment with balcony or terrace flying direct with TUI Airways from London Gatwick on June 11, 2026 with 20kg hold luggage.

For more Canary Islands, here’s one that’s yet to have mass tourism with quiet beaches.

And here’s more on Spain’s youngest island where tourism is yet to hit, it has red sand beaches and natural lidos.

THE world’s longest non-stop flight is taking off next year – with new images revealing a first look at the aircraft with anti jet lag cabins and private suites.

Qantas’ Project Sunrise will be a non-stop 20-hour-plus flight between London and Sydney.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @suntravel.

Expected to launch in the first half of 2027, the Airbus A350, from Australia’s flagship carrier, will serve two routes – one between the East Coast of Australia and London and the other between the East Coast of Australia and New York.

With flight times up to 22 hours, this makes it the longest nonstop flight in the world – beating the current 18.5 hour flight from Singapore to New York.

Inside, passengers can expect First Class suites, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy seats.

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There will also be a Wellbeing Zone onboard, which will be a space where passengers can get up and move about and tune into with guided wellbeing content as well as grab a healthy snack or drink.

The space is open to all passengers too.

Passengers will also benefit from free Wi-Fi in all cabins and Bluetooth connectivity.

In First Class, there will be six enclosed cabins each with a two-metre-long bed that lies flat.

If you want to stay seated, there will be a separate reclining armchair as well.

In comparison, the 52 Business suites will feature sliding doors to create some privacy.

The 40 Premium Economy seats come with a 20.3cm “winged privacy headrest” and a calf rest, to keep comfy on the 22-hour flight.

Economy passengers haven’t been forgotten either, with 140 seats offering 83.8cm of legroom each.

Rather cleverly, the entire plane features 12 lighting scenes which include Sunrise and Sunset.

Each scene will be played at specific times to help passengers’ circadian-rhythm sync with their destination’s time zone, ultimately helping to reduce jet lag.

In total there will be 12 aircraft, with one aircraft entering the final stages of production this week before two months of testing.

Via social media, Qantas also shared on April 13 that engines had been installed in the first Project Sunrise aircraft.

In a separate post, Qantas said: “The first Airbus A350-1000ULR rolled out of the hangar in Toulouse this week, with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines fitted and ready to start final ground checks and a two-month flight testing campaign.

“From next year, these aircraft will carry our customers non-stop from Sydney to London and New York for the first time ever – reducing flying time by up to four hours.”

The airline also teased that “its first test flight is just around the corner”.

When the flight route eventually launches, it is expected to cut four hours off of current flight times, which also usually involve a stop to refuel.

This will be possible due to an extra 20,000 litre fuel tank at the rear of each plane.

Qantas first announced plans to launch Project Sunrise back in 2017, though the ambitious project has faced delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain issues.

Details of how regularly the flight will travel between London and Sydney are yet to be announced, as are the prices.

In other flight news, the UK is getting a new flight route to world’s best airport – under four hours away.

Plus, the secret tool British Airways uses to launch new airline routes – and the little-known months they announce them.

Major UK airlines have warned that should the Strait of Hormuz not be fully reopened in the coming weeks then fuel shortages will have an impact of travel ahead of the summer holidays

European airports will face “systemic” shortages of fuel if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within three weeks, experts have warned.

ACI Europe, which represents EU airports, noted that jet fuel reserves were running low with further supplies strained due to “the impact of military activity on demand”.

Despite a current ceasefire and negotiations of a deal underway, there will still be ‘ripple effects’ for airlines as the impact of reduced gas supplies was felt worldwide.

With JD Vance announcing today “no deal” has been reached yet, it means that the impact could be felt as early as the week of May 4.

A letter seen by the Financial Times, warned “increasing concerns of the airport industry over the availability of jet fuel as well as the need for proactive EU monitoring and action”.

“If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU,” the letter said.

Although major airlines still have weeks of supply left, the upcoming peak summer season raises further concerns about supply and costs.

Ryanair has warned that if the war doesn’t end this month, there will be disruption from May.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: “Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market. We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.

“We think there is a reasonable risk, some low level, maybe 10 per cent to 25 per cent of our supplies might be at risk through May and June, so like everyone else in this industry, we hope the war ends sooner rather than later.

“If the war finishes by April and the Strait of Hormuz reopens, then there is almost no risk to supply.”

Despite the confidence that should negotiations be made, travel will not be under threat, it is reported that suppliers are unable to guarantee deliveries into May.

This week European jet fuel prices hit a record $1,900 per metric ton, according to specialised publication Argus.

The hike could see potential shortfalls coming in future months.

Kenton Jarvis, the boss of EasyJet, warned that pricing was “volatile” since this “terrible war started” however the company is “well hedged” in terms of supplies.

The likelihood of cancellations comes after four Italian airports last weekend introduced restrictions on jet fuel after disruption. Air New Zealand also cancelled a selection of flights due to high fuel prices.

The airline has responded to passenger concerns online after a 14-hour delay

EasyJet has issued an alert after passengers say they were left waiting hours and hours for their flight due to a major delay. The budget airline is popular nationwide for its wide range of flights and affordable fares.

However, as with any airline, unforeseen circumstances can lead to delays, resulting in passengers waiting longer to board their plane. In a recent online post, one EasyJet passenger claimed they had waited 12 hours, with another two hours to go, because their flight was “delayed”.

Explaining the situation and asking EasyJet for input, the passenger, called Gillian Telfer, took to X to say: “@EasyJet, our flight to Glasgow from Rome was due to depart today at 11.55am. We were told that due to a technical issue there would be a delay.”

They added: “It is now 00.20am and we have an estimated flight at 2am. There are many families here all desperately tired.”

Responding to the post in a fresh alert on its official X account today (April 11), a spokesperson for the airline said there are “many factors” that may delay a flight, including “safety reasons”. They explained: “Hi Gillian, thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your flight to Glasgow from Rome was delayed.

“Unfortunately, many factors come together that can lead to our flights being delayed. This may be for safety reasons and required regulatory approvals. Thanks, Anga.”

Flight delays can last for many hours since airlines have very strict schedules. Just one small problem can cause a ‘ripple effect’ that affects many other flights.

According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, if your flight is delayed for several hours, you are typically entitled to assistance regardless of the cause. If the delay is two hours or more, passengers are entitled to food and drink vouchers.

For delays that last three hours or more, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation, especially if the delay was within the airline’s control, for instance, a technical fault. If a delay lasts overnight, however, passengers are entitled to hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.

A statement on the EasyJet website reads: “The best place to keep up to date on the status of your flight with real-time information is via our Flight Tracker, which can also be accessed via our mobile app. If your flight is more than two days in advance, please sign in by using your booking reference and last name or your account details.”

The airline says that if a delay is longer than five hours, passengers can change their flights for a later date, subject to seats being available. Alternatively, they can cancel their delayed flight and apply for a full refund.

Visit EasyJet’s Disruption Help Hub to find out more. For information on your entitlements, visit EasyJet’s notice of rights page.

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone disappeared abruptly and unexpectedly from online flight tracking sites after declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf today. The uncrewed aircraft was also tracked rapidly losing altitude right beforehand, prompting widespread questions about its fate. This comes just two days after the United States and Iran agreed to a still very fragile ceasefire, which is heavily contingent on the reopening of the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Online flight tracking data shows the MQ-4C had just completed a roughly three-hour-long flight over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and appeared to be returning to base at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. The online tracking shows the Triton had just crossed into Saudi Arabian airspace before making a sudden turn to the northeast in the direction of Iran. Available data also shows the drone rapidly descended from a typical cruising altitude of around 50,000 feet down to below 10,000 feet.

The MQ-4C’s transponder was broadcasting (or “squawking”) the code 7700, which is a general declaration of an in-flight emergency, at the time. The code, by itself, does not offer any indication of what that the emergency might be or how serious the situation is. There are also unconfirmed reports that the Triton initially sent out another code, 7400, which is used to declare a loss of connectivity between a drone and its controllers on the ground.

The MQ-4C had otherwise been publicly visible online from the moment it left Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. Tritons have been flying sorties over the Middle East, as well as other locales, from Sigonella regularly since 2024.

As of 2025, the Navy had 20 of these drones in service in total, with plans to acquire seven more. The service received funding to purchase the final pair of drones in Fiscal Year 2024, at which time the estimated unit cost for each one was pegged at just over $238 million.

When reached for more information by TWZ, the office of the Chief of Information (CHINFO), the U.S. Navy’s main public affairs office, declined to comment. We have also reached out to the U.S. Navy’s regional commands in the Middle East and Europe, as well as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

At the time of writing, there does not appear to be any official comment about the MQ-4C from Iranian authorities.

The MQ-4C is a derivative of the RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone optimized for long-duration overwater missions. The Navy actually operated a small number of RQ-4A drones in a service-specific configuration called the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance-Demonstrator (BAMS-D). When the program started in 2003, BAMS-D’s main task was to help pave the way for Triton’s arrival. However, the Navy ended up flying the drones operationally in the Middle East and out into the Indian Ocean for 13 years. Iran notably shot down a BAMS-D drone as it flew over the Gulf of Oman in 2019.

The Triton’s original sensor package was centered on an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with surface search and synthetic aperture modes. A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability allows for the capturing of satellite-like images, day or night, in virtually any atmospheric conditions, which is not possible with optical sensors. The drones do also have electro-optical and infrared video cameras in a turret under the nose, as well as electronic support measures systems for collecting electronic intelligence passively.

More recently, the Navy has been working with prime contractor Northrop Grumman to expand the MQ-4C’s electronic and signals intelligence (ELINT/SIGINT) capabilities.

The drones can work in concert with P-8A Poseidon crewed maritime patrol planes, which have their own extensive sensors and networking suites, and carrier strike groups down below.

Tritons are likely to play an especially important role in monitoring activity in and around the Persian Gulf amid the current ceasefire with Iran. As noted, the safe transit of commercial ships in and out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is a central factor in the continued stability of that arrangement. It is also expected to be a major topic of discussion in future diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran. So far, Iran is still severely throttling maritime traffic through this critical waterway.

LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned ships to keep to a route passing through its territorial waters when crossing the Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz as traffic on Thursday remained well below 10% of normal volumes.

— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) April 9, 2026

As mentioned, MQ-4Cs have already been flying regular surveillance patrols in the region for years now. There were separate rumors of a Triton going down in the Gulf of Oman back on February 22. That also followed the disappearance of one of the drones from online flight tracking sites after squawking 7700. However, no rapid loss of altitude was recorded in that case.

A U.S. official subsequently told TWZ that reports of an MQ-4C loss on or about February 22 were “not true.” Open-source flight-tracking site Flightradar24 also posted a pointed statement on X on February 27 saying that they had tracked the Triton returning to a base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The very next day, U.S. and Israeli forces launched their combined operation against Iran.

US official told me this morning those claims were “not true.”

— Howard Altman (@haltman) February 27, 2026

Flightradar24’s post on February 27 also highlighted general gaps in tracking coverage in the region. Deliberate GPS jamming and other types of electronic interference are also common in the region, and even more so in the context of the latest conflict with Iran.

As noted, Iran has demonstrated an ability to target higher-flying U.S. drones in the past with the shootdown of the BAMS-D. That incident prompted significant questions about the survivability of Global Hawk and its derivatives, though these drones were never designed for missions into contested territory.

Smoke Trail From Shot Down Global Hawk

After some five weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran’s air defense capabilities have been substantially degraded, but they do still present real threats, at least in certain envelopes. That being said, to be clear, there are no hard indications whatsoever that hostile fire was in any way a factor in whatever happened to the MQ-4C flying over the Persian Gulf today. The status of that drone, in general, remains unknown.

Still, incidents like this are likely to continue to draw immense attention, at least for the immediate future, amid the shaky ceasefire between the United States and Iran. That arrangement is currently set to remain in place for two weeks, and there is great uncertainty about what may happen afterward. Negotiations about a more lasting end to the recent hostilities are set to begin in Pakistan this weekend.

We will continue to provide more details about the fate of the MQ-4C if and when they become available.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

A new route to the Italian city means Brits can indulge their love of cheese and even book a factory tour and tasting, as well as enjoying the historic sights in this sun-soaked destination

A new Ryanair route has launched from London-Stansted and it’s the perfect city break for those who love cheese, or Italian food in general.

Booking is now open for London to Parma flights, with the first of the twice-weekly flights taking off on June 4. The service will run on Thursdays and Sundays, making it the perfect route for a long weekend, and the flight time is just under two hours. Fares start from £20.95 one way.

Parma is found in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region and is a major foodie city thanks to two of its most famous products that are enjoyed around the world. Firstly, the pungent Parmesan cheese comes from this city, and there are a number of factories and tours you can take which end with cheese tastings. You can even visit the Museo del Parmigiano-Reggiano just outside the city and learn about the history of cheesemaking in the area.

Prosciutto di Parma, or Parma ham as Brits tend to call it, also hails from this region. There are a few Prosciuttificio around the city where you can see the giant legs dangling from the ceiling as they go through the curing process for months on end. Some Prosciuttificio have cafes attached where you can enjoy platters of prosciutto and cheese served alongside a glass of Italian wine.

Parma is a walkable city, and many tourists start of at the old town, known as Centro Storico. Down its narrow medieval streets you’ll find impressive Romanesque architecture, colourful terraced houses, and cobbled town squares full of cafés.

At the heart of the old town is Piazza del Duomo, and here you’ll find the 900-year old gothic cathedral and 12th-century Bishop’s Palace which was built with repurposed Roman stone blocks.

Other incredible architectural sites include Teatro Farnese, one of Europe’s largest Baroque theatres, built entirely in timber. This grand auditorium dates back to the 17th century and the elaborate wood carvings are a testament to the craftsmanship of the time. Parma was the birthplace of composer Verdi, so there’s usually a packed schedule of operas and classical concerts across its historic theatres.

Music lovers can also visit the fascinating House of Sound, a museum that is focused on how technology developed for music, from the creation of the gramophone and radio to modern music devices. The museum also features 228 speakers, grouped in 64 audio channels, which allow visitors to experience ‘sound rains’ as they move around.

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Parma has a huge number of restaurants, including two with Michelin stars, making it the perfect destination for foodies. There are endless Trattoria and Osteria found down narrow streets where you can experience authentic, inexpensive Italian cuisine. Osteria dei Servi comes highly recommended, and you can dine in this cosy restaurant among the hanging prosciutto legs while choosing specials from the chalkboard.

Trattoria Corrieri has a similarly rustic Italian feel. One page of the menu is devoted to prosciutto and other cured meats, and local ingredients are the cornerstone of this cosy Italian restaurant, which has been open since the 1800s.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A flight attendant has shared the little-known reason passengers are welcomed onboard planes – and it has nothing to do with manners

A flight attendant has lifted the lid on a trade secret about the moment passengers board a plane. The little known fact explains why passengers are welcomed at the aircraft doors during boarding.

Most air travellers are well acquainted with the customary warm reception at the plane doors, which typically involves broad smiles and even some direction on locating their allocated seat. The most widespread assumption is that this is simply a display of good customer service, with the flight attendants, the public face of any airline, setting the tone with courtesy and decency.

Another presumption is that the welcome is intended to set passengers up for an enjoyable flight experience, or perhaps verify boarding passes one last time. However, one serving flight attendant claims that hospitality is not the primary driving force behind the warm greeting. The genuine reason for the friendly reception is to carry out a visual assessment of passengers from head to toe before take-off.

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In a now- viral TikTok clip, MrsMiva – who claims to work for TUI out of Stuttgart airport – has revealed that flight attendants use the boarding process to assess whether passengers are fit to fly. According to the content creator, flight attendants are checking to establish whether passengers may be “too drunk or sick to fly”.

In the caption accompanying the video, MrsMiva also clarifies that the greeting enables attendants to identify who could potentially assist in the event of an emergency. The video has been watched over 18 million times and sparked a flurry of discussion in the comments.

Numerous users confirmed they’ve definitely experienced the cabin crew greeting and that the reasoning behind it makes perfect sense. One commenter who purported to be a long-serving attendant verified the policy as well, writing: “FA (flight attendant) of eight years – or to check if they could be an ABA (able-bodied assistant).”

The comments also started to diverge into the various types of cabin crew passengers had come across. Some remarked they had “really chill” attendants, while others noted theirs were supportive when they were in poor health to travel.

Being able-bodied and physically capable is essential for passengers seated adjacent to emergency exit doors, which is potentially why attendants verify this at the entrance. Emergency exit seats are highly sought-after given that they provide additional legroom and have no row ahead of them.

That being said, occupying these seats means that a passenger must be willing and capable of helping cabin crew in the improbable event of an emergency. For this reason, Ryanair’s terms and conditions stipulate that it “can change your allocated seats at any time, even if you had reserved it, if we need to do this for operational, safety or security reasons.”

According to the airline’s regulations, passengers wishing to occupy rows 1, 16, or 17, where emergency exits are situated, must fulfil specific requirements. These include being aged over 16, being physically capable of assisting during an emergency, travelling without an infant, not requiring any special assistance at the airport, not needing a seat belt extender, and not having an extra comfort seat reserved.

Should the added responsibility of emergency exit seats not appeal to you, there are alternative methods to guarantee extra legroom while on board.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

If you think people can be disgusting inside planes, flight attendants can confirm they’ve seen things that could well make you rethink how you fly and if you ever want to hop onto a plane again

Flight attendants are no strangers to weird experiences – especially seeing as they spend hours with hundreds of people every day. But in between nice interactions and friendly exchanges are moments that are memorable for all the most disgusting reasons.

Travel + Leisure has featured a video that asked cabin crew about their best behind-the-scenes insight into plane life, and some interviewees reminisced on shocking incidents – including some that show just how unhygienic planes can be.

Joy, a flight attendant of six years, told the story of the worst thing she’s witnessed mid-flight: “The grossest thing I’ve seen is someone putting their feet up on a tray table.”

But it gets worse: “I’ve actually had someone stand up, their pants fall down, and they have sat back down in the seat without pulling their pants back up – on the seat. It gets cleaned in between the flights. Fine. But bare naked bum…”

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She also commented on one common habit she sees: “Please don’t let your toddler go to the lavatory barefoot. There’s pee everywhere in there. It’s not your living room. It’s not – this is a plane. It’s not your house. It’s not your couch.”

Another air steward, Luke, detailed his process of getting his plane seat ready to use. He approaches his seat with Clorox wipes and gives it a good going over, from top to bottom, making sure to thoroughly clean the tray table as well.

Besides these reports of unsavory incidents, the aviation workers mentioned certain moments that they hoped would prompt passengers to reflect on their behavior on flights, since small mistakes can impact both staff and passengers’ experiences.

Amara, who has been working in the industry for three years, said passengers are often keen to tell her that they know how things should be done on a plane, because they regularly fly.

However, often these passengers are the most troublesome and end up doing annoying things like taking phone calls in mid-air.

After four years of experience, Jorge highlighted the biggest mistake he sees passengers regularly making. For him, it’s assuming that flight attendants will help passengers lift a bag into the bins above the seats. On most airlines, they are forbidden from doing so due to the physical risk it would pose to them.

If you realise too late that you went slightly overboard with packing, the crew can arrange for them to be checked in instead, Jorge added.

Recently a flight attendant told eShores about the little lies that they tell passengers, for their own good.

“When a business class passenger asks for a coffee on a night flight, I’ll make a decaf coffee just so that they can fall asleep,” they said.

But that’s not the sole untruth passengers might encounter. Aircraft cabins are notoriously frigid, yet should you request the attendants warm things up slightly, you might well be misled.

They admitted: “When passengers ask to have the temperature of the cabin turned up, we lie and say yes, we will turn it up, but really we don’t because we get warm walking around.”