14 | UPDATES
JF Travel Acquires Northcoast Travel Agency
JF TRAVEL has confirmed acquisition of Northcoast Travel. The acquisition takes JF Travel to four stores provincewide. Speaking on the latest news, Managing director Jonny fielding said, “I am delighted to confirm the takeover of Northcoast Travel. As a local man who grew up in the area, this is a business I know well, and taking ownership means a great deal to me personally and professionally. “When Jenny and I began discussions a few months ago regarding the future of Northcoast Travel, I was honoured that she placed her trust in me to take the business forward. This acquisition represents a strong and strategic move for JF Travel, strengthening our presence while ensuring Northcoast Travel continues to operate with the values it has always stood for. “In a world increasingly dominated by large national multiples, it is vital that local, family- run businesses are protected while remaining competitive. Under JF Travel’s ownership, increased buying power will allow Northcoast travel to offer more competitive pricing, while maintaining the personal, local service its customers value.” Northcoast Travel becomes the first store to open
after both Magherafelt and Ballymena stores back in 2024.
Jonny continued, “To the clients of Northcoast Travel , I want to reassure you that the same experienced staff remain in place, now supported by the wider JF Travel team. North Coast will continue to operate locally, with added strength, stability, and opportunity for future growth. I am incredibly excited about the future of Northcoast Travel and what it can achieve as part of the JF Travel Family moving forward.”
STANSTED and Heathrow have recorded 2025 as their ‘busiest year ever’ as passenger numbers rise following a strong demand for travel. Both airports reported a surge in passenger footfall with Stansted Airport’s passenger traffic surpassing their 30 million milestone
Etihad Airways Celebrates 21% Passenger Increase in 2025
ETIHAD Airways carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 21% year-on-year and the highest annual total in the airline’s history. Passenger load factor for the full year reached 88.3%, up two percentage points compared with 2024, reflecting strong commercial performance throughout the year.
The airline closed the year on a high
note, carrying 2.2 million passengers in December, up 28% compared with the same month in 2024. Passenger load factor for the month reached 87.6%, maintaining consistently high utilisation during the peak end-of-year travel period. At year-end, Etihad’s operating fleet stood at 127 aircraft,
projected airline traffic growth across the country, reflecting the airline’s central role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism and economic ambitions. Antonoaldo Neves,
Officer of Etihad Airways, said:
“2025 was a year of strong growth for Etihad. We carried more than 22 million passengers – the highest annual total in our history – while improving our service, product and customer satisfaction across the year.
following the
addition of 29 aircraft during 2025 – the largest single-year fleet expansion in the airline’s history. This growth included the introduction of the Airbus A321LR, extending Etihad’s premium cabin product to a wider range of short- and medium-haul destinations and supporting continued network expansion. Etihad’s growth in 2025 accounted for approximately
half of total passenger growth in the UAE, based on reported
“Closing the year with a record December reflects the confidence our customers place in our product and service. With the largest fleet in Etihad’s history, of 127 aircraft, Etihad is better positioned than ever to welcome more visitors to Abu Dhabi and deliver extraordinary travel experiences for our guests across a rapidly expanding network. “The year’s achievements reflect our
team’s execution and our customers’ confidence in our premium service. Thank you for your commitment and trust. As we move into 2026, we remain committed to safety, customer service and sustainable growth that benefits Abu Dhabi and the communities we serve.”
Aer Lingus’ New Route To Mexico Takes Off From Dublin Airport
AER Lingus’ new route flight to Cancún, Mexico has officially taken off from Dublin Airport.
The new route which was announced back in May 2025, is set to operate 3 times weekly on the airline’s A330-300 aircraft. This new direct service will operate until 29th April 2026.
Speaking on the new route, Susanne
Carberry, Chief Customer Officer, said “Located on the Mexican Caribbean, Cancún is the ideal destination for those looking for a unique winter escape. With its rich history, golden beaches and clear waters and research highlights, Cancún caters to the growing consumer demand for winter sun, while also offering a rich blend of history, culture, and cuisine.”
Carlos Trueba Coll, Director of Cancún Airport said: “On behalf of everyone at Cancún International Airport, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Aer Lingus and thank you for choosing us as part of your destination network. We are confident that the addition of the Cancún–Dublin route will boost cultural and economic exchange between our regions. Welcome home!”
Chief Executive
Local Travel Agent Thompson Travel International Host Holiday Showcase
NI Travel News visited Thompson Travel International Holiday Showcase on Tuesday 6th January in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown.
The show seen over 45 Travel Companies
come together to talk tot he public about their holiday plans, alongside the exhibit the show offered Info Sessions on multiple travel destinations, activities and tours. The show also saw an exclusive Disney Destinations Lounge.
A massive congratulations to Sharon, Jason and the Thompson Travel team for their successful event.
International
www.nitravelnews.com
February 2026
London Airports Mark 2025 as Their ‘Busiest Year Ever’
Guinness Galore: Dublin Airport’s 2025 in Numbers
for the first time. While London’s Heathrow welcomed over 84 million passengers in 2025. The increased footfall and passenger increase comes after the additional new routes from air lines, seat capacity increases, and the growing demand for
leisure and business trips.
PASSENGERS at Dublin Airport devoured an Irish breakfast every 50 seconds on average during 2025, according to new end-of-year figures released by airport operator daa. DAA’s stats have also shown that the airport’s bars sold more than 1.2 million pints of Guinness and almost 3 million cups of tea and coffee during the year. The top-selling crisp sold in the airport this year was Ireland’s old favourite – Tayto, with more than 550,000 packets sold. DAA has also released the statistics at
the end of what has been a record year for passenger numbers at Ireland’s main airport. Final passenger numbers for 2025 will be published shortly, however the year is likely to have seen more than 35 million passengers having passed through Dublin Airport on around 240,000 flights. Passengers checked in a total of 9 million suitcases, weighing more than 127,000 tones – the equivalent of 21,000 male African elephants. The most popular passenger names in the year were John and Mary. According to Graeme McQueen, Head of
Media Relations at daa: “2025 has been a record year at Dublin Airport and we’re delighted to see our passenger satisfaction ratings at an all-time high, with the team working tirelessly to send passengers on their way with smiles on their faces. The consistent uptick in passenger happiness levels over the past three years follows the continuous rollout of improvements in the terminals, all based on feedback from passengers. “This year has seen the introduction
of new lounges, the extension of our Drop & Go parking product to Terminal 1 and the rollout of many new food and drink outlets in both terminals, including the San Marco Italian restaurant and Pret A Manger outlet in Terminal 1, and the new Ryan’s Irish bar in Terminal 2. This year also saw us complete the multi- million euro rollout of new cutting edge C3 scanners in both terminals,
which
enabled us to remove the old 100ml liquid limit once and for all.”
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