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NI Travel News Raises Vital Funds for Local Domestic Violence Charity


January 2026 Theme-Park Giant Universal Celebrates Planning


Permission Approval for Proposed UK Site UNIVERSAL Destinations and Experiences has confirmed that plans for its newest entertainment resort complex have been approved. In a lettered update, the theme- park giant confirmed plans to bring its complex featuring a theme park to Bedford was approved following its request submitted to The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Planning permission had been submitted back in April of this year, after purchasing significant land back in December 2023.


for and such


‘While there are still further steps to complete, including a statutory parliamentary review period,


this decision represents another important milestone for the project.’ Thompson,


Stated Page President of New


Ventures, Universal Destinations & Experiences. Continuing, Thompson said,


‘On behalf of the company, I want to express my sincere appreciation


the local continued


engagement from Bedford and the various communities surrounding our site, as well as the many other national


who have provided feedback and expressed


enthusiasm


stakeholders on


the transformative nature of our project. In the months ahead, we are committed to sharing progress as well as what to expect including job opportunities and how local businesses and suppliers can potentially work with us.’ The project is expected to bring around 20,000 new jobs to the area with, approximately, 80% of those to come form Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. The project is also speculated to bring £50bn of direct and indirect financial contribution to the UK.


The complex would become the


first of its kind across the UK and Europe.


NI Travel News has raised funds for Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland throughout the year. Women’s Aid Federation provides necessary


care and support to women all across the province – as a company with a predominately female workforce, we found it imperative to help support women as much as possible as any one of us could be in need and require these services at any point in our lives. Each year, NI Travel News as a company raises funds at a number of events for different charities – this year we decided to use our efforts for one annual charity – Women’s Aid Federation.


Throughout the year the NI Travel Trade Event’s team hosted donation drives at a multitude of


events including both Spring


and Autumn On Tour Roadshows, The Big Travel Trade Event and the 33rd NI Travel &


Jet2holidays to Offer Family Trips with Eurocamp in 2026


JET2HOLIDAYS has launched its latest partnership to encourage active, family holidays across Europe. Teaming up with popular holiday specialist Eurocamp, outdoor holidays across Europe will elevate Jet2holidays’ offering, seeing the company launch a new Holiday Parks product line.


This announcement means Jet2holidays customers can book a holiday at a Eurocamp park with Jet2holidays for the first time, with holidays throughout France, Italy and Croatia available from Summer 2026.


As well as the accommodation and car hire, all holidays come with bed linen and towels, and home comforts such as comfortable beds, warm showers, well-equipped kitchens and private outdoor space, plus most parks include an end-of-stay clean. Two and three-bedroom mobile homes will come as standard along with a range of entertainment and activities. The parks also feature well-equipped accommodation. facilities and activities, as well as on-site dining and self-catering options, with some mobile homes also having BBQs. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays,


said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Eurocamp and to be bring Jet2holidays’ award


Tourism Awards. The team also wanted to focus on awareness for the charity, hosting an ’empowerment’ Afternoon Tea, which was open to all trade partners, family and friends. This event brought females together, enjoying a sparkling wine reception followed by afternoon tea courtesy of The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast. We were also delighted to welcome Women’s Aid local representative Karen, who shared stories and insights into the lives of so many facing hardship, and the vital help Women’s Aid provides across the province.As the year comes to a close, NI Travel News is delighted to


announce that throughout 2025.


The team at NI Travel News want to personally thank Karen Devlin and the team at Women’s Aid NI for their support throughout the year, along with the generous donations of so many from the travel trade and public.


AER Lingus has unveiled expansion on its European and transatlantic network with six brand-new routes launching next year.


Taking off in time for summer 2026, the airline will commence three new short- haul services from Dublin. Commencing May 2026, the airline will also launch a new service to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The new route brings the total number of routes Aer Lingus operates from Ireland to North America to twenty-four. The new Aer Lingus’ Dublin- Pittsburgh route will operate four-times


weekly on an


Airbus A321neo LR aircraft from 25th May.


winning service to even more customers and helping them to have wonderful holidays. The launch gives customers the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable outdoor holidays across Europe with Jet2holidays, including all the benefits of booking an award-winning package holiday with the UK’s largest tour operator. This product signals the start of a very exciting new chapter for us, offering customers and independent travel agents even more choice when it comes to booking a well-deserved getaway. We know just how popular Eurocamp is, and we are very confident that its appeal, together with the perks of a Jet2holidays package, will mean that


this new proposition is a huge success.”


In addition to enhancing its transatlantic operations, Aer Lingus will introduce an expanded European network for summer 2026. Aer Lingus’ network from Dublin will increase with routes to new destinations including Norway’s capital city, Oslo, Montpellier in the south of France, and Asturias, a hidden gem located on Spain’s Galician northern coast.


Susanne Carberry, Chief


Customer Officer, Aer Lingus highlighted,


“Aer Lingus is


committed to connecting Ireland with a range of diverse


destinations across Europe and North America.” Carberry continued, “We are particularly pleased to add Pittsburgh to our transatlantic network, having worked closely with partners in the region to make this a possibility.”


Commenting on the new transatlantic route, Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said, “The Pittsburgh region’s connections to Ireland run deep – both in today’s strong business market and ancestral ties – and this is a route that community leaders have been seeking. We are thrilled to have a partner in Aer Lingus that will serve Pittsburgh’s growing market for nonstop service to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh.”


The airline has collaborated closely


the region,


with partners in including


the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,


International Airport and VisitPITTSBURGH,


Pittsburgh to


successfully launch this new service, which will strengthen the cultural,


sporting, and


business connections between Ireland and Pennsylvania.


£11.442.64 was raised


New Transatlantic Route Included in Aer Lingus Summer 2026 Schedule From Dublin


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