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The post Domestic Airfares Increased Significantly This Month appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

In Australia, domestic airfares skyrocketed in August due to soaring jet fuel costs and general inflation.

There was a 3.3% increase from July to August in the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ (BITRE) domestic economy airfare index, as reported in their most recent report.

With Australia entering its first COVID shutdown in April 2020, this is the highest monthly increase before airlines began operating skeleton networks for necessary travel only in May 2020.

There was a similar 2.9 percent increase in business class tickets from July to August.

As aeroplane fuel prices have reached unprecedented highs, both Qantas and Rex have indicated that they may soon be compelled to increase flights.

Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, indicated in March that the company had hedged around 90% of the fuel it needed until the end of June and 50% of its requirements for the September quarter and that the company would ultimately need to hike airfares to pay for its increased expenses.

“Hedging gives us time to react to that higher fuel price,” he said. “Unfortunately, if we stay at these levels, airfares are going to have to go up, we’re going to have to pass them on.”

If the price of jet fuel rises by US$4 a barrel, he said, the airline will have to raise fares by 1%.

It also comes after inflation rose to its highest level in decades at 6.1 per cent in June.

Although airfare has been on the rise for the past few months, the number of people using airports to travel within Australia has been on the rise as well.

July saw a 5 percent increase in domestic passengers, whilst, in May, there were 4.66 million domestic passengers in Australia, an increase of over 700,000 from April and nearly 91% above pre-pandemic levels.

Nonetheless, airports around the country have been overburdened by fast-growing passenger numbers due to an underlying manpower shortfall, resulting in long lines at airport check-in and security areas and an increase in the frequency with which flights are delayed or cancelled.

Specifically, June was the worst month on record for flight delays and cancellations for Australian airlines, worse even than the previous record-low result established just two months before.

As the month progressed, the industry struggled with severe disruption due to ongoing staff shortages post-pandemic. The problems in June were exacerbated by the increased traffic caused by the mid-year school holiday and by extreme weather occurrences, like flash floods in New South Wales.

Only 63% of flights in June landed on time, while only 61% left on time, according to a second BITRE assessment.

Meanwhile, 5.8% of flights were cancelled last month, which is nearly three times as much as the long-term cancellation average.

Over 40% of all flights flown were delayed in June, and the Qantas Group was once again the worst performer, cancelling 8.1% of all scheduled flights.

Virgin cancelled 5.8% of its flights but had the best proportion of on-time arrivals (62.4%) for the month.

Rex’s performance was superior, with a 0.7% cancellation rate and an 82.7% departure on-time rate.

The post Domestic Airfares Increased Significantly This Month appeared first on Travel Daily.

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The post If you miss Japan, better watch Bullet Train movie appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

In cinemas as of the 3rd of August, the story begins in Tokyo where several assassins and hitmen find themselves heading towards Kyoto with somehow connected objectives. As the film progresses and the high-speed train makes its way across the prefectures of Shizuoka, Aichi, Shiga and Kyoto, notice nods to the mountainous country’s ancient history and culture.

Japanese culture

Early in the film, the story introduces viewers to Yuru-kyara mascots, a Japanese term used to describe a character created to signify a prefecture, town, event or business. Most also have a design with cultural or historical meaning. Momonga is Bullet Train’s Yuru-kyara, and like the Hello Kitty and Pokémon carriages that exist in real life, there is a dedicated Momonga carriage featured as well as many references to it. Visit the Kumamoto prefecture on the southerly island of Kyushu, and tourists will most likely meet the Kuma-mon bear with charmingly rosy cheeks who is often accompanied by a security team. Another famously popular mascot is Domo-Kun, the official mascot of the Japanese public broadcaster NHK, who represents the station everywhere from the back of buses to as a lego piece.

Food

Crossing into the Shizuoka prefecture, south of the mainland and known for its overwhelming views of Mount Fuji, the Bullet Train makes its way to the home of Wasabi. With the most bullet train stops of any prefecture in Japan, it’s unsurprising that Shizuoka makes its debut in the film. Tourists can step off at a Shizuoka station to see the famous view of Mount Fuji from Miho Bay, or try the signature horseradish flavour that spices up the snack Brad Pitt’s character, Ladybug, loves; Wasabi Peas. In Japan, these will be found at ‘izakaya’ and are commonly made using dried edamame beans as opposed to peas, while the flavour is also commonly used in meals such as sushi and sashimi.

Another type of food which makes its way into the film due to its origins is the orange, most notably through one memorable scene with the protagonist ‘Tangerine’. The South of Japan in and around the Seto Inland Sea can boast a Mediterranean-like climate and is therefore ideal for fruit and olive oil production. The ‘Mikan’ mandarin orange is easy to peel and has little to no seeds, growing in the Ehime and Wakayama prefectures. Visitors here and to the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail nearby may find themselves being handed one of the citruses as a refreshing snack, but they are also very common around New Year celebrations when they ripen to their sweetest, atop a traditional Kagami Mochi rice cake.

History

Today’s pop culture doesn’t exist without trends, stories and people of the past, and as one of the oldest nations in the world, Japan is a country full of history to delve into. In one of the film’s explosive fights, a Japanese gang of Katana-fighters and their leader The White Devil step in, dressed in Japanese business suits and masks. ‘Uchigatana’ is the term used to describe this type of one-handed sword, while the masks worn known as ‘menpo or men-yoroi’ date back to feudal era Japan. This type of suit meant to resemble a demon was used to provoke fear and was worn by warriors and notably the warlord Date Masamune of Sendai, whose jet-black armour inspired George Lucas for the creation of Darth Vader’s helmet and suit. Tourists can embody these ancient warriors with the chance to wear armour and try sword fighting in the Nisshinkan Samurai School in Aizu-Wakamatsu. If the more creative side of fighting is more appealing, watch the craftsmanship behind Japanese sword making in the City of Blades, Seki, in Gifu prefecture, with 26th-generation sword makers.

The post If you miss Japan, better watch Bullet Train movie appeared first on Travel Daily.

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