- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Plane News Weekly
21 June 2026
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Plane Geek
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running and funds my ongoing airport lounge "research." Thanks for your support!
Note: I'm not a financial advisor, just sharing my personal experiences and travel tips.
Welcome aboard this week's Plane News Weekly, your Sunday roundup of airline news, loyalty updates, route launches, flight deals and Plane Honest travel experiences.
This week got me thinking...
Are we entering a new golden age of travel? I know that sounds dramatic.
Flights are still expensive. Airport sandwiches still require a small mortgage. But look at what's happening. London to Zanzibar is finally getting direct flights.
Phuket is becoming easier to reach. Bangkok is returning to Manchester.
And after decades of rumours, delays and aviation daydreams, direct London to Sydney flights are finally starting to feel real.
For the last few months airlines were shrinking and cutting routes. Retreating to their biggest hubs. Playing it safe. Now? They seem ambitious again. For travellers willing to stay informed, new routes often mean one thing:
Opportunity.
Cheaper fares.
More competition.
Less hassle.
And sometimes access to destinations that were previously awkward or expensive to reach.
Let's get airborne. I'm actually writing this week's newsletter from the new Suite by Aspire Lounge at Newcastle Airport. So far, I'm very impressed. Excellent service, great cocktails and surprisingly good food. Full review coming soon.
Boarding Announcements, Airline Updates & Loyalty News
Save £30 On Wizz Air With American Express
Wizz Air and American Express have revived one of the better travel cashback offers currently available. Spend £150 with Wizz Air before 7 August and receive £30 cashback.
That's double last year's offer. The promotion is available to the first 60,000 eligible cardholders who register. Flights qualify. Inflight purchases qualify.
Hotels, car hire and airport parking only count if purchased within the same transaction as a flight booking.
As somebody who spends far too much time searching Wizz Air fares, this is one of the more useful travel offers I've seen recently.
Qantas Quietly Cancels Planned London First Lounge
Remember the highly anticipated Qantas First Lounge that was supposed to arrive in London? Well...It now appears the project has quietly been shelved.
The lounge had been expected to become one of Europe's most impressive airline lounges, offering something closer to Sydney's renowned Qantas First Lounge experience.
Instead, travellers may need to wait considerably longer for a true Qantas flagship experience in London.
And Heathrow could certainly benefit from more genuinely premium lounge experiences. Read: The Best Lounges at Heathrow, Ranked from Champagne to Chaos.
Staying with Qantas news...
London To Sydney Is Getting Closer
For decades this has been aviation's holy grail. A direct flight between London and Sydney.
Project Sunrise is expected to launch in October 2027 and will become one of the world's longest commercial flights. Will it be cheap? Probably not.
Will it be one of the most talked-about airline launches of the decade?
Absolutely. The countdown has officially begun.
New Routes Taking Off
2027 Could Be One Of The Most Exciting Years For Travel Yet
If 2026 was the year airlines rebuilt their networks, 2027 looks like the year they start getting ambitious again.
London Gatwick To Phuket Goes Direct
One of the biggest route launches of the year comes from Norse Atlantic.
From 4 December 2026, the airline will launch direct flights between London Gatwick and Phuket.
Direct London Flights To Zanzibar Are Finally Coming
This is the announcement that excited me most. TUI has confirmed direct flights between London Gatwick and Zanzibar from November 2027.
I've visited Zanzibar myself and absolutely loved it. What makes Zanzibar especially interesting is the value. You can still experience genuine luxury without paying Maldives prices.
Jack’s Flight Club is currently FREE for 30 days!
Jack’s Flight Club, 30 Days Free!
If you’re serious about finding flight deals, this is one I genuinely rate.
What you get:
Economy, Premium & Business deals
Error fares
Personalised alerts
No ads + money-back guarantee
I use it and it’s one of the easiest ways to spot deals without doing the hard work yourself.
About Me
I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals and loyalty tips with a Plane Honest perspective.
I test lounges, review flights, and break down what’s actually worth your money, so you can fly smarter, spend less and make the most of your points.
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for exclusive flight deals, loyalty tips, and aviation updates every Sunday. Sign up here.
Final Boarding Call
This week felt different. For years airline news often seemed dominated by cuts, closures and airlines pulling back. This week felt like the opposite. New routes. New destinations.
And perhaps most exciting of all, a glimpse of what travel might look like in 2027.
Direct flights to Phuket.
Direct flights to Zanzibar.
Bangkok becoming easier to reach.
And Sydney finally edging closer.
For travellers willing to stay informed, the next few years could become very interesting indeed.
Until next Sunday, keep collecting points, keep hunting deals and never pay airport prices if a lounge is available nearby.
Mr Plane Guy Let's make travel better.
Comments