TUI Group is seeing its first near-breakeven quarterly result since the onset of Covid-19, expecting strong demand for travel to generate positive results full year.

Global air travel was back on track in June reaching 70.8% of pre-Covid-19 levels and driven by strong passenger demand despite the challenging times for the sector.

Global tourism managed in the first five months of the year to recover almost 50% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels with Europe leading the way.

Hotels in the Greek capital are still struggling to increase occupancy levels, which suffered a blow after the onset of Covid-19, according to the Athens-Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association.

Increasing international arrivals to Greece boosted travel receipts by 536.4% in May and by 547.9% in January‑May exceeding respective 2021 levels.

Greek airports recouped 90.6% of passenger traffic in the first six months of the year compared to the first half of 2019, according to data by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

IATA has expressed concern that a “premature return” to pre-pandemic slot use rules for airlines in the EU this winter risks continuing disruption to passengers.

People need to travel and when governments remove Covid-19 restrictions, they do, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Strong desire for travel is boosting air travel, but poor management of Covid-19 is still impacting the sector’s recovery, according to IATA.

A total of 9.5 million flights are expected in Europe this year recouping 85% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, said Eurocontrol, revising a previous forecast downward from 89%.

Unhindered by news about Covid-19 variants or by rising airfares and hotel rates, 46% of Americans are planning their next getaway, says Deloitte’s latest survey.

Thessaloniki is among the Top 50 International Convention Cities for 2021 having jumped 23 places, according to the latest ICCA ranking.