Who wants to take a direct 29-hour flight?

How would you handle a 29-hour flight on the same plane?

China Eastern Airlines (MU) will soon give you the chance to find out when it launches what will be the world’s longest direct passenger flight, from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The new route takes off on December 4, 2025, and although a direct service, it will features a layover in Auckland, with passengers remaining on the same aircraft, travel new hub Travel Mole reports.

Passengers traveling between Shanghai and Buenos Aires will apparently be expected to remain on board the aircraft during the stopover.

The service will operate twice weekly, outbound from Shanghai on Mondays and Thursdays, and returning from Buenos Aires on Tuesdays and Fridays.

China Eastern will offer a three-class service of first, business, and economy (which might be quite an ordeal). It plans to operate the service using a Boeing 777-300.

The flight be be completed in 25 1/2 hours with favourable winds, but could last up to 29 hours.  

"Las Vegas will bounce back" says airline chief

Las Vegas will bounce back from its recent slump in tourism numbers, a local airline head has predicted. 

Allegiant Airlines CEO Greg Anderson recognises Las Vegas, where Allegiant is headquartered, has recently seen a decline in visitor numbers with Canadian travellers avoid visiting the US and budget travellers seeing the city as too expensive. 

Anderson, however, told travel news hub Skift that budget carrier Allegiant is still seeing healthy demand for Las Vegas.

 “In terms of Vegas, I know there's been some headlines," Anderson said.

"I’d say for us in Allegiant, there’s been a lot of capacity that’s been pulled out of Vegas from other carriers, particularly some of the low-fare carriers. So I think that comes back overall in Vegas. 

"Vegas, we’re the hometown airline here, and we have a real strong position in the community in and around Vegas. We’re seeing some success here in Vegas, and we’ll continue to keep a close eye on it, as well as Florida and other areas throughout the network.

"It’s a resilient city, and they’ll continue to find ways to adapt to the environment. And long term, I think Vegas will continue to do very well. It’s in category one when it comes to your leisure destinations.”

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) recently released its numbers for July visitors, noting a 12% drop from last year, Fox News reported.

There were 3,089,300 visitors this July compared to over 3.5 million last year, while hotel occupancy on the Las Vegas strip dropped 7% from 86.5% last year.

To save money, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino has announced it will be abandoning live dealers, shifting to electronic table games. A sign of things to come?

New vineyard accommodation in the Geelong wine region

There is a new vineyard getaway in the Geelong wine region with the opening of Vintners Lodge @ Clyde Park. 

   
Vintners Lodge is described as French-inspired accommodation with "the most superb vineyard and valley views in the region". 

The restored century-old house is a stone's throw from the vines and each of the three bedrooms (The Baroque Room, La Rose and The Stag Room) has its own personality. 

The residence is decorated with European antiques and a 120-year-old mirror from Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne. 

There are two wood fireplaces inside, the original flooring has been preserved and the outdoor bath and fire pit complete the picture. 

Think complimentary homemade baked goods, orchard fruit and Clyde Park wine on arrival, and the accommodation sleeps up to six (or eight if you use the sofa bed). See https://clydepark.com.au/

Image: Wildheart Photography

There is also a new cellar door in the region with the opening of Blame Mabel (formerly Staughton Vale Vineyard) in the Moorabool Valley. 

Blame Mabel is also a boutique getaway with three cabins (above) and a farmhouse set on 30 acres among the vines on Mount Anakie. Mabel is the resident boxer dog. 

The pet-friendly cellar door is open to the public but if you book to stay on site, you get your own key so you can come and go as you please. 

The cellar door offers Blame Mabel wine as well as other local drops; it has an indoor fireplace, small farm shop, board games and books. https://www.blamemabel.com/

Majella brings an old tradition back to Coonawarra

Majella Wines recently released the first brandy in Coonawarra for more than 70 years. And I can report that the Majella Pot Still Brandy is delicious.

After taking small first steps by making a gin and an eau de vie, the Majella team is now fully into the swing of distilling at its own on-site dsitillery, 

“In the early 1900s, as demand for dry red wine declined, Coonawarra producers turned to distillation to manage surplus harvests, ” said Majella director Brian "Prof" Lynn.

Brandy production was common in Coonawarra until the late 1940s – when the tradition slowly dissipated. 

Crafted from estate-grown grapes (cabernet sauvignon and shiraz) and distilled in the classic Cognac style with oak maturation, the first-ever Majella Brandy is a celebration of heritage. 

Prof tells me he doesn't like the word "smooth" to describe brandy, so I offer the options of mellifluous, or harmonious. 

“The brandy is unadulterated - no additives, no artificial colourings - just a pure, elegant spirit that honours the craft and the land from which it came,” Lynn says.

“This brandy represents both a nod to the past and a step forward for our family winery. We’re thrilled to bring brandy back to Coonawarra and share a piece of its forgotten history.”

There are only a few hundred bottles in the initial release and I suspect they may be snapped up fairly quickly. 

The brandy costs $95 for a 500ml bottle - and has become my favourite post-dinner tipple. 

Each bottle is presented in a custom-designed Majella gift box. See https://www.majellawines.com.au/wines/brandy

On Garde as new Fremantle hotel opens its doors

The West Australian port city of Fremantle is having a moment.

Fremantle was this month named Australia's Top Tourism Town at the Australian Top Tourism Town awards, and has also welcomed the opening of a new hotel.

The Garde hotel, one of the state's most-anticipated accommodation openings of 2025, is now officially checking-in guests.

Located in Fremantle's convict quarter, Garde comprises 83 new rooms and suites, a spa and wellness offering, along with Anglesea, a ground-floor restaurant serving a Japanese and Korean fusion menu.

The newly-opened rooms, combined with the existing Warders Cottages accommodation, bring the total room count to 106.

The former Warders Hotel recently re-branded to Garde, signalling the connection between both properties and marking the new chapter.

Historic Fremantle is home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, the much-loved Fremantle Markets, lively Fishing Boat Harbour, and a thriving restaurant and cafe scene.

It's also known for its rich maritime history and is home to the WA Shipwrecks Museum and WA Maritime Museum.

Low-cost airline carrier cuts back on flights

Planning a European trip with low-cost airline Wizz Air? 

It might pay to make sure your travel insurance is up to date and to have a back-up plan. 

Wizz Air continues to rationalise its network and close bases as it faces financial difficulties, travel news hub Travel Mole reported this week.

Wizz this week announced the gradual closure of its base in Vienna, following a strategic review of its operations and fleet allocation.

The process will take place in two phases: two routes and two planes, serving Bilbao and London Gatwick, will be withdrawn on October 26. Three remaining aircraft and the rest of the routes from the Austrian capital will cease operation on March 15, 2026.

Wizz Air launched its Vienna hub in 2018 and it has been one of the most important bases for the carrier in Central Europe. Vienna’s current fleet comprises five Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Operating 28 routes to 20 countries, the fleet reflects the strong position Wizz Air has achieved in Austria.

Since the inception of Wizz Air’s Vienna base, however, airport costs and taxes have increased significantly.

Operating from Vienna has become incompatible with the airline’s ultra-low-cost business model, Wizz Air management said in a statement.

"The airport cost base in Vienna, as well as taxes and ground handling services, has risen significantly since our launch, making continued operations unsustainable," managing director Mauro Peneda said.

Founded in 2002 and based in Hungary, the airline group has its largest hubs at airports in Budapest, Bucharest and London Luton Airport. It currently flies to 194 airports and has a fleet of over 220 aircraft.

In July this year, the company announced the suspension of its operations from Abu Dhabi, saying it was caused by geopolitical turmoil, supply chain constraints, and regulatory barriers.

All flights to the region ceased on September 1.