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6 Charming Casetta Boutique Hotels To Visit Now & In 2025

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Casetta Group’s Casa Cody

One of the most popular hospitality groups in California for travelers seeking hotels that tell a story is Casetta. Their team has been providing Californians and those visiting the Golden State, with personalized leisure experiences, elevated service, and appealing design elements. Their ultimate getaway properties include Casa Cody in Palm Springs, The Pearl Hotel in San Diego, and The Surfrider in Malibu.

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With their success, they have been taking over other iconic properties to install new life into the structures. They are building new dining concepts and renovating the grounds. With an art-focus approach, the Casetta team embraces localization in design elements and culinary offerings. By preserving the historic integrity of each property, they modernize each one with a focus on eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Casetta in Italian translates to ‘Little House’ or ‘Lodge’ and Casa Cody in Palm Springs is the quintessential Casetta. Known as the oldest operating hotel in town, this property was founded by female pioneer, Harriet Cody, in the 1920s. Her legendary cousin, celebrity William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody, helped put this place on travelers’ maps. Guests will see historical family photos and artwork enhancing the desert storytelling ambiance.

Casseta’s Casa Cody. Photo Jill Weinlein

This property feels like a private desert estate on almost two acres of verdant lawns, citrus trees, and ranch-style guest rooms and stand alone cottages. This has become a popular wedding destination for couples inviting up to 220 guests. 

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Each morning guests recieve a complimentary light breakfast to enjoy by the pool or in their spacious guest room or patio area overlooking the stunning San Jacinto Mountains. Throughout the day, guests enter the Marketplace for local fare and periodic pop-up food and beverage activations.

Guests lounge by the two swimming pools during the day and visit the private hot whirlpool in the evening. The hotel provides bicycles for a spin into Palm Springs for shopping, touring museums and dining under the stars.

The Pearl in San Diego. Photo by Jill Weinlein

The Pearl in San Diego is a fabulous mid-century, two-story hotel with a sparkling blue outdoor pool. Guests relax in lounge chairs on the deck space to soak up the California sunshine during the day. In the evening this area becomes a poolside dining and drinking venue.

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The name of the hotel The Pearl pays homage to female Japanese pearl divers who can hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time. In-room artwork of these remarkable women are displays, as well as ceramics by Wood Metal and Mud, and block prints by Natalie Bessell.

Guests receive a complimentary breakfast spread in the morning at the new dining concept Ponyboy bar. 

The Pearl and Ponyboy. Photo By Jill Weinlein

Ponyboy is the brainchild of Ian Ward, the former Bar Director of 3-star Michelin honored Addison for the last 8 years. As Creative Director of ‘Service Animals’ and General Manager of  Ian works with Danny Romero, Culinary Director for Service Animals.

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Executive Chef Josh Reynolds works with local fishermen, farmers and ranchers to bring the best ingredients onto guests’ plates. Sommelier Kyle South rounds out the dining experience with an impressive array of rare and vintage wines to complement each dish. South is a wine expert and lead sommelier of Addison.

Menu highlights take guests back to a simpler time with Waldorf and ambrosia salads on the menu. Interactive dining includes dipping long and thin metal skewers of fruit, veggies and bread into a cheesy fondue. On some evenings guests can watch a movie on the pool deck as the restaurant is turned into a social club for hotel guests and locals.

The hotel offers guests complimentary bicycles to explore nearby Shelter Island’s waterfront and overlook San Diego Bay and Harbor.

The Surfrider in Malibu. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

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One of the most epic beaches in Malibu, CA is Surfrider Beach. It is located directly across the street from Casetta’s California Beach House-style boutique hotel, The Surfrider.

There are 20 guest rooms and suites in this two story hotel designed with a modern luxe California cultural vibe. Couples staying in one of the two 500-square-foot suites will never want to leave. The Surfrider Suite is ideal for couples seeking a good night’s sleep on a custom designed California King four-poster bed. This luxury suite also has a spa like rain shower, ensuite kitchenette and double-size outdoor terrace with ocean views. Hang out during the day on one of the lounge chairs in comfy Parachute robes, and in the afternoon move onto the hammock.

The only reason to leave the property is to walk across the street to surf, take a walk out to the end of Malibu Pier or stroll on the golden sand as waves tickle one’s toes.

There is also the vaulted ceiling, two-room Malibu Suite with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu Pier and Santa Monica Bay.

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The Exclusive Deck Bar and Restaurant. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

Roof Deck Bar and Restaurant is only for guests staying at the hotel. Soak up the dazzling views of First Point Malibu and beyond while enjoying culinary items and beverages throughout the day.

Farm, ocean and garden to table menu items are complemented with local coffee, Apres surf smoothies, house-made tonics, and chamomile and Manuka honey Hot Toddy’s by the flickering fire pit in the evening. Wines and spirits served in the afternoon and evening are curated from natural and organic vineyards and distilleries. 

Music is important at The Surfrider, and sometimes it’s live. The staff compiles worldly favorite music tracks by in-house and internationally acclaimed surfers to add to the coastal ambiance.

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Hotel Lucile in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

With the success of these properties, Casetta Group has been busy expanding their portfolio of boutique properties.  There are three new properties due to open before the first quarter of 2025.

The Hotel Lucile is located in the hipster neighborhood of Silver Lake. This newly renovated 25-room boutique hotel was once a church built in 1931. Casetta Group has reimagined this space to include a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, plus a rooftop lounge offering spellbinding views of the city.  

Hotel Marina Riviera. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

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Casetta Groups first boutique mountain retreat is Hotel Marina Riviera along the shores of Big Bear Lake. The cabins at this stellar location property are ready for guests right now, however the team is still building out the new lobby, restaurant and outdoor amenities. Check on their website for availability and the grand opening.

Guests will appreciate the ski-lodge design and views of Big Bear Lake. The vintage style guest rooms have nature inspired art hanging on the walls among warm textiles. Similar to all Casetta properties, comfortable dreamy Parachute Home bed and bath linens add a touch of luxury, as does Aesop bath amenities. 

Beyond The Trail is the new bar and intimate lake view dining concept that is scheduled to open hopefully before the end of 2024.

Hotel Marina Riviera provides the charm of the 1960s, with modern cabin design of nostalgia and contemporary comfort. Boating, fishing, skiing, hiking and dining adventures are just outside to experience. Alo Moves provides fitness programming to guests. 

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Hotel Willa in Taos, New Mexico. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

Casetta Group has branched outside of California to Taos, New Mexico. Their new art-forward Hotel Willa is in the heart of Taos, providing an intimate Southwest design perspective and modern travel experiences.

The 51-room motel built in the 1940s, offers guests connections to the vibrant cultural landscape of this architectural landmark. A fresh new perspective of this art-filled hotel in Taos’ historic district, celebrates both local culture and memories of the past.

Inspiration from The Taos Pueblo to The Taos Society of Artists, in addition to influential residents, past and present, all have weaved the texture, culture and fascinating scenery. The immense outdoor space overlooks Couse pasture and nearby mountain ranges.

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This property is scheduled to open the first quarter of 2025.

Hotel Willa. Photo courtesy of Casetta Group

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New EU border rules set to make holidays more expensive

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The new EES rules will likely make your holidays more expensive

IF you’re heading abroad next year, your trip is likely to go up in price because of new border rules being introduced.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) is to be rolled out across points across the UK including Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras.

The new EES rules will likely make your holidays more expensive

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The new EES rules will likely make your holidays more expensiveCredit: Reuters

The new system will scrap the stamping of passports and replace it with biometric checks.

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First proposed back in 2016, it has been constantly delayed, with the plans to start on November this year pushed back again.

An official date in 2025 to be confirmed.

Despite this, many of the ports across the UK have been introducing new systems in a bid to reduce the waiting times expected at the border.

Read more on travel rules

This include the Eurotunnel in Folkestone, the Eurostar at London St Pancras and ferry services at Dover.

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Eurotunnel’s John Keefe said they had already spent €80million (£67million) on the infrastructure needed, with as many as 200 new kisosks in Folkestone and France.

However, he has warned that the millions spent is likely to affect holiday costs.

He said, the i reports: “A cost like this inevitably is passed on to the consumer.

“This delay and the introduction of EES has cost in itself €80m, so whether it’s delayed or it’s live now, there is still a cost that is carried by the consumer.”

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There are already fears of queues as long as 14 hours at the border, especially at Dover which will impact the wider area of Kent.

The New EU entry-exit system and EuropeTravel Visa (ETIAS) explained

Tim Reardon, head of EU exit for the Dover Harbour Board previously warned last year: “There is no way of doing a biometric control without getting everyone out of the vehicle.

Tourists have even been advised to travel with “extra supplies” such as food, water and nappies in case of the huge queues.

But new concerns have arisen, with airlines warning that passengers could be stuck on planes if the airport is too congested while waiting to be processed.

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EasyJet‘s Johan Lundgren said at an Abta conference this month: “In the worst case you actually can’t disembark, you hold people on the plane.

What does EES mean for Brits, according to our travel expert

Head of Travel Lisa Minot weighs in further on what EES will mean for you

SPEAKING to the bosses of easyJet and TUI at the ABTA travel convention this week, it was  obvious to me there is a huge frustration at the chaotic roll-out of the new EU Entry Exit System.

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Delayed multiple times, it was meant to be launching on November 10 but even that is not yet confirmed.

In recent weeks, France, Germany and the Netherlands all indicated they were not ready to launch the new system.

Airports, ferry terminals and the entire travel industry are desperate for clarity. They’ve invested millions in new infrastructure, they want to put plans in place to counter any disruption that could inevitably happen. 

An app to allow visitors to pre-register their details before they even get to a border was meant to launch at the same time as the new system.

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Yet it seems the app itself will not be ready until next summer.

EasyJet boss Johan told me: “We should have had the ability to do pre-registration from the very start of the new system.”

And the chaos isn’t helped by the fact that individual EU member states are all interpreting the new system in different ways.

What British travellers – and the industry as a whole – need is a clear indication of when the ESS will start and just how it will wor

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“We have to think about what can actually happen.”

Neil Swanson, who was appointed UK and Ireland managing director for tour operator Tui last month, predicted there “could be some hiccups” with EES.

The Department for Transport has already announced £10.5 million of funding for UK ports to deal with EES.

The new ETIAS system is also to be introduced, although this isn’t until next year.

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ETIAS, a visa-waiver, will require all Brits to pay €7 when visiting Europe, and will last three years.

Ports at Folkestone, Dover and St Pancras have paid millions for new improvements

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Ports at Folkestone, Dover and St Pancras have paid millions for new improvementsCredit: Getty

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No1 Lounge to open at Heathrow T2

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No1 Lounge to open at Heathrow T2

Airport Dimensions and Swissport are opening their third No1 Lounge at Heathrow this December

Continue reading No1 Lounge to open at Heathrow T2 at Business Traveller.

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Unique British island that’s UK’s most likely place to see Northern Lights – with white sand beaches and whale spotting

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Given that they are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in the country, the Shetland Islands are a popular spot for Aurora Chasers

IF you’re fed up of missing the Northern Lights then seeing them all over social media, there’s one place in Britain where your chances of spotting the natural phenomenon are higher than most.

Given that they are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in the country, the Shetland Islands are a popular spot for Aurora Chasers.

Given that they are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in the country, the Shetland Islands are a popular spot for Aurora Chasers

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Given that they are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in the country, the Shetland Islands are a popular spot for Aurora ChasersCredit: Alamy
The islands also feature stunning shite sand beaches, like the sandbar connecting St Ninian's Isle with the mainland

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The islands also feature stunning shite sand beaches, like the sandbar connecting St Ninian’s Isle with the mainlandCredit: Getty

The Lights are visible several times a year in the archipelago, particularly between October and March thanks to the longer nights and darker skies.

But the best sightings are in the depths of winter.

The season runs from October to March with the best sightings in the depths of winter when the short days mean dark skies for longer.

The Aurora Borealis is so common in the area that Shetlanders even have their own nickname for them – “mirrie dancers,” as the word “mirr’ stands for shimmering in Shetland dialect.

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More On The Northern Lights

Speaking on behalf of Promote Shetland, Aurora expert Richard Ashbee said: “Shetland is the ideal place to see the aurora in Britain as it is the most northerly place in the UK.

“The Out Stack, north of Unst is roughly 400 miles south of the Arctic circle, nearer the Arctic circle than to London.

“Green is the most common colour reported by members of the Shetland Aurora Hunter Facebook group (60%), with multi coloured aurora reported by 30% of members and other colours (9%). Red aurora is the rarest (1%).

“By far the easiest way to find out when the aurora is going to show, is by joining Shetland Aurora Hunter on Facebook.

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“Information is regularly updated on the current activity, members sightings, weather and road conditions.

Spotting the Lights is far from guaranteed, but there is plenty more to do on the Atlantic Ocean islands.

The archipelago, around 170km north of the Scottish mainland, is made up of about 300 islands, and people only live on 16 of them.

The largest island is known as The Mainland and in its north are the North Isles of Yell, Fetlar and Unst – Britain’s northernmost island.

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If you do head there in winter, make sure to pack for the weather as it’s on the same latitude is the same as Norway, Sweden and Finland, with dark and long winters regularly hit by polar winds.

The islanders even have their own name for the Northern Lights - Mirrie Dancers

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The islanders even have their own name for the Northern Lights – Mirrie DancersCredit: Alamy
The islands are one of the best places in the world to see whales and are also home to other interesting wildlife, like puffins

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The islands are one of the best places in the world to see whales and are also home to other interesting wildlife, like puffinsCredit: Getty

Average temperatures in January and February, the coldest months, are around 3.5C.

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Like many Scottish islands, the beaches are outstanding – with some stunning coastline on the mainland.

Scousburgh Sands features white sands and turquoise waters, as does Banna Minn on West Burra and Uyea in the north of Shetland, which could pass for somewhere tropical on a sunny day (although the water temperature gives it away).

The islands are one of the best places in the world to see whales too, with humpback whales, orcas, minke whales and also dolphins frequently spotted – albeit mostly between May and August.

The five best places to see the Northern Lights in or near the UK

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  1. In the UK
    Aside from the Shetland Isles, the Cairngorms and Northumbria have great dark skies to spot the lights, with wildlife and walking to enjoy even if you miss them.
  2. By cruise
    Hundreds of cruise options are available to see the Northern Lights, with Hurtigruten offering a free voyage if the lights don’t show.
  3. By plane
    Evening flights offer a great way to guarantee seeing the Northern Lights, with Omega Breaks providing flights from Gatwick, Birmingham, and Manchester.
  4. From a glass igloo
    Stay in an AuroraHut Glass Igloo in Finnish Lapland for a luxurious Northern Lights experience.
    Best Served Scandinavia offers packages including snowmobiling, reindeer, and husky safaris.
  5. On a city break
    Combine your Northern Lights search with a city break in Reykjavik, Iceland.
    A three-night trip includes city exploration, a jeep tour for the lights, and a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

The number of sightings are increasing, suggesting it’s slowly becoming an even better place for whale watchers to visit.

The holiday hotspot was listed on Woman and Home’s best whale watching locations in the world, alongside spots like Maui in Hawaii, the Lofoten Islands, Norway and Kaikoura in New Zealand.

Visitors can also spott the famous Shetland ponies, roaming on several of the islands including West Mainland, Tingwall, Dunrossness, and Unst.

It’s thought that they arrived on the islands during the Ice Age.

While they appear to have free rein and are seen everywhere from beaches to hilltops, they are cared for by local crofters.

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How to get there?

You can fly to Shetland from all major Scottish airports, as well as London Heathrow.

Alternatively, you can reach the islands by overnight ferry from Lerwick from Aberdeen or Kirkwall.

You can fly to the islands from Scotland or London, or take an overnight ferry

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You can fly to the islands from Scotland or London, or take an overnight ferryCredit: Getty

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Expedia releases region-specific trend report for 2025

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Expedia releases region-specific trend report for 2025

Expedia has released its annual data-driven report on what’s driving the travel industry – and for the first time, has included a region-specific analysis, showcasing Detour Destinations, viral Goods Getaways, and Set-Jetting among those driving next year’s travel plans

Continue reading Expedia releases region-specific trend report for 2025 at Business Traveller.

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Beachfront city a few hours from the UK where its currently 27C – and has some of the cheapest all-inclusive resorts

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Head to Agadir right now for 27C temperatures

IF you’re after a last-minute blast of heat without having to shell out thousands of pounds, there is a city near the UK that ticks both boxes.

Morocco’s Agadir is hitting 27C this week – and it was named one of the cheapest places for all-inclusive breaks.

Head to Agadir right now for 27C temperatures

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Head to Agadir right now for 27C temperaturesCredit: Alamy
The eight mile beach is popular with sunbathers and surfers

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The eight mile beach is popular with sunbathers and surfersCredit: Alamy
Hotels are cheap too, with all-inclusives under £300

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Hotels are cheap too, with all-inclusives under £300Credit: Alamy

Earlier this year, a study by Which? that looked at prices of more than 3,500 package holidays found Agadir to be one of the cheapest.

We found a number of seven-night, all-inclusive breaks for less than £300 each, even when staying at a four star resort.

Agadir, the largest seaside resort in Morocco, has as many as 300 days of sunshine.

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According to Morocco Tourism, Agadir is “one of the pearls of Morocco” thanks to its great climate, beaches and attractions.

It’s popular with surfers due to the huge waves across the eight mile beach, lined with golden sand and loungers you can rent.

Despite being ‘founded’ by the Portuguese in the 1500s, the entire city was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960s, so has since been rebuilt.

While this means you can expect more of a European-feel to the city, that doesn’t mean you can’t experience the Moroccan lifestyle.

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Local experiences that tourists should try are hammans, Moroccan spas, as well as a visit to the markets.

One of the largest is Souk El Had which has more than 6,000 stalls with homewares and food.

And the standout attraction is the towering Mohamed V Mosque, a modern addition to the city after the rebuild.

Taroudant is sometimes called ‘Little Marrakesh’ and is regarded as one of the most authentic Moroccan cities

Want something more adventurous? You can book desert tours and quad bike safari trips in Agadir too.

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Flights from the UK are just under four hours, with Ryanair and easyJet offering fares from £14.99, flying from a number of airports.

And Jet2 has now launched flights from both Leeds and Bristol to Agadir this month.

But if you want an all-inclusive break, one of the best value is with Loveholidays, staying at the three -star Caribbean Village Agador – costing £299 when all-inclusive.

The city is known for its busy markets, or souks

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The city is known for its busy markets, or souksCredit: Alamy
The city was rebuilt in the 1960s, so expect modern-looking mosques

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The city was rebuilt in the 1960s, so expect modern-looking mosquesCredit: Alamy

A similar priced resort is El Pueblo Tamlelt, but if you want something fancier, four-star all-inclusives can still be found for around £350 each.

TUI has some great winter sun breaks too, when staying at their TUI Blue Riu Tikida Beach, or the TUI Suneo resort.

Otherwise there are a number of hotel chain names you can book yourself, such as Hotel RUI and Sofitel.

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If you want to explore the rest of Morocco, we’ve found some great alternatives too.

Taroudant is much smaller in size than Marrakesh, and also considered calmer and less crowded – here’s everything you need to know.

And we’ve explained why you should visit the coastal city of Essaouira.

Flights start from £14.99

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Flights start from £14.99Credit: Alamy

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Qantas boosting capacity to the US

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Qantas boosting capacity to the US

The oneworld member will also be the first airline to fly the A220 to Singapore

Continue reading Qantas boosting capacity to the US at Business Traveller.

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