Travel Unpacked: UK flight diversions for Emirates and Etihad, January sales and plant-based destinations

The National rounds up the most interesting tourism news you might have missed

Liverpool John Lennon Airport after heavy overnight snow caused travel disruption across the UK. PA

This week in travel news, several airlines are kick-starting 2025 with sales, meaning there is a flurry of deals on offer for those ready to book now.

Air travel to and from the UK, meanwhile, has been disrupted as the country battles snowstorms and severe weather. Finally, an online travel company has some inspiration for travellers taking part in Veganuary, with four plant-based escapes around the world.

Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.

UK airport chaos: Snow causes Emirates and Etihad flight diversions

Air travel in the UK has been disrupted by severe winter weather, with runways closed and flight diverted.

Manchester Airport closed its runways on Monday and Sunday mornings due to snowfall. Several flights were diverted away from the airport, including one from Emirates and another from Etihad Airways.

On Sunday morning, Etihad flight EY077, which was bound for Manchester, was diverted to Birmingham, 155km away “due to adverse weather”. Passengers were then transferred to Manchester airport via “surface transport”.

Emirates passengers also faced disruption after flight EK21, due to land in Manchester on Sunday, was diverted to Glasgow because of “inclement weather.” The A380 touched down at the Scottish airport lies 364.8km further north.

Manchester isn’t the only UK airport suffering in the cold weather snap. Flights have also been cancelled and diverted at Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick and Liverpool airports.

Sunday was the UK's coldest night of the winter, with temperatures dropping to -13.3C in some parts of Scotland, according to the Met Office.

Four plant-based escapes for Veganuary

India, the US, Thailand and Nicaragua are among some of the top destinations for vegan travellers. That's according to booking.com, which also found that 35 per cent of travellers are motivated to visit a new destination to try new foods.

With January being the month of plant-based diets, the company has rounded up four of the world’s top vegan-friendly destinations for travellers to consider. Topping the list is Kerala in Southwest India. The region has culinary traditions rooted in plant-based ingredients and draws on its readily available ingredients like vegetables, coconuts and spices.

Second ranked Portland, Oregon is commended for its alternative food scene, which includes a range of plant-based fine-dining and vegan friendly cafes.

Thailand's Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, makes the list thanks to its long-standing tradition of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. It has evolved to incorporate vegan dishes, making the city extremely plant-friendly.

Rounding up the list is La Lugana in Nicaragua. The Central American destination is located along a chain of mountains and surrounded by a plethora of native beans, rice plantations and tropical dragon fruits. With no motorised transportation allowed on Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve’s vibrant blue waters, it makes for a peaceful destination for those trying Veganuary for environmental reasons.

January flight sales: Etihad, Wizz Air and British Airways offers

The festive holidays may have just finished, but now could be the best time to plan your next escape as airlines announced January flight sales.

Etihad has special fares for Bengaluru, the Syechelles, Paris and other destinations. Bookable until January 13 for travel until March 31, the national airline of Abu Dhabi is offering return flights to Bengaluru for Dh865, to the Seychelles for Dh1,195 and Paris for Dh2,235. There are also offers for flights to Hyderabad, Düsseldorf and Shanghai.

British Airways also has promotional fares for 25 destinations. Bookable until January 28, Dubai is one of them, with return flights from London to the UAE available for less than Dh2,000.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has released more of its all-you-can fly memberships. The low-cost airline is offering travellers unlimited flights in 2025 for €599. Flights must be bookable three days before departure and come with applicable booking fees.