On the eve of the peak summer months of July and August, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, looks ahead to the main holiday season at a time of uncertainty.

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What a week it has been, as conflict surged and then waned in the Middle East – with dozens of flights cancelled and tens of thousands of people stranded by the sudden closure of Qatari airspace. To put current events in perspective, I'm talking to Jane Kinninmont, chief executive of UNA-UK – the United Nations Association.

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I'm at the Alpine Club in Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London – where, between 11am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays to 18 July 2025, you can find a fascinating exhibition of the work of Everest pioneer Howard Somervell.

He was one of the world's best climbers – and an artist of high repute. And Graham Hoyland, who is writing a biography of Howard Somervell, provides a fascinating insight into his life and work.

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Just ahead of the summer peak, a warning from Lloyd Figgins, CEO of the Trip Group, about cybersecurity while on the road. Are you sure that is the coffee shop's wifi, and doesn't belong to that chap sitting in the corner with a laptop?

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Young, gifted and cabin crew. No, not me – my excellent colleague Natalie Wilson, who reports in from an experience day at British Airways' global training academy, where she was drilled in some of the skills required to work on commercial aircraft.

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I am at Gatwick airport, busy as always, but keeping tabs on the unfolding disruption in the Middle East. British Airways has cancelled a series of flights to and from Dubai and Doha.

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I am talking to my excellent colleague, Natalie Wilson, about how much time people should allow to reach and get through the airport. It follows a social media trend about "airport theory" in the US.

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Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK – which includes P&O Cruises and Cunard – says cruise is a benefit to all.

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