UK Travel News

Better news for travel industry – Flybe announces profit

2010-09-21T09:20:00.000+01:00

For the year to March Flybe made a profit of £7 million on slightly fewer passengers but with better sales of ancillary products which rose by 16% to an average of £11.98 per customer. This figure was almost half the previous year profit of £12.8 million but included a £5.7million write down for restructuring costs.
The company believes they are one of only three European airlines to be making a profit during the recession which started as far back as December 2007. Buoyed by these figures they will be looking for further expansion in Europe with more code share agreements opening up new markets.
In July, they signed up with Air France and are looking to do the same with Finnair to move into Scandinavia as well as expanding their existing fleet. Figures for the first 5 months of this year are up on 2009 but the impact of the ash cloud will put a major dent into this performance.

Gatwick rail link bewteen North and South terminal re-opens

2010-06-30T14:03:00.000+01:00

As part of the £1 billion overhaul of Gatwick by the new owners, the rail link running between the north and south terminal has been completed. For the last 10 months customers have had to travel by bus to the terminals which is not ideal.

The shuttle link was completed two months ahead of schedule to the delight of the owners ready for July peak season traffic.Whilst based on the existing network virtually every thing esle has been replaced which will allow international travellers to move seamless when catching a connection from the other terminal.

BA strikers start to feel the pinch

2010-06-10T09:34:00.000+01:00

Cash strapped British Airways cabin crew are beginning to waver in their support for the strikes, according to reports.

As Unite completes its last day of industrial action, there are murmerings that Chief Executive Willie Walsh might be winning his battle with airline cabin crew.

There will be no more walk-outs at least until after the World Cup tournement which starts this week.

A Unite spokesman has been said to tell the Financial Times that some staff were "skint" and felt the need to return to work although many said they would carry on with the striles rather than lose any progress that they had already made.

Walsh has repeatedly undermined the strikes by employing additional staff, encouraging members of the crew to cross the picket lines and revealing that the amount of flights that actually left, were far better than projected.

Conciliation service ACAS has made tentative dates for more talks but there is no solution on the horizon, as regard to the re-instatement of travel perks, removed by Walsh.

Original disputes over pay and conditions have already been settled.

Walsh says his determination not to cave in is most important, as when further cuts may be needed in the future, he doesn't want the threat of more strikes.

Meanwhile Unite must now decide whether it plans to ballot crew again for July strikes.

This all smacks of previous strikes we have seen going back to the eighties where staff desperately cling onto old working practices that are no longer competitive where the employers cannot afford to loose.

It is clear that BA have to reduce its operating costs and staff wages must be one area under review and they would be perhaps better placed working with the company rather than striking.

Plans for Bristol Airport Expansion Sanctioned.

2010-05-26T15:03:00.000+01:00

Bristol airport has won its bid for expansion, which which is projected to increase the number of customers that pass through the Airport , from six million to 10 million annually.

The confirmation of the £150 million upgrade was announced as BAA dropped plans to build new runways at Heathrow and Stansted following opposition by the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

Alterations to the structure of the Airport will be aimed around the existing site and there will be no additional runway or terminal, and there will be a new 5 storey car park.

The project is expected to create 3,500 new jobs and increase the amount of foreign visitors to the area which in turn will generate more income for the South West of the UK.

New routes will possibly include Munich, Abu Dhabi, Washington, Atlanta, Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Toronto Dusseldorf and Zurich.

There will be a meeting next week to discuss the proposed changes, which include new and improved transport links to and from the Airport and there are still many planning issues. Because part of the development lies withing the green belt, any final decisions will be have to be agreed with the Secretary of State.

Bristol council have already stipulated that the Airport will have to contribute significantly toward the improvements.Funds will be needed for new calming measures around the Airport, a new link road between the A370 and the A38 will have to be built and new environmental measures will have to be put in place to lessen noise to local residents.

More than 5,000 objections were received by Bristol Council, and a local campaign group "Stop Bristol Airport Expansion have also voiced their concerns.

Walsh and Woodley show as another BA strike looms

2010-05-21T12:17:00.000+01:00

The origins of the original strike was about BA's need to reduce its operating costs following a £400m loss in 2009. A pay freeze for 2 years, a one member of staff reduction from 15 to 14 and a lower salary for new recriuts was the proposal.

Willie Walsh said that anyone striking would loose their travel perks that were at the discretion of the company and not part of the contract and was a reward for working loyally for the company. The Union leader Woodley argued that this was nothing short of blackmail.

True to his word the perks have been withdrawn for those staff who went on strike although BA have now agreed to re-instate the perks on the same terms of a new recruit that lacks the accumulation benefit.

Given the losses this company is making from the outside all parties appear to be playing a dangerous game and Virgin and the other airlines can only hope this farce continues.

Tories Include Plans to Reform APD and Scrap New Runway at Heathrow.

2010-04-16T09:56:00.002+01:00

The Conservative Party have pledged to reform Air Passenger Duty and do away with plans for new runways at both Gatwick and Heathrow Airport, if they gain power at the General Election on May 6th.

Another of their aims is to construct a high speed rail system, linking Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds with the Channel Tunnel, construction for which would commence in five years time.

The new rail system would also provide an alternative to domestic flights for many passengers.

The Conservative manifesto also demands the break up of BAA's monopoly over Heathrow and Stansted Airports.

Reforming APD was universally welcomed by airlines, but they were dissapointed that there were were no details

The tax has long been criticised, as families have to cope with the heavy surcharge, whilst cargo aircraft and private aircraft are exempt, as are foreign transfer passengers.

According to a survey conducted by YouGov last year, most people in the UK want to see a change to the APD,

The tax was last increased in November last year.

Ryanair confirm £1 charge to use toilets onboard its aircraft.

2010-04-13T14:38:00.000+01:00

The budget airline have announced that toilet facilities are to become coin-operated, accepting either a pound coin or a one euro coin. Some toilets will be completely removed to make way for extra seats on board some aircraft.

On some flights, this could result in excess of 160 passengers with access to one toilet. A spokesman for Ryanair explained that the move was to try encourage passengers to use the toilets before they embarked, thus making it possible to create extra seats on board. The idea was first bandied about last year, but many dismissed it as a public relations stunt.

Another American budget airline is considering charging for overhead lockers, if passengers bags are too large to fit underneath their seats.It may seem penny pinching, but when the idea is considered as a whole-the extra revenue would add up.There would be extra paying seats on board, and less toilet facilities would need servicing.

It is thought that other airlines may follow suit, but will wait and see how the changes are received at Ryanair

BA and Iberia to merge later this year

2010-04-08T16:11:00.000+01:00

British Airways and Iberia announced that there long awaited merger will finally go ahead towards the end of 2010. This will create the third biggest airline in Europe and the sixth in the world and will create a work force just short of 60,000 people.

Clearly, the new group to be called International Airlines Group will be looking to trim this and other operational savings with a target figure of £400 million a year in year 5.I the meantime, they will continue to operate under their current brands.

Both companies have reported heavy losses for 2009 and BA have already indicated that losses up to 31st March 2010 will be even higher.Both Chief Excutives claim the synergy between the companies will allow them to offer a larger global network to the customer and at the same time an ability to cut costs where they currently overlap.

Upon merger they will fly to over 200 destinations with a combined fleet of 408 aircraft at their disposal.

Inaugral flight for Virgin Rocket.

2010-03-30T14:54:00.000+01:00

The Virgin Glactic rocket has made its first test flight, reaching a height of 45,000 feet.It flew over the Mojave Desert in California, and after a succesful journey, touched down to cheers and applause from staff and onlookers.

The test flights will continue throughout 2011 and commercially start in 2012, if all goes to plan.The airship which can carry only six passengers is called the VSS Enterprise. It is comprised of Space Ship Two which will carry the passengers and the Mothership, named White Knight Two.

The two bodies are seperate entities, but remained attached during the two-hour, 54-minute flight. Virgin Galactic, which is an arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire has amassed USD$45 million in deposits and fares from more than 330 future passengers.

Would be "space travellers" will pay £133,000 for a unique experience in space.! A spokesman for Virgin stated that the test flight had been a huge success, and the spaceship and mother ship looked amazing up in the air.

Burt Rutan, the Airship designer said it was a momentous day and the start of an exciting spaceship programme. The project has not been without problems. In 2007, during ground testing involving rocket oxidizer, three people were killed in an explosion, and another three sustained serious injuries.

Green light for expansion at Southend Airport

2010-03-25T12:07:00.000Z

The Government has given the go ahead for an extended 300m runway at London Southport Airport as part of a 35 million pounds project.

Senior management have confirmed that timescales have been agreed, and the new runway could be viable as early as 2011, and definitely operating to full capacity for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, and it is thought that in excess of 6000 jobs will be created. A spokesman commented that the re-development was a fantastic opportunity for the area, and would boost opportunities and growth .

The work on a new link Road near Eastwoodbury Lane is due to commence in the summer, and once the access links to the Airport have been completed, the runway extension can be addressed.

Work has already begun on a new control tower, and more sophisticated navigation equipment will be put in place.

The Bank of London and the Middle East is provide a funding loan to the Stobart Group, who bought the Airport in 2008, which will cover two thirds of the total cost of the project, including a new railway station.

The Bank is known as the largest Islamic one in Europe and runs within the bounds of Sharia Law.

A spokesman stated that the major improvements at the airport would boost passenger numbers by a projected 2 million by 2020 and the opportunity would be there to create new European routes.

Discussions to attract new Airlines to the Airport are ongoing.

Muslim women refuse to take full-body scan and are barred from Manchester to Pakistan flight

2010-03-10T17:22:00.003Z

Two Muslim women have become the first passengers to refuse the controversial full body airport scans.

Security officials insist they were selected at random, and chose to forfeit their flight rather than undergo the scan. One of the women refused to pass through the full-body scanner at Manchester Airport on religious grounds while her travelling companion claimed medical reasons for not complying.

The pair were travelling together to Islamabad and had checked in at T2, after which they were selected to pass through the controversial security scan. An estimated 15,000 people have already passed through the scanners, which were installed at Manchester and Heathrow Airports last month.

They were informed that if they did not agree to the security scan, they would not be allowed to board the Pakistan International Airlines flight to Islamabad. They both informed staff that they were not prepared to undertake the scan.The pair decided they would rather forfeit their tickets, at a reported loss of £400 collected their luggage and left.

Apparently they did not make a complaint just refused to go before the scanner. The hugely controversial scanning machines allow security staff to see a 'naked' image of passengers which would reveal any drugs, explosives or weapons hidden about the passenger.

There is presently one scanner in use at Manchesters's terminal 2, and a further 2 machines have been delivered , which will be used on terminals 1 and 3. The scanners have been criticised by the human rights group Liberty and the government's own Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Two weeks ago, Islamic scholars in the U.S. decreed that Muslim travellers should not pass through the scanners because they violate religious rules on nudity.The Fiqh Council of North America issued a fatwa, instructing Muslims not to pass through the scanners.

Manchester Airport predicted to be as busy as Heathrow.

2010-03-09T14:50:00.001Z

The government has predicted that by the end of 2050, flights out of Manchester Airport will have doubled and the airport will become nearly as busy as Heathrow is today.

According to the official forecast, there will be around 449,000 departures and arrivals at Manchester by 2050 – up from 213,000 in 2005, which would mean a flight landing or taking off aproximately every 70 seconds. The reason for this expected increase is because unlike Heathrow and Gatwick there is sufficient room for growth with the second runway already in place. Gatwick is already operating at virtually full capacity from one runway.

Those campaigning against future expansion of the Airport are worried that the increase in extra traffic would inevitabley cause the need for another terminal to be built. although this has been denied by management.

Heathrow is also forecast to grow but at a slower rate than Manchester, and will still be the busiest airport in the UK.

Lib Dem councillor Martin Eakins, who has campaigned against airport expansion, stated that amongst all the people he had discussed the topic with, no-one seemed to have any knowledge of just how much the airport was set to grow.

Given the Manchester Councils are the owners of the airport it is difficult for them to have an impartial discussion on the impact of extra flights on house prices and pollution issues.

If the government assertion that Manchester airport will see the most dramatic growth of any airport with over 40 million passengers, the question that immediately needs to be addressed is how will these passengers get to the airport.

Most prefer to travel by car and there will need to be a change of heart in the granting of more planning for off Manchester airport parking places to be created. Land at the airport will be concentrated on meeting this demand and there will insufficient space to extend the existing parking on airport.

BA management resolves hardens over strike

2010-03-04T14:38:00.001Z

British Airways have turned up the pressure on Unite the trade union association and BA staff who are planning strike action. BA have said that if a strike takes place, contingency plans have been set up whereby a 1,000 volunteer crew will have been trained by next week bringing the total to 6,000.

In addition to this, it is expected most of the cabin crew at Gatwick will work normally and BA are confident that less than 30% of flights will be affected by the strike. Unite need to give notice by 15th March for the strike to go ahead on 22nd March during the important Easter period.

They also warned that whatever happened the reduction from 14 to 13 staff on its long haul flights was here to stay and this was now set in stone. They also went to point out that any losses arising from strike action will have to come from somewhere and that this may mean further staff cuts.

They pointed out that they were looking to resolve the strike but their meetings with the Union so far had been limited to less than 3 hours due to internal wrangling within the Union between the British Airlines Stewards, the Stewardess Association and the Cabin Crew 89 group.

A Unite spokesman has refuted this claim.

Death toll in Madeira reaches 42.

2010-02-26T12:10:00.000Z

Flights back to Manchester Airport from Madeira have landed with holidaymakers speaking of their shock by the scenes of death and destruction. The Portuguese island was hit by as series of mudslides at the weekend - at least 42 people have been killed including a British woman.

Emergency crews in Madeira are still searching for missing people . The floods and mudslides have claimed 42 lives to date but a further 32 people are still missing.lives on the Portuguese island.

Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, Navy divers and bulldozers are continuing their search for survivors.Authorities fear that those still unaccounted for may have been swept out to sea.

18 people still remain in hospital on the island, whilst temporary shelter in military quarters has been given to 370 people whose homes have been destroyed.

Cleaning and recovery work on the island is proceeding quickly and effectively, according to the Madeiran Bureau.

Electricity has been restored to the whole of Funchal and is being reinstated in the Serra D’Agua area. Water has been restored to all parts of the island apart from the highlands of Funchal (Santo António) and Ponta do Sol.

Mobile phone reception and internet connection has been reinstated to the areas of Santana, São Vicente and Porto Moniz, fully restoring connectivity to the island.

Funchal Airport and harbour have not been affected by the floods, and ferry boat connection to Porto Santo is also running a regular service as normal.

The main roads are still accessible from the east to the Ribeira Brava district. The road from Ribeira Brava to São Vicente in the North of the island remains closed.

New Monorail Carriages on track at Gatwick Airport.

2010-02-25T10:08:00.000Z

The newly refurbished carriages for the Gatwick monorail have been lifted into place, and it is hoped that the service will reopen a month ahead of schedule in July.

The airport closed its inter-terminal monorail in September for a £44m refurbishment project, with passengers currently being transported by bus between the South and North terminals. It has now lifted six new 14-tonne carriages onto the track and will spend the next few months testing them before the shuttle reopens in July.

The carraiges have high tech operating systems and access for disabled passengers.The refurbishment programme encompasses the carriages, track and stations, replacing a system which had been in place since 1987.

The new service is a major element of Gatwick’s near £1 billion investment programme that will modernise the airport and provide a more efficient service for those using the airport.

Gatwick airport has lifted into position the new carriages which will serve its refurbished monorail, and says it will open the shuttle one month ahead of schedule in July.A spokesman commented that it was fantastic news that the shuttle would be in operation sooner than planned, and it was down to the hard work and skill of those involved in the refurbishment that was possible.

Economy forces Greek airlines to merge to save jobs

2010-02-23T15:53:00.000Z

Greece's two major airlines, Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines SA, are merging to create a “national airline champion,” the companies said in a statement Monday.Between them, the airlines corner 97 per cent of the Greek domestic air travel market and will use the name Olympic Air after a transition period in which the Aegean name will be used in parallel.The companies said they were combining to better compete within the European Union and prevent the loss of jobs in the industry.

"The prevailing conditions in the Greek economy as well as in the aviation sector dictate the combination of forces in order to maintain competitive customer prices, protect levels of employment and increase our competitiveness at a European level,” said Olympic Air chairman Andreas Vgenopoulos, head of Olympic's 100 per cent shareholder, Marfin Investment Group (MIG).

The merger must be approved by European Union regulators and an MIG spokesman commented that this could take several months . The combined airline is not expected to operate before October 2010, at the earliest.

The merged company will have 5,850 employees, including Aegean's current 2,500, Olympic Air's 1,300, as well as 2,000 in Olympic Handling and 50 in Olympic Engineering, which will be 100 per cent subsidiaries of the new company.

Olympic Air is the successor airline to state-owned, debt-ridden Olympic Airways, later Olympic Airlines, which accumulated massive debts.It was sold to MIG, after several privatization attempts failed.

It currently flies on 41 domestic and 15 international routes, which is nowhere near its operational successses, which reached a peak in the eighties.

Aegean Airlines flies to 24 domestic and 26 international destinations. It is a regional partner of Lufthansa and collaborates with Brussels Airlines, Portugal's TAP and Britain's bmi.

Worlds Largest Aircraft flies into Doncaster Robin Hood Airport.

2010-02-19T09:54:00.000Z

The world’s largest operational aircraft, ANTONOV AN225 MRYIA, flew into Doncaster Sheffield Airport yesterday (16 February) on an operational cargo mission.

Only one AN225 MRYIA (Dream) was ever built by the company ANTONOV and this giant of the skies, operated by specialist Antonov Airlines, Ukraine, landed in Doncaster to collect a generator which is urgently needed at a Power Station in Lahore, Pakistan.

The 70 tonne generator was supplied by Rugby based Coverteam Ltd, and was first transported by road to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

A Director from Peel Airports Group said that the presence of such an amazing magnificent aircraft emphasised growing popularity for Doncaster Sheffield Airport as one of the UK’s leading freighter airports.

He added that the decision by the Airline to fly the aircraft into Doncaster reflected the growing reputation of the Airport and also the ability to handle the AN225.

The runway at the airport is 3000m long .The AN225, which operates with a crew of 20 was the only available large freighter with the payload capacity to lift this size and weight of cargo in time for an urgent deadline in Pakistan.

Nordic Air Charters arranged the flight in conjunction with Wartsila in Finland. This latest cargo arrival follows a busy week for the team based at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Last week a Boeing 747-400 flew into the airport with Lady Ga Ga’s stage equipment for her forthcoming UK tour which starts in Sheffield.

Full body scaners for Heathrow and Manchester airports may be Illegal

2010-02-18T18:19:00.001Z

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has warned that the use of body scanners at Heathrow and Manchester Airports may be illegal. The head of the Rights Commission Trevor Phillips, has told the transport secretary, Lord Adonis, that serious concerns existed about invasion of passengers privacy and that there was a lack of safeguards to ensure scanners were operated fairly and without discrimination.

The comments could lead to the launch of a high court enquiry, before the scanners are rolled out to all of the airports by the end of this year.The transport department has, without consultation, initiated a temporary code of practice for their use but intends to consult before a final version is produced this year. Directions of the code were that those who refused a full-body scan would be refused boarding without being offered the American alternative of passing through a metal arch detector and having a physical pat-down search.

The commission's legal advice said that while the home secretary told MPs the scanners would be used randomly, the interim code gives no indication of how this will be achieved or monitored. The criteria involved – which may include nationality, origin of the flight or pattern of previous travel – are to remain secret on national security grounds.

A commission spokesman said the absence of safeguards, such as the monitoring of who is being scanned and how, means the authorities are unable to check if anyone is being unfairly selected on the basis of their race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.He added that it had already been made perfectly clear that those passengers randomly selected for screening would not be chosen because of any personal characteristics or appearance.

The government is presently carrying out an "equalities impact assessment" to establish the legality of the scanning procedure.

Real Lions Fly into Doncaster Robin Hood Airport.

2010-02-17T15:59:00.000Z

A pride of lions has been rescued from a run down zoo in Romania, where they faced an uncertain future living in poor conditions, and flown to Doncaster Sheffield Airport by Jet2. to join other animals in natural surroundings at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

Believed to be the largest big cat rescue ever, Park Directors initiated a campaign through the charity Wildlife Heritage Foundation to raise £150,000 to save the lions in August after learning of their plight at Oradea Zoo from the organisation SOS Zoo.

The appeal still has £25,000 to raise towards the rescue costs but the Park accelerated their plans to bring the lions to the UK on welfare grounds as the animals’ health was worsening due to winter conditions in their inadequate housing at Oradea. .

Back in February a team of vets flew out to Romania to assess the situation and plan the transfer for the lions. They worked in freezing conditions, tranquilising the lions and moving them into transport crates. The animals ranged in age from 15 months up to 27 years ,and although they were in poor condition, are expected to make a full recovery.

The lions will need a considerable amount of vetinary care,but once they are rehabilitated, they can enjoy the 9 acres of expanse at their new Yorkshire home.

The lions faced a four hour journey by road to Budapest Airport and left Oradea Zoo under a police escort, complete with blue lights and sirens.

Increased flights on Spanish flights from London City Airport.

2010-02-15T15:37:00.003Z

British Airways is to increase peak season frequency on its new services to Majorca and Ibiza, less than a month after announcing the launch of the new routes from London City Airport.The additional flights to the Balearic Islands direct from the Docklands will commence in May 2010.

But the destinations are proving so popular that British Airways is now planning to increase the schedule from three to five flights a week to Palma and from three to four flights a week to Ibiza during July and August.

Travelling direct from London City on the brand new Embraer 190 aircraft, passengers can be on the beach in the Balearics is less than three hours.

It’s the first time British Airways has operated leisure only flights from London City Airport but there is a growing demand for flights to the sun, particularly with customers looking for short breaks.

The initial three-times-a-week service will operate on Friday, Sunday and Monday, offering an ideal schedule for passengers looking for a weekend or longer break. The extra Majorca flights will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the extra Ibiza flights on Wednesdays.

A spokesperson for BA commented that they were delighted with the initial response from passengers and that bookings continue right into the year, for the new leisure routes.

He added that it was natural progression to increase the frequency of flights.

British Airways is also increasing frequency to Edinburgh from London City, with seven flights a day from capital to capital from March 29. One way all-inclusive fares from London City are £51.

The British Airways flights include complimentary food and drinks on board, free on-line check-in and seat selection 24-hours before departure and free baggage allowance.

12 per cent stake in Gatwick Airport taken by Korean Pension Fund

2010-02-11T17:09:00.000Z

South Korea’s National Pension Service is to take a 12 per cent stake in Gatwick airport, worth about £100 million. The deal could be completed as early as next week and comes as part of a sweeping international expansion programme by the world’s fifth biggest pension fund.

Last year NPS bought the headquarters of HSBC in Canary Wharf for £773m in cash, and the group says it aims to expand its overall portfolio from $240bn to $400bn by 2014. An NPS chairman, stated that the fund hoped to raise its investment in Britain, which at present only constitutes a 1.3 per cent of its portfolio.

Some infrastructure-related project ahead of the London Olympics in 2012 is on the cards,and that could generate some momentum. Gatwick is Europe’s eighth-busiest airport measured by traffic, handling 34 million passengers in 2008.

GIP said the group was pleased to have NPS as a long-term relationship investor, adding that the deal was part of plans that had been disclosed on completion of the purchase of Gatwick to sell a minority interest in the airport in its portfolio management. GIP will retain a controlling stake, the company said. Mr Jun, a senior spokesman stated that UK property continued to be attractive and that the general attitude was that investment in the United Kingdom represented a good buying opportunity.

He added that looking at the property situation globally, Great Britain has already undergone quite a substantial correction, and although it could change again, it was still a good business opportunity.

Ice build up “probable” cause of Boeing crash.

2010-02-09T16:30:00.000Z

A build up of ice in the fuel system has been identified as the probable cause of the crash landing at Heathrow of a British Airways Boeing 777. The aircraft lost power to both engines because of fuel loss into the engines, according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The report said ice had probably formed within the fuel system from water that occurred naturally in the fuel.
None of the 152 people on board the aircraft was seriously injured in the crash on January 17, 2008.

The report said the crew had become aware of a possible engine thrust problem only 43 seconds from touchdown as the aircraft flew in to London from Beijing.The Captain, Peter Burkill told the enquiry that he had to try and stop the aircraft crashing into a tube station near the runway, and admitted that he thought at one point, all on board would perish.

The crew tried to increase engine thrust as the aircraft lost speed but there was no response from the engines, and the plane lost power just as it was landing. A mayday call was made three seconds before touchdown, and the aircraft came down on Heathrow's southern runway inside the airfield perimeter.

There was insufficient time for the flight crew to brief the cabin crew or issue a command for passengers to brace themselves.There had been no warning until that moment that both of the engines had failed and that the pilots were momentarily in total disbelief
The Captain and his co-piolt were hailed as heroes for avoiding a disaster and loss of life.In his first interview since the accident, Mr Burkhill said that it was a situation that no one had been trained for and the main object was to land the aircraft as safely as possible.

He said that he continued to be affected by what happened and thinks about it on a daily basis. He added that he had calculated that the impact point would be around the Hatton Cross area, which included a Tube station, catering buildings and a petrol station.

He instructed co pilot John Coward to continue flying the plane, while he tried to establish the problem, and that his priority was to clear the buildings and the Heathrow perimeter road.

Flybe to help expectant island mums

2010-02-08T16:03:00.000Z

When Flybe was approached last year by one of its regular customers from the Channel Islands to consider reviewing the general airline policy that restricts women in late pregnancy from flying, it wasted no time in doing some investigative work.

The restriction was that women who were more than 34 weeks pregnant throughout the world are not permitted to fly even if they have a valid medical certificate stating they are fit to travel. However, the understandable limitations of some island medical facilities mean that some mums-to-be, especially those deemed ‘at risk’, often have no option but to travel - or jeopardise both their own and/or their baby’s health. Expectant mums were incurring considerable expense, not to mention the additional stress in being so far away from friends and family at such an emotionally charged time, by travelling to attend mainland medical facilities sometimes well before their due date.
Now, having fully investigated and unravelled the various policies and regulations constraining such specific travel and with the full support and advice of relevant medical opinion, Flybe, the Exeter based carrier has come up with a fully acceptable solution.

As a result, the airline has announced that, on specific routes only, it can accept passengers at any stage of pregnancy who need to attend mainland hospitals and who hold a signed medical certificate confirming that they are fit to fly.
The approved Flybe routes for passengers who are more than 34 weeks pregnant needing to fly to attend specialist hospital appointments related to their condition and who hold a signed medical certificate confirming that they are fit to fly, are as follows:

- Jersey to/from Southampton

- Guernsey to/from Southampton

- Jersey to/from London Gatwick

- Guernsey to/from London Gatwick

- Isle of Man to/from Liverpool.

As before, passengers who are just 28-34 weeks pregnant do still also require a medical certificate and can travel on any route.

Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Feto-Maternal Medicine at Southampton University Hospital, David Howe welcomed the policy change, saying that to the small number of women each year to which this is so important, it would make a huge difference and create peace of mind for them.

Flybe operates a total 106 flights a week between the Channel Islands and Southampton, 166 between London Gatwick and 52 to and from the Isle of Man and Liverpool with fares from £28.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Huge expansion plan for Aberdeen Airport

2010-02-03T17:11:00.000Z

An impressive £10 million two year development plan is due to start at Aberdeen Airport, which will include a new runway, and a larger international arrivals hall, after City councillors gave the green light.

Up to £60 million will be invested over the next decade, and it is hoped that more than 4 million passengers could pass through the airport by 2015, with a significant increase of international travellers

In excess of 1200 jobs will be created at the airport and across the country.The blueprint for the expansion outlines BAA’s vision for the future of the north-east terminal between now and 2030.The Master Plan sets out a two year, £10 million, plan to boost Aberdeen’s credentials as an international gateway, with two major development projects:

1) The first will see the international arrivals hall at Aberdeen Airport extended and refurbished, providing additional terminal capacity, a larger Customs and Immigration hall, and improved baggage reclaim facilities.

2) The second development will involve the construction of the first phase of a 300 metre runway extension designed to increase the range of international destinations within direct range of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen City Councillors approved the runway extension at a meeting of the full Council last week. The decision means that BAA can now proceed with the detailed design and development work on the runway extension.

Rebrand for Aer Lingus.

2010-01-27T13:51:00.000Z

Aer Lingus the troubled Irish carrier has unveiled a new business plan in an attempt to create new business and improve its financial affairs. The former state carrier is now branding itself “Ireland’s civilised airline” as part of a plan to reposition itself midway between low-cost Ryanair and full-service carriers such as British Airways.
The airline hopes to raise its share in the business travel market by offering faster check-in times, pre-paid meals and central departure airports.There will be no free food or drink or premium airport lounge service.

The airline’s “civilised” tag is seen as a jibe at rival Ryanair, which has twice tried to buy Aer Lingus and remains its biggest shareholder with a stake of 29 per cent.

Management have been trying to curtail massive losses suffered by the airline as it expanded during a recession that hit its three core markets of Ireland, the UK and the US.

When passengers now book flights, they can add on meals, drinks, lounge access fast track checking in and seat upgrades as they wish.Other planned cost saving plans include cutting staff by a fifth by the end of 2011 and removing some senior pilots.

A presentation recently given to investors attempted to show how the airline aims to improve revenue. Aer Lingus is expected to report a pre-tax loss of €108m for 2009. The airline burned €400m of cash reserves last year but still has a strong balance sheet with gross cash and deposits of €825m.

Investors were warned that market conditions would remain very challenging during the current year with the first half being very weak, partly due to low January bookings following bad the poor weather.

Thomas CookOnline Seat Selection with Internet Check-in

2010-01-14T14:46:00.000Z

Thomas Cook have upgraded their online check-in facilities.

If your flight departs after 17th December 2009 and you’ve selected Seats Together/Your Seat Your Choice when you made your booking, then you can choose your seats online and check in up to seven days before departure.

If you haven’t chosen this option then you must check-in as normal at the airport at least two hours before your flight. The best thing about this service is that it’s convenient and easy to use. You will need your original booking reference and passport information to hand. Simply log on to the Thomas Cook website seven days before your flight to check-in online and print your boarding card from the comfort of your home without any queues!

On arrival at the airport, simply drop off your bag at the designated bag drop and thats it! Please note, for some destinations seat selection and online check-in may close up to three days before departure, so please either make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute, or check-in as normal at the airport.

Extra leg room seats are normally available, but these are very popular, and tend to be reserved quickly, so try and book them early.

Current prices for these services are as follows;

Seats together / Your Seat Your Choice - from £12 per person return

Priority seat selection - from £6 per person per flight

Extra leg room seats - from £23.50 per person per flight.

Internet Check-in is available from London Gatwick, London Stansted, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Belfast and Newcastle, only when 'Seats together' or 'Your Seat, Your Choice' have been purchased. Other UK departures coming soon. Internet Check-in and Seat selection is subject to availability.

Body scanners at Heathrow Airport.

2010-01-08T11:47:00.000Z

Full-body scanners are to be be introduced at Heathrow within the next three weeks, where they will be implemented on all flights.
Gordon Brown stated on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, that terrorists continue to use new forms of weapons and that in response, more sophisticated deterrents must be put in place.

Under the new measures, airport staff will also be allowed to pat down passengers at the gate immediately before they embark. Airports across the country are expected to bring in more sniffer dogs and increase the use of passenger profiling to help passengers identify those most likely to be a threat to security and other travellers.

The full-body scanners - which cost a whopping £100,000 each - produce a detailed three-dimensional image of the person's nude body. Any weapons or packages secreted on the body show up as darkened, solid objects with distinct outlines.

Other security measures include equipment involving a cloth swab on the end of an electronic wand that is used to check travellers and their luggage before it is inserted into a machine that can detect traces of explosives.

The system is already in use in some airports, but will be rolled out to all airports across the UK

The suspected terrorist in the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt on a US-bound plane had hidden his bomb in his underwear.The device actually failed to detonate properly, causing him severe burns, but no other passengers were injured.

Passenger profiling is the most controversial of the new measures. While some feared ethnic minority passengers would be targeted, supporters said it was more sophisticated and entailed looking for abnormal behaviour such as paying for a ticket with cash or turning up for a long-haul flight without any check-in baggage.

Virgin buys family firm Bales Worldwide.

2010-01-07T15:25:00.000Z

One of the oldest-established family-run tour operators has been sold. Virgin Holidays has agreed to purchase Bales Worldwide for an undisclosed sum. Bales was set up by George Bales in 1947 and will continue to be run by his daughter Mandy Nickerson as managing director.

She commented that as part of the Virgin Holidays family, it would be business as usual and that she would be staying on as Managing Director along with her staff.
The Bales Worldwide name will remain following the takeover.She added that the takeover would put Bales alongside a widely respected name in the world of travel and teaming up with Virgin will provide an opportunity for new ventures within the business.

Virgin Holidays managing director Amanda Wills said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mandy Nickerson and the Bales Worldwide team into the Virgin Holidays’ family. “As a long-established group and tailor made specialist known, like us, as a customer champion, we’re pleased to offer this new proposition to the same high standards as the rest of our portfolio.

Bales Worldwide will add even more tailor-made and escorted long-haul adventures to a stable that offers Virgin Holidays Cruises, budget Florida with Travel City Direct and luxury, bespoke adventures through our partnership with HIP Hotels.

Airlines fill need for alternative travel plans.

2009-12-24T12:55:00.002Z

As you would expect competitor airlines are seeing a surge in bookings as travellers stay away from British Airways to avoid the planned 12 day strike over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Paul Simmons, easyJet’s UK general manager said that they have seen an increase in bookings over the past 24 hours, and we will do whatever they can to accommodate people’s travel needs over the holiday period. He added that there were still 160,000 seats available during the holiday period on the shared BA routes, but that they were 75% booked already, so passengers should act quickly.

BMI Mainline managing director Dominic Paul said that the fact that British Airways will be striking over the seasonal period is incredibly sad for those passengers who have booked with the airline. The strike action will leave passengers high and dry and unable to fulfill their travel plans over Christmas and the New Year.

The timing of the dispute over the seasonal period has been intended to cause maximum upset, inconvenience and frustration to passengers during this time. Bmi will do all we can to assist passengers who have been caught up in the dispute.

PM steps in to avert BA Xmas strike.

2009-12-24T12:51:00.000Z

The Prime Minister has stepped in to try and resolve the BA strike as the beleaguered airline goes to the High Court today to seek a last-minute injunction.

Gordon Brown revealed he has spoken to Transport Minister Lord Adonis this morning and pledged that the government would do “everything it can” to resolve the dispute, which is due to start on Tuesday (December 22).

Brown said he was very worried about the prospect of the 12-day walk-out which will severely affect people’s holiday plans over the Christmas period.

Speaking to The Times, Brown said: “I am very worried about this and that is why I talked to Andrew Adonis, our transport minister, at six o’clock this morning.

“We are agreed that the different sides in this dispute have got to look outwards and not inwards, they have got to think of the passengers that they serve, they have got to think about the future of their company.”

The airline goes to the High Court at 2pm in an attempt to halt the strike. However, observers believe that even if it is successful crew will simply not turn up for work next Tuesday.

In a statement, BA chief executive Willie Walsh said that the airline was determined to do whatever it could to protect customers from the unjustified decision from Unite.

He added that BA were available at any time for more discussions with the union.

The strike rests on changes in pay and conditions for BA’s crew, but does not affect current staff just new recruits.

It also centres on the removal of one cabin crew from every long-haul flight.

BA’s argument rests on the legality of balloting cabin crew who have already accepted voluntary redundancy.

Meanwhile a number of airlines have stepped in to help passengers stranded by the industrial action.

Virgin unveils flights into space.

2009-12-10T16:07:00.001Z

Virgin Galactic has today unveiled the VSS Enterprise two years ahead of the launch of what will be the world’s first commercial spacecraft.

The craft, which is also known as Space Ship Two, will take six passengers paying $200,000 and two pilot astronauts 110km into space in 30 seconds.

The unveiling of the plane at the Mojave Air and Space Port, in New Mexico, comes as Elegant Resorts became the exclusive UK tour operator for Virgin Galactic.

Sir Richard Branson commented;

“The unveil[ing] of SS2 takes the Virgin Galactic vision to the next level and continues to provide tangible evidence that this ambitious project is not only moving rapidly, but also making tremendous progress towards our goal of safe commercial operation.”

Sir Richard predicts that market demand will be such that he could operate up to 50 spaceships. Initially, however, he expects to spend around $400m on five craft.

He also believes that new technologies and economies of scale will see the headline price drop dramatically.

More than 300 people have already forked out $200,000 to reserve a ride on the VSS Enterprise.

The first flight is scheduled for 2011. Passengers will have to take part in a training programme before the ride into space at Mach 3.3 – a third faster than Concorde.

The time in space will last around two hours and passengers will be able to enjoy the sensation of weightlessness while staring at the earth below.

New Airline for Doncaster Robin Hood Airport

2009-12-09T16:38:00.000Z

An unnamed new airline to start operating from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield is to be confirmed tomorrow (Thursday).

Airport owner Peel Airports is to reveal what it describes as “probably be the most significant development for the airport in recent years”.

Airport and local tourism bosses are due to reveal the details in an announcement touted as bringing important benefits for the region’s tourism industry.

More details are due to be released on Thursday 10th December.

All party select committee changes mind over Gatwick

2009-12-07T15:24:00.000Z

The all party select committee has done a complete about turn on the 2003 Aviation White Paper declaring that the proposed second runway for Stansted should instead go to Gatwick. Given that the third runway for Heathrow has already been agreed it was thought that Stansted was the obvious choice given it has more than sufficient land as opposed to Gatwick which has very little room for expansion within its existing perimeter.

Gatwick has long reached its maximum capacity of 32 million passengers a year compared with the 20 million passing through Stansted and already operates the busiest runway in the world.

For those looking to guarantee a parking space or hotel for 2010, we recommend you book your Gatwick airport parking or Gatwick airport hotel as early as possible.

World's first Revolving hotel to be built in Split

2009-11-10T13:56:00.001Z

A team of British architects have designed the first ever revolving hotel in the world.It will be located on Solta island which is part of Croatia.

The £70 million project, which is yet to be named, is due to be completed within the next two and half years. The rotating section of the hotel will spin very slowly on a turntable constructed in steel in separate sections at the huge Split shipyards which are located directly opposite the Solta Island. The hotel will have 50 suites, and uniquely, will give guests different views througout the day.

Over the course of a day the three-story high section, which is 200 ft in diameter, will rotate 1.3 times in the middle of a purpose-built swimming lake. A static central hub, which is 72 ft across, will house the reception area.

Guests will arrive in the hotel through an underground entrance to the hub before going up in a lift and then walking along a walkway to their accommodation on the spinning section.

The full development includes a new, 170-berth marina plus yachtclub and the resort will feature guest pavilions and villas as well as the hotel. The centrepiece hotel will be set in an infinity-edged swimming lake which cascades into a hillside spa below.

The idea of the revolving hotel solves the dream of the owners to give their guests a different view of the sea and the island of Solta in Croatia.

Guests will arrive at the hotel and then be led to an elevator which will take them to a walkway going to their accommodation on the rotating section.

According to the chief architect, Hywel Evans, the movement of the structure will be very slow and smooth that the guests staying in the spinning section will not be able to notice it.

Aside from the rotating hotel, a new marina, yacht club, villas, and additional guest pavilions are also planned.

For anyone travelling to Crotia from the UK check out the choices available for airport parking Heathrow and Heathrow hotel parking.

Heathrow Oneworld Alliance finally switches to Terminal 3 and Terminal 5

2009-11-03T14:40:00.001Z

All eight alliance members will operate out of just two of Heathrow’s terminals – Terminal 3 and Terminal 5.
All Qantas’ operations at the airport and British Airways’ Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney services will switch then from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. Finnair and Iberia moved to Terminal 3 earlier this year, along with a number of British Airways’ shorthaul routes. Already based in Terminal 3 were all the other oneworld on-line carriers – American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian. All BA’s other operations are now housed in the new Terminal 5. Terminal 3 is the closest of Heathrow’s existing terminals to Terminal 5.

Terminal 3 is nearing the completion of a multi-million dollar up-grade to bring its customer facilities up to a similar standard to those offered at Terminal 5, including a new British Airways lounge facility, whose First Class suite will open when its Sydney flights move there.

This will make all transfers between these airlines so much easier for travellers and is aimed at prenting a challenge to the Star Alliance group.

When travelling from the UK with Oneworld book Heathrow airport parking either on or off airport or if a stop over is required a Heathrow hotel parking package may be the best option.

Possible Buyer for Coventry Airport

2009-11-01T11:58:00.000Z

Airport officials from Coventry Airport have revealed that they are in discussion with an interested buyer for the site.

The airport has been up for sale since May, five months after passenger flights were terminated.
Earlier this week the council, which owns the freehold for the airport, announced it was considering turning the airfield into a new business park for the city if a buyer could not be found.

But airport director Brian Cox said speculation about the future of the airport was not helpful, adding that an interested buyer had already come forward.He said that of speculation was unsettling for the hundreds of staff employed both directly and indirectly at the airport.He added that there was an interested buyer but further details would have to remain confidential until there was something concrete to report.

He said the loss of passenger flights, after Thomsonfly pulled the plug on its low-cost flights last year, did not mean the airport was not in business.The Airport have just invested in an Executive Jet Centre to handle the growing number of executive aviation movements and cargo is still an important part of the operation.

The airport is also home to many private tenants who operate successful aviation related businesses on site.
Some of those tenants are calling on the council to work harder to ensure the airport will be able to continue as an airport if a buyer is not found.

Marc Bond, the managing director of Skypartners, which has a restaurant and bar in the Coventry Aeroplane Club, said: “There are upwards of 40 businesses who need this airport to stay as an airfield in order to stay in business, such as aircraft engineers, flight training, including one of the foremost training centres in the country, a helicopter school and freight companies.”

Possible Xmas stike action by BA Employees

2009-10-29T12:10:00.000Z

Talks between BA and Unite, who represent most airline staff, have broken down resulting in ballot action.Any strike would probably be held in the second half of December, causing maximum chaos for those travelling during the Christmas break.

The union's leaders are upset by the change in working conditions that BA has imposed on its cabin crew.

The airline has cut the number of staff on its long-haul Boeing 747 flights from 15 to 14, and the number of staff on a 777 from 11 to 10. It insists customers will not notice because it is forcing the cabin service directors -- the most senior crew -- to start serving meals and drinks as well as overseeing staff.

A spokesman for BA said that cabin service directors are unbelievably well paid if they are on an old contract. But it is these salaries that are crippling the company's finances. From a business perspective, BA needs to make changes to its cost base in order to compete with airlines and offer competitive priced flights.

It is understood some senior cabin crew staff who have worked for BA since the early 1990s take home more than £50,000 a year.

The airline lost a record £401 million before tax last year, and it has managed to persuade the equivalent of 1,700 full-time staff to take voluntary redundancy. To fund these redundancies, the airline has to ensure the remaining staff work harder.

Unite, however, are furious that BA has implemented these moves, along with other changes to staff's working practices unilaterally. Despite BA and Unite spending much of the summer in negotiations, BA announced the changes -- without Unite's support -- earlier this month. The changes come into force on November 16.

If strike action does take place over the christmas period, we recommend that when booking your airport parking or airport hotel parking you take out the cancellation fee option which will allow you to cancel either booking up to 24 hours prior to your check in with the parking or hotel company without loss.

Spain looses out to Egypt

2009-10-28T18:37:00.001Z

Egypt has emerged as the top autumn bargain break sun destination during the October school half-term.

According to a survey by a leading travel agent, Spain is losing out because of the low Euro rate.Half-term holidays to Sharm El Sheikh have increased by 142% according to data from the company based on more than 1,000 bookings.
The dramatic rise coincides with a significant fall in the cost of holidays to the Red Sea resort, with the cost of a family holiday package costing consideraby less.
Tenerife still remains the most popular destination in October as the weather is still very warm and flight times are short in comparison with long haul.
The pound falling to a six-month low of 1.0628 euros to the pound may have also contributed to the shift in destination choice for families, with Spain in particular losing out, the study shows. Majorca, the family favourite last year, has been knocked off the top spot into fourth place.
Not so many late deals have been available this year and with the euro still high, families are looking further afield for value for money.
Resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh also benefit from having a large selection of all-inclusive hotels, so families know what the holiday is going to cost them before they go.
If travelling to Sharm and lyou are looking to keep costs down the prices for airport parking is often overlooked.Book early to secure an off airport parking facility and always use an airport hotel parking combined package if you need to stay overnight.

Ryanair Chief calls on Government to srcap Air Passenger Duty

2009-10-27T13:23:00.001Z

Ryanair has called on the Government to scrap Air Passenger Duty which is due to be raised by £1 to £11 from November 1st.The budget airline giant said it believes that the UK’s traffic and tourism decline is a direct result of APD.An increase in the tax, coupled with high/increasing airport charges, will result in 10 million fewer passengers at BAA airports this year, the carrier warned.
Traffic at the UK’s largest airport operator has fallen by six per cent in the last 12 months with 8.5m fewer passengers at seven BAA UK airports, Ryanair said. At the same time, the airline’s traffic has grown by 13%, with seven million additional passengers in the past year. If travelling from a BAA airport including Gatwick, Glasgow, Edinburgh Stansted or Heathrow the turn up parking rate is substantially higher than booking for example a Glasgow airport parking at one of the many off airport car parks or conversely compare the cost of Gatwick airport hotel parking
The Irish airline repeated its call for the UK government to follow the recent example of the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish counterparts which have scrapped tourist taxes and/or reduced airport charges, in some cases to zero, in order to stimulate tourism.
Ryanair have also called on the Irish government to scrap the E10 tourist tax, as this has resulted in a huge fall of passengers from the Irish Airports.As an island nation, Ireland depends heavily on tourism,but passengers are reluctant to pay the tax.

Third Runway for Birmingham Airport

2009-10-23T15:51:00.002+01:00

Birmingham Airport has put itself forward as an almost instant solution to reduce the pressure on Heathrow airport amid debate over a proposed third runway at the London hub. Another nine million passengers could be accommodated at Birmingham airport within the existing infrastructure.
Birmingham also claims to be the only airport with a significant planning consent for a runway extension already agreed.The UK West Midland airport is said to be running at 40% of capacity and coold take an extra 9 million passengers a year without expanding at all.
A master plan to 2030 sees 18 million more passengers using Birmingham.Roughly 50% of the UK population is less than a two-hour drive from Birmingham and high speed rail links could bring them much nearer, with central London only 40 minutes away .
Trains from London Euston to Birmingham take around 70 minutes, while a high speed link from the capital could reduce the journey time by approximately 38 minutes.
A spokesman stated that the Airport was uniquely positioned to not only claw back people from their own region, who make the long journey to Heathrow, but to attract passengers from the overheated South East.
He added that a third runway would attract those who wavered towards Heathrow, to use Birmingham instead, and create jobs and help to rebuild the local economy.
Positioned at the heart of the country Birmingham Airport is perfectly placed for those visitors from abroad who want to experience all that the region, and further afield, has to offer. Birmingham’s reputation continues to rise and is truly a destination which provides the perfect base for foreign visitors.
For passengers use Birmingham airport to travel abroad Flypark is able to offer cheaper off airport Birmingham airport parking and for those travelling further afield, they may wish to consider an overnight stay and use a Birmingham airport hotel parking combination.

Ryanair Michael O'leary takes on the BBC

2009-10-22T14:07:00.000+01:00

The Irish airline has pledged to give away 100,000 free seats, with no taxes or charges, "for every false claim" made in the BBC One programme, aired on Monday night.

It has dismissed the documentary, which focuses on the airline's passenger charges and cost-cutting tactics, as a "hatchet job". Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's outspoken chief executive, is understood to be incensed that he was denied the chance to give an unedited interview.
As well as looking into Ryanair's cost-charging structure for passengers, which was criticised by the Office of Fair Trading earlier this year for not being clear enough, the programme also examines the airline's dealings with airport operators and aircraft manufacturers.
However, the reporter did reveal the fact that cabin crew are required to pay £300 for their uniform during their first year working for the company, only being repaid after 12 months' service.
A spokesman stated that for every false claim against the airline by the programme, they would give away free seats (with no taxes or charges).He also hinted that there would be claims that O'Leary was a bully.
The free seats will be offered from UK airports across Ryanair's European network, to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in November and December.
Mr McNamara said more than 10 false claims – as determined by Ryanair – would see it become the airline's biggest giveaway ever. Recently it gave away one million free seats for flights into Ireland, to mark the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
A spokesman for the BBC said that there were no false claims in the programme, and when questioned about the fact that O'Leary was not granted an unedited interview, he commented that no broadcaster could relinquise editorial control.
Ryanairs main hubs in England are at Luton, Stansted and Liverpool although thay do fly from nearly all UK airports.If flying from Luton for example be sure to book your Luton airport parking as early as possible or if you are looking bo book an hotel save by booking a Luton airport hotel parking package.
Many more travelers are opting to stay in hotels to save on the hassle of driving down the same day as thier flight and when prices are compared the difference is not as much as you would imagane.

Quator Airways complete flight using Natural Gas

2009-10-20T13:44:00.002+01:00

The airline industry has just had a major breakthrough in terms of fuel technology. This news comes as Qatar Airways has made its first paying passenger flight that was powered by a fuel made from natural gas. The six hour flight left Gatwick and flew to Quatar (Doha) earlier this week. (Book Gatwick airport parking online for best prices and choice cheaper off airport car parks).
This move has been regarded as a very important step in the airline industry’s attempts to reduce its dependence on oil-based fuel.

Before the flight, Qatar took the time to contact every passenger that had booked a seat on this flight and notified them of the switch in fuel. They offered to place people on a alternative flight if they were worried at all about taking the flight using natural gas.

The fuel was developed by the company Shell and uses a 50-50 blend of synthetic gas to liquids (known as GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene.A spokesman said that the development of GTL was a major breakthrough, where fuel can be produced from feedstocks such as wood chip waste and other biomass.

However, Shell did note that neither them nor the members that developed the blend claimed that it’s better at reducing carbon emissions. They said that there may be some modest CO2 emissions benefits from using the new gas.A member of the Aviation Environment Federation group, Jeff Gazzard, said that GTL is useful for local airports’ air quality, but it does have a higher carbon footprint than ordinary fuel. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK said that GTL is used by the military, but Qatar is the first to use it on a commercial flight that had passengers aboard. Either way, everyone seems to agree that this is a step in the right direction for the airline industry.

Airbus are predicting that by 2030, thirty per cent of aviation fuel will be alternative. The GTL gives off lower sulphur dioxide and particulate emmissions, thus improving air quality at airports.Shell and Quatar petroleum are building the Pearl GTL plant, which will have an annual capacity of around 1000,000 tons, enough to carry 250 passengers around the world 4,000 times, when used in a fifty per cent blend to make GTL jet fuel.

BA reduces luggage allowance

2009-10-19T15:39:00.003+01:00

In a week when the BA has said it will cut routes economise on catering and admitted a record first quarter loss, the airline now says it will introduce a new baggage policy from this October. The news, still not officially announced, has been posted on the carrier’s website ba.com.
It means that for bookings made from October 7, economy class passengers flying on most transatlantic routes will see their free checked luggage allowance reduced from two pieces to one. This brings the transatlantic routes (where there been a two piece rule in force for many years) in line with other long-haul destinations.
At the same time BA will make some changes to its excess baggage rates.
What is confusing is that the new rule does not cover every route – see below. To satisfy market demand it seems BA will let the two-piece rule remain on routes where passengers are known to take a lot of checked luggage.
BA baggage policy changes for bookings made from October 7, 2009
Customers travelling in World Traveller on flights to and from the Americas* (except Brazil) will have a free allowance of one bag weighing no more than 23kgs. This means that the World Traveller allowance will be the same for the majority of British Airways routes
World Traveller customers travelling to and from Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and on through-checked journeys between India and the USA, Canada and Bermuda will retain a two-bag free allowance of up to 23kgs per bag
Gold and Silver Executive Club cardholders will be entitled to two pieces of luggage on all routes when they travel in World Traveller, Euro Traveller and Domestic
There will be a reduction in charges for the first bag in excess of the free allowance on longhaul
The cost of extra bags on UK domestic routes will be brought in line with other shorthaul European services at £35 per bag
Heavy bag charge for bags between 23kgs and 32kgs will increase from £25 to £30. The special bag charge for items that exceed the maximum dimension will no longer apply.
* Americas routes affected: USA, Canada, Bermuda, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean

Where you taking more than one bag or especially bulky sports equipment such as skis check for example with your chosen car park for Gatwick airport parking or Gatwick hotel parking that they can accomate these items on the transfer bus and whether they will be an extra charge.

Possible closure of T2 at Glasow Airport for this winter

2009-10-14T18:47:00.002+01:00

BAA has inferred that Terminal 2 at Glasgow International Airport may close over the winter months because of a drop in passenger figures..
This would cut costs at the Airport significantly. The closure is one of “a range of options” being looked at. Since its opening five years ago, the terminal has been used as a check-in for low-cost carrier easyJet and has helped the airport deal with the main terminal’s overspill.
BAA is already under pressure to sell off either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports but this is now under review, as the closure of the Airport over the winter months could potentially save over £3 million.
BAA said the ruling failed to take into account the tough economic climate facing the aviation industry. The challenging conditions came into focus this week with British Airways announcing 1,700 job cuts and a pay freeze.
A spokesman for the Airport stated that like any other business, Glasgow Airport must control its costs, particularly during times of recession, so that it remains competitive.
It is currently looking at a range of options to reduce costs over the quieter winter months, when traditionally fewer passengers travel .The Airport remains in discussion with airlines and nothing has been agreed at this stage.
He said the airport was continuing to invest £12 million on new terminal and airfield facilities this year in Scotland’s second-busiest airport. The Scottish Government’s decision last month to scrap the multi-million pound Glasgow Airport Rail Link has further dented confidence in the airport’s long-term future.
If travelling this winter book your Glasgow airport parking online and save by using a cheaper off airport car park or if staying over before your flight we recommend you combine your Glasgow airport hotel parking

Jet2.com launches Two New routes from Edinburgh Airport

2009-10-12T15:58:00.002+01:00

Budget low fare airline, Jet2.com, has announced the launch of two brand new routes direct from Edinburgh Airport for summer 2010 to the popular holiday destinations of Dubrovnik and Faro. The airline will be the only one to offer a direct scheduled service to Dubrovnik in Croatia from Edinburgh next summer with fares for the weekly service starting from £49.99 per person one way including taxes. Flights depart from 2nd May 2010.The new service from Edinburgh to Faro in Portugal will fly three times a week offering good choice of times for passengers .Flights to Faro are on sale now and start from £34.99 one way including taxes with flights departing from 20th May 2010.
ATOL protected holidays will also be available to Faro (the Algarve) and Dubrovnik for summer 2010, bookable with a low deposit of just £30 per person. Customers can choose from room only to all inclusive packages, from 2 - 5* hotels and apartments across a range of resorts.
Located in the far south of Croatia, Dubrovnik is often referred to as the new Riviera. It has a stunning waterfront, beautiful beaches, chic bars, boutique hotels and restaurants , serving very high quality fresh food.There is a comprehensive bus service ,making many UNESCO World Heritage Sites accessible and the picturesque city itself has something to offer for all types of holidaymakers.
Many holiday makers are choosing to sail around the many islands of Croatia, making Dubrovnik a perfect choice for a base.
When travelling to Croatia book your Edinburgh airport parking early and if looking to stop over before your flight book Edinburgh airport hotel parking as a package to save on booking independently

New flights from Manchester Airport

2009-10-09T12:56:00.002+01:00

Jet2.com aims to be the largest scheduled leisure carrier from Manchester airport next summer with the addition of four new routes.

Dubrovnik, Split, Reus on the Costa Dorada and Prague have been added to the existing flight routes for summer 2010.

The carrier will now serve nine new destinations next year, taking the total routes from Manchester up to 28.

Aircraft at the North West base will be increased to fly the new routes with 140,000 extra seats for summer 2010, up 20% on this year. This gives a total of one million seats a year available from Manchester.

There will be twice weekly flights to Dubrovnik from April 29 with fares starting at £49.99 one way including taxes.

Split will also have two flights a week from May 8 th.
Flights to Reus will also commence in May twice a week and Prague will be served four times a week from April.
When travelling with JET2 to these new destinations book your Manchester airport parking online to guarantee a space at one of the many secure off airport car parks or if looking to have a look around Manchester we recommend you book Manchester airport hotel parking

Robot Taxis for Heathrow Airport

2009-10-08T17:53:00.003+01:00

Electric robot pods are to become part of the future transport at London Heathrow Airport, providing a service to passengers needing to move around the hub. UK firm Advanced Transport Systems is the manufacturer of these robot pods, which make up the system. They look incredible but they also, crucially, offer a taxi-type service with a low emissions profile. This service will initially be exclusively for passengers travelling into or out of Heathrow Airport on business class services.
BAA (who own London Gatwick,Stansted,Heathrow) would like the scheme up and running at the UK's busiest airport by the end of the year.
The pods or "robot taxis" will start by transporting business class passengers between Terminal 5 and their designated car par

Each pod can carry a maximum of four passengers
The pods can travel around London Heathrow at a maximum of 40 km
The pods' network of exclusive roadway stretches 4.3 kilometres
The pods will be run on a staggered system, with a new one available to board every minute at either end of the ride
The initial car park-to-Terminal 5 journey will take approximately three minutes
The Heathrow Ultra system runs in conjunction with a main computer system, which regulates pod flow.

The Ultra robot pods are extremely energy efficient, since their journeys are based on passengers actually programming where they need to go, thus cutting out needless stops and making them more emmission friendly.
If the initial pod run turns out to be a success, ATS plan to extend the Ultra PRT system across Heathrow's entire operation system with hundreds of pods serving roughly fifty stops.
When travelling from Heathrow book secure Safer Park Mark Heathrow airport parking car parks or if stopping over Heathrow hotel parking as a package to save money.

BAA continue to buy properties around Stansted Airport

2009-10-07T14:25:00.004+01:00

BAA who own Stansted Airport and are planning a second runway having spent £90m buying up properties around its site in Essex. Homes threatened by noise blight are also being purchased giving BAA ownership of about 270 properties. One of the latest acquisitions is the historic thatched Three Horseshoes pub at Molehill Green where Stop Stansted Expansion protesters meet. BAA have given the landlord there a new 5 year lease.
Last year more than 80 properties were on a list for compulsory purchase but only six are under threat if the airport is granted permission for the runway.
That development is currently sidelined and a planning inquiry due to take place in the spring was postponed because the airport is up for sale under pressure from the Competition Commission.
A BBC investigation has found winners and losers in the Stansted property market.
John and Rosemary Welch live in a listed cottage close to the existing airport boundary. They have been there for 37 years and the couple are one of the six owners refusing to sell to BAA.They have made it quite plain that they do not want to move.
The moated medieval Sheering Hall is just outside the boundary of the proposed new runway but the owners were able to sell to BAA under a voluntary home ownership scheme.In the village of Takeley , close to Stansted, around 100 homeowners have sold out to BAA because of concerns over the noise levels.
BAA has so far spent £180m on its second runway proposal - half to buy homes, commercial buildings, farms and land up to several miles from the airport. A number of historic listed buildings would be demolished and re-built outside the runway zone.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings claim listed properties have been left empty and deteriorating, but BAA have said that they do not wish to become long term landlords, and any property not affected by the runway would be sold back to the private sector.
A second runway for Stansted was originally planned to open in 2012. The date of the new public inquiry is not set and will not happen before a General Election. The Conservative Party is not supporting the plans for a second runway. Last year, the government agreed to allow passenger numbers to increase from 25 to 35m using the existing runway.
Stansted airport parking is an expensive and if you have a long way to travel it maybe worth considering of Stansted hotel parking as an alternative.

Extra flight to Isle of Man from Newcastle airport

2009-10-06T13:07:00.005+01:00

Manx2.com has announced it is to increase the frequency of flights on its latest route from the Isle of Man to Newcastle.
The airline began operating its eighth route on 27 August 2009 after stepping in to save the link to the North East when the previous operator announced it was to withdraw its services. There has been such a positive response to the re-introduction of the link by Manx2.com that the airline will increase its frequency of flights to five per week ,with the addition of a new Wednesday service.
Currently, flights operate between the Isle of Man and Newcastle on a Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The route has been scheduled to run until the end of the year but the company is hoping to secure its long-term future; an announcement about the future of the service into 2010 and beyond is imminent.
A spokesman for the company stated that the success is much due to flight prices which are lower than those offered by the former operator. The airline are delighted with the positive response to manx2's low fares on this route and have reacted by introducing the new wednesday flight.
He went on to say that the link to the North East is a vital one and important for tourism, business and those with families elsewhere.
Passengers have responded in a positive way to the re-introduction of the Newcastle route. The load factor currently stands at around 60%; it stood at an average of 35% with the former operator.
Not having this route would have a detrimental effect on the island and people living there.
The extra flight will depart from the Isle of Man at 1330 every Wednesday, with a return departure from Newcastle 14:45. Fares start from £39.95 each way including all taxes and charges.
When travelling to the Isle of Man save on Newcastle airport parking by choosing an off airport car park

Chemical scare Manchester airport

2009-10-01T13:14:00.002+01:00

A major alert was sparked at Manchester Airport after mystery chemicals were discovered inside a bag being loaded on to a plane.A passenger was arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft and is being questioned by police. The incident started after airport workers reported a strong smell as the bag was being loaded into the plane's hold.
Two men - believed to be baggage handlers - were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital as a precaution after they came in contact with the chemicals.Forty firefighters and a hazardous materials specialist were called to Terminal Two as the KLM flight - carrying 121 passengers - was preparing to take off for Amsterdam. Two firefighters wearing chemical protection suits and breathing kits removed the suspicious substances along with some contaminated clothing.
Police escorted a 48-year-old man off the jet for questioning. A police spokeswoman stated that police were called to Terminal Two at Manchester Airport to a report of a strong smell coming from a bag about to be loaded onto a plane.The bag was removed and found to contain two bottles of a chemical, which had leaked onto clothing.
A passenger was questioned and arrested on suspicion of endangering passengers and the aircraft and detained in police custody
Passengers had already started to board the Boeing 737 when fire crews and police were called. The flight, which was roughly 15 minutes from take-off suffered an eighty minute delay. Expert tests suggest the bottles contained corrosive substances but were not beleived to be explosive.

Public transport from Gatwick to London

2009-09-30T17:02:00.004+01:00

Low-cost airport transfer coach operator, Easybus will be the only direct public transport link from Gatwick North Terminal to London for a period of over seven months, commencing September 2009, when the airport's terminal transfer transit is taken out of service for a major overhaul lasting well into the summer of 2010.
Passengers who might otherwise have used the rail service to London, which operates from the South Terminal building, can enjoy a massive fare saving too, if they take advantage of easyBus' lowest online fare of £2, available to early bookers - a saving of nearly £15 on the rail fare. BAA Gatwick are quoting connecting times of 20 minutes for the replacement bus service to the South Terminal, so there is no real time disadvantage to passengers opting to take the easyBus instead of the so-called express rail option. Journeys can take less than an hour to London, though slightly longer times can be expected during busier periods.
The new inter-terminal transit system at Gatwick Airport is being installed as part of the airport's £1 billion investment programme. From 28 September 2009 until May 2010, a replacement bus service will operate between Gatwick's North and South Terminals. The service will run every three minutes during the day (04.00 to 18.00) and every six minutes at night. South Terminal passengers still wishing to take advantage of the cheaper EasyBus fares can still do so by taking the airport's bus shuttle to the North Terminal. BAA advise passengers to allow 20 minutes to transfer between terminals during this period.
Tickets can also be purchased from the easyBus ticket desk located conveniently right at Gatwick North arrivals or, if travelling to the airport from London, from the easyBus driver at their Fulham Broadway terminus. EasyBus have recently revamped online booking service and one of the quickest and simplest online booking processes takes about two minutes to complete. The best fares are available to early bookers and if your flight gets in late, you can hop on the next service with available seats. Services operate up to every 20 minutes from the stop which is just seconds from the arrivals hall in the North Terminal.
EasyBus also offers airport transfers between London Victoria and both London Stansted and London Luton airports, with online fares also starting at just £2
Whilst the online fare is cheap the time from the city centre could be a turn off as well as having to lug baggage through bus stations to reach the pick up and transfer points. For those who prefer to use their cars for Gatwick airport parking book early to secure the best selection of off airport car parks which are appreciably cheaper than booking on airport. For those looking for an overnight stop it is recommended that you book a Gatwick hotel parking option which is cheaper than booking an hotel and car parking independently of each other.

New flights annouced for Manchester airport

2009-09-29T14:25:00.004+01:00

Several new routes from Manchester Airport have been announced with the unveiling of Jet2.com’s new service to Monastir, Tunisia. Jet2.com are to commence a scheduled service to Tunisia from Manchester commencing May 29th, 2010. This is in addition to a further scheduled flight to Madeira. Flights to Funchal will commence on 3rd May 2010 and operate every Monday throughout the summer period
This is the fifth new summer 2010 route announced by Jet2.com from Manchester. Previously announced routes are Kos, Gran Canaria and Venice – this is all part of the airline’s planned expansion at Manchester which is a much need boost following Ryanairs high profile removal of flights over the cost of landing fees.
Bmibaby has also announced it is to launch a new summer service from Manchester to Lourdes in France. The flight to Lourdes starts on April 30th 2010 and will run until October 1st. The airline expects to carry over 9,000 passengers on the route, which will operate Monday to Friday.
If travelling a long way to the airport and to avoid motor way delays why not set off the day before and take advantage of a Manchester airport hotel parking arrangement and see the sights of the city or vist the Trafford centre for some reatail therapy and a meal at one of the many restaurants or if just looking for a cheaper off airport car park approved under the Safer Park Mark scheme then book your Manchester airport parking online.

Sudden fall in the pound puts more strain on the travel industry

2009-09-25T12:34:00.003+01:00

The costs of taking an holiday abroad once again went up yesterday with a further fall in the pound against the euro, hitting a five-month low with parity nearly in sight at 1 euro for every pound. The ratio to the dollar fell to $1.6, which is a steep fall from $2 to the pound in 2007. The reason for this continuing fall stems from the Bank of England’s decision back in March of this year to drop interest rates to just above zero and for the announcement two months ago that it would extend and increase if it had to, the policy of Quantitative Easing to provide the economy with sufficient funds.
The fall in sterling is being seen as helpful to encourage exports and to make domestic products more competitive and stem the fall in unemployment.
Whilst this may help the domestic economy for those involved in oversees travel, this just makes the selling of airport parking, flights, airport hotel parking, overseas accommodation, car hire and travel insurance all the more difficult.
Pricing for 2010 becomes very problematical, for example if you where producing an advertising leaflet for East Midlands airport parking and sterling continues to drop you could price yourself out of the market.
From the customer prospective, usually the earlier you book say Heathrow airport parking the cheaper the price, plus you will be offered the widest choice of car parks. The problem for the customer is this may still be the case, but if they decide to leave booking until later and sterling rises and more people opt for a foreign holiday the price will rise.

Improvement in the holiday industry?

2009-09-24T13:56:00.004+01:00

Signs of recovery are returning to the UK travel industry despite continuing tough economic conditions, a survey of Advantage Travel Centres members and supplier shows.

A poll of almost 300 leisure and business agents plus affiliated partners shows that more than half are quite optimistic for the future.

But the majority people questioned believe that the economic downturn will continue to have a significant impact on their businesses over at least the next two years. Nine out of ten of those surveyed said this had impacted on their businesses in the last 12 months.

Online booking is ranked next as having the most impact (79%) going forward followied by discounting (74%), business overheads (71%) and taxation on the industry (64%).

Those in the leisure industry have foundthat customers are shopping around more to get the best deal and increasingly putting their holiday package together themselves: booking flights and accommodation separately and often at different times, (booking the flight early to get the best price). The internet is increasingingly is being used by the public for independant travel and to secure the widest choice early booking is recommended. To book airport parking online or if you are planning to have an hotel stopover, an airport hotel parking package will save money compared to booking your parking or hotel independantly.

On the other hand, customers booking package holidays are leaving it until the last minute to get a good deal and non Euro destinations are getting more and more popular as prices tend to be significantly cheaper.

Price is obviously the most important factor with 85% of customers saying this is the factor that they weigh up first.

Environmental concerns affect only one per cent of customers as they are more concerned about securing a good deal than reducing their carbon emissions, the poll found.

Bmibaby to take routes over from Easyjet

2009-09-17T13:16:00.004+01:00

Bmibaby is to take over the flight routes vacated by rival EasyJet after their withdrawal from East Midlands Airport.

The expansion plan sees eight new routes added and three additional aircraft deployed at the airport, giving a total of 24 European destinations served by next year.

New services will run to Alghero in Sardinia, Barcelona, Bastia in Corsica, Cork, Dubrovnik, Malta, Newquay and Venice.

If travelling to any of these new destinations be sure to compare East midlands airport parking charges by booking online with Flypark. If travelling a long way to the airport you may wish consider booking East Midlands hotel parking package

Palma will be served in winter while Geneva and Prague will gain year-round flights.

Overall capacity will rise by 40% with almost 3,000 extra flights carrying 350,000 passengers scheduled for 2010.

Airline managing director Crawford Rix said that the rapid expansion programme at East Midlands Airport was excellent news for the Midlands and surrounding catchment area

Bmibaby and Bmi have operated from East Midlands since the airport opened in 1965 – and is an embedded part of the local community. The BMI group have operated in the region for 45 years and consider themselves as a long term operator, committed to growth in the East Midlands region.

Bmibaby has continued to go from strength to strength with their East Midlands Airport operation by providing a comprehensive range of business and leisure destinations combined with competitive low fare prices.
Easyjet which has three aircraft based at East Midlands Airport airport, operates 10 European routes.
A spokesman said the reason behind the decision was that routes from East Midlands were no longer proving cost effective.
A 90-day consultation has begun with staff. Easyjet said it hoped that the 120 staff at the airport could be re-deployed elsewhere within the company.

New passenger terminal unveiled at Birmingham airport

2009-09-07T11:01:00.001+01:00

A brand new £45 million passenger terminal at Birmingham Airport which will be able to hold double the number of passengers than the existing terminal will be unveiled next month The Pier will replace the old structure and is the biggest investment the airport has made in 20 years.

The extension of Terminal One means more space for aircraft and new gate lounges for passengers as the airport prepares for longer-term projects such as a new runway. It will mean passenger capacity can expand to 20 million from its current figure of 9.2 million. The opening comes after airport bosses announced they are looking to knock the two terminals together and attract Selfridges-style stores to the complex.

Operation’s director Will Heynes, who can take credit for the project, said the investment will provide the airport with facilities to enable it to meet the growing demand for international services to global destinations from Birmingham adding that the new "Pier" would provide a high quality gateway into the Midlands for foreign visitors.

Roughly 40 airlines operate from Birmingham to 140 destinations. More than 7,000 jobs are supported by the airport. The new Pier is a three storey building – 240 metres long and 24 metres wide. The top floor is for departing passengers, middle for arrivals with office space for airline and handling agents on the ground floor.

The building, which was the main terminal until the move to the current site in 1984, is home to the Air Traffic Control Tower, the business aviation centre, handling agencies and VIP handling.
Bosses say it is a major piece of the airport’s history and since 1996 it has adhered to a planning obligation to maintain the character and appearance of the building.

Birmingham airport parking and Birmingham airport hotel parking can be booked online at Flypark, where the customer will have a great choice of car parks, hotel and great prices

Bank Holiday Disruption

2009-08-29T12:57:00.001+01:00

Disruptions are to be expected at two of the major airports in the UK this Bank Holiday weekend as workers at Manchester and Gatwick airports have voted in favour of industrial action. However, fears that further disruption at Stansted could take place have been relieved following news that no official action will take place until at least Tuesday, if at all.

Hundreds of members of the union Unite, including cleaning staff, baggage handlers and staff who re-fuel the planes, had voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over pay disputes.
At Gatwick Airport, some Swissport staff have voted in favour of industrial action following a dispute on overtime. This is likely to affect flights on Virgin Atlantic, Thomson, Flybe and Monarch At Manchester Airport, some Swissport staff have also voted in favour of action from Thursday, which will affect flights on Etihad, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Monarch amongst others.
Despite the imminent action, disruption is expected to be minimal at both Gatwick and Manchester. A spokesperson at Manchester Airport reassured passengers travelling over the bank holiday weekend that because the potential strike action would only affect 300 staff out of a workforce of 20,000 at the airport, major disruption was highly unlikely and advised passengers to arrive st the airport as normal.
At Stansted Airport, union members have voted in favour of strike action, but the obligatory 7 day notice has yet to be given, so any action is not likely to take place until after Bank Holiday Monday – much to the relief of passengers who have booked seats with Ryanair, Monarch and Thomson which are served by Swissport staff.
The union said it has scheduled urgent meetings to try to avoid any industrial over the August bank holiday weekend.
Meanwhile a strike by staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport was set to go ahead, after the failure of last minute talks aimed at resolving a dispute over jobs,
If you are driving to the airport and parking at Gatwick airport or Manchester airport you arrive a little earlier.

Choose Euro and Save money

2009-08-26T13:06:00.000+01:00

Paying in pounds when you are on holiday overseas can cost you a packet, especially if you fall for the tricks of unscrupulous shops and restaurants.
When you pay a bill by credit or debit card, the retailer may ask you whether you want to pay in Euros or Pounds sterling. This practice is particularly prevalent in France and Spain . They use their own exchange rate, which is often vastly inflated from the one charged by UK banks.Recently Duty Free shops abroad have been employing the same practice and a lot of customers will opt for the sterling option as it sounds "safer". I was asked personaly in June at the airport in Ibiza travelling back to Manchester Airport.
Usually, the retailer or its banker will add around a 3 per cent mark-up, but in some cases it can be significantly higher,
If you pay in Euros, your bank will convert the money for you at a more competitive rate. This is especially important for those who hold the Nationwide, Abbey Zero or Post Office credit cards, as these give you the wholesale exchange rate, the best you can get, without any mark-up.
Other credit cards charge up to 3 per cent but are still likely to work out cheaper than local currency conversion. This process - called dynamic currency conversion - is part of credit card rules that aim to allow consumers the choice of whether they want to pay in the local or their home curre. But many customers are not offered the choice and attempts to get the transaction changed back can be met with confusion or refusal from the retailer.
A spokesman for UK Payments, which oversees card transactions, says: 'If you don't speak the local language, then I can see how this would be a problem.
'We would suggest taking cash with you so you have an alternative way to pay, or, if you are in a shop, walking away altogether.'
It is when paying deposits - most often at hotels and car hire companies - where travellers are frequently caught out.
Deposits are taken and converted by the hotelier and hire firm, then when the deposit is returned, it is refunded at the original euro price. When this is converted back into pounds by your card company, it will be considerably less than you originally paid, leaving you to foot the difference. In this situation UK Payments believes you could effectively argue the payment had not been authorised, since you should have been given the choice of currencies.
No matter how small the amount, the card issuer can do a chargeback to reclaim the funds.
A chargeback is a credit card reclaim you can make when you have not received a service from a retailer as advertised.
Dynamic currency conversion also happens at cash machines, but on a negligable scale.
Play it safe and opt for the Euro.

New online travel Guide for Manchester airport.

2009-08-19T12:32:00.001+01:00

Manchester Airport has launched a new personalised online guide for passengers designed to put the fun back into flying as well as making passengers’ time at the airport, enjoyable, easy and stress free.
‘My Airport Guide’ is a totally new web-based service and a first of its kind in the industry. It’s a free, easy-to-use and unique downloadable guide that is tailored to every passenger’s particular trip. To create your own personalised itinerary, customers simply log on to the Manchester Airport website and answer a few short questions, this enables the Airport to collate that information and provide passengers with relevant and precise information about their time at the airport.
This takes visitors through every stage of the passenger journey, from how to get to the airport to what to do when they have arrived. Starting with the options available for Manchester airport parking including off and on airport car parks and Manchester airport hotel parking. Passengers can use My Airport Guide to find out what catering facilities, shops and services are available in the terminal they are flying from.
There are even onward travel links and an optional destination guide, which can be included with relevant details about the destination they are flying directly to. The guide also includes important security information on the current hand baggage and liquids restrictions to ensure that passengers are fully prepared before they depart for the airport.
The guide has been designed not only for passengers flying from the airport, but also for those dropping off passengers or just visiting.
A spokesman for the airport said that the guide would minimize fuss during the whole flying experience for passengers, thus making their experience more enjoyable and stress free from start to finish.
‘My Airport Guide’ is part of Manchester Airport’s drive to continually improve the passenger journey through the Manchester Airport.
£80 million has been spent over the last two years at Manchester Airport (which is referred to in the guide) with the objective of making every trip a pleasure for passengers.From web-based pre-booking services like car parking, to following a personalised airport guide; from express check-in and enhanced security to amazing shopping and catering; from the outward journey to the return – every effort has been made to meet the individual needs of every passenger.
The website enables passengers to research and browse world destinations on an interactive map before they fly, providing tips and information along the way.
The multi-million pound retail and catering investment across the three terminals has created one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious airport shopping environments. New stores include impressive names like Kurt Geiger, Monsoon, Dixons, Fat Face and SoHo Coffee House complementing existing shops like Biza and Attitude. There’s even a spa for passengers – B Relax – offering massage and beauty treatments to get passengers in the holiday mood. And many retailers who are acutely aware of the economic climate are offering super discounts in-store this Summer with a special promotional voucher book ‘Value Added Travel’ available free around the airport.
In addition, there are many special offers at the airport including last minute Summer holiday deals and the popular ‘Costa Nothing’ competition where holidaymakers can win back the cost of their holiday in a free, monthly prize draw.

New coach service for Gatwick airport.

2009-08-19T12:20:00.001+01:00

Travelling to Gatwick Airport from North Kent has just got easier thanks to a new luxury coach service from Excel coaches.The new service links north Kent to Gatwick AirportThe service, which operates every two hours from Chatham Docks to Gatwick Airport, stopping at Hempstead, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Godstone, is a jointly funded initiative by Gatwick Airport and supported by Kent County Council and Medway Council.The coach service operates throughout the day and night offering reclining seats, air-conditioning, toilets and on-board Wi-fi service.Kent to Gatwick coach tickets are available from http://www.airportbycoach.com/ Alternatively, to book parking at Gatwick select from a range of both on and off Gatwick car parks.Coaches run every two hours, carrying passengers to Gatwick Airport from Chatham, Hempstead, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Godstone in Kent.Gatwick is targetted to achieve with 40 per cent of passengers using public transport.London Gatwick is the UK's second busiest air travel hub after Heathrow handling some 35 million passengers a year.

Manchester Airport Link with Israel extended due to high customer demand.

2009-08-14T12:15:00.001+01:00

Jet2.com, the first low cost airline to operate flights to Tel Aviv, has today announced its Manchester Airport -based service will continue flights to Israel through to 2010 and additionally, due to customer demand, flight frequency will increase to twice weekly from 22nd March – 28th October 2010.
Originally launched in May 2009, the airline experienced a huge demand for the Tel Aviv route from holidaymakers and the north’s Jewish community, all keen to take advatage of this direct northern link. With flights now on sale from just for around £100 one way including taxes, Jet2.com is offering the lowest ever fares and an unbeatable direct service to this popular city. Flights will depart from Manchester Airport on Monday and Thursdays from Manchester Airport to Tel Aviv. If you wish to book Manchester airport parking at an off airport car park to save money, it is , recommended that this is done as soon as you know your fllight times.
This news has been warmly welcomed by Israel who naturally wish to increase tourism to their country. The North of England around the Leeds area has a very prominent Jewish community and this has resulted in good two way traffic as family visit each other in their respective countries. This welcome investment into tourism to Israel will undoubtedly be of benefit to the consumer and strengthen links between the north of England and Tel Aviv. If you are travelling to the airport outside of the area to take advantage of a direct flight, you may to consider staying at one of the many Manchester airport hotels with parking rather than simply using an airport car park.
Tel Aviv is a thriving and cosmopolitan beach city that makes an alternative but exciting holiday destination. With buzzing nightlife, cafe culture, shopping, beautiful beach and a historic old town, the city offers a sophisticated break suitable for all.Jet2.com is the only airline operator to offer a direct service to Tel Aviv from the north of England and the route has proved to be an important gateway for the north’s Jewish community to one of Israel’s largest cities.
Jet2 are in an unrivalled position to offer both the lowest ever fares and fastest service into Israel and Tel Aviv is an extremely popular destination and they are confident there will be a huge demand for this service.

Sharp In crease in foreign holidays

2009-08-11T11:08:00.000+01:00

Since the start of the school holidays holiday bookings have increased by 32% year on year, according to Monarch Flights and Holidays.
The Costa Blanca in Spain is the travel group’s most popular destination this summer, with sales up 216% over the same time last year.

Monarch attributed the surge in demand to general opinion that the UK weather which had originally been forecast to be a "Barbecue summer", will now after all be not so good for the holiday period.
This has resulted in many families taking advantage of many good holiday deals.

Other popular "hot spots" are Grece, Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey which of course is non-euro and a very attractive choice at the moment as holiday makers will get more for their money.

Monarch also claimed strong demand for scheduled flights, with 260,000 passengers jetting off at the start of the school holidays and load factors for July increasing by 1.39% compared to the same period last year.

Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Faro in the Algarve and Alicante on the Costa Blanca are the most popular getaways for flight-only breaks, as many holiday makers are choosing to book flights and accommodation separately, and these destinations have a very wide choice that will appeal to all different age groups. Strong demand for both flights and holidays this summer, which has been assisted by the dismal weather in the UK and the bleak August forecast sending fed up Brits looking for warmer climes. All inclusive holidays are proving hugely popular, with bookings up 60% , especially with families, as they provide fantastic value for money and allow costs to be 'locked in' prior to travel. Clearly knowing your budget beforehand in these cash srapped times is a bonus.

On the other end of the scale, self catering holidays are also proving to be a favourite with bookings up 62% , as people look for the cheapest holiday deals available. Despite early indications that holidaymakers were looking to head east for their holidays this year to destinations where the value of the pound is stronger, it is interesting to see that the Costa Blanca still remains a firm favourite for both holiday and flight-only bookings this summer.
Despite the current economic climate people are not looking to forego their overseas summer holiday this year.

With a budget in mind airport parking still remains cheaper than using rail or a taxi and by pre-booking your Manchester airport parking and Gatwick airport parking for instance you will save a considerable amount compared to simply turning up at the airport. This is known as the gate price and can be as much as 30% higher than the pre-booked price.

New flights from Birmingham Airport

2009-08-11T08:34:00.001+01:00

The Greek charter line Hellenic Imperial Airways starts a new service this weekend between Birmingham and Athens, with onward connections to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. These flights will be the airlines first experience in the scheduled sector and will be using Boeing 747-200 aircraft.

Flights will be up to four times a week, continuing on to Jeddah twice a week.
Flights will arrive into Birmingham on Saturdays at 19:00 and depart back to Athens and Jeddah at 22:00. On Mondays, the airline will arrive into Birmingham at 17:00, departing back to Athens and Jeddah at 22:00 the following day. The airline’s chairman, Talal Abureyal, said: “Athens, which is our HQ, is not currently served from Birmingham so we expect that our flights will be welcomed by those travelling for business and leisure, in particular those visiting friends and relatives.” Its commercial manager, Theo Silvestros, added: “As the principal gateway to Mecca, the Jeddah flights to be used by many Pilgrims wanting to access Islam's holiest city, and with such competitive prices Midlands people will be able to start this important journey from their doorstep.” Return flights start from £199, excluding taxes, to Athens and £350, excluding taxes,for return flights to Jeddah.
Olympic Airways also fly from Birmingham Airport with a similar frequency.
When travelling with Hellenic Imperial Airways it is recommended that you pre-book your Birmingham airport parking as soon as possible to ensure you are able to choose from the widest range of car parks. If travelling a long distance to the airport you may wish to consider a Birmingham airport hotel parking option. All hotels are near to Birmingham airport and include transfers to the terminal

Monarch extends online check-in

2009-08-10T17:59:00.000+01:00

Monarch Airlines whose UK bases include Luton, Gatwick,Heathrow and Manchester Airports are extending their online check in service to passengers travelling on scheduled flights from overseas airports.
Check-in online can be used by passengers with pre-allocated seats using scheduled flights from Alicante, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Majorca, Malaga, Menorca, Murcia and Tenerife.

The service is available between seven days and 4.5 hours prior to departure.

It is designed to help cut time spent at the airport and to ensure that seating on flights is allocated in advance.

Passengers using online check-in and travelling with hand-baggage only can go directly to the departure gate on arrival at the airport.

Those with hold baggage have to take their bags to a fast bag drop desk, where they will be tagged as normal and sent to the aircraft.
Monarch scheduled service division managing director Liz Savage said: “We have seen overwhelming demand for online check-in from our UK bases, with up to 25% of scheduled passengers taking advantage of the service, so we are delighted to now offer it from our overseas airports as well. “The introduction of overseas online check-in will speed up the check-in process for a large number of our passengers and reduce the queuing time spent at the airport when they are returning to the UK in addition to their outbound flight.”

If you are travelling with Monarch book your Gatwick airport parking, Luton airport parking and Heathrow airport parking online to secure the widest choice of off airport car parks and best prices. Off airport car parks only accept pre-booked car parking.