Airline News - Europe.

Apr 14, 2008

UK Business travel increased last year and looks likely to increase again in 2008 - despite analysts[sup.1] pessimistic economic forecasts - according to the Barclaycard Business Travel Survey. Nearly half of respondents (44%) travelled more in 2007 than they did the previous year, and a third planned to travel more in 2008 - with 77% anticipating the same amount or more. Business expansion in the UK and abroad were the main reasons. However, the poll of more than 3,000 business travellers also shows spending is under closer scrutiny, with fewer trips being taken using business class[sup.1] and more on budget airlines. Companies seem to be focusing on managing and minimising costs, with more than 55% of respondents saying they were most likely to fly economy class when travelling for business, compared with 46% in 2006. In 2001, 41% of respondents cited business class as their main mode of air travel. Six years later just 11% said they travel business or first class. Apr 10, 2008

UK Business travellers are increasingly opting for low-cost airlines for their work trips - British Airways (28%) was followed by easyJet (15%) and Ryanair (8%) as the favoured airlines for travel. Both budget carriers more than doubled their share from 2006. In addition, luxury accommodation is also on the decline for corporate stays, with more than half of travellers - 54% - choosing hotels based on value for money, while 49% said cost was the sole factor in their decision. Apr 10, 2008

The open skies agreement between the U.S. and the EU boosted the number of available seats across the Atlantic by 20%. The result is lower fares for travelers, but observers note that soaring fuel prices have forced carriers to add surcharges to fares. Apr 7, 2008

Air One

Air One will increase its presence from Milan Malpensa this summer, using opportunities available as a result of Alitalia's downscaling at the airport. The Italian carrier will operate 138 weekly flights from Milan MXP on a network featuring domestic, European and long-haul routes. Last month, Network, Marketing and Business Development Director Giorgio de Roni said that AP had applied to the US Dept. of Transportation for authority to launch flights to the US. The new transatlantic open skies agreement eliminates the designation requirements but still requires licensing. Alitalia previously announced its intention to hub exclusively in Rome. Apr 7, 2008

Air One

Privately held Air One intends to launch fives-times-weekly flights to Boston on June 14 and six-times-weekly to Chicago O'Hare on June 21 aboard new Airbus A330-200s. Service to Boston will be in codeshare with US Airways and flights to ORD will include United Airlines' code. Air One's first new A330 arrived in February and a second is scheduled for delivery at the end of May. Reportedly, it also intends to launch flights to Miami next winter and Washington Dulles or Toronto in summer 2009. It has a base at Milan Linate from which it operates 12 domestic and two European routes. Air One stressed that its Malpensa expansion project is on a "standalone" basis and unrelated to any interest it may maintain in bidding for Alitalia. Apr 7, 2008

British Airways, London Heathrow

British Airways said on Friday it would delay moving around 120 flights to the airline's new problem-plagued Terminal 5 at Heathrow in an effort to make sure it can handle the extra passengers and baggage involved. The airline initially planned to switch almost all of its long-haul flights from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 on April 30. This has now been put back until at least June 5, British Air Chief Executive Willie Walsh told reporters. By then passenger volumes are expected to be lighter at Heathrow following the May school breaks and a public holiday on May 26. The delay marks the latest move as British Air works to get Terminal 5 running properly following the public relations disaster last month when hundreds of flights were cancelled and tens of thousands of bags went missing after disruption amid baggage handling problems. In a joint statement with airport operator BAA, the airline said that since Tuesday it has been running a normal flight schedule from Terminal 5. The two companies said they were working to iron out remaining problems, including the baggage system and develop a robust timescale to move flights to the new terminal. The delay affects about 60 daily departures and 60 arrivals. Earlier this month, British Air said the T5 disruption had so far cost it around GBP16 million pounds (USD$32 million). Apr 11, 2008

British Airways, London Heathrow

British Airways said it had canceled 126 flights due to have flown to and from London Heathrow today because of heavy snowfall and persistent problems with the airport's new terminal. A spokeswoman said 114 flights had been canceled because of snow and 12 owing to computer glitches at the recently opened Terminal 5. Heavy snowfall, which fell across many parts of Britain overnight and early today, also forced British Air to cancel 32 flights arriving and departing London Gatwick. A spokeswoman for BAA, the operator of Heathrow, said both of the airport's runways were briefly shut today to de-ice tarmac. Apr 7, 2008

L'Avion

L'Avion, the all-business class French airline, is increasing its flight frequency on its second Boeing 757-200 jetliner. The airline, which already offered flights seven days a week, has added an additional flight on Monday and Thursday as of April 3rd; it will add another on Wednesday beginning May 18th. L'Avion also announced that the airline has become eligible to provide electronic ticketing through Sabre GDS sales. L'Avion is now "e-ticketable" with Amadeus and Sabre. Visit www.lavion.com. Apr 8, 2008

ZZ

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