Airport News - Europe.

May 10, 2009

AirBerlin

AirBerlin is offering nonstop flights to Dusseldorf with connections to destinations throughout Europe with roundtrip fares starting at USD 157. Fares out of New York start at USD 157; out of Los Angeles, USD 307; and out of Miami, USD 257. Fares are roundtrip, per person and do not include taxes, fees and fuel surcharges and are valid on select dates. Flights are operated by LTU International Airlines. Additional service continues on to Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Dresden. www.airberlin.com. May 8, 2009

Alitalia

Between this and the next year, Alitalia would take up again the route between Roma and Rio de Janeiro. The renewed airline is immersed in a plan of fleet extension, with which it searches to add some 70 planes to 148 that it currently has. May 6, 2009

British Airways

British Airways is opening its new lounge for premium passengers and top-tier oneworld members at London HeathrowOs Terminal 3 on May 11. The 300-seat Galleries Club Lounge is for eligible customers traveling to Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Helsinki, Vienna and Malaga. A second dedicated 250-seat lounge for customers traveling in First will open later in the year. Long-haul flights to Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore transfer from Terminal 4. The lounge features unique Swarovski chandeliers over the Silver Bar in the Galleries Club, and furnishings by Osborne & Little. Work and entertainment zones are also available with free WiFi. There is also a dedicated 'Kidzone' room for younger passengers with interactive furnishings, a magnetic wall and toys. www.ba.com May 7, 2009

Concur

IT company Concur has teamed up with TBI to launch a VAT recovery service for its clients. Concur, a major supplier of expense management systems, said it had chosen the T Ireland-based Vat recovery specialist because of its expertise in integrating into concur solutions. It said the VAT recovery software would use high end data to tell Concur clients of any unclaimed VAT as well as helping them recover the money. Concur said the reclaiming foreign VAT was a "complex and daunting process." www.concur.com May 8, 2009

EasyJet

Budget UK airline easyJet has announced its intention to hold marriage ceremonies mid-flight in a unique revenue-raising idea. EasyJet is investigating whether its pilots could become authorised to carry out weddings during flights. The plan would see the captain hand over to the co-pilot once airborne in order to officiate the wedding at the front of the plane. The time-saving move would mean couples could marry while flying to their honeymoon destination. The airline announced the plan after their research showed more and more people dream of marrying above the clouds. May 6, 2009

IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed FranceOs adoption of One-Stop Security. Passengers that have already been screened at a European airport will not need to be screened a second time when making flight connections. High security standards are maintained, but the hassle of connecting is reduced. With this decision, France is joining the majority of the EU countries that already allow One-Stop Security for passengers arriving from another EU airport. www.iata.org. May 8, 2009

Marriott Hotel

Marriott International, Inc. announced the opening of the 187-room Courtyard by Marriott Toulouse Airport Hotel, the companyOs 10th hotel in France. The property is opposite the Aeronautic Park, approximately four kilometers from Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport and a short distance from the home of Airbus Industries in Aeronautic Park. The Courtyard will attract business travelers visiting the city of Toulouse, a major industrial and R&D center, specializing in aeronautical engineering, biotechnology and information technology in the south of France. www.marriott.com. May 8, 2009

Ryanair

One in three passengers votes for 'Fat Tax', Ryanair to consider how to charge for very large passengers. Ryanair announced that it will now consider how to charge a Ofat taxO after more than 30,000 passengers voted in favour of charging excess weight fees for very large passengers in an online vote over the past two weeks. Over 100,000 passengers voted to decide which cost reduction idea should win a EUR 1,000 cash prize. Ryanair confirmed the final poll results as follows: * 29 percent - Excess fees for very overweight passengers, * 25 percent - EUR 1 for toilet paper [ETH] with OOLearyOs face on it, * 24 percent - EUR 3 to smoke in a converted toilet cubicle, * 14 percent - Annual subscription to access Ryanair.com, * 8 percent - EUR 2 OcorkageO fee for passengers who bring their own food onboard. Ryanair will now consider how to implement such a charge and asked passengers to vote, via www.ryanair.com. May 4, 2009

Ryanair

Ryanair is once again accepting bookings on all flights to and from Dusseldorf-Weeze after the airport was issued a new licence on Friday May 1. The new licence will allow the low cost carrier to continue to operate its full flight schedule in Weeze, which is 70km from Dusseldorf. May 5, 2009

Safran SA

Republican lawmakers asked FBI Director Robert Mueller to examine the national-security implications of awarding a contract for a fingerprint-search system to Safran SA, a defense and aerospace company partly owned by the French government. Members of Senate and House committees that oversee spy agencies, including Representative John Kline of Minnesota and Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, warned that the FBI contract, which may be worth more than USD 100 million, could give an overseas-based company access to law-enforcement and intelligence data. May 4, 2009

ZZ AirGuide 090511

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