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Weekly UpdatesAug 2, 2009
The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) has made the forward thinking decision to incorporate additional technology to help them with their efforts to keep contraband out of the country. Using a passive millimeter wave (PMMW) object detection system they have strengthened their ability to target illicit and smuggled goods. To toughen their screening for Class A drugs, concealed cash, and other items, they have adopted an approach which involves the deployment of a mix of fixed and mobile units across the UK. Brijot Imaging Systems, Inc. (Brijot) proved the technical ability to successfully screen passengers for contraband traveling short or long haul flights with final destinations into the UK during trials in 2007. The UKBA has since nationally deployed the PMMW object detection systems and these are now integral to their day-to-day contraband screening efforts at major air and sea ports. There have been some promising results to date with several seizures of cash and the use of the mobile system has greatly increased the flexibility of the equipment. John Whyte, Director of UKBA and chair of the Detection Technology Board said, The incorporation of the PMMW technology, along with behavioral science, and intelligence, has significantly increased the ability of our officers to detect contraband. The mobile system, which is a self-contained screening unit that can be at operational readiness within minutes, has allowed us to move the checkpoints from one high risk arrival to the next very easily. Brijot listened and responded to our needs in the development of this mobile aspect and we look forward to continued success and future co-operation. Jul 30, 2009
European Commission yesterday described the number of mislaid, damaged or lost bags at EU airports as "excessive and unacceptable" and said it is considering ways to improve current legislation if the situation does not improve. "In order to protect passengers' rights adequately, we should provide citizens with the appropriate instruments. For the time being these instruments are not available," EC VP-Transport Antonio Tajani said. The Commission launched an inquiry into the luggage issue in March and said 4.6 million bags were delayed at EU airports in the first 10 months of 2008. Jul 29, 2009
On a shoe-string, stuck or just need some shut-eye? Avoid Paris' Charles de Gaulle at all costs, but embrace Singapore's Changi, according to a survey that rated the world's 10 worst, and best, airports to sleep in. Dirty floors, filthy, overcrowded bathrooms, bird poo and biting insects were among the biggest complaints of the 6,200 travelers who took part in the poll, by travel web site The Guide to Sleeping in Airports. Charles de Gaulle was voted the absolute worst, followed by Sheremetyevo in Moscow, which one passenger called "hell on earth." In the third and fourth spots were New York's JFK and Los Angeles' LAX, while India's Delhi airport rounded off the top five worst airports. On the flip side, Singapore's Changi was rated the cleanest and most comfortable airport to sleep in, followed by Seoul's Incheon and Amsterdam's Schiphol. Oslo's Gardermoen and Hong Kong airport rounded off the top five best airports, which the site said travelers loved for the amenities, friendly staff and comfortable seating. "Sleeping in airports is no longer just for the young budget traveler looking to save a few bucks," said the web site, which was founded by Canadian former travel agent and expert budget traveller Donna McSherry in 1996. "People of all ages and vocations can now be seen stretched out on airport floors all around the world, whether they are there because of a long transit, flight delay or voluntarily to save money." Jul 20, 2009
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has added a third daily flight between Shannon airport in Ireland and London Heathrow. The new mid-day flight will begin on October 25 in addition to Aer Lingus' morning and evening services. Aer Lingus corporate affairs director Enda Corneille said the new service would strengthen business, leisure and connecting traffic between the west Ireland and Heathrow. www.aerlingus.com Jul 23, 2009
Aer Lingus
It's not too late to plan an affordable summer getaway and Ireland's experts at The Aer Lingus Vacation Store invite you to visit the Emerald Isle this August by introducing unbelievably low air and land inclusive packages with pricing starting from USD 599 per person. Jul 20, 2009
Air Baltic
Europe's Court of Justice has ruled that passengers can pursue compensation over cancelled flights through courts with jurisdiction over the departure or arrival points, rather than the airline's main office. The clarification follows a case brought by an Air Baltic passenger travelling from Munich to Vilnius who took his claim to the court with territorial jurisdiction over Munich Airport. Air Baltic had argued that the relevant jurisdiction was Riga. Jul 21, 2009
Air Europa
Air Europa launched daily New York JFK-Madrid service aboard an A330-200. Jul 29, 2009
AirBaltic
AirBaltic will launch daily Riga-Frankfurt service Sept. 17 aboard a 737. Jul 20, 2009
AirBerlin
AirBerlin will begin serving Pristina from Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hanover and Munich up to twice-weekly, daily from Zurich and weekly from Geneva on Nov. 4. Jul 23, 2009
Alitalia, Lufthansa
Alitalia reducing its presence in the Milan market is viewed by German carrier Lufthansa as one of the best opportunities to further gain its market shares in Europe. Jul 21, 2009
Armavia
Armavia launched weekly Yerevan-Batumi flights and will launch weekly Yereven-Kharkov service July 27. Jul 27, 2009
Avianca, Airbus
Avianca has decided to keep an Airbus A330 featuring its new lie-flat business class product on one of its Bogota-New York flights and is planning to next introduce A330s on its Bogota-Barcelona route. Avianca in April introduced one of its four new A330s on a daily Bogota-New York JFK rotation. The carrier's managing director for North America and Asia, Rolando Damas, says originally the switch was temporary but Avianca has since decided to keep the A330 on the route. Jul 23, 2009
British Airways
British Airways will remove inflight meals in economy class on flights shorter than 2.5 hr. from next week, although it will continue to serve breakfast on flights departing before 10 a.m. and offer free drinks and snacks. It expects to save GBP 22 million (USD 36.1 million) annually as a result. It will not sell food onboard. Jul 31, 2009
British Airways
It also announced changes to its 2009-10 winter and 2010 summer schedules. Flights from London Gatwick to Alicante, Krakow, Malta and Palma and flights from London City to Lyon will cease on Oct. 25. Flights from LGW to Barcelona, Gibraltar, Madrid, Malaga and Pisa will move to Heathrow on the same date, although summer 2010 flights to Pisa will operate from both LHR and LGW. It will cancel services between LHR, Singapore and Sydney during a certain number of weeks in the winter schedule. Jul 31, 2009
British Airways
British Airways has told its check-in staff to look out for passengers showing symptoms of the H1N1 virus and to alert doctors who could bar them from boarding a flight, the airline said Sunday. The directive was issued in the past "couple of weeks", a spokeswoman for the airline said, explaining that it was part of efforts to limit the spread of swine flu. Calling the measures "standard practice" for a medical situation, the spokeswoman said only a handful of people had so far been turned away from boarding British Airways flights as a result of the medical checks. Virgin Atlantic has also adopted similar measures, according to the Sunday Times newspaper. A group of 52 British school children and their teachers were quarantined in Beijing on Saturday after four pupils were admitted to hospital infected with the virus. Another four pupils have since had to be admitted for treatment. The group arrived in China last week for a culture and study tour. But shortly after arrival at Beijing airport, four of the students -- all believed to be teenagers -- were admitted to hospital showing symptoms of swine flu infection. British authorities confirmed this week that 29 Britons infected with the H1N1 virus had died, with officials making plans for up to a third of the population to fall ill. In total there are an estimated 55,000 new cases of swine flu in Britain a week, although in the vast majority of cases the symptoms are mild. The pandemic has killed around 430 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Jul 20, 2009
British Airways, OpenSkies
British Airways' all-premium transatlantic carrier OpenSkies is to suspend its Amsterdam-New York service next month. The route - one of two served by the carrier, other other being Paris-New York - will be halted on 16 August. Jul 24, 2009
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
UK passengers have been making claims against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways in increasing numbers relating to the carriers' price-fixing practices on long-haul flights between Aug. 11, 2004, and March 23, 2006, Dow Jones reported. More than 211,000 refunds have been processed so far, of which 170,000 are from UK passengers, claimant law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP said. Payment has been authorized in 133,000 of these cases. Hausfeld estimates that the airlines overcharged UK customers on a combined 5.6 million journeys during the two-year cartel period. Jul 27, 2009
EasyJet
EasyJet forecast a full-year pretax profit of GBP25 million - GBP50 million pounds despite the severe industry downturn, while maintaining its fleet growth plans to 2011. The carrier said revenues had risen 12 percent to GBP721 million (USD$1.18 billion) in the third quarter and, although August would be crucial, it was confident of finishing the financial year to the end of September in the black. "This has been a resilient third quarter and our position has continued to strengthen... we expect to be one of the few airlines to make a profit this year," CEO Andy Harrison said in a statement. Irish rival Ryanair warned the market earlier in the week that its profits would fall to the lower end of expectations as it cut fares to fill its planes, although its anticipated profit of at least EUR200 million euros is still well above easyJet's. Full service airlines such as British Airways are battling record losses and refusing to give any forecasts. "(EasyJet) is performing well given the current economic environment but a sustained downturn could clearly delay a profit recovery," Gert Zonneveld, analyst at Panmure Gordon, said in a note. EasyJet said it still planned to have nearly 200 aircraft by September 2011, up from 177 at end of June this year, in line with growth plans laid out in May. The plan included a new figure of 207 aircraft by 2012, and a pledge to grow at 7.5 percent a year for the medium term -- historically slower than previous years. The carrier has been embroiled in a row with its founder and biggest shareholder Stelios Haji-Ioannou for months over the rate of the airline's expansion, with the entrepreneur arguing that the industry downturn should be treated with extra caution. EasyJet said the board -- which includes non-executive director Stelios -- had agreed the current strategy, but would continue to view fleet planning decisions in light of market conditions. It said its cash and money market deposits totaled nearly GBP1 billion. Passenger numbers grew 2.8 percent in the third quarter to nearly 12 million. Jul 29, 2009
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