Airport News - Europe.

Jun 28, 2009

Blacklisted Airlines: New Line of Defense for Online Travelers Before Going on Holidays. Air Valid Recommends That Travellers Book Their Flights Through Travel Agencies Within Their Home Country Before Going on Holidays After publishing the new roster of blacklisted airlines ( http://www.air-valid.co.uk/airlines-blacklisted.html) by Europa on 8th April 2009, Air Valid is again forewarning travellers of the limitations of the blacklist when travelling abroad or reserving a plane ticket on the internet. For this reason, Air Valid is warning all Europeans heading abroad: "Don't forget that this blacklist cites the airlines that the travel agencies cannot refer you to when you book travel from Europe. However, if you are living in a foreign country temporarily, or if you are booking directly through one of the airlines' sites that offers online reservation, you will not be informed that the airline is on the blacklist." The information is relayed from http://www.expat-blog.com to their 10,000 expatriate members, of whom 5,000 have been bloggers since January 2009. Jun 25, 2009

Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines will launch daily Athens-Istanbul Ataturk on Sept. 9 aboard an A320. Jun 22, 2009

Blue Wings

Blue Wings launched twice-weekly flights to Moscow Sheremetyevo from Karlsruhe, Leipzeg and Munster. Jun 24, 2009

British Airways

British Airways will press ahead with the launch of its new business class-only service between London City and New York JFK, setting Sept. 29 as the date of the first flight. There will be a daily return service except Saturdays when LCY is closed, and flights will increase to twice-daily from mid-October. Tickets go on sale today. "In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about," CEO Willie Walsh said. British Air will designate the outbound and return flights with the BA001 and BA002 numbers previously used for its transatlantic Concorde services. It will operate A318s fitted with 32 lie-flat seats on the route. Weekend lead-in leisure fare starts from GBP 1,901.10 (USD 3,135) return, BA said, while the lead-in business fare starts at GBP 4,912.10 and the fully-flexible business fare at GBP 5,625.10 Jun 23, 2009

Brussels Zaventem Airport

A move to stop a terminal for low cost carriers at Brussels Zaventem Airport has been slammed by their association. The European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) said it was "difficult to understand" why legacy airline wanted to halt the facility. The new facility, in a currently unused terminal at Zaventem, is due to open in October. It will be available to both LCCs and legacy airlines. Jun 22, 2009

Heathrow and Gatwick Express

Heathrow and Gatwick Express claim to have launched the first ever environmentally friendly door-to-door service to and from both airports. Carbon Voyage provides travellers with a car from their office or home to London Paddington or Victoria, where they can board the express trains to Heathrow or Gatwick. The new integrated service allows travel agents and bookers to make one booking for car and rail transfers, and on one ticket. Carbon Voyage tickets are sent electronically to the customers saving postage and paper. www.carbonvoyage.com Jun 25, 2009

Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express, between July 1 and Aug. 31, is offering free travel for children when travelling with an adult. The offer is for children aged between 5 and 15 years when travelling with a fare-paying adult. The offer includes one free ticket for a child aged 5 to 15 for every full-fare adult ticket that is purchased, is only available for online purchases and is valid for travel during July and August. Tickets cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer/discount. For more information, visit www.heathrowexpress.com. Jun 26, 2009

Lufthansa

Deutsche Lufthansa said Wednesday that it is increasing its fuel surcharge on domestic and European flights, blaming a steep rise in oil prices this year. Lufthansa said the surcharge would increase to ?24 (USD 34) from ?21 (USD 30) per flight for all tickets issued on or after July 2. However, Lufthansa said it would now classify flights to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and North Africa as European rather than long-haul flights for surcharge purposes, reducing "significantly" fares on some routes. The airline said it would stagger its long-haul surcharge, currently ?82 (USD 115), according to distance. Jun 24, 2009

Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport executives urged passengers to adopt a "use it or lose it" attitude towards long haul services out of the city. Andrew Harrison, MAN's commercial director, said 50 percent of travellers from the North flying to Dubai went to Heathrow rather than take flights from Manchester. Malcolm Gresty, international relations director for Manchester investment agency MIDAS, said air travel was vital for new trade links. "Direct flights are the lifeblood of connectivity by attracting business and leisure tourism," he said. Mr Harrison and Mr Gresty were speaking at a conference promoting Manchester and the surrounding region "as a core hub for worldwide business and international gateway to the UK." New long haul routes between Manchester and China, Malaysia, Japan, Boston and Los Angeles are currently being considered, it was revealed. www.manchesterairport.co.uk Jun 25, 2009

Ryanair

Ryanair will "freeze growth" at its nine UK bases "with immediate effect" in response to a drop of 4.5 million passengers at BAA's seven UK airports through the year's first five months. The LCC blamed both the airports operator and the country's [pounds sterling]10 (USD 16.43) air passenger duty for the decline. "While the UK keeps taxing tourists, Ryanair will switch its growth to other EU countries where low-cost airports are growing and where governments are welcoming tourists, not taxing them," CEO Michael O'Leary said. Jun 24, 2009

Ryanair

Ryanair Holdings, Europe's largest low-cost airline, will bar passengers from traveling with anything other than hand luggage as it seeks to cut costs. Ryanair plans to offer an "unlimited" allowance for carry-on bags that comply with government size limits while abolishing checked luggage from next spring, Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary said today. The airline anticipates savings of 20 million euros a year (USD 28 million). Jun 23, 2009

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airways celebrated its 25th birthday in style by recreating the very first flight to New York that departed on June 22, 1984. Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, was joined onboard by frequent travelers, travel trade VIPs and a host of special guests including leading fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, international cricketer Kevin Pietersen and his wife, former Liberty X singer Jessica, as well as Ian Botham and Christopher Biggins, who was a passenger on the very first Virgin Atlantic flight 25 years ago. Jun 22, 2009

Wizz Air

Wizz Air will launch thrice-weekly Prague-Treviso service Sept. 20. Jun 25, 2009

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