New online visa travel rules to US take effect

LONDON (AP) — New rules went into effect Monday requiring people traveling to the U.S. under the visa waiver program to register online in advance, instead of filling out paper forms in flight or at the airport.

The new program, designed to improve U.S. security, has been voluntary since August, but became mandatory Monday. Travelers are being asked to fill out the forms at least 72 hours in advance of travel.

There were no signs of confusion Monday as the new system was implemented at London Heathrow's sprawling Terminal 5 — departure point for many U.S.-bound flights.

"I knew about it because my travel agent told me, so I had already taken care of it online," said Jo English as she checked in for a business trip to Miami.

The rules cover the citizens of 35 countries — from nations in Europe and Asia, to Australia and New Zealand — who don't require a visa to enter the U.S.

Derwood Staeben, U.S. consul general in London, said nearly all applications would be approved in less than 10 seconds. He said travelers would not be required to give any more information than is already requested on the paper immigration forms, which are being replaced.

"The important change is that we're automating the existing process and requiring it to be done in advance," he said. "The response time is generally about four seconds."

Travelers filling out the online form will be told whether their request is authorized, denied or pending, he said. Those who are marked "pending" must check back in 72 hours to see if they have been approved, he said.

People whose application is denied must apply to the U.S. Consulate for a visa, he said.

He said the U.S. Congress mandated the change.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department said in a statement that it will take a reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization, but warned that travelers without authorization do risk being delayed or denied entry to the U.S.

There is no fee for the service, he said, and the travel authorization is valid for two years. He warned that operators of some unscrupulous Web sites are charging fees for this service, which is designed to be free of charge.

People can apply for travel authorization at any time, and Staeben said about 14,000 applications per day are being received.

On the Net:
New travel forms: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

New routes launched - Saturday 20 December - Friday 9 January

British Airways CityFlyer has begun weekend only flights from London City (LCY) to Lyon (LYS) aimed at the winter ski market. Saturday flights operate early in the morning while Sunday flights operate in the early evening. One of the airline’s Avro RJ 100s operates the service. British Airways now operates to around a dozen destinations from the airport.

Swiss niche carrier Helvetic has re-launched scheduled services from Zurich (ZRH) to the Macedonian cities of Ohrid (OHD) and Skopje (SKP). Both destinations will be served for the rest of the winter season with either one or two weekly flights operated by a Fokker 100. Helvetic had wound down its scheduled services to focus on charter flights but it is now re-starting a limited programme of scheduled services to niche destinations.

Last year’s “New Routes Champion” Ryanair appears determined to hang on to the title this year as well as it has launched over 20 routes in the last three weeks. Some 13 of these are weekly (Saturday) routes to ski destinations.
There are further weekly routes from Gothenburg Save (GSE) and Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) to Klagenfurt (KLU), and from London Stansted (STN) to Lourdes/Tarbes (LDE). There are also new thrice-weekly services between Alicante (ALC) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) and Krakow (KRK), Edinburgh (EDI) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI), and London Stansted (STN) and Basel (BSL). The Stansted to Basel route used to be operated by easyJet but they have chosen to drop their daily Luton and Stansted services in favour of a double-daily service from London Gatwick which started at the end of October. Finally, Ryanair has started another route from easyJet’s biggest base at London Gatwick (LGW) to Dűsseldorf Weeze (NRN). Flights operate daily.

Transavia.com has added two further ski routes to its winter network. Rotterdam (RTM) gets a new twice-weekly connection to Friedrichshafen (FDH) in southern Germany while Brussels (BRU) is linked to Salzburg (SZG), also twice-weekly.

Wizz Air starts the new year with six international routes all involving the Ukraine. From Kiev (KBP) the airline has started serving Cologne/Bonn (CGN), Dortmund (DTM), Katowice (KTW), Oslo Torp (TRF). Cologne/Bonn and Oslo are each served thrice weekly, Dortmund four times and Oslo just twice. Meanwhile, Wizz Air is also starting international services from Lviv (LWO) to Dortmund (DTM) and London Luton (LTN). Dortmund will be served thrice weekly and Luton four times weekly. With the addition of these two international routes from Lviv Wizz Air is now the leading airline at the airport with around 38% of scheduled seat capacity followed by Ukraine International Airlines with 24%.

Source: AnnaAero

Italian airport traffic down almost 13% in November; only Bergamo with five new Ryanair routes bucks trend

Latest traffic figures for Italian airports show that only one of the largest 13 airports reported traffic growth in November. While traffic across all Italian airports was down an alarming 12.5% in November (it was down 8.5% in October), Milan Bergamo’s traffic was up 12%. This was in part due to the five new routes to Brindisi, Fez, Ibiza, Madrid and Palermo that Ryanair launched at the end of October.

Domestic traffic was hardest hit in November (down 16.4%) while international traffic was ‘only’ down 9.4%. In November Italy’s year-to-date growth finally went negative with total passenger numbers since January reaching 125.2 million, down almost 1% on a year ago. The network restructuring and capacity cutbacks introduced by Alitalia in the run-up to its privatisation have clearly been a contributing factor, but traffic is also down at airports where Alitalia’s share of traffic has traditionally been low.

Among smaller airports the only ones reporting growth in November were Cuneo (+131.7%), Parma (+45.8%), Rimini (+6.3%) and Cagliari (+0.9%).

Source: AnnaAero

No free lunches on no frills airlines

Food and drinks on low cost airlines can cost almost half as much as the flight according to a new report.

Which? Holiday surveyed a number of budget airlines to find out the relative cost of in-flight drinks and snacks. The subscription-only holiday magazine examined the cost of a basket of five items: a sandwich with meat filling, mini size Pringles, small bottle of red wine, sparkling water and cup of coffee.

The most expensive airline for this range of food and drinks turned out to be Irish no frills airline Ryanair. It charged £16.05 for the five items on flights from London Stansted to Barcelon Girona departing on November 14th and returning on November 16th this year.

Ryanair was found to be the most expensive airline for all five items. Its in-flight sandwiches are priced at £4.20, mini Pringles £1.85, bottle of red wine £5, sparkling water £2.50, and cup of coffee £2.50.

Next most expensive budget airline was found to be Flybe, but it charged considerably less than Ryanair for the five items. Flybe’s total price for all five items was £11.95. But Flybe did charge the least for mini Pringles, just £1.10.

Overall cheapest low cost airline for the basket of five items was bmibaby, which charged a total of £10.50. It was cheapest for a bottle of sparkling water, just 80p, and equal cheapest for a sandwich, bottle of red wine and cup of coffee.

“It’s hard to believe that some airlines charge so much for food and drink, especially when the cost of their flights are often so low,” comments editor of Which? Holiday, Lorna Cowan, about the findings of the survey.

“If you think you will want something to eat on a flight, buy it before you board from the departure lounge. Although you can’t take more than 100ml of liquids in your hand luggage, anything you buy in the departure lounge can be taken on your flight, and is normally cheaper than on the plane,” Cowan advises.

Other low cost airlines included in the Which? Holiday survey on in-flight food and drinks were easyJet and Monarch. Monarch was second cheapest overall, charging £10.60 for the five items. easyJet was in the middle of the airlines surveyed, charging a total of £11.50.

Written by: Nick Purdom

Source: www.holidayextras.co.uk

New routes launched - Saturday 13 Dec - Friday 19 Dec

Turkish Airlines launched flights from Istanbul (IST) to Birmingham (BHX) this week. There will be five weekly flights using a 737-800. This marks the first scheduled service between the two cities.

AirBaltic began serving Hannover (HAJ) this week from its home base in Riga (RIX). Flights will operate daily (except Wednesday and Sunday) using one of the airline’s Fokker 50s. Hannover becomes the airline’s fifth destination in Germany after Berlin (19 weekly departures), Dűsseldorf (four weekly flights), Hamburg (daily flights) and Munich (daily flights increasing to eight per week from 27 December). So far in 2008 airBaltic has seen passenger numbers rise by 29%. Even in November traffic was up an impressive 13% with the load factor remaining unchanged at 58%.

airberlin.com has finally started flying to Ciudad Real (CQM) the new Spanish airport around 100 kilometres south of Madrid. It is serving the airport four times weekly from its base at Palma de Mallorca (PMI). The start of the routes has been delayed twice.

British Airways has added another destination to its London City (LCY) network operated under its CityFlyer brand. Geneva (GVA) is now being served four-times weekly using an Avro RJ 100. The other destinations it serves are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Madrid, Nice, Warsaw and Zurich. CityJet (on behalf of Air France) and Swiss already operate multiple-daily services between London City and Geneva.

easyJet added a new destination to its network this week. Salzburg (SZG) in Austria became the airline’s newest outpost with the start of thrice-weekly services from London Gatwick (LGW). Salzburg becomes easyJet’s third Austrian destination as it already serves both Vienna (from London Luton) and Innsbruck (from Bristol, Liverpool and London Gatwick).

Italian airline Eurofly has begun weekly flights from Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Tel Aviv (TLV). Flights will operate on a Wednesday only until 23 February when frequency increases to three flights per week with additional flights on Mondays and Thursdays. El Al already operates daily on the route while Alitalia is currently operating four weekly flights.

Jet2.com has launched weekly (Saturday) flights from Blackpool (BLK) to Geneva (GVA). These will operate through the winter ski season until 18 April 2009. Jet2.com already serves Geneva from its home base of Leeds/Bradford and Manchester.

Ryanair launched just five new routes this week with a heavy emphasis on the struggling Spanish market. It has begun domestic flights between Palma de Mallorca (PMI) and both Barcelona Girona (GRO) and Reus (REU). Also new are direct services from London Gatwick (LGW) to Alicante (ALC) and Barcelona Girona (GRO). The Alicante route from Gatwick (which Ryanair is serving twice-daily) marks the first time Ryanair has gone head-to-head with easyJet at what is now easyJet’s biggest base. British Airways and Monarch are also active on the route. The Girona route will provide indirect competition with easyJet’s triple daily flights to Barcelona. Finally, Ryanair is now connecting Edinburgh (EDI) with Krakow (KRK) three-times weekly. This is the airline’s ninth route to Krakow with the tenth (from Stockholm Skavsta) starting next week. Ryanair already serves two other Polish destinations (Lodz and Wroclaw) from its newest base in Edinburgh.

SAS has started serving Kittila (KTT) in northern Finland from its Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) base. Flights will operate twice-weekly with a 737.

Amsterdam-based Transavia.com has started five new “winter ski” routes this week, but none of them are from its home country. It has launched three/four times weekly services from Innsbruck (INN) in Austria to Berlin Tegel (TXL) and Hamburg (HAM) in Germany, to Brussels (BRU) in Belgium and Copenhagen (CPH) in Denmark. It has also started weekly flights from Copenhagen (CPH) to Salzburg (SZG).

Vueling, despite major network cutbacks that saw passenger numbers down almost 30% in November, has found the resources to start a new route between Seville (SVQ) and Tenerife Norte (TFN). Competition on the route is provided by future ‘partner’ clickair and Air Europa.

Two new routes have been inaugurated by WestJet this week. From Toronto (YYZ) there are now weekly seasonal flights to La Romana (LRM) in the Dominican Republic while from Calgary (YYC) the airline has started a new daily service to Kamloops (YKA) in British Columbia, a route already served by Air Canada Jazz. Kamloops handled around 200,000 passengers in 2007.

Wizz Air has done some more ‘joining-the-dots’ on its route network this week with the start of five new routes. In Poland, there are two new routes from Poznan (POZ) to Cork (ORK) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) while in Romania there are new routes from Timisoara (TSR) to Dortmund (DTM), and from Cluj Napoca (CLJ) to Paris Beauvais (BVA). Finally there is a first international route from the airline’s new Ukraine base in Kiev (KBP) to London Luton (LTN).

Source: AnnaAero

5 destinations to watch in 2009

A destination in the midst of inventing itself. Another preparing for its year in the world spotlight. Cities and regions gearing up for year-long parties. Our top picks for destinations to watch in 2009 are bursting with up-and-coming, you've-gotta-see-this attitude. Not only are these destinations on the rise, but each offers good value to travelers looking to vacation affordably in the coming year.
Plus, find out what cities and countries are celebrating big milestones and hosting major festivals. From Alaska's 50th birthday to the major party in London surrounding the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension to the throne, 2009 is ready to party. And festivals such as Homecoming Scotland 2009, which welcomes back people of Scottish heritage and "Heart Scots" who just really like the country, offer even more reasons to hit the road.

With this much excitement to come, 2009 just got a whole lot more interesting.

Riviera Nayarit

Riviera What? If you haven't heard of the Riviera Nayarit yet, that might be because it's just that new. The 200 miles of Pacific Coast and mountains north of Puerto Vallarta launched itself as a brand new destination just last year. Since then, it has been busy putting itself on the map, investing major time and funds into building new tourism infrastructures.

The region extends as far north as the colonial beach town of San Blas. Between Puerto Vallarta and San Blas, you'll find just about every vacation experience possible. From the bohemian surf town vibe of Sayulita to the luxury resorts and Jack Nicklaus golf course of Punta de Mita, the towns along the coast cater to all budgets and interests. Colonial towns and traditional Huichol villages in the nearby Sierra Madre Mountains offer a whole other dimension to the traditional beach vacation.

There's plenty to do, too. Endless beaches, six major golf courses, cultural experiences, archeological sites, and adventure activities like snorkeling, whale watching, surfing, and even swimming with dolphins and sea lions will likely start drawing bigger crowds as more people catch on to the appeal of Mexico's newest Riviera.

Since the Riviera Nayarit is so close to the major airport in Puerto Vallarta, it's easy to get to and airfares are competitive from departure points around the U.S. Southwest just announced a partnership with Volaris, which will extend Southwest's reach from points around the U.S. to Puerto Vallarta, though not until 2010.

There is also a wide variety of accommodations options offering something for every budget. For instance, at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, rates start at $535 a night. But at B&Bs in the smaller towns, rates start at around $60 a night. Vacation rentals can be even more affordable for groups traveling together. Plus, because it's not yet a major tourist destination like neighboring Puerto Vallarta, and because the region is spread out, it's easier to find affordable activities and food in the towns of the Riviera Nayarit.

Vancouver

With the 2010 Winter Olympics just around the corner, Vancouver is going all out with preparations for its time in the spotlight. By visiting in 2009, you can reap the benefits of all the new infrastructure developments while enjoying the city and everything it has to offer. And as a place voted Best City in the Americas by Conde Nast Traveller three years running, the expansions and improvements are really just icing on the cake.

New hotels—including The Loden Vancouver, Shangri-La Hotel, and the Fairmont Pacific Rim—are opening around the city in anticipation of the flood of Olympians and fans. Nearby Cypress Mountain ski resort has added nine new runs, new ski and snowboarding features, and a new lodge. And the rail extension connecting Vancouver's airport and downtown will open in late 2009.

Even though the Games don't begin until February 2010, you can catch some pre-Olympic action in 2009 at events such as the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the FIS Freestyle World Cup, and the World Junior Curling Championships. Yes, that's right, there are junior curlers out there and they're gearing up to compete. In February and March there's also a Cultural Olympiad featuring more than 400 art, dance, music, and other events, many of which are free.

Vancouver provides solid vacation value as well. The exchange rate isn't as good as it used to be, but after hovering close to equal for a stretch, the U.S. dollar seems to be gaining the advantage again, meaning U.S. travelers' money goes farther. The city is served by a range of carriers, including Alaska Airlines, and Southwest has announced it will team up with Canadian carrier WestJet to fly to destinations in Canada. WestJet already serves Vancouver, so it seems more than possible that sometime next year passengers will be able to book a flight to Vancouver through Southwest.

Interested in visiting during the Olympics? Then you should know that more than 100,000 tickets will cost just $25, and that half of all the Olympic Winter Games tickets are priced at $100 or less.

Kansas City

Never considered Kansas City as a vacation destination before? Over the past few years, the city has been working hard to make itself a destination worth the trip. And the effort is paying off big time during 2009 when more than $9 billion in major improvements will be reinvigorating its downtown area and lending major credibility to its arts and dining scenes.

Recent developments include the new nine-block Power & Light District, downtown's newest mixed-use neighborhood packed with restaurants, shops, and entertainment and performance venues. There's also an outdoor stage featuring live entertainment more than 150 days a year. The Crossroads Arts District hosts one of the largest art walks in the nation from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. Downtown, there's also the new Sprint Center, which hosts large concerts and special events, and the College Basketball Experience, a giant entertainment facility with interactive exhibits and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Beyond downtown, revitalized and expanded attractions draw crowds as well. The well-known Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art just finished an expansion last year. Already ranked among the top art museums in the country, the new expansion increases the museum's exhibition space by one third, and makes more room for the museum's collections of modern and contemporary art, African art, and photography. And just in time for its 100th anniversary, the Kansas City Zoo has also undergone a major renovation.

As if that isn't enough, Kansas City is expanding its culinary reputation. Long known as a mecca for barbecue, a number of Kansas City chefs and their fine dining establishments—including Bluestem, American Restaurant, and Michael Smith—have recently received national recognition as well.

Even better (especially this year), Kansas City is one of the country's most affordable major cities to visit. It's well-served by airlines including American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United. So much service means prices tend to stay competitive. Hotels, dining, and attraction costs tend to be less expensive than in many other cities around the country as well. In fact, Hotwire.com recently ranked Kansas City as one of the top value-priced destinations in the U.S. based on airfare, accommodations, and entertainment prices in 50 U.S. cities. Plus, there are dozens of free museums and attractions to visit.

The reasons to come will just keep expanding. 2010 will bring the opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the unveiling of a newly renovated Truman Sports Complex (home of the Kansas City Chiefs).

Peru

More people are visiting Peru every year. In fact, the country has the second highest tourism growth estimate in Latin America, and online travel provider Opodo reports that bookings to Lima, Peru, are up 98% over last year. Peru is supporting that growth with major funding of tourism infrastructures and projects.

But because Peru is home to Machu Picchu—a destination already feeling the ill-effects of overtourism—the country as a whole is invested in building a sustainable tourism program focused on creating and fostering destinations around Peru so that as visitor numbers increase, tourism doesn't endanger the very sites and cultures people come to see. And, capital city Lima is expanding and solidifying a place as a destination in itself, not just a portal to the rest of the country. New hotels are opening, and the government is investing heavily on tourism infrastructure developments in Lima and its environs.

Lima concentrates the appeal of Peru into an urban center. Rich in museums celebrating the heritage, culture, and natural beauty of the country, it also has colonial architecture, archeological ruins, scenic landscapes, and even beaches. Beyond Lima (and Machu Picchu), Peru offers unforgettable destinations like Caral, the archeological ruins of what is widely recognized as the oldest city in the Americas. Older than Machu Picchu, Caral is within driving distance from Lima and can be a day trip from the capital.

There's also Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, known for its floating islands housing entire communities of people; Colca Canyon, a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon; and hundreds of other destinations worth exploring.

Compared to its neighboring countries, Peru can be a more affordable destination to fly to from the U.S. Why? Well, in addition to being served by American, Continental, Delta, and other large airlines such as TACA, Lima's airport is also served by low-cost-carrier Spirit Airlines, with service from Ft. Lauderdale.

Peru is an affordable country on the ground as well. The Peru Tourism Board estimates that a basic lunch costs $3 U.S., while a more elaborate meal is about $12. Accommodations range from $5 per night for super-budget to $90 for luxury properties. Not bad if you're trying to stretch those vacation dollars.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Each year, the E.U. bestows the title Capital of Culture to one or more European destinations. The cities celebrate the designation with a year of major arts and culture events and by hosting exhibitions. This year, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has the honor along with Linz in Austria.

Vilnius is putting on quite a show in 2009 with 120 art and culture projects and 900 events. The city will also be part of a countrywide celebration of Lithuania's millennial year, as 2009 marks 1,000 years since the first known mention of the country in written records.

Two of the biggest events for the year take place in spring. On May 2 during Street Musician Day, amateur and professional musicians will flood into the city's streets, alleyways, and parks to play music ranging from rock to classical and folk to jazz. June 20 is Culture Night: Let There Be Night, when the city erupts into an all-night culture fest. The 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. event features night dance lessons, open-air movies, church concerts, fashion shows, museum exhibitions, and more. Other events and exhibitions will be on at different points throughout the year.

Though it's a member of the EU, Lithuania doesn't use the euro as its currency, which makes travel expenses such as accommodations, food, and activities more affordable. Add to the calculation that two-thirds of the events during the year-long celebration will be free, and Vilnius starts to look pretty affordable. Plus, the Old Town of Vilnius is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe, so walking around and soaking up the scenery is one of the best, and cheapest, things to do.

Anniversaries and festivals

Big anniversaries and festivals offer yet another reason to travel in 2009. And, since many such celebrations include free events, it's a great way to get more for your money. Just remember to book accommodations early, since the events are likely to draw crowds.

Major anniversaries in 2009 include:

• 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension to the throne. Expect major festivities at Hampton Court Palace and beyond.

• 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens. Special exhibitions will commemorate the event.

• 20th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. There will be special exhibitions, memorials, tours, and walks. The Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in 2009.

• Alaska's 50th anniversary of Statehood. The Alaska Railroad is offering a free one-day pass anywhere the train travels to anyone who will turn 50 in 2009.

• Missouri Botanical Garden's 150th anniversary. One of the top botanical gardens in the world, it's also the oldest public garden in the U.S.

• 400th anniversary of Bermuda. The island will celebrate with special events.

• 200th anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's birth. Baltimore is celebrating with Nevermore 2009, a year-long citywide festival.

Major festivals in 2009 include:

• Manchester International Festival 2009: The second biannual festival features original and new works of performing, music, and visual art.

• Homecoming Scotland 2009: Scotland is celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth and Scotland's contributions to the world, including golf, whiskey, and Scottish heritage. Events take place all year.

• July 2009 XXV Song Celebration in Tallinn, Estonia: Estonia has a proud heritage of massive singing festivals, the next of which takes place from July 2 to 5.

• Holland Art Cities: Boasting more art and culture per square mile than anywhere else on earth, the two-year Holland Art Cities is an event hosted by ten of the top museums in four of Holland's largest cities. Two museums (including the Hermitage Amsterdam) will open as well.

• Around the world, demand is down and destinations are pushing hard for more visitors, so unusually good deals should be easy to find, at least through the first half of 2009. These and other emerging destinations provide added value since they tend to be even more affordable than more popular, established destinations. If you're looking for an affordable vacation in the coming year, an up-and-comer could be just the ticket.

By Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel.com

Swiss International offers low ticket prices from Switzerland within Europe

International Air Lines has announced that it is adopting a new fare concept which will guarantee customers low ticket prices from Switzerland within Europe at no more than CHF199. Certain other fares will be slightly increased at the same time in light of general cost increases.

Swiss International customers can take advantage of low prices to destinations in Europe from January 13, 2009, under the new fare concept. As a result of revised fares, the prices to certain destinations will be reduced by as much as 60%.

In view of general cost developments, the airline is also making upward adjustments to a number of its fares. These will affect all tickets for travel from Switzerland issued from January 13, 2009 onwards. They will not apply to any tickets issued before this date. The increases will raise prices per sector by an average of 1% to 2%.


Source: TradingMarkets