Europe Air Travel - News about Air Tickets and Flights to Europe

New online visa travel rules to US take effect

2009-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

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

Austrian Airlines sold to Lufthansa

2008-12-09T11:29:00.001-08:00

Austrian Airlines takes off into new future with Lufthansa

The Supervisory Board of ÖIAG today agreed to sell ÖIAG’s 41.56 percent share in Austrian Airlines to Lufthansa. This was preceded by the agreement of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa AG (“Lufthansa”) to this course of action on 3 December 2008. The signing of the contract took place after the meeting of the Supervisory Board of ÖIAG.

The takeover of the 41.56% share in Austrian Airlines owned by ÖIAG will take place for a price of EUR 366,268.75 with a debtor warrant. Out of this debtor warrant, Lufthansa will pay an amount of up to EUR 162 million, depending on the future economic development of Austrian Airlines and the outperformance of Lufthansa shares.

Execution of these contracts depends in particular on the suspensive conditions of their approval under Competition law, and approval by the European Commission under assistance law of a restructuring aid of EUR 500 million being paid by the Republic of Austria. Approval for part of this restructuring assistance to be made immediately, which requires a resolution by the Council of Ministers and Supervisory Board, is also still outstanding.

Within the expiry of takeover law, Lufthansa will submit a takeover offer to free float shareholders in Austrian Airlines. In accordance with takeover law, and subject to verification by the Takeover Commission, the offer price will be EUR 4.44 per share, and amount to an approximate total of a further EUR 215 million.

In the sense of the privatisation contract, it was agreed that Austrian Airlines should remain a legally independent company with its head office in Austria and its own brand. Lufthansa declared itself prepared to maintain Austrian air traffic infrastructure as it currently stands where possible, taking into consideration the needs of Vienna as a business location, as well as continuing to expand this wherever commercially viable in line with the needs of the market; the Lufthansa concept also provides for retention of the long-haul connections so important for the region as a business location. Apart from improved access to international passenger flows and joint international marketing, the benefits for Austrian Airlines will consist of using the cost advantages and economies of scale that will result from integration into the Lufthansa Group.

Source: Austrian Airlines

Lufthansa acquires budget arm Germanwings from Eurowings

2008-12-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

German flag-carrier Lufthansa is to acquire the budget airline Germanwings from its affiliated regional Eurowings operation.

Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Lufthansa describes the decision as an "organisational matter", pointing out that it will enable management to "better steer" the regional operation in its own market, and similarly for the low-fare division.

The new arrangement will come into effect from 1 January. Germanwings will be taken under an umbrella company called Lufthansa Commercial Holding.

Lufthansa is in the process of acquiring majority ownership of Dortmund-based Eurowings, although it already has management control of the carrier.

Eurowings, which developed Germanwings from its charter division in 2002, says that, with the sale, there are "no immediate changes" in the airlines' operational activities.

"After a successful start-up phase, the building work on the low-cost airline is completed," says Eurowings chief executive Friedrich-Wilhelm Weitholz.

"Eurowings can now focus increasingly on its core business in the regional segment."

Lufthansa has already agreed to acquire several Germanwings Airbus aircraft which are to be used for its new Milan-based operation Lufthansa Italia. Germanwings' fleet, as a result, has been reduced to 25 A319s.

By David Kaminski-Morrow (Flight Global)

Source: http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?t=15320

Canada reaches civil aviation pact with European Union

2008-12-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

MONTREAL — Canadians could have more travel options when visiting Europe after the European Union and Canada reached a landmark deal to open up their air services markets to each other.

EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani says the pact will lead to more transatlantic trade and spur competition in the air services sector.

He says the deal, which removes restrictions on ownership and direct flights, makes "the EU-Canada market one of the most open in the world."

The first phase of the deal is expected to come into force in the first half of 2009 that will allow airlines based in the 27-member European Union bloc and those in Canada to operate direct flights between the two jurisdictions.

It removes restrictions on routes, prices and the number of flights allowed between the two sides.

It also foresees a phase-out of restrictions on investment and foreign ownership in airlines and could lead to European investors setting up airline operations in Canada.

Canada currently limits foreign ownership of airlines to 25 per cent. Raising that ceiling to 49 per cent could still take awhile.

Airline analyst Jacques Kavafian said the agreement won't mean much in the short-term since all profitable routes to Europe are already served from Canada.

Canadian airlines could face increased competition from European carriers but it's unlikely that Air Canada (TSX:AC.A) or WestJet (TSX:WJA) would suddenly expand their European interests unless as a defensive move on certain routes.

Kavafian said WestJet may be more interested in code sharing and marketing agreements with European carriers.

"It's going to help WestJet more than Air Canada," he said.

Air Canada said it will comment this afternoon once Transport Minister John Baird discusses the agreement at a news conference in Montreal.

WestJet spokeswoman Gillian Bentley said it will examine the agreement before commenting.

Source: The Canadian press

Delta resuming flights to Europe from Hartford

2008-12-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. M. Jodi Rell says nonstop flights from Bradley International Airport to Amsterdam will be resuming next year.
Rell and the state Department of Transportation say Delta Airlines, through its Northwest Airlines subsidiary, will operate the flights beginning June 2, 2009.

The flights will be made five times weekly between Bradley and Amsterdam using a 160-passenger jet, the Boeing 757-200.

There will be no flights on Tuesdays or Fridays, but the schedule calls for European-bound travelers to fly out of Bradley at 5:40 p.m. and arrive in Amsterdam just before 7 a.m. the next day.

Bradley in October lost its only nonstop service to Europe when Northwest Airlines Inc., ended its daily flight to Amsterdam, citing high fuel costs.

Source: USA Today

British Airways still losing thousands of bags a week

2008-12-04T23:35:00.001-08:00

Statistics compiled by the Association of European Airlines (AEA) and obtained by The Daily Telegraph also showed that BA's punctuality, particularly on long haul flights, has been poor.

It had been hoped that the opening of the airline's £4.3 billion Terminal 5 would improve the airline's performance.

This, however has not proved to be the case.

British Airways, despite using what has been described as a "state of the art" luggage system at the terminal, came near the bottom of the table of airlines. It was 25th out of 29 airlines, with 18.9 bags per thousand passengers going missing.

Another British carrier, bmi, was named as the European airline most likely to lose a passenger's bags.

According to the statistics, 25.4 bags per thousand bmi passengers became separated from the owner, which meant it took 29th and last place in the league table.

The one crumb of comfort for BA was that its performance between April and October represented a marked improvement on the first quarter of the year – before Terminal 5 was opened.

Then it came in 28th place and was losing 28.9 bags per thousand passengers.

Its latest result at least brings BA within five bags of the European industry average of 13.8 and comes during a summer when European airlines as a whole lost fewer bags.

In the previous summer airlines mislaid an average of 17 bags per thousand passengers.

The figures compiled by the AEA record incidents where passengers arrive at their destination, but their baggage does not.

Even though in most cases the bags are eventually reunited with their owners, passengers can find themselves having to buy supplies to tide them over until their luggage reappears.

BA's efforts to reunite passengers with their bags – for example carrying them by road to a sorting centre in Milan – did little to enhance the airline's image.

It also attracted bad publicity when it emerged that those bags which could not be returned to their owners were being auctioned off for charity.

The latest figures show that BA is performing worse than Air France and Lufthansa and is also mislaying more than twice as many bags as its main long-haul rival in Britain, Virgin Atlantic.

Meanwhile the latest punctuality figures show that more than one in four British Airways long haul flights either arrived or left at least 15 minutes late.

This put BA amongst Europe's poorest performers, being ranked 22nd out of 29 for punctual arrivals and 23rd for departures.

However, this in part reflects the difficulties BA has operating out of Heathrow which says it needs a third runway to cope with the traffic it handles.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Lufthansa Set to Buy Struggling Austrian Airlines

2008-12-04T23:32:00.000-08:00

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said its supervisory board approved a plan to buy ailing Austrian Airlines AG, potentially pushing Germany's giant carrier further along one of the most ambitious airline acquisition sprees the global aviation industry has seen in years.

The Austrian government as soon as Friday could approve the deal, which values the national carrier at as much as €377.4 million ($479.5 million) and aims to save it from collapse under mounting financial woes. A deal would require regulatory approval, in part because the Austrian government plans to spend €500 million helping to restructure the airline.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Scheduled service back at airport

2008-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

One of Europe's biggest low cost carriers is to start flying out of Kent International Airport from next summer.

Flybe will be operating weekly flights to Jersey - one of the largest and most southerly of the Channel Islands.

Matt Clarke, chief executive of the airport, said it would be the first scheduled passenger service since the airport came under Infratil ownership.

"I am looking forward to working with Flybe whose arrival is a major vote of confidence in the airport," he said.

Flybe operates more than 180 routes and carried more than seven million passengers last year.

'Hassle-free experience'

Mr Clarke added: "Flybe has been ahead of the game in recognising the benefits and growing importance of regional airports.

"We know from the excellent passenger loads achieved by charter operators that the demand for flights to and from Jersey exists.

"Now people in Kent and beyond will benefit from a scheduled service as well as the hassle-free experience of flying from Kent International."

In October, the airport announced a 25-year expansion plan which would see traffic levels increased.

Owners Infratil said they hoped a million passengers would use the site each year by 2011, rising to six million by 2033.

Source: BBC News England

Few tips on how to avoid flight delays

2008-12-04T06:47:00.000-08:00

The latest report from U.S. Department of Transportation (released in October 2008.) indicates that about 23% of domestic flights arrives 15 or more minutes late, which is only slightly better than last years report where 24% of domestic flights was 15 or more minutes late. Traffic around major airports became so crowded that airports can’t handle the overflow. Two major reasons for delayed flight are weather and congested airspace. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is trying to ease air traffic. They instituted the Open Skies Agreement which is an agreement between European Union and United States that allows airlines to create more direct transatlantic flights, which would leave out crowded airports (New York, Chicago and Atlanta) as a connecting point for Europe-bound travelers.
Sometimes it seems that you spend more time at the airport than in the air so here is few useful tips on how
to improve your chances of getting to your destination on time:

1. If possible try to fly earlier in the day.

Statistics are saying that most delayed flights are scheduled to leave between 8 and 9 pm. About 80% of those flights don’t leave on time. Only 33% of the flights scheduled to leave between 9 and 10 pm left on time.

2. If possible avoid frequently late and cancelled flights.

Before you book the flight, track record at flightstats.com. American Airline flight 1629 From JFK to Miami arrived late 50% of the time and in average of 107 minutes late.

3. If possible avoid connecting flights.

If it’s not possible than connect trough one of the major airports so you have more flights to catch in case you missed your connection.

4. Stay informed.

Sign up for cell phone email alerts on airline’s website so you can easily find out about any schedule changes or flight cancellation.

Technorati Profile

Five keys to saving on flights to Europe

2008-12-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

More flights, lower fares.

That was the promise of the so-called open skies agreement, which, at the end of this month, will allow more airlines to fly between the U.S. and Europe.

The reality: more flights, mixed fares. If you plan to fly to Europe in the next couple of months, you'll find some good prices. But summer fares so far are running more than $1,000 round trip from LAX to London and more than $1,400 to Paris or Rome, with taxes and fees.

What's a traveler to do? Go before June, if you can, when transatlantic flights cost hundreds less. And be patient: Sales on summer flights may start soon, if the past is any indicator.

"If you're smart, you'll find bargains," said Tom Parsons, chief executive of the BestFares.com travel website.

Here are five keys to saving on European flights:

1. Shop spring sales: This year's deals are beating last year's, several experts say.

"Right now, you've got some bargain-basement deals for Europe in April and May," Parsons said.

Round trips between LAX and Paris in spring have been going for as little as $498 plus taxes and fees, he said, and London-LAX round trips have been even cheaper.

Overall, the lowest fares published last week for spring travel from Los Angeles and New York to London's Heathrow Airport, and from Los Angeles to Paris' Charles de Gaulle, were more than 20% below fares published this time last year, said Bob Harrell, of Harrell Associates, a New York-based travel and aviation consulting firm.

Summer travel is another matter. Although the lowest LAX-Heathrow summer fare last week was well below last year's, LAX-De Gaulle was up nearly 6% and New York-Heathrow was unchanged, Harrell found.

"Usually the peak-season fares start pretty high," he said. "They're trying to see if the suckers will pay them."

If they don't, we'll see summer flights go on sale, probably in April, he said. If they do, we won't. Harrell is betting on lower prices.

2. Get savvy about open skies. Last year the U.S. and the European Union agreed to loosen restrictions on the transatlantic air market, allowing U.S. and European carriers to fly nonstop from any city in the U.S. to anywhere in the EU.

That means transatlantic fliers are getting more choices as airlines add routes from U.S. cities. On March 30, for instance, Air France will start flying to London's Heathrow from LAX. Overall, airlines have scheduled 8% more flights between the U.S. and Europe from April through June than in the same period last year, according to the Airline Planning Group and eSkyGuide, which publishes flight information.

More choice is not always bringing lower prices. That's partly because transatlantic flights continue to be popular, said Stanley Gyoshev, co-founder of Lessno.com, a bargain-fares website. And with high fuel costs and the weak U.S. dollar, there's not much room for fares to fall, he added.

Still, discounts happen, if you know when and where to look.

3. Watch for new routes: When an airline adds service, it usually offers low fares at first. Air France last month held a two-day sale with round trips for $262 plus taxes and fees on its new LAX-London route. Competitors often match introductory fares, which may be so low that it may be cheaper to fly to Europe through a newly added U.S. gateway than to fly from your home city.

"Be creative," Parsons said.

4. Fly to London first: Heathrow is Europe's biggest hub, and with open skies, competition is heating up there the fastest. In April, airlines will fly 21% more seats between the U.S. and Heathrow than in April last year, according to the Airline Planning Group and eSkyGuide.

So rather than fly to Paris or Rome, which often command hundreds more for nonstop flights, you may save by flying to London and connecting to those cities and others on low-cost local carriers.

5. Compare code-shares: Under so-called code-share agreements, which are common in the industry, airlines sell tickets on each other's flights. And they don't always charge the same fares. The difference can amount to hundreds of dollars on a transatlantic flight.

"Look at every fare," Parsons advised.

Article source: La Time

Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe

2008-12-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? That's great. Independent travel is usually cheaper and more rewarding than signing up for a coach tour of Europe. Sure, you'll plan more, but you'll plan the things you want to do, not the things someone else wants you to do.
Our travel planning timeline is divided into five sections, each a roadmap for the things that should be done during that time. Use our travel planning roadmap, and you'll be assured of taking care of the very basic tasks that go with planning an independent vacation.

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Great fares on Air France to Europe and beyond

2008-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of a Swiss ski vacation? With snow falling in the Alps and prices on airfare prices dropping, you’ll soon be thinking “Why not go on a fabulous winter wonderland holiday this year?” In fact, Air France is offering direct flights to 9 European destinations starting at just £90. If you are looking to get even further away this winter, Air France also has some fantastic December deals, including round-trip flights from London to Dubai for £301 and to Beijing for just £431. Air France presents you with its fares from £40 offering you great flexibility on direct flights...

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Welcome to our blog

2008-12-03T12:08:00.000-08:00

AirTicketsForCheap.net is a leading online travel booking company offering lowest airfares and cheap air tickets on over 100 airlines from United States to Europe.

We has been in business for more than 30 years with a long list of clients.

In this blog we will inform you about latest specials on the airfares to Europe and latest news in air travel.