Shetland to Bergen service from Loganair starts in summer

Loganair is to offer scheduled flights between Shetland and Norway, returning to the route after a gap of three years.

The new service will operate twice a week between Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, and Shetland with the route set to start on June 7 and continue until August 30.

It is hoped that today's announcement will be the first stage in the development of the link between Scotland and Norway.

Virgin offers discounted Upper Class getaways

Book by 10am on March 4: Virgin is offering discounted fares for travel to the US in its Upper Class section.

The fares shown below are for return journeys and include taxes and charges. Outbound travel must take place between March 17 and March 29 or April 7 and April 19:

London Heathrow to:
New York (JFK) from £1,299
New York (Newark) from £1,299
Boston from £1,399
Washington from £1,399
Chicago from £1,499
Miami from £1,499
Los Angeles from £1,799
San Francisco from £1,799

Monarch extends winter flight sale

Book by midnight on February 5: Monarch has extended its winter sale, offering discounts of up to £30 (including tax) on all return flights booked for travel up to April 30.

Examples of the discounted fares are shown below, with journeys available from London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham:

- Birmingham to Alicante, departing on Saturday, February 9 and returning on Saturday, February 23, for £103.94
- London Gatwick to Larnaca, departing on Wednesday, March 19 and returning on Thursday, April 3, for £164.62

World's largest passenger plane set for Heathrow landing

The world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, is set to touchdown in the UK for the first time later this year.

Singapore Airlines has announced that the flight will arrive at London Heathrow at 3.05pm on March 18, after departing Singapore's Changi Airport at 9am the same day.

The aircraft will then depart Heathrow at 6.55pm on March 18, arriving in Singapore at 3.35pm (local time) on March 19 and signalling the start of its daily usage on the route.

Flybe launches new Mastercard

Flybe has launched a new credit card which, it claims, offers the fastest accrual of frequent flyer points of any card offered by a low-cost airline.

The Spend & Fly Mastercard gives card holders the chance to take one free flight on the airline's network within their first 12 months of taking out the product, even if they spend only one penny on the card.

Points are built up for the airline's Rewards4all programme at one rate, regardless of whether the card is used for booking Flybe flights or for other purchases, with the airline claiming that this marks the product out from its competitors.

Flybe launches new routes from Newcastle

© Britain on View

Flybe has announced plans to launch a new daily service between Newcastle and London Gatwick.

The new route will begin operation on March 30, replacing the current service on the same route provided by Jet2.com. Journeys can be booked now for the service, with fares starting at £21.99, including taxes and charges.

The new route's schedule is as follows:

Monday to Friday:
Departs Newcastle at 6.25am, arrives at Gatwick at 7.55am
Departs Newcastle at 8.30am, arrives at Gatwick at 9.55am
Departs Newcastle at 1.20pm, arrives at Gatwick at 2.45m
Departs Gatwick at 3.15pm, arrives at Newcastle at 4.40pm
Departs Gatwick at 5.05pm, arrives at Newcastle at 6.25pm
Departs Gatwick at 7.05pm, arrives at Newcastle at 8.30pm

Jet2.com offering 10,000 free flights

Jet2.com has announced plans to launch a free flight giveaway to celebrate its fifth birthday, with 10,000 seats up for grabs.

The airline's competition will launch at 10am on February 12, with visitors to dedicated website www.jet.com/36 asked to identify images from one of the 36 destinations it serves from Leeds Bradford airport.

As well as offering 5,000 free return journeys (including taxes and charges), the budget airline is also giving one person the chance to win return flights to all 36 destinations for them and a friend.

British Airways looks set to win 2012 Olympics deal

British Airways looks set to be revealed next week as the official airline of the London 2012 Olympics, according to reports.

The airline will pay approximately £50 million for the sponsorship, which would establish it as a tier-one domestic partner of the sporting event, Marketing reported.

It is expected that the deal will be announced early next week, though a spokesperson for the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) told the Press Association that "we will not comment on speculation".

Ryanair criticised for UK newspaper advertisement

Ryanair has been criticised by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over an advert it placed in several newspapers last summer.

The ASA reprimanded the budget airline for its use of an image showing a model dressed as a schoolgirl, along with the headline "Hottest back to school fares".

In a statement the regulator claimed that the promotion "appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour and was irresponsible and likely to cause serious or widespread offence."

However, Ryanair's head of communications Peter Sherrard slated the authority's comments, as well as its ruling that the advert should not be used again.

Airlines warn about higher landing charges at Heathrow

Some of the UK's largest airlines have warned of the possibility of higher charges at Heathrow Airport.

This week has seen airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and bmi submitting comments to a hearing held by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) relating to price controls at the airport over the next five years.

With new charges set to come into place on April 1, BAA has also come under fire for its attempts to delay the imposition of service quality targets, with BA branding the situation "unacceptable".

Discounted flights to ski destinations from bmibaby

Low-cost flights to airports well-located for ski resorts are on offer from bmibaby from various departures around the UK.

The fares below are for one-way journeys and include taxes and charges:

Birmingham to:
Aberdeen from £18.99
Krakow from £19.99
Geneva from £22.99
Malaga from £24.99

Cardiff to:
Geneva from £22.99
Malaga from £24.99

Thomsonfly cabin crew set to consider strike action

More than 1,500 cabin crew working for Thomsonfly are set to consider voting for industrial action due to fears over possible compulsory redundancies.

The trade union Unite has organised a vote tomorrow (January 30) for all Thomsonfly's 1,700 cabin crew to gauge support for a full strike ballot.

According to the union, Thomsonfly staff are concerned about their job security in the wake of the airline's imminent merger with TUI Travel, after the latter announced it would be closing 100 of its UK travel stores.

Ryanair advert 'unacceptable' to French president

Ryanair may face legal action over an advert featuring French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his girlfriend Carla Bruni.

The president's office has labelled the advert, which features a caption next to Ms Bruni reading 'With Ryanair, my whole family can come to my wedding', as "unacceptable".

Following its publication in a French newspaper, David Martinon, a spokesman for Mr Sarkozy, stated that the possibility of taking legal action against the budget airline was being considered.

Air Malta unveils summer schedule

Air Malta has announced its summer schedule, with the new timetables offering increased frequency on routes between the UK and the Mediterranean.

With effect from May 1, the airline will offer eight flights a week between Manchester and Malta, including an extra flight on Fridays, Travelmole reported.

Passengers flying from London Gatwick to Catania on Sicily will also benefit from an extra Friday flight, starting on April 4, increasing the route's frequency to five-times weekly.

Aer Arann launches VIP option for frequent flyers

Aer Arann has launched a new scheme for frequent flyers, offering passengers a range of benefits during both the booking process and once on board their services.

The Silver Club will be operated on an invitation-only basis for passengers viewed by the airline as being their most loyal.

Among the benefits for members of the club are access to their business lounges at Cork and Dublin airports, zero change fees on all routes and an increased checked-in baggage allowance.

Cork gets summer link to La Rochelle

Aer Arann has announced the launch of a new summer service between Cork and the French coastal town of La Rochelle.

Weekly flights will operate every Saturday, starting on May 24 and continuing until September 13, with one-way tickets starting from €69 (£51).

Flights will depart Cork at 1.00pm, arriving in France at 4.05pm, while the return service heads out of La Rochelle at 4.45pm landing back in Cork at 5.50pm.

Regional return flight deals on offer from bmi

Book by April 1: bmi is offering discounts on return fares between a range of destinations in both the UK and mainland Europe.

The fares shown below are for return journeys (including taxes and charges) and bookings must be made at least seven days before departure but no more than four months beforehand.

Edinburgh to Manchester from £75
Glasgow to Manchester from £75
East Midlands to Brussels from £99
Edinburgh to Brussels from £99
Leeds Bradford to Brussels from £99
Edinburgh to Zurich from £119
Leeds Bradford to Copenhagen from £119
Manchester to Lyon from £119

British Airways calls for improved customer service at Heathrow

British Airways has called for customer service quality targets to be improved at Heathrow Airport as soon as possible.

The airline has called on regulatory body the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to prevent Heathrow's owner, BAA, from delaying the introduction of new targets relating to aspects of passengers' experience by up to two years.

BA has highlighted particular concerns relating to security control posts and the effect that it believes current procedures are having on flight punctuality.

Atlas Blue launches carbon offsetting scheme

Budget airline Atlas Blue has launched a new carbon offsetting scheme as part of its booking platform.

The Moroccan carrier has established the scheme in association with technology firm Airsavings SA, whose software will calculate flight emissions and the relevant offset.

Offsetting contributions made when booking flights on the Atlas Blue website will go directly to ActionCarbone, an organisation funding projects including tree planting and the introduction of renewable energy.

Norwich Airport suspends car park drop-off fee

A charge introduced for drivers looking to drop off and pick up passengers at Norwich International Airport has been suspended, the day after it was introduced.

The £1.90 fee was brought in last Tuesday (January 22) following the abolition of a 15-minute free parking period by the car parks' operator NCP.

However, The Norwich Evening News reported that the airport's authorities had intervened to reverse the decision in the wake of passenger complaints.

Engineering work affects Luton Airport train services

Railway engineering works are set to affect train journeys between Luton Airport and various destinations in the London area this weekend.

The amendments will be in force every weekend until May 12, affecting First Capital Connect services but not East Midlands Trains.

There will be no First Capital Connect service across Central London during this period, with a significantly reduced northbound service operating between St Pancras International and Bedford.

Weekly news round-up

Several airlines have announced special discounts on flights this week, with Ryanair announcing cheaper UK and European travel and Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Air New Zealand launching sale fares for long-haul flights.

With regards to new routes, Lufthansa has launched a new Birmingham to Hamburg link, while Etihad is preparing to increase it flights between Ireland and Abu Dhabi.

Special Offers
Ryanair offers four million seats from £5
Book by midnight on Monday, January 28: Ryanair is offering four million seats for as little as £5 including taxes, fees and charges.

Cathay Pacific offers cut-price Asian fares
Book by February 14: Cathay Pacific is offering discounted fares from London Heathrow to a wide range of Asian destinations, for both spring and winter travel.

Ryanair offers four million seats from £5

Book by midnight on Monday, January 28: Ryanair is offering four million seats for as little as £5 including taxes, fees and charges.

The flights are from various UK airports and the travel period is from Friday, February 8 to Monday, March 31.

A 14-day advance purchase is required. Passengers are advised that all major sporting events, holidays and school breaks are excluded from the offer.

Below is a selection of the routes on offer:

London Stansted to:
Belfast (from £5)
Glasgow (from £5)
Parma (from £10)
Newquay (from £10)
Valencia (from £10)
Gdansk (from £10)
Barcelona (from £25.21)
Genoa (from £25.21)
Linz (from £25.21)
Pisa (Florence) (from £25.21)

Glasgow Airport to shut second runway

The second runway at Glasgow Airport is due to be closed in a bid to raise funds for the hub's redevelopment.

Around £9 million will be saved when the runway closes, which will be invested in new seating, flooring and lighting in the terminal building as well as boosting security along the airport forecourt.

Glasgow's secondary runway is half the length of the main runway and has been in use since the 1960s. However, it can only be used by small aircraft and in 2006/07 it handled less than one flight a day.

Cathay Pacific offers cut-price Asian fares

Book by February 14: Cathay Pacific is offering discounted fares from London Heathrow to a wide range of Asian destinations, for both spring and winter travel.

The fares shown below are for return journeys and include taxes and charges. Outbound travel is permitted between April 11 and June 12 and also between November 1 and December 4:

London Heathrow to:

Bangkok from £522
Beijing from £517
Cebu (Philippines) from £509
Shanghai from £520
Taipei from £515

Manchester Airport runway set for temporary closure

The second runway at Manchester Airport is set to be closed for a period of three weeks next month to allow for scheduled engineering work.

Between February 5 and February 29, all aircraft will take-off and land on Runway 1.

However, the airport's management claimed that the closure was unlikely to cause significant disruption to passengers, pointing out that it was taking place over a traditionally quiet travel period.

Liverpool Airport gains new retailers

A number of retailers have opened new operations at Liverpool Airport so far this year, adding to the choice of shops and eateries available at the north-west hub.

Four new stores have opened this year, with Go Pizza, aviation gift and collectables shop World in Motion and rubber shoe stockist Bo Shoes all taking units on level three, before security.

Meanwhile, luggage retailer Antler has opened a store in the departure lounge, adding to the airport's existing retail offerings which include Boots, WH Smith, Starbucks and Ritazza.

Silverjet eyes Doha expansion

Silverjet looks set to expand its operations to increase links between the UK and Middle-Eastern destinations.

The Luton-based airline has revealed plans to establish a franchise in the Qatari capital Doha, with a view to operating flights to destinations worldwide, including Europe.

Though the project had only just got underway, the company's chief executive, Lawrence Hunt told The Gulf Times that they were in the process of attempting to secure investment for the development, which could cost in the region of $100 million (£50 million).

Manchester Airport launches valet parking service

Passengers using Manchester Airport are set to benefit from the launch of a new valet parking service.

The offering, which is aimed toward passengers using Terminals 1 and 3, allows car drivers to pull up in a dedicated VIP enclosure outside Terminal 1, before handing their car keys to one of a specially-trained team.

Their vehicle is then placed in a safe, secure car park, before being returned to them at the VIP enclosure when they leave their return flight.

Costing around £7 a day, the service represents further proof of the airport's commitment to improving access to its operations, according to director of car parks, Andy Cliffe.

Qantas offers discounted global getaways

Book by January 31: Qantas is offering discounted fares on flights to a variety of global destinations from UK airports.

The prices below are for return flights (including taxes and charges) from London Heathrow, with a maximum stay 12 months permitted.

Departing between April 16 and June 15:
Adelaide from £701
Auckland from £768
Brisbane from £708
Cairns from £779
Christchurch from £768
Darwin from £775
Melbourne from £669
Perth from £741
Queenstown from £768
Sydney from £677
Wellington from £768

Ryanair increases baggage and check-in charges

Ryanair has announced that it is increasing its checked-in baggage and airport check-in fees, with immediate effect from bookings made today (January 23).

The budget airline has raised its checked-in baggage charge from £5 to £6 per bag, while the airport check-in fee has increased by £1 to £3.

Justifying the decision, Ryanair's Peter Sherrard claimed that the move was part of the airline's attempts to encourage its passengers to take advantage of both their free online check-in service and their ten kilogram hand baggage allowance.

Wind turbines installed at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is claiming to be the first UK commercial airport to install wind turbines as it looks to reduce the environmental impact its operations have.

Two 15m high 6kW turbines have been installed either side of the airport's main approach road, providing both a dramatic gateway and sufficient electricity to power a standard 4-6 bedroom house.

Andrew Dutton, environment manager at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said: "The wind turbines will potentially, along with other renewable energy sources, play an important part in the airport's future development.

Carlisle Airport plans get county council support

Plans that would see a new terminal building and runway at Carlisle Airport have been backed by local councillors.

Carlisle County Council said the proposed £25 million development put forward by Stobart Air would offer "significant potential to support growth in Carlisle city and stimulate improvement in the economic performance of the county".

Carlisle City Council will have the final say on the plans.

Stobart Air, which manages the Cumbrian airport, has said it would invest in a new runway, a control tower and other facilities in order to transform the area and eventually offer regular passenger flights to London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris.

Romantic Escapes

Feel like it’s time to take a break from the mundane routine: work, home, gym, etc? Well we thought we’d entice you even more with our new fortnightly column filled with ideas from long weekend breaks to adventurous journeys. This first week, we're looking at romantic breaks – with a twist.

Since Valentine’s Day is almost here it seems like a good time to plan a romantic trip with your loved one. However most of us either can’t take time off work after the long holiday break or simply need more time to plan that special holiday. But the trips you’re about to read about aren’t reserved for Valentine’s Day, they can be enjoyed whenever you feel like spending time alone with the one you love – or when you just need to escape from it all.

Paris, Venice, Rome – yes they’re all very romantic destinations but seem a little predictable don’t they? This week we’ve found some exciting – and very unpredictable ideas for an unforgettable holiday. The first trip takes you on a driving tour of Andalusia where you’ll drive from Cordoba to Granada, exploring castles and canyons along the way. Or if you prefer a more active trip then biking through Tuscany while stopping to sample wine and learning to cook in an authentic cucina is perfecto. So read on for other whimsical ideas that’ll have you daydreaming for days...

Etihad boosts Dublin to Abu Dhabi service

Etihad Airways has announced plans to increase the frequency of its flights between Ireland and Abu Dhabi.

With effect from March 30, the airline will operate a daily service between Dublin and the Emirate, increasing from its current six-times weekly frequency.

The carrier cited the success of the route since its launch last July, with the service carrying more than 44,000 passengers.

Travel Weeky award winners announced

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways were among the big winners at the annual Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards, held earlier this month in London.

Virgin scooped the prize for best scheduled airline to US/Canada, while BA won the award for best scheduled airline to Europe.

Accolades also went to other well-known airlines including Qantas and Emirates. Manchester Airport claimed the award for best UK regional airport.

Further Heathrow expansion not ruled out

A representative of BAA, the owners of Heathrow Airport, has refused to rule out a further expansion of the hub.

Stephen Nelson, the company's chief executive, told a London Assembly meeting that the proposed sixth terminal and third runway that it hopes to build by 2020 were the current extent of the operator's plans.

However, he would not deny outright suggestions that BAA might, in the future, look to build additional terminals and runways at Heathrow.

Air New Zealand offers discounted long-haul flights

Book by February 4: Air New Zealand is offering cheap long-haul flights to a variety of worldwide destinations.

Discounted fares are available to New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands, departing from London Heathrow. The prices below are for return travel and include taxes and charges.

From London Heathrow to:
Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch from £689 (price includes two free domestic flights in New Zealand)
Western Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga or the Cook Islands from £721
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast or Adelaide from £837

Kenyan travel guidelines relaxed

Guidelines issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have relaxed restrictions on travel to Kenya.

After the recent disruption, the FCO had advised against all travel to Kenya, but the warning has been downgraded, with only certain areas specified as being unsuitable for all-but-essential travel.

In a statement the government department said: "The security and political situation in the country remains unpredictable. You should avoid all public gatherings and large public meetings. Any rallies, even if advertised as peaceful, could potentially turn violent.

BA pilots to ballot for strike action

British Airways pilots are to be balloted on strike action in a dispute over access to jobs between the airline and its new OpenSkies subsidiary.

The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) announced earlier today (January 22) that more than 3,000 of its members will be asked to vote on whether or not to take industrial action.

BALPA has called for the ballot over concerns relating to conditions for pilots working for OpenSkies differing from those applied to those working directly for BA.

Gatwick and Edinburgh airports gain new fast-track car rental

Passengers travelling from Gatwick and Edinburgh airports are set to benefit from a new fast-track vehicle rental service.

Europcar's Airside offering gives customers the chance to make a vehicle reservation at their departure airport, with the rental location then automatically contacted to confirm the traveller's requirements and pre-registration.

The company claims to be providing passengers with a seamless service, allowing them to present their rental agreement at the Europcar depot at their destination and then collect their vehicle.

Newquay Airport expansion gets the green light

Plans for an expansion of Newquay Airport have been given the go-ahead by Cornwall County Council.

Consent has been given for a series of improvements to the airport which aim to increase both its capacity and the facilities and services it can offer to passengers.

Among the developments for the airport include a new arrivals hall, conversion of the existing baggage hall into a departure lounge and additional car parking.

Iberia offers discounted flights to South America

Book by March 14: Iberia is offering discounted flights between London Heathrow and a range of South American destinations.

All fares below include taxes and are for return journeys, with the minimum stay permitted six days and the maximum 30 days.

London Heathrow to:
Caracas from £506
Sao Paolo from £516
Rio de Janeiro from £546
Quito/Guayaquil from £615
Buenos Aires from £621
Panama from £626
Santiago de Chile from £636
Bogota from £647
Lima from £679
Montevideo from £717

Monarch extends onboard recycling

Monarch has announced the extension of its onboard recycling service, which was initially launched on all flights operating into London Gatwick last October (see our story Monarch introduces in-flight recycling).

The airline will now operate the initiative on all services arriving into Birmingham, with all aluminium, plastic, glass and paper used on the flight stored for recycling after landing.

Items are placed into recycling bags by cabin crew to be dealt with by staff at the two airports, and Monarch's managing director, Tim Jeans, called on more airlines to follow their lead.

New Birmingham to Hamburg link from Lufthansa

Lufthansa has announced the launch of a new service between Birmingham International Airport and Hamburg.

Flights will operate Monday to Saturday, with the first passengers set to jet off on March 31, and one-way tickets start from £39 in economy, with fares also available in the business class cabin.

Departing Birmingham at 8.15am, flights will arrive into Hamburg at 10.55am, with a return flight operating the next day and heading out of Germany at 7am, landing back in the West Midlands at 7.45am.

Stansted to Ipswich bus route to start in May

A new bus service is due to between Stansted Airport and Ipswich, offering travellers the the only public transport link between the two.

The route, which will be operated by Excel Coaches, will offer services every two hours from the beginning of May, and has been driven by increasing demand amongst people to reach the airport by public transport.

Nicola Hooper, Stansted’s head of airline relationships and transport, said: "More than 40 per cent of our passengers use public transport to get to and from the airport which is the highest figure for a major UK airport and one of the highest in Europe.

Airports in Scotland enjoy record passenger numbers

The number of passengers using airports in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has broken the one million mark for the first time.

Figures from operator Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL) show that the number of passengers passing through its terminal buildings rose by four per cent in the nine months from April to December 2007.

In total 1,000,804 passengers used HIAL airports, meaning the operator is on target to record its busiest ever year to the end of March 2008.

New airline plans low-cost flights from Stansted to South Africa

Plans for a new South African budget airline, named Redair, have been unveiled with a possible service launched between London Stansted and either Durban or Cape Town.

The carrier's owner, Andy Cluver, told The Cape Times that, while he could not give a definitive start date, he hoped the five-times weekly service would begin operating before the end of this year.

With the flights set to offer economy and business classes only, he stated that fares on the service would begin at £142 for one-way journeys (excluding taxes).

Calls to safeguard Inverness routes

Local councillors are set to press the Scottish government to make efforts to safeguard routes between Inverness Airport and both London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

The calls come in the wake of bmi's decision to suspend its Inverness to Heathrow service at the end of March, with the airline blaming the decision on poor ticket sales.

Now the BBC has reported that representatives of the Highland Council will urge the Scottish executive to "carefully examine" the protection of services between Inverness and London's airports.

Flyglobespan looks set to end Knock to US services

Flyglobespan has indicated that it will not operate its services between Knock Airport and both Boston and New York this year.

The budget airline had offered the two trans-Atlantic routes between May and October on a twice-weekly basis.

However, despite the success of the route when it began operating last year, Crawford Brankin of Flyglobespan told The Sunday Business Post that the high price of oil made it difficult to continue the service.