Warning over lost laptops at European airports

More than 3,000 laptops go missing at major European airports each week, new research by Dell has revealed.

The computer maker also found that 57 per cent of the laptops that wind up in lost-and-found are never reclaimed - primarily because they lack any external identification label.

Airport officials are not allowed to scrutinise the contents of a personal device without legal remit, meaning many valuable devices end up being consigned to the scrapheap.

Commenting on the high proportion of misplaced business laptops, Larry Ponemon, chairman of the Ponemon Institute - which was commissioned to carry out the research - urged individual companies to do more to tackle the problem.

Additional Air Southwest flights from Plymouth

Air Southwest is to increase the frequency of Air Southwest flights it offers between Plymouth City Airport and Leeds Bradford from this weekend.

The additional daily flight will operate six times a week, except Saturday, with the new service starting on August 3 departing each afternoon at 4.35pm.

Mike Coombes, deputy chief executive of Air Southwest said: "We have found there is increasing demand for flights to Leeds Bradford from Plymouth, and these additional services will give added flexibility for business and leisure travellers alike.

A place in my heart: Tavira, Portugal

Elena Chong, Cheapflights intern

Where? Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Why? For beautiful deserted beaches that stretch on for miles, lively local nightlife and a feel of the ‘real’ Algarve, away from the concrete skyscraper hotels and overcrowded beaches. One aspect of Tavira that separates it from the rest of the Algarve is its diverse mix of architecture – Roman, Moorish and Portuguese features abound. There is a stunning Roman bridge that crosses the river, and the ruins of an old castle, which has panoramic views over the town. With 37 churches to visit, Tavira is not short on old buildings.

Where would you stay? There are a few lovely hotels but I would recommend renting a house in the town. You can choose from fine 18th-century houses to villas with their own swimming pools, or my favourite, a traditional Portuguese house. These have whitewashed walls, beautifully decorated chimneys, and if you’re lucky, a courtyard at the back where you can while away the summer evenings with friends and a bottle of wine.

OpenSkies opts for all-business-class service

British Airway's newly-launched subsidiary OpenSkies is to remove all economy seats from its two-aircraft fleet.

The transatlantic carrier currently offers 24 seats in business class, 28 in premium economy (PREM+) and 30 in economy - but will now scrap the back five rows to free up space for 12 extra PREM+ seats.

Its flagship Paris to New York JFK route as well as its recently unveiled Amsterdam to New York route will both feature the new cabin configuration.

Malaysian budget airline opens Stansted base

Air Asia X is expanding its route network to include a new service from London Stansted Airport to Kuala Lumpur.

The Telegraph is reporting that the Malaysian low-cost carrier will begin flying between the two cities six times a week from around March next year, with fares starting from £350 return.

It had been hoping to launch the service before Christmas, but an airline spokesman told the newspaper that difficulties in finding suitable aircraft had caused a delay.

Lufthansa puts Chinese airfares on sale

Book by August 5: Lufthansa (website: www.lufthansa.com) is discounting seats on a number of its most popular Chinese routes.

Sinophiles can enjoy savings when travelling with the German carrier to five bustling cities in the Middle Kingdom - Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai and Shenyang.

Fares start from just £399 return, with direct and connecting flights departing from London Heathrow, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Plane Talking: December honeymoons, safety abroad and US travel

Summer is here and most of you have already planned your holidays or are thinking about future holidays. We’ve received some interesting questions this week: have rules changed about travel to the US, which countries pose a threat to travellers and where to go for a sunny December honeymoon? If you’d like your travel question answered by us, just post your comment at the bottom of this piece.

Q: I read about some changes to travel to the US that will happen shortly. Usually I fill in the green form during the flight. Will I not need to do that in the future?

Oonagh: The new rules apply to travellers from visa-waiver countries such as the UK and Ireland. The little form you used to fill in on your flight to the States - with information such as the name and address of your hotel - will, from January 2009, be no more. Instead, you will have to register your personal details online at least two days before you fly.

It may make life easier for flyers. Rummaging around hand luggage for your address book will no longer be necessary. It should also make life easier for frequent flyers to the US. This online questionnaire will need to be completed once every two years rather than on each flight. And those travelling at the last-minute - with 72 hours' notice - will be able to register without including flight details.

Zoom Airlines unveils summer 2009 schedule

Zoom Airlines has unveiled details of its summer 2009 timetable from several airports in the UK.

As of next year the transatlantic low-cost carrier will be adding new services to three of its British bases, as well as boosting the frequency of several flights throughout its network.

Two new weekly routes from Manchester Airport to Toronto and Vancouver will be launched as part of the schedule - in addition to a new non-stop Thursday flight from Glasgow to Vancouver.

Bmi discounts airfares to the Caribbean

Book by August 1: Bmi is offering discounted fares on its Caribbean services from four English and Scottish airports.

The UK's second largest carrier is giving holidaymakers the chance to lap up some autumn sun by visiting the popular islands of Barbados or Antigua between September 1 and October 15.

Direct services operate out of Manchester Airport, with economy prices starting from as little as £296 return, including all taxes and charges.

Third runway at Heathrow the 'obvious' solution

Developing a third runway at London Heathrow Airport is the "obvious" solution to the gateway's congestion problem, a new report has concluded.

The study, commissioned by the City of London Authority, deemed that "significant" environmental costs fail to outweigh the benefits of extra capacity.

It also dismissed alternative proposals for expansion at London Stansted Airport or for a new airport at the Thames Estuary.

Flybe steps in to help Lufthansa passengers

Flybe has increased capacity on its flights to Germany in a bid to curb the impact of a strike by Lufthansa ground and cabin crew.

About 5,000 members of the German carrier's staff have staged an indefinite walkout following a pay dispute - leading to the cancellation of at least 78 flights today (July 30).

In response to the situation, Flybe will now increase the frequency of its German-bound services until the strike ends.

Emirates readies five A380s for Heathrow

Emirates Airlines plans to fly five Airbus A380 superjumbos into London Heathrow Airport every day, The Telegraph reports.

The Dubai-based carrier said it will use the world's largest passenger airliner on all its slots into the global hub, insisting it will have little difficulty filling the extra 550 seats.

Emirates took delivery of its first A380 from Hamburg this week - following an 18-month delay - and has outstanding orders for a further 57 of the giant aircraft.

Australian govt mulls airport iPod searches

Passengers at Australian airports may soon find their iPods and laptops being searched for illegally downloaded music.

Officials are reportedly considering whether to implement proposals outlined by members of the G8 geopolitical community in a new international directive.

The measure would primarily be targeted at commercial suppliers, but there are fears many hapless music fans who have shared files with their friends could also be affected by the crackdown.

Etihad boosts frequency of Melbourne services

Etihad Airways (website: etihadairways.com) has confirmed that it will increase the frequency of its connecting UK services to Melbourne.

From March 2009, the Abu Dhabi-based airline is to begin running daily flights from London Heathrow and Manchester airports via its base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The carrier already runs 17 flights a week from Heathrow and seven from Manchester, but as of next spring its timetable will be updated to offer daily UK connections to the Australian city.

Fuel surcharge increased on Aer Lingus flights

Aer Lingus has been forced to increase its fuel surcharge on a number of its long haul flights to US due to the high price of oil.

The airline has said that effective from July 30 the increased charges will apply on flights to Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco and Los Angeles, additional fees on New York, Boston and Washington Dulles, the shorter sector services to the US, remain unchanged.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director at Aer Lingus, said: "The overall effect of the price of fuel continues to be extremely challenging for the airline industry, despite some price fluctuations over the last number of days.

Merger talks between BA and Iberia

British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia (website: iberiaairlines.co.uk) are close to agreeing a merger deal, with BA boss Willie Walsh claiming the merger would help both companies face the current economic turmoil.

Each business has said that the British Airways and Iberia brands would be retained as part of a combined group, although any agreement is likely to take several months to conclude.

British Airways' chief executive, Willie Walsh, said: "The aviation landscape is changing and airline consolidation is long overdue. The combined balance sheet, anticipated synergies and network fit between the airlines make a merger an attractive proposition, particularly in the current economic environment.

Cheapflights' all destination summer travel trends versus 2007

Eurozone and London UK searches down - US and 'Good Value' destinations up

US June searches for UK up 73%

29 July, London: Cheapflights Ltd. ("Cheapflights" or "the Company"), a leading UK and North American internet media travel company providing flight price search and comparison has researched UK consumers' recent flight search preferences for all destinations compared to a year ago based on consumers searching its site for all destinations in May and June this year.

It is clear from the findings that currency and other economic influences are causing the traditional Top Ten destination patters to change. The UK findings based on the total number of page views* for May and June show that while New York and the traditional Spanish beach destinations maintain their Top Ten rankings, the Spanish Eurozone resorts, with the exception of Alicante, have largely had fewer people browse for flight offers. This is consistent with the trend away for Euro destinations noted by Cheapflights in April this year caused by the Euro's strength against Sterling. As far as the US is concerned, while the Dollar/Sterling rate is still at comparative levels to last year, Orlando has seen a 29% increase in page views which has pushed it up into 4th place. New York, traditionally always at number one, has also seen an 8.9% increase in page views by UK consumers.

Cheap flights and more: handpicked deals

Each morning our expert deal picker rounds up the best bargains - from cheap flights to hotels and holidays - for Cheapflights' Handpicked Deals section. Below are this week's top five deals, a bite-sized digest for the blog.

14-night holiday in Orlando, Florida, from £309 per person
Save up to £500 per person on High Street prices. Price includes flights from Gatwick, 14 nights' accommodation at the Quality Inn International and car hire. >>>

bmibaby's flights to France, from £31.99 one-way
Perfect for September or October getaways, bmibaby is selling thousands of seats to French cities from £31.99 one-way including taxes and charges. Fly to Nice, Bordeaux or Paris from Birmingham, East Midlands or Manchester airports. >>>

British airports to fingerprint passengers

People passing through several of Britain's major airports could soon be subjected to fingerprint identification, The Telegraph reports.

The UK Border Agency has said it is reviewing procedures at so-called 'common-departure lounges' that are used by both domestic and international travellers.

According to the executive agency, security analysts are concerned the layout of such lounges could potentially be exploited by subversive elements such as terrorists or criminals.

OpenSkies to open Amsterdam Schiphol base

OpenSkies, the newly-launched transatlantic subsidiary of British Airways, is to open a base in Amsterdam.

From October 15, the predominantly business class carrier will begin running a daily service from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to New York JFK.

The new route follows the launch of OpenSkies' flagship service from Paris Orly to JFK on June 19.

Discount flights to Majorca from Kent Airport

Kent International Airport has announced a special promotion for people planning to fly to Palma, Majorca.

Holidaymakers can now jet off to the Spanish island for just £99 on every Friday in August when they travel with Kent Escapes. That price includes all taxes, fees and surcharges.

All bookings are subject to availability, and stays must last a duration of either 7 or 14 nights.

Lufthansa's passengers brace for strike

Travellers who are due to fly with Lufthansa this week have been advised to prepare for heavy delays.

The German national carrier is reeling from widespread industrial action after trade union Verdi rejected a 6.7 per cent pay offer over 21 months for its 50,000 members.

Ground staff and cabin crew began a walkout earlier today (July 28), with no confirmed date set for the end of the strike.

No information is available about which services will be affected the most, though the airline has said it will strive to operate all services as normal.

Go-ahead for Canary Wharf rail link with Heathrow

Lords have given the green light to a £16 billion railway link joining Canary Wharf with London Heathrow Airport.

The proposed connection will form part of the much-vaunted Crossrail project - the largest development of London's transport network in the past 50 years.

It is expected to ease congestion on the tube network as well as dampening calls for more services at London City Airport, which is located close to Canary Wharf.

Parliament's upper chamber approved the proposed link without requiring a vote, paving the way for the Crossrail plans to be brought before the House of Commons.

Air India restores London to Calcutta route

Air India has resumed flying directly between London Heathrow Airport and the West Bengali capital of Kolkata.

The restored service took off for the first time on Saturday (July 26), departing from Heathrow at 7.05pm and arriving in the Indian city at 9.25am the following morning.

Three weekly services will now be operated by the national carrier every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

An Airbus A330 is being deployed on the new route, ferrying passengers in a two-class configuration with 24 business class seats and 255 economy class seats.

British Airways completes takeover of L'Avion

British Airways has completed its purchase of L'Avion, paving the way for the fleet expansion of its new subsidiary OpenSkies.

Britain's flag carrier announced its intention to acquire the French business class carrier earlier this month, submitting a bid of £54 million for the airline.

Full integration of L'Avion's Boeing 757 aircraft into the OpenSkies fleet is due to be completed by early 2009.

The French executive carrier operates a twice-daily service between Paris Orly Airport and Newark Airport - virtually mirroring the transatlantic service offered by OpenSkies.

Bristol Airport launches new fast-track service

Bristol International Airport has unveiled details of a new fast-track service for people passing through its security search area.

Bookings are now being accepted for the Fly Thru facility, which commences on August 5 and allows passengers to bypass departure gate queues by paying £5 in advance or on the day of travel.

It follows recent research commissioned by the airport which found that 60 per cent of business travellers would make use of such a premium service.

Commenting on the new facility, airport spokesperson Alison Roberts emphasised that the latest X-ray technology would be deployed to ensure security is not compromised.

Weekly news round-up

This week bmi launched a seven-day sale on some of its most popular UK and European routes, while Virgin unveiled discounted fares to several American cities.

As far as new routes go, however, it's been a relatively quiet week, with the majority of airlines apparently concentrating on cutting back services due to the current economic climate.

Nonetheless, Jet2.com is adding a Blackpool to Menorca service - and Thomsonfly will start flying from Coventry to four new destinations in Greece and Tunisia. Finally, Flybe has confirmed it is extending its winter schedule into the Easter period.

Special Offers:
Bmi launches seven-day seat sale
Book by July 27: Bmi has launched a week-long sale of seats for several of its most popular routes.

Virgin Atlantic puts American flights on sale
Book by August 4: Virgin Atlantic has put several of its most popular routes to America on sale.

Holidaymakers hit by passport worker strike

Holidaymakers are reporting heavy delays in passport applications due to industrial action taken by Public and Commercial Services (PCS).

The union called a three-day strike in response to a proposed 2.5 per cent pay offer and planned office closures, timing the disruption to hit at the height of the peak summer season.

A PCS spokesman said the walk-out is enjoying "strong support" - with eight out of ten members staying away - but according to the Identity and Passport Service absentee estimates have been exaggerated.

Vote for Cheapflights in industry awards

Regular visitors to Cheapflights.co.uk now have a chance to voice their support for our range of fare-busting services.

We've just learnt that our page has been nominated in the Best Flight Booking Website category of the British Travel Awards - widely regarded as the Oscars of the travel industry.

The accolade is intended to be an easily-recognisable benchmark of excellence in the holidaying sector and everyone at Cheapflights.co.uk is thrilled to be up for the award.

No-frills airlines 'outperform full-fare rivals'

Many of the UK's low-cost carriers are faring better than their traditional rivals in the embattled sector, a new study has suggested.

Data from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) shows that tough economic conditions coupled with rising fuel costs have stifled the industry, with annual capacity growth slowing to just one per cent.

But among the low-cost sector that figure is significantly higher, coming at 13 per cent when compared with July last year.

Virgin Atlantic puts American flights on sale

Book by August 4: Virgin Atlantic has put several of its most popular routes to America on sale.

Britain's second largest long-haul carrier is now offering return flights from London Heathrow to the States from as little as £349, with prices varying according to departure dates.

Available destinations span the breadth of the country, with discounted seats available on services to Boston, New York, Washington, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Model A380 usurps Concorde roundabout

Passengers driving up to an approach roundabout at London Heathrow Airport will now be greeted by a not-so-small model of the Airbus A380.

Weighing 45 tonnes and boasting a wingspan of 26 metres, the giant model is a scaled-down replica of the superjumbo, which Singapore Airlines presently flies into Heathrow.

Despite being one-third the size of the airliner, it is the largest aircraft model in the world and replaces a mini-Concorde that had sat at the entrance to the UK hub for 16 years.

Inverness to Dublin dropped by Aer Arann

Aer Arann has said it will suspend its service between Inverness and Dublin due to the rising cost of oil.

The BBC reports that the airline has taken the decision to end the route in September, which provided three flights a week, and will make a decision later on whether to bring it back next spring.

BA readies London City to NY service

British Airways is preparing to unveil details of its new business class-only service from London City Airport to New York, Travel Weekly report.

Due to launch in September 2009, the connection will be City's first long-haul service and is primarily targeted at corporate travellers based around Canary Wharf.

Flights will be operated twice a day using a specially-configured Airbus A318s with just 32 fully-reclinable beds.

Coventry Airport adds four new routes

Coventry Airport has added four new routes to its 2009 timetable.

Direct services to Monastir in Tunisia, Menorca, and the Greek islands of Zakynthos and Corfu will be operated by Thomsonfly (website: www.thomsonfly.com) next summer.

The expanded schedule comes to the backdrop of a High Court battle over plans for a larger passenger terminal at the regional gateway.

Coventry Airport currently hosts services by just two carriers - Thomsonfly and the Hungarian no-frills airline Wizz Air - serving around one million passengers a year.

EasyJet confirms cutbacks to Stansted flights

EasyJet has confirmed it will reduce its winter services from Stansted Airport in a bid to offset difficulties in the airline industry.

The no-frills airline cited spiralling fuels costs and the global economic downturn as the main reasons for the cutbacks, which will see its capacity at the London airport fall by 12 per cent.

Ryanair also recently announced it was cutting some 250 flights from the airport, while several full-fare carriers have indicated they may take similar measures too.

Blackpool to Menorca with Jet2.com

Low-cost operator Jet2.com has announced the launch of a new service between Blackpool and Menorca for next summer.

The route will start on June 19, 2009, operating once a week with one-way tickets starting from £55.99.

Philip Meeson, of Jet2.com, said: "As the north’s low cost airline, we are always seeking to broaden the choice of destinations from all of our bases.

SkyEurope unveils £48 seat sale

Book by 9am, July 24: SkyEurope is offering a flat fare for selected seats on most of its European routes.

The continental low-cost carrier is running the promotional offer for just two days, with no more bookings being accepted after 9am tomorrow morning (July 24).

Standard seat fares continue to apply on the airline's most popular daytime and weekend flights, but for many connections a selection of seats are now on sale for just £48 one-way.

Heathrow East faces year-long delay

Construction of the £1.5 billion Heathrow East project could be pushed back by up to a year, according to ContractJournal.com.

The website is reporting that airport regulator BAA has held a series of briefings with contractors, in which it warned that work on the site will be postponed due to the bungled launch of Terminal 5.

It cited the fact that British Airways has yet to transfer all of its flights to the new facility, saying this delay will have a knock-on effect on all concurrent development programmes.

BA OpenSkies bookings 'beat projections'

British Airways has announced that bookings with its predominantly business-class subsidiary OpenSkies (website: www.flyopenskies.com) are ahead of expectations.

The flag carrier gave its upbeat assessment during an interview with ABTN, in which spokesman Richard Tams also confirmed that the airline's move to acquire L'Avion is on track.

OpenSkies began operating flights between Paris and New York last month, taking advantage of liberalised transatlantic travel restrictions that followed a new EU/US treaty.

Bournemouth Airport to resume expansion

Delays to a proposed expansion project at Bournemouth Airport (website: www.bournemouthairport.com) will not stop the project from going ahead, The Dorset Echo reports.

Owners the Manchester Airport Group have reportedly injected an extra £13 million in cash into the venture, bringing its total value to more than £45 million.

Work at the gateway has been delayed since the New Forest National Park requested a judicial review into Christchurch Borough Council's decision to give the green light.

Travellers 'snub Heathrow for regional airports'

Holidaymakers are beginning to turn their backs on large hubs in favour of more convenient, regional airports, it has been claimed.

Jet2holidays.com (website: www.jet2holidays.com) said that UK travellers are growing increasingly frustrated with the long queues and higher surcharges associated with flying from airports such as London Heathrow.

According to the package holiday firm, affiliate low-cost carrier Jet2.com (website: www.jet2.com) has seen year-on-year growth from its six UK regional bases - with two thirds of people planning peak season holidays.

Flybe expands e-ticketing partnership

Flybe has confirmed that it is expanding its interline e-ticketing network by forming a new partnership with German carrier Hahn Air.

The deal - which allows travel agents to issue worldwide itineraries for the low-cost carrier - brings Flybe's total number of partners to 14, including British Airways, Emirates and Cathay Pacific.

Commenting on the significance of the new agreement, Flybe spokesman Stephen Hobday said that expanding the carrier's global reach would come as welcome news to flyers.

Bmi launches seven-day seat sale

Book by July 27: Bmi has launched a week-long sale of seats for several of its most popular routes.

Britain's third largest carrier has discount fares on a number of its most popular UK and European services, with prices starting from just £37 one-way including taxes.

The travel period must fall between October 1, 2008 and March 28, 2009, with eligible flights departing from Manchester, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports.

New EU rights for disabled passengers

A law protecting the rights of airline passengers who suffer from reduced mobility will come into effect this Saturday (July 26).

Under the new EU legislation, it will become the responsibility of airport regulators to ensure that all disabled people are given appropriate assistance once they arrive at the terminal.

That means measures must be put in place to facilitate disabled access to all stages of air travel, from checking-in through to boarding the aircraft.

Current rules place the onus on airlines, prompting complaints from some carriers that certain airports are inadequately placed for meeting legal requirements.

Glasgow Prestwick rejects name change

The owners of Glasgow Prestwick Airport have rejected calls to rename the facility Robert Burns International in honour of the poet's 250th birthday anniversary.

Advocates of the re-branding had hoped it would help boost the airport's image among international travellers, but chief executive Mark Rodwell said it was more likely to confuse tourists.

Robert Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and has been credited with being one of the pioneers of the 18th century Romantic movements.

BA pledges not to fly empty planes

British Airways has insisted it is not willing to fly empty planes in order to retain its valuable slots at London Heathrow Airport.

The commitment follows an embarrassing blunder by bmi deputy chief executive Tim Bye, who last week seemed to assert that his airline is planning to operate 'ghost flights' in order to keep its slots.

That suggestion prompted an outcry from environmental groups and politicians, resulting in a swift 'correction' by the spokesman who insisted his comments had been misinterpreted.

Second runway at Stansted edges closer

Plans for a second runway at London Stansted Airport have moved forward with the instigation of a public inquiry into the expansion.

Though the government delayed making a formal decision on the move - which would see Stansted's capacity rise from 25 million to 35 million passengers a year - it has nonetheless 'called in' the application.

That process will trigger a public review of the viability of the scheme, which is widely expected to be a precursor to Whitehall's public declaration of support.

Flybe extends winter schedule into Easter

Flybe has announced that it is extending its winter flight schedule to some of Europe's most popular ski destinations. Read our Ski Travel page for links to all the top destination and some great ski tips.

The low-cost carrier will continue operating flights to Alpine resorts including Verbier, Chamonix, Val D'Isere and Courchevel well into the Easter period, with services departing from six UK bases.

Extended Saturday flights depart from Birmingham, Exeter, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Norwich and Southampton airports, offering people from all over the country the chance to catch the last of the snow.

Threat of T5 summer strike looms large

Key staff members working at Heathrow Terminal 5 are considering going on strike this summer, The Mirror has claimed.

Baggage handlers at the newly launched £4.3 billion facility are reported to have complained to their union about poor management practices, which they say hinge on "fear and intimidation".

Numerous workers are said to be unhappy with airport bosses' alleged unwillingness to listen to concerns about ongoing problems with the baggage handling system.