British Airways to axe Gatwick-JFK flights

British Airways is to stop flying between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and New York JFK on October 25, almost a year after services commenced.

A spokesman for British Airways, quoted by The Times, said: “We constantly review our network and have decided that the performance of LGW-JFK was not as good as we had expected when we launched the route.

'I don't' - council says no to weddings on easyJet aircraft

Lovebirds flying with easyJet will not get the chance to marry in the air after all. The airline's application to Luton Borough Council for pilots to be authorised to conduct civil partnership and marriage ceremonies was turned down.

As reported by Cheapflights on May 6, the low-cost carrier believed that the recession has created a market for wedding ceremonies en route to honeymoons.

Brussels Airlines' sale - Rome flights from £199 return

Sale starts at 6pm tonight (Friday, May 29) and ends on Monday, June 1: Regional flyers have the chance to snap up a bargain flight in Brussels Airlines' weekend sale.

Fly from Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle or Bristol airports to cities such as Brussels, Nice, Toulouse, Athens and Bilbao.

Sample fares are Manchester to Rome from £199 return including taxes and charges.

Something for the weekend? 25% off Czech Airlines' flights

Book by Sunday, May 31. Madrid and Barcelona are the big attractions in Czech Airlines' weekend offer.

The airline is offering flights - from London Heathrow - to Madrid and Barcelona from £143 return including all taxes. Use promotion code 36TA4I when booking.

Monarch discounts flights by up to 35% - fly this summer

Book by midnight on Tuesday, June 2: Monarch is offering up to 35 per cent off the cost of return flights this summer. Discounted seats are also available between September and December. 

Monarch flies to the most popular holiday destinations - Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma, Menorca and, gateway to the Algarve, Faro, among others - from London Gatwick and Luton, Manchester and Birmingham airports.

The discount is an increase in Monarch's regular web discount of £5 on one-way flights and £10 on return flights.

Flights to Barcelona from £103 return with Swiss Air Lines

Book by Sunday, June 21, to snap up one of Swiss Air Lines' summer fares.

The classy Swiss carrier has a raft of destinations on sale from London Heathrow Airport.

Fly to Palma de Majorca, the capital city of the Balearic Islands, and Barcelona, Spain's capital of cool, from £103 return, Nice, in the South of France, from £119, and Athens, Greece's ancient capital, from £123.

Holidaymakers tighten belts for summer

Stressed out Brits may be as keen as ever to take a summer holiday, but according to new research by Tesco Travel Money cost-cutting is now a top priority.

A study by the financial firm has revealed that while more than half of us are heading overseas in 2009, at least one in three will be spending less than last year.

Almost every expense is being targeted by recession-conscious travellers, with 54 per cent cutting back on food and drink, and 43 per cent reining in duty free spending.

Savings on cheap flights and hotel bookings are also being spied by the nation's thrifty jetsetters – 76 per cent of whom say they are drawing up a budget.

'Worst may be over' for airline industry

The airline industry appears to have weathered the brunt of the economic downturn, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Director General Giovanni Bisignani noted that the trend of double-digit falls in passenger numbers has now ended, declaring the "worst may be over".

Brits 'won't leave country without cuppa'

The stereotype that Brits are obsessed with tea appears to hold water, as new research has found that half of us pack teabags when we go abroad.

Supermarket chain Asda carried out the study, in which UK tourists were asked to list which food and drink items they are most likely to take overseas.

BA eyes more Heathrow slots despite losses

British Airways would consider buying more slots at London Heathrow Airport in spite of the tough economic climate, The Financial Times reports.

The flag carrier announced annual losses of £401 million last week, but according to chief executive Willie Walsh opportunities to expand are still on the table.

His comments follow speculation that bmi, Heathrow's second biggest carrier, may relinquish some Heathrow slots as its dispute with Lufthansa rumbles on.

Durham Tees Valley eyes Heathrow link

Durham Tees Valley Airport has held discussions with senior politicians over the possibility of restoring its popular link with Heathrow Airport.

The regional base lost its connection with Britain's busiest hub earlier this year, dealing a severe blow to business interests in the Tees Valley region.

Passengers 'foot bill for Gatwick expansion'

The bill for a £1 billion investment project at Gatwick Airport will ultimately fall on passengers, the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has warned.

Work scheduled for the site includes the construction of a brand new £200 million aircraft pier in the North Terminal, as well as upgrades to various other facilities. 

But according to the AOC – whose member carriers include the likes of BA, easyJet and Ryanair – the cost cannot be justified and the plans should be scrapped.

British Airways slashes business fares by 40%

Book by June 30: British Airways is running a sale on its business class seats, discounting fares on some of its most popular routes by 40 per cent.

Travellers who want to take advantage of the offer can now book a return flight to New York for just £1,099, saving more than £700 on the standard price.

Heathrow expansion 'vital to UK prosperity'

Developing a third runway at Heathrow Airport is essential for Britain's continued prosperity and economic prowess, it has been claimed.

Supporters of the controversial plan have said that the hub is certain to lose traffic to European rivals such as Frankfurt and Paris if it does not expand.

They made their remarks shortly after one of the government's key advisers, Lord Stern, suggested that approving a third runway was a mistake.

Airline industry 'needs support in CO2 fight'

Governments around the world must work harder to support the airline industry as it seeks to meet ambitious targets for environmental performance.

That's according to Giovanni Bisignani, the president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who praised the sector for its "good track record" on green issues.

Confusion over local currencies 'costs £1bn'

British holidaymakers throw away almost £1 billion each year because they find local currencies so confusing, new research has revealed.

Nearly two thirds of all travellers go over-budget while abroad, according to the study, with many admitting that they treat foreign currency like 'monopoly money'.

Travel insurance reminder for bargain hunters

Holidaymakers who wait until the last minute to snap up a bargain trip have been reminded about the importance of taking out travel insurance.

The AA cited new research which shows that half of all European single-trip travel insurance policies are taken out less than three days before departure.

Marriott Hotels scoops environmental award

Hotels operated by Marriott International are among the greenest in the world, according to latest The Sunday Times' Green List.

The company came 17th in a compendium of the 60 most environmentally friendly firms in Britain, making it the highest ranking hotel chain.

British Airways ditches First Class cabins

British Airways, which posted record losses of £401 million last week, has said it is removing First Class cabins from four of its new long-haul planes.

The flag carrier did not directly blame the recession for the cut-backs, though analysts say the global downturn has decimated premium bookings.

Holidaymakers 'addicted to Twitter and Facebook'

Millions of Brits are so hooked on Twitter and Facebook that they can't tear themselves away from the micro-blogging services even when on holiday.

That's according to new research by lastminute.com, which has found that four out of ten young people admit to constantly updating their status when abroad.

American Airlines' sale - flights to New York from £263

Sale ends on Monday, June 22. American Airlines' "Great American Sale from London" is on now with flights to New York a recession-busting £263 return including taxes. Travel by June 30 to secure the lowest fares.

New York flights cost £455 between July 1 and August 21, before dropping back to £263 between August 22 and September 30.

There are several other cities included in AA's sale. Boston flights cost £294 for travel by June 30 and between August 22 and September 30, or £473 if you fly between July 1 and August 21.

KLM's early summer flights - Amsterdam from £89

Book by Sunday, May 31: KLM is offering flights to Amsterdam from £89 return including taxes. Other European flight bargains start from £179 (return with taxes) and take in Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Venice and Warsaw.

The Dutch national airline also has flights to Delhi from £276 and Beijing and Shanghai from £399 return including taxes.

Qantas: cheap flights to Australia from £499

Book by Tuesday, June 2: Qantas is offering Walkabout Fares "Down Under" in its five-day sale.

The Australian flag carrier has a raft of special fares departing from London Heathrow Airport. The travel window is not wide - it closes on June 23.

Snap up the Economy-Class fares - all return including taxes and charges - to the following cities:

Bangkok or Singapore from £399

Save 25% on Czech Airlines' flights

Book by Sunday, May 24: Czech Airlines' (website: czechairlines.com) special deal for this weekend is 25 per cent off the cost of flights to Riga, Madrid, Rome and Warsaw.

Fly from London Heathrow Airport to Rome from £127 and Warsaw, Poland's capital city, from £145.

Bank holiday exodus starts at UK airports

Spain, Turkey, Egypt and Florida are the destinations of choice for holidaymakers heading off this weekend. The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) is estimating that 1.8 million travellers will depart the nation's airports this Spring Bank Holiday, which also marks the start of the school half term.

Perennial city-break favourites Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome and New York are also attracting the greatest number of visitors, Abta reports.

easyJet's cheap flights - fly from £15.99ow with taxes

Book before midnight on Tuesday, May 26, to secure a bargain flight with easyJet.

The low-cost airline has released 100,000 seats priced from £15.99 one-way incuding taxes. The destinations included in the sale scream bucket-and-spade holiday - Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Palma, capital of Majorca, and Faro on the Algarve, Portugal.

High Court challenge over Cypriot flight ban

A High Court challenge has been launched over the government's 35-year-old ban on direct flights from Britain to Northern Cyprus, The Daily Mail reports.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines (CTA) and its UK tour operator, CTA Holidays Limited, are seeking to overturn the rule that all flights bound for Northern Cyprus must stop over in Turkey.

Scientists refine airport flu screening technology

Scientists in America have developed a computer model that it is hoped could ultimately help airport authorities avert an influenza pandemic.

The recent Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico highlighted the need for vigilance, and experts say better technology could play a crucial role in protecting passengers.

ABTA renews call for £1 levy on all UK flights

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has called on the aviation industry to add a £1 levy to all flights in order to give travellers financial protection.

Andy Cooper, ABTA Development Director, told MPs that the charge is the "only solution" to ensuring that holidaymakers are not left out of pocket by bankruptcies.

Aer Lingus - £90 off all flights to the USA

Book by May 28: Aer Lingus is offering a £90 discount on return flights to America.

The Irish national carrier is running the special offer on all bookings for US-bound flights via Dublin, provided travel dates fall between June 1 and August 31.

Air France/KLM, Delta sign transatlantic deal

The two largest airlines on either side of the Atlantic have finalised a mammoth deal which paves the way for them to operate as a single carrier.

Air France/KLM and Delta will coordinate on transatlantic flight schedules and ticket prices under the new pact, as well as harmonising on-board products.

The carriers already operate as codeshare partners, providing 200 daily flights – or 25 per cent of passenger capacity – between Europe and the US.

Two new Caribbean routes from British Airways

British Airways will be launching twice weekly services from London Gatwick to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic this winter, TravelMole reports.

The UK flag carrier is adding new connections to Montego Bay and Punta Cana on October 25, with frequencies also increasing on several other Caribbean routes.

Gatwick flights to St Lucia and Port of Spain will increase to five a week, while BA will also raise its number of weekly flights to Barbados to ten.

Anger over new parking rules at Leeds Bradford Airport

Travellers who use Leeds Bradford Airport have reacted with outrage to news that use of its free parking zone is being restricted to a mere five minutes.

Drivers previously had ten minutes to use the airport's drop-off/pick-up zone, but that allowance has now been slashed in half, with fees applying to any delays.

Wizz Air reduces baggage allowance

Continental low-cost carrier Wizz Air has confirmed that it will be tightening baggage restrictions for all passengers from Friday (May 22).

The airline is reducing the allowance for checked-in baggage from 20kg to 15kg per person, with excess baggage charges rising from €10 to €15 for each extra kilogramme.

Lions Tour jet christened Air Force Scrum

The aircraft that will fly the British and Irish Lions team to South Africa this weekend has been christened Air Force Scrum, following a public competition.

Judges selected the slogan, put forward by Dublin Trinity College student Dara Fahy, after British Airways invited rugby fans to suggest a motto for the jet.

Spanish low-cost carrier relocates to Heathrow

Spanish low-cost carrier Clickair (website: www.clickair.com) has confirmed that it is moving all of its UK services from London Gatwick to London Heathrow Airport.

Under the new schedule, the airline's direct flights to Bilbao, Seville, Vigo and La Coruna will all be switched to the UK's main hub from June 1.

Which?: Don't use airport bureaux de change

Holidaymakers are being left out of pocket by rip-off bureaux de change that cost almost £50 more than currency exchanges on the high street.

That's according to consumer watchdog Which?, whose staff uncovered some surprising results when they compared rates from 21 different providers.

US businesses voice support for BA/AA alliance

© British Airways

Almost 3,400 business and consumer groups have written letters of support for the proposed union between British Airways (BA) and American Airlines (AA).

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA, said the US Department of Transportation (DoT) has been inundated with favourable responses to the transatlantic tie-up.

But not everyone supports the move, with Virgin Atlantic renewing its opposition today by warning of a "monster monopoly" that will stifle competition on key routes.

Study: Women better at finding cheap flights

An intriguing new study by AirPlus International has found that women are inherently better at sniffing out cheap flights than their male counterparts.

The card payment firm conducted research which found that women travellers tend to plan ahead earlier than men, thereby securing the best deals.

BAA accuses Competition Commission of bias

The British Airports Authority (BAA) is to mount an appeal against the Competition Commission's verdict that it should be broken up, citing alleged bias within the watchdog.

The airport regulator has been ordered to sell two of its London bases as well as one of its Scottish facilities in order to help spur on competition in the UK airport sector.

It has already put Gatwick up for sale, but with bids for the airport falling well short of its estimated value of £2 billion the operator is now trying to postpone any sell-off.

British Airways goes all-in with flights to Las Vegas

British Airways (BA) has confirmed that it will be launching a new direct service from London Heathrow Airport to Las Vegas on October 25.

Bookings for the daily connection are being accepted now, with return fares costing from £467, including taxes, fees and surcharges.

Most Britons 'sceptical' of summer sun forecast

An overwhelming majority of Britons remain deeply sceptical about predictions of a baking hot summer in the UK, new research has revealed.

While the Met Office has forecast "a barbecue summer" with temperatures soaring well into the 30s, Thomas Cook says just one in five Brits believe the hype.

Air France spring sale - long-haul flights from £265 return

Air France's spring sale is on now with long-haul fares - departing from London Heathrow Airport - starting from £265 return including taxes. Book online at Air France's website (airfrance.co.uk) by June 5 to snap up one of these bargain flights:

Flights to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates city that is often called the the “Vegas of the Middle East”, is available from £265.

Hong Kong flights cost from £336; Havana flights from £367; Singapore flights  from £415; and Lagos flights from £436.

Flights to Oslo for next year's Eurovision Song Contest?

Saturday night's Eurovision Song Contest was quite the spectacle. There was Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber accompanying UK hopeful Jade Ewan, Dita Von Teese appearing with the German representatives, a Ronan-Keating-penned song for Denmark and a mesmerising interval act which featured suspended swimming pools. There was even a link-up with the International Space Station as cosmonauts, quoting Yuri Gagarin, opened the phonelines for voting.

Norway quickly ran away with the Eurovision, clocking up 387 points - and smashing the record for the most points awarded during the competition - for Alexander Rybak.

FCO lifts advisory against all but essential travel/flights to Mexico

Flights to Mexico will soon be taking off again after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) lifted its advisory against all but essential travel to the country.

In a statement on its website (released late on Friday, May 15), the FCO said: "Following a decline in the number of reported new swine influenza cases in Mexico since its peak on April 26, we no longer advise against all but essential travel."

Aer Lingus sale - cheap flights from £19.99 ow with taxes

© Aer Lingus

Book by midnight tonight (Monday, May 18): Aer Lingus is expanding services from London Gatwick Airport this summer and, to underscore the point, is offering cheap flights to Europe's most in-demand holiday destinations. Flights - to cities such as Munich and Zurich - cost from £24.99 one-way including taxes and charges.

Nice flights and flights to Faro, gateway to the Algarve, Portugal, cost from £26.99. Vienna flights also cost from £26.99, while flights to Malaga cost from £29.99.

The Irish flag carrier is also offering flights to Ireland from £19.99 one way with taxes and fees. Fly from London Gatwick to Dublin from £19.99 or Knock from £24.99.

Aer Arann: kids fly for 75% less

Book by midnight on Sunday, May 17: Aer Arann has joined Lufthansa in offering a special kids' deal for summer flights (see Kids' summer special: Lufthansa's cheap flights for children).

The Irish regional airline has discounted kids' fares (ages 2-11) by 75 per cent. For example, a flight from Dublin to Blackpool on June 16 costs €9.75 for an adult and €2.44 for a child excluding taxes. With taxes the total one-way fare is €48.50.

EU achieves transparency improvements to airlines’ sites

Following complaints that many airlines’ websites were not conforming in terms of compliance with consumer protection rules, the European Union (EU) started an enforcement investigation in September 2007.

Yesterday (Thursday, May 14), they announced that a "step change" in airlines’ ticket selling websites across Europe had been achieved.

The findings feature in a final report on an 18 month EU-wide process to crackdown on misleading advertising and unfair practices.

Bucharest, Kiev, Athens, St Petersburg - Czech Airlines' cheap flights

Offer ends at midnight on Sunday, May 17: If it's Friday, it's time for Czech Airlines' weekend special. There is 25 per cent off the cost of flights to Bucharest, Kiev, Athens and St. Petersburg.

From Manchester Airport, fly to Bucharest, capital of Romania, from £149 and Kiev, Ukraine's capital city, from £220.

Fly from London Heathrow to ancient Athens from £131 and St. Petersburg, the stunning city on the Baltic Sea, from £230.

Flybe summer sale - new destinations added

Flybe's summer sale is in full swing (see our story from Monday, May 11) and the low-cost regional airline is keeping the momentum going by adding new destinations.

Book by midnight on Monday, May 18, to secure cheap flights to these new destinations:

Dublin - flights to Dublin, the buzzy Irish capital, are discounted by 50 per cent. Fly from Exeter, Southampton, Jersey and Guernsey airports. For example, Southampton-Dublin flights on June 24 cost £14 one-way with taxes and charges, before adding checked-baggage fees and travel insurance etc.