Iceland Express delays launch of Gatwick base

Iceland Express has postponed the launch of a new link between London Gatwick Airport and capital city Reykjavik.

The national carrier pushed the date for the first flight back to next spring, scrapping earlier plans to begin operating the five times weekly connection on September 16.

A full refund or replacement booking has been offered to anyone who purchased tickets for one of the earlier flights. The airline's existing service between London Stansted Airport and Reykjavik remains unaffected.

Eastern Airways rated UK's most punctual airline

UK regional airline, Eastern Airways, has been named the UK’s most punctual scheduled airline following the release of data by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The airline, which operates from 18 airports, has gained the number one spot for the first three months of the year after it was second overall in the UK in 2007.

The information from the CAA was used by aviation analysts, Flightontime.info, to show that more than 89 per cent of Eastern Airways' services departed within 15 minutes and any delays experienced were on average just over six minutes during the period of January to March 2008.

New Gatwick to Vigo flight from Clickair

Spanish low-cost carrier Clickair has launched a new service from London Gatwick Airport to Vigo in northern Spain.

The opening of the new connection marks the first time that there has been a direct air-link between the British capital and Spain's Pontevedra province in south Galicia.

Flights will be running three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with an Airbus A320 being deployed for the route.

Blue Islands boosts Southampton frequency

Channel Islands-based carrier Blue Islands is to introduce an additional six services on its Guernsey to Southampton route.

From July 10, the airline will be running afternoon flights to complement its popular morning and evening schedule. A spokesman cited passenger demand for the expansion.

After launching the service this time last year, Blue Islands saw a 16 per cent rise in the number of passengers flying on the route by the end of 2007 - a figure which has now risen to 23 per cent.

United Airlines pulls Heathrow to Denver route

United Airlines has confirmed it will scrap its London Heathrow to Denver International Airport route this autumn.

Just three months after launching the service - United's only long-haul overseas connection from Denver - the carrier confirmed that the final flight will take place on October 25.

Rising oil prices have forced many airlines to scale back operations in recent weeks, and with British Airways competing on the same route the Heathrow to Denver link has always seemed dispensable.

Aer Arann puts expansion plans on hold

Aer Arann has postponed plans to extend its operations in response to the challenging economic climate.

The Irish carrier had been considering an expansion to its network, according to commercial director Fergal Barry, but has now put such plans on hold indefinitely.

Oil prices have reached and then broken all-time high levels repeatedly in recent months, forcing several airlines to raise their fuel surcharges and warn of cutbacks to services.

Sri Lankan Airlines to add UK-Maldives link

Sri Lankan Airlines is to start operating scheduled flights between the UK and the Maldives this autumn.

From October 26, the carrier will operate a four-times weekly service from Heathrow Airport to capital city Male, with an estimated flying time of 11 hours and 15 minutes.

National carrier Air Maldives already flies direct to the UK hub, but with a fleet of just five planes the airline has struggled to accommodate burgeoning demand for various routes.

South African carrier plans Stansted service

South African airline Civair has revived its plans to launch a service from London Stansted to Cape Town.

Speaking to Business Day, chief executive Andy Cluver predicted that the carrier will receive regulatory approval to operate three flights a week between the two destinations.

The proposed link would include a stop-off at Barcelona, making Civair the first South African airline to operate a direct service to Spain.

Merger for Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways

Two of the UK's most recognisable budget airline brands are to be dropped in favour of the newly-unveiled Thomson Airways.

The combined carrier will begin running scheduled flights from May 1 2009, creating the UK's third largest airline with a total fleet of some 65 aircraft.

Both the Thomsonfly and the First Choice Airways brands will be gradually phased out, with flights continuing to be sold under the two names throughout 2008.

Silverjet goes under as rescue bid fails

Hopes that business-class carrier Silverjet would return to the skies have been dashed following the collapse of a last-ditch rescue bid.

Irish-based investment firm Kingplace had formally submitted a funding offer to revive the ailing company, which was forced to ground its fleet last month after running up £40 million in debts.

Ukrainian airline boosts Gatwick services

Ukraine International Airlines is to add three new services to its popular Gatwick Airport to Kiev route.

From June 18, the carrier will operate ten flights a week to the Ukrainian capital, deploying an additional Boeing 737 equipped with economy and business class cabins.

All the additional flights will be running in the afternoon, affording UK travellers the chance to take onward connecting flights to other Ukrainian cities such as Simferopol and Lviv.

Zoom Airlines spies US route expansion

Zoom Airlines has revealed it plans to counter challenges in the industry by focusing on its US operations.

Speaking one week before the low-cost carrier launches a new London Gatwick to San Diego service, Zoom managing director Jonathan Hinkles said that the Open Skies agreement was creating new opportunities for budget airlines.

With larger carriers increasingly moving their operations to Heathrow, the number of transatlantic flights departing from Gatwick has fallen from 28 to 18 - something that Hinkles said "freed up peak slots of which we've been able to take good advantage".

Silverjet to fly again following Swiss deal

Silverjet looks set to take to the skies once again following a successful rescue bid by a Swiss trust company.

The all-business class carrier grounded its fleet last month after failing to raise funds sorely needed to cope with high oil prices and increased competition in the industry.

Despite appearing to be headed down the path of failed rival carriers Eos and Maxjet, however, interest in the airline has remained high and administrators have now accepted a bid on the company.

Qantas overhauls international schedule

Qantas has announced revisions to its international schedule that will affect Britons with connecting flights in Asia.

The changes centre on scaling back its Japanese services, many of which the carrier says are no longer commercially viable given spiralling fuel costs.

From September, the airline's thrice-weekly service between Melbourne and Tokyo will be completely withdrawn, while the frequency of its Sydney to Tokyo route will be reduced from nine to seven weekly flights.

New Highland Airways services to Scottish isles

Scheduled flights are to begin servicing two remote Scottish airports, thanks to new licences granted by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Inner Hebrides islands of Coll and Colonsay will both now benefit from a Highland Airways link to the resort town of Oban, situated in the western Argyll and Bute areas.

Eastern Airways switches terminals

Eastern Airways has moved all its flights at Birmingham International Airport from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, promising passengers a speedier service through check-in and security.

Silverjet may reach for the skies once again

Just a few days after being placed into administration, business class only airline Silverjet may be resurrected by a familiar face.

The airline's fomer CEO Lawrence Hunt is reported to have teamed up with Swiss investment company Heritage Cie to bid for Silverjet, although administrator Begbies Traynor said it had received 'certainly two' offers.

Emirates sets delivery date for first A380

Emirates has confirmed that the first of 58 Airbus A380s it has ordered will be delivered on July 28.

No other airline has placed a larger order for the record-breaking plane - which has a maximum capacity of 853 passengers - though Singapore Airlines (SA) is already operating five of the aircraft.

While Emirates has so far declined to reveal details about its interior design for the aircraft, it is likely to include suites with full-sized beds akin to the Singapore Airlines layout.

Manchester to London code-share for JAL

Japan Airlines (JAL) has begun twice-daily code-share services operated by BA between Manchester and London Heathrow.

The new agreement will see JAL expand its UK presence, offering more British passengers onward connections to its key Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai routes.

Russian airline adds Gatwick connection

KD avia is to launch a new service linking London Gatwick Airport to the central Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

The airline will begin the connecting service on October 26, with flights stopping off at the eastern European exclave of Kaliningrad.

After entering the UK market last June, KD avia has steadily extended its reach into Britain and now operates services to 12 Russian destinations, including Moscow and St Petersburg.

Luxury airline to press ahead with launch

A new business-class only carrier has vowed to press ahead with its launch despite ongoing woes in the sector.

Premjet said that company chiefs were undeterred by the recent collapse of luxury airline Silverjet, which ceased operations last week after failing to secure new funding.

Silverjet's collapse followed the earlier demise of fellow executive carriers Maxjet and Eos - both of whom cited the rising cost of fuel as a major reason for their downfall.

More A380 flights heading to Heathrow

London Heathrow Airport is to see an increased frequency of services using the newly-launched Airbus A380.

Singapore Airlines has announced that its fleet of superjumbos will be flying into the British capital four more times each week, bringing the total number of services to 11.

The carrier's Singapore to London route will have additional departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as of July 16, spokesman Huang Cheng Eng confirmed.

More flights to Belfast from Manx2.com

The Isle of Man based operator, Manx2.com, has said it will increase the frequency of flights between the island and Belfast.

Business travel website ABTN reports that the airline will see the number of daily rotations between the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland increase to a maximum of 16 in October.

This news comes soon after the collapse of Euromanx which provided a link to Northern Ireland, with its liquidation last month meaning many passengers had to rely on Manx2.com and Flybe to get home.

Single-plane airline nominated for award

Bournemouth-based airline Palmair has been named by consumer group Which? as a contender for its Best Airline Award.

Despite having just one airplane in its fleet, the carrier made it into the shortlist alongside such global names as Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and India's Jet Airways.

Which? Holiday editor Lorna Cowan explained that the award solely recognises good service practices in the industry, and does not take into account the size of the airline.

More airlines increase fuel surcharges

Flyglobespan and Virgin Atlantic have become the latest airlines to increase their fuel surcharges on passenger fares.

The two airlines said they were forced to introduce the price hikes in response to the rising cost of oil, with the price of one barrel reaching a record high of $135.09 (£68.85) on May 22.

Although that figure has since dropped down to around the $127 mark, prices remain historically high and - compounded by the ongoing credit crunch - aviation experts say airlines have little choice but to pass the costs onto passengers.

Additional flight to France from Eastern Airways

Flights from Southampton Airport to Angers Loire, in France, by Eastern Airways are to be increased to coincide with the world famous Le Mans 24-hour motor race.

The airline will introduce a Friday service from June 6, prior to the start of Le Mans (June 14 - 15), which is located 46 miles from Angers Loire Airport, and will continue to operate it throughout the summer season, taking the number of flights to four a week.

Business class airline Silverjet folds

Silverjet has ceased operations, ending its business class service operating from Luton to New York and Dubai.

It is the third niche operator to go out of business in recent months joining MaxJet who folded late last year and Eos who ceased trading in April.

Cathay Pacific switches to full electronic ticketing

Cathay Pacific has become the latest airline to confirm that it is switching over to 100 per cent e-ticketing from June 1.

The Hong Kong-based carrier is making the move in accordance with a new mandate by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which aims to stamp out waste caused by paper tickets.

Other major foreign carriers who have already rolled out a purely electronic system include British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates and Gulf Air.

Eastern Airways to change terminals at Birmingham

Eastern Airways has announced plans to alter the terminal from which it operates flights from Birmingham International Airport.

In a statement released yesterday (May 27), the airline revealed that as of next month, it will be operating from Birmingham's Terminal 1 instead of Terminal 2.

The move will take place on June 4 and will be permanent.

Extra A380 for Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines has announced the deployment of another Airbus A380 aircraft for its London Heathrow to Singapore service.

The carrier will begin using the plane from July 16 this year, boosting its London to Singapore service from seven weekly flights to 11.

Singapore Airlines currently flies to Singapore daily.

Extra VLM flights for TT Races on Isle of Man

VLM Airlines has announced that it will operate additional flights to the Isle of Man to cope with demand from travellers making their way to see this year's TT Races.

The carrier will be operating three additional flights on Friday, May 30; Saturday, May 31 and Saturday, June 7 from London City Airport.

It is offering the additional series to compensate for reduced flights to the Isle of Man as a result of the collapse of EuroManx.

New Glasgow Prestwick to Turkey route

Scottravel Holidays has launched a new route from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport to Turkey.

The carrier began operating the service from the Scottish airport yesterday (May 26).

It will fly to Dalaman once a week, from which travellers can reach holiday spots such as Marmaris, Icmeler, Olu Deniz and Ovacik.

Eastern Airways Norway flights affected by strike

Strike action at Norwegian airports has forced Eastern Airways to cancel its services to Stavanger from both Newcastle and Inverness.

Aer Arann increases Luton to Waterford service

Aer Arann has increased the frequency of its service from London Luton Airport to the south-east Irish city of Waterford.

The Dublin-based airline added a third scheduled service to the route in response to passenger demand, particularly among its business travellers.

The additional flight will now run on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, departing from Waterford at 2.30pm and arriving in Luton at 3.55pm.

Air Europa adds Latin American connections

Air Europa has launched a new connecting service from London Gatwick Airport to South and Central America.

The Spanish carrier is operating twice-daily flights to Madrid, from where passengers can catch one of its services to numerous key destinations throughout Latin America.

Available destinations include Buenos Aires, Salvador De Bahia, Caracas, Santo Domingo, Punto Cana, Cancun and Havana.

El Al launches online check-in service

El Al has upgraded its online booking facility for people travelling through Heathrow Airport.

The Israeli national airline overhauled its UK-oriented consumer website elal.co.uk, rolling out what it described as a more flexible and user-friendly booking system.

Passengers who make use of the new facility can now view details of a broader range of dates when booking a flight, which is intended to make it easier to find the best deals.

Two new destinations at Stansted Airport

Two new flights to Europe have been launched from London Stansted Airport.

Aegean Airlines is now running a twice-daily service to the Greek capital Athens, while Lithuanian Airlines has opened up a new connection with capital city Vilnius.

CityJet adjusts London City schedule

Air France subsidiary CityJet is adjusting its operating schedule at London City Airport.

The Dublin-based airline is launching new services to Holland that will bring its total number of daily departures from the docklands airport to 40.

Under the new schedule, the airline will now operate day-return trips from London City Airport to the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven.

Newcastle to Stavanger service launched

Eastern Airways has launched its first international service from Newcastle Airport today (May 12), offering non-stop flights to the Norwegian city of Stavanger.

The daily weekday service heads out of Newcastle at 9.50am, landing in Stavanger at 12.40pm, while the return flight leaves Norway at 1.10pm and arrives back in the North East of England at 2pm.

Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer, said: "We have provided travellers with a comprehensive network of domestic services from Newcastle for many years and our first non-stop international route from the airport links the vibrant north east with the European culture capital.

Leeds Bradford to Pakistan route axed

Direct flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Pakistan are to be scrapped from the end of May.

Shaheen Air International, Pakistan's second national carrier, launched the service just four months ago but now says that "lack of aircraft availability" has forced it to cancel the new route.

The remaining scheduled flights will depart on May 18, May 25 and May 30, while refunds will be issued for any later bookings.

Fuel surcharge increased by Lufthansa

Lufthansa has reacted to the rising cost of crude oil and kerosene by announcing an increase in its fuel surcharge on all its flights.

EuroManx cancels all services

The Isle of Man based airline EuroManx has announced all its flights have been cancelled with immediate effect, saying 'rising fuel prices and reduced passenger numbers have proved to be insurmountable'.

Airlines Manx2.com and Flybe have said they will help stranded passengers, while around 70 people on the Isle of Man have lost their jobs as a result of the airline going into receivership.

In a statement on its website EuroManx said: "It is with great regret that EuroManx have announced today that the company is ceasing operations forthwith with no further flights being operated. All passengers with tickets for EuroManx services can be assured that alternative arrangements are being sourced.

Thomas Cook Airlines adds BIA flights

Thomas Cook Airlines has expanded its network of routes from Birmingham International Airport (BIA).

The low-cost carrier is now operating direct flights to Skiathos in Greece and Hurghada in Egypt as part of its summer schedule, which was launched yesterday (May 8).

Birmingham to Hamburg service takes off

The first Lufthansa flight between Birmingham and Hamburg has got off to a successful start, offering passengers the choice of six flights a week.

Flights will operate Monday to Saturday, with a departure time of 11.30am from Birmingham, arriving into Hamburg at 2.10pm, with the flight from Germany heading out at 10.15am and landing in the West Midlands at 11am.

SAA opens new Heathrow lounge

South African Airways (SAA) has moved into its new lounge at London Heathrow Airport.

The national carrier will now share its business class lounge with two fellow Star Alliance carriers - bmi and United Airlines.

By sharing a common platform the airlines say they can cut costs without compromising high standards of service for regular flyers.

Thomas Cook sets up Bradford base

Thomas Cook Airlines has based a new aircraft at Leeds Bradford Airport.

The airline will now operate an Airbus A320 out of the regional airport, flying to a total of 17 destinations and increasing its summer capacity by 20 per cent.

Delta begins Edinburgh to NY service

Delta Air Lines has begun operating its new service from Edinburgh Airport to New York's JFK Airport.

The US carrier now joins Continental Airlines as the only operators to fly direct from Scotland to New York, though US Airways operates services between Glasgow and Philadelphia.

Virgin Atlantic and low-cost carrier Flyglobespan also currently fly to Florida from Scotland's largest city.

Holiday flights to Croatia and Sardinia from Norwich

Regional airline Eastern Airways has teamed up with travel company Holiday Options to provide summer charter flights from Norwich Airport.

Weekly flights will start later this month to Dubrovnik in Croatia and Alghero in Sardinia, offering travellers a link to the Mediterranean from East Anglia.

Singapore Airlines receives fourth A380

Singapore Airlines has taken delivery of its fourth Airbus A380 superjumbo, the world's largest airliner.

The carrier will be using the double-decker jet to service its new Singapore to Tokyo link, which is due to begin operations on May 20.

It had already received three of the massive aircraft and has been using them on its Singapore to London and Sydney routes since last October.

Lufthansa trials mobile boarding pass

German national carrier Lufthansa is trialling a new mobile boarding pass service on two of its domestic routes.

People who fly with the airline from Hamburg to Munich or Frankfurt can now request an electronic boarding pass via email or SMS text message when they check-in online.

Zoom expands Cardiff to Toronto service

Zoom Airlines has revealed plans to expand its service from Cardiff International Airport to Toronto.

The carrier announced on Friday (April 25) that an additional direct service to the Canadian city will be launched in July this year.

Flights to Toronto will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays with a weekly service to Vancouver departing on Thursdays as part of the carrier's summer schedule, which is due to start at the beginning of May.

New Spanish routes from Norwich Airport

Low-cost carrier LTE is launching three new services to Spain from Norwich Airport.

The airline will begin operating weekly connections to Alicante, Barcelona and Palma on July 5, with one-way fares starting from £69 including all taxes and surcharges.

"We are delighted to welcome LTE to Norwich, for their first scheduled UK services," commented the airport's managing director, Richard Jenner. "They are an established charter airline, having worked with UK tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Thomson."

Silverjet steps in for Eos flyers

Silverjet has offered to make alternative arrangements for passengers affected by the collapse of former competitor Eos Airlines.

The loss-making all-business class carrier declared bankruptcy yesterday (April 27), citing the failure of a last-ditch attempt to raise $50 million (£25 million) from investors.

And with hundreds of passengers now unable to make use of its London Stansted to New York JFK connection, Silverjet has stepped in to accommodate stranded flyers by matching the price of their original fare.

Lithuanian Airlines launches Palanga service

FlyLAL, also known as Lithuanian Airlines, is to launch a new direct service from London Stansted to Palanga.

From May 17, the Lithuanian national carrier will be operating two weekly flights to the coastal resort town, situated in the west of the country on the Baltic Sea.

New jobs after Zoom expands Gatwick routes

Low-cost carrier Zoom Airlines has created new jobs at London Gatwick following the expansion of routes from the airport.

More than 60 new positions have been created due to the introduction of twice-weekly services from Fort Lauderdale, starting in May, and San Diego, beginning in June.

The expansion means that Zoom is offering 33 per cent more seats on its schedule this summer than last year.

SWISS introduces new seats on European fleet

Swiss International Air Lines has completed its update of aircraft seating on its European fleet, allowing customers greater legroom and more comfort.

A total of 52 aircraft now have the innovative Recaro seat in their business and economy class, which have carbon frames and leather upholstery.

LOT: only carrier between Heathrow and Warsaw

Polish national carrier LOT is now the only airline serving London Heathrow to Warsaw, following British Airway's decision to move its service to Gatwick.

LOT is the exclusive operator of the routes, providing three daily flights to Warsaw from London Heathrow’s Terminal 1.

The airline offers a full Business Class service aboard its Boeing 737-400 and 737-500 aircraft, and recently introduced online check-in facilities for its Warsaw-bound passengers.

Iceland Express announces new service from Gatwick

Iceland Express has announced that it will be launching a new service from Gatwick to Reykjavik from this September.

The carrier will operate the service five times a week from the airport, beginning on September 16, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Early morning flight to Stavanger introduced

Passengers using Eastern Airways to travel to Stavanger in Norway will now be able to use a new early morning flight.

Business and leisure travellers can arrive into the country by 9am by taking a new 6.50am flight, which will begin operating on May 12, leaving Aberdeen airport every week day.

Those flying back from Norway can leave Stavanger on a 9.40am flight, arriving into Aberdeen at 9.50am.

Manx2.com carries 100,000th customer

Isle of Man carrier, Manx2.com, has flown its 100,000th customer on one of the airline's seven routes.

These include Belfast City and International, Blackpool, Leeds, Gloucester, Nottingham East Midlands and Jersey and the carrier operates 184 flights each week.

Communications director James Filleul said that the airline had been built up "from scratch" from when it was launched in July 2006 when it offered three routes, and around 72 services each week.

Direct route to Stavanger launched

From next month Eastern Airways will operate a non-stop service between Newcastle and Stavanger.

The regional airline will offer a daily service, operating during the working week, from May 12 with flight times that are likely to appeal to business travellers.

Flights will depart Newcastle at 9.50am, arriving in Stavanger at 12.40pm, with the return journey heading out of the Norwegian city at 1.10pm before getting back into the North East of England at 2pm.

Cathay Pacific's rise in passenger numbers

Cathay Pacific has released new traffic figures which show a continued rise in the number of passengers travelling with the airline.

A total of 2,164,663 passengers flew with Cathay Pacific in March, amounting to a 16 per cent year-on-year increase.

The passenger load factor for the month also rose by 2.4 per cent to reach 82.1 per cent, as did capacity - measured in available seat kilometres - which was up by 13.7 per cent.

Lufthansa 'most reliable airline' at Heathrow in 2007

Lufthansa has been declared the "most reliable" airline to operate out of Heathrow Airport, following publication of new data.

The Punctuality Statistics for 2007 looked at flight times of the 30 biggest carriers which served the London-based hub in 2007 and found that the average delay of a Lufthansa flight was 12.22 minutes.

This was more than seven minutes less than Heathrow's average delay. The figures were sourced from the Civil Aviation Authority and are available via Flightontime.info.

High fuel costs led to Oasis' collapse, says airline

The founders of budget Hong Kong airline Oasis have blamed soaring fuel costs and the acquisition of aircraft for the airline's collapse.

Raymond and Priscilla Lee, who launched the service in 2006, said in an open letter published today (April 10), that the company's original business plan was based on aircraft rental, not purchase. They went on to add that the high price had also been a key factor.

"The hike of the oil prices has also affected us severely. As a newly started airline, we have found it next to impossible to obtain a credit facility from financial institutions to carry out fuel-hedging programmes. We only managed to hedge once successfully.

Oasis goes bust, leaving flyers stranded

Hundreds of people have been left stranded after Oasis Hong Kong Airlines announced this morning (April 9) that it was going into liquidation.

The carrier has been forced to cancel this evening's service between Gatwick and Hong Kong, scheduled for 8.40pm.

As a result, many, including children returning after the Easter school holidays, have been left without flights, a spokeswoman in London for Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific told the Metro.

Silverjet launches website designed for mobile phones

Business class only airline Silverjet has launched a website that allows its customers to book flights, check flight schedules, select seats and choose meals from their mobile phone.

The airline's Silverjet Mobile website can be accessed through the web browser on a hand held device, or for those in the UK, they can also text ‘Silverjet’ to 60767 to receive a link via SMS.

The technology behind the website should recognise the mobile phone being used and optimise the display and adapt functionality accordingly.

New cabins introduced on Cathay Pacific's long-haul routes

Cathay Pacific is introducing new-look cabins on its long-haul routes.

The cabins will have new seats with a "fixed back" design, allowing passengers to recline without encroaching on others with specifically designed frames and structures to maximise knee and shin space. Awkward fixtures and fittings have also been removed.

A well as a new "fishbone" cabin design, in-flight entertainment has been improved, with the introduction of a bigger personal television, while audio and video entertainment on demand is now available.

Eastern Airways increases flight frequency

Regional airline Eastern Airways is to increase the frequency of flights it offers from a number of UK airports.

From Monday (April 7) the carrier will operate four flights a day from Leeds Bradford to both Southampton and Aberdeen, while three flights a day will be available on its Newcastle to Cardiff service.

Eastern Airways' link from Manchester to Stansted will be expanded to offer passengers the choice of four flights a day from Monday to Thursday.

More flights on offer from Newcastle to Copenhagen

Danish airline Cimber Air has increased the frequency of flights it offers from Newcastle Airport to Copenhagen.

From April 2 the airline will operate three extra flights a week to the Danish capital, bringing the total number of weekly scheduled services to ten, allowing passengers a greater choice of connecting flights.

Chris Sanders, of Newcastle Airport, said: "We are very pleased that Cimber Air has chosen to increase the frequency of flights from our region to Copenhagen.

Deal for Alitalia collapses

Troubled Alitalia has seen its chairman step down and its shares suspended as talks over its sale to Air France-KLM collapse.

Maurizio Prato resigned after Air France-KLM announced it was unwilling to continue talks with unions, claiming "there was no longer any basis for further negotiations".

Alitalia's chairman expressed his disappointment at the ending of talks by stepping down, a move which meant the suspension of trading in the shares of the Italian flag carrier, and he warned that the airline faced bankruptcy if no deal was signed.

EuroManx moves terminals at Manchester Airport

Isle of Man airline EuroManx has announced that it has moved its operations at Manchester Airport, promising passengers a speedier journey through check-in.

The airline was based at Terminal 1, but from yesterday (March 30) passengers will be able to check-in at desk 15 in Terminal 3, a move that EuroManx believes will benefit its customers.

'Most punctual' airline from Newcastle and Birmingham

Eastern Airways is the most punctual scheduled airline departing from Newcastle and Birmingham airports, according to new figures released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The data, which was collected by on-line aviation analysts Flightontime.info, showed that the regional airline was for the second year running the most punctual airline from Newcastle. Eastern Airways has also previously been named number one on-time airline at Birmingham.

Air France KLM to build 'major global airline group'

Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and Chief Executive of Air France KLM has announced that the airline is committed to helping Alitalia to achieve long-term recovery.

Speaking at a meeting with national representatives from the main Italian trade unions at Alitalia's head office yesterday (Tuesday, March 18), Spinetta said that the group would be providing Altialia with investment capital of €1 billion (£784 million).

"The aim of the AF KL Group is not to take over Alitalia, but to see whether it is possible to build a major global airline group together with the entire Alitalia workforce.

Alitalia agrees to Air France-KLM deal

© Air France-KLM

The Italian government has given the go-ahead to plans to sell Alitalia, the country's flag carrier, to Air France-KLM.

Alitalia, which has debts of €1.2bn (£921m), has been struggling for several years and despite intervention by the Italian government - it owns 49.9 per cent of the airline - it has been unable to turn things around and challenge low-cost competitors, rising fuel costs or employee unrest.

Now the Economy Minister, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, has said they will enter into discussions with Air France-KLM in an attempt to cut costs, although the threat of 1,600 job losses may spark union unrest.

Lufthansa increases short-haul fuel surcharge

The rising cost of oil is forcing Lufthansa to increase its fuel surcharge for flights within Germany and destinations in its European network.

The airline has said that there will be a €3 increase on its surcharge, taking the cost up to €17 per flight segment, with the new fee coming into effect from March 13.

Lufthansa premiers PA service at Heathrow

A new Personal Assistant service has been introduced at Heathrow Airport by Lufthansa.

The German airline has been trialling the new service for three months and now it has been fully introduced for its First Class customers and HON Circle members.

Heathrow is the first European-based hub to benefit from Lufthansa's PA service.

Passengers departing from Terminal 2 with Lufthansa who want to use the service will be met at check in by their "dedicated Personal Assistant", who will then escort them quickly through security to the Lufthansa lounge.

United Airlines upgrades first class dining experience

United Airlines has revealed plans to overhaul its in-flight dining experience for international first class passengers.

From August, anyone flying in the airline's first class cabin will be able to choose what they want to eat and when they want it to be served, rather than waiting for set meals at specific points.

At the same time, United will be further enhancing its onboard first class dining with the introduction of exclusively produced porcelain tableware and linen.

AA to delay increase in Stansted to New York frequency

American Airlines has revealed that it will delay an increase in the frequency of its service between London Stansted and New York JFK Airport.

The carrier had previously announced that it would be doubling the route's frequency to two flights daily from April 8, but an unnamed representative from the airline told Business Travel World that the change would be delayed until August 1.

Explaining the decision, they told the website that their plans had been affected by the impact of pilot staffing issues on the airline's entire network.

Dubai to Heathrow served by Emirates' super jumbo

© Emirates

Emirates will offer passengers the chance to fly between Dubai and London Heathrow on one of its new Airbus A380 super jumbos later this year.

The airline has announced that the first flight between the two destinations will take place on December 1, in an A380 configured to offer 489 seats - 14 in first class, 76 in business and 399 in economy.

At the same time Emirates said it would begin a flight to New York from Dubai on October 1 and offer a link to Sydney-Auckland from February 1, 2009.

New Isle of Man to East Midlands service

Manx2.com has launched its new direct service between the Isle of Man and East Midlands Airport.

The new route will operate daily from Monday to Friday, with a flight also available on Sunday, and the airline is offering one-way fares on the service from £39 (including taxes and charges) via its website www.manx2.com.

On weekdays, flights depart from Isle of Man at 10.30am, arriving at East Midlands at 11.30am, while the Sunday flight departs at 6.50pm, arriving at 7.50pm.

Eastern Airways increases Stansted to Manchester service

Eastern Airways has announced plans to increase the frequency of its service between London Stansted and Manchester.

From April 7, the airline will operate four flights every weekday in either direction on the route, an increase from the current offering of three flights per weekday.

As a result of the changes, flights will now depart from Stansted at 8.45am, 12.30pm, 4pm and 7.20pm, landing in Manchester at 9.50am, 1.40pm, 5.05pm and 8.25pm respectively.