Weekly news round-up

This week has seen the announcement of a number of new international routes and special offers.

Virgin Atlantic is offering a special promotional fare to the African island of Mauritius and bmi is discounting a large number of its business class fares by up to 20 per cent.

People looking stateside can now take advantage of a brand new Delta Air Lines service to New York, while low-cost carrier Jet2.com has announced it will begin flying between Leeds Bradford and Newark airports this winter.

Meanwhile, Thomas Cook Airlines has published details of its summer schedule - taking in a host of destinations ranging from the Canary Islands to Egypt - and Aer Lingus is offering new services from Belfast to Munich, Milan and Lanzarote.

Special Offers
Virgin Atlantic offers Mauritius deal
Book by 10pm, May 13: Virgin Atlantic is running a special promotional fare to Mauritius.

Weekly news round-up

Low-cost carrier bmibaby is giving flyers the chance to visit a number of destinations in the UK and Europe from as little as £10 one-way with taxes. For people looking further afield, Virgin Atlantic is offering discounted fares to Hong Kong and Shanghai this summer.

Holidaymakers who like to plan ahead can also browse through Monarch's new winter flight schedule. There are 1.75 million seats on sale including several new services to the Canary Islands.

Additionally, easyJet has announced a number of new routes from its bases in Manchester and London Gatwick - expanding its reach into Malaga and Crete among other places - while Eastern Airways has launched new services to Croatia and Sardinia.

Special Offers
Bmibaby offers £10 flights
Book by midnight on Wednesday, May 7: Low-cost carrier bmibaby is offering special fares to a number of international and domestic destinations.

SWISS and Lufthansa win accolades

Swiss International Air Lines and Lufthansa have been voted the joint No. 1 airline in Europe by Capital magazine's annual survey.

The two national carriers - which also ranked joint sixth among intercontinental carriers - also shared the accolade with Austrian Airlines.

SWISS spokesman Christoph Beckmann quipped: "The readers of Capital have confirmed our own 'capital': our strong commitment to a punctual performance and attentive personal care."

EU strengthens aviation ties with Australia

The European Union has signed an aviation agreement with Australia that will liberalise air travel between the two continents.

Under the agreement, nationality restrictions have been scrapped for all EU member states and for the first time the EU zone will be treated as a single market for air transport.

Although bilateral agreements remain in place between individual countries and Australia, the move has been received as a significant step towards unifying EU member states.

In-flight phones slammed

Trials of a newly-launched in-flight mobile telephone service have yielded less-than-glowing results, The Sunday Times reported yesterday (April 27).

On April 1, Air France became the first carrier to trial the technology - and it has now emerged that much of the feedback revolves around poor quality connections and patchy service.

Experts put the difficulties down to the fact that the calls are routed through a satellite before being transmitted to the ground - but at £2.40 per minute many Air France customers had expected more from the service.

Weekly news round-up

Several airlines have offered passengers some great deals this week, as well as various new routes within Europe.

Flyers planning a trip to the US can do so for less with Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada, while those wishing to journey further a field to Hong Kong can do so at a discounted rate with Cathay Pacific.

Those interested in jetting off to Europe have plenty of new options too. Monarch is resuming its Manchester to Gibraltar service, while Flybe is offering year-round Guernsey to Paris flights. Jet2.com is connecting Newcastle to Corfu and Rhodes and bmi is now serving flights from Cardiff to Barcelona.

Low-cost carrier easyJet also launched three new routes this week. The first will ferry passengers between Glasgow and Faro, while the second will link Bristol Airport to Biarritz, Olbia and Split. The third will link Edinburgh with Nice.

Special Offers
Virgin Atlantic offers special USA fares
Book by 10pm, April 29: Virgin Atlantic is offering a number of special fares to America this summer.

Air Canada offers up to 15% off US flights
Book by April 30: Air Canada is offering up to 15 per cent off economy fares to destinations in the US.

OpenSkies' 'next-generation' reservations system

The new subsidiary airline from British Airways, OpenSkies (see related Cheapflights story), has chosen a "hybrid reservations system" that will provide travellers with a 'next-generation' booking service.

Radixx, the winner of the Best Technology Provider at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress in 2007, has been picked to provide a system that allows passengers to buy tickets online, by phone or through a travel agent.

Weekly news round-up

This week has seen a great selection of new routes and discount fares offered to travellers.

Those wishing to get away this May bank holiday can do so for less with jet2.com, while Lufthansa is running special promotional flights to several European destinations. British Airways, on the other hand, is also offering discounted flights to Africa.

Several new routes have also been introduced. Eastern Airways is now operating a non-stop service between Newcastle and Stavanger, as well as an early morning flight from Aberdeen. Iceland Express will also be serving passengers travelling between Gatwick and Reykjavik, while Virgin Atlantic revealed it will shortly be operating a second daily service to Washington from London Heathrow.

Special Offers
Jet2.com offers May bank holiday deal
Low-cost carrier Jet2.com is offering a special bank holiday weekend deal to Leeds, in conjunction with the city's two-day music event.

Lufthansa offers cheap flights to Europe
Book by midnight Tuesday April 22: Lufthansa is running a special promotion for flights to a selection of European cities.

Weekly news round-up

There have been plenty of special offers this week, with several airlines offering discounts to top destinations in the UK, Europe and around the world.

New routes have been announced by Aer Lingus, which will now fly direct from Belfast to Paris, easyJet, which has a new service from Jersey to Liverpool and Wizz Air, which is serving Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield with flights to Warsaw.

Special offers:
Virgin Atlantic offers sale fares to the Caribbean
Book by 10pm April 29: Virgin Atlantic is offering sale fares on return flights to the Caribbean.

easyJet discounts fares for April and May travel
Low-cost carrier easyJet is offering late deals on spring fares to various destinations in Europe.

Mobile phone use on European flights a step closer

The European Commission has given the go ahead to airlines to offer passengers the chance to use their mobile phones on-board aircraft.

The decision means that calls can be made on mobile phone during flights in European airspace, once aircraft have reached a height of 3,000 metres.

Last month the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom gave the green light to mobile phone use on flights operated by UK registered airlines, but this move by the European Commission will allow phone use during travel across member states.

Weekly news round-up

This week has been awash with special offers and new routes. Passengers have been able to take advantage of cheap flights to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific, Tokyo with Virgin Atlantic and Asia and the Middle East with Air France.

Those wishing to get away on discounted flights to Europe can also do so with bmi and Monarch, while British Airways is offering low-cost fares further afield to North America.

New routes have been announced by Aer Lingus, which will now fly direct from Belfast to Paris, easyJet, which has a new service from Jersey to Liverpool and Wizz Air, which is serving Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield with flights to Warsaw.

Special Offers
Monarch offers savings on getaway flights
Book by midnight April 1: Monarch is offering at least £20 off return flights as part of its £15 million sale.

bmi launches April offers
Book by April 7: bmi has launched special fares on various long- and short-haul flights from several UK airports.

Passengers confused at check-in, says Trading Standards

Airlines should make baggage limits and extra charges much clearer when people book flights online, according to the Trading Standards Institute (TSI).

A study undertaken by TSI officers at one airport found many sets of check-in scales were faulty, leading to customers being charged wrongly for 'excess' weight, while other practices were used by airlines to make money of passengers.

Bruce Treloar, TSI's national lead officer for holidays and travel, said: "Since February 2006, we have been raising concerns about the lack of transparency of flight pricing and the Office of Fair Trading last August announced it was taking action against 13 online airlines over misleading holiday pricing.

Gov minister: T5 passengers have experienced 'unacceptably poor travel’

The minister for aviation, Jim Fitzpatrick, has described the travelling experience of passengers at Terminal 5 as "unacceptably poor".

Speaking about the problems with luggage and cancelled flights that have occurred during the last few days, he told MPs that the public were not interested in who was to blame, "but rather in being properly treated when things go wrong".

Open Skies agreement comes into force

European airlines are set to benefit after a new agreement, which sees the lifting of 70-year-old restrictions on transatlantic travel, came into force yesterday (March 30).

The Open Skies agreement allows European and American airlines to operate services on any route between the US and Europe, meaning that many airlines will now be able to increase the number of flights and destinations that they offer.

Weekly news round-up

Another week of special offers and new routes has passed, with several airlines offering passengers the chance to escape this spring for less. Air Canada offered discounted getaways to Canada in April, May and June, while Ryanair extended its lowest fare guarantee into September. Flybe also offered flyers free tickets on flights to and from Dublin, in celebration of its two-year anniversary of the route from Norwich.

British Airways announced new services to Alicante, Gibraltar and Malta, among other destinations, and Bristol International revealed that preparations were underway for the launch of new daily services to Germany by airline Lufthansa, starting on March 31.

Special Offers
Ryanair extends lowest fare guarantee
Low-cost carrier Ryanair has extended its lowest fare guarantee to cover all bookings made up to and including September 30.

Air Canada offers discounted spring fares
Book by April 10: Air Canada is offering discounted fares to various destinations in Canada from London Heathrow.

Mobile phones on aircraft a step closer

Plans to enable UK registered aircraft to offer passengers the chance to use their mobile phones during flights have been approved by Ofcom.

The regulator said it had worked closely with other bodies in the EU to enable mobile phone use in European airspace.

The system works by passengers’ own mobile phone handsets connecting to an on-board base station, but these will be switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with mobile networks on the ground.

Weekly news round-up

It has been a good week for special offers, with major airlines offering cheap flights to Europe, Asia and Down Under. There were several new route announcements too, from the likes of bmi, Wizz Air, Ryanair and Flybe.

Special Offers
Aer Lingus launches April getaways to Europe
Irish national airline Aer Lingus has launched special fares to Europe as part of its "April getaways" deal.

Etihad Airways offers special fares to Beijing
Etihad Airways is offering discounted return fares to Beijing from London Heathrow and Manchester airports. Book online by Tuesday, March 25.

'Saga louts' advised to behave when on holiday

Older British travellers, so-called Saga louts, are being warned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to watch their drinking and ensure they are properly insured when overseas.

As part of its Know Before You Go campaign, the FCO is advising people to visit their GP at least six weeks before travelling, stressing this becomes more important if people feel unwell in the run-up to their trip.

Other tips include checking travel insurance policies to make sure cover extends to any planned experiences, being aware of local customs by reading up in advance and not to go for a swim after drinking or on a full stomach.

European court dismisses Aer Lingus' injunction against Ryanair

Ryanair has welcomed the European Court of First Instance's (CFI's) dismissal of Aer Lingus' request for an injunction against the airline.

Aer Lingus had asked to have Ryanair removed from its shareholder register, preventing the airline, which holds a 29 per cent stake in its smaller rival, from exercising its voting rights.

In a statement released yesterday (Wednesday, March 19), Ryanair said that the injunction request was an effort by Aer Lingus to force it to sell its minority shareholding.

"The European Commission had already decided on this issue and found that Ryanair has no control over Aer Lingus and it therefore cannot force Ryanair to sell its minority stake," said Jim Callaghan, Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs.

First passenger Airbus A380 to arrive today

© Airbus

The UK's first Airbus A380 used for passenger service is scheduled to fly into Heathrow Airport today (Tuesday, March 18).

The Singapore Airlines flight will be managed by British Airways, which is preparing for the delivery of its own fleet of 12 double-decker A380s from April 2012.

Virgin Atlantic has also ordered 13 A380s, to arrive in 2013.

Onboard Flight SQ308, due to arrive at Heathrow at 3.15pm, will be 470 passengers.

'Secret plans' to charge Heathrow drivers

Plans are being drawn up by airport operator BAA to charge Heathrow-bound drivers new dropping off fees of £20.

According to the Evening Standard, which claims to have seen "secret plans", this charge will be on top of the daily parking fee of £20. Lorries that use the roads around the airport could also be in for a £3 congestion charge.

The newspaper adds that the new charges would help towards the cost of a sixth terminal and a third runway, and would come into force in 2015.

Weekly news round-up

Several airlines launched special spring offers this week, including easyJet, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. Discounted fares to Europe are also now available from Flybe, KLM, Ryanair and Jet2.com.

New routes to the US were announced this week by Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus, and KLM, the Dutch airline.

Special Offers
easyJet offers March and April deals to Spain
Budget airline easyJet is offering late deals to Spain for travel in March and April.

Flybe launches massive spring sale
Budget airline Flybe is offering discounted single fares to destinations in the UK and Europe this spring.

Weekly news round-up

This week passengers were offered lots of opportunities to enjoy discounted flights to various worldwide destinations with Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air New Zealand and bmibaby providing cheap flights to places such as Australia, Bali and various European hotspots. A handful of new routes were also announced this week, with Flybe adding two new links from Dundee, as well as increasing its services from Southampton to Bergerac and from Aberdeen to Gatwick. Meanwhile, Manx2 launched a new service between the Isle of Man and East Midlands Airport.

Special offers
Cathay Pacific's discounted business class fares
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's leading airline, is inviting flyers to travel in style by offering special Business Class fares from London Heathrow to Australia and New Zealand.

Qantas offers low fares to Asia
Qantas is offering low-cost direct return flights from London Heathrow to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Bali.

London City Airport scoops Superbrand award

London City Airport has become the only airport to be ranked among the UK's top 500 brands by business leaders and professionals.

The hub was awarded the Business Superbrand accolade in recognition of its success in establishing a strong reputation and making an impact on the UK business sector.

With London City being the only airport to be ranked in the top 500, its chief executive Richard Gooding claimed that it was a sign of its popularity with business travellers.

Weekly news round-up

This week offered plenty of opportunities for discounted flights to Europe from airports around the UK, with Lufthansa, bmibaby and Aer Lingus all providing cheap getaways to the continent. There was big news for passengers living in and around Edinburgh, with Ryanair announcing a significant expansion in the number of routes it operates from the Scottish capital, while Aer Lingus increased its routes from both Belfast and Dublin. Meanwhile, bmibaby treated Manchester to two new sunshine routes and both Eastern Airways and Shaheen Air International increased the frequency on some of their most popular services.

Special offers
Virgin offers US economy fare sale
Book by March 12: Virgin Atlantic is offering a fresh set of discounted flights from the UK to destinations in the US.

Lufthansa discounts flights to Germany
Book by March 31: Lufthansa has discounted the cost of both one-way and return fares from the UK to destinations in Germany.

US pilots' support for BA protest may hit flights

A body representing the interests of 12,000 pilots working for American Airlines has come out in support of British Airways' pilots' opposition to the new Open Skies subsidiary airline.

Last week, BA pilots voted to take strike action in a dispute over working conditions at the new operation, though BA and the pilots are currently scheduled to hold conciliation talks on March 3.

However, the US Allied Pilots Association (APA) has now revealed its support for BA pilots' cause, leading to concerns about the potential affect that strike action by both sets of pilots could have on air travel between the UK and US.

Flight path changes proposed for southern England

Consultation plans have been published that would see major changes to the flight paths around some of the UK's busiest airports.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is to look into how aircraft operate around a region that covers a large part of London and southern and eastern England, an area with a population of 12 million people.

NATS is seeking feedback on its proposals before submitting then to the UK airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, who will then make a decision on if aircraft flight paths should be re-routed.

First-time adult passport application process changed

Anyone applying for an adult passport for the first time will have to go through a new application procedure, under changes introduced by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).

All applications for a first-time passport by over 16s who have not held their own passport as a child will now require an interview at one of 69 regional passport offices around the UK.

The changes have been introduced in an attempt to reduce identity fraud, with the 10-minute interviews requiring applicants to confirm facts about themselves that someone attempting identity theft would not know.

Irish air traffic strike set to hit flights

Flights to, from and across the Republic of Ireland look set to be hit next week by proposed industrial action from the country's air traffic controllers.

Talks relating to an overtime dispute broke down yesterday (February 20) between the Impact trade union and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), leading to the announcement of a 24-hour strike for next Thursday (February 28).

The industrial action would affect Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports, with the trade union criticising the IAA for not hiring enough air traffic controllers to cover staffing needs.

TAP tops lost baggage tables

TAP Air Portugal is the worst performing airline in Europe when it comes to baggage delays, with British Airways in second place, according to data from European airlines for 2007.

Figures published by the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) revealed that the Portuguese airline had a delayed bags ratio of 27.8 for every 1,000 passengers using its services.

BA recorded a ratio of 26.5, a decline in performance from 2006 when it delayed 23 bags for every 1,000 passengers.

Virgin and BA start processing claims

Passengers entitled to compensation from Virgin Atlantic and British Airways in the wake of the airlines' recent legal settlement can now register for their refunds.

The airlines have both agreed that any long-haul passenger who flew with them between August 11, 2004 and March 23, 2006 is entitled to a refund on their fuel surcharge after it was agreed that BA and Virgin colluded over price fixing (see BA and Virgin agree to pay passengers compensation).

UK passengers eligible for the refund can claim it back by registering via specially set up website www.airpassengerrefund.co.uk or by calling freephone 0800 043 0343.

Weekly news round-up

This week has seen plenty of opportunities for anyone looking to take a cheap long-haul break away from the UK, with both Virgin and American Airlines discounting flights to the US, while Air New Zealand reduced its fares for flights to Australia and New Zealand in the comfort of its Premium Economy cabin. Business class travellers look set to benefit from Eos Airlines' new routes from Stansted to Dubai and Newark, while, for those looking to stay a bit closer to home, Aer Lingus revealed plans to launch a Belfast to Paris service.

Special offers
Air New Zealand offers discounted Premium Economy flights
Book by March 5: Air New Zealand is offering discounted fares for its Premium Economy class cabin to destinations in both Australia and New Zealand.

Lufthansa announces special fares from Bristol base
Book by March 31: Lufthansa is celebrating the beginning of its operations at Bristol airport on March 30 with special fares for departures to a number of global destinations.

BA and Virgin agree to pay passengers compensation

Long-haul passengers who flew with Virgin Atlantic or British Airways between August 11, 2004 and March 23, 2006 will soon be entitled to compensation.

The airlines have settled a US class-action suit in which they were accused of colluding on the price-fixing of fuel surcharges.

As such, passengers who bought tickets from BA and Virgin during the aforementioned dates will be eligible for a refund of one-third of the fuel surcharge levied per ticket.

UK and Zambia enter air agreement

The UK has signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Zambia that will allow airlines from Europe and southern Africa unrestricted access to enter each other's markets.

Sara Sayifwanda, Zambia's minister of communication and transport, signed the agreement on behalf of her government, reports The Zambian Times.

She told the paper that it has taken both countries four years of consultations before they decided to sign the agreement.

Flights to Greece and France hit by strike action

Industrial action today is affecting flights to and from airports in both France and Greece.

A one day national strike is being held in Greece until 10pm today (February 13), halting all flights out of the country, and, as a result, British Airways and easyJet have issued advice for passengers flying into the country during the affected period.

BA has stated that flights both into and out of Athens and Thessaloniki have been cancelled and passengers have been offered the chance to rebook onto an alternative flight, with various options available on the airline's website www.britishairways.com.

Budget airlines 'not child-friendly'

A new survey has revealed that the majority of passengers do not view budget airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, as child-friendly.

The research, undertaken by guidebook publishers Rough Guides, indicated that just six per cent of respondents viewed Ryanair as the airline offering the best option for families with young members, while two per cent felt that way about easyJet.

Virgin Atlantic topped the poll, with 36 per cent voting it the most child-friendly airline, while British Airways came a close second with 32 per cent of the vote.

Weekly news round-up

This week saw plenty of opportunities for travellers looking to escape from the UK to warmer climes later this year, with Air France, Qantas and Etihad all offering discounted global flights, while British Airways' business class sale catered for those looking to travel in style. A number of new routes were launched this week, including a new easyJet service from East Midlands to Palma and Wizz Air's Luton to Wroclaw route, while Eastern announced plans to bring its Inverness to Birmingham flights to an end.

Special offers
BA discounts global business class fares
Book by March 4: British Airways has launched a range of discounted business class fares for flights from London Heathrow to destinations around the world.

Air France offers discounted global getaways
Book by February 29: Air France is offering a range of discounted fares to destinations in both Europe and further afield.

Qantas launches Australia and New Zealand flight sale
Book by March 3: Qantas has a range of sale fares for flights from the UK to destinations in Australia and New Zealand.

Airbus foresees demand for some 24,300 aircraft in the next 20 years

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has predicted a massive expansion in the number of jets serving passengers, claiming that 24,300 new passenger and freighter aircraft will be needed between now and 2026.

The greatest demand for passenger aircraft will be from the Asia-Pacific region, which will account for 31 per cent of the total world demand for aircraft.

But Airbus also predicts that increasing population figures and growth in the number of the world’s mega-cities will inevitably lead to an even greater local concentration of demand.

First flight for Airbus A380 on alternative fuel

An Airbus A380 super jumbo made a successful test flight using a liquid fuel processed from gas, as the industry looks to source alternative fuel sources.

The flight from Filton, near Bristol, to Toulouse, the home of the A380, lasted three hours and saw one of the jet's engines fed with a blend of gas to liquids (GTL) fuel mixed with regular jet fuel, whilst the remaining three were fed with standard jet fuel.

Airbus worked alongside Shell, who provided the GTL fuel, to test the effectiveness of the fuel on the double decker jet as it features segregated fuel tanks.

Clean Sky project takes off

Aviation industry leaders have joined representatives of the European Union to create the Clean Sky project, which aims to produce more environmentally friendly aircraft.

With an estimated budget of €1.6bn (£1.2bn) companies such as Airbus, Saab and Rolls Royce will work with the EU in an attempt to speed up new developments so they can be used day-to-day situations quicker.

Tom Enders, Airbus president and CEO, said: "The environmental challenges facing aviation today are global and will require multinational and collaboration for the best solutions. Innovation, alternative fuels, research and technology are some key enablers and air traffic management is another."

Plans for a 4,000mph passenger jet unveiled

A UK firm has designed a hypersonic passenger plane that could, in the future, transport passengers between Europe and Australia in under five hours.

The A2 was developed by Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines. The company claims that the plane could carry 300 passengers at 4,000 miles per hour.

Support for the project was provided by the European Space Agency, with its developers claiming it is capable of sustaining a speed twice as fast as that of Concorde.

Alan Bond, a senior engineer and managing director at the company, told The Guardian: "The A2 is designed to leave Brussels international airport, fly quietly and subsonically out into the north Atlantic at mach 0.9 before reaching mach 5 across the North Pole and heading over the Pacific to Australia.

Recession ahead? Tips for a cheaper holiday...

If recent newspaper headlines about spiralling debt, falling house prices and stockmarket crashes have left your head spinning, we have the perfect cure for your financial hangover...

Take a break
The credit crunch might be in full swing but that doesn’t mean our all-important holidays have to bear the brunt. In fact, getting away from it all could actually be healthier for your finances than you think. The cost of air travel is more competitive than ever and the current value of the British pound against the dollar is still very strong, meaning that you can get more for your money abroad. And don’t forget all of those duty free savings to be found at the airport.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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).

Weekly news round-up

This week has seen several airlines offering special discounts for bookings made during January. Air Canada, bmi and KLM have sale fares for long-haul journeys, while Jet2.com is making travel in the UK cheaper.

Special offers
Air Canada offers New Year seat sale to US
Book by January 31: Air Canada is offering discounted fares to a range of US destinations from London Heathrow.

Jet2 launches half-price London to Newcastle flights
Jet2.com has announced reductions of up to 50 per cent on fares for its service between London Gatwick and Newcastle.

Kenya travel ban extended

The current suspension of holidays and charter flights to Kenya has been extended until next week.

Following advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) has announced that the charter travel ban will now affect all departures from the UK up to and including Monday, January 21.

In the wake of the continued suspension, caused by political unrest in the African nation, the FTO has advised that alternative holidays will be offered to travellers where available.

If this is not the case then the organisation has advised that refunds should be made.

Boeing Superjet delayed again

Passengers will have to wait a little longer than expected to fly in the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, after the plane's manufacturer yesterday (January 16) admitted that the first one would not be in operation until early next year.

The company had previously hoped to fulfil initial orders for new planes before the end of 2008, with Japan's All Nippon Airways scheduled to receive the Dreamliner first.

However, yesterday's announcement means the launch of the plane has been put back by a total of ten months from its initial completion date, and Boeing admitted it is now under the spotlight.

Government announces price capping changes

A government decision on price-capping regulation at Manchester and London Stansted airports has been welcomed as a boost for competition and passenger choice.

Until now, both airports' ability to impose charges on airlines for use of their facilities has been capped by the independent regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

However, transport secretary Ruth Kelly today (January 15) announced that Manchester was to be de-designated from regulation by the CAA, citing the growth of nearby airports as the driving factor behind the move.

Shaheen Air launches new direct service to Pakistan from Leeds Bradford

Shaheen Air has announced plans to operate a new direct service between Leeds Bradford Airport and the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The non-stop flights will depart twice-weekly from the Yorkshire hub, with the new route set to launch on February 7.

Bookings are available now, with fares from £460 return (including taxes). The airline said that they would prove popular among the Pakistani community living nearby.

Air France and KLM increase fuel surcharge

Air France and KLM have both announced that they will increase their fuel surcharge.

Recent increases in fuel costs have pushed the price of oil above $100 a barrel, putting pressure on airlines.

Both airlines will raise their fuel surcharge by €2 (£1.50) per flight on European flights, and by €8 (£6) on long-haul flights. This will bring the charge up to €29 (£22) for flights within Europe, and to €88 (£66) for intercontinental flights.

Plans put forward to extend Scottish Air Discount Scheme

Discussions are to take place between the Scottish Government and the European Commission to extend the Air Discount Scheme (ADS), which provides subsidised flights for residents of the Highlands and Islands.

The Air Discount Scheme gives residents of Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland a 40 per cent discount on the price of core air fares.

And the first steps have been taken to extend the current scheme as Scottish Ministers are keen to see the ADS run until at least 2011, the current agreement ends in March.

Holiday Which? criticises low-cost airline extras

A new report from consumer champion Holiday Which? has criticised the ever-increasing "extras" charged by low-cost airlines. The report shows that the price of a cheap flight can increase by up to £28 once all the add-ons have been paid for.

The report details different charges added on to the basic cost of flights by various low-cost airlines. Ryanair charges £20 for check-in baggage and £4 to use the check-in desk. People with just carry-on bags can check themselves in online, but those wanting to put a bag in the hold must pay both of these charges.

Monarch and bmibaby also charge £20 for check-in luggage. Flybe charges £18 and easyJet charges £10.

However, easyJet charges a huge £15 for priority boarding - a service that allows people to choose better seats with more legroom, for example. Ryanair charges £4 for this.

One bag rule relaxed but some confusion remains

The one bag rule prohibiting passengers from taking on board more than one piece of hand luggage was relaxed today (January 7), although this has led to confusion as rules vary depending on airline.

Many airports around the UK can now let travellers take extra bags with them into the cabin, but some airlines are keeping the one bag rule in place despite the security relaxation.

The airports allowing two pieces of hand baggage are Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Southampton, Southend and Stansted, as well as the major Scottish airports.

However, the rule will remain in force at hubs such as Bristol, Luton and Gatwick.

Weekly news round-up

Discounted ski deals and cheaper tickets to far-flung destinations - what more can you ask for to dispel the post-Christmas blues? Bmi and Virgin Atlantic have both announced worldwide fare sales - example prices include London to New York for £270 return. Separately, airports around the UK are getting ready to lift restrictions on how much hand luggage passengers can take on flights. The new, more lenient measures will take effect from Monday (January 7) - but make sure you double check the rules with your airline before you fly.

Special offers
EasyJet ski deals available for heavy New Year snowfall
EasyJet is offering discounted flights to Europe's ski resorts for those looking to take advantage of the heavy snow forecast for later this week across much of the continent.

Bmi's big worldwide sale
Book by January 13: bmi is offering its "biggest ever sale", with discounted flights available on routes within the UK, to European destinations and even further afield.

Airlines react to hand baggage rule changes

UK airlines have begun to react to the recently announced changes to Department for Transport (DfT) rules regarding carrying hand baggage onto flights.

Following the DfT giving the go-ahead for 19 airports around the UK to allow passengers to carry more than one item of hand luggage onto flights, bmi has amended its procedures.

From January 7, the airline will allow passengers in business and premium economy cabins to take two pieces of cabin baggage on board, while those flying in economy class can take one.

Hand baggage restriction set to be lifted at selected UK airports

Passengers travelling from a number of UK airports are set to benefit from the lifting of restrictions limiting hand baggage to one item per person.

Nineteen airports around Britain have been given approval by the Department for Transport (DfT) to make the change, which will come into effect next Monday (January 7).

However, the government department has warned that the ultimate decision over the number of hand baggage items permitted now lies with individual airlines, and passengers should check before travelling.

Weekly news round-up

The post-Christmas sales are in full swing, and that includes airlines. British Airways, Ryanair and Flyglobespan have all launched wide-reaching special offers for those wanting to escape the dismal British winter weather. Meanwhile, BA's ban on surfboards appears to have some serious opposition in the form of nearly 60 MPs who have signed an early day motion to try to get the policy scrapped.

Special offers
British Airways launches January sale
Book by January 22: Now is a good time to book a flight with British Airways - the airline has launched an extensive fare sale across its route network.

Passengers stranded at Heathrow as fog grounds flights

More than 1,000 passengers found themselves stranded at Heathrow Airport last night (December 23), as fog grounded some 140 flights.

The airport has also cancelled 29 flights today, and some services from London City and Gatwick have also been suspended, the BBC reports. However, the situation is expected to improve quickly and a repetition of last year's extended disruption by fog is not likely.

There are minor delays at Stansted, but at other airports around the country flights are largely leaving on time.

Nevertheless, passengers should check with their airline for the latest information before they set out for the airport.

Weekly news round-up

This week has been a busy one for special offers and new routes. Long-haul tickets will cost less if you book them soon with Virgin Atlantic and Qantas (to dream destinations such as Japan and Australia), and new services for next year include Manchester to Milan, London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale and Bristol to Stockholm. There is some bad news however, an airport strike threatens to upset the travel plans of many holidaymakers in January.

Special offers
Virgin offers December deal to Tokyo
Book by December 31: Virgin Atlantic is offering a special deal for passengers looking to fly to Japan early next year.

More flights and price deals from Isle of Man airlines
Travellers looking for tickets from the Isle of Man are set to benefit from the island's two local airlines cutting prices and increasing the frequency of flights.

Aviation industry in EU emissions trading scheme

Carbon emissions quotas will be levied on airlines following an agreement between EU ministers. The system will force airlines to meet limits on the amount of carbon dioxide they produce either by cutting their emissions or by buying credits from other industries.

The trade body representing airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), recently said it did not expect the plans to work and US representatives are already threatening legal challenges, claiming that a global solution is the only way forward.

Stavros Dimas, the EU's Environment Commissioner, said airlines would be included in the EU emissions trading scheme from 2012, and that the cap on emissions would be set at the average level from 2004-2006.

Airport workers vote for strike action

Workers at seven UK airports, including London Heathrow and Gatwick, have voted in favour of strike action in January.

Members of the Unite union are set to stage industrial action over proposed changes to their pension rights by the airports' owner BAA, with two 24-hour walk-outs scheduled for January 7 and 14 and a further 48-hour strike starting on January 17.

The strike action will affect services at Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Stansted, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.

"We continue to believe that industrial action is unnecessary, as none of our existing employees will be affected by the changes to our pension arrangements," a BAA spokesman said.

Airmiles introduces all-inclusive fares

Airmiles, the travel rewards scheme has introduced all-inclusive fares that will incorporate taxes, fees and charges for the first time.

This means that passengers will no longer have to pay extras on top when they redeem Airmiles for flights with British Airways and other scheduled airlines.

The change was made following feedback from thousands of Airmiles customers, who said that this was what they'd like to see most. It was also found that many customers find airline loyalty schemes confusing, and this move will help.

As well as this, Airmiles has added an innovative new map to its website. It splits the world into seven concentric geographical zones, showing exactly how many Airmiles passengers need to collect in order to travel to various destinations.

Festive flurry of passengers at local airports

Regional airports across the UK are anticipating an increase in the number of people looking to get away over the festive period.

Durham Tees Valley Airport is expecting 13,000 people to pass through its doors over Christmas and New Year, with Flyglobespan flights to sunnier climes such as Alicante and Malaga proving particularly popular.

At the same time, East Midlands Airport staff are anticipating as many as 170,000 passengers at the hub over the two-week festive period, representing a 13 per cent increase on last year's figure.

"Christmas and New Year has always been a popular time of the year to escape the cold winter weather and see friends and family," said Penny Coates, the airport's managing director.

ABTA: Colombia and China to be among 2008 hotspots

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has predicted that Colombia and China will be among next year's must-see destinations.

Colombia, although rarely visited by Britons, is likely to feature more on travel itineraries in 2008, partly because of the government's increased investment in tourism, and partly because of the release of Mike Newell's film Love in the Time of Cholera. Based on the classic novel by Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the movie was filmed in Cartagena, often cited as the most beautiful city in South America.

China will also be a 2008 hotspot, the group predicts. Not only has the recent British Museum exhibition of Terracotta Warriors whetted the public's appetite for the Far East nation, but more importantly the 2008 Olympics will encourage many sports fans to sample the delights of Beijing.

Defra publishes airport noise maps

Maps have been issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) showing environmental noise around 18 major airports in England.

The mapping, carried out during 2006-07 was based on the EU's Environmental Noise Directive, and provides details of daytime and night time noise levels at each airport as well as noise levels around each site on an average day in 2006.

The airports covered include Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as regional airports including Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands.

Thomas Cook increases legroom on long-haul flights

Travel operator Thomas Cook has announced that it will increase the amount of legroom for Economy-Class passengers on long-haul flights next year.

From May 2008, passengers flying with Thomas Cook Airlines will have a seat pitch of 33 inches, up from 30 inches, giving them more room to stretch out.

This will also include MyTravel Airways flights, as the airline will become part of Thomas Cook Airlines next March.

A recent poll by travel website TripAdvisor found that legroom was the thing that passengers valued most on flights, and that most would be willing to pay a little extra to get a bit more space (see: Legroom and clean bathrooms most important to flyers).

Insure against holiday problems advises the CAA

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is advising travellers who book summer holiday deals themselves to make sure they are properly protected should individual providers of services go bankrupt.

The CAA oversees the ATOL insurance scheme, which applies to flights bought as part of a package deal, but warns this protection does not apply to all air holidays, such as ‘DIY’ packages put together by people themselves, so holidaymakers should not assume they are covered.

Richard Jackson, director of the CAA’s Consumer Protection Group, said: "When you buy an air holiday package from an ATOL tour operator, you can be sure of a high level of financial protection.

New passenger flight lands on Antarctic ice

An Airbus A319 passenger aircraft has made a historic landing in the Antarctic, on an ice runway.

Having set off from Hobart in Tasmania, the plane touched down on the Wilkins Runway in Australian Antarctic territory, and now a permanent air link will be established.

It will be operated by the Australian Antarctic air service and used by scientists and research staff, who will be able to reach the frozen continent in a matter of hours, instead of the ten days or more that it takes by sea.

Lords report calls for more seat space on planes

A new influential repo