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Airports News Archive

Tourism group wants more flights to Scotland

Tourism group wants more flights to ScotlandEdinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport and other Scottish hubs could be handling more flights in the future after VisitScotland called on the government to enable more direct services to and from Scotland.

Speaking to members of the Scottish parliament, VisitScotland chief executive Philip Riddle called for the reinstatement of the Route Development Fund, which was operated by the previous executive but discontinued, the Press and Journal reports.

The fund was originally set up to encourage growth in the number of flights in and out of Scotland.
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Annual holidays 'a necessity for many'

Annual holidays 'a necessity for many'The annual holiday that used to be seen as a luxury is now considered a necessity for many British holidaymakers, according to a travel industry spokesman.

US research carried out by Kayak.com in April this year found that 79 per cent of travellers had altered holiday plans as a result of financial problems.

The troubles in the US economy have had knock-on effects in the UK and people are expected to cut back on spending over the coming months.
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'Variety of destinations' popular for package holidays

'Variety of destinations' popular for package holidaysA range of different destinations are proving popular with people taking package holidays, a tour operator has claimed.

According to First Choice, customers are still showing a liking for mainstream destinations such as Spain, but are also becoming interested in more adventurous long-haul travel locations.

"Demand for package holidays is strong both for 'traditional' destinations such as Spain, Cyprus and Egypt, and for…long-haul destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba," a spokeswoman for the company said.
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More Brits jet to US in January

More Brits jet to US in JanuaryThere was an increase in the number of British people hopping on flights to the United States in January, according to government figures.

America's department of commerce revealed that arrivals from the UK were six per cent higher in January 2008 than in the previous year, following strong growth in 2007.

Flights to the US are available from a number of UK hubs, including Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport, all of which offer hotels and airport parking facilities.
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Monarch unveils winter schedule

Monarch unveils winter scheduleLow-fares airline Monarch has unveiled its winter schedule, with new services for people already planning to get away from the cold British weather.

The programme will offer some 1.75 million seats from hubs including Gatwick Airport, Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport.

The first services announced by Monarch were services to Larnaca in Cyprus from Gatwick and Manchester, with up to three flights a week from both airports.
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Web 'more convenient than travel agents'

Web 'more convenient than travel agents'The internet is beginning to overshadow high street travel agents as a method of booking holidays as it offers more convenience to customers, it has been claimed.

Kate Shipp, researcher for Which? Holiday, said that holidaymakers take advantage of the fact that the internet enables them to book airport hotels, flights and every other element of their trip quickly and easily.

"You can do everything without having to leave your desk or your office. And it's also about being able to compare things quickly on price and choice," she said.
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UK destinations 'in demand for bank holiday'

UK destinations 'in demand for bank holiday'Brits are showing a preference for staying on home soil this spring as tight financial conditions lead to an increase in the popularity of affordable short breaks, according to Flybe.

The low-cost regional airline said that passenger numbers for the coming holiday period are up by 19.5 per cent on the previous year.

Flybe's most popular route of all for the May bank holiday is its connection between Belfast City and Manchester Airport.
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Oil costs 'could cause airfares to fall'

Oil costs 'could cause airfares to fall'Rising oil costs could benefit air passengers in the form of lower fares, an aviation industry expert has claimed.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at the Air Transport Users Council, explained that the rising cost of oil means that carriers will be eager to make the most of their fuel stocks by filling their planes as much as possible.

They could therefore cut their fares to ensure that they are filling as many seats and operating as efficiently as possible.
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UK airports to offer cruise connections

UK airports to offer cruise connectionsFour UK airports are set to offer flights to provide connections to cruises offered by Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines.

The company is set to offer trips from Rome's Civitavecchia port from May 1st, using the 1,340-passenger Balmoral, Travelmole reports.

Flights to connect with the cruise services will be available from Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport in London, as well as Manchester Airport and Bristol Airport.
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Travellers pointed to long-haul destinations

Travellers pointed to long-haul destinationsHolidaymakers looking for a location that will offer maximum affordability this year have been advised to consider long-haul trips.

According to the Post Office 2008 holiday costs barometer, the cheapest international destinations this year will be Thailand, South Africa and Egypt, with holidays in the eurozone set to be more expensive following recent shifts in the exchange rate.

A selection of ten holiday commodities, including drinks and meals out, is estimated to cost £28.58 in Thailand, less than a third of the cost of equivalent items in Australia and half the price of the eurozone.
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UK airports improve punctuality

UK airports improve punctualityPunctuality improved at ten of the UK's major airports in the final quarter of 2007, according to the latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The statistics revealed that the proportion of flights that left within 15 minutes of their planned departure time increased by one per cent between the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2007.

All monitored locations, including Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport, saw an increase in the proportion of scheduled flights operating on time, with the exception of Heathrow and London City.
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Business travel 'still popular despite economic issues'

Business travel 'still popular despite economic issues'Business travellers are still planning on making use of flight routes out of the UK this year, despite the economic problems that many industries appear to be facing.

A Barclaycard Business travel survey found that, despite recent fears about an economic slowdown, 44 per cent of corporate customers travelled more in 2007 than in the previous year.

Some 33 per cent of the 3,000 people polled by Barclaycard said they plan to travel more this year than they did in 2007.
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New air routes boost tourism in Israel

New air routes boost tourism in IsraelThe Israeli Tourist Office has announced rising tourism figures in the first two months of 2008 and partially attributed the success to new air routes into the country.

Some 380,760 people visited Israel in January and February, which represented an increase of more than 50 per cent on the same period of last year.

British travellers in particular have shown a rising interest in Israel, with 23,936 visitors in the first two months of the year, 18 per cent more than in the same period in 2007.
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Many travellers 'not interested in exploring'

Many travellers 'not interested in exploring'The majority of British people on package holidays are more interested in relaxing in their resort than exploring the area that they are visiting, according to a new survey.

Research by Halifax found that all-inclusive package trips are still popular in the UK, with one in ten Britons taking a holiday of this type to an exotic location every year.

However, these travellers reportedly spend an average of just seven hours outside their hotel complex during their holiday, meaning that three-quarters of holidaymakers never make any effort to speak the local language.
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Munich to celebrate 850th birthday

Munich to celebrate 850th birthdayMany travellers from the UK will be heading to the German city of Munich this year to take part in its 850th birthday celebrations.

A broad spectrum of events will be included in the festivities, all of which will be themed under the topic of building bridges between different eras and sections of society.

The Town Foundation festival will get the celebrations underway on June 14th and 15th, with exhibitions and other activities taking place in Marienplatz, Stachus and Odeonsplatz.
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BAA hubs handle 12m people in March

BAA hubs handle 12m people in MarchUK airports operated by BAA handled a total of 12 million passengers in March, 1.2 per cent more than in the same month of last year.

This increase was recorded despite a number of cancellations at Heathrow Airport, caused by strong winds on March 10th and 12th and the opening of Terminal 5 at the end of the month.

European scheduled traffic increased by three per cent last month, while North Atlantic services (0.8 per cent) and other long-haul routes (1.9 per cent) also saw more passengers.
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Prepaid cards 'the way forward for holiday spending'

Prepaid cards 'the way forward for holiday spending'Prepaid debit cards are set to become the future of holiday spending, according to a financial expert.

These products allow customers to load a certain amount of foreign currency onto their card, which can then be withdrawn from cash machines or used for transactions in foreign countries.

Prepaid cards are thought to be more efficient than traveller's cheques and more financially advisable than the ordinary method of exchanging currencies.
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Eastern Airways boosts UK services

Eastern Airways boosts UK servicesEastern Airways will launch a number of developments to its UK network on April 7th which it expects to prove useful to business travellers.

From Leeds/Bradford Airport, the regional carrier will increase flights to both Southampton and Aberdeen from three to four services a day.

The Eastern Airways connection between Newcastle and Cardiff Airport will rise from two to three flights a day, while an extra daily service will take passengers from Manchester Airport to Stansted Airport, between Monday and Thursday.
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Plans approved for mobile use on planes

Plans approved for mobile use on planesCommunications watchdog Ofcom has given its backing to plans to enable airlines to offer mobile phone use on planes.

Mobiles are currently banned on aircraft and the only way for passengers to speak to people on the ground is by using airlines' own communication networks.

However, new plans could allow travellers to connect their phones to an onboard base station, which could be used when the plane reaches a minimum altitude of 3,000 metres.
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Air travel 'will not compromise UK emissions targets'

Air travel 'will not compromise UK emissions targets'An aviation expert has challenged the suggestion that an expanding air travel industry will prevent the UK from achieving its targets for cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

Neil Pakey, chairman of the Airport Operators' Association (AOA) disagreed with campaigners that accuse the aviation industry of compromising attempts to meet environmental targets.

He also argued that the sector has adopted a number of approaches to mitigate its impact on the environment.
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Two million 'to head overseas this weekend'

Two million 'to head overseas this weekend'Some two million people are set to leave Britain over the coming days for the unusually early Easter holiday period, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).

Spain is set to be the most popular destination, with holidaymakers expected to head to Tenerife in particular, along with Egypt, Morocco and Florida.

The early date of Easter this year means that it will coincide with the ski season, with many people set to travel to France, Austria and Canada, as well as less mainstream destinations such as Finland.
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More than 240m through UK airports in '07

More than 240m through UK airports in '07Some 241 million passengers used UK airports in 2007, according to the latest figures.

This represents an increase of 2.4 per cent on 2006, the Civil Aviation Authority statistics reveal, which is slower than the rate of growth seen over the last decade.

There were a total of 2.5 million takeoffs and landings at UK airports last year, 1.8 per cent more than in 2006, with a 2.6 per cent increase in movements recorded at London airports alone.
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BAA airports see 10.2m passengers in February

BAA airports see 10.2m passengers in FebruaryAirports run by BAA handled 10.2 million passengers in February, the operator has announced.

This represented a 3.5 per cent increase on last year, although the fact that 2008 is a leap year had a distorting influence on the compared figures.

Adjusting for this effect, Edinburgh Airport was among the best performers in February, with a 3.9 per cent year-on-year passenger increase, followed by Gatwick Airport (3.4 per cent).
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New record for US tourism in '07

New record for US tourism in '07The United States tourism industry broke all previous records in 2007, the country's government has announced.

More than 56 million people jetted off to America last year, pumping $122 billion (£60.3 billion) into the country's economy.

This number of visitors represented an increase of 11 per cent on 2006 and broke the previous record of 51.2 million tourists, set in 2000.
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Brits 'enjoying long-haul short breaks'

Brits 'enjoying long-haul short breaks'British travellers are showing a growing preference for short breaks in long-haul destinations, according to research.

A study by Halifax Travel Insurance found that more than 3.7 million Brits flew over 5.5 billion air miles for short trips in long-haul destinations in the past year.

These travellers all took flights that lasted at least seven hours for a holiday of less than one week, according to the research.
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Tourism 'worth $15 trillion in 10 years'

Tourism 'worth $15 trillion in 10 years'The global tourism industry is expected to grow at such a rate that it is worth $15 trillion (£7.5 trillion) by 2018, according to a new report.

Research by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) found that the industry is set to generate close to $8 trillion this year.

Figures for the coming season reflect something of a downturn in growth, to three per cent compared to 3.9 per cent last year.
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Environment 'still secondary to price'

Environment 'still secondary to price'A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has claimed that, while the environment is considered important by the majority of holidaymakers, it is still secondary to price.

Companies with sustainable policies have an advantage in terms of their appeal to eco-friendly tourists, Sean Tipton of Abta claimed, but they are perceived by many people as being more costly than other companies.

"The main consideration people have when booking a holiday is the price – sustainable tourism is seen as more expensive," Mr Tipton said.
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Couples 'spending more than ever on honeymoons'

Couples 'spending more than ever on honeymoons'Newly-married couples are spending more than ever as they jet off on their honeymoon to ensure that they have the trip of a lifetime, according to research.

A poll by insurance company esure found that the average couple today spends more than £1,600 on their post-wedding trip, compared to less than £600 in the late-1980s.

The cost of the honeymoon itself is accompanied by the £615 spending money that the typical newlywed couple takes on a holiday, according to the survey.
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Research local customs, tourists advised

Research local customs, tourists advisedPeople looking forward to jetting off to some far-flung country this year have been advised to do some research on local cultures and customs before their trip.

According to a report from Holiday Which? magazine, behaviour that seems prosaic to British people can sometimes be considered strange and insulting abroad.

In Nepal, for example, visitors are advised against taking pictures of local people as it is believed that this takes away part of the soul.
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Aer Arann to serve 'Craggy Island' from UK airports

Aer Arann to serve 'Craggy Island' from UK airportsAer Arann has announced that it will be carrying passengers to 'Craggy Island', the location of comedy show Father Ted, for the official Ted Fest event this month.

The airline will provide services from hubs including Manchester Airport, Newcastle Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

Two locations will host the festival, starting with the inland Ireland town of Kilfenora, which will welcome visitors between February 25th and 27th.
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Popular Croatia 'easily accessible from UK'

Popular Croatia 'easily accessible from UK'Croatia is enjoying rising popularity among British travellers, partly as a result of the access available from a number of UK airports, an expert has claimed.

Flights to Croatia are currently available from Gatwick Airport, Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport and others, with carriers including British Airways and Croatia Airlines.

According to a spokesman for the Croatian National Tourist Office, the exposure that the country has enjoyed in the press has also contributed to its boom in popularity.
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MP suggests tea trolleys at UK airports

MP suggests tea trolleys at UK airportsA member of parliament has made a suggestion for improving the airport experience in the UK – the introduction of tea trolley services.

The idea was suggested to Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, by Mark Price, the managing director of Waitrose, the Times reports.

Mr Fabricant told the newspaper: "I have travelled quite widely and I don't think that any country offers this. It would be a world first."
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Tourism figures near 900m in 2007

Tourism figures near 900m in 2007Some 898 million people embarked on trips around the world in 2007, according to the latest figures released by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

This number of international tourist arrivals is an increase of 52 million, or six per cent, on the level recorded in 2006.

Europe continued to be the world's largest region in tourism terms, with its 480 million visitors representing a share of more than 50 per cent of the worldwide travel market.
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Green concerns 'influencing travel decisions'

Green concerns 'influencing travel decisions'Growing concern over the environment and the impact that air travel has on the world is exerting a growing influence on travellers' holiday decisions, according to the director of a trade association.

Peter Hampson of the British Seaside Resorts and Destinations Association (Brada) said that, while ecological issues are not preventing people from travelling, they are entering into the decision-making process.

Symptomatic of this trend is the fact that a number of products are now being advertised on the basis of their environmental friendliness, Mr Hampson explained.
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Modern travellers 'looking for adventure'

Modern travellers 'looking for adventure'An appetite for adventure and long-haul travel is set to define the holiday market this year, according to an industry researcher.

Claire Lilley, head of research at Holiday Which?, said that the continual growth of the travel sector has led to an exploratory attitude towards holidays among many people.

Analysts have claimed that the market is now "an experience economy", Ms Lilley claimed.
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Canada looks to attract more London visitors

Canada looks to attract more London visitorsCanada is hoping to attract more visitors from London and is launching a promotional campaign to boost its exposure in the city, reports claim.

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has begun a marketing drive that will be spearheaded by a 'Canada dome' in Canary Wharf, according to Travelmole.

Inside the structure, visitors will be offered an interactive experience including the sights and sounds associated with a trip to Canada.
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Domestic flights 'competing with rail services'

Domestic flights 'competing with rail services'Decreasing air fares and expanding domestic flight networks have enabled carriers to begin to compete with rail operators, according to the UK's consumer council for air travellers.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at the Air Transport Users Council (AUC), said that the increase in domestic flights over the past ten years has been "massive".

Only British Airways and bmi operated domestic networks ten years ago, but now there are low-fares airlines such as Flybe and easyJet offering a range of services within the UK, the AUC spokesman said.
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Tirol Tourist Board welcomes 'easy access' from UK

Tirol Tourist Board welcomes 'easy access' from UKThe Tirol Tourist Board has welcomed the fact that the Austrian skiing hotspot is now "easily accessible" for travellers from the UK.

Three new routes to the provincial capital of Innsbruck were launched by easyJet this winter from Gatwick Airport, Liverpool Airport and Bristol Airport.

The Liverpool connection commenced on January 8th, while the Gatwick and Bristol routes started in December.
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Spain attracts close to 60m visitors in 2007

Spain attracts close to 60m visitors in 2007Spain continued to be one of the world's foremost travel destinations last year, with some 59.7 million visitors.

Figures released by tourism trade body Exceltur show that the number of foreign visitors increased by 2.2 per cent in comparison with the previous year.

The ongoing expansion of low-cost airlines was thought to be one of the major contributors to the growth, as well as the rising popularity of the city breaks market.
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Record numbers visit New York in 2007

Record numbers visit New York in 2007A record number of people jetted off to New York in 2007, according to estimates from the city's tourism office.

Some 46 million tourists are thought to have visited the city last year, compared to 43.8 million in 2006.

The bulk of the market was accounted for by visitors from within the US, with only 8.5 million people taking holidays in New York last year thought to be foreign visitors.
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Belgrade 'an emerging city break spot'

Belgrade 'an emerging city break spot'Belgrade is one of the emerging destinations within the city break market, according to the organisers of a travel show.

In June this year Reed Travel Exhibitions will host the City Break show in Belgrade, giving city and regional tourist boards the opportunity to meet specialist operators in a commercial environment.

Last year, some 414,684 travellers jetted off to the Serbian capital, an increase of 50 per cent on 2006.
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Bmi regional wins punctuality award

Bmi regional wins punctuality awardBmi regional has celebrated being named the most punctual airline in the UK for the first nine months of 2007.

According to statistics published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 91 per cent of the airline's flights took off within 15 minutes of their planned departure time between January and September last year.

Delays on flights offered by bmi regional, which operates out of local hubs including Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh, Glasgow Airport and Leeds/Bradford, averaged six minutes.
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City break travellers 'getting more adventurous'

City break travellers 'getting more adventurous'As Valentine's Day approaches the city break market will be rising in popularity as couples look for a romantic getaway, according to a spokesman for the travel industry.

The "old favourites" of Paris, Rome and Venice are expected to attract plenty of visitors as usual this year, according to a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO).

However, many experienced travellers are showing more adventurousness in their holiday choices and are opting for some unusual locations for city breaks, the spokesman claimed.
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Busy winter 'a result of poor summer'

Busy winter 'a result of poor summer'The winter of 2007-08 is set to emerge as a particularly strong period for travel, partly as a result of the disappointing weather experienced in the UK last summer, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).

A spokesman for the group said that many people who had planned a summer holiday in the UK but were disappointed by the weather decided to take a trip during the winter.

Winter bookings in 2007-08 reached 3.5 million, according to Abta representative Sean Tipton, compared to three million the previous year.
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Nearly 12m 'to book holidays in 2 months'

Nearly 12m 'to book holidays in 2 months'Nearly 12 million people are set to book holidays in the two months between Christmas and the end of February, according to research.

Almost a quarter of these trips away were booked in the first week after December 25th as people looked to erase their post-Christmas blues, the Sainsbury's Bank study suggests.

The average holiday booker will spend around £655 on their trip, although up to 14 per cent intend to spend over £1,000 per person.
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All airport strikes cancelled

All airport strikes cancelledPeople travelling from BAA airports this month, including Heathrow Airport, Gatwick and Edinburgh Airport, should be able to do so without disruption after planned worker strikes were called off.

BAA employees voted in December to take industrial action on January 7th, 14th and 17th over a dispute regarding the company's final salary pension scheme.

Talks last month led to the cancellation of the first date for industrial action and further discussions on January 3rd led to the abandonment of plans for the remaining strikes.
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First airport strike averted

First airport strike avertedThe first round of strike action that had been planned by employees of airport operator BAA has been averted, according to reports.

Members of the Unite union had planned to take industrial action on January 7th, 14th and 17th over a dispute with the airport operator regarding the closure of its final salary pension scheme to new members.

This had sparked fears of massive disruptions to the travel network across the UK.
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Xmas and new year 'to see record traveller numbers'

Xmas and new year 'to see record traveller numbers'Record numbers of Brits are expected to jet off to holiday destinations all over the world during the Christmas and new year period.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), some 3.5 million people will head overseas between December 21st and January 2nd, in search of guaranteed sunshine and snow.

The former weather type is expected to be the biggest lure, with the hotspots of the Canary Islands, Egypt and Goa set to top the list of desirable destinations.
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Abta: 2008 will be a great year to travel

Abta: 2008 will be a great year to travelThe Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has claimed that 2008 will be "a great year to travel", with a number of social and cultural factors influencing people's holiday decisions.

Colombia will be "back on the map of must-see destinations" as a result of Love in the Time of Cholera, a film based in the city of Cartagena, according to Abta.

Another movie, The Cup, starring Pierce Brosnan and Nicole Kidman, is expected to augment British travellers' desire to visit Australia, while TV show The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency will boost the exposure of Botswana.
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Travellers 'eager to get away over Xmas'

Travellers 'eager to get away over Xmas'Regular holidaymakers are so eager to escape the stress of Christmas at home that they would rather spend the holiday in a foreign hotel than visit their family, according to research.

A poll of 1,500 members of online travel community TripAdvisor found that 75 per cent of people would prefer to stay in a hotel overseas than visit their family at Christmas.

Over a third of the survey respondents said they were planning a festive holiday this year, the same amount as in 2006.
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Ryanair plans biggest ever route expansion

Ryanair plans biggest ever route expansionRyanair has unveiled plans for its biggest ever route expansion next year, with 50 new services to be made available from a number of British airports.

Among the new routes are connections from Birmingham Airport to Girona, Marseille and Pisa, while Edinburgh Airport will be linked to Alicante, Bremen, Frankfurt, Marseille and Pisa.

Liverpool Airport will also be included in the changes, with new services to Malaga and Nantes, as will Manchester Airport, which will see new transfers to Marseille and Milan, among others.
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Plane travel stays strong in October

Plane travel stays strong in OctoberPlane travel continued to enjoy success in October as an increasing number of people jetted off to various locations around the globe, new figures reveal.

Statistics from the Association of European Airlines (AEA), a group which counts British Airways and bmi among its members, show that October brought an increase of 4.9 per cent in passenger numbers.

The group said that key indicators are in line with trends for the year to date and traffic is set to hit an annual rate of increase of five per cent by the end of 2007.
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Long-haul markets fuel BAA airport growth

Long-haul markets fuel BAA airport growthThe British Airports Authority (BAA) recorded a small rise in the number of passengers travelling through its airports during November.

Among the key markets contributing to the 1.5 per cent year-on-year rise was the long-haul sector, with many of the 10.8 million passengers passing through BAA airports seeking a reprieve from plummeting winter temperatures.

The weaker dollar was also partly responsible for the spike in North Atlantic traffic, up 5.9 per cent, while UK domestic traffic fell by 4.3 per cent and demand for European flights was up a modest 0.9 per cent.
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Travellers 'looking further afield than ever'

Travellers 'looking further afield than ever'Modern holidaymakers are becoming increasingly ambitious and are set to jet off to more distant and disparate locations than ever before in 2008, according to lastminute.com.

A spokesperson for the company said that less mainstream, more exotic destinations such as Malaysia are expected to be in demand in 2008, as well as traditionally popular locations such as America.

"People are looking at going further away than ever before and we are predicting destinations such as Malaysia and the Maldives, but also the States," she said.
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More Brits 'doing shopping abroad'

More Brits 'doing shopping abroad'An increasing number of British people are travelling abroad to do their Christmas shopping, according to research.

A study by holiday accommodation provider Alpharooms.com reveals that a record number of Brits will be shopping overseas this year to find some unusual gifts and get away from the stress of the UK.

The company claims that the most popular destinations include European cities such as Cologne, Berlin and Budapest.
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Wizz Air to link Warsaw to Sheffield

Wizz Air to link Warsaw to SheffieldTravellers using Robin Hood Doncaster/Sheffield Airport will have access to new services to Poland with low-cost carrier Wizz Air next year.

The airline confirmed that its first flights from Doncaster/Sheffield to the Polish capital will launch on April 1st and initially be operated three times a week.

Warsaw will be Wizz Air's fifth Polish Route from the northern hub, with flights currently available to Katowice and Gdansk and more services set to be launched to Poznan and Wroclaw.
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Kangaroo Route celebrates 60th

Kangaroo Route celebrates 60thQantas has celebrated the 60th anniversary of the legendary Kangaroo Route, the air connection between Australia and the UK.

The flag-carrying airline's inaugural service between the land down under and the UK departed Sydney on December 1st 1947, bound for London.

Owing to the limited range of the aircraft in operation 60 years ago, it was an ambitious and convoluted journey, which lasted a total of 93 hours, 55 of which were spent in the air.
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Flybe launches new routes for summer '08

Flybe launches new routes for summer '08Flybe has released details of its network for summer 2008 and confirmed that it will be launching 23 new routes across the UK and Europe.

Over seven million seats will go on sale and among the regional highlights in the network are nine additional routes from Cardiff Airport, Inverness Airport and the Isle of Man.

Inverness will be part of a substantial expansion in Scotland - along with Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh and Glasgow Airport - with Flybe launching a total of 12 new routes from these bases.
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Developing travel market 'gives lifeblood to regions'

Developing travel market 'gives lifeblood to regions'Regional parts of the UK are benefiting from a developing travel market and steady growth at local airports, an industry spokesperson has claimed.

According to Neil Pakey, managing director of Liverpool Airport and deputy chair of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), growth in regional travel markets has been partly stimulated by the success of low-cost airlines.

Development can also be attributed to changes in the travel booking habits of consumers, the airport manager said, with more people taking a direct approach to their travel arrangements.
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New BA routes from Gatwick, Heathrow next year

New BA routes from Gatwick, Heathrow next yearBritish Airways has announced that it will begin new services from Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport for summer holiday passengers next year.

The flag-carrying airline will begin flights from Heathrow to the Spanish hotspot of Malaga from March 30th.

In March next year BA's agreement with franchise carrier GB Airways will come to an end, meaning that the airline will take over routes between Gatwick and Alicante, Faro, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma and Tunis.
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Long-haul flights 'cheaper than ever'

Long-haul flights 'cheaper than ever'Long-haul air travel is cheaper than it has ever been before, as increasing numbers of people become willing to pay for flights to far-flung destinations, according to Virgin Atlantic.

A spokesperson for the airline said that the growing audience for long-haul travel is making the industry more competitive, which consequently drives down prices.

"A competitive market means competitive ticket prices," Anna Knowles of Virgin Atlantic explained.
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Far East 'popular for honeymooners'

Far East 'popular for honeymooners'Jetting off to the Far East is a popular option among honeymooners owing to the romance and luxury on offer in many Oriental and Asian destinations, according to a wedding support company.

Francesca Moore, a spokesperson for Hitched.co.uk, said that luxury is "a big thing in the Far East".

She described the five-star hotels in the region as "out of this world" but said that, despite the luxurious nature of the holiday market in parts of the Far East, UK travellers' budgets can stretch a long way.
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London congestion 'sending passengers to regional hubs'

London congestion 'sending passengers to regional hubs'Regional hubs such as Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport are seeing substantial growth, partly as a result of rising congestion in London, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Recent research by the group found that 42 per cent of all UK passengers travelled through airports outside London in 2006.

The study also discovered that annual passenger numbers at Britain's regional airports have exceeded 100 million for the first time.
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Higher charges proposed to improve airports

Higher charges proposed to improve airportsThe Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proposed increases in the charges that airlines are required to pay for the use of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with the aim of improving the level of service offered to passengers.

Airports operator BAA will be expected to use the revenue gained from the higher charges to upgrade the facilities at the London hubs and improve security.

Under the CAA proposals, which could come into effect next year, carriers will have to pay £11.97 per passenger to use Heathrow Airport and £6.07 to land at Gatwick Airport, which represent increases of 15.6 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively from current levels.
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Aer Arann winter schedule links UK, Ireland

Aer Arann winter schedule links UK, IrelandAer Arann has unveiled its full winter schedule, which includes 18 routes that will operate between the UK and Ireland.

The carrier's seasonal network will be in effect until March 29th next year and will feature added capacity on flights between Manchester Airport and Kerry in the Republic of Ireland and more potential to carry customers between Edinburgh Airport and Galway.

A number of regional hubs will host Aer Arann flights this winter, including Bristol Airport, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle Airport, Birmingham and Cardiff Airport.
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Regional airports 'handling 100m passengers a year'

Regional airports 'handling 100m passengers a year'Annual passengers at UK regional airports have crossed the 100 million mark for the first time, nearly three times the number recorded in 1990, the latest figures show.

Statistics released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that in 2006 regional airports continued to grow at a faster rate (four per cent) than their London counterparts (2.5 per cent), with 42 per cent of all passengers in the UK using regional hubs last year.

International scheduled services are experiencing the strongest growth, with a twofold increase in the number of travellers using these routes between 2002 and 2006.
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New airport security measures welcomed

New airport security measures welcomedUK airline Flybe has welcomed the government's announcement that it will be implementing new security measures at major airports.

In a speech to the House of Commons yesterday, prime minister Gordon Brown confirmed that new measures will be put in place at UK airports, including a higher number of passenger searches and more baggage screening.

Concerns have been expressed that this could lead to further delays and disruption at travel hubs but Flybe said that the government was right to take a strict approach to the issue.
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One-bag rule 'to go in new year'

One-bag rule 'to go in new year'Transport secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to confirm today that the 'one-bag rule' governing plane travel will be lifted in the new year.

Ms Kelly will announce in a speech to the Airport Operators Association that plane passengers will be able to take two pieces of baggage on flights in 2008, according to the Financial Times.

A number of security scares in 2006 prompted the introduction of the one-bag restriction on carry-on luggage, which has since proved unpopular with airlines and travellers.
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BAA hubs handle more passengers in October

BAA hubs handle more passengers in OctoberAirports operator BAA has released figures showing that its UK hubs handled 13.2 million passengers in October – 3.5 per cent more than in the same month last year.

Edinburgh Airport and Aberdeen Airport were among the top performers, with monthly passenger increases of five per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively continuing both hubs' robust growth trends.

It was not a clean sweep across Scotland, however, as Glasgow was the only of BAA's airports to record a drop in passenger traffic, with a 1.8 per cent fall in numbers.
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Ambitious skiers warned of medical costs

Ambitious skiers warned of medical costsWith poor snow conditions in many European resorts, skiers are jetting off to distant, high-altitude destinations in search of powder, according to American Express Travel Insurance.

However the company warned winter sports enthusiasts that some far-flung skiing hotspots charge high amounts for medical care.

The USA, Canada, Chile, Japan and Russia are expected to be among the top locations in the 2007-08 skiing season but medical costs at these resorts are some of the highest in the world, according to American Express.
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Adventure holidays 'an increasingly popular family option'

Adventure holidays 'an increasingly popular family option'A travel industry expert has dismissed the idea that adventure holidays to exotic, long-haul destinations are the preserve of the young holidaymaker.

Matt Hodgson, manager of Abta-bonded company Travel Nation, admitted that the adventure holiday market predominantly appeals to the younger market, but said that the family sector is a growing part of the industry.

"More and more of the larger adventure companies are featuring family trips in their brochures," he said. "It's still a small percentage, but there is definitely an increasing market there."
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Outbound travel industry 'bullish for 2008'

Outbound travel industry 'bullish for 2008'Britain's outbound tourism industry is confident that travellers will continue to jet off to international destinations in 2008, according to research.

In a poll carried out by Travelmole and public relations company BGB, 51 per cent of outbound tour operators reported modest growth in turnover in 2007 and 22 per cent said they enjoyed strong increases.

Some 58 per cent of outbound travel companies said they expected further modest growth in 2008 while 27 per cent predicted strong business expansion.
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World Cup effect lasts in Germany

World Cup effect lasts in GermanyThe German National Tourist Office (GNTO)has released figures which show a rising number of visits to the country in 2007 and prove that its popularity as a travel destination is "undiminished" after the 2006 World Cup.

In the first eight months of 2007 there were 37.4 million overnight stays in Germany by international visitors, three per cent more than the year before.

With 2.89 million overnight stays between January and August in 2007, Britain was the third most substantial source market for Germany this year, behind the Netherlands and the US.
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Congestion, security 'a priority for airports'

Congestion, security 'a priority for airports'The world's major airports see congestion and security as their most significant priorities that necessitate investment in IT facilities, according to a new survey.

Technology and communications company SITA polled the top 200 airport operators from around the globe and found that the 2.1 billion passengers who boarded planes last year highlighted the pressing nature of issues of overcrowding and safety.

The number of fliers is expected to increase at a rate of over five per cent every year.
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Spain 'top for Xmas'

Spain 'top for Xmas'Holiday hotspots in Spain, and in particular the Canary Islands, are the most popular option with Britons looking for some winter sun, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).

Frances Tuke, a spokesperson for the association, said that winter break options are generally restricted to trips to sunny destinations such as Spain or skiing holidays.

She explained that one of the major factors that attracts many people to the Iberian region is the number of people who own foreign property.
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BAA: Touchscreen machines increasing in number

BAA: Touchscreen machines increasing in numberIncreasing number of passengers are making the airport experience simpler for themselves by making use of touchscreen machines, according to BAA.

A spokesperson for the airports operator said that there are a number of generic machines at hubs around the UK that allow fliers to carry out their own check-in procedures for their flights.

However he also explained that a number of major airlines are installing their own self-service machines as the trend becomes more popular.
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One-bag limit 'on way out'

One-bag limit 'on way out'The air travel experience could soon be made easier for passengers with the removal of the one-bag limit on carry-on luggage, according to British Airways.

Commenting as the airline announced an operating profit of £556 million for the six-month period from April to September, chief executive Willie Walsh said that the restriction is expected to be lifted soon.

The rule was originally instated in order to heighten security on board aircraft.
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Abta: France no 1 ski destination

Abta: France no 1 ski destinationPeople going on skiing holidays are most likely to jet off to one of the many resorts in France than anywhere else, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).

Frances Tuke, PR manager for the association, said that Europe is by far the world's top destination for skiing holidays and France is the most popular spot within the continent, followed by Austria.

"Europe is definitely the most popular, with France being number one and Austria number two," she said.
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Online check-in 'benefits all'