2008 Articles

Passengers flying outside EU, claims Manchester Airport

Tourists are holidaying in more exotic places due to the current exchange rate, Manchester Airport bosses have claimed, reports Crain's Business Manchester.

According to Andrew Cornish, Manchester Airport's managing director, Europe is still a popular destination but fewer people are holidaying on the continent because of the strength of the pound against the euro.

Mr Cornish told Crain's Business Manchester: "Last year the popular destinations were definitely European such as Tenerife, Minorca and Italy."

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New service from Birmingham Airport

Passengers travelling through Birmingham Airport will be able to fly to new destinations, it has been reported.

Turkish Airlines has announced it will be commencing routes from Birmingham Airport to Istanbul from December 15th which will be the first direct flights to the country from the midlands region.

Birmingham Airport's business development director Peter Vella told the Birmingham Post: "We can boast having one of Europe's most established and highest quality airlines joining us."

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Newcastle Airport re-opens

Newcastle Airport is open for business again after it was briefly closed following an incident with a fighter jet, it has been reported.

Flights are back to normal at Newcastle Airport although some travellers have experienced short delays to outbound flights and passengers are advised to either check the airport's website or contact their airline if they are concerned about the status of their flights.

An RAF Tornado overshot the runway at the eastern end of Newcastle Airport when it was forced to make an emergency landing following a suspected bird strike but has now been removed from the airport.

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More Brits than ever will fly to the USA

A record number of tourists are predicted fly from UK airports to visit America this year, the Telegraph has reported.

Research by the Visit USA Association revealed that there were 343,000 arrivals in the United States from the UK in May this year, which was an 11 per cent rise on 2007 figures.

Peter Moss, chairman of the Visit USA Association, told the Telegraph: "The early booking signs pointed towards 2008 becoming a very good year for travel to the USA – and these latest UK-USA arrival statistics have now confirmed that forecast."

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Leeds/Bradford Airport gets helicopter

A rescue helicopter will get a new home at Leeds/Bradford Airport after a rival airport could not afford to keep it, it has been reported.

Due to rising costs, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service has transferred a helicopter ambulance based at Sheffield City Airport to Leeds/Bradford Airport in a bid to reduce overheads in the current economic climate.

Paul Gowland, of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, told the South Yorkshire Star: "Previously we shared costs such as fuel and maintenance with other partners who were based down there such as South Yorkshire Police.

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Passengers unaware of Newcastle Airport security restrictions

Holidaymakers are being told to learn liquid safety restrictions before using Newcastle Airport it has been reported.

According to reports, Newcastle Airport security employees are spending ten man-hours a day confiscating up to 400 litres of liquids because passengers do not realise the limits on liquids.

Wendy Dawley, spokesperson for Newcastle Airport, said: "The most commonly confiscated items are bottles of pop, water, suntan lotion, perfume, shampoo and toothpaste. But items with a much higher monetary value are also being found in hand luggage."

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BA unveils Terminal 5 campaign

British Airways have announced they will launch an advertising campaign to promote the troubled Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, it has been reported.

Called "Terminal 5 is working", the advertising strategy will target all media channels and will include photographs of real people who will be featured the following day.

Katherine Whitton, general manager for marketing communications at BA, said: "This campaign isn’t about making big promises. The terminal has now been open for 131 days, more than six million people have travelled through it and it has been performing very well for some time."

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Newcastle Airport launches car park booking system

Passengers using Newcastle Airport's car park will be able to take advantage of a new booking system, according to the Moodie Report.

Motorists can now manage their car park bookings online after Newcastle Airport introduced new system created by Chauntry which aims to give better service to the airport's customers.

George Nesbitt, car parking business manager, told the Report: "The system provides us with a more user-friendly and operationally efficient system, with immense flexibility and functionality enabling us to offer an improved service to our customers."

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Terminal 5 gets first hotel

Passengers travelling through Heathrow Airport will be able to choose from a wider range of accommodation after a new hotel opened its doors, it has been reported.

The controversial Terminal 5 will play host to a new luxury airport hotel after Arora International Hotels became the first chain to open at the terminal when it unveiled the Heathrow Sofitel hotel.

Stephen Williams, designer of the Chelsea Harbour Conrad Hotel, was the architect of the new hotel while the interior was created by Khuan Chew of KCA International, who has included a suite which boasts a Swarovski crystal bathroom.


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Passengers advised to weigh bags

Passengers travelling through airports this summer are being advised to weigh their luggage according to the West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service, the West Sussex County Times has reported.

In order to avoid a costly charge of excess weight, passengers are being told to weigh luggage before hand in case the airport's scales are faulty.

Bruce Treloar, principal trading standards officer, told the County Times: "We advise people to try and weigh the baggage at home. Bathroom scales may not be perfectly accurate but they will give an idea."




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Leeds/Bradford development gets underway

A development project has begun at Leeds/Bradford Airport which aims to improve a range of passenger facilities, it has been reported.

As part of a £70 million investment by new owners Bridgepoint Capital the initiative will see the introduction of better transport links including an improved car park and terminal frontage.

John Parkin, the airport's chief executive, said: "The growing importance and status of Leeds Bradford International Airport is an essential part of the economic vitality of the region."
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