2008 Articles

Scanners call off further strikes at Stansted Airport

Employees who operate luggage scanners at Stansted Airport have suspended further industrial action due to a new round of talks with airport bosses, it has been reported.

Member of the GMB trade union were expected to down tools again for 24 hours this Thursday after walking out off Stansted Airport on Bank Holiday Monday following a dispute over pay, but new negotiations has led to the planned strike being postponed.

The Stansted Airport security scanners originally took strike action after rejecting a 1.5 per cent pay rise but they are now hopeful of a better deal.
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Second Stansted Airport runway gets inquiry

An inquiry will be launched to investigate the feasibility of building a second runway at Stansted Airport, it has been reported.

Stansted Airport owner, BAA, has said it wants to increase the passenger capacity of the airport by creating a second runway which would cost around £2 billion but this has faced opposition from local residents and environmentalists.

The Planning Inspectorate has told Essex County Council that they are likely to start an inquiry on April 15, 2009 which will be held at or near Stansted Airport and could take as long as one year to complete.


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Rome hosts film festival

Movie lovers may enjoy a holiday in Rome this autumn as the Italian capital is to host its International Film Festival, it has been reported.

Taking place for the third time this year, this event will bring some of the top names from the world of international cinema to Rome.

The guest of honour will be movie megastar Al Pacino, who will pick up the Marc'Aurelio Alla Carriera acting award on behalf of the Actors Studio, of which he is one of the presidents.

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Passengers want family flights

A new study has found that many airplane passengers would support an initiative to create separate areas on planes for families with young children, the Telegraph has reported.

Research by American-based consumer group airfarewatchdog.com revealed that 85 per cent of passengers thought it was a good idea to separate those travelling with children from other passengers as it would be in the interest of more relaxing plane journeys.

James Freemantle, a spokesman for the Air Transport Users Council, said there was "no reason" why such a scheme could not be introduced.

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Olympic heroes land at Heathrow Airport

Great Britain's triumphant Olympic team touched down safely at Heathrow Airport on Monday to a heroes welcome, according to reports.

The nation's most successful group of athletes for over 100 years flew back from Beijing to Heathrow Airport and were met by friends, family and a horde of noisy supporters.

The athlete's British Airway's plane had a special golden nose and was renamed Pride after the British Olympic lion mascot, while "Proud to bring our British heroes home" was emblazoned on the fuselage.

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Cheap flights available through forward planning

Families can get the best deal on their holiday by planning ahead, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) has claimed.

The average family holiday is rising in price by as much as £400 which has been blamed on a lack of deals, rising fuel costs and the strength of the pound but those who research in advance can get a good price on a holiday, according to AITO.

Ian Bradley, spokesperson for AITO, said: "The trend that I have seen from AITO members is that future bookings are looking very healthy because people are booking well in advance and budgeting accordingly to pay for these trips.

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Airline will not leave Durham Tees Valley Airport

Speculation that Flyglobespan will be leaving Durham Tees Valley Airport has been quashed by the airline, reports the Northern Echo.

Internet rumours had led to ideas that the budget airline could be transferring its flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport to Newcastle Airport but a spokesperson from Flyglobespan as moved to dispel the conjecture.

"We have yet to finalise our full programme for next summer and are in talks at a senior level with Durham Tees Valley Airport as we look to plan ahead for 2009. Flyglobespan is not planning a move to Newcastle," said the spokesperson.

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Extra security at Manchester Airport

A new airport parking security scheme has been launched at Manchester Airport in a bid to tackle terrorism, it has been reported.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at five sites around Manchester Airport to check for uninsured and stolen vehicles or those that have been involved in crime.

The airport parking system can scan 600,000 number plates every day and checks them against information stored on the police national database.

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Celebrate Catalonia next month

Next month visitors to Barcelona will be able to join in the festivities for one of the biggest activities in the region's cultural diary, according to reports.

Taking place on September 11th, the National Day of Catalonia will see celebrations held throughout various destinations in the Spanish city.

Free music concerts, demonstrations of regional pride and parades will all be on offer for holidaymakers while local residents will bring colour to the city by hanging striped Catalonian flags from their homes.

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Airport staff cancel industrial action

Employees at Stansted Airport and Gatwick Airport have postponed strike plans after trade unions and airport bosses reached an agreement over pay, it has been reported.

Baggage handlers and check-in staff at London's second and third busiest airports had planned to stage two 24-hour walkouts, on August 25th and again on August 29th in a move which would have seen millions of holiday plans disrupted.

Stansted Airport and Gatwick Airport workers will no longer strike after bosses offered them a better deal than the initial three per cent pay rise.

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Millions take part in great escape from Britain

Heathrow Airport will be busy this weekend as millions of British tourists are expected to take flight from the rainy UK weather, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

ABTA predicts that around two million holidaymakers will leave Britain with Friday August 22nd and Saturday August 23rd being the busiest days, with nearly half of holidaymakers set to fly from airports in the south-east.

Heathrow Airport will see the most number of passengers, with more than 420,000 departures, followed by Gatwick Airport (260,000), Stansted Airport (160,000) and Luton Airport (80,000).

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