Air France-KLM today unveils its low-cost airline that it hopes will help it compete with the likes of EasyJet and Ryanair. The new company, provisionally called “‘Air France Soleil'”, will focus on destinations that Air France does not traditionally reach, such as North Africa, and certain destinations in Spain and Italy.
source: paris link
Presidents of the major European airlines have accepted the need to address the environmental responsibilities of their sector, according to the Association of European Airlines (AEA).
During the recent biannual gathering of the airlines’ bosses in Berlin, the proposal for a European emissions trading scheme (ETS) to target global warming was discussed with European Commission vice president and transport commissioner Jacques Barrot.
The AEA reports that the airlines agreed in principle to a trading scheme, but argued it should be seen as part of the measures designed to minimise the impact of the aviation industry on the environment.
source: In the News
First Choice Holidays is in talks with a number of parties, including rival MyTravel, over the possible sale of its package holiday business, it said on Monday, lifting its shares to a new high.
Analysts said a deal was likely to be worth at least 500 million pounds and would allow First Choice to develop its adventure and short-breaks businesses, while giving MyTravel plenty of scope for cost savings.
source: Reuters
As more United States travelers head south to the Caribbean each year, airlines are responding with new stops and increased service on some of their routes.
The Dominican Republic’s increasing popularity is also increasing its accessibility. For example, next month, Delta plans to introduce nonstop flights from New York to Punta Cana, and will start flying direct from Atlanta to Santiago de Los Caballeros and Puerto Plata.
Air service is also increasing to some islands that have not been as well-known among Americans. Continental will begin flying nonstop from Newark to Bonaire next month. Delta will start flying from Atlanta to Trinidad, Martinique and Guadalupe in December, and begin weekly service to Tobago from Atlanta in February.
In January, Air Jamaica will start making an additional nonstop flight a week from New York to St. Lucia. And JetBlue, which started flying nonstop to Aruba from New York in September, plans to add another flight there next month.
source: New York Times
Southwest Airlines boosted the price of one-way tickets by as much as $10 to blunt higher fuel costs. The fare increase is $3 on one-way trips of 750 to 1,000 miles and $10 on longer flights, airline spokeswoman Paula Berg said Friday. UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. matched the fares.
source: St Petersburg Times
Seeking to avoid inconvenience to air passengers due to delays on foggy winter mornings, the government has instructed all airline operators to provide refreshments to travellers as they wait for their flights.
source: Zee News
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he would not introduce laws to stop a break-up of national icon Qantas Airways in a A$10 billion (4 billion pounds) buyout, citing a commitment to free markets.
At the same time, Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon emphasised that buyout talks with investment firms Macquarie Bank Ltd. and Texas Pacific Group were at an early stage.
source: Reuters
Flybe, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, has announced the introduction of a shuttle style service between both Birmingham and Edinburgh and Birmingham and Glasgow which is to be launched upon successful completion of the BA Connect acquisition.
source: Easier
Air France-KLM Chief Executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said Thursday the airline recently began talks with Alitalia SpA that may lead to the opening of merger discussions.
Spinetta said merger talks will go ahead on three conditions: a confirmation of Alitalia’s financial turnaround, the assurance that both companies share a strategic vision and the determination of potential synergies from a merger.
source: MSN
The European Commission yesterday gave the green light to a scheme launched by the government last July subsidising a number of new air routes to and from Malta.
Ryanair, which started operating scheduled flights from Luton and Pisa at the end of last month, was the first airline to benefit from the scheme.
The Commission said it has decided to allow Malta to grant start-up aid for new air routes from Malta International Airport.
source: Times of Malta
