news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

New rules apply to European flights allowing passengers to carry small amounts of liquids and toiletries in hand luggage for the first time since last August when a terror plot was unveiled by the police.There will however be a limit of 100ml per container and all the liquid containers and toiletries should fit in a one-liter (20cm x 20cm) re-sealable plastic bag (per passenger). These bags will then be x-rayed separately.

source: ShortNews.com

Air Canada last month began unbundling flight options through its Web site, allowing travelers to customize bookings by “buying added services or, conversely, to save money by declining benefits normally included in their selected fare type.”

While several large carriers in the United States indicated no immediate plans to follow such an unbundled booking model, some in the industry expect selective merchandizing of airfares to accelerate, as carriers seek to differentiate and monetize offerings. Worldspan, the third largest U.S. global distribution system, said it is seeking new technologies to enable carriers to further merchandize their products.

source: BTNonline

UK airline Flybe bought British Airways’ struggling regional unit on Friday as part of plans to double the size of the airline and cut costs ahead of a stockmarket flotation in two years.

Flybe, a regional carrier based in southwest England, said it had agreed to buy BA Connect, a loss-making unit of British Airways, which it would use to expand its network in Europe.

The airline declined to give details of the deal but British Airways said it had taken a GBP106 million (USD$201.5 million) impairment charge on the sale and would take a 15 percent stake in Flybe under the deal.

source: Airwise

Even as Lufthansa Airlines is focused on establishing itself as the global leader in premier and business travel segment, the world’s biggest carrier ” in terms of the scheduled passengers carried ” is not ready to give up the battle with low-cost carriers for attractive short-haul routes.

“A strong brand needs growth and as the foremost part of our strategy we believe in full assortment of services,” Holger Hatty, member of the board of Lufthansa passenger airlines, said.

source: Financial Express

Several big U.S. air carriers, including Houston-based Continental Airlines, have raised fares on many routes by $10 round trip.

The carriers increased fares Thursday night, and the increase may stick, JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker said in a research note issued Friday. Whether it remains in place should become clear after the weekend.

Bankrupt Delta Airlines raised its fares in some markets by $5 each way, making it the third time in recent weeks that airlines have tried to push through fare increases.

source: Reuters

Ireland’s Aer Lingus issued a forthright rejection on Friday of a takeover bid by low-cost rival Ryanair and urged its shareholders to snub the offer valuing it at 1.48 billion euros.

In a strongly worded letter to shareholders, Chairman John Sharman reiterated the company’s view that Ryanair’s offer undervalues Aer Lingus and said Europe’s biggest budget carrier lacked the know-how to deal with unionised staff.

source: Reuters

American Airlines cut fares as low as $39 one-way to and from the Dallas area in response to a fare sale announced Wednesday by Southwest Airlines Co.

American’s lowest prices Thursday apply to flights between Dallas and nearby cities such as Austin. The lowest one-way fares, based on advance purchase of round-trip tickets, rises to $79 or $89 to more distant cities such as Philadelphia and Las Vegas.

source: WFAA.com

Memphis officials are courting Air France for a potential nonstop flight to Paris — something that could give Mississippians another travel option.

Air France executives are conducting their North American marketing and sales meeting in the Tennessee city this week and quietly assessing the market potential.

source: WMCTV

Southwest Airlines has again turned up the heat in the North Texas fare war by slashing ticket prices from Dallas Love Field to destinations nationwide to as cheap as $39 each way.

The fare sale, which runs until Dec. 1, offers the lowest prices mostly to nearby cities like Houston and Little Rock. But distant destinations like Philadelphia and Seattle are discounted at $79 each way.

source: Star-telegram