news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

Finland’s national carrier Finnair is all set to start direct flights between Helsinki and Mumbai from June 27, Christer Haglund, senior vice president of the airline, said here Tuesday.

”Starting from June 27, Finnair will connect Mumbai to Europe in the fastest and most convenient service five times a week with the most competitive return fares,” Haglund said at a news conference.

”Apart from providing the latest wide-bodied Airbus A340 crafts, Finnair will cater to Indian tastes and preferences with Indian cabin crew, to make Indian passengers feel at home.”

Haglund said Finnair has decided to focus on India as a major Asian hub of its operations.

source: indiaprwire.com

Never afraid to spurn conventional wisdom, Southwest Airlines is doing it again. While other airlines are reducing domestic seats in response to softening demand, the low-cost carrier is doing the opposite, expanding routes and flights in pursuit of a decades-long growth plan.

Already, the number of passengers on each Southwest aircraft has fallen. The jets are about 69 percent full on average this year, compared with 71 percent during the corresponding period in 2006.

Southwest has pursued a policy of adding flights, seats and planes to gain market share, even in tough times. While other carriers were reeling from a major economic downturn and slashing their fleets, Southwest has added 120 planes since 2002, bringing the total to 494. It also increased the number of flights by 15 percent and its available seat miles, an industry measure of capacity, by 35 percent from 2002 through the end of last year.

Southwest is considering getting into a code-sharing agreement with an international carrier or offering its own overseas flights.

source: Home & Away

FlyForBeans, the new budget airline to be based at Cardiff International Airport, plans to launch cut-price flights from the city to 12 European destinations.

The airline, which is based in the Vale of Glamorgan, predicts it will get nearly three quarters of a million passengers for the service which it hopes to launch out of Cardiff International this autumn.

source: icWales

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, has criticised British Airways for increasing its fuel surcharge to £43 – its 9th increase since May 2004. Ryanair continues to guarantee no fuel surcharges ever.

Speaking today Ryanair’s Head of Communications, Peter Sherrard said:

“‘This is British Airways’ 9th fuel surcharge since May 2004. In that time the price of oil has doubled but British Airways’ fuel surcharge has increased 17 fold’.

“‘Ryanair guarantees the lowest fares and will never apply a fuel surcharge, not now, not ever'”.

source: Easier

Brazilian Airline Gol has just announced an agreement with US-based Continental Airlines whereby passengers flying with Continental will be able to purchase tickets on all routes served by Gol for connections in Brazil and South America. While the partnership covers all routes served by both airlines, only Continental will be able to sell tickets on Gol flights.

source: Brazzil Mag

Operations of Mexicana de Aviacion in Cuba is showing good results, with a sustained demand for capacities and a high occupation index, authorities of the Mexican airline said.

The airline operates daily Mexico City-Havana flights, with additional routes, including Varadero, in high tourist seasons.

source: Prensa Latina

Delta Airlines, the world’s third largest passenger carrier, has recommenced non-stop service from New York’s JFK International Airport to Montego Bay.

The first flight in more than 20 years arrived at the Sangster International Airport on Saturday at approximately 10:30 am with 128 passengers aboard. The airline will operate on that route six days per week.

source: The Jamaica Observer

Chile-based carrier LAN Airlines SA said Friday its May traffic rose 29.9 percent on a 24.1 percent capacity expansion.

The Latin American airline said occupancy also improved to 68.7 percent from 65.7 percent. LAN gave no details on its traffic growth, only percentage gains.

LAN said its long-haul capacity grew due to increased offerings to the United States, south Pacific and Europe, partially offset by trimmed capacity to the Caribbean.

source: Forbes

Yellowknifers longing for milder climes this winter are in luck: Air Canada will launch a daily non-stop flight between the Northwest Territories capital and Vancouver from December to April.

Airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said Thursday that Air Canada is trying out the new route, which for now will only be offered during the winter season.

“‘A lot of services we do start seasonally, and we see what sort of response we get,'” Fitzpatrick said. “‘This is partly intended to take advantage of some of the tourist traffic, particularly the people who come up from Asia, they like the aurora. And just generally, you know, it is a vibrant market.'”

Air Canada already offers flights between Yellowknife and Calgary and Edmonton.

source: CBC News

India’s largest private airline, Jet Airways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belgium’s Brussels Airlines to provide travellers a seamless connection between Europe, the US, Canada, Africa and India.

Jet Airways has signed a MoU with Brussels Airlines implementing code-sharing, a frequent flyer partnership and through check-in facilities, a company statement said adding, Brussels Airlines would code-share on Jet Airways’ flights between Brussels and Mumbai, Delhi and Toronto.