Spanish budget airline, Vueling, have added four more destinations to their growing network. Bases on operating services to popular Mediterranean destinations Vueling has added Barcelona to Ibiza and Minorca, Madrid to Ibiza and Malta and Malaga to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Flights commence late in March 2009.
source: alternativeairlines.com
The Spanish no-frills airline Clickair has become the first European carrier to allow pets in the cabin on domestic and international flights. From July 2009, and subject to local regulations, dogs, cats and rabbits (and possibly chickens) weighing no more than 17lb “‘may travel in a suitable crate placed at the feet of their owners’â€.
source: timesonline.co.uk
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is considering an investment in Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest airline.
The company’s senior management has been intensively studying the idea for several weeks; no decision has been made.
The German carrier has a well-established, dense and non-centered European and domestic network currently served by a fleet of 112 aircraft. Its biggest bases are Duesseldorf and Berlin — two airports that Etihad does not serve. To a limited degree, Air Berlin could feed Etihad’s Munich services and to an even lesser degree its Frankfurt departures. Slot constraints make reshaping of the network difficult to achieve.
source: aviationweek.com
Ryanair has announced a one-off return flight to Madrid for Liverpool FC fans travelling to the Spanish capital.
Usually, the route is available only in the summer, but the airline has bowed to popular demand.
Large numbers have called the Ryanair telephone lines inquiring about flights to Madrid for the Reds Champions League away match on February 25.
The special flight will depart Liverpool at 9am on February 25 and return from Madrid on February 26 at 1pm.
source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
Yoichi Shimamoto says United Airlines was negligent for allowing him to continue drinking to the point of inebriation during a flight from Osaka, Japan to San Francisco.
Shimamoto claims it was the multiple glasses of Burgundy, served at 20 minute intervals, which led him to strike his wife Ayisha, while the couple were walking through customs in December 2006.
In a lawsuit filed at the US District Court in Tampa, Florida, he claims the wine left him so drunk that “‘he could not manage himself'”.
source: Telegraph.co.uk
Argentina’s Senate gave final legislative approval to a government takeover of Spanish-owned Aerolineas Argentinas SA on Wednesday.
Supporters said the state will improve service by tackling constant flight cancellations and delays that have plagued the struggling flagship airline and its subsidiary Austral for years.
But the current owner, Madrid-based Grupo Marsans, has said in the past it might challenge the takeover before a World Bank arbitration body.
source: Associated Press
The ambitious consolidation strategy piloted by British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh started to unravel yesterday after merger talks with Australian rival Qantas were terminated.
Discussions to create a global airline based in London and Sydney have been under strain since they became public at the beginning of this month, with Qantas boss Alan Joyce warning of “‘significant hurdles'” to a deal.
Days earlier Walsh had extolled the virtues of creating a “truly global” airline, adding the simultaneous pursuit of deals with Spain’s Iberia and with American Airlines would not hamper progress.
source: Guardian.co.uk
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, yesterday won a significant legal victory in its long-running battle with Brussels over airport subsidies.
The Luxembourg-based Court of First Instance, one of the top courts in Europe, upheld the airline’s appeal against the decision in 2004 by the European Commission to block reduced airport charges and marketing support for the airline at Belgium’s Charleroi airport.
source: FT.com
Jet Airways have entered into a codeshare and frequent flyer partnership on the Dubai-Mumbai and Delhi sectors. The flight will be operated by Jet Airways and will also carry the Emirates designator and will offer Emirates customers better access to flights across Jet’s comprehensive Indian network.
Codeshares will also apply on some Emitares operated flights from India to DXB offering a reciprocal arrangement and smooth transfers to Jet’s clientele wishing to connect to an Emirates onward flight.
source: alternativeairlines.com
Brussels Airlines is to become a member of the Star Alliance. The airline alliance has voted at its annual board meeting to accept the application of the carrier to become a future member.
The move follows Star Alliance member Lufthansa’s purchase of a 45% stake in the carrier back in September. The German carrier also has plans to take full ownership within two years.
Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of United Airlines, in his role as chairman of Star Alliance, said, “‘Brussels Airlines further strengthens the Star Alliance by offering greater connectivity throughout Europe and Africa to better serve the international travel needs of all our customers’.â€
source: businesstravelworld.com
