news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

Virgin Atlantic could be hit by its first-ever strike as flight crew, affecting British holidaymakers as they jet off over the summer.

The airline, which has just celebrated 25 years since its first transatlantic flight to Miami, is hopeful it can avoid a walkout by pilots over pay.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) is currently polling its members about strikes at the carrier and the result is due out next week.

A walkout could begin at the end of this month or the start of July just as millions of Britons are leaving the UK for their holidays.

source: dailymail.co.uk

The FAA proposes a fine of $584,375 against United after the airline allegedly transferred 13 employees to safety-sensitive positions before receiving the results of their drug and alcohol tests.

Federal air safety regulators have proposed fining United Airlines $584,375 for allegedly failing to properly perform drug tests on workers in safety-sensitive areas.

The Federal Aviation Administration accused the airline of transferring 13 employees to safety-sensitive positions before it received the results of their drug and alcohol tests.

source: Los Angeles Times

Delta Air Lines‘ revenue from baggage fees last year averaged out to about $8.58 per passenger, the second highest rate in the airline industry. Atlanta-based Delta has increased its baggage fees over time and currently charges $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag on domestic flights.

Among major carriers, only US Airways brought in baggage fee revenue at a higher rate at $9.91 per passenger.

Southwest Airlines brought in an average of just 28 cents in baggage fee revenue per passenger. Dallas-based Southwest does not charge fees for the first two checked bags but does charge for additional bags beyond two.

source: ajc.com

Spanish airline Iberia has announced a new Mediterranean-themed food lineup, drawing on the experience of some of the country’s top chefs.

Emulating the top-notch German cuisine offered by Lufthansa and Air France’s gastronomic offering by Alain Ducasse, Iberia has invited a committee of culinary experts to come up with a new menu to be rolled out for business class passengers from June 1.

The chefs include Paco Roncero of Madrid’s La Terraza del Casino, Ramón Freixa, the head of Ramón Freixa Madrid, Caceres chef Toño Pérez of Atrio and Malaga’s Dani García, chef at Calima restaurant in Marbella.

Between them, the team have eight Michelin stars, leading Iberia to brand its planes “‘the first eight star restaurant in the world.'”

source: Independent.co.uk

The latest A320 aircraft joins the two A318s, 33 A319s, 48 A320s and 16 A321s already operated by British Airways.

The 100th aircraft is also the 205th Airbus single-aisle delivered to International Airlines Group, which was formed in January this year with the merger of British Airways and Iberia.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive, said: “‘This milestone underlines British Airways’ commitment to continue to invest in new aircraft for the benefit of our customers. The average age of our short-haul Airbus fleet is just over seven years old, making it one of the youngest Airbus fleets of the European network carriers.’”

source: walesonline.co.uk

The European Union’s plans to include international airlines in its emissions trading scheme (ETS) could spark a trade war, it emerged from an airline industry AGM yesterday.

China has made it clear at the IATA meeting in Singapore that it is unhappy about having to be subject to the ETS and has intimated that it could impose high taxes on European carriers or stop access to certain routes in retaliation.

But the EU refuses to back down, maintaining that all airlines should be subject to the scheme which will require any airlines flying into, out of or within Europe to pay for any emissions that go over a set cap.

source: travelmole.com

British Airways has agreed to pay $89.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit charging that it had conspired with other airlines to fix prices for hauling cargo.

Two Chilean carriers ” Lan Airlines and Lan Cargo ” and Aerolinhas Brasileiras of Brazil also agreed to pay $66 million to settle similar accusations. Other settlements were reached with Lufthansa for $85 million and Air France-KLM for $87 million.

In November, the European Union fined 11 airlines ” including British Airways ” a total of $1.1 billion for fixing prices on international cargo, leading to higher prices for businesses to move their goods. The European Commission, the European Union’s competition watchdog, said “‘the carriers coordinated their action on surcharges for fuel and security without discounts’” from December 1999 to February 2006.

source: The New York Times

Stiff winds blew ash from a Chilean volcano Tuesday in a widening arc across Argentina to the capital, grounding most air travel to and from the country for much of the day.

Since airborne ash can severely damage jet engines, Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral, the country’s state-owned international and domestic airlines, canceled all flights within Argentina as well as to and from other countries. At least six international carriers also suspended flights between Buenos Aires and cities in the United States, Europe and South America, and flights from Chile over Argentine territory also were suspended.

source: msnbc.com

easyJet has announced that its new Flexi fare is available to all via easyJet.com from today. This will give passengers unlimited flexibility to change the date of their flights up to two hours before the scheduled departure time.

Passengers booking an easyJet flexi fare will also benefit from automatic speedy boarding, no booking fees and a checked in hold bag included at no extra cost.

The new Flexi fares were initially available only through business booking channels, including Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and self booking tools used by business travel companies. Making Flexi fares available through easyJet.com, one of the UK’s top ten most popular websites, opens the fare to the 325 million people who visit easyJet.com each year.

source: clickliverpool.com

The airline’s early growth was stalled by the onset of the second World War. Yet when peace returned, it quickly established a route network to the Continent and then to the United States. It played a role in the growth of Ireland’s tourism and industrial development that cannot be overstated.

When Aer Lingus celebrated its half century in 1986, it dominated aviation in Ireland. A year before, an upstart challenger had appeared on the scene. But with just one 15-seat aircraft, 25 staff and only a Waterford-London route, Ryanair was not giving Aer Lingus executives any sleepless nights. Much has changed since then.

The State holds a 25 per cent shareholding to prevent Ryanair gaining a controlling stake. Given the Government’s need to sell non-essential assets, however, retaining that share is hard to justify.

source: irishtimes.com