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Ryanair announced today its 19th European base in Düsseldorf Weeze. From June 2007, Ryanair will invest €140m in two new aircraft and 10 routes. Ryanair will deliver 1 million passengers in its first full year, rising to 2 million p.a. from 2008. Europe’s largest low fares airline also today annoujnced 16 new routes across Europe.

These 2 million passengers will create 2,000 local jobs and enable passengers to fly for a fraction of the high fares charged at Düsseldorf International airport.

source: finfacts.com

Continuing demand for corporate travel without a commensurate lift in supply will push costs higher across the board in 2007, according to the American Express Global Business Travel Forecast. Air fares worldwide are expected to increase – though at a slower pace than in 2006 –while hotels rates will remain at heightened 2006 levels and surge in key business centers.

“‘Keeping executives on the road while holding budgets in check will be a challenge for organizations in 2007,’” said Mike Streit, Vice President and Global Leader for American Express Business Travel, Advisory Services. “‘For instance, as compared to 2006, the Forecast indicates an average domestic North America trip inclusive of air fare, car rental and hotel stay will increase $46 USD or 4.5 percent in 2007, and an average international trip with its air fare and hotel stay will increase $180 USD or 4.6 percent.’”

source: Traveldailynews.com

The Houston-based regional airline will fly non-stop from Los Angeles/Ontario; Sacramento; San Diego; San Antonio; Austin, Texas; and New Orleans to 24 cities beginning in April.

As part of the new service, ExpressJet will offer its 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft configured with no middle seat, as well as valet carry-on bag service and complimentary snacks, with full meal-service options available on longer flights.

source: Los Angeles Business

Reversing a decision made three weeks ago, American Airlines said Friday it would resume selling international and domestic first- and business-class tickets on Expedia.com.

The companies announced the decision in a news release but gave no explanation for the about-face.

American, the nation’s biggest airline, said Jan. 12 that it was halting the sale of the high-end seats on Expedia, although it continued to sell domestic coach tickets through the website. The companies sparred over which side had pulled out of the arrangement first.

source: USA Today

Southwest Airlines Co. on Monday said January traffic rose 8.8 percent on expanded capacity on its flights.

Traffic rose to 5.18 billion revenue passenger miles from 4.76 billion a year ago. A revenue passenger mile is equal to one paying passenger flown one mile.

Capacity during the month increased to 8.12 billion available seat miles, up 8.2 percent to 7.51 billion in the same month last year. Load factor, or occupancy, rose slightly to 63.8 percent from 63.4 percent.

source: Business Week

Ryanair posted a 30 percent jump in third-quarter net profit on Monday, confounding analyst expectations for a fall, and ramped up its full-year profit goal while predicting big fuel-cost savings for the following year.

Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier said profit after tax rose to 47.7 million euros (31.4 million pounds) in the three months to end December from 36.8 million in the same period of 2005, against analyst expectations that they would fall by over 60 percent.

source: Reuters

Jazeera Airways, the Middle East’s first private passenger airline, this weekend launched its direct flights between Kuwait and the resort destination Sharm El Sheikh.

The airline flies twice a week from Kuwait to the city every Thursday and Sunday, operating brand new Airbus A320s, all fitted with leather seats.

source: AMEinfo

Spirit Airlines will penalize travelers checking a second suitcase by charging a $10 fee for the second bag.Once known for its liberal baggage policies, the second-largest carrier at Detroit Metro Airport will now have the strictest among U.S. airlines.

Spirit Airlines will penalize travelers checking a second suitcase by charging a $10 fee for the second bag.

Once known for its liberal baggage policies, the second-largest carrier at Detroit Metro Airport will now have the strictest among U.S. airlines.

Delta Air Lines Inc. raised domestic air fares by $5 each way late Thursday, and American Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier, matched the increase on Friday.

United Airlines, the No. 2 carrier, was studying the increases, said spokesman Jeff Kovick. Two smaller carriers, Alaska Air Group Inc. and Midwest Airlines, matched the Delta increase.

Northwest Airlines Corp., Continental Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. remained on the sidelines at midday Friday. A spokesman for Southwest Airlines Co. said the Dallas-based carrier had no plans to raise fares immediately.

Scandinavian Airlines announced yesterday it has chosen Beijing as a hub for its future expansion in China and that it will further strengthen ties with Air China Ltd.

Meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines’ nonstop flights from Copenhagen to Shanghai will stop in April as part of the carrier’s new China strategy, SAS said.

The northern European carrier will have 10 direct flights to China after it opens a Beijing-Stockholm direct service four times a week starting on March 26, SAS said.

source: China Daily