news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

Virgin America is the best airline in the USA. At least that’s according to ‘Condé Nast Traveler’ magazine. The publication revealed this week that the California-based low-cost carrier was named the top North American airline in its 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards. It was the third-consecutive year Virgin America took the top spot in ‘Condé Nast Traveler”s rankings.

Virgin America beat out rival discounter JetBlue to take the top spot. Rounding out the North America top 10 (in order) are Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Continental, USA 3000, Southwest, Horizon Air and AirTran. Continental is the only legacy carrier to have made the top 10.

source: USA Today

In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Manchester have found that high levels of background noise, such as the low engine roar we hear while flying, can diminish the sensitivity of our palates.

It seems that when people listen to loud white noise, like that heard on planes, they have a dulled ability to taste sweetness and saltiness, and are more likely to report their food tasting bland.

On the flip side, the research, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, also reveals that pleasant sounds can actually increase people’s enjoyment of meals.

For the study, researchers led by Dr. Andy Woods blindfolded 48 volunteers from the University of Manchester and then gave them a range of foods, including crackers, potato chips, cookies and rice cakes.

source: CTV.ca

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said it reached a “‘historic agreement'” last week on aviation safety, security and aircraft emissions.

The deal reached by the 190 members of the Montreal-based United Nations organization at its 37th general assembly “‘builds on achievements since the last ICAO Assembly in 2007,'” the communication said, “‘which included a global goal of 2 per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement up to the year 2050, a global framework for the development and deployment of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation, and a target of 2013 for a CO2 standard for aircraft engines.'”

It also states that “‘ICAO will coordinate the collection, analysis and exchange of aviation safety information among exchange members and disseminate to the global aviation community.'”

source: montrealgazette.com

French visitors to the United Kingdom have been urged to employ “‘extreme vigilance’” amid growing fears of a terrorist attack in the country.

Offering new travel advice to its citizens, the French government warned an attack on British public transport was now “‘highly likely’”.

The latest developments follow news a UK terror suspect killed in Pakistan was being groomed to lead a new group in raids on the UK, France and Germany.

The new advice on the French defence ministry website said: “‘The British authorities consider the terror threat level is very high in the United Kingdom and the risk of an attack is highly likely.'”

The United States also believes a cell of Germans and Britons are at the heart of a terror plot against European cities, a plan they link to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Germany, meanwhile, says it remains watchful but that there is no reason to be “‘alarmist’”.

source: breakingtravelnews.com

Asia-Pacific-based airlines recorded double-digit growth in both passenger and air freight demand in August, sending traffic past pre-recession highs, an industry group said Friday.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines said air carriers in the region transported a total of 16.8 million passengers in August, an increase of 12.4 per cent from the same month last year.

The growth reaffirmed the ”robustness” of the region’s economic recovery, it said.

source: monstersandcritics.com

Another 24-hour general strike over the Sarkozy government’s proposal to raise the state pension age will see French air and rail services severely affected on Thursday 23 September.

‘Direction Generale d’Aviation Civile ‘(DGAC), the country’s civil aviation authority, has asked airlines to reduce flights into and out of Paris’s Orly Airport by 50%. Flights to and from Charles de Gaulle and other French airports are to be cut by 40%.

Airlines are likely to try to keep long-haul services running so most of the disruption will probably affect short-haul services disproportionately.

source: publicsectortravel.org.uk

All-business class airline OpenSkies is offering a guarantee to customers that they will enjoy their flight – and a full refund if they don’t.

The airline announced its new “‘Love Everything or Pay Nothing'” guarantee saying that the offer was unprecedented in the airline sector.

It says that the deal was prompted by a survey of passengers that revealed 96.85 percent of its passengers would recommend the airline.

source: Independent.co.uk

Madrid-based Amadeus is reported to have held initial talks with several investment banks about selling its 55% shareholding in Opodo, which was originally set up by airlines such as British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa in 2001.

Amadeus paid €62 million for the majority stake in Opodo in 2004 and would be expected to make several times this amount in any sale.

source: ttglive.com

Economists have calculated that the optimum time to book an airline ticket is eight weeks before the travel date. Also, do it in the afternoon rather than the morning to get the best deal.

Book earlier than eight weeks and you run the risk that your personal plans may change and the booking may need to be altered, but leave it later and there’s an increased risk that prices will go up or the flight could be fully booked.

The work by Japan-based economists Makoto Watanabe and Marc Moller has been published by ‘The Royal Economic Society’.

They also highlight differences in timing policy in booking flights compared to booking theatre tickets, where last-minute deals can be available.

source: The Australian

The UK High Court has suspended the right of air passengers to compensation if they suffer a flight delay of three hours or more.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled last November that passengers were entitled to compensation for delays. But following a challenge brought by British Airways, Tui Travel, easyJet and the International Air Transport Association, the High Court has referred the issue back to the European court.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: “‘The High Court has stayed our enforcement powers so the courts won’t hear [compensation] cases in the interim.’”

It is expected to be two years before the Court of Justice reviews the case.

source: travelweekly.co.uk