news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

From November, anyone hoping to book a Ryanair flight at the advertised price will have to pay using a ‘Ryanair Cash Passport’.

Only by using this card will customers avoid the £12 per person extra the airline charges to issue a return flight ticket. At present, they have to use a pre-paid Electron Mastercard to avoid the surcharge.

Airlines were warned recently by the Office of Fair Trading that they will be taken to the High Court if they persist in making payment surcharges.

source: metro.co.uk

Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. joined chief competitor British Airways in saying it’s interested in a deal with BMI, the U.K. carrier that Deutsche Lufthansa AG has indicated may be sold.

“‘We continue to have a close interest in a combination with BMI,’” Virgin Atlantic said in a statement, adding that it currently works with the carrier at London’s Heathrow airport, where the two are among top slot holders after British Airways.

The airline posted a profit in the third quarter of 2010 but had a 120 million-euro ($163 million) operating loss in the first half of this year.

source: Bloomberg

Monarch Airlines‘ parent company The Monarch Group has cancelled its order for the much anticipated Boeing ‘Dreamliners’. It had ordered six but after a number of rumours circulating recently, it has confirmed it won’t be buying them.

Monarch told the press in June that it would focus on expanding its short-haul network.

A spokesperson confirmed: “‘Monarch Airlines will see further expansion into new UK bases and new routes from 2012, whilst remaining dedicated to supporting its long standing tour operator partner needs. Further consideration will be given to developing and strengthening its long-haul options in the future.’”

source: gotimeshare.org

Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of the band Green Day was ejected from a plane at Oakland airport after a stewardess became upset that his jeans were “‘sagging’” to reveal his underpants.

The incident took place on a taxi-ing flight bound for Burbank, in Southern California. It prompted Armstrong to vent his frustration via Twitter. “‘Just got kicked-off a Southwest flight because my pants sagged too low,’” he told 170,000 followers. “‘What the f**k? No joke!’”

When Southwest had become aware of exactly who Mr Armstrong is – Green Day has sold over 65 million records, and their album American Idiot swept the Grammys – they offered to re-seat him on a later flight.

source: Independent.co.uk

Air Australia will add a fresh twist to the Australian airline industry, as it introduces a sharp new livery over coming months.

The stylish lime branding was revealed to staff last night and will initially adorn one of the company’s Airbus A330s.

It is part of a rebranding by Strategic Airlines as it re-invents itself as a low-fare carrier with new domestic and international services. Designed by advertising heavyweight Sean Cummins, the man responsible for the original “‘anti-Qantas'” Virgin Blue livery, it aims to portray the rebranded carrier as a breath of fresh air in the market.

source: theaustralian.com.au

In a clear attempt to make its flights more appealing to business travellers, Ryanair has announced it is to allow customers to amend their bookings even after they have checked in online.

The service, which is available from Ryanair’s telephone reservation centres at a cost of £15 per passenger, per flight, allows passengers to access to their booking to amend names or change their flight dates.

source: Travelmole

A night on a sleeper train used to be a mark of prestige for travelers in backpacking paradise Thailand, but all that could be about to change thanks to the rapid growth of low-cost airlines.

Thai Airways, the country’s main airline, confirmed this week that it is to launch another low-cost carrier (Thai Smile) in July next year, operating from Bangkok to allow travelers to travel easily within the country.

The multitude of low-cost airlines in Thailand is sure to please budget-concious travelers – but it could mean the end of a night on a Thai train as a quintessential backpacking experience.

source: Independent.co.uk
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A court has ordered Brazil’s second-largest airline to plant trees near Sao Paulo’s international airport to compensate for pollution caused by its passenger jets.

The Sao Paulo State Court of Justice says in a statement that Gol Lineas Aereas Intelligentes S.A. must reforest an area whose size has not yet been determined to compensate for pollution generated by departing and landing aircraft at the airport, located next to the city of Guarulhos.

source: Boston.com

Low-fare airline easyJet is to start services to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.

From March 28 next year, the budget carrier will operate twice-weekly flights to the second-largest of the Canary Islands from Gatwick airport.

Fuerteventura is the ninth new route to be introduced by easyJet from Gatwick since the beginning of this year.

source: Independent.co.uk

Germanwings Chief Executive Officer Thomas Winkelmann plans to take over some of Air Berlin routes from the Cologne/Bonn airport.

Air Berlin, Germany’s second-biggest airline, said Aug. 18 it will cancel unprofitable routes, reduce flight frequencies and partially withdraw from regional airports to focus on its four main hubs.

source: bloomberg.com