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Data compiled by Gatwick, the airport that is easyJet‘s largest base, show that fewer than 50pc of its flights from the airport took off on time last month.

In June, 48pc of easyJet’s international flights departed on time – within 15 minutes of its advertised schedule. That was worse than Air Zimbabwe, which managed 50pc on time, and considerably worse than British Airways, which hit 85.7pc. The revelation will stoke the furore about the state of easyJet’s operations.

source: Telegraph.co.uk

Ryanair’s first-quarter net profits have fallen by 24% to 93.7m euros ($122m, £80m) because of the volcanic ash disruption earlier this year.

The airline said the Icelandic ash cloud had caused it to cancel almost 10,000 flights at a cost of 50m euros.

source: BBC News

Spirit Airlines has announced the cancellation of even more flights through Thursday due to the strike by pilots, which started on Saturday. To help passengers with the cancellations, the carrier says that they will be given flight credits for the full cost of their tickets, as well as an extra $100 credit to use on future flights. However, customers can also choose to get a full refund.

On Saturday morning, hundreds of pilots began industrial action after talks over pay failed with Spirit Airlines. The two sides tried to reach an agreement through the night, but were unable to come to a resolution.

source: mns.co.uk

Easyjet has drawn up plans to drop the Easy name if it cannot resolve a bitter row with the airline’s founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

The company could until recently have revived Go, the name used by the low-cost airline set up by former British Airways executive Barbara Cassani. Easyjet bought Go in 2002 but sold the brand last year for $1m (£688,000).

A simmering dispute between Stelios and the company exploded on Friday, with Stelios resigning from the board. He said he had stepped down to speak freely about his concerns with the way the company was being run. “‘The gag is off,’” he said. He accused Andy Harrison, the chief executive, of pursuing a reckless expansion programme and buying too many aircraft.

source: Times Online

Italy’s civil aviation authority has imposed a fine of just over $4 million on the Irish low-cost airline, Ryanair, for failing to help passengers stranded during the disruption caused by a volcanic ash cloud last month.

The Italians say Ryanair failed to provide passengers at an airport in Rome with drinks, meals and hotel rooms. Tens of thousands of flights were grounded during a week of travel chaos caused by the ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland.

The Italian civil aviation authority said its own staff had to help stranded Ryanair passengers in Rome, and it cited 178 cases where the company had breached the rules

source: ABC News

Emirates says Baghdad will be among the new destinations it will begin serving this year. Emirates will begin flying to Baghdad in July, making it “‘the latest carrier to add routes to Iraq as the nation struggles to recover from war.'”

Other Middle East carriers (FlyDubai and Qatar Airways) have also recently announced Baghdad service, writing that “‘the flights also are a possible sign of increased Arab investment in Iraq’s oil and commercial sectors.'”

source: USA Today

Holiday-makers jetting off with airline Flybe can now take out insurance to cover them in the event of more volcanic ash incidents.

The firm has just launched a £6.99 insurance policy which promises to pay out if flights are cancelled or delayed for over 24 hours due to volcanic ash.

As part of the offer – which runs to 30th October – anyone left stranded abroad could claim up to £1.050 in reasonable expenses.

source: newslite.tv

Passengers have been warned they will not be compensated after being stranded by the ash cloud.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has insisted his airline will defy compensation rules for stranded passengers.

The budget airline warned passengers it will not be held liable for their extra hotel and restaurant bills after they were stranded due to the ash cloud.

Mr O’Leary said customers will be refunded their original ticket price but no more, a refusal to abide by EU consumer rules.

The airline boss met authorities in Dublin and says he will see Ireland’s Commission for Aviation Regulation in court rather than pay.

source: ITN

Porter Airlines Inc. is planning an initial public offering less than four years after it launched operations at Toronto’s island airport near the downtown business core.

The regional carrier, through Porter Aviation Holdings Inc., has submitted a preliminary prospectus for the IPO.

Porter began flights at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in October, 2006.

source: theglobeandmail.com

Extra charges on Ryanair flights have increased by up to 700 per cent since 2006, it emerged this week.

The airline has announced it will increase the fee to check in luggage by 33 per cent – to £40 per bag per return flight – during the peak travel months of July and August. This compares with the original £5 charge in 2006.

Passenger must also now pay a £10 online check-in fee per return flight (not payable on “‘promotional fares'”), a charge that did not exist in 2006. A fee of £10 per person per return flight is also added to all payments made by credit or debit card, with the exception of those involving prepaid MasterCard debit cards. This compares with a charge of £3.50 per person per return flight in 2006.

On top of these charges, the airline has again said it plans to install coin-operated lavatories on its fleet, charging customers £1 a time to use them

source: Telegraph.co.uk