easyJet PLC’s chief executive Andy Harrison rejected predictions from Ryanair Holdings PLC that the airline market is heading for a serious downturn.
Economic indicators across Europe pointed to continued growth for low-cost carriers despite a recent softening in demand for air travel, Harrison told the Guardian.
source: hemscott.com
The new daily service between London Luton and Vienna commences on 29 October and is the first time the airline has entered the Austria market, which is expected to be particularly popular as a year round city break destination as well as a ski gateway in the winter.
source: Boarding.no
Flybe, Europe’s biggest regional airline, today announces plans to increase its daily service from Southampton to Manchester from six to seven flights a day, as well as deploying the Embraer 195 on at least half of these services, increasing capacity by 40%.
Flybe has been operating on this route since 2004 and with fares starting at just £27.99 one way including taxes and charges and is responding to consumer demand since it lowered fares in the aftermath of its takeover of the high-price BA Connect.
source: Easier
Even the winter holiday travel nightmares could not diminish JetBlue’s overall reputation among its peers. The J.D. Power and Associates 2007 North America Airline Satisfaction Study survey ranks Jet Blue the leading low-cost carrier for the third year in a row.
Continental Airlines holds the top-ranked slot among traditional carriers for the second consecutive year.
The survey measures overall customer satisfaction based on performance in cost and fees; flight crew; in-flight services; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in and reservations.
Low-cost Canadian carrier Zoom Airlines makes its first foray into the U.S. market Thursday when it launches a daily flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport.
Zoom is offering one-way fares of $199 on its 266-seat Boeing 767-300’s. Slightly larger “premium economy” seats can be had for an additional $179 each way.
“It’s a very low price for the summer,” said Bob Mann, an airline consultant with R.W. Mann & Co. in Port Washington, N.Y.
Zoom does not require passengers to buy a round-trip ticket or stay over on a Saturday night, both typical requirements for a cheaper flight on most airlines. Zoom, based in Ottawa, Canada, and at Gatwick, already operates 10 to 12 daily flights between Canada and the U.K.
source: BW
Ryanair has announced it is extending its 10 stg seat sale into the summer peak months of July, August and September in response to continuing softness in the market.
Chief executive Michael O’Leary said the sale of 3 mln seats for 10 stg including charges and taxes, which will cost the company between 25 and 45 mln stg, would stimulate late bookings and increase the airline’s yields.
”Bookings are going very strongly, loads are strong but yields are lower,” he said at a news conference in London. ”It’s good for passengers but bad for profits.”
source: Forbes
Thomsonfly has become the first budget airline to offer flights to Israel. The low-fare carrier will start services to Tel Aviv from Manchester and Luton airports on November 1, with one-way fares from £79.99. Three flights a week will be on offer to and from the Israeli city.
Thomsonfly commercial director Guy Stephenson said: “‘Our decision to launch into Tel Aviv will satisfy the huge demand for direct flights to this exciting Israeli city. The Israeli economy is strong and visitor numbers from the UK are up this year, which is a positive backdrop to the launch of new services.'”
source: Channel 4
A top executive with Hong Kong-based Dragonair says the airline plans to expand to a number of major destinations throughout China.
Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Kenny Tang said as part of an effort by the airline to strengthen its network, the company will soon begin offering travel services to several other top Chinese destinations, Xinhua, the nation’s official news agency, reported Sunday.
“‘We are pleased to bring more flexibility and convenience for mainland travelers. The addition of these extra services gives travelers more options, while we can help attract more mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong and boost the economy,'” Tang said.
source: The Money Times
Britain’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) says it will take action against airlines that don’t reveal full price fares.
Several low-cost airlines are still quoting fares without including extras such as taxes.
The OFT has already given carriers a warning on misleading pricing, with an edict to include all costs in their basic advertised prices.
The extra costs which concern the OFT include items such as air passenger tax and fuel surcharges, all of which can significantly change the price of a flight.
source: malaysiasun.com
All flights in and out of Ryanair’s Belgian hub at Charleroi airport were grounded on Friday after security staff walked out in a wildcat strike.
A row over the privatisation of public sector security personnel caused the disruption, which began at dawn and spread to Liege airport in the east.
An estimated 8,000 passengers have been affected by the action so far.
source: BBC
