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Ryanair has said it plans to hire 1,000 people this year, an increase in its workforce of more than 10%, as it boosts its fleet to 305 aircraft from 270. Europe’s biggest budget airline is opening new bases in Billund, in Denmark, Wroclaw, in Poland, Palma, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, Paphos, in Cyprus, and Manchester. A spokeswoman for Ryanair said some of the new jobs would be created in the UK, including Manchester, though details are still being finalised.

source: Guardian.co.uk

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has predicted that the airline will continue to seize business from rivals in Spain as the Irish low-cost carrier became the biggest passenger carrier in the country last year.

Figures from Spanish government-owned airport operator AENA show Ryanair shifted 32.2 million passengers through the country’s airports last year — 21.1pc more than in 2010.

source: Independent.ie

Airline Easyjet has amended its pricing amid government plans to ban excessive surcharges when buying tickets online.

The company has introduced a £9 flat administration fee to replace the previous £8 booking fee levied on anyone paying with most debit cards.

The government vowed in December to make online prices clearer so consumers could shop around.

However, Easyjet believes its new fee will not be subject to new legislation.

source: BBC.co.uk

Vueling intends to consolidate Barcelona El Prat as a “‘true hub’” for intercontinental flights. On Thursday morning, Vueling announced that it will invest €325 million this summer by opening 23 new routes from Barcelona Airport, coinciding with the summer season and its demand increase. Vueling will have direct flights to 70 destinations from Barcelona from this summer and will link up to 900 destinations with flight connections through Barcelona El Prat Airport, including intercontinental flights.

Ryanair will introduce a 25 euro cents levy on every seat booked from next week to cover the expected 18-20 million euro cost for carbon permits it needs this year under a new European Union emissions trading scheme (ETS).

Europe’s largest budget airline on Monday followed U.S. group Delta Air Lines and Deutsche Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest carrier, in passing costs onto customers.

Global airlines group IATA has estimated the annual industry-wide cost of the ETS will rise to 2.8 billion euros by 2020 from 900 million this year.

source: Reuters

British travellers’ love affair with Spain will be as passionate as ever in 2012, according to Jet2.com and package trip provider Jet2holidays.

In a report predicting key trends for the coming year based on surveys and customer data, the company revealed that 30 per cent of sun seekers are planning to visit the Iberian peninsula for their main holiday.

Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca and Malaga will continue to welcome high numbers of British visitors, according to the research, while Dalaman in Turkey and the Greek island of Crete are also attracting interest.

All-inclusive trips are set to prove popular among consumers trying to stick to a budget, with Jet2holidays reporting that 60 per cent of all family bookings for the coming year are for packages of this kind.

source: Travelbite.co.uk

Ryanair carried 4.8 million passengers in December, 5 per cent down on a year ago, Europe’s largest budget airline said yesterday after it grounded 80 aircraft to avoid flying routes made unprofitable by high fuel prices.
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The Irish company said its 2011/2012 winter traffic was expected to fall by around 5 per cent due to the decision to ground planes.

source: Independent.co.uk

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Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi and Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest airline, announced a strategic partnership Monday that will see Etihad become Air Berlin‘s largest shareholder and gain access to new European routes as it seeks to keep pace with its larger Gulf-based rival, Emirates.

Under the terms of the agreement, Etihad will increase an existing 3 percent stake in Air Berlin to just over 29 percent through the purchase €73 million, or $95 million, in new shares while providing up to $255 million in loans to finance new jet purchases.

source: NY Times.com

Ryanair has defied the government’s move to ban surcharges on payments to airlines and other firms by saying it does not charge its passengers any credit or debit card fees.

Airlines, cinemas and holiday firms will be stopped from imposing millions of pounds in “‘hidden last-minute'” charges on internet bookings. Treasury minister Mark Hoban said the government is prepared to legislate to prevent airlines and other businesses from imposing hefty charges on credit and debit card bookings that are difficult to detect.

However, the budget airline said in a statement: “‘Ryanair, the UK’s favourite airline, today confirms that it does not impose any debit or credit card fees.'”

Ryanair claims instead to charge an “‘admin fee'” per passenger per one-way flight. This £6 charge is levied when a passenger comes to pay and can only be avoided by using the airline’s own prepaid Mastercard. It states on its website that this charge “‘relates to costs associated with Ryanair’s booking system.'”

source: Guardian.co.uk

easyJet has announced increased capacity on five of its most popular ski routes making it the UK’s largest ski airline. This season the airline is offering more than one million seats to ski destinations – a four percent increase on last season – to ensure that winter thrill seekers can secure affordable flights to the widest range of ski resorts.

Fresh snowfall, particularly at high altitude western European resorts, has prompted resorts in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland to open up for the first time this season.

source: traveldailynews.com