Zoom Airlines has announced two new routes for 2008. The new routes will operate from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in Florida and San Diego in Southern California. The first of Zoom’s new routes will be launched in May 2008 from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Zoom will be the first scheduled airline in 10 years to offer flights from any European airport to this sunshine resort.
source: Travel Daily News
European airline traffic rose by 4.9 pct in October from a year earlier, the Association of European Airlines (AEA) said, adding that passenger traffic looks set to rise by 5 pct, or slightly more, for the full year.
Cross-border European traffic remained strong at 7.5 pct, AEA noted, and the North Atlantic was uncharacteristically buoyant with a 5.9 pct increase.
In the Far East, growth slipped below recent levels at 1.3 pct, but headed for a 3 pct rise for the full year, and a 7.3 pct increase in the South Atlantic for October will not deflect progress towards a year-end growth ”well into double figures”, AEA said.
source: Forbes
Airlines should be forced by a change in the law to provide two inches more leg room on board passenger jets, a cross-party committee of peers said in a report on air travel.
The Lords committee on science and technology accused the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of ignoring its own research which recommended the regulatory minimum distance between seats should be increased to 28.2ins (71.6cm) or ideally to 29.4ins from a current minimum of 26ins.
source: The Independent
A Vietnam Airlines flight bound for Hanoi was delayed for four hours at Danang Airport after several scorpions were found on the plane, an official said today.
The A321 aircraft, with 165 passengers on board, was about to taxi onto the runway Tuesday evening when a crew member spotted two scorpions near a passenger’s seat.
source: The Age
The chaos surrounding the auction of an Italian government stake in Alitalia grew on Thursday, as Singapore Airlines denied it was interested in buying any part of the carrier less than an hour after Alitalia said it had received an offer.
Alitalia said a group consisting of Singapore Airlines, Evergreen Special Situation Fund and THL Transportation Equities Fund wanted to buy the 49.9% stake that’s for sale. The airline said it passed the details onto the Italian government.
source: Market Watch
The chaos surrounding the auction of an Italian government stake in Alitalia grew on Thursday, as Singapore Airlines denied it was interested in buying any part of the carrier less than an hour after Alitalia said it had received an offer.
Alitalia said a group consisting of Singapore Airlines, Evergreen Special Situation Fund and THL Transportation Equities Fund wanted to buy the 49.9% stake that’s for sale. The airline said it passed the details onto the Italian government.
source: Market Watch
The chaos surrounding the auction of an Italian government stake in Alitalia grew on Thursday, as Singapore Airlines denied it was interested in buying any part of the carrier less than an hour after Alitalia said it had received an offer.
Alitalia said a group consisting of Singapore Airlines, Evergreen Special Situation Fund and THL Transportation Equities Fund wanted to buy the 49.9% stake that’s for sale. The airline said it passed the details onto the Italian government.
source: Market Watch
United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier last month to offer flat-bed seats in international business cabins. Delta is planning to begin introducing flat-bed seats in business class starting next year. And American is continuing to replace some of its business-class seats with angled lie-flat seats.
The perks of airborne beds go beyond peaceful sleep. Singapore Airlines’ new Airbus A380 has suites with double beds, sliding doors, wardrobes and window blinds. Virgin Atlantic offers its Upper Class, or business class, passengers ground transportation, in-flight massages, and a clubhouse at the airport where they can shower, dine and check email.
A good night’s sleep on an overnight flight can make the difference in how well business executives function the next day, said Buckman. But he said vacationers are taking advantage of the beds as well. While there is no hanky-panky allowed, even with double-bed suites, “‘that honeymoon to Hong Kong is definitely more enjoyable and less stressful ” for the happy couple if they can get there and back a little easier and more comfortably,'” Buckman said.
source: USA today
Staff at flag carrier Cyprus Airways CAIR.CY called off a strike on Wednesday to allow more time for consultations over a controversial ground handling contract, labour unions said.
Two unions representing staff involved in ground handling had called for a walkout at the troubled airline but one labour union backed down on Monday and the second on Wednesday morning.
“‘We have suggested a temporary postponement of measures to allow further consultations,'” said Antonis Neophytou of the SIDIKEK-PEO labour union.
source: Reuters
Two firms have announced plans to offer free, in-flight Wi-Fi connections for laptop computers and smart phones on flights on the JetBlue airline.
The new service, offered by Yahoo and Research in Motion (RIM), will allow passengers to access customized Yahoo mail and instant messenger services on their laptops or access corporate e-mails on Wi-Fi enabled versions of the popular Blackberry device from RIM.
