news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

The airline that pioneered charges for checked-in baggage has abandoned its £9 flat fee for paying with debit cards.

Flybe, Eeurope’s largest regional carrier, says it has removed the charge as part of “‘A fair, open and transparent approach to sales and service policies'”.

Until its removal today, the fee earned Flybe an average of £4.50 for each passenger flown. But the airline’s UK managing director, Andrew Strong said “‘I’m not looking to put up fares to offset the removal. People will choose us because we offer a better product.'”

source: belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Airberlin is planning to install Etihad‘s popular fully flat business class beds in all its long-distance planes, which means a more comfortable sleep, direct aisle access and better privacy.

The airline, which is partner to both Qantas and Etihad, hopes that superior seats will woo business travellers onto its Germany-bound flights.

Southwest Airlines and Amadeus IT Group announced last week that they have entered into a joint contract for Amadeus’ Altea reservations solution that would support the carrier’s international service.  Now that the contract is finalised, the two companies will work closely together to implement Amadeus’ technology to allow Southwest to operate international flights in 2014.

AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, currently serves international destinations.  As the AirTran international flights transition to Southwest, Amadeus will support Southwest’s international flying.

source: breakingtravelnews.com

Pakistan blocked the head of an airline whose jet crashed near the capital from leaving the country as it began an investigation Saturday into the country’s second major air disaster in less then two years.

The Bhoja Air passenger jet crashed Friday as it tried to land in a thunderstorm at Islamabad’s main airport, killing all 127 people on board. The small domestic airline, which resumed operations in March after an 11-year pause, has said the weather was the cause.

The plane was on a flight from the southern city of Karachi to Islamabad when it crashed at dusk

source: Associated Press

Ryanair passengers face forking out even more money for their flight this summer, even though they have already booked and paid for it.

The budget airline is threatening to impose a surcharge on flights back from Spanish airports in an escalating row over airport fees.

This week, the airline sent an email to customers warning them of the backdated cost.

Ryanair, is now the leading airline between the UK and Spain so the charges could aeffect millions of pople who have already booked their summer flights.

source: Dailymail.co.uk

US Airways launched an aggressive takeover bid for its larger rival American Airlines on Friday.

The bold move would lift troubled American out of bankruptcy and create a contender for the title of the largest airline in the U.S.

But the deal – which is resisted by American’s management – could also complicate the company’s already messy bankruptcy reorganisation.

US Airways went behind the larger company’s back and secured the support of American’s three labour unions in its bid to force a merger.

source: Dailymail.co.uk

A plane had to make an emergency diversion after a passenger died on board.

Airline Jet2 said the incident happened on board a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to Prague last Friday.

A Jet2 spokeswoman said the pilot made an emergency diversion to Dusseldorf in Germany to “‘seek urgent medical attention'”.

source: BBC.co.uk

‘

The two airlines were named among Britain’s worst performing companies in a survey of call centre responses and waiting times.

‘
Customers contacting easyJet by phone can face a wait of up to 68 minutes, according to the study, making it the second worst company to feature.

EasyJet rejected the findings of the study, and claimed that 80 per cent of customers wait less than 60 seconds to speak to a member of staff.

Meanwhile, British Airways came third in the study’s league of “‘rudest call centres’”. It was criticised for cutting off customers who are waiting to speak to an operator.

source: telegraph.co.uk

Easyjet has launched a virtual card intended to make payment easier for TMCs and travel buyers.

The no-frills airline has teamed up with Travelport’s Enett payments specialist to offer agencies use of its virtual account numbers (VANs).

This system allows both IATA and non-IATA companies to use what Enett describes as a “‘more secure and effective means of payment’” to Easyjet and other travel suppliers.

source: telegraph.co.uk

Ryanair customers are to face extra charges on flights they have already paid for because of planned increases to airport tax by the Spanish government.

Customers who already have bookings to or from a Spanish airport received an e-mail from the budget airline yesterday, explaining Ryanair may be “‘forced’” to charge more because of “‘government-imposed increases’” expected to come into effect in the next few weeks.

Ryanair claimed it could not give details of how much these charges will be or when they will be made – but told passengers they will be contacted before any money is debited from their accounts.

source: scotsman.com