news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

Malaysia’s low-cost airline AirAsia today launched a new long-haul budget airline named AirAsia X which will begin flying to destinations in China, India and Europe in July.AirAsia X will be a collaboration between AirAsia, owned by Tony Fernandes, and Fly Asian Express, or FAX, a small airline serving rural routes in Malaysia.

“‘The launch of AirAsia X will bring independence to the long haul low-cost traveller, by providing a choice of service for their long haul travel requirements,'” Fernandes said at the launch of the newairline.

The airline has received approval to fly to several destinations in Europe, China, India and Australia, he said.

source: Sun2surf

Several major US airlines said on Wednesday they had at least partially matched a limited fare increase last week by low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines.

The increase, which comes on the heels of a broader fare increase by carriers earlier in December, points to airlines’ expectations of healthy demand and supports analysts’ generally upbeat outlook for the industry this year.

Southwest said high fuel prices necessitated the December 29 fare increase, which affects about 25 percent of the carrier’s passengers. “‘We are still very much in a high fuel environment,'” said Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin.

source: Airwise

The plane, carrying 102 people, went out of contact as it was flying from Java to northern Sulawesi. Officials reported receiving two distress calls.The search resumed on Wednesday after rescue officials admitted that earlier reports that the plane and its passengers had been found were untrue.

Relatives are waiting anxiously for news, and are angry at the confusion.

Transport minister Hatta Radjasa admitted late on Tuesday that the reports of a crash site, bodies and survivors were based on incorrect rumours from local villagers.

source: BBC News

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings,  today reported record traffic results for the full year 2006 as well as December 2006 and the Fourth Quarter. The airline reported that revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and passengers enplaned represent company records for December and the quarter, while available seat miles (ASMs) represent an all-time record for December and the quarter.

For the year, AirTran Airways traffic grew 22.4 percent on a capacity increase of 23.7 percent, and the load factor was 72.8 percent. The airline has enplaned a record number of passengers with 20,051,219 boardings this year, an increase of 20.5 percent from 2005.

source: PR Newswire

easyJet, Europe’s leading low-fares airline, has announced it would be adding the beautiful and vibrant island of Ibiza to its choice of destinations from Belfast, Bristol and Glasgow for summer 2007.

David Osborne, UK General Manager for easyJet, said: “To kick off easyJet’s expansion plans for 2007, we are delighted to be announcing three new routes from Belfast, Bristol and Glasgow to Ibiza bringing even more low-fares to these regions. Ibiza has already proved a popular summer destination from many of our other UK bases and now even more holiday-makers seeking fun in the sun or a relaxing break on the famous White Isle can do so easily from their local airport“.

source: Easier

Sterling offers good discounts in January and February that allow you to save up to 50%. However, special offers will be available until mid June. Note that the offers only apply to selected departures and not, for example, during Easter, Whitsun and other holidays.

A bill of rights for European airline passengers could be redrawn amid mounting evidence the flagship measure is being widely ignored.

Jacques Barrot, European Union transport commissioner, is preparing follow-up action to enforce the air passenger rights law, which was introduced two years ago. The directive’s failure is an embarrassment for the Commission, which saw it as a way of demonstrating the ability of Brussels to improve citizens’ lives.

Under the directive, travellers are entitled to compensation or refunds for delayed flights.

source: FT.com

Virgin Group has re-entered talks with AirAsia about taking a stake in the Malaysia-based low-cost airline, in a move that would give the British company a wider foothold in the Asian market.

It is understood that AirAsia has approached Virgin in the hope that its Virgin Atlantic subsidiary would invest in the Malaysian airline. It is the second time that the two companies have spoken after Virgin Blue, the group’s Asian unit, and AirAsia discussed investment in 2003.

source: Times On Line

The airline filed for bankruptcy last week after having abruptly suspended operations Dec 15, leaving thousands of flyers stranded.

The company and the airline’s unions have said they are ready to incorporate the business into another company immediately, even though it may have “‘another management policy,'” the newspaper said.

Separately, the newspaper cited the same sources as saying they hope to postpone the demonstration planned for this Sunday by various groups of passengers affected by Air Madrid’s demise.
source: Sharewatch

Deutsche Lufthansa AG plans to hire 3,000 new employees this year, a spokesman for the German flagship airline said.

The total includes 1,200 flight attendants, 800 ground staff, 240 trainee pilots as well as 330 other trainees, the spokesman said. The Lufthansa group currently employs around 94,000 people.

source: hemscott.com