Car Hire 8, a revolutionary new online car hire service, launched in the UK this weekend. Their site provides car hire reservations from the leading brands like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Rent a Car and Europcar.

What makes it different from other car rental brokers is that you choose which brand you want but benefit from Car Hire 8’s great prices. Available in 125 countries at 17,000 locations worldwide.

To celebrate the launch, consumers can receive 10 percent off on car hire anywhere in the world throughout the month of August by using promotional code 10OFFCH8 upon booking.

www.carhire8.co.uk

8/10/2008 11:46:36 AM UTC     

U.S. News argues that air travel keeps getting more stressful and reports that in 2007 US airlines turned in their second-worst on-time performance ever, with just 73.4 percent of flights arriving on time. It also says planes have never been more crowded, with an average load factor of 80.5 percent.

To gauge where the pain is deepest, U.S. News crunched US government figures to develop an Airport Misery Index: a ranking that shows which of the 47 busiest US airports have the best and worst combination of delayed flights and crowded planes.
With 33.5% of flights delayed and an 83% load factor, for an overall “misery” ranking of 47, America’s most miserable airport - according to U.S. News - is Chicago, O’Hare. O’Hare was closely followed in the misery stakes by Newark, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and Las Vegas. Rounding out the top ten were Charlotte, JFK, Atlanta and Seattle.

The least miserable of the 47 airports polled was San Jose where only 16.8% of flights were delayed and the load factor was 77.3%. The next five best were Memphis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Santa Ana and Oakland.

7/4/2008 11:14:52 AM UTC     

EL AL, the national carrier of Israel, is offering a huge saving of £1100 on it’s first class companion return fare this July and August, making it just £2,400 for two people!

EL AL’s First Class experience begins with a return limousine transfer to the airport both in the UK and Israel. At the airport, First Class passengers can access EL AL’s King David Lounge, the perfect place to freshen up before a flight. Once on board passengers get to experience full flat seats with 100” pitch; a varied menu created by promising young Israeli chefs, with a choice of award winning Israeli wines; and personal VOD entertainment.

To book this deal, please call 020 7121 1400 or see your travel agent.

*  Subject to availability; valid from 1st July – 31st August; 2-week advance booking restriction; max stay 21 days; min stay 3 nights.

6/23/2008 10:57:32 AM UTC     

What goods are prohibited or restricted when entering the UK?

HMRC customs expert Mark Fuchster explains goods you can, and can’t, bring back from abroad Covering a whole range of subjects including food, plants, wildlife souvenirs, prescription drugs and counterfeit goods,

Download for free from www.hmrc.gov.uk/podcasts

6/9/2008 3:28:16 AM UTC     

SINGAPORE CROWNED BEST AIRLINE FOR 6th TIME

SINGAPORE CHANGI WINS BEST AIRPORT AT THE 26th OAG AIRLINE INDUSTRY AWARDS
EASYJET LANDS BEST LOW COST AIRLINE TITLE
BRITISH AIRWAYS, EMIRATES AND SINGPORE MULTIPLE AWARD WINNERS
AIR CANADA TEAM AT HEATHROW HONOURED FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE

Singapore was the major winner at the 26th OAG Airline Industry

Awards with the country’s airline, Singapore Airlines, voted “OAG Airline of the Year”, and the country’s main international airport, Singapore Changi, voted Best Airport. The Award winners were announced on the night of Wednesday, 4 June in the art deco setting of The Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London.

“This is a very special night for Singapore,” says Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. “Our congratulations go to the airline, the airport, the Government and the people of Singapore. The level of service and innovation that Singapore Airlines and Singapore Changi have consistently offered the travelling public is reflected by the way OAG subscribers, the world’s frequent fliers, have voted. The slogan for Singapore Changi is ‘Enjoy the experience’. Travellers who use the airport and the airline clearly do.”

Singapore Airlines last won the coveted Spirit of Flight trophy for “Airline of the Year” back in 2003. The trophy was presented by President of Boeing UK, Sir Roger Bone, which sponsored the Awards. Singapore Airlines has now won the “OAG Airline of the Year” award on six occasions since the inception of the awards in 1982, more than any other carrier and one more than British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.  Other airlines nominated this year for “OAG Airline of the Year” included American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa.

As well as winning “OAG Airline of the Year”, Singapore Airlines won awards for Best Airline Based in Asia and Best International First Class. Singapore Airlines’ home base, Singapore Changi, fought off extremely stiff competition to reclaim the Best Airport crown it last won in 2006.

UK-based easyJet took the title of Best Low Cost Airline for the first time, beating last year’s winner jetBlue as well as Jetstar, Ryanair and Southwest Airlines.  This was the first time this award has gone to a European low cost carrier.

Multiple winners on the night included last year’s “Airline of the Year”, British Airways, which retained its crown as Best Transatlantic Airline and also won the Best Business / Executive Class category, an award that had been won for the last five years by Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines, however, did retain its title as Best Airline Based in North America, for a fifth successive year, and also won the new category for Best Airline Finance Deal for its EETC (enhanced equipment trust certificate).

Emirates retained its title as Best Airline Based in the Middle East / Indian Sub-Continent and also won the category for Best Airline between Europe and Asia / Australasia.

Reflecting the global reach of the OAG awards other regional winners on the night for best airline included Qantas (Australasia / Pacific), LAN Airlines (Central/South America and the Caribbean), South African Airways (Africa), Virgin Atlantic (Western Europe), and CSA Czech Airlines (Central/Eastern Europe). Air New Zealand was voted Best Transpacific Airline and American Airlines was recognised for Best Economy / Coach Class.

Lufthansa Cargo won the Best Freighter Operator Award and AWAS was voted Best Airline Lessor.

“We all know how the airline industry is vital for world trade, our economies and our prosperity,” commented Alan Glass, CEO of OAG, during his welcome address, “but we are also cognizant of the significant challenges we face. However we need to put some perspective on all the negative talk. Compared with this time last year, OAG statistics reveal the world’s airlines are operating 40,000 more flights and offering 10.1 million more seats, although some rationalization is anticipated. The aircraft order books are looking pretty healthy, with a 35% increase year on year. This indicates that despite current financial pressures, the industry as a whole is gearing up its investment for long-term sustainability.”

The recipient of the Outstanding Service Award was the Air Canada Customer Service team based at Heathrow Airport.  The team of five people were honoured for their personal generosity and effort in making a real difference to the lives of young children in South Africa.

The annual “OAG Airline Industry Awards”, sponsored by Boeing, celebrate the very best in global air travel and publicly recognises the highest standards within the industry.  The complete list of winners and nominees for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards follows, and can also be accessed at www.oagairlineawards.com.

The Winners and Nominees for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards

OAG Airline of the Year 2008: Singapore Airlines
American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa

Best Airline Based in Asia: Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Thai Airways

Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific: Qantas
Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Blue

Best Airline Based in North America: Continental Airlines
Air Canada (Commended), American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines

Best Airline Based in Central/S.America & Caribbean: LAN Airlines
Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines

Best Airline Based in Western Europe: Virgin Atlantic
Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa (Commended)

Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe: CSA Czech Airlines
Aeroflot Russian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines (Commended), MALEV Hungarian Airlines, TAROM Romanian Air Transport

Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent: Emirates
Etihad, Gulf Air, Jet Airways (Commended), Qatar Airways

Best Airline Based in Africa: South African Airways
Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, Virgin Nigeria

Best Transatlantic Airline: British Airways
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic

Best Transpacific Airline: Air New Zealand
Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines

Best Europe – Asia/Australasia Airline: Emirates
British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines

Best Low Cost/No Frills Airline: easyJet
jetBlue, Jetstar Airways, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines

Best Economy/Coach Class: American Airlines
British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines

Best Business/Executive Class: British Airways
American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines

Best International First Class: Singapore Airlines
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa

Best Airport: Singapore Changi
Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International,New York JFK, San Francisco International
Sponsored by Travelplus

Outstanding Service Award: Air Canada Customer Services, London Heathrow
Presented to Fiona Puglia, John Choules, Wayne Birnie, Shabana Khokhar & Ahjaz Osman

6/5/2008 12:37:17 AM UTC     

Titan Travel, the award-winning tour operator of quality escorted tours, is building on the success of its VIP Home Departure Service, to launch a new luxury private transfer vehicle service for business and leisure travellers across England and Wales, using a fleet of over 150 VW Caravelle people carriers. Each air-conditioned vehicle will carry a maximum of six passengers from their front door to their destination.

The service is predominantly aimed at travellers needing transport to and from airports and ports and through monitoring all flights, clients will be met by a uniformed driver in the airport arrivals hall, or for cruises passengers at the UK dock of their choice.

The service can be arranged from any location in England and Wales and is exclusive to each booking, so they will not pick up any other passengers en route.

www.titanprivatehire.co.uk

5/26/2008 5:55:39 AM UTC     

Passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport can enjoy free Wi-Fi access from June 1.

www.abudhabiairport.ae

5/26/2008 4:55:52 AM UTC     

For the first time in 10 years, a new low-cost scheduled transatlantic air service between any European airport and Fort Lauderdale, took off today (Thursday). Zoom Airlines’ inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale took off at almost full capacity with 241 passengers onboard revolutionising air travel to one of the most popular US summer holiday destinations.

The service will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays with fares starting from as low as £299 return including all taxes and charges. The commencement of this new route confirms Zoom’s position as being the leading low-fare airline across the Atlantic.

Launching the service today (Thursday), Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Zoom UK said: “We are delighted to be launching the start of the London to Fort Lauderdale service which has proved extremely popular with not only the UK, but the European travelling public. What’s appealing is that all our flights are high standard at low-cost and offer a full scheduled service onboard with economy and premium economy seating available.

Zoom operates an ‘easyJet-style’ booking service with flexible one-way fares and the flights offer Economy and Premium Economy services with allocated seating, meals and soft drinks included in the fare in all cabins, and an enhanced service available in the Premium Economy cabin.

Zoom’s new service from London Gatwick to San Diego will commence next month.

www.flyzoom.com

5/22/2008 10:56:56 AM UTC     

OpenSkies, the new transatlantic airline from British Airways, will take flight on June 19th, the airline announced today.  Tickets for premium flights between Paris and New York on OpenSkies will go on sale this Thursday, May 22nd, Bookings can also be made through travel agents, all British Airways channels including the BA.com website, and via the OpenSkies Concierge Desk - featuring personalized services available to all customers commencing with the purchase of their ticket and throughout their journey.

With no more than 82 passengers on each flight, OpenSkies will offer a unique travel experience between Paris’ Orly Airport and New York’s JFK Airport.  The company’s simplified pricing approach is designed to provide true value for money compared with what has been traditionally offered by the long-time incumbent carriers operating on the Paris-New York route.  OpenSkies will feature three cabins:  Biz, a business class service featuring the only fully lie-flat beds in that market will be offered at prices starting at EUR2269 roundtrip; Prem+, a completely new service category featuring reclining seats with a 52” pitch will be offered from EUR1159 roundtrip; and economy, featuring a cabin containing only thirty seats that will be offered at prices beginning at EUR830 roundtrip.  Prices include fuel, insurance and security surcharges and have limited availability but require only seven days advance purchase.

OpenSkies will initially operate one daily round-trip flight on a fuel-efficient Boeing 757.  A second Boeing 757 is scheduled to join OpenSkies later this year from the British Airways fleet and it is planned that there will be six OpenSkies aircraft in total by the end of 2009.  OpenSkies plans to serve additional routes from European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan to New York.  
OpenSkies received approval to begin operations from the U.S. Department of Transportation last week.  It is the first airline created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, which allows airlines to fly between any U.S. and E.U. destination.

www.flyopenskies.com.

5/22/2008 4:45:05 AM UTC     

The lives of travelling Brits just got easier. Aer Arann’s new website makes flight bookings quick, simple and crystal-clear.

One of Europe’s fastest growing regional airlines, Aer Arann has simplified its previous five step booking process into an easy three steps with no hidden costs. Hopeful travellers booking through other online providers are forced to click through several pages of additional expenses while watching flights double and triple in price. Aer Arann customers can select and book their flights without all that hassle and uncertainty.

“A lack of price transparency is too often practiced in the airline industry, much to the displeasure of hopeful passengers,” says Colin Lewis, Head of Sales and Marketing at Aer Arann. “Our new website has no unexpected charges.  What our customers see is exactly what they pay – tax, luggage and check-in included.” 

Aer Arann’s website has no price add-ons or click-throughs. The full cost of the ticket is reflected in the first and only total, making bookings user-friendly and fully price transparent. Future travellers need only enter their origin and destination and click once to see their truthful flight costs. No hidden fees, no click-throughs and no scrolling required.

www.aerarann.com

5/22/2008 4:44:07 AM UTC     

Qatar Airways has announced an increase in capacity on the Doha – Bahrain route with the addition of five flights a week, beginning June 1. The new early evening departures from the Bahraini capital Manama offer excellent connections via Qatar Airways’ operational hub of Doha to a host of cities across the airline’s global network covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Indian subcontinent and North America.
 
Addressing Bahrain-based media in Manama, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the extra capacity would be a great boost for the travelling public from the Gulf state to cities around the world. “The addition of five new flights each week increases capacity between the two Gulf capitals from 42 to 47 flights a week and ensures the route only goes from strength to strength,” he said.
 
From November this year, Qatar Airways takes delivery of the first of its Long Range version Boeing 777-200 aircraft, capable of flying to virtually any key city in the world non-stop from Doha. The first Boeing 777-200 will be introduced on the Doha – Houston route from November 10 with a non-stop flying time of 17 hours.
 

5/22/2008 4:38:30 AM UTC     

Air Mauritius is delighted to announce the launch of its new business class product across all of its UK routes. The new offering includes lie-flat cocoon seats which offer guests a 60-inch seat pitch and a recline capacity of 172 degrees. The front cabin of each aircraft departing from the UK will be equipped with 34 of these state-of-the-art business seats laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration.

Also new to Air Mauritius, Audio & Video on Demand (AVOD) will now be standard in both the new business class and economy on all flights from the UK, allowing passengers to view 50 digital-quality, multi-language video options together with a vast library of CDs.

Iqbal Bhayat, Air Mauritius Regional Manager UK & Ireland, commented: “We are a proud ambassador of Mauritius and believe that our new business class design will let our passengers experience our passion for the island first hand from the moment they step on board. “The unveiling of our new business class, enhanced by exquisite attention to detail and service excellence, reinforces our commitment to the provision of exemplary service for all of our passengers flying from the UK.”

New Air Mauritius economy cabins will also feature new generation seats allowing for extra personal space, in addition to a superior food and beverage service.

The new two-class configuration will be rolled out across the whole Air Mauritius fleet on July 1 2008, with the cabins featuring a fresh layout including exotic décor inspired by the tropical flora and fauna of the island allowing passengers to truly experience Mauritius.

5/21/2008 12:50:39 AM UTC     

National Express Dot2Dot, London’s first large scale airport transfer provider has expanded its service further with a dedicated door-to-door transfer service between London King’s Cross and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Working alongside the UK’s leading intercity train service, National Express East Coast, Dot2Dot is making the journey to the airport simpler.

With a single ticket to Heathrow costing only £22.00 the cost is around half that of a taxi, with further discounts available for group bookings. Operating as an on demand service, passengers who arrive in Kings Cross Station can travel directly across the city to Heathrow Airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Passengers are required to book at least two hours in advance.

The new Dot2Dot Kings Cross service has been announced following Dot2Dot’s recent successful expansions. In the last six weeks alone Dot2Dot has extended its services to include Terminal 5, residential and business addresses across Canary Wharf as well as hotels, and has expanded the dedicated Gatwick service to operate around the clock.

www.dot2.com

5/20/2008 5:48:35 AM UTC     

Oman Air said it has resumed its commercial flights to the Lebanese Rafik Hariri International Airport, with the first flight that operated on Sunday 18th May 2008.
 
A spokes person stated that the national carrier of The Sultanate of Oman has been assessing the circumstances on a daily basis and is at this stage, content that resuming flights, as affirmed by the company’s security and operational specialists, is completely safe. The flights will operate on daily basis, and Oman Air office in the Lebanese capital is open for booking. Corporate Communications & Media of Oman Air notified that Oman Air has brought it operations to Beirut to a standstill on May 7 2008 due to the unstable circumstances, which the sisterly Lebanese Republic was going through, and for the safety of our valued passengers.

5/19/2008 7:42:13 AM UTC     

Aegean Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight between Stansted and Athens on the 15th May by welcoming passengers with champagne, gifts and a party atmosphere.

The introduction of the twice-daily, year round service between Stansted and Athens provides passengers with a real alternative for their travel to Greece. Aegean Airlines, Greece’s fastest growing full-service airline, is providing its customers with a premium 2 cabin service and in-flight catering.

Prices on Aegean’s route to Athens start from just £67 one way, including taxes. Aegean Airlines flies to 12 international destinations (London, Larnaca, Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Rome, Milan, Sofia, Bucharest, Cairo and Tirana) and 17 Greek destinations (Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Mytilene, Chios, Alexandroupolis, Mykonos, Santorini, Kavala, Limnos, Corfu, Ioannina and Kefalonia)

www.aegeanair.com

5/19/2008 7:41:12 AM UTC     

Due to the high level of fuel prices, Air France is increasing its fuel surcharge by 2 euros per segment on domestic flights, by 4 euros per segment on medium haul flights and by 10 euros per segment on long-haul flights.

This increase is valid on tickets for trips from France, issued as from 16 May 2008. 

Half of this increase (i.e. 1 euro on domestic flights, 2 euros on medium haul flights and 5 euros on long haul flights) will be withdrawn as soon as the price of the barrel is stabilized over time below 110 US dollars.

The remaining of that increase (i.e. 1 euro on domestic flights, 2 euros on medium haul flights and 5 euros on long haul flights) will be withdrawn as soon as the price of the barrel is stabilized over time below 105 US dollars.

5/16/2008 8:26:05 AM UTC     

Etihad Airways will launch flights on 1 August 2008 from its Abu Dhabi home base to Kozhikode (Calicut) and Chennai (Madras). The airline will operate a daily service to both cities. Flight EY250 will depart Abu Dhabi at 11.35pm and arrive in Kozhikode at 5am the next day. Return flight EY251 will depart Kozhikode at 5.45am arriving in Abu Dhabi at 8am the same day.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Etihad has made no secret of the fact that it wants to build up its Indian services and looks forward to expand its flying programme to the country with the launch of these two exciting new destinations. “The governments of the UAE and India, and particularly the Department of Transport of Abu Dhabi, deserve great credit for further opening up air links between these two emerging nations and allowing Etihad to grow its services to these developing cities in India.”

The addition of the two new cities brings the number of Indian destinations served by Etihad to six and follows successful bi-lateral talks between the governments of the UAE and India, aimed at further liberalising flying links between the two countries.

5/16/2008 8:25:22 AM UTC     

Virgin Atlantic, announced that it has an amazing seat sale on until the 24 June for Upper Class tickets to selected destinations until December this year.  The fares, from as little as £1099, are available for travel up to and including the 31 December to destinations such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, San Francisco & Los Angeles in the US and Worldwide destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Dubai, Lagos & Nairobi.

Paul Dickinson, Sales & Marketing Director, Virgin Atlantic, said: "Now that the Upper Class passenger journey is better than ever with our new Upper Class Wing at Heathrow, passengers are getting through to our award winning Clubhouse quicker than ever giving them time to relax before their flight, so these Upper Class sale fares on offer for travel throughout the year make the opportunity to fly Upper Class too good to turn down!”

5/16/2008 8:24:27 AM UTC     

OAG (Official Airline Guide), the world’s authority on flight information, today unveiled the shortlist for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards. The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 4 June in the opulent art deco setting of The Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London. Boeing is the Awards’ headline sponsor.

A total of 45 different airlines, three more than in 2007, have received nominations in 15 regional and global categories. Leading the field in terms of multiple nominations for 2008 is last year’s “Airline of the Year”, British Airways, which along with Singapore Airlines has six nominations. British Airways and Singapore Airlines, both five times winners of the coveted “Airline of the Year” title, are followed by American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa with four nominations apiece. First time nominees in 2008 include Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Tarom and Virgin Nigeria.

“It is often overlooked that globally there are nearly 1,000 airlines and 3,500 airports trying to attract the attention and business of the world’s frequent and occasional travellers. The management and staff of all the 45 airlines nominated for this year’s OAG Airline Industry Awards should be immensely proud of their accomplishments over the last 12 months,” says Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. “The nominees have already been voted amongst the very best in the world in their respective categories and we at OAG congratulate them on this achievement.”

The annual “OAG Airline Industry Awards”, sponsored by Boeing, celebrates the very best in global air travel and publicly recognises the highest standards within the industry. 

• Best Airline Based in Asia
  Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways
• Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific
  Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Virgin Blue
• Best Airline Based in North America
  Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines
• Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean
  Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines
• Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
  Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways
• Best Airline Based in Africa
  Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Virgin Nigeria
• Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe
  Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Czech Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, TAROM
• Best Airline Based in Western Europe
  Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic
• Best Transpacific Airline
  Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines
• Best Transatlantic Airline
  American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
• Best Europe – Asia/Australasia Airline
  British Airways, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
• Best Low Cost Airline
  easyJet, jetBlue, Jetstar Airways, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines
• Best Economy/Coach Class
  American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines
• Best Business/Executive Class
  American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
• Best International First Class
  British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
• Best Airport
  Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International,New York JFK, San Francisco International, Singapore Changi

5/16/2008 8:18:44 AM UTC     

Following the introduction of direct flights to Okinawa earlier this month, Hong Kong Express Airways has launched its second scheduled service to Japan: a new three times weekly direct flight between Hong Kong and Kagoshima, the only direct service available between the two cities. 

The launch follows just days after the airline’s introduction of chartered services to Okayama and precedes the commencement of scheduled direct services to Hiroshima later this week. Hiroshima will be the airline’s third scheduled service between Hong Kong and Japan, and will operate twice weekly (every Thursday and Sunday) from May 1^st.

The slew of new routes is part of Hong Kong Express Airways’ drive to capture a share of the Japanese market following liberalisation of the country’s air traffic policy earlier this year. “By providing direct flights between Hong Kong and interesting destinations, we offer more choices and great convenience for travellers who want to explore new destinations. We have seen already growth on our Okinawa route and I believe that we will see the same with these new destinations,” said Mr. Ronnie Choi, President of Hong Kong Express Airways.                    

www.hongkongexpress.com

5/5/2008 12:36:20 PM UTC     

Larger aircraft are to be introduced by LOT Polish Airlines on its London-Heathrow to Warsaw service to cope with booming business class traffic. The Polish national carrier has recorded growth of more than 50 per cent* in executive travellers since the introduction of its summer schedule (March 30 2008), when it became the only carrier flying to Warsaw from Heathrow. British Airways has shifted its Warsaw flights to Gatwick.

From June, LOT will replace its current 108-seat Boeing 737-500s with the larger 400 range, offering 147 seats on its peak time services. LOT’s UK and Ireland regional director, Slawomir Noszczak, commented: ‘We always believed that business travellers would want to continue to fly to Warsaw from Heathrow and our exceptional sales figures speak for themselves. ‘Business class sales are booming and we need additional capacity to meet demand. The larger 737-400s will undoubtedly help us meet it, particularly as we have a flexible business class cabin configuration.’

LOT has also recently introduced online check-in for Warsaw-bound passengers to ease their passage through Heathrow’s Terminal 1. The summer schedule also saw LOT resuming services to Beijing after an absence of almost 10 years.

www.lot.com

5/2/2008 5:39:44 PM UTC     

Iceland  Express  will,  from  June  1st,  provide its passengers with more choice  of  meals  onboard  by  adding  healthier food to the menu. The new selection  will  consist  of pasta and salad meals, fruit salad, pizzas and sandwiches. The  meals  produced for Iceland Express will not include peanuts, kiwis or any additives.

"Passengers  have  increasingly been asking for more fresh and healthy food onboard  and  therefore  we decided to change our menu in co-operation with Avaxtabillinn.  The  company  is  known  for producing high quality product which  we  are  proud  to  be  able to offer our passengers," said Matthias Imsland, managing director of Iceland Express.

Meals  onboard  Iceland  Express'  airlines  will continue to be offered at reasonable  prices.  In this way the airline can offer tickets at low rates while  still providing high quality service for those who want such service onboard.

5/2/2008 5:35:58 PM UTC     

Japan Airlines will inaugurate a regular daily charter service between Haneda Airport, Tokyo and Hong Kong from July 1, 2008. Tickets for the new route go on sales today (April 25, 2008). The new JAL route will provide customers traveling to and from Hong Kong with added convenience as central Tokyo can be reached in less than 30 minutes from Haneda airport (HND).

The airline plans to operate a 237-seat B767-300ER on the new route. The aircraft will feature an economy class cabin and, still to be decided, possibly business class as well. JAL currently offers 2 flights a day between Narita International Airport, Tokyo (NRT) and Hong Kong. Including code shares, the airline offers a twice daily service between Osaka (Kansai) and Hong Kong, and a daily service between Fukuoka and Hong Kong which is routed via Taipei. The airline already operates a twice-daily service between Haneda and Seoul (Gimpo Airport) and a daily service.

4/25/2008 4:13:22 AM UTC     

Emirates Airline has signed an agreement with leading UK-based insurer BUPA Travel Services to offer customers extra peace of mind when they travel.

Travellers managing their Emirates flight bookings online can now opt for travel insurance protection which has been specially tailored for Emirates customers.  This includes: unlimited cover in the event of a medical emergency, credit card theft, and even kennel and cattery fees.

Unlike most other offerings in the market, insurance cover can be purchased by almost all nationalities (except residents of USA, Canada and Switzerland) for various trip durations, and for travellers up to the age of 80.

4/25/2008 4:12:43 AM UTC     

Lufthansa has chosen the UK and Ireland as a key launch market for its pioneering Mobile Services product.  Now, by simply using their mobile phones to access the new portal, mobile.lufthansa.com, passengers can quickly book flights, check in and select their seats on an interactive seat map, even when on the move.  Additional features include actual arrival and departure times, flight schedules or mileage summaries.  Individual booking summaries are also readily available. 

“Selecting the UK & Ireland as one of the initial launch markets outside Germany shows just how much we value our customers here“ says Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa General Manager UK & Ireland. “I am sure this new service will prove to be invaluable, particularly to business travellers.  Especially as, under the heading “Information”, users can not only find actual flight information but other relevant travel information such as public transport arrivals and departures, airport buses and rail connections, or book hotels via Lufthansa’s partner, HRS.  Additional important information concerning baggage regulations as well as a worldwide lounge directory with locations and hours of operation can also be accessed.

www.lufthansa.com. 

4/25/2008 4:12:04 AM UTC     

AirPlus International, the leading global business travel payment provider and Air China, the leading national flag carrier, have announced their strategic partnership by unveiling the Air China AirPlus Company Account. The solution provides the airline’s corporate clients with a new travel payment option on all national and international Air China flights and tariffs. The joint product is the first lodge account based payment solution in China and will be released in July 2008 prior to the Olympic Games. Furthermore, AirPlus has founded a subsidiary company in China - the AirPlus Payment Management Co. Ltd. based in Shanghai.

4/23/2008 8:25:51 AM UTC     

Exclusively business class airline Silverjet today announced the launch of ‘Silverjet Mobile’, a full mobile internet service which enables passengers to access all of the functionality of its award-winning website through their mobile devices. Passengers can access the site by entering Silverjet’s web site address into their mobile browser, after which they can book flights, check their flight status, select seats, and choose meals - all from their mobile phone or PDA.

The ability to access information “on the go” is set to become a major business travel trend, as the demand for mobile internet services in the UAE is increasing among business travellers seeking to maximize productivity while on the move.

George Henderson, IT Director, Silverjet, said: “The launch of Silverjet Mobile is a response to the clear demand for mobile travel services and further strengthens the Silverjet experience, which aims to deliver convenience at all points of our customer’s journey.  This innovative service will help our customers make and manage their bookings in a way that suits their increasingly hectic schedules.”

With private terminals, fares to London and New York starting at just 8,300 AED return one way (additional taxes and fees apply), and a flight experience which includes a 30 minute check in, a flat bed, and dedicated security, Silverjet is proving increasingly popular with business travellers. 

www.flysilverjet.com

4/17/2008 2:31:07 AM UTC     

With summer fast approaching it’s time to take advantage of the wide range of special deals being offered by Royal Brunei Airlines, the national carrier of Brunei.  Whether you’re hoping to soak up some sun on a tranquil beach holiday, or spend the summer in the city experiencing a mix of culture and history, Royal Brunei Airlines can cater to your needs.  Offering great deals at affordable prices to some of the world’s most exotic locations, let Royal Brunei Airlines inspire you to indulge yourself today.

SUMMER SPECIAL
Brunei £642
Kota Kinabalu - £512
Ho Chi Minh City - £516
Perth - £620
Brisbane - £713

All fares include taxes, Book 07 Apr -31 May 08
Travel 07 Apr-30 June & 15 Aug- 09 Dec 08
 
POMMIES DOWN UNDER FARE
Brisbane - £632.20 - return
Perth - £528.30 - return

Book 07 - 17 April, Travel 07 April - 30 June 08 

FANTASTIC SYDNEY FARES
Economy Class: £610 - return inc taxes
Business Class: £1930 - return inc taxes

Book 07-30 April, Travel 07 April - 29 May

www.bruneiair.com

4/16/2008 2:58:26 AM UTC     

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) and Northwest Airlines Corporation (NYSE: NWA) today announced an agreement in which the two carriers will combine in an all-stock transaction with a combined enterprise value of $17.7 billion, creating America’s premier global airline. The new airline, which will be called Delta.

Customers will benefit from the combined carriers’ complementary route networks, which together will offer people greater choice, competitive fares and a superior travel experience to more cities than any other airline. In addition, combining Delta and Northwest will create a global U.S. flag carrier strongly positioned to compete with foreign airlines that are continuing to increase service to the United States.

Delta customers will benefit from Northwest’s extensive service to Asian markets and Northwest’s customers will have access to Delta’s strengths across the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Both airlines’ customers will benefit from a strengthened SkyTeam alliance that more closely aligns the combined airline with its respective trans-Atlantic partners Air France and KLM.

4/15/2008 5:12:06 AM UTC     

Iceland Express have announced that they will commence flying five times per week between London Gatwick and Reykjavik from 16th September, 2008.
This is in addition to a winter flying programme which includes a daily service between London Stansted and Reykjavik.

The new Gatwick flights will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday departing Gatwick at 2100 arriving Keflavik International Airport at 2300. The return flights leave Keflavik at 1605 arriving Gatwick at 2000.(all times local)

Marketing Manager Birna Guðmundsdóttir said: " We have just celebrated five years of flying into Stansted where we have created a very loyal and local  passenger base with our unique blend of good fares and consistent service. We have wanted to expand into Gatwick for some time and the decision by British Airways to suspend their services to Reykjavik earlier this year means that the time is now right to do so. As with our Stansted service, we are looking for a mix of both business and leisure passengers who book directly through our award winning web site

www.IcelandExpress.com

4/15/2008 3:45:01 AM UTC     

LOT Polish Airlines is now the only carrier operating to Warsaw from London-Heathrow. And with the introduction of its summer schedule, the Polish national carrier has introduced three-times-a-week flights to Beijing from Warsaw, offering convenient connections for travellers from the UK.

With the decision by British Airways to move its Warsaw flights to London-Gatwick, LOT now has exclusive use of Heathrow for flights to its home hub in the Polish capital. LOT operates three flights a day to Warsaw from London, offering a full Business Class service aboard its Boeing 737-400 and 737-500 aircraft.

As an additional service to Warsaw-bound passengers, effective 9 April the carrier has introduced online check-in facilities, easing the process at Heathrow’s Terminal 1.

The introduction of the summer schedule also sees LOT resuming services to Beijing after an absence of almost 10 years. Evening flights depart on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Return flights operate Monday, Thursday and Saturday.  The route is operated with long-range Boeing 767 aircraft.

LOT Regional Director UK & Ireland Slawomir Noszczak commented: ‘Heathrow remains the first choice departure airport for business travellers and we therefore anticipate continuing traffic growth on our Warsaw flights from London. We have already established a strong reputation as a business carrier and we look forward to welcoming even more passengers to our services.

‘In addition, the launch of flights to Beijing is the first step towards expanding our long-haul network to the Far East. The close economic ties between Asia and Europe and an ever-increasing number of tourists to the region make this a prime area for expansion for LOT. With the strategic position of Warsaw, we also expect passenger growth from across Europe, connecting with onward flights at our home hub.’

4/14/2008 5:32:37 AM UTC     

UK businesses are less pessimistic about the state of the economy than analysts may suggest, according to research released from the annual Barclaycard Business Travel Survey. The survey, now in its 12th year, canvasses the views of more than 3,000 business travellers across the country, building a comprehensive picture of the UK’s business traveller, gauging views on business travel and travel behaviour.

Despite widely reported fears of an economic slowdown, the Barclaycard Business travel survey reveals that 44 per cent of respondents travelled more in 2007 than they did in 2006. And one in three respondents (33%) plan to travel more in 2008 than they did in 2007. 36 per cent cited business expansion in the UK as the main reason, and 31 per cent citing overseas expansion.

However, spending is under closer scrutiny, with business travel no longer meaning ‘business class’ travel.  More businesses are focussed on managing and minimising costs, with more than half (55%) saying they are most likely to fly economy class when travelling for business. This compares with 46 per cent in the previous year.

Denise Leleux, Director of Commercial Cards, Barclaycard Business said: “Travelling on business to expand into new markets or win new business has always been an indicator of economic confidence. This year’s results show that confidence is still there and that business people are still positive about economic and business growth. But they are also becoming even more cost conscious – perhaps more so this year than before.  And it is clear that the long term impact of premium economy services on many long-haul scheduled carriers is continuing”.

easyJet and Ryanair have increased the market share but British Airways remains the most used airline for business travel (28%).

Luxury, all-frills accommodation is also on the decline for business travellers, with more than half (54%) choosing hotels based on value for money. Indeed, 49 per cent said that the cost of a hotel was the sole factor when choosing accommodation.

4/13/2008 1:52:31 PM UTC     

Mexico and Central America's leading airline Mexicana, has accepted a formal invitation to become part of the oneworld airline alliance after being unanimously elected on board by the grouping's existing ten member airlines. Its subsidiary Click Mexicana will join at the same time, as an affiliate member of oneworld.

Mexicana and Click Mexicana will be flying as part of oneworld in 2009, when they will start offering the alliance's full range of services and benefits to their own customers and those from their new oneworld partners.

For oneworld, adding Mexicana will expand the alliance's network in Mexico and Central America, and enable it to build further on its positions as the leading airline grouping serving Latin America and the leading Spanish-speaking alliance.

oneworld is already the only global alliance with any airline members based in South America - through LAN Airlines and its sisters LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru. American Airlines is the leading airline serving the region internationally, and Iberia is the leading carrier between Latin America and Europe.

www.oneworld.com

4/13/2008 1:49:55 PM UTC     

Europcar has opened the largest car rental location in Europe close to Heathrow Terminal 5 on the Perimeter Road. The site features a series of industry-leading customer service initiatives that significantly enhance the car rental experience for in-bound and out-bound business and leisure customers. 

With a total fleet of 4,500 vehicles and resources to handle up to 190,000 check-ins and check-outs per annum, the new location supports customers from all brands in the Europcar UK Group – Europcar, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car and Guy Salmon Prestige Rental.   Critically, the new site features a completely new and best in class courtesy coach fleet providing a highly frequent service between all terminals, with a dedicated facility for Terminal 5.  

“Travellers want a swift and stress-free transition – whether it’s from plane to car or car to plane and that has been our total focus in the creation of this industry leading facility.  By opening the largest car rental location in Europe, with some of the most advanced customer service initiatives in the sector, we are reinforcing our position as the UK’s Number One car rental provider” confirmed John Leigh, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group.

www.europcar.co.uk

4/13/2008 1:43:20 PM UTC     

Expansion and development of the Departure Lounge at London City Airport is underway. From May 2008 passengers will enjoy more room, extra seating and new airport shops and bars.

At the same time the airport will launch four new stands for aircraft.

These improvements are part of our overall plan to develop the airport, including a planning application for an increase in flight movements to 120,000 per year from the current level of 80,000. As well as allowing the airport to offer more flights to more destinations, this will create more local jobs at the airport. Currently about 2,000 local jobs are supported by the airport's activity - this would increase by around 1,000 jobs if the application is approved.

From 31 March BA CityFlyer will offer flights to Nice from London City Airport, with fares starting from just £53.00 one way (including taxes, fees and charges). Flights to Nice will initially operate once daily, Monday to Friday and Sunday, and then seven days a week from 6 May 2008.

From 6 May BA CityFlyer will also offer direct flights to Warsaw, Barcelona and Amsterdam.

www.londoncityairport.com

4/6/2008 11:17:13 AM UTC     

On April 2, 2008, JAL will unveil at Narita Airport Terminal 2 - the airline's main international hub - a new economy class check-in area. The improved area will enable JAL to provide its passengers with a more convenient, user-friendly, stress free check-in experience at the airport.

Passengers will be able to check themselves in using one of 36 of the latest easy-to-use Self Check-in Machines (SCM) installed in the area to speed up the whole departure process. After doing this, if they have luggage to check in they must then proceed to a nearby luggage check-in counter, otherwise they can head directly to immigration.  

In addition to the self check-in machines, economy class passengers without luggage can also check-in at a new express counter conveniently located in the departure lobby close to the south entrance for immigration control.

4/1/2008 3:21:29 AM UTC     

Alamo Rent A Car has significantly enhanced its online booking website to ensure customers have absolutely no doubt over what is and isn’t included in their rental rate. 

Customers can now see exactly what’s included in the rental rate - particularly useful for customers taking inclusive offers such as Alamo Gold - plus the cost of any additional items they have selected, prior to confirmation.  Most importantly, the cost for any items to be paid locally is now shown both in local currency and with an approximate GBP conversion.

Tom Middleditch, Marketing Manager for Alamo said: “The last thing we want our customers to worry about when they arrive at one of our locations is unexpected costs or currency conversions.  These enhancements to the site will therefore make it much easier for customers to identify any additional items they need and anticipate what charges will be made at the destination. This latest update is part of Alamo’s ongoing commitment