Aldi discount supermarkets is launching a travel website in January and claims the venture will turn the online travel industry on its head.

Although Aldi will offer a wide range of destinations, it will only work with a limited number of suppliers who can guarantee exclusive deals.

They will initially be looking to put together summer sun holidays and will then turn their attention to city breaks and ski breaks.

Once selected, suppliers will also have the opportunity to be featured as one of six special holiday deals, which will be promoted in a fortnightly leaflet distributed in Aldi stores.

Around 900,000 leaflets will be distributed to Aldi customers across the UK.

These fortnightly special deals will also be featured in Aldi’s special offers magazine distributed at cashier desks.

The retailer, which has 7,000 stores globally, already sells holidays in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, where it works in partnership with Eurotours International.

11/16/2008 11:57:09 AM UTC     

Jet Airways is partnering United Airlines’ frequent flyer programme.

Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege members are now able to earn and redeem JPMiles on the entire global network of United Airlines.

Similarly, United Airlines’ Mileage Plus members will be able to earn and redeem their miles while enjoying Jet Airways’ renowned service and in-flight product on its services to 64 destinations in India and beyond.

www.jetairways.com www.united.com

11/16/2008 11:51:10 AM UTC     

Still not sure what to do for Christmas this year? Family-friendly travel company www.totstotravel.co.uk suggests trying something different by celebrating the festive season in France or Italy. The company has several properties available with lots of little extras to make Christmas special for parents and kids.

“Christmas is a wonderful time in France and Italy, with plenty of markets selling gifts, handcrafted ornaments and food. Towns and villages are decorated prettily with many larger towns featuring outdoor ice rinks. It’s a great way to celebrate Christmas slightly differently and our property owners will be on hand to make it magical,” says Wendy Shand, founder of Tots to Travel.

Sample properties include:
In Italy:

Casa Alexa (http://www.totstoitaly.co.uk/property_detail.php?id=0201)

For a white Christmas, this stunning property in the Marche region of Italy sleeps 10 plus 3 cots – so ideal for a family or group of friends going away together (3 double bedrooms, 2 twins, 4 bathrooms). It has an open fire, central heating and stunning views of the snow covered Siblini Mountains which are just 30 minutes away (suitable for sledging and skiing day trips). The property owners will be putting up a Christmas tree and decorating the house for guests. They will provide Christmas lunch free of charge. In the area there are plenty of Christmas markets to visit. Servigliano (10 min drive) has an outdoor ice-rink in the main square and Sant Angelo in Pontano (10 min drive) has an exhibition of nativity scenes. For new year, there will plenty of firework displays. The owners can tell guests where to get up high to watch them for miles around with no crowds. They can also cater for a New Year party or dinner. Cost is £1625 for the week 20 – 27 Dec or 27 Dec – 3 Jan. Nearest airport is Ancona (75 mins away) which is served by Ryanair.

In France:

The Cottage (http://www.totstofrance.co.uk/property_detail.php?id=0122)

This beautiful three bedroomed cottage sleeping six (plus babies) is an hour’s drive from Toulouse. It has a wood-burning stove for cosy nights in. The cottage will be tastefully decorated and a Christmas tree provided. The welcome pack would include homemade mince pies, champagne Gaillac style and chocolate Santas. Christmas cakes can be made to order. Guests will be invited to join the owners on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and/or Boxing Day for festive nibbles and drinks. And weather permitting, a festive treasure hunt can be arranged for children. There are a number of Christmas markets in Toulouse, Albi and Cordes with an ice rink outside Albi cathedral. Albi Cathedral also has a number of Christmas services and concerts to provide a really traditional Christmas atmosphere. Cost is £875 for the week 20 – 27 December. Closest airports are Toulouse (Flybe, BA, Easyjet, Jet2) or Rodez (Ryanair).

www.totstotravel.co.uk  

11/16/2008 11:29:28 AM UTC     

The global airline alliance SkyTeam, has launched the SkyTeam Mileage Upgrades program. SkyTeam Frequent Flyers on international flight itineraries can now use their miles to upgrade to Business Class on most SkyTeam member airlines.

www.skyteam.com

11/16/2008 11:01:30 AM UTC     

SriLankan Airlines has launched direct (non-stop) return flights between London and Male. Previously, UK passengers bound for the Maldives on SriLankan Airlines returned to London via Colombo. SriLankan operates 8 flights from Colombo to London.

SriLankan Airlines will operate its long-haul Airbus A340-300 aircraft fleet on the 11-hour route.

www.mysrilankan.co.uk

11/16/2008 10:53:40 AM UTC     

Qantas Holidays has produced its first dedicated Asia brochure featuring Thailand, Vietnam & Cambodia, Singapore, Bali & Lombok, Malaysia, Hong Kong & China, Japan and India.

The brochure offers several multi-centre holiday ideas for the independent traveller seeking ideas and inspiration. It also provides options for everyone - beach getaways, cultural experiences, action & adventure and sheer pampering & indulgence - all within a wide range of budget options, from best value to luxury.

www.qantasholidays.co.uk  

11/16/2008 10:44:12 AM UTC     

Dragonair is to launch a new service to Manila, the capital and economic hub of the Philippines and a popular destination for both business and leisure travellers from Hong Kong. The new service will commence on December 15, 2008 with a five-times-weekly flight operated by an A320 aircraft.

11/16/2008 10:35:54 AM UTC     

Iceland Express is launching a new Gatwick service on 1 May 2009. The national low-cost carrier will operate an eight-times-per-week service between London Gatwick and Reykjavik, with flights starting from £69.00 one-way including taxes. “We have decided to launch this exciting new service in May as it is the peak travel season for Iceland,” says Matthias Imsland, Iceland Express CEO.  “The number of bookings for Iceland Express is higher than ever before and we are confident this will continue with our Gatwick route.  We are looking forward to this new chapter in our story.”
 
The new Gatwick route will replace the existing Stansted service, which will finish its daily service on 30 April 2009.

www.icelandexpress.com

11/16/2008 10:27:47 AM UTC     

Enjoy daily flights from London to Amman with Royal Jordanian Airlines and take advantage of fares from £410 including taxes when you book by the 15th November 2008 (travel period 02/12/08 - 31/12/08)

www.rj.com

11/4/2008 9:47:20 AM UTC     

Cathay Pacific has launched self-print boarding passes for passengers departing Hong Kong International Airport from 5 November. The DIY passes will be available from 48 hours in advance. The service is only available for point to point Cathay flights.  Passengers with only hand luggage can proceed straight to immigration while those with hold luggage need to check this in at a bag drop counter 45 minutes before flight departure.

www.cathaypacific.com

11/3/2008 8:49:28 AM UTC     

A group of businessmen are bucking the troubled aviation industry trend and launching a new high quality, value for money airline operating out of Stansted. Air Sylhet will begin short haul flights to Vienna and Dubai from Stansted and Manchester when it launches on November 9.

The move comes at a tough time for the airline industry – but the private investors behind Air Sylhet believe they can exploit a gap in the market by targeting destinations currently poorly served by other airlines, while using major airports popular with travellers.

As well as Vienna and Dubai, Air Sylhet aims to provide a service to Bangladesh, starting up next year. The carrier’s chairman is Kabir Khan, leading the team of investors which has successfully leased its first Airbus A320-200, capable of carrying 180 passengers.

www.airsylhetonline.com

11/3/2008 8:40:47 AM UTC     

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines officially merged overnight in the USA, creating the world’s biggest airline. The new carrier, called Delta and headquartered in Atlanta, has about 75000 staff worldwide and a “best-in-class cost structure” according to an official release. “The new Delta will be at the front of the pack in achieving the benefits of consolidation and is well positioned to navigate the tough waters ahead in a difficult economy,” said ceo Richard Anderson. It’s business as usual when dealing with either airline, with integration over the next two years to “ensure a consistent worldwide travel experience.”

11/3/2008 8:38:32 AM UTC     

British Airways has moved most of its Middle East flights to the GBP4.3 billion (US$6.9 billion) Heathrow Terminal 5, the Gulf News has reported. BA’s three daily Dubai flights were part of the remaining long-haul services to make the switch. Most of its services, including those Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Manama, Doha and Kuwait City, transferred over on 17 September. The UK flag carrier currently operates 56 weekly services to the Gulf region.

www.ba.com

11/3/2008 8:35:24 AM UTC     

Berlin’s Tempelhof airport finally closes its departure gates today after 81 years. The German capital’s hub, once the world’s largest airport, has become a monument to Germany’s history, having been expanded under Hitler, and being central to the 1948 Berlin airlift. Passenger numbers at Tempelhof fell to just 350,000 last year, and was reported to be running at significant losses. The airport has been featured in several films, including the 1966 espionage thriller, “Funeral in Berlin” starring Michael Caine.

11/3/2008 8:33:53 AM UTC     

Europe's leading holiday home website www.directholidaybookings.co.uk is petitioning Downing Street as part of a campaign to prevent airlines such as Ryanair from allowing mobile phone calls and texts during flights. The budget airline has just begun a trial introducing the technology for passengers on Three and 02 networks.

Since the news was announced, the company behind holiday home rentals website has been flooded with emails from customers opposing the move.

Andrew Gibson, managing director of DirectHolidayBookings.co.uk, said: "Having heard about Ryanair's decision to trial the use of mobile phones on their flights, I knew this would provoke a lot of debate amongst our thousands of users who fly a great deal, often on low budget airlines. What I wasn't prepared for was the large scale reaction we received from people vehemently opposing this decision. This has led us to begin petitioning Downing Street to try and prevent this from becoming common practise within the commercial aviation industry.

"The feedback we've received states that the last thing people want when flying is to be subjected to other passengers shouting into their mobile phones with loud and annoying ring tones going off constantly. Our users also have safety concerns regarding potential interference with the aircraft's controls."

11/2/2008 5:48:45 PM UTC     

If you want to go to a Christmas market in Europe but don’t know quite where to go why not try 2008 details www.christmas-markets.org

Over 100 individual destination pages with descriptions, timings and images to get you into the festive mood. In many instances there are also direct links to local web sites. Also included are some of the major attractions that have a host of events in the build up to Christmas to get you in the Festive mood.

www.christmas-markets.org

11/2/2008 5:41:21 PM UTC     

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has officially opened the W Hong Kong. Located in a glittering, new waterfront skyscraper in the heart of the city’s vibrant new commercial, entertainment and cultural district, W Hong Kong features 393 guest rooms, including 42 suites.

The hotel features Asia’s first Bliss Spa and boasts two signature restaurants, one of the city’s most highly elevated swimming pools, a 73rd floor modern fitness facility, 8,200 square feet of convertible, state-of-the-art meeting and event space, and the quintessential W lounge experience.

www.starwoodhotels.com

11/2/2008 5:38:52 PM UTC     

Virgin Atlantic has launched a second service between London Heathrow and Hong Kong and will take it daily from December 4.

The new service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and then operate daily from December 4.

www.virgin-atlantic.com

11/2/2008 5:37:51 PM UTC     

From Monday November 3 Dragonair passengers travelling from Hong Kong International Airport will be able to print their own boarding passes at home or in the office.

www.dragonair.com

11/2/2008 5:36:25 PM UTC     

Easyjet is to start flights in January between Gatwick and Copenhagen. This follows the collapse of Scandinavian carrier Sterling Airways.  The UK budget airline is to run a daily service starting on January 15, with tickets going on sale on November 15. Frequency is likely to be raised for next summer.

The new route will mean that Easyjet will serve the Danish capital from both Gatwick and Stansted where three flights a day are operated.


The airline also starts a Gatwick-Helsinki service on November 3.

www.easyjet.com

11/2/2008 5:35:09 PM UTC     

British Airways has launched remote check-in via mobile phones with wireless connectivity. The service is quick, free and available in 11 languages - without any need to download accompanying software.
 
Logging on to ba.com/mobile using any mobile device with wireless connectivity (such as BlackBerry’s and mobile phones), customers can access the BA timetable in real time, as well as select seats and check-in individuals, groups and families for departure or return flights.
 
This latest initiative follows the success of the recent iPhone Apple application from BA, allowing iPhone users the opportunity to check-in via handsets.

Proving to be a popular product, there were more than 16,000 UK downloads in its first month of launch alone.

www.ba.com

11/2/2008 5:32:53 PM UTC     

The German carrier, which already owned 30% of the airline, is buying the 50.1% share owned by the UK airline's founder Sir Michael Bishop.

Lufthansa signed an agreement with Sir Michael in 1999, which said that if he ever wanted to sell his stake, it would make the purchase.

Analysts now expect Lufthansa to make a bid for the remaining 20%, currently owned by SAS.

Bmi controls 11% of landing and take-off slots at London Heathrow, making it the second largest airline operating out of the airport behind British Airways.

If concluded, the deal would open the door for Lufthansa to start transatlantic flights from Heathrow.

www.lufthansa.com

11/2/2008 5:30:36 PM UTC     

Austrian introduces Amman from May 2009 building its position as a major carrier to the Middle East with a total of fourteen destinations. The new service will feature the recently launched Premium Service Business Class.

The Austrian Airlines Group continues to expand its route network into the Middle East adding Amman, capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, from 6 May 2009. Services will operate four times a week using an Airbus A320 featuring the Austrian Premium Service Business Class; passengers can enjoy the unique mix of Austrian hospitality and Middle Eastern luxury.

www.austrian.com

10/26/2008 8:56:59 PM UTC     

Langham Hotels International has signed a new loyalty partnership with Emirates’ frequent flyer program – Skywards –, which reaches over 3.8 million members.

www.langhamhotels.com

10/26/2008 8:53:06 PM UTC     

US Airways customers will have a new United Kingdom option and their first Norwegian offering next May when the airline inaugurates service to Birmingham and Oslo from its international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport. These new routes complement Tel Aviv service, which was announced earlier this year. The two routes are subject to foreign government approval.

Birmingham becomes the fifth United Kingdom destination US Airways serves, while Oslo is the airline's second Scandinavian destination after Stockholm, Sweden. The two seasonal routes will be operated with Boeing 757 ETOPS aircraft configured with 12 Envoy seats and 164 seats in the main cabin.

Customers may book beginning Oct. 25 at usairways.com and through global distribution channels. Schedule detail is as follows:

www.usairways.com

10/26/2008 8:22:31 PM UTC     

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is due to open the Sheraton Chicago Northbrook Hotel on September 28.

This newly constructed property located in Northbrook, Illinois, one of Chicago’s most prestigious North Shore suburbs is a sleek, modern hotel features 161 spacious guest rooms, personalized service and an interactive setting where guests can stay connected while on the road.

Sheraton Chicago Northbrook Hotel is just 14 miles from Chicago O'Hare International Airport and a short drive to downtown Chicago. Ideal for weekend getaways and overnight business trips, especially with the close proximity to local  attractions and the the offices of many major corporations including Kraft Foods, Crate & Barrel, Walgreen Company and Allstate Insurance.

Committed to green living, Sheraton Chicago Northbrook Hotel has taken measures to lessen the impact of hotel operations on the environment including the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products, low-energy light fixtures, and water-saving landscaping and recycling practices. In addition, hotel associates understand the importance of recycling and increasing sustainability.

www.starwoodhotels.com

10/21/2008 10:20:13 AM UTC     

Citybreaks.org.uk has come up with their Top 5 spooky happenings across the UK for you to discover at Halloween.

Portsmouth - Dark Encounters
Join a Dark Encounter, great for beginners or experienced investigators alike, and solve the mysteries of Portsmouth, one of the most haunted cities on the South Coast. Or take a ghost walk around Old Portsmouth with costumed guides, hop on board a ghost bus for a trip around the darker side of the city, or sign up for a full-on ghost investigation… if you dare!
 

Rochester/Medway - Halloween Horrors at Fort Amherst
Explore the haunted Napoleonic tunnels at Fort Amherst. The theme this year is Carnival so expect to see all manner of freaks and performers keeping you company on your tour. The show does have a strong horror theme and is suitable for families although we do recommend parental discretion. Under 16’s have to be accompanied by an adult (21 over).
 

Bradford - Halloween Weekend 
Haworth is a small village close to Bradford that was once home to the Brontes.
The graveyard of Haworth Parish Church is thought to house over 40,000 graves, some buried 10 deep and including the Bronte tomb. Follow Phil Lister, a local guide, on The Lanternlight Graveyard Tour as he tells the stories of those buried in the graveyard.
 
Liverpool - The Shiverpool Tours
Join a Shiverpool guided ghost walk and discover Liverpool’s hidden mysteries and supernatural secrets. Taking the chance to hear Liverpool’s sinister and haunted tales through a full theatrical and interactive experience – on the most haunting weekend of the year.

Newcastle/Gateshead - Spooky Science Week
Have a spooktacular time at the Centre for Life with a range of ghoulish activities and eerie experiments. Slime and potion labs, spooky science trolleys and a daily treasure hunt will keep the kids happy. Watch out for the Really Rotten Show in our Life Theatre (all about yukky decomposition). Prepare for a spine tingling experience in the Haunted House (our Halloween Crazy Motion Ride) and enjoy everything else that Life has to offer.

Newcastle/Gateshead - Happy Halloween 

Bring your own pumpkin and join the parade of fancy dress. There will be prizes for the best-dressed children and adults. You could also hone those pumpkin carving skills at a BALTIC workshop – Thursday, 30th and Friday, 31st October and show of your carving skills at the parade.

 
www.citybreaks.org.uk

10/21/2008 10:01:02 AM UTC     

Disney’s Tinker Bell the movie is officially released on DVD – 10th November.  To celebrate the release, Disney has teamed up with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels to offer some fantastic prizes!

Over the October Half Term, children aged between (3-12 years) staying at any Millennium & Copthorne Hotel in the UK will be given an activity book where they can find the fairies, spot the fairy difference, colour in the characters and complete the word search.

On the back of the books is a chance for one lucky winner to win all 5 fairy dolls, a bedroom makeover set, a copy of the Tinker Bell DVD and stay at our Millennium Hotel London Mayfair. Runner-up prizes include a copy of the DVD and a bedroom makeover set. The activity books will be available in the hotels until 30th November 2008. Answers to the question can either be posted back to our corporate office or given to reception. Winners will be picked at random.

www.millenniumhotels.co.uk

10/21/2008 9:33:06 AM UTC     

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed a new five-year deal with the Formula One extending the existing sponsorship of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix since it made history in April 2004 as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The next race in Bahrain will be in April for the 2009.

www.gulfair.com

10/21/2008 9:13:52 AM UTC     

Select Apartments, a specialist in the corporate serviced apartment sector, is reporting a shift away from traditional hotel bookings in favour of short-to medium-term apartment rentals throughout the UK. It believes this is a direct result of the current economic situation.

Companies can expect to save up to 30% on the cost of equivalent hotel accommodation when booking a serviced apartment and minimum stay requirements can be as little as one night.

For organisations with teams or individual business travellers working on projects or relocating with their families to other parts of the UK, Europe or beyond, then the ability to organise a real ‘home-from-home’ is rapidly becoming a serious alternative to the traditional hotel stay. With the added benefits of superb locations, space in which to relax, work and entertain, wireless broadband connectivity, in-house gyms, reassurance of 24-hour service and no gardening, living in a serviced apartment can be even simpler than living at home!

www.selectapartments.co.uk  

10/21/2008 9:03:27 AM UTC     

Oman Air is to launch an additional flight between Muscat and London Gatwick, which will operate every Sunday from 26 October 2008. The additional frequency will bring the number of flights per week to seven, fulfilling the airline’s ambition to operate a daily service.

Operated with an Airbus A310 aircraft, Oman Air offers both a Business Class and Economy Class service.

Oman Air currently operates a fleet of 2 Airbus A310 aircraft, 10 Boeing 737 aircraft and 4 ATR 42 aircraft to 27 destinations worldwide.

www.omanair.aero

10/21/2008 8:55:36 AM UTC     

London City Airport, the United Kingdom's leading business airport, has been awarded the prestigious European Regional Airline Association’s (ERA) annual Airport Achievement Award, demonstrating the outstanding success of the airport in its 21 year history.

The award was presented to London City Airport's Chief Executive, Richard Gooding OBE, at the ERA annual gala dinner in Manchester. Accepting the award, Gooding commented: "It is an honour to accept this award that recognises the airport's overall achievement over the past 12 months. It is also 21 years since operations began in 1987. We are committed to continuing to deliver a premium service to passengers as London's favourite airport and supporting London's status as financial capital of the world."

London City Airport has also been granted permission to grow by the London Borough of Newham. The airport had applied for an increase in movements from 80,000 to 120,000 per annum, a move that will create a further 1000 jobs at the airport, currently the largest private sector employment site in Newham. The application was supported by leading international organisations and London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, who acknowledged the enormous contribution the airport makes to London's economy.

London City Airport is the only airport in Europe to hold an ERA Palme d’Or, a special distinction that is granted to airlines and airports for sustained excellence.

www.londoncityairport.com

10/14/2008 10:26:27 AM UTC     

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has unveiled its 137 room Taj Residency Trivandrum, a new world-class premium business hotel in Thirunvananthapuram, formally known as Trivandrum.  As the latest addition to Taj Hotels, the property offers the finest in hotel facilities located right in the heart of the city and just ten kilometers from the airport.