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Archive for August, 2009

Etihad to increase winter services

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Etihad Airwyas has announced that its winter 2009-2010 schedule will feature a wider range of flights and improved connections.

The schedule will begin on 25th of October, and will be about 15 percent more extensive than last year, with a total of 950 flights operating per week.

Etihad will open new flights to Hyderabad in India, as well as services to Athens, Beirut, Cairo and Istanbul.

Chief executive for Etihad, James Hogan, said: “The winter programme for 2009-10 demonstrates our commitment to provide greater depth to the Etihad Airways global flight network.

“The increased frequencies will provide air travellers with a greater choice of flights into and out of Abu Dhabi and better connectivity with the rest of our network.”

The winter season will coincide with the delivery of three new Airbus A320 aircraft that will support its current services throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The airline has weathered the downturn in travel rather well, as July 2009 has been the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s busiest since it began flying, with more than 616,000 passengers.

Quotes from justtheflight.co.uk.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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Britons more likely to be arrested in Dubai

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

With the Gulf states’ tough stance on drugs, alcohol and indecency, more holidaymakers and expats are likely to be detained in Dubai than in other popular holiday destinations such as France or Greece.

In the last 12 months, an unmarried British couple were sentenced to three months jail for having sex on a beach in Dubai, and an English mother was also sentenced to three months after being found guilty of adultery.

Travellers are warned by the Foreign Office that they could face more severe punishments for loutish behaviour abroad than they would at home.

The Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant said that tourists should research local laws before they travel or they could find themselves in a foreign jail.

6,919 Britons were arrested abroad between April 2008 and March 2009.

Although most arrests were in Spain and the US, proportionately the most arrests were in the UAE, which has fewer British tourists and expats than many Western countries.

294 Britons were arrested in the UAE with 48 for drug offences.

The UAE is now home to 55,000 Britons and a further 1.1 million tourists visit the nation where Islam is the official religion and strict punishments are given to those who break its rules on modesty and temperance.

Thanks to the Telegraph for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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EasyJet say ‘fat woman’ story is a hoax

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

The story of a 55-year old woman who was said to weigh 15.5 stone, was told to purchase two tickets because of her size was a hoax, the airline said.

Prior to boarding a flight from Bari to Rome, the woman was asked to step onto scales in view of other passengers, which she refused, Italian newspaper, La Republica reported.

“I’m sorry, but you’re too fat, and if you want to fly with us, you have to buy two tickets,” the check-in staffer told the surprised passenger.

The woman was not allowed to board the plane and was claimed to be suing EasyJet for putting her through the humiliation.

However, EasyJet said earlier this week that the story was in fact a hoax.

“Following an investigation regarding a reported incident involving a large passenger being refused travel in Italy and subsequently threatening to sue the airline, EasyJet has discovered the incident did not in fact occur and this was a hoax story reported to the media by a member of the public,” a spokesman said.

“EasyJet’s policy regarding larger passengers, is to recommend that if they feel they will need more than one seat, to purchase one.

“However we do not require them to do so this is a recommendation for their own comfort.”

The hoax comes following United Airlines announced that overweight passengers would have to pay for two seats if they could not fit in a standard airline seat, in a move that campaigners said was “blatant discrimination”.

Thanks to the Telegraph for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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Europcar introduce ‘pay as you go’ scheme

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

As small to medium sized companies focus on cutting costs, Europcar, a major UK car hire company is helping businesses keep car hire costs affordable during the current economic climate.

Europcar has introduced a new pay as you go system that allows businesses to hire cars or vans without the being tied into long term contracts.

The new pay as you go system will create tailored solutions for occasional to frequent car hirers, who can book on the website with a credit card, and allows customers to pre-pay for the car hire which guarantees a cheaper rate than paying on arrival.

Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director of Europcar said: “Crucially we have removed potential barriers such as credit checks and improved access to vehicles with free delivery and collection for less frequent customers to make car and van hire much more convenient.”

Europcar has also streamlined the hiring of vehicles for frequent users of car hire who want the certainties of fixed rates, allowing for businesses to budget their car hire costs throughout the year, with monthly invoicing and reduced rates for long-term hire.

Ms Lougher continued by saying:  “The key point is that through these tailored solutions, business have access to the UK’s biggest car and van hire fleet, supported by the strongest rental network in the UK providing the flexibility and choice of vehicles to suit the job

Quotes from Europcar.co.uk.  For more information visit their website.

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Companies cutting back on business travel

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

American Express has said corporations continued to tighten travel spending and frequency in the second quarter as airlines faced heavy competition in a reduced market for business travellers.

Airfares across the globe dropped on average by 19% to a four-year low during the second quarter as businesses encouraged their employees to fly economy class rather than business.  Domestic airfares within the US also dropped by 18 percent to $212, the lowest it has been since at least 2003.

The statistics were obtained from the purchases information at American Express’ business travel division.

The data also showed that hotel rates went up by 6 percent as European cities also had increased occupancy during the second quarter, but dropped by 12% a year earlier.  In the US, a 2 percent decline was recorded in paid rates in the quarter, but remained steady from the year before.

American Express also noted that the average price of car rentals has decreased by 3 percent in both the second quarter and for the year.

The company collected the data on mean prices for air, hotel and car rental services by major cities and classes of service through aggregate analysis of its worldwide database of purchase information.

Thanks to CNN for the above quotes and figures.  For more information on this article visit CNN.com

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Jetstar commences flights to China

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Jetstar will begin to fly to mainland China from December this year.

The airline will fly four weekly services between Singapore and Haikou, capital of Hainan province, on December 16.

The budget carrier plans to increase its capacity from Singapore by 46 percent in the next year, following the arrival of further three A320 aircraft.

Chief executive of Jetstar Asia and Valuair, Chong Phit Lian, said that China was a clear focus of further growth.

“Haikou is a very solid entry into mainland China for Jetstar and we look forward to the opportunity for further growth from this market should conditions prevail,” Ms Chong said in a statement”

The airline’s plans to open routes to other parts of Asia, as Jetstar explore its options.

“There’s still India we haven’t flown to, and Laos we haven’t flown to,” Ms Chong said.

Jetstar have also announced new services to Phuket in Thailand, now flying twice a day to the Thai resort island beginning on December 15, and will increase the frequency from two to three times daily from Singapore to Bangkok.

Thanks to AAP for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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Zipcar doing well despite recession

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Car rental/sharing company Zipcar has performed well this year in spite of the worldwide recession.

Zipcar has forecasted a windfall this year, predicting revenue of around $130 million across its 13 worldwide locations.

The company is planning to open up two more outlets in London next year, as well as in Vancouver, and predicts to be the ‘future of car rentals’.

Zipcar says that the business could become a ‘$12.5 billion car rental by the hour’ industry and predict a rise of between 15 and 25 percent business in the next five years as consumer trends lean towards better value car hire.

The company boasts more than 300,000 members, and is not the only company to have introduced car sharing and rental by the hour, with many other companies begin to see the benefits and the demand for cheaper and more environmentally friendly options.

Car sharing initiatives are easy to use, by initially becoming a member at a cost of $50 per year.  Once a member, a swipe card is issued that can be used to open the car or start the engine, and an hourly charge of $5 to $20 is charged depending on the car and company used.  Insurance is included, but there is a limit on mileage.

Thanks to www.forbes.com for the above information, for more details on this article please visit their website.

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British Airways turns 90 years old

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

British Airways turned 90 years old yesterday with Kirsty Gallacher modelling a vintage BA cabin crew uniform.

In the lead up to the anniversary week, TV presenter Kirsty joined members of the cabin crew to model the uniforms for customers in T5.

Other vintage BA memorabilia has been showcased and a Swarovski jewelled Union Jack was lent to the new terminal to celebrate.

Britain’s national carrier first launched services from London to Paris on August 25, 1919, which cost 42 guineas.

The airline has made history over the years, having transported the likes of Neville Chamberlain to meet with Hitler in 1938, when he declared they had negotiated peace.

Three years later in 1942, Winston Churchill flew with British Airways on the first transatlantic flight made by a Prime Minister.

The airline has tried to spruce up its image over the years, with help from designers such as Anya Hindmarch and Sir Terence Conran, as well as top fashionistas Paul Costelloe and Julien Macdonald to design uniforms for cabin crew.

Tributes to the airline today were led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

‘Ninety years on, the world’s most iconic airline is still proudly flying the flag and remains a great British brand. Many congratulations to its entire staff – past and present, on this special day’ he said.

‘Over the past nine decades, British Airways has played its part in many historic episodes,’ added British Airways chairman Martin Broughton.

‘We have a rich history supporting Britain and will carry this forward to our centenary and beyond.’

Thanks to the Daily Mail.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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EasyJet pilot feared being shot down

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

An EasyJet pilot feared his plane would be shot down by the military after he lost contact with air traffic control

The EasyJet Airbus A319 suffered a potentially catastrophic electrical fault causing the instruments screens to go blank during a flight from Stansted to Alicante.

The pilots did not divert to a closer landing spot as they feared they would be shot down by the French Military, an official report concluded.

The report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the incident, which happened in September 2006, saw the pilots flying hundreds of miles to Bristol without the aid of the autopilot.

“The commander was very concerned about the loss of communication and was anxious to avoid being intercepted by military aircraft,” the report said.

“The risk of interception and possible offensive action was also a significant consideration in his decision to continue to Bristol.”

The aircraft was over Nantes when the electrical fault took place.

The pilots attempted to contact air traffic control but failed, fearing they would not be able to follow a plane sent to intercept them.

“The two pilots were properly qualified and experienced in their respective roles to operate the flight,” the report said.

Thanks to News.com.au for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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Americans threaten to boycott Scotland

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

A campaign has been launched by furious American’s calling for tourists to boycott Scotland over the release for the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

US website boycotscotland.com has strongly urged Americans not to travel to the UK or purchase goods from Scotland.

“Unless the Scottish Government rescinds this decision to release al-Megrahi, we urge all Americans to protest this action by boycotting the United Kingdom and Scotland in full,” the website says.

“Don’t travel to Scotland or do business there, and don’t buy British or Scottish products.”

“They need a reminder, and protesting by boycotting travel and business with Scotland and the United Kingdom is the best way of doing so,” the website says.

A heated debate between Americans and Scots has erupted on Facebook and Twitter. .

“Due to the cowardly decision taken by the Scottish government to release the Lockerbie bomber I am asking that as many people as possible join this group and let the Scottish government know how we feel, by boycotting Scotland (if we visit, no money spent there),” says Facebook group Boycott Scotland, Scottish Companies and Scottish Goods.

CaptPat48 joined the debate on Twitter, saying: “Boycott Scotland over Lockerbie Bomber release! Don’t buy their products either!”

While EducatorsGoal, said: “Scotland earns £260m a year through American tourists. American Boycott NOW”

Scotland supporter greigforbes hit back, saying: “Boycott Scotland? Shove another bucket of freedom fries in your yaps and gie’s peace”

TheScottish Tourism Board, VisitScotland, has received requests from angry Americans threatening to cancel their holidays.

The US is the biggest market for tourism in Scotland.

The incident comes in the middle of the Year of Homecoming, a Scottish government initiative aimed at attracting those with Scottish ancestry to visit the country of their roots.

Thanks to news.com.au for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.

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