Archive for January, 2011
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Online travel experts, Expedia, have opened a new office in Edinburgh to concentrate on increasing the awareness around the world of the travel opportunities available in the country. The travel agent hopes to grow sales to Scotland by 40 per cent through 2011. The new office is Expedia’s third to be opened in the UK, and Scotland is currently its most popular holiday destination behind the cities of Dublin and London.
Irene Roberts, Expedia’s marketing manager for Scotland, said there is a host of travel opportunities in the country and that there was something for everyone all the year round. Travellers can visit the arts festivals in Glasgow and Edinburgh, head into the mountains for adventure holidays, take in a game of rugby or head off to explore the whisky trails.
Expedia currently features more than 600 hotels and guest-houses on its numerous branded websites. Roberts said that by opening an office in Edinburgh, Expedia would be able to visit those advertising on the sites and help with promotions and marketing. Customers in around 40 countries are presently the focus of Expedia’s promotional activity for Scotland; with most demand coming from countries including France, Germany, the US and Scandinavia.
Roberts explained that Expedia works with hotel managers to profile their property; translate their marketing material into 33 different languages and create promotions. The sites are free to sign up to, and Expedia earns its share through commissions.
Hotels advertising with Expedia will also have access to a range of popular travel websites including Hotels.com and TripAdvisor.
Tags: Edingburgh, Expedia, holidays, Hotels.com, travel, travel agent, TripAdvisor
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Bali-bound holidaymakers face having their travel plans disrupted as Mount Bromo erupts ash into the atmosphere. Budget carrier Jetstar has said that it will be cancelling all flights to the region as it monitors the situation. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific have also cancelled a number of services to the region as they too wait for the all clear from experts.
Virgin Blue said that its decision to postpone services to the area affected was made after advice was given by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre which is located in the city of Darwin. At present, Jetstar is not flying any of its services from Sydney, Melbourne or Darwin until it is given the all-clear.
Spokesman for the airline, Simon Westaway, said cancellations had caused problems for around 1,000 of the carrier’s customers. Passengers with a ticket on Garuda Airlines were not affected by the ash issue as the carrier’s 11.00am flight took off as planned.
Air Asia said it was going to continue its services to the region between Darwin and Denpasar. Passengers with tickets for Virgin Blue flights were treated to hotel rooms in Darwin last night after services from Brisbane and Sydney were diverted. Around 130 passengers are expected to be flown out of the city later this evening.
Jetstar said its decision to halt flights to the affected region was because it had to take into consideration the safety of its customers above everything else. Last year, volcanic ash coming from Iceland grounded European airlines for nearly a week.
Tags: bali, cathay pacific, Garuda airlines, jetstar, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Blue, volcanic ash
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
The world’s fifth largest international airport, Dubai International, has celebrated yet another year of record growth. The hub recorded a total of 47.2 million passengers passing through in 2010, an increase of 15.3 per cent on a year earlier. Much of this is to do with the phenomenal success of the airport’s main airline, Emirates.
In 2010, the world’s number one international carrier added five more routes to its itinerary and boosted its fleet by adding eight A380 superjumbos from Airbus and three 777-300ERs from Boeing. Launched in 2009, flydubai is also rapidly expanding. Last year, it added the equivalent of a new route every three weeks to its schedule.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said 2010 had been a very successful year, not only because a record number of travellers used Dubai International, but because Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum international opened its doors and Dubai International celebrated its 50th anniversary.
He added that 2011 looked set to be an equally successful year predicting passenger numbers of 52.2 million, a rise of 11 per cent on 2010. Airport bosses are planning to further increase capacity at the airport by improving systems and ground infrastructure. They are also looking at ways of improving airspace management so the airport can effectively deal with the forecast growth in passenger traffic.
In just five years, Dubai International has seen traffic almost double. Much of this is due to the hubs attractiveness to foreign airlines through its open skies policy. The airport also boasts extremely cheap rates and is a tax-free zone.
Tags: A380, airbus, airport, boeing, Dubai International, Dubai World, Emirates, flydubai, open skies, tax-free
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
As airlines look to the emerging markets to boost capacity and revenues, India is being bombarded with requests for more seat allocations. Carriers including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qatar are all clamouring for seat entitlements both from and to the sub-continent.
However, the big internationals are set for a tussle with domestic carriers also looking to increase their seating allowance. Ministry of civil aviation officials have confirmed that airlines from countries such as Germany, Singapore, the UAE and Qatar have submitted requests for more destinations and more seats within India.
Officials added that currently Qatar Airways has an allocation of 23,000 seats each week. However, in 2009, the carrier was offered between 7,000 and 8,000 new seats, but is still to use all of them. Emirates is allowed 54,000 seats, and has already applied for more. The officials added that they were looking carefully at the requests from foreign airlines but would like to see Indian airlines being allocated a higher proportion of seats available internationally.
Domestic carriers IndiGO and Kingfisher have been granted permission to fly services to Colombo out of various airports. SpiceJet and Air India already serve the Sri Lankan hub out of Chennai. Jet Airways, which already flies daily services to Milan, has been given permission to fly between Bombay and Rome. The carrier will also fly services from Bombay to Amsterdam – the first Indian airline ever to do so.
IndiGO has also been told that it can expand operations by joining Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Air India to Singapore.
Tags: Air India, airlines, Emirates, india, IndiGO, jet airways, Kingfisher, Lufthansa, Qatar, Singapore Airlines
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Middle Eastern carrier, Emirates Airlines, will walk away with the prize for 2011 Airline of the Year at next month’s Air Transport World’s gala dinner. The magazine, which comes out monthly and discusses the latest news in the industry, voted Emirates the best in the world for a combination of reasons including continued commitment to customer service, an excellent safety record, and an impressive ability to publish profits year after year.
Emirates launched in 1985, and since then has built itself into one of the largest and most successful carriers on the planet. The airline’s base in Dubai has been transformed into one of the most important hubs for international airline travel. Emirates continue to search for ways to reduce carbon emissions; was the first airline to install seatback entertainment for all and its fleet of A380s now have showers in first-class.
The prize for Regional Airline of the Year has been scooped by Air Nostrum, the Spanish based carrier. The airline has displayed a superb commitment to safety while managing to deliver outstanding customer service. The magazine’s editors were particularly impressed with the way the airline had managed to weather the financial downturn.
Virgin America has been singled out to receive the Passenger Service Award. The carrier impressed the judges with its ground-breaking cabin design which includes leather seats, mood lighting and an extremely comprehensive in-flight entertainment system.
Alaska Airlines will pick up the gong for Airline Technology Leadership because of innovations in customer service technology, safety and cockpit design. It is the second time the carrier has won the award.
Tags: A380, Air Nostrum, Air Transport World, airline, Alaska Airlines, Dubai, Emirates, entertainment, Virgin America
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Monday, January 24th, 2011
The long-running dispute between British Airways and its cabin crew looks set to continue as, once again, the threat of strike action looms. Members of the Unite union have voted in favour of industrial action which could cause travel disruption over the school holidays and Easter break.
Last year it is estimated that the airline lost £150 million because of 22 days of strikes by its cabin staff. News of fresh strikes will undoubtedly hit the airline as travellers book flights with other carriers to make sure their holiday plans are not spoiled. Minister for aviation, Theresa Villiers, has rounded on the union saying that it is not fair that the British public should once again be threatened with widespread travel disruption. She added that nothing good would come of more walkouts.
In October last year, it looked as if the deadlock between BA and its crew had finally been broken with reports that Willie Walsh, BA’s chief executive, and Tony Woodley, Unite’s joint general secretary, had shaken hands over the negotiating table.
However, more militant members of the union did not agree with the finer points of the deal and called for a ballot. Unite’s incoming general secretary, Len McCluskey has apparently said he is ready to begin fresh talks with airline bosses.
Mr McCluskey claims that further strike action has received the backing of 78.5 per cent of those who cast their ballot. BA is however refuting the figure by saying that just 43 per cent had backed more strikes.
Tags: British Airways, Easter, Len McCluskey, strike, union, Unite, willie walsh
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Friday, January 21st, 2011
Figures released by police show that the number of people arrested for getting behind the wheel after they had taken drugs or had too much to drink during December equated to just over 200 people every day. The total number of drivers who failed to pass tests for drink and drugs across England and Wales came to 6,613.
The number of drivers being arrested was down on figures for the festive period a year earlier, but only because the severe weather meant fewer people were venturing out onto the roads, according to the police. In 2009 the police tested a total of 223,000; last year they tested 170,000.
Compared with 2009, the percentage of drivers found to be over the limit, or to have taken illegal drugs, was slightly up in 2010 at just under four per cent of all those stopped and tested.
Association of Chief Police Officers’ spokesman, Chief Constable Mick Giannasi, said forces across the UK had reported a fall in the number of people taking to the roads this Christmas. He added however that this hadn’t stopped thousands deciding to risk their own lives and the lives of others by driving illegally.
He explained that many of those caught would not just face a driving ban, but possible imprisonment. Some, he went on to say, would already have become jobless and lost their livelihoods. The report also shows that seven per cent of the 24,000 tested following a collision had tested positive for either drugs or excessive drinking.
Tags: Christmas, drink drive, drinking, drivers, drugs, police, severe weather
Posted in UK News | Comments Off
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
Carrentals.co.uk, the leading vehicle rental comparator, has scored top marks when it comes to social media marketing, according to independent research. The study was conducted by Greenlight, a top search engine marketing agency, and shows that in October last year Carrentals.co.uk was ranked number one in terms of natural searches. The site was also highest on the Social Media Popularity Index.
Carentals.co.uk achieved 54 per cent for domestic search terms and 53 per cent for international search terms during October 2010. According to Greenlight, this was an overall increase of six per cent on three months earlier.
Carrentals.co.uk MD, Gareth Robinson, said: “The latest Greenlight report highlights our online expertise, with our approach to search engine optimisation positioning us at the forefront of the car hire sector and allowing us to continually reach new audiences. Over the last year we have incorporated an enhanced social media marketing strategy, offering new and existing customers a quick and easy way of interacting with us, and this investment is now achieving demonstrable results.”
He added: “Securing our position as the most visible online car hire website reflects the success of our online strategy, and we will continue to develop and refine this over the coming months.”
“Social media, in particular, is a rapidly growing area and we’re excited to be leading the way for the car hire sector in such an important field,” Robinson went on to say. The Greenlight research supports Carrentals.co.uk’s Highly Commended accolade at the Travolution Awards last year in the category for Best Meta-Search / Price Comparison.
Tags: car hire, carrentals.co.uk, Greenlight, social media, Travolution Awards, vehicle rental
Posted in Car Rental News | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
UK budget carrier Jet2 has released a statement in which it says the airline will be cancelling all flights to Tunisia this summer following the recent violence. The decision has been called a knee-jerk reaction by a number of travel experts. In the statement, the airline pointed out that it was always its top priority to ensure the safety of its passengers. The carrier added that by announcing the cancellations now, customers would have enough time to reorganise their summer holiday travel plans.
Holiday firms, including Thomas Cook and Thomson, were quick to lay on extra flights from Tunisia after riots gripped the country at the end of last week. Both have said they will not be scheduling any flights to Tunisia until 23 January at the earliest.
Jet2 is not scheduled to fly any summer services to the North African country until April and is therefore being called overcautious by some in the industry. Bob Atkinson, a travel expert with online price comparator Moneysupermarket.com, condemned the decision. He said the airline should not be too quick to judge the resilience of both Tunisia and those wishing to travel to Tunisia.
He argued that the country heavily relied on tourism as part of its economy and that it would be damaging to local businesses if airlines decided to keep their passengers away.
Atkinson went on to predict a boom for the country when the Foreign Office revised its advice, and that many operators were likely to offer cut price deals to encourage tourists to go back.
Tags: airline, Budget, Foreign Office, jet2, passengers, thomas cook, thomson, tunisia
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
To celebrate a three-year agreement which has just been signed between Hertz and Etihad Airways, both the airline and the vehicle supplier are launching a competition which they hope will draw a great deal of interest from their customers. The competition is open to those flying with the Middle Eastern carrier who decide to rent a car with Hertz.
The lucky winner will walk away with two tickets for return flights either to Europe or to Australia. Accommodation for five-nights will also be provided in the luxurious Relais & Chateaux and a car will be laid on for the length of the stay from the Hertz Prestige Collection.
As well as being eligible for the competition, Etihad customers who choose to pick up a Hertz rental as part of their travel package will automatically earn an additional 500 Guest Miles with the airline. Etihad’s website will now have a list of all available Hertz vehicles and a new microsite will provide simple booking options. Those booking their airline tickets through one of the carrier’s call centres will also have the option of booking a vehicle at the same time.
Michel Taride, Hertz’s president, said the new tie-up was extremely exciting. He added that Etihad Airways and Hertz are two of the world’s leading travel brands and would now be able to offer joint customers an even better service as well as unbeatable value wherever they were travelling to.
He added that at all destinations served by Etihad, Hertz would now be providing superior access to its premium products.
Tags: Etihad Airways, Guest Miles, Hertz, Prestige Collection, Relais & Chateaux, rent a car
Posted in Car Rental News | Comments Off
