News Archive

25th Jan - BA to resume flights to Tripoli

British Airways will resume their service to Libya from May 1 with a planned three times a week schedule from London Heathrow to the country's capital, Tripoli. BA had originally suspended its services to Tripoli a year ago amid rising tensions in the North African country, but following "a thorough security review" in conjunction with the UK government and Libyan officials they decided to resume the service.

24th Jan - Vietnam begins Gatwick service

Vietnam Airlines has launched the first direct, non-stop flights between London Gatwick and two of Vietnam's main cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. The services will initially run four times a week, twice to each of the main airports, with plans for the frequency to increase to seven times per week by 2015.

20th Jan - Germanwings new route

Germanwings will now fly three times daily between London Heathrow and Cologne-Bonn starting in March, taking over the route currently operated by their parent company Lufthansa. The low cost carrier will also make flights available Catania for Sicily, Naples, Rijeka in Croatia and Nador in Morocco, once the summer schedule begins.

17th Jan - Vuleing add Spanish routes

Spanish low-cost airline Vueling continues its UK expansion by adding a new service from both Edinburgh and Southampton airports to Barcelona, which will start on June 22. The services will operate three flights a week from each city.

13th Jan - Vueling to start Cardiff service

Low cost carrier Vueling will launch flights from Cardiff Airport to Alicante and Palma, starting 22nd June. The service will operate 3 times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The Spanish airline will also start a Cardiff-Barcelona service in March, departing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, then from March 24 the schedule changes to Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

12th Jan - Bmibaby Prague extension

Low cost carrier Bmibaby has announced plans to extend its service from East Midlands airport to Prague until 16 April due to high demand for flights over the busy Easter period . They will also be flying to Prague from Birmingham airport next summer.

11th Jan - Emirates add to Glasgow route

Emirates has announced the introduction of a second daily flight from Glasgow to Dubai. The extra service will begin in June and will also introduce a first-class cabin onto both daily services. The Dubai carrier claims that this will be the first time first-class has been offered by a commercial airline from Scotland.

10th Jan - Brussels Airlines announces New York route

Brussels Airlines will begin a new daily flight to JFK airport from their Brussels hub starting in June 2012. The carrier has not flown this route since 2002, although it does currently codeshare with United Airlines, a fellow Star Alliance member. The service will also feature a new business and economy class cabin. Brussels Airlines says it will announce further details about the new cabins in the near future.

9th January - Iberia pilots plan strike

Iberia pilots are planning a strike on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th January. The strike stems from a dispute over parent company International Airlines Group’s plans to create a new Spanish no-frills airline, which the pilots fear may cause reduced working conditions. Iberia's partner British Airways says its flights to and from Spain will not be affected, and passengers who are booked to travel on a BA service operated by Iberia, an Iberia prime flight or a BA flight to or from Madrid on the 9 or 11 January can change travel dates to an alternative, up to 24 March 2012, or claim a full refund.

4th Jan - UK hit by severe weather conditions

Large parts of the UK are being battered by heavy winds and rain. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings across nearly every region, with Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports among the airports showing cancellations and delays. Passengers are advised to contact their airline, airport or travel agent for up to date information.

29th Dec - Emirates to open new Heathrow lounge

Emirates has opened its arrivals lounge specifically for first and business class passengers making use of its chauffeur drive service at London Heathrow. The lounge will be located 15 metres from the chauffeur parking area outside Terminal 3, and offers a broad range of facilities incuding seating for up to 30 people, drinks and snacks, newspapers and magazines, satellite TV, computer access, and free wifi.

23rd Dec - Planned tube strike latest

A planned one day strike by Tube workers is likely to take place on Boxing Day, Monday 26th December. As a result of the strike there may be significant disruptions for those intending to travel to and from the airport on that day. Bus, DLR and Tramlink services will operate, although some of these may very well have a reduced service.

22nd Dec - EasyJet launches new ski route

Budget carrier EasyJet has announced their new ski route from Edinburgh to Grenoble. Flights to the French city will operate twice weekly during the ski season, and willl run from December 17 to April 15, with flights operating on Saturdays and Sundays.

21st Dec - Belgium travel disruption

A travel disruption warning has been issued ahead of a general strike in Belgium on Thursday, one of the busiest travel days of the year. The strike will close the Beglian rail network for the day forcing Eurostar to cancel trains to and from Brussels for 24 hours. The high speed Channel Tunnel passenger service is unlikely to run services between 10pm local time on December 21 and 10pm the following night. All other domestic and international connecting services to and from Brussels will also be unable to operate.

20th Dec - Kingfisher joins Oneworld

India's Kingfisher Airlines has announced plans to join the Oneworld in early 2012. The Mumbai based carrier will have its membership sponsored by BA, who have been running a code share agreement with them since 2011. This move will see Kingfisher strengthen its network throughout Asia, and add 40 destinations to the One World alliance.

16th Dec - KLM stops Liverpool service

Dutch airline KLM has decided to cease its three times daily flights between Liverpool and Amsterdam from 25th March 2012. KLM has blamed the current economic downturn for the cutting of a route they had been operating since 2009.

14th Dec - New Star Alliance member

Ethiopian Airlines has become the newest member of the Star Alliance network. This move means that Star Alliance now comprises 28 airlines flying to 1290 destinations in 189 countries, with a total of 750 daily flights into Africa. The addition of Ethiopian Airlines should see all Star Alliance customers benefiting from an increased choice of flights connecting to, from and within Africa.

13th Dec - Etihad to grow fleet in 2012

The United Arab Emirates' flag carrier Etihad has ordered two Boeing 777 freighters and 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts. The airline hopes that this move will help their global expansion plans by allowing them to transport cargo and passengers from their hub in Abu Dhabi into new global markets.

9th Dec - American Airlines' new business class seat

American Airlines has announced plans to introduce a fully flat seat on its London routes. The US carrier plans to take delivery of ten B777-300ER aircraft in 2012 and 2013, which will feature a brand new fully flat business class seat featuring a 15.4-inch TV screen, a touchscreen remote control, and a large work surface and table tray. All business class passengers will have aisle access, although seat configuration has not yet been revealed.

8th Dec - Qatar adds fifth daily flight

Qatar Airways will introduce a fifth daily flight from London to Doha starting next March to provide extra seats in time for the Olympic Games. This extra flight will depart Heathrow at 1600 hrs, arriving in Doha at 0050 hrs the following day. The return flight will leave Doha at 0635 hrs and arrive at Heathrow at 1200 hrs.

7th Dec - Emirates to increase flights to Paris

Emirates has announced its plans to add an additional five flights per week to Paris by the end of 2012, in response to very strong passenger demand on this route. Starting in March 2012, Emirates will add four flights to their current weekly schedule, increasing to five during the winter season. These additions will bring the total number of Emirates weekly flights to Paris to a total of 19.

6th Dec - New Gatwick service for Air China

Air China will launch a brand new service from London Gatwick to Biejing starting in May 2012. The flights will operate four times a week and will run side by side with their current London Heathrow service.

2nd Dec - Retrospective air tax latest

Many airlines and travel agents are up in arms after the Government confirmed that millions of travellers will be forced to retrospectively pay extra in air tax. Passengers booked on flights travelling after 1st April next year will now have to pay the increase in air passenger duty for their flight, with Premium and Business passengers paying double the new rates.

1st Dec - Etihad announces Libyan route

Etihad Airways will begin flying to the Libyan capital of Tripoli from January 2012 on a three times a week service which will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This new destination will now see Etihad flying to five cities in North Africa, and becomes the 73rd destination on their worldwide network.

30th Nov - Air tax increase

Chancellor George Osborne recently announced that air passenger duty will be extended to business jets. The Treasury has also confirmed that the planned double-inflationary increase of the tax of around 10% will go ahead as planned, coming into effect next April. A review of air passenger duty, announced by the Government this past April, will be announced on December 6, but the Treasury has already confirmed that this will not affect the rise next April.

29th Nov - Iceland gets new airline

New Icelandic budget carrier WOW Air will launch a network of flights across Europe for summer 2012. The airline, which is based at Keflavik International Airport, plans to offer flights to 12 destinations across the continent using aircraft leased from Avion Express. Wow will focus primarily on flexible travel within Europe at competitive fares.

28th Nov - UK border agency staff strike

Following warnings that strikes by Border agency staff could cause delays of up to 12 hours for non-EU citizens, thousands of customers have cancelled their flights into the UK. Several airlines have given passengers the option of changing their flights to another day this week at no extra cost, but none have cancelled flights, with the exception of Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airlines.

17th Nov - Italian strike possibility

Passengers travelling to Italy today are being advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport as a general strike may cause delays and last minute cancellations, with air traffic control likely to be affected. On September 6, an eight-hour strike by workers protesting against Italy's tough austerity measures shut down transport links and businesses across Italy.

16th Nov - Emirates' superjumbo plans

Emirates has announced plans to operate a superjumbo service from London Heathrow three times a day starting in the New Year. From 24 January, three out of their five daily Heathrow flights will be served by the A380. Emirates’ flagship aircraft will also replace Boeing 777s and add capacity to one of the airline’s busiest routes, Heathrow to Dubai.

11th Nov - Business class only service to Hong Kong announced

Hong Kong Airlines has announced plans to launch a new daily business-class only service between London Gatwick and Hong Kong. Scheduled to launch in March 2012, the new service will add to Hong Kong Airlines extensive network of flights to 30 cities in Asia and Europe. The privately owned Hong Kong Airlines is backed by the fourth largest Chinese carrier, Hainan Airlines.

10th Nov - EasyJet to launch Iceland route

Budget carrier easyJet has announced plans to launch a new route between London Luton airport and Reykjavik, its first route into Iceland. The service will operate three times per week, beginning in March 2012, and will land at Iceland's main gateway, Keflavik International Airport.

09th Nov - Embassy closures due to EID.

Please be advised that the festival of Eid began on 6 November 2011, causing the closure of embassies in many Muslim countries for large periods of this week, which could in turn cause delays to their nromal services. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia will be closed until Thursday 10 November 2011. The Indian High Commission is also closed until 10 November 2011.

07th Nov - BMI in buyout talks

The owner of British Airways, the International Airlines Group, has agreed to buy troubled airline BMI in a move that will increase its hold on the take off and landing slots at Heathrow airport. The deal, believed to be worth over €350 million, is expected to be completed in the next few weeks, with the transaction taking place in the first three months of 2012. The sale and closing of the deal are still subject to conditions including a binding purchase agreement, further due diligence and regulatory clearances.

03 Nov - Qantas to compensate stranded passengers

Qantas has promised to compensate passengers left stranded after it grounded its entire fleet due to an industrial dispute. Qantas will look to compensate affected passengers for all reasonable losses incurred as a result of the grounding of their domestic and international flights this past Saturday.

02 Nov - Singapore airlines announce budget venture

Singapore airlines has announced their plans to launch a new long haul budget carrier sometime in the first half of 2012. This new budget airline, Scoot, will offer flights for upto 40% less than full service airlines currently operating in Asia. Scoot will operate flights to destinations in Asia, Asutralia and China in their first year of operations, before expanding its operations to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

1st Nov - Qantas resumes service

Qantas has resumed operations after an independent tribunal, Fair Work Australia, ordered an end to industrial action and told Qantas to abandon their plans to lock-out workers ahead of fresh talks aimed at resolving their dispute. The dispute had seen Qantas grounding all flights on Saturday leaving passengers stranded around the world. The airline and the unions have 21 days to work out an agreement before being forced into mandatory arbitration.

31st Oct - Qantas fleet grounded

Qantas has grounded its entire domestic and international fleets indefinitely in an attempt to lock out all its employees currently in dispute with the Australian carrier. The lock out will begin at 8pm AEDT on today but the Qantas fleet was grounded from 5pm Australian Eastern Standard time on Saturday for precautionary measures, according to the airlline. Flights operated by Jetstar, QantasLink flights and Qantas flights across the Tasman operated by Jetconnect will be unaffected.

27th Oct - Hurricane Rina hits Mexico

Hurricane Rina has caused the evacuation of popular resorts in both Cancun and Cozumel after gathering momentum off the Mexican coast. An estimated 45,000 tourists are thought to be holidaying along the coast south of Cancun, set to be worst affected by the hurricane, with 28,000 in Cancun itself. This coastal area is famed for its Mayan ruins and also includes the popular Playa del Carmen. Cruise ships set for Cozumel have also been told to alter their itineraries to avoid the storm.

26th Oct - Floods close Bangkok airport

Bangkok's Don Muang airport has suspended all flights due to heavy flooding. The airport is in the northern part of the city where the flooding has been worse, and is used mainly for domestic flights. Bangkok's international airport, Suvarnabhumi, is in another part of the city is operating normally at present.

25th Oct - Avro's Greece expansion

Flight-only specialist Avro is expanding its Greek flying programme for next summer. Flights have been aded from East Midlands and Newcastle to both Heraklion in Crete and to Corfu. These flights will operate from May to September.

24th Oct - Easyjet's new Heraklion route

EasyJet will introduce a new once a week service to Heraklion in Crete from Luton Airport, starting April 21st 2012. Easyjet now operates 35 routes including Palma, Barcelona and Munich, with 16 aircraft based at Luton airport.

21 Oct - Bangkok floods latest

Bangkok has braced itself for a critical 48 hours as floodwaters continue to threaten the capital.The nation’s army, navy and air force have already started fortifying their Bangkok headquarters and activating contingency plans as defences against the flood. The city administration is issuing updates on the flood threat every three hours until the situation eases, and has also drafted an evacuation plan, which could be enforced immediately if needed.

20th Oct - Ryanair open new base

Ryanair has announced plans to open a new base at Wroclaw Airport in Poland next spring. The budget airline will base one aircraft at the airport operating to 21 destinations including Bournemouth, Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow and Liverpool. Ryanair said it would carry up to 800,000 passengers from the airport every year, sustaining 800 jobs in the region.

19th Oct - Greece flight disruptions

Several airlines are warning passengers of potential disruption to flights to Greece this week due to the latest 48-hour period of industrial action by air traffic controllers. Starting today, the 48 hour action may lead to delays and cancellations at airports. General services including private and public sector unions, local authorities, banks, pharmacies, hospitals, and taxi drivers are also expected to participate.

18th Oct - Sri Lanka changes visa system

Sri Lanka is replacing its visa on arrival system with a new electronic travel authorisation for tourists. The ETA will cost $50.00 and allow entrance twice within 30 days.The on arrival visa service will still be available until the ETA replaces it on 1 January 2012.

17th Oct - BAli earthquake

The Indonesian island of Bali has been struck by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake struck just before midday local time on 13 October 2011, and has caused damage to buildings and injured at least 50 people. It has been advised that the quake"s epicentre was in the ocean south of Bali"s capital Denpasar, but a tsunami warning was not issued.

14th Oct - BA and American increase flights to JFK

British Airways and American Airlines are increasing their scheduled flights between London Heathrow and New York JFK from 11 to 13 on March 25 2012. One extra flight will come from BA and the other from American. Tickets are now on sale for these flights.

13th Oct - Gatwick debuts hi-tech security suite

A new £45 million security area opened in Gatwick is expected to cut the processing time of passengers to under 5 minutes. The 19 new security lanes will allow almost 5,000 people per hour to pass straight through to the departure lounge. There are also lanes exclusively for families with young children and passengers with reduced mobility, as well as lanes for passengers travelling first class or business class. Passengers travelling through the new security area will be able to swipe their boarding card or Smartphone displaying their boarding card at security access gates.

12 Oct Virgin develops fuel breakthrough

Virgin Atlantic has begun development of a low carbon aviation fuel with half the carbon footprint of the standard jet fuel. The fuel is being developed in partnership with the energy company Lanza Tech, and is produced from waste gases captured from industrial steel production, and then converted for use as jet fuel.

11 Oct - Vietnam Airlines UK fares on sale

Vietnam Airlines has started selling non-stop flights from the UK on its website, two months before the launch of its new services in December. The Vietnamese airline will start flying from London Gatwick to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on December 8. They will offer two return flights a week to each city, thereby providing the only non-stop services between the UK and Vietnam. It plans to increase frequency to seven flights over the next three years.

10 Oct - BA announce budget airline

British Airways has announced that it's sister carrier Iberia will launch a new budget carrier next summer to operate domestic and European flights. Iberia Express will launch with four aircraft next summer and it is expected to have 13 aircraft by the end of 2012, and will be based at Madrid, Barajas airport. Iberia parent company IAG is hoping the budget carrier will provide stronger competition on short and medium-haul routes operated currently by Ryanair and EasyJet.

07 Oct - Qantas strike called off

The Transport Workers Union of Australia has called off today's strike action, which would have caused 17 flight cancellations and delayed approximately 29 other services. A simultaneous strike by Qantas engineers has also been called off. The TWUA has warned that strikes may still go ahead next Thursday unless an agreement with Qantas could be reached in its long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.

06 Oct - UK's first biofuel passenger flight launches today

Thomson Airways is planning to fly customers from Birmingham to Lanzarote on a mixture of cooking oil and conventional jet fuel on Thursday. The airline had originally hoped to start its biofuel flights in July, but experienced delays with testing and safety clearances. Thomsons claims that the use of biofuels could reduce the aviation industry’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 per cent in the long term, and plans to use them across its entire fleet within three years.

05 Oct - Easyjet's new Kefalonia route

EasyJet has announced the addition of a new service from Gatwick to the Greek Island of Kefalonia, bringing its total number of destinations from the airport to 93. Flights on the new route will go on sale from 20th October 2011, and run three times weekly. The service will operate from 28th April to 31st October 2012.

04 Oct - Greek industrial action

Reports have come in advising of potential industrial action taking place in Greece on Wednesday 5th October 2011. The general strike will take place from 2101 GMT (0001 Greek Local time) on 4th October 2011 to 2059 GMT (2359 Greek Local Time) on 5th October 2011. Air Traffic Controllers are also reported to be joining in the strike and public transport may also be affected.

03 Oct - Kenya latest

Following reports of a French national being kidnapped from a Kenyan resort by an armed gang, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed the level of the travel advice to extend the area of the exclusion zone and now advise against all but essential travel to within 60km (previously 30km) of the Kenya-Somalia border, including along the coast strip north of Pate Island towards Somali waters. They are also advising against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, including all township or slum areas.

30th Sept - Demonstrations in Egypt

There are reports of demonstrations being held in Cairo today, Friday 30 September. These will likely centre on Tahrir Square. There may also be demonstrations held in other Egyptian cities. Some of the demonstrations in the past have been violent. It has been advised that affected travellers follow the news on the television and radio closely, and stay away from demonstrations and large gatherings of people.

29 th Sept - High speed rail travel for Germany in 2013

Following a successful test run through the Channel Tunnel to the Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras, German rail operator Deutsche Bahn have unveiled plans to start a full inter-continental service in 2013. Brussels will serve as the connecting point for the high-speed services provided to Rotterdam/Amsterdam and also Cologne/Frankfurt. Travel time from Cologne to London is expected to be under four hours and from Frankfurt just over five hours.

27th Sept - Australian Customs Officers To Strike From today

The Australian government has announced that customs and border protection staff intend to carry out one and two-hour work stoppages from Tuesday 27th September 2011, at airports, container inspection facilities and international mail depots around the country. The action by public servants, sparked by a row between the government and the public sector union over pay and conditions, is a blow for Qantas Airways Ltd which is already facing industrial action from its own pilots, engineers and baggage handlers.Customs said it was working with the nation's airports and airlines to minimise the strike's impact on the public but warned international travellers to allow extra time for security screening on Tuesday.

26th Sept - Chile and Brazil airline merger

The long proposed merger of Chile's LAN and Brazil's TAM airlines will take place early next year, after being approved by Chile's anti trust court. LAN and TAM, already two of the largest airlines in South America, said the new company, LATAM airlines, would be one of the 10 largest in the world and Latin America's largest air carrier.

23 Sept - American Airlines pulls Chicago to Brussels route

American Airlines has announced that it will cease flights between Brussels and Chicago from November, blaming high oil prices and the weakened global economies affect on travel demand for the route. The final eastbound flight will operate on November 6, with the final westbound service on November 7. The U.S carrier will continue to serve the Belgian market via its daily year-round nonstop service to New York JFK, as well as in conjunction with its Oneworld partners British Airways and Iberia.

22nd Sept - Typhoon Roke hits Japan

A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, bringing torrential rains and floods. The typhoon made landfall yesterday in Hamamatsu and is set to hit Fukushima and travel up along the north-east coast. Evacuation warnings have affected more than a million people including areas surrounding Tokyo. Travellers may experience delays to their journeys as some flights have been cancelled, several motorways have been closed and bullet train services have been suspended.

21 Sept - Qantas strike latest

Qantas claims to have been able to minimise the impact of recent strike action with fewer than 30 of their domestic flights in Australia being cancelled. International services also continued to operate normally and Qantas said that nearly 80% of domestic flights departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time during the strike. The industrial action taken by the Transport Workers Union in a row over pay and conditions, has been estimated to have affected more than 6,000 passengers.

20th Sept - China Southern Airlines to introduce the Airbus A380

China Southern will operate its first superjumbo, the A380 from October 18 to October 28. Services will initially run between Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou in order to test operations and aid in the promotion of the aircraft before moving onto international routes. The superjumbos are fitted with eight seats in first-class, 70 in business and 428 in economy.

19th Sept - Virgin increase capacity to the Caribbean

Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to add more flights and premium economy seats to the Caribbean. The airline will increase its capacity this winter, offering extra flights to Barbados, Cuba, Tobago and Grenada. It will also offer 14% more Premium Economy seats after a re-fitting of their 747s, promising to bring more high spending visitors to the islands.

16 Sept - Easyjet planning new routes

EasyJet has announced plans to expand its network with a host of new destinations. So far, the airline has over 300 destinations covering Europe, the Middle East and North Africa on sale for next summer, offering more than 110,000 flights. It has also increased capacity to several cities including Barcelona, Alicante, Madrid and Rome.

15 Sept - Vueling to offer flights from Haethrow to Bilbao

Spanish airline Vueling has announced that it will increase the frequency of its flights from London Heathrow to Bilbao in northern Spain over the winter, offering twice daily flights from 30th October. This will double the airline’s current capacity to the Spanish destination, which is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Spain's gastronomic capitals.

14 Sept - Ryanair scraps Aberdeen route

Low cost Irish airline Ryanair has announced that it will scrap its Aberdeen to Dublin route next month after failing to reach an agreement with airport operator BAA. The budget carrier said its final flight from Aberdeen would depart on October 28, and claimed that BAA had refused to extend a low-cost deal, effectively increasing the cost of using the north-east airport. Any passengers who have booked flights after that date are to receive full refunds.

12 Sept - Emirates to launch Ireland route

Emirates will begin daily flights to Dublin from January next year. From January 9, a daily service will leave Dubai at 0700hrs and arrive in the Irish capital at 1130hrs. The return flight leaves Dublin at 1255hrs and gets into Dubai at 0025hrs the next day. An Airbus A330-200 will serve the route offering First, Business and Economy class. Dublin will be Emirates’ 29th destination in Europe.

09 Sept - British Airways interested in Aer Lingus

British Airways has been tipped as a possible partner for Aer Lingus after the Irish government and Ryanair indicated their willingness to sell their stakes in the Irish flag carrier. The Irish government is expected to announce shortly that it will dispose of its 25% stake in Aer Lingus and, according to a various reports, Ryanair has confirmed that it will sell its 29.8% shareholding.

8 Sept - New Delhi bomb incident

The Indian capital Delhi and the city of Mumbai are on high alert following a bomb attack which killed 10 people and injured at least 47 others. The bomb exploded outside the Indian High Court in Delhi and the extremist group Huji, which has links to al-Qeada, has since claimed responsibility. The British Foreign Office has not changed its overall level of advice for travel to India but it is urging British visitors to monitor local media and remain vigilant around government buildings and public places.

7 Sept - World's longest airliner

The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, officially the world's longest passenger airliner, will go into service with Lufthansa early next year. After extensive ground testing, the aircraft will undergo initial test flights in November and is scheduled to go into service next spring. Compared with the Boeing 747-400, the Boeing 747-8 has an additional six metres and measures 76.3 metres in length.

6 Sept - Italy travel disruption

one of Italy's main trade unions, the Italian General Confederation of Labour, has called for a general strike today, 6 September 2011. Travellers could experience flight delays and cancellations as pilots, flight attendants and ground staff will strike from 1000hrs to 1800hrs local time. Train services will be halted from 0900hrs to 1700hrs local time. Also, local transport, including buses, ferries, subways and trams, will be affected by the strike during the day. Demonstrations are also set to take place in several cities, including Milan, Palermo and Rome.

05 Sept - World's safest airlines

Air France, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa have been named the safest airlines in Europe, according to the Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA), which recently published a list of the world's 10 most reliable carriers. American Airlines and its associate American Eagle, together with Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways were named the safest US carriers. The only non European or US based airline to make it onto this list was Japan Airlines.

02 Sept - Air India rescue package

The Indian government has revealed plans for a $1.5 billion bailout package for the country's financially crippled, state-owned carrier, Air India. The troubled airline has been granted this infusion of equity to help pay off loans, as well as special accounts to be used for paying money owed to oil companies and airport operators.

01 Sept - Hurricane Irene latest

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, extra flights are being provided by both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways in order to fly an estimated 10,000 Britons stranded in New York due to the Hurricane. As the backlog is cleared, travellers will likely experience ongoing delays as schedules return to normal. At least 9,000 aircraft are thought to have been grounded by the storm which battered the US east coast before moving north into Canada.

31 Aug - Thai Smile air

Thai Airways has confirmed the launch of their new budget airline, Thai Smile Air. The subsidiary will begin operating domestic flights next July from Bangkok to various destinations including Chiang Rai and Surat Thani, and will focus on secondary routes less than two hours flying time from the capital, offering connections with Thai Airways' flights.

30th Aug - Cathay to launch premium product

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific looks set to launch its much anticipated premium economy seating on flights between Hong Kong and Toronto next March, with more routes to follow throughout 2012. The aircraft will operate on flights CX826 from Hong Kong and CX827 from Toronto on Sundays, and CX828 from Hong Kong and CX829 from Toronto on Mondays and Wednesdays.

26 Aug - New Canaries route for Easyjet

Budget airline EasyJet will launch a new route next March to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The twice weekly service will fly from London Gatwick with fares starting from £35.99, one way including taxes. This will be the 93rd destination that Easyjet flies to from Gatwick.

25 Aug - Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene has reached category 3 with forecasters predicting that it could become category 4. The core of the hurricane is heading towards the Bahamas with winds up to 115 mph and higher gusts. The storm is expected to reach the east coast of the US by the end of the week and could cause extensive damage to sections of the Eastern Seaboard, from the Carolinas into the Northeast.

24 Aug - Earthquake hits Virginia

Louisa, in Louisa County, which is northwest of Richmond and south of Washington, was struck by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake which shook much of Washington, D.C, and was felt as far north as Rhode Island, New York City and Martha"s Vineyard, Mass, where President Barack Obama is vacationing. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was half a mile deep. Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, and as far south as Chapel Hill, N.C. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

23 Aug - Earthquakes hit the South Pacific

A powerful earthquakes struck just off of Vanuatu, a chain of 80 islands with a population of a quarter of a million, located in the South Pacific. Several powerful aftershocks later struck the same area, at least one with a magnitude of 7.0. It is not clear what damage has been caused. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ruled out a Pacific-wide tsunami but has warned of the possibility of more localised tsunamis.

19 Aug - Air Berlin axes UK flights

Air Berlin will axe regional flights to the UK as part of their plan to partially withdraw from regional airports in Germany and shed unprofitable routes after announcing recent losses. Flights from London to Munster and Hanover will be discontinued this winter, with flights from London and Manchester to Paderborn also being dropped in order to concentrate on its hubs in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Palma and Vienna. Air Berlin said the cancellations were necessary due to higher costs resulting from aviation tax, rising fuel prices and the decline of Egypt-based business.

18th Aug - Flybe sees increase in passenger numbers

Budget airline Flybe has reported "encouraging" trading in spite of the "challenging" economic climate stemming from higher fuel costs and a tough economy. The regional carrier reported an 8.3% increase in revenues to £160.4m for the three months to June 30, with passenger numbers invreasing by 7.7% to 1.98m for the same period.

17 Aug - New budget carrier for Japan

A new budget carrier will be available within Japan from next year following a joint venture between Qantas, Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi Corp. Jetstar Japan will launch with three Airbus A320s towards the end of 2012. It expects to fly from Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai International), with other destinations under consideration including Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. Jetstar Japan also has long term plans to offer short haul international services to key Asian cities.

16 Aug -Snow storms hit New Zealand

New Zealand has been hit by their worst winter storm in decades. The New Zealand Met Service has described the antarctic blast as being a one in 50 year event. The storm caused snow in places including Wellington and Auckland where snow hasn't fallen in more than 30 years and has also caused the closure of roads, schools and airports. Air and road travel has also been disrupted with many roads in both the north and south islands closed and flights out of Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin cancelled.

15 Aug -Tourism unaffected by London riots

According to the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), the number of tourist cancellations the UK has suffered are 'negligible' despite the images of rioting and looting being reported around the world. The ETOA also stated that the impact of the riots was reduced due to the fact that they occurred in "comparatively anonymous locations", where no major landmarks were damaged and not many tourists were involved. It also pointed out that other major cities have also experienced riots recently.

12 Aug - Floods affect Scottish road and rail networks

Travellers could experience delays to road and rail journeys in Scotland due to flooding. Flood warnings have been issued for Tayside, Sutherland and a further 14 other areas. It has been advised that the Cathcart rail service in the south of Glasgow has been withdrawn and a reduced half-hourly train service is running between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh via Falkirk High. There have also been reports of disruption to rail services in Dalmarnock. Travellers are advised to leave extra time for their journeys and take extra care when driving.

11 Aug - Virgin pilots union accepts offer

Virgin Atlantic pilots have voted to accept a pay offer, finally ending the prospect of strike action. The pilots' union, Balpa, revealed details of the deal, including a profit-share scheme, a programme to review pilot lifestyle and a commitment on improving the way pilots and management work together.

10 Aug - Better training for airport security staff

Airport security staff are to get better training thanks to a new set of standards brought in to help cope with an influx of passengers, as the UK prepares itself for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Airport security staff will be able to take the level 2 Diploma in Aviation Security from City & Guilds and Edexcel, a new qualification geared towards their specific role.

09 Aug - Lufhansa group to introduce card charges

Lufthansa and Swiss are to introduce a fee of £4.50 on all payment card bookings made through travel agents.The charge, from November 2, will be for both credit and debit card bookings and will only affect ticket sales originating in the UK. However, all First and Business Class Tickets will be exempt from the charges.

8th Aug - Disruption on roads around Heathrow - Sunday 14 August

The London-Surrey Cycle Classic Road Race will be taking place on Sunday 14 August 2011, in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The race will pass through south-west London and Surrey, starting and finishing in central London. Roads in the area, including access to Heathrow and the M25, will be affected. If you are travelling to or from Heathrow airport on this day, you are strongly advised to plan ahead.

4th Aug - BA launches 50 per cent miles redemption offer

Members of BA's Executive Club can currently redeem reward tickets for travel in World Traveller, Club Europe and World Traveller Plus cabins for 50 per cent of the normal miles. The promotion is valid for redemptions made before midnight on August 12, for travel between August 3, 2011 and August 3, 2012. Members can redeem BA miles in full, or use the part cash part miles option. Note that the offer is not valid for redemptions in Club World or First cabins, and cannot be used for flights operated wholly or partly by BA's franchisees, codeshare partners or Oneworld alliance members

1st Aug - Disruption to Gatwick Express Service (1 Aug)

Gatwick Express services are being severely disrupted due to a burst water main in the South Croydon area. All lines are blocked between East Croydon and South Croydon and there are no trains running south of East Croydon at present.

01 August - Ryanair announce Valencia route

Ryanair are to start several new routes from Manchester including Tenerife after axing nine others because of a dispute over airport charges two years ago. This means that by next summer, Ryanair will operate sevrices from Manchester to several locations includingTenerife, Madrid, Valencia, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, and Murcia.

29 July - US body scanners to blur nudity

The US transportation securtiy administration has approved proposals to introduce upgrades to their current full body scanners, at US airports, eliminating the naked images that appear on an operator's screen. A computer-generated outline will now replace the images, with suspicious objects still being visible to keep in line with security procedures.

28 July - BAA announce reduced losses

BAA has reported smaller losses for the first half of the year thanks to a rise in passenger numbers. BAA said that although growth at Heathrow was at record levels, the rise was boosted by last year’s ash cloud and industrial action at British Airways.

27 July - Easyjet announces Southend departures

Easyjet has confirmed that as of April 2012, they will offer services from Southend airport to Amsterdam, Alicante, Belfast, Faro, Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga and Majorca. All of these destinations are currently served from Stansted but easyJet claim that the impact on its services there would be minimal.

26 July - Ryanair seeks legal action against Stansted

Ryanair has announced that it will shortly launch legal action against BAA Stansted, seeking a recovery of substantial overcharges, stating that it has suffered at the BAA Stansted monopoly’s hands in recent years, along with other Stansted airlines.

25 July - Oslo explosion

Seven people have been killed in an explosion in Oslo and a further 84 people have been shot by a gunman in a Norwegian youth camp. A 32-year-old Norwegian man has been charged over both attacks. The explosion happened near the government headquarters, which contains the office of Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who escaped unhurt.

22 July - ABTA asks for agents views on ATOL reform.

ABTA is urging its members to complete a questionnaire seeking their views on ATOL reform. The questioonaire highlights the key areas of the Department for Transport's proposed reform and is being posted to the head office of all ABTA members. ABTA has called on the Government to extend protection for all holidays, regardless of how they have been booked, including via airlines and through click-throughs on websites.

21 July - Qantas pilots to go ahead with strike action

Qantas has been informed by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) that their long-haul pilots will take industrial action from Friday 22nd July due to an ongoing dispute. Qantas does not anticipate that there will be any flight delays or cancellations because of this strike action.

20 July - BMI to launch Heathrow route

British Midland International will launch new routes from London Heathrow to Nice in the south of France and Agadir in southwest Morocco. Starting in August flights will operate daily to Nice, moving to twice daily in late October, and twice weekly to Agadir from late October.

19 July - Amsterdam airport to speed up immigration

Amsterdam's Schipol airport is on track to get 36 Automated Border Control Systems by the end of the year, with the promise of a speedier immigration process for all passengers The airport claims that these new gates will speed up the identification process by using the latest in biometric technologies, including facial recognition, to more efficiently validate passengers identities and passport details.

18 July - Lufthansa begins biofuel flights

Lufthansa launched a six-month trial this past Friday using biofuel on all of its regular scheduled flights. The airline will operate four flights daily on its Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route, making it the first airline to use biofuel for scheduled daily flight operations.

15 July - Demonstrations in Egypt continue

Large demonstrations have been ongoing in Cairo since 8 July 2011 with demonstrators currently occupying Tahrir Square in Cairo and traffic not being permitted through the Square. Although the protests have been peaceful for the most part, there have been reports of minor injuries to protestors. Protestors are also still present in Arbein Square, Suez. There are reports of further demonstrations being planned in and around Tahrir Square, Cairo, and in Alexandria and Suez.

14 July - Mumbai hit by explosions

Mumbai was yesterday hit by three explosions, killing at least eight people and injuring around 100 more. One of the explosions occurred in the Zaveri Bazaar, another in the Opera House business district and a third in Dadar district. Latest reports attribute the attacks to terrorists.

13 July - Air Asia X switches airport

Low cost long-haul carrier AirAsia X is to switch its Kuala Lumpur flights from London Stansted to London Gatwick on 24 October after two years. They will now operate six flights weekly to Kuala Lumpur by December, from their new UK base at Gatwick.

12 July - Qantas long-haul pilots set to strike

Qantas long haul pilots have voted to go on strike over concerns that the Australian airline plans to move international operations overseas. More than 90% of voting Qantas pilots were in favour of taking industrial action for the first time since 1966. The Australian International Pilots Associaition will begin mapping their strategy over the weekend. Qantas has expressed it's disappointment with the union's decision, calling it's demands excessive.

11 July - MP's call for the scrapping of APD in Northern Ireland

MPs have demanded that air passenger duty (APD) be abolished on most flights out of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has recommended that the Treasury scrap APD on short and medium-haul flights from the region, currently in tax bands A and B. ABTA has also backed Northern Irish politicians calls for (APD) to be abolished, stating that the move would be integral to preventing further damage to the economy of the region.

08 July - Virgin Atlantic call off strike

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has secured a fresh pay offer from Virgin Atlantic which is to be be put to members in a ballot. Pliots at Virgin Atlantic had voted to strike by a 97% majority prior to these talks, but have now withdrawn their threat based upon this new offer, the details of which will not be shared until BALPA has informed its members.

07 July - Lufthansa adding Frankfurt route

Lufthansa has announced a new London Gatwick to Frankfurt service. This new service is being introduced on 30 October and will run twice daily. This addition means that Lufthansa will now operate a total of 111 weekly flights to Frankfurt from London City, Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

06 July - French cabin crew calls for walkout

The cabin crew union, Unac - which represents around 40 percent of Easyjet cabin crew in France - is calling for a 48 hour walkout by Easyjet staff on 12/13 July in protest over pay increases and social security cover. If it goes ahead flights both to and from Lyon, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports could be affected. Easyjet however, maintains that they are not expecting any major disruption at this stage.

05 July - SAS to launch new route to China

SAS has announced a new route from London Heathrow to Shanghai via Copenhagen next March 2012. The five times a week service will be served by an Airbus A340-300 configured with business, economy extra and economy seating. Passengers travelling on the new route can also connect to services across Asia with SAS partners Air China and Shanghai Airlines.

04 July - Flybe / Finnair to create a new Nordic joint venture

Flybe has announced a joint venture with Finnair to acquire Finnish Commuter Airlines (FCA) in a bid to create a major regional airline for the Nordic and Baltic countries.The €25 million deal was announced just 24 hours after Flybe revealed annual losses of £4.3 million. Flybe says that it intends to push the airline out to new markets including Sweden, Denmark, Estonia and Latvia.. The new company will also have extensive use of Finnair’s European and Asian networks. The joint venture will announce a new route network in August that will operate from October 30.

01 July - Thai Airways launching route to Brussels

Thai Airways will be launching a three-times weekly service between Bangkok and Brussels this winter. From November 17 the carrier will operate flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, using a B777-200ER aircraft fitted with 30 business class and 262 economy class seats. This new route will allow for connection possibilities with fellow Star Alliance member Brussels Airlines. There are currently no nonstop flights between Belgium and Thailand.

Flights disrupted by Chilean volcanic ash cloud

Australian and New Zealand flight networks are suffering mahor disruption this week from the ash cloud emitted by the Chilean volcano Puyehue Cordon Caulle. Qantas and Jetstar have had to suspend flights to and from Queensland, Christchurch and Wellington and flights between Sydney and Buenos Aires are also delayed until further notice.

Qatar Airways confirms Montreal services

Qatar Airways launches a new three-times weekly service between Doha and Montreal today, becoming the first Gulf carrier to serve the Canadian city. Flights will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using B777-200LR aircraft. The aircraft offers 42 fully-flat business class seats (in a 2-2-2 configuration) and 217 economy seats (in a 3-3-3 configuration).

28th Jun - Gulf Air to offer inflight wifi, live TV and mobile phone access

Gulf Air has signed an agreement to install Panasonic's Global Communications Suite across its entire fleet. This is expected to take two years to complete, starting this September, and will see Gulf Air become the first carrier to offer Panasonic's eXTV live television service across continents.

27th Jun - BA relaunches premium arrivals lounge for LCY customers

Customers travelling on BA's New York-LCY service can now take advantage of a free arrivals service at the Radisson Edwardian New Providence located in Canary Wharf, including use of spa, gym and breakfast facilities. Passengers can prebook the service at JFK (either at check-in, in the Galleries Club lounge or at the boarding gate), and will be taken by chauffeur car to the hotel, located around ten minutes from the airport.

23rd Jun - Vietnam Airlines confirms Gatwick routes

Vietnam Airlines will launch direct flights from London Gatwick to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from this December. The carrier announced plans for a London route late April, and has now confirmed it will use Gatwick airport for their two new routes

21st Jun - Malaysia Airlines to join oneworld alliance

The oneworld airline alliance is to gain a substantial foothold in South East Asia with the proposed addition Malaysia Airlines. The arrangement is expected to be consummated by the end of next year. As it prepares for its alliance membership, Malaysia Airlines intends to develop bilateral links with a number of oneworld's established partners and already code-shares with members Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.

20th Jun - Easyjet swans into Salzburg

Easyjet is to launch a route to Salzburg this winter. The low cost airline will make its inaugural flight from Luton to the Austrian city on December 17th and will fly twice weekly.

17th Jun- Easyjet announces new UK hub

Easyjet is to fly out of London Southend airport from April next year. Easyjet will operate three A319 planes from the base to ten European destinations including Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza.

16th Jun- Airport workers to join teachers on June 30 strike

It has been reported that Airport immigration officials and some air traffic controllers will join teachers and public sector workers in their mass walk-out on June 30. Public sector union Public and Commercial Services (PCS) announced yesterday afternoon that their 250,000 members would also take action in a battle with the government over pensions, retirement age and wages.

15th Jun - Strikes at Spanish airport

Strike action will take place today at Girona Airport in northern Spain.

15th Jun- Greek air traffic controllers stop strike at 11th hour

Flights into Greece were saved from disruption today after the country's air traffic controllers made a last minute decision not to strike. As Greek sea and rail travel ground to a halt today, public sector workers staged another walk out in protest at deep government cuts.

15th June - Chilean Volcanic Ash Cloud Advisory

A volcano in Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle chain erupted around 13 days ago, belching ash eastward and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of local and international flights in South America. The ash cloud has now reached New Zealand skies and over the past few days Jetstar and QANTAS have cancelled trans-Tasman and domestic New Zealand flights.

14th Jun - ABTA makes last-ditch appeal over APD reform

ABTA is making a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Government to rethink the level and structure of APD. In the final week of the Government’s APD review, the industry association is hoping to stop the government increasing APD tax by up to 10% next April.

13th Jun - Two new Ryanair routes at Leeds Bradford.

Ryanair is launching two Leeds Bradford routes to and from Kaunas in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia from November.

19th Apr - BMIBABY EXPANDS AT BELFAST

Low-cost carrier BmiBaby is to add seven new routes from Belfast City including a new Amsterdam service. The carrier will add Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Ibiza for summer 2012, in addition to a new year-round six-times weekly service to Amsterdam from October 31, and a twice-weekly winter service to Geneva from December 17. However BmiBaby will cease operations from Cardiff and Manchester at the end of the summer.

18th Apr - EMIRATES ADDS A380 TO SHANGHAI

Emirates has announced it will deploy the Airbus A380 aircraft on its direct services to Shanghai Pudong International from April 27 onwards. The A380 will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and depart Dubai at 0310, arriving in Shanghai at 1530.

15th Apr - BA STRIKE - NO THREAT TO BANK HOLIDAYS

British Airways and cabin crew union Unite have agreed a 28-day extension to the deadline by which the union must announce any further industrial action, removing the threat of strikes over the Easter and Royal Wedding bank holiday

15th Apr - AIR FRANCE BRINGS A380 TO SAN FRANCISCO

Air France will join Lufthansa as the second airline to operate A380 flights to San Francisco, with a daily service over the summer period. They will offer daily A380 flights between Paris CDG and the Californian city from June 6 until September 4, departing Paris at 1030 and arriving at 1240.

14th Apr - AIR FRANCE STARTS CAPE TOWN

Capetown is to become Air France's 12th new destination launched in 2011. From 3 November AirFrance will operate three weekly frequencies to Africa's most southerly city.

13th Apr - RICHARD BRANSON TO REMAIN A MAJOR SHAREHOLDER IN VIRGIN ATLANTIC

Richard Branson has insisted he will remain a "major shareholder" in Virgin Atlantic, whatever the outcome of talks to sell his 51% stake in the airline. He confirmed in an interview that Virgin had received offers to buy his stake, but he would not say who the offers were from

12th Apr - ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE HITS JAPAN

An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude has struck Japan at 08:16am Monday 11th April. The earthquake which struck 38km from Honshu and 163km from Tokyo, had a depth of 13km.

11th Apr - BA INCREASES FUEL SURCHARGE

BA added another fuel surcharge to certain flights last Friday, this is the third increase in less than three months. Short haul and domestic UK passengers will escape the new charges. The increase on long haul non-premium tickets will increase by £10 per sector which means that for flights up to nine hours

JET2 COMMENCES GLASGOW TO ALICANTE ROUTE

No-frills carrier Jet2.com operated its first flight from Glasgow last Friday and announced a new route from the Scottish airport. It announced it would bring the total number of destinations from the airport to eight when it starts a winter route to Geneva on the 23rd December this year, which will operate until April 15, 2012.

6th Apr - RYANAIR CHARGE €2 DELAY COMPENSATION FEE

From 1 April the no-frills carrier Ryanair plans to start adding a €2 levy on all bookings in an attempt to cover the compensation it must pay out when flights are cancelled or delayed.

5th Apr - QANTAS TO CHARGE FOR ECONOMY SEAT SELECTION

International economy passengers flying with Qantas can now choose seats in advance online, for a fee of A$20(around £12GBP) per flight. The Australian national airline is following in the footsteps of its One world partner British Airways in charging for the service which could potentially provide them with hundreds of thousands of dollars in ancillary revenue.

4th Apr - NO. 1 TRAVELLER TO OPEN FIRST HEATHROW LOUNGE

No.1 Traveller is due to open its latest airport lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 on the 14th August. The lounge will be complete with bedrooms featuring ensuite showers and on-demand movies. It is believed that the lounge will be the first paid-for facility to offer airside accommodation at Heathrow.

1st Apr - NEW SEATS FOR BMI

British Midland International (bmi) is introducing new leather seats across its fleet of short haul aircrafts over the next few months. The new seats are being installed as part of a major refurbishment to the interiors of the Airbus family aircraft that operate the airline's short haul routes

31st Mar - MEXICO ROUTE FOR AIR FRANCE

From 21 Oct Air France is to launch a three times weekly service between Paris CDG and the popular Mexican conference and resort centre of Cancun.

30th Mar - AEGEAN TAKES OVER OLYMPIC AIR ROUTE

Aegean Airlines is to increase its UK services with extra flights from Heathrow to Athens from Sunday (27 Mar). The move comes two weeks after Olympic Air decided to cancel all of its UK services from the same date

29th Mar - BA CABIN CREW VOTE FOR STRIKE

Unite, the trade union for British Airways cabin crew, has announced that its recent strike ballot has closed in favour of strike action. Unite has not set any dates for the proposed strike action and BA remain in talks with them.

29th Mar - EASYJET LAUNCHES NEW MANCHESTER TO BILBOA SERVICE

EasyJet is launching a new route from Manchester to the Spanish city Bilbao this summer. The thrice weekly service will start on June 17 and will be the first direct service between the two cities.

28th Mar - BAA'S £50M PLAN TO AVOID SNOW CHAOS

Airport owner BAA has promised to spend £50 million at Heathrow to avoid a repeat of the chaos caused by snow in December last year.BAA has unveiled a Heathrow resilience investment plan which will feature revised snow plans for the airport with new equipment, plus more staff and training. It also plans to add new communication systems as well as offering extra passenger care and support.

25th Mar - EASYJET TO LAUNCH GLASGOW TO JERSEY SERVICE

EasyJet is to launch a new route between Glasgow and Jersey this summer. The low cost carrier will operate flights three times a week between June and September. The service will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

24th Mar - ETIHAD TO START MALE

Etihad is to start flights to the Maldives from November 1. The airline will fly between its base in Abu Dhabi and Male, the capital of the Maldives, every day from November. The service will use an Airbus A320, configured with two cabins and offering 1,904 seats each week.

21st Mar - SICILY AIRPORT CLOSED DUE TO LIBYA STRIKE

Sicily's Trapani airport has been closed by the Italian Air Force due to the current situation in Libya. The Ryanair base, on the western coastline of the island, will remain out of bounds until at least March 28.All of Ryanair's flights will now arrive and depart from Palermo, to the east of the island.

23rd Mar - APD TO BE FROZEN

Despite reports last week that the government was planning a further round of Air Passenger Duty (APD) increases, it now seems that the aviation tax will remain at its current levels. It is thought APD was due to be increased in line with the retail price index measure of inflation, but a last minute decision to freeze it was prompted by the increase in fuel prices following Middle East unrest

22nd Mar - EASYJET CEASES HELSINKI SERVICE

Owing to what Easyjet calls "lack of demand" the budget carrier will cease flights from its three routes to Helsinki by early July. Flights from Manchester will end on June 13, followed by services out of London Gatwick on June 22.

16th Mar - IBERIA TO FLY BARCELONA TO SAO PAULO

Iberia announces a new direct service between Barcelona and Sao Paulo, following in the footsteps of Singapore Airlines. Iberia's twice-weekly service, which commences on June 19, will compete against SIA's thrice-weekly one which begins on March 28, giving consumers more choice on the route

17th Mar - SPANISH AIRPORT STRIKES CANCELLED

The planned strike by Spanish airport workers has been called off, after airport authority AENA reached a preliminary agreement with the trade unions.

13th Mar - TRAVEL UPDATE FOR JAPAN

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all non essential travel to Tokyo and the north east of Japan whilst they assess the damage caused by the 11 March earthquake and resulting tsunamis. There is still a continued risk of tsunamis in Japan.

14th Mar - TRAVEL UPDATE FOR BAHRAIN

The Foreign and Common wealth Office (FCO) travel advice for Bahrain has been updated. The FCO now advise against ALL TRAVEL to Bahrain.

11th Mar - EARTHQUAKE HITS JAPAN

A large 8.9 magnitude earthquake has occurred near Honshu, Japan. The earthquake was located 80 miles east of Sendai at a depth of 24.4km. It is believed that the earthquake was felt strongly in Tokyo. Narita and Haneda Airports are currently closed.

10th Mar - EMIRATES LAUNCHES SECOND CAPE TOWN SERVICE

Effective 27 Mar 11 Emirates will commence a second daily service to Cape Town. This flight will be operated by an A340-500 aircraft with First, Business and Economy class cabins.

9th Mar - EMIRATES LAUNCHES THIRD DAILY MANCHESTER SERVICE

Effective 01 May 11 Emirates will commence a third daily service from Manchester airport. This will firmly position Emirates as the leading scheduled airline for customers in the North West.

7th Mar - ETIHAD MANCHESTER SERVICES INCREASE TO TWICE DAILY

From 1 August, Etihad's Manchester to Abu Dhabi service will increase to double daily. This means more services to Abu Dhabi and also opens up more of Etihad's long haul network, to Asia, Australia and Africa to guests from the North West.

4th Mar - GENERAL STRIKE IN BRUSSELS

Due to a general strike by public sector unions in Belgium, the British Consulate-General in Brussels will be closed today (4 March) National trains are expected to run with delays, but public transport in Brussels (metro, tram, buses) is likely to come to a standstill

3rd Mar - FCO TRAVEL ADVICE FOR CHRISTCHURCH

The Foreign and Common Wealth Office (FCO) travel advice for New Zealand has been revised and they now advise against all but essential travel to Christchurch and Lyttleton areas

3rd Mar - QATAR TO OFFER DOUBLE DAILY MANCHESTER SERVICE

Qatar Airways will offer twice the number of weekly flights between Manchester and Doha from this June. From June 1 Qatar will fill in the gaps in both schedules, which means that the carrier will offer daily morning and afternoon services from Manchester, and nighttime and morning flights from Doha.

2nd Mar - KLM TO START HAVANA SERVICE

KLM is to launch a thrice weekly service to Havana scheduled to start 31 Oct 11 in time for the winter schedule. Cuba will become KLM's 68th intercontinental destination.

28th Feb - FIRST A380 ROLLED OUT FOR KOREAN AIRLINES

The first A380 for Korean Air has been rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Hamburg bearing the airline's distinctive livery. The aircraft is the first of 10 A380s ordered by Korean. Korean Air will become the sixth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the second quarter of this year. Korean Air will initially operate the A380 on flights from Seoul to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok, followed later in the year by transpacific services to New York and Los Angeles.

28th Feb - BAHRAIN DEMONSTRATIONS

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) have updated the travel advice for Bahrain in relation to possible demonstrations on Sunday 27 February. Following violence over recent days, we advise British nationals to avoid all but essential travel to Bahrain. Demonstrations are continuing and the potential for violence remains.

27th Feb - LIBYIA DEMONSTRATIONS

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) have updated the travel advice for Libya in relation to an update on assisted departure arrangements and temporary suspension of operations at the British Embassy in Tripoli. The overall level of the advice has not changed. The FCO advise against all but essential travel to Libya. Those without a pressing need to remain in the country, should leave if it is safe to do so. British nationals requiring assistance or further advice can call the Foreign Office's 24 hour hotline on +44 (0)20 7008 0000 or 021 340 3644/45 from Libya.

26th Feb - KLM TO START BUENOS AIRES

Amsterdam (AMS) is the latest European gateway to offer a direct non-stop services to Buenos Aires, KLM returning after a 10 year gap. The 11hr flights will be operated by two-class Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, ideally suited to the operation with 35 passengers in World Business Class and 283 in Economy. The revived route to Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport will be operated three times per week from the start of next winter.

25th Feb - SWISS UPGARDES ITS FIRST CLASS

Lufthansa-owned SWISS will this week introduce a new First Class product on its long haul services (Wednesday 2 March). Under the new concept guests will enjoy even swifter and more individualised service, together with a wide selection of in-flight meals. Further on-board innovations will include the introduction of contemporary fine bone chinaware and Riedel glasses, together with additional service accessories in a new design. Customers travelling on night flights will benefit from a quicker service thanks to a new à la carte dining concept that will give them greater choice in how they use their time aloft (or simply a longer sleep).

24th Feb - BA ADDS MORE CITY FLIGHTS TO ITS PORTFOLIO

British Airways is to launch two new routes from the Docklands airport to Malaga and Faro in June and add more summer frequency to Ibiza, Nice and Palma. The four times a week services to Faro start on 7 June and the three times a week flights to Malaga start on 8 June. Both routes will operate year round. The existing Nice operation will increase to double daily flights from May until September, and from July to September both Ibiza and Palma flights will be increased from four to 10 a week.

23rd Feb - UNITE ADVISES BA OF ITS INTENTION TO BALLOT CABIN CREW

The Unite trade union has informed BA of its decision to ballot its British Airways' cabin crew members for strike action. This follows Unite's announcement on February 8, 2011 that its last ballot was invalid. Unite has advised BA that the ballot will run between March 1, 2011 and March 28, 2011. In the event that the ballot finds in favour of industrial action, the earliest Unite could undertake strike action would be April 4, 2011.

22nd Feb - CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE

A significant 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch at 12.51 pm local time Tuesday 22 February (23:51 GMT), causing widespread destruction and multiple fatalities in the city centre. There are frequent aftershocks.The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) have updated the travel advice in relation to advice for British nationals requiring consular assistance in Christchurch and Wellington. The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in New Zealand

17th Feb - DELTA REVEALS PLANS FOR PREMIUM ECONOMY

Delta Air Lines has unveiled plans to introduce a premium economy cabin - Economy Comfort - on all long-haul international flights from summer 2011. The American carrier said the new seats will feature an additional four inches of legroom and an extra 50% more recline than its standard international Economy seating. The product is similar to the upgraded Economy class currently on offer on service operated by Delta's joint venture partner Air France KLM. To be installed in the first few rows of the Economy cabin, the seats would feature on more than 160 Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft.

16th Feb - FCO REMOVES LUXOR ADVICE

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advice for Egypt to reflect that the situation has calmed in and around Luxor, no longer advising against "All but essential travel". The advice for Egypt now states "We continue to advise against all but essential travel to Cairo (all four governorates, including Giza), Alexandria, and Suez."

15th Feb - ENGINEERING WORKS ON EUROSTAR

Due to engineering works, Eurostar trains will not be stopping at Ashford International all day on Sunday 3rd April, and not until 16:00hrs on Sunday 5th June. Tickets to & from Ashford International have been removed from sale for these dates and times, and any passengers wishing to travel on these dates must travel either to or from St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet International.

14th Feb - STRIKE THREAT AT LONDON CITY

Ground staff at London City airport are set to be balloted over possible strike action, after a poll of GMB trade union members showed 97% in favour of the vote. It is understood that the workers are unhappy with current pay and conditions offered by management at the Docklands airport. Strike action at the airport would be detrimental to business travellers in particular, who use the hub regularly because of its position close to the City of London and Canary Wharf.

11th Feb - FCO EGYPT ADVICE UNCHANGED

Despite the resignation of President Mubarak in the wake of public protests, the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) advice to the county remains unchanged, saying: "We continue to advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez." The Red Sea resorts, including Sharm El Sheik are currently unaffected as the situation there remains calm.

10th Feb - ETIHAD FORGES AIR NEW ZEALAND LINK

Etihad Airways has announced it will create a codeshare partnership with Air New Zealand. Beginning on services from Etihad's base in Abu Dhabi to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, London Heathrow will also be linked into the agreement as part of the deal. Etihad Airways will code share on Air New Zealand aircraft on both trans-Tasman and domestic services. Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe said: "This arrangement with Etihad Airways further extends connectivity options for our customers through to Europe as well as providing opportunities to further grow passenger numbers for our trans-Tasman and domestic services,".

9th Feb - BA AND UNITE CONTINUE STRUGGLE

Unite leader Len McCluskey has confirmed that British Airways cabin crew will be re-balloted over potential strike action after the previous vote, held last month, was declared illegal. The last vote taken voted in favour of further industrial action, but deemed illegal after British Airways informed the Electoral Reform Society, and any subsequent action based on that vote would not be protected. No members will be asked to recast their votes however, as Unite seeks to redress grievances caused by the withdrawal of travel perks from members who participated in previous strikes. Mr McCluskey criticised the airline for not dealing with the union directly. He said: "BA has launched a legal blitz against the independent scrutineer used to conduct this ballot, the Electoral Reform Society."

8th Feb - BUSHFIRES THREATEN PERTH

Australia's summer of natural disasters shows no sign of stopping, as bushfires rage out of control on the outskirts of Perth. Fire-fighters are continuing to battle blazes located to the east and north of the city, which has been declared a natural disaster zone. Hundreds of people have fled from their homes and more than one hundred buildings have already been destroyed. The fires come on the back of category-five cyclone Yasi which devastated parts of northern Queensland last week, which in turn followed extensive flooding in and around Brisbane only weeks earlier.

7th Feb - FCO DOWNGRADES TUNISIA ADVICE

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has officially downgraded its advice regarding travel to Tunisia, no longer advising "against all but essential travel". The warning was upgraded during the recent political unrest in the North African country, during which the government was overthrown, but now the situation has calmed sufficiently for the advice to be rescinded. The protests have, however, spread to nearby Egypt, where the FCO still advises against "against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez" as the stand-off between protestors and incumbent president Hosni Mubarak continues.

4th Feb - US EAST COAST UNDER THE WEATHER

Thousands more flights have been cancelled today as the US fights what the National Weather Service has called the biggest geographic storm in American history. Some 12,000 departures were cancelled on Thursday from airports was wide ranging as Denver to Boston, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. The storm has brought high winds, snow, and ice across the continent and reduced temperatures to below freezing in many areas. Chicago O'Hare is among the worst affected, having seen some 13 inches of snow fall between Wednesday and Thursday. Passengers to any US destination are urged to check with their airline before travel to ensure services are operating.

3rd Feb - CAIRNS AVOIDS WRATH OF YASI

Cyclone Yasi has made landfall in the state of Queensland, north-eastern Australia, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. The coastal communities Tully, Mission Beach and Cardwell were worst hit, with hundreds of houses destroyed. A last minute change of direction spared the cities of Cairns and Townsville, leaving them relatively unscathed, experiencing heavy rains, whilst warnings of further storm surges have been issued. There had been no reports of deaths or serious injuries so far. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said "I'm very relieved this morning, but I do stress these are very early reports. It's a long way to go before I say we've dodged any bullets."

2nd Feb - YASI UPGRADED TO CATEGORY 5 CYCLONE

Queenslanders are bracing themselves for the landfall of Cyclone Yasi, the most powerful storm ever to threaten the Sunshine State. Upgraded overnight to the maximum category five in the Saffir-Simpson scale, the cyclone is expected to hit Innisfail, just south of Cairns, in the next few hours with maximum wind gusting up to 290kph. Severe flooding associated with the storm surge ahead of the cyclone is also predicted, with widespread devastation from the powerful winds wreaking havoc over an area the size of the United Kingdom. All transport services have been suspended and State Premier Anna Bligh said "The time for movement and evacuation has now passed" adding that Yasi would be "the most catastrophic storm to ever hit our coast".

1st Feb - TROPICAL CYCLONE YASI THREATENS CAIRNS

Cairns is preparing to face what could be the worst storm in its history, barely two weeks after floods devastated areas in and around Brisbane, claiming the lives of more than 30 people. Cyclone Yasi, a category 3 storm, is expected to hit the north coast of Queensland on Wednesday evening. Forecasters predict that the storm could strengthen to a category 4, with winds of up to 170kph by landfall. Resorts on the Whitsunday Islands have been evacuated, as have those on Hamilton Island, whilst all ports from Cairns to Mackay are due to close from this afternoon. Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh said the storm could be one of the "most significant cyclones that we've ever had to deal with".

31st Jan - FCO ADVISES AGAINST EGYPT TRAVEL

Last night, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated the travel advice to Egypt in light of the ongoing demonstrations. They now advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. This does not affect transits through Cairo airport for onward travel to other destinations, and it does not cover Egypt's Red Sea resorts. Travellers are advised to contact their airline or agent for advice if due to fly.

28th Jan - TENSIONS RISE IN EGYPT

Anti-government protests are intensifying in Egypt, as police clash with demonstrators in across the North African nation, demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. Cairo, Alexandria and Suez have been placed under curfew that is effect from 1800 to 0700 local time. Travellers are urged to show caution in affected areas and to keep themselves well informed of the current unrest.

27th Jan - BALI FLIGHTS HALTED BY ASH

Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific have both cancelled flights in south-east Asia as volcanic ash continues to be released into the atmosphere. Mount Bromo, in the east of Java, erupted this morning, throwing ash up to heights of over 350 kilometres to the north-east. Jetstar and Virgin Blue have also suspended all flights to the holiday island of Bali as experts wait for the ash cloud to blow over. Passengers to Indonesia are advised to check with their Airline before travel.

26th Jan - US EAST COAST WEATHER WARNING

Storms across the northeast seaboard of the US have caused flight delays and cancellations today, with further disruption expected tomorrow as the storms continue. British Airways has cancelled some flights to New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Newark and passengers on affected services have been advised not to go to the airport. Both United and Continental airlines are also warning that the bad weather is likely to lead to delays or cancellations of their services to north Washington Dulles International Airport and Newark.

25th Jan - MOSCOW AIRPORT ROCKED BY EXPLOSION

Moscow's Domodedovo airport was rocked yesterday by an explosion, killing at least 35 people and injuring over 100. The explosion, which has been blamed initially on a terrorist suicide bomber, ripped through the International Arrivals hall of the airport at one of the busiest times of day. The airport remains open, but passengers are advised to check their schedules before flying to ensure there have been no changes since the time of booking.

24th Jan - BA CABIN CREW VOTE FOR STRIKE

British Airways cabin crew have voted in favour of further industrial action in support of their long-running dispute with the airline, according to the union Unite. It said members of the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association, a branch of Unite, turned out in greater numbers than previous to vote by 5,751 to 1,579 in favour of strike action. No strike dates have yet been set. Unite's leader Len McCluskey said "For the fourth time in 13 months, BA cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in support of their union and expressed their dissatisfaction with management behaviour".

21st Jan - CITYJET ADD NEW DESTINATIONS

CityJet has announced plans to launch two new seasonal services to France from London City. The airline will add Avignon in Provence and Toulon on the Cote d'Azure this summer, bringing the total destinations served from London City to 16. CEO Christine Ourmieres said: "We had a fantastic experience with our flights to Deauville in Normandy and Brive in the Dordogne, launched last summer, and we believe now is the right time to launch these additional services to France, which we have been considering for some time."

20th Jan - EMIRATES ADD COPENHAGEN

Emirates have announced they will start non-stop daily flights to Copenhagen in Denmark from August 1st, flying an Airbus A330-200 in a three cabin configuration. Chairman and CEO of Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said: "Copenhagen is an important hub for the whole of Scandinavia and the launch of our non-stop service will open up a new market for Emirates. It will also offer Denmark's businesses with easy connections to previously untapped markets".

19th Jan - AIR JAMAICA SET FOR LHR RETURN

Services from London Heathrow to Kingston, Jamaica are to be restarted by Air Jamaica following its reincarnation after merger with Caribbean Airlines. The service is scheduled to operate three times a week from July, with Boeing 777 aircraft operating the route. Before its troubles, Air Jamaica was a well respected brand and locals have voiced their approval that Caribbean Airlines planned to retain the name.

18th Jan - TUNISIA SITUATION UNCHANGED AS BRITS REPATRIATED

The exodus of foreign nationals from Tunisia continues as the police and armed forces in the North African nation struggle to maintain control, with the unofficial death toll passing 100. Repatriation flights have continued over the last few days, though it is now thought that virtually holidaymakers have now returned home, though some independent travellers remain in the embattled country, including some 1,500 Britons. FCO advice to the country remains unchanged (see 17th Jan).

17th Jan - FCO ADVISES ON TUNIS UNREST

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued the following advice on travel to Tunisia, due to recent unrest in the country. "We advise against all but essential travel to Tunisia... We advise British nationals who do not have a pressing need to be in the country to leave Tunisia by commercial means. Whilst still in Tunisia, they should take responsibility for their own security, stay away from demonstrations, exercise caution, and observe instructions given by local security authorities and tour operators. We recommend that people remain indoors if possible."

14th Jan - SINGAPORE AIRLINES ADD SAO PAULO

Singapore Airlines have announced their intention to start a Sao Paulo service via Barcelona. The new flight is scheduled to begin on March 28th, subject to regulatory approvals. Sao Paulo will be the first South American destination on Singapore's network, with the flight operated on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The planes will feature a new First Class seat, revamped business class and an ungraded economy cabin, with all seats offering AVOD entertainment.

13th Jan - AIR FRANCE START CAMBODIA SERVICE

Air France has announced that it will start a new service from Paris to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Starting 27th March 2011, the new service will operate three times a week via Bangkok, increasing the French carrier's presence in Asia.

12th Jan - BRISBANE REELS AS FLOOD RISE

Residents of Brisbane are frantically saving valuables, sandbagging doors and windows and stocking up with petrol in advance of floodwaters set to peak in the city on Thursday. Having seen many in the rural areas of Queenslanders face the worst floods in decades, torrential rain and burst river banks have left homeowners in the lower-lying area of the city emptying their homes. Some 20,000 properties are at risk according to Queensland's state premier, Anna Bligh, as Australia's third-largest city suffers its worst flooding since 1893.

11th Jan - FLASH FLOOD THREATENS BRISBANE

Authorities in Australia's third largest city, Brisbane, are urging people to evacuate it in parts as it faces the worst flooding for many years. The mayor, Campbell Newman, has said that up to 6,500 homes and businesses are under threat of inundation by the rising water. Flash floods have already left 9 dead and at some 70 people are reported missing in the surrounding area. The mayor said "Today is very significant, tomorrow is bad, and Thursday is going to be devastating for the residents and businesses affected". Travellers are urged only to go if their journey is absolutely necessary, and to check with local offices or carriers regarding the running of all transport networks.

10th Jan - QANTAS REINSTATES OZ TO USA A380s

Qantas has announced it will resume A380 services between Australia and Los Angeles on Sunday after the aircraft was suspended from operation for two months following a mid-air engine explosion. Services on the Airbus flagship aircraft resumed to London in late November, but flights on the Los Angeles-Australia routes that regularly require the use of maximum engine thrust were further delayed. In a statement, Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, said the decision would enable Qantas to continue the reintroduction of A380s to its network. He added "In close consultation with Rolls-Royce, we are now confident that we can begin flying the A380 to and from Los Angeles without any conditions on the use of maximum engine thrust."

7th Jan - BUSINESS TRAVEL BOOST AT FINNAIR

Finnair saw strong growth in business class passengers in 2010 despite an overall drop of 4% in passengers, mainly due to the volcanic ash crisis and strikes in December. The Finnish carrier experienced an 8% rise in passengers travelling between Asia and Europe and attributed the associated boost in revenue to a rise in demand from business travelers. Finnair's CFO Erno Hildén, said "We have done well in achieving growth in Asian traffic in line with our strategy, and the price level of tickets has also developed more favorably," he said. The Finnish carrier has been steadily growing its network of Asian routes from Europe, via its Helsinki hub

6th Jan - ASIANA GROWS FLEET

Asiana Airlines has announced it will buy six Airbus A380s as it strives to expand its market share of travel from Asia to Europe and the United States. In a deal worth a cool $1.8 billion, South Korea's second largest carrier will receive the aircraft between 2014 and 2017. The purchase marks a vote of confidence in the super-jumbo, following a recent engine failure on a Rolls Royce powered A380 in Singapore.

5th Jan - QUEENSLAND FLOODS REACH PEAK

Queensland is currently affected by extensive flooding but, while parts of central, outback and south-western Queensland have been badly affected, the majority of the state's tourism destinations are open for business. These areas include Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Mackay, Whitsundays, Townsville and Tropical North Queensland. For the latest flood news and updates we recommend you visit the Queensland Government's official Queensland floods webpage at: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

4th Jan - HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL AT LBT

2011 is upon us and what a year awaits! Let's hope for no more disruptive snow, ash clouds, security threats or anything else that may hinder the smooth running of the UK travel infrastructure! Our very best wishes go out to all our existing clients, and of course to all those who have yet to discover that Lotus Business Travel is the new direction in travel management - giving you a clearer view of your corporate travel.

17th Dec - BIG FREEZE SET TO RETURN

With forecasters predicting the return of arctic conditions to most of the UK today and Saturday, the nation is bracing itself for travel chaos once more. Passengers are urged to keep a close eye on airlines websites over the coming days for updates regarding delays and possible cancellations, with heavy snowfall expected across the country, particularly in the recently thawed south and west. In a sign of things to come for the south, some airports in Scotland, Ireland and Wales have already been closed and on the continent flights are being cancelled at Amsterdam, with BA stopping all services out of the Schipol until 3pm.

16th Dec - FURTHER BA STRIKES THREATENED

The Unite Union has announced it will ballot British Airways cabin crew next week for strike action. The action, which could take place over half-term, could also be extended to the period over Easter and the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29. The Unite union has given BA management seven days notice of its intention with the month-long ballot due to start next Tuesday, ending January 21st. The strike is part of the long running dispute with the airline over proposed changes to pay and conditions.

15th Dec - GREEK STRIKE GROUNDS FLIGHTS

Flights to and from Greece today face cancellation in the wake of another general strike, with Air Traffic Controllers stating that no planes will be allowed to take off or land for 24 hours. Unions from both the public and private sector are staging the strike in protest at the austerity measures implemented in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The Greek government is in discussions this week on how to extricate the embattled nation from its debt mountain, having already received €110 billion in bailouts from the EU and the IMF. Passengers are urged to check with their airlines regarding the disruption.

14th Dec - BA UPS FUEL SURCHARGE

British Airways has announced it will raise its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights from Thursday, and as a result all long-haul tickets will increase by £10 per sector. The move reflects the significant recent increase in the price of oil, the airline said, adding that there would be no increase to any British Airways' short-haul levies. With crude oil presently priced at approximately $90 a barrel, up from $70 a barrel at the beginning of the year, fuel surcharges will now range from £63 to £108 depending on duration and class of travel.

13th Dec - ETIHAD OPENS MANCHESTER LOUNGE

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has opened its latest premium lounge in Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1, as part of the airline’s continued investment in premium cabin passengers. Etihad’s premium lounge in Manchester is the latest in a line of premium lounges being introduced by the airline. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad CCO said "Manchester has always been an important market for Etihad and the ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger."

10th Dec - KLM ADDS BRISTOL FLIGHT

KLM has announced plans to add an additional departure to their Bristol - Amsterdam route. The extra flight, which will raise the number of daily departures from three to four, will start operating from March 27th. The new service means that KLM's four flights will be re-scheduled to better cover the day, with early morning, mid morning, mid afternoon and evening timings.

9th Dec - ALL CONTINENTAL'S 777'S NOW HAVE FLAT BEDS

Continental Airlines have announced that all of its Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft now feature the new flat-bed BusinessFirst cabin. Jim Compton, Continental Executive Vice President said "Customers flying to international destinations on our Boeing 777s are now assured a flat-bed seat whenever they choose to fly with us. These seats are highly popular with customers from all over the world, and we will begin installing them on the rest of our wide-body fleet beginning next year"

8th Dec - CATHAY UNVEILS NEW BUSINESS CLASS

Cathay Pacific has announced the roll-out of a brand new business class seat from next spring, having only recently completed the refit of its entire. The new product was unveiled amongst considerable fanfare, however the airline stayed tight-lipped on the subject of a widely-mooted premium economy seat cabin. Cathay Pacific believe the new seats will raise the bar on business class products, offering "a sense of openness and personal space, with the longest and widest fully flat-bed available."

7th Dec - SPANISH AIRPORTS RE-OPEN

Spanish airports have re-opened the government eased restrictions on airspace and forced striking air-traffic controllers to return to work. The government took emergency measures after air traffic controllers staged a walk out on Friday, stranding thousands of passengers and forcing authorities to close Spanish airspace for 18 hours. Invoking measures not seen since Gen. Franco, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero issued a decree on Saturday morning requiring controllers to return to their workplaces or face legal action. The strike comes against a backdrop of the Spanish austerity measures in the wake of the credit crunch.

6th Dec - CONTINENTAL GETS LAGOS OK

Continental Airlines has announced that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has approved its application to run a new service between Houston and Lagos, Nigeria. The flight, scheduled to begin in November 2011, will be the first daily service between the Texas and Africa. Lagos is now the 31st destination in Continental’s trans-Atlantic route network, and offers ever more choice for connections throughout the US.

3rd Dec - AIRPORTS RE-OPEN AS FLIGHTS RESUME

After days of snow and ice, weather condition as at Britain's major airports had improved enough to re-open and so start running services again. Edinburgh resumed outbound flights in an effort to clear aircraft stands, and London Gatwick has also restarted services, though there are expected to be many short-haul service cancellations. Passengers are still advised to check with their airlines before travelling to ensure that their flight is operating.

2nd Dec - BIG FREEZE HAS BIG IMPACT

The big freeze continued to bring Britain to complete standstill as further snowfall overnight forced the cancellation of over 2,000 flights and hundreds of trains, the closure of two airports and chaos on the roads. Forecasters say there could be up to another eight inches across the east of England today as blizzards are forecast across the South East. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said a review of how transport operators had coped during the conditions was under way.

1st Dec - SNOW CLOSES MULTIPLE AIRPORTS

Gatwick Airport has announced that it will be closed until 0600GMT on Thursday at the earliest, due to heavy snow. All passengers are asked to contact their carrying airline to the latest information on rebooking and schedules. Other airports affected by the bad weather are Guernsey Airport, Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster and Durham Tees Valley Airport, while other airports are also badly disrupted.

30th Nov - BA STRIKE THREAT AS MERGER AGREED

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has dismissed concerns regarding potential industrial action next month by cabin crew. Speaking in Madrid to announce the approval of a merger with Iberia, Wash said that the long-running dispute was the result of a "dysfunctional" union and that BA had "excellent contingency plans" which would minimise the impact of any strike. Mr Walsh also said Unite had negotiated a deal with BA and had committed to recommending that to its members.

29th Nov - SNOW CAUSES TRAVEL CHAOS

The first heavy snows of the winter are causing travel chaos across Britain's travel network, with travellers on road urged to consider whether their journey is absolutely necessary. Airports are reported to have re-opened after a morning of disruption as frozen runways brought services to a grinding halt. Passengers are asked to check with their airline's websites for the very latest in their flight's status.

26th Nov - BA ADDS SAN DIEGO

British Airways has announced that it will start non-stop daily flights to San Diego from London Heathrow as the first tangible benefit of the official launch of the new joint business agreement with American Airlines and Iberia. The new transatlantic service to London is due to commence in June 2011 and will be flown on three-class Boeing 777's. Kevin Burns, British Airways regional director, Western USA and Western Canada, said "Inaugurating non-stop flights between San Diego and London is one of the first tangible benefits of the joint business operation with American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, and we are pleased to be returning to this beautiful city."

25th Nov - BA ADDS SKI FROM LCY

British Airways is extending its services from London City Airport this winter with a new flight from London to Chambery, the gateway to the French Alps. The service, run by BA CityFlyer, will operate four times a week from 18th December and run until the end of March 2011. Luke Hayhoe, BA CityFlyer commercial manager said "Our schedule is ideally set up to give our customers the opportunity to spend a long weekend, a full week, or even longer, skiing on some of the world’s best slopes and resorts."

24th Nov - GARUDA JOINS SKYTEAM

Garuda Indonesia, the Indonesian flag carrier, has signed an agreement to join the SkyTeam airline alliance in 2012. Garuda will grow SkyTeam’s presence in Southeast Asia, adding 30 new destinations to the alliance network. SkyTeam is actively working to increase its presence in the region and Garuda is a welcome addition, with Indonesia the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Garuda has broad Indonesian and regional networks and is able to offer connections to the Asia Pacific. Garuda Indonesia was awarded ‘World’s Most Improved Airline’ at the Skytrax 2010 World Airline Awards.

23rd Nov - DUBLIN OPENS TERMINAL 2

Dublin Airport welcomed the opening of its long-awaited Terminal 2. Opening the airport, Brian Cowen, Ireland's prime minister, urged perspective to those that claimed the terminal was symbolic of Irish overspending. "T2 was designed and built not just for this year or the next, but for many decades into the future. By investing prudently in improved facilities, we are laying the foundations for future growth and prosperity; not just for Dublin Airport, but also for the wider Irish economy" he said.

22nd Nov - UNITED LAUNCH LAGOS SERVICE

United Airlines has announced a new service between Lagos and Washington D.C, beginning 13th December. United's flights to and from Lagos are conveniently timed to provide connections to and from dozens of points across its North American network. At its Washington Dulles hub alone, United operates nearly 300 daily departures. Jeff Smisek, president and CEO of United Continental Holdings said "This service will facilitate stronger commercial and cultural ties between the United States and Nigeria, while providing new options and convenience for travellers on both sides of the Atlantic."

19th Nov - NEW DIRECT HONOLULU - TOKYO SERVICE

Hawaiian Airlines has launched daily, nonstop flights between Honolulu and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, marking a milestone in its expansion into Asia. Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO said "This is a momentous day for our company and a huge step forward into a region that offers tremendous potential for new growth opportunities for both Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii tourism."

18th Nov - A380 TO GET NEW ENGINES

Rolls-Royce are drawing plans to replace as many as 40 Trent 900 engines on Airbus A380 aircraft. The super-jumbos have come under the scrutiny in recent weeks following an uncontained engine failure on a Qantas operated flight which forced the aircraft into an emergency landing in Singapore. Qantas Airlines has since grounded its six strong fleet of A380s, while Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, both of which run Rolls-Royce powered A380s, also briefly suspended services.

17th Nov - JUMERIAH MALDIVES TO OPEN JAN 2011

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based hotel chain, has revealed the new brand name of its first resort currently under way in the Maldives: Jumeirah Dhevanafushi. The resort features three restaurants and a bar with a variety of culinary options, as well as a Talise Spa with over water treatment rooms and extensive sports and leisure facilities.

16th Nov - 6-STAR HOTEL FOR LONDON

The Wellesley is to be London's first 6-star hotel. Located at 11 Knightsbridge and managed by Arab Investments’ City and Country Hotels the property is being redeveloped at a cost of £36 million in refurbishment costs. The site, which was formerly commercial offices, will now house 36 luxury "townhouse suites", with the opening scheduled for November 2012.

15th Nov - FRESH FEARS OF BA STRIKE

Fears of fresh strike action at British Airways have risen after the Untie union suspended a proposed ballot of cabin crew members. Despite recently acknowledging the latest offer from BA management was the "best available", union leaders have decided they are unable to recommend the proposal to Unite members. Tony Woodley, Unite’s joint leader, said any feeling that the deal was being offered roughshod over "unwilling representatives" would be damaging to the union. He added that "Under these circumstances I have suspended the ballot on the offer and will meet with all of our cabin crew representatives as a matter of urgency to consider the next steps."

12th Nov - HYATT PLANS NYC EXTRAVAGANCE

Hyatt has announced plans to build what is reported to be the most expensive hotel ever constructed in New York. The 201-room Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan will cost an estimated $375 million - $1.8 million for every bedroom it holds. The new hotel is to become the US flagship of the Hyatt luxury brand. The 90-story hotel will also feature 135 residential apartments with views of both Central park and the New York skyline. Due to open in 2012, the property is located mid-town, across from Carnegie Hall at 157 West 57th Street.

11th Nov - BOEING DREAMLINER GROUNDED AFTER TEST FLIGHT FIRE

Boeing has grounded its much delayed Dreamliner programme after an electrical fire caused the test aircraft to lose primary electrical power. Pilots of the Dreamliner ZA002 deployed backup systems including the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and performed a safe landing at Laredo, Texas. The incident, which happened during approach, is currently under investigation and until the cause has been determined Boeing has restricted the programme to ground test operations only.

10th Nov - BA ADDS FIRST CLASS TO VEGAS

British Airways has announced at the World Travel Market that it will add First class cabins to its Las Vegas service from next summer. The new cabin will run from the beginning of June while total capacity on the route will also be increased by 18 per cent. British Airways Head of Marketing and Sales, Richard Tams, said "Our direct service from London Heathrow to Las Vegas has been one of our most successful launches in recent years. It is one of the star performing routes on the BA network and such a winner with our customers that we are offering that extra touch of luxury"

9th Nov - BA RE-LAUNCHES MARRAKECH

British Airways has announced plans to re-launch flights to Marrakech from London Gatwick from next year. The three times weekly route would start from March 2011, three years after BA pulled the same route from its schedules. Richard Tams, British Airways' Head of UK & Ireland Sales and Marketing said "British Airways offers a real alternative to discerning travellers to Morocco. Unlike the low cost carriers, we offer fantastic all-inclusive fares with no stealth extras."

8th Nov - ETIHAD "WORLD'S LEADING AIRLINE" 2 YEARS RUNNING

Etihad Airways has won the title of 'World's Leading Airline' for a second consecutive year at the World Travel Awards (WTA). Peter Baumgartner, Etihad's COO, received the award at a gala event held at London's Grosvenor House hotel. The Abu Dhabi-based airline was also named 'World's Leading First Class' airline for the third year running. Etihad Airways' CEO James Hogan said "To win the award for 'World's Leading Airline' two years running is a phenomenal and unprecedented achievement for an airline that is only seven years old... The aviation industry is fiercely competitive and to win an accolade like this, and be placed amongst the best in the world, is something we will continue to strive for year on year"

4th Nov - QANTAS A380 IN FORCED LANDING

Qantas Airways, the Australian flag carrier, has grounded its entire fleet of A380 aircraft as a precaution after one was forced to make an emergency landing in Singapore this morning. The world's largest passenger jet, with 461 passengers and crew aboard, encountered engine trouble shortly after take-off with passengers reporting a "loud bang" and heavy vibrations thereafter. The plane landed safely, with no injuries, but the no.2 engine (inboard, left wing) was badly damaged, with a considerable amount of its outer casing missing. Fragments of the nacelle were later found on the Indonesian island of Batam. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told a news conference "It is a significant engine failure... We do take our safety reputation and our safety standards unbelievably seriously. And we are not going to take any risks with passenger safety - and as a precaution, we are suspending the flights of the A380 aircraft until we are comfortable that we understand the reasons for this."

3rd Nov - HELVETIC TO LAUNCH CARDIFF SERVICE

Swiss airline Helvetic Airways has announced plans to launch a new route from Cardiff to Zurich in March 2011. Operating on four days a week, the service will fly direct from Cardiff to Zurich on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays. Managing director of Cardiff Airport, Patrick Duffy, said "Research conducted by the airport demonstrated that Zurich is one of the most sought after business destinations from Wales, and therefore after months of hard work we're delighted Helvetic Airways has decided to offer this route to south Wales travellers."

2nd Nov - FRENCH THREATEN TO STRIKE AGAIN (AGAIN)

Airline personnel unions in France have called for industrial action in protest at new legislation that will reduce some discounts on plane tickets. The legislation would mean airline staff will have to pay tax on their tickets - and other perks such as cut-price hotel rooms - which are not provided by their direct employer. Both the flight attendants and the pilots unions have called for a four-day strike starting November 5th, timed to coincide with the opening day of the World Travel Market at Excel Arena in London. Also, in separate action, six unions at Air France have called for a strike on November 4th against France's recently approved pension reform.

1st Nov - SHANGHAI AIRLINES TO JOIN SKYTEAM

Shanghai Airlines has announced plans to become part of the SkyTeam alliance, following on from its parent company China Eastern, which is already in the process of joining the alliance for 2011. Once joined, Shanghai Airlines customers will enjoy SkyTeam alliance benefits such as earning and redeeming of Frequent Flyer Miles across the global network, priority services and access to more than 420 lounges worldwide. Shanghai Airlines will enter into codeshare agreements with the current SkyTeam members, so expanding the reach of the network worldwide.

29th Oct - CONTINENTAL ADDS HEATHROW SERVICE

Continental Airlines has announced plans to add a fifth daily flight from London Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey. This additional flight will offer an early-morning departure from Heathrow, while the corresponding return flight will add a late-evening timing back to London to the schedule. The service, which will enable more through connections to the rest of Continental's US domestic and international network, will start running from October 31st.

28th Oct - FRENCH STRIKE AGAIN

France is being hit by the latest 24hr strike in protest against the pension reforms already voted through by the government of Nicholas Sarkozy. Whilst the changes have already been rubber stamped by the French government, the strikers have vowed to continue the protests until the retirement age is lowered back to 60, having been raised to 62. Reports say that enthusiasm for the strikes is waning, given the fact that the pension bill has already been passed, but it has still managed to have a significant impact on both air and rail into, and out of the country.

27th Oct - BA ATTACKS US SECURITY MEASURES

British Airways chairman Martin Broughton has accused the UK of "kowtowing" to the United States in implementing "completely redundant" airport security checks. He suggested that practices such as asking passengers to remove their shoes should be "abandoned", noting also that some American airports did not implement some checks on their own internal flights. He said "America does not do internally a lot of the things they demand that we do. We shouldn’t stand for that. We should say ‘we’ll only do things which we consider to be essential and that you Americans also consider essential". British Airways has not disputed the comments.

26th Oct - GOVERNMENT BANS LONDON AIRPORT EXPANSION

The government has banned new runways at the UK's three largest airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. As part of the nation's first major aviation policy review in seven years, the transport secretary Philip Hammond announced the move at an Airport Operators Association conference. He went on to insist that the government was not anti-aviation, but that the green agenda was high on the list of priorities of the review.

25th Oct - BUSINESS TRAVEL RAISES US MARKET

An increase in business travel sales is being named responsible for US airlines beating stock market expectation, and so leading the sector out of recession. Delta, the world's second-largest airline, made profits of $363m in the third quarter, compared with a $161m loss in the same period last year. AMR, the parent of American Airlines, produced its first quarterly profit since the third quarter of 2007, posting a net profit of $143m against a net loss of $359m a year previous. AMR chief executive Gerard Arpey said "While there is clearly much more work to do, our results show significant improvement in revenue and reflect our continued dedication to controlling costs."

22nd Oct - KOREAN AIR NEXT IN A380 QUEUE

Korean Air has made an order of 10 A380 aircraft to provide premium air travel experience to its customers all over the world and to further strengthen its position as a leading global carrier. With the first four A380s now entering the final assembly stage in Toulouse, its first A380 is scheduled to be delivered next May. Korean Air's A380 will operate in a 400-450 seat configuration providing "generous cabin space and exciting facilities". Although the A380 is the largest commercial passenger aircraft in the world, it has reduced its weight using the latest composite materials and enhanced engine efficiency lowers both fuel consumption by 15%, and CO2 emission by 20%.

21st Oct - BA CREWS VOTE ON NEW DEAL

British Airways cabin crew are to vote on a new deal to end their long running and increasingly bitter dispute with Airline management, preventing the threat of more strikes over Christmas. Leaders of Unite union have made sufficient progress in negotiations with the airline to hold a ballot of the 12,000 staff, although details of the offer have remained private. The move could be seen as a win for BA chief executive Willie Walsh who this week vowed that he would "not back down" in the dispute and is ready to run a near-full service in the event of another strike at Christmas. A Unite statement said "There will be a consultative ballot on the offer, and we’re working to get this underway as soon as practically possible".

20th Oct - GATWICK PLANS NEW 3* HOTEL

Gatwick Airport has announced today it signed a contract enabling Shiva Hotels Limited to open a new 192-bedroom 'Hampton by Hilton' hotel. The new hotel, located in the North Terminal, will offer three star accommodation for business and leisure travellers as well as provide facilities for conferences and events, providing more choice for its passengers. Emma Rees, Head of Property at Gatwick Airport said "This new hotel development will be fantastic news for passengers who will have the choice to stay in one of the existing four star hotels in the North and South Terminals or stay in this more affordable but luxury three star hotel when it opens in 2012".

19th Oct - SKYTEAM EXPANDS INTO SOUTH AMERICA

Aerolineas Argentinas has begun the process of joining the SkyTeam airline alliance, with the carrier set to become its first South American member. In a statement the airline said it would officially begin the task of joining SkyTeam as the first South American member of the airline alliance by the end of this month. Alliance sources added that SkyTeam was actively working to strengthen its presence in Latin America, a region with strong growth figures and a positive outlook for the future. Aerolineas Argentinas is expected to become a full member sometime in 2012.

18th Oct - CITYJET TO OPERATE TO TUSCANY

Air France's CityJet subsidiary is to launch flights from London City Airport to Florence in Italy, with services due to operate in full from the New Year. The new route, to be flown on 100-seat AR8 aircraft, will commence a full programme from January 10th, but will operate a limited start-up schedule over the Christmas period. The six times a week programme will operate on every day, except Saturdays.

15th Oct - DURHAM TEES CALLEY AIRPORT TO CHARGE

Durham Tees Valley Airport is to introduce a £6 per adult and £2 per child ‘passenger facility fee’. The fee, to be introduced from next month, will be payable at machines in the terminal, which will issue tickets enabling passengers to pass through security and into the departure area. Craig Richmond, chief executive of Peel Airports (who own DTVA), said: "I remain optimistic that the airport has a bright long-term future provided we can meet the current challenges."

14th Oct - CONCORDE RISES AGAIN WITH RIVER DISPLAY PLANS

Visitors to London's South Bank may get the chance to explore Concorde once more thanks to plans to rescue one of the supersonic jets from static display at London Heathrow. Architects are currently considering a £22m plan to create a viewing area near to the London Eye where Concorde would be housed. With ambitious plans for a 2-storey building jutting out over the river, containing Concorde on the top deck and a river boat landing stage underneath, the display of one of aviations most iconic aircraft would be expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors per year.

13th Oct - MANCHESTER OPTS FOR BODY SCANNERS

Manchester airport has announced plans to rely on body scanners at all its security areas by the end of the month following a year-long trial during which 95% of passengers polled said they preferred the security method. Work is scheduled to begin this week on installing a scanner on the third and final security area. The survey found that body scanning dramatically reduced passenger queues at security with an average time of just 25 seconds compared against two minutes for a passenger to be patted down. Manchester Airport MD Andy Harrison said "We began trialling a body scanner in 2009 and... our passengers and staff tell us that they much prefer the experience of a body scanner."

12th Oct - FRENCH STRIKE HITS SERVICES AGAIN

Services across France have been severely disrupted today following another general strike. The industrial action, staged against sweeping reforms to French pensions and retirements ages, has brought the country to a halt for the third time in a month. Ryanair has been forced to cancel some 250 flights while British Airways has warned passengers of delays and disruptions due to air traffic controllers walking out. In addition, half of all flights to and from Paris Orly airport and one in three at Charles de Gaulle are cancelled because of strikes by airport workers. Passengers are urged to check with their airlines to ensure that their flights are running in the wake of the unrest.

11th Oct - LONDON SAVOY RE-OPENS

The Savoy Hotel has reopened after a £200 million refurbishment programme. The refit, begun in 2007 in one of the most ambitious restorations of its type, aims to have restored the famous hotel, established in 1889 to its former glory. From the iconic entrance and the American Bar to the fabled Savoy Grill, the hotel has been restored from top to bottom, including all 268 guestrooms and suites. Kiaran MacDonald, General Manager said "We are very excited to reopen The Savoy. It is fair to say that this project has not been without its challenges, but we are looking forward to unveiling the results of nearly three years of hard work and dedication. We are very aware of the place that The Savoy holds in many people's affections and we firmly believe that the hotel will exceed people's expectations and reclaim its position as one of the world's great hotels."

8th Oct - AIR CANADA LAUNCH UNITED TIE-UP

Air Canada and United Continental Holdings have revealed plans to create a joint venture to strengthen their market position on United States-Canada trans-border flights. A memorandum of understanding signed by the airlines said the arrangement would benefit both airlines compete more effectively, while also supporting substantial service and pricing benefits for passengers. Jeff Smisek, United's new president and CEO said "Working cooperatively with our partner Air Canada, we can create a more streamlined travel experience for customers travelling between the United States and Canada, providing more travel options and benefits while reducing travel times".

7th Oct - BA, IB & AA ANNOUNCE TRADE AGREEMENT

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have officially launched their trilateral relationship at a press conference. All three airlines' leaders met in London to reveal the details of a partnership that will see the launch of four new routes from next April. BA will launch London Heathrow to San Diego, American Airlines will add both New York JFK to Budapest and Chicago to Helsinki, and Iberia is starting a Madrid to Los Angeles service. Additional codeshare agreements between the airlines are expected to widen each carrier's routes significantly across each other's networks. BA CEO Willie Walsh said "Combined selling and scheduling means that we will able to operate routes that would not have been viable for us to operate individually. This partnership will provide a one-stop shop for transatlantic travel regardless of how you book, which of our airlines you fly with or where you want to transfer."

6th Oct - NEW SINGAPORE HOTEL OPENS

The Fullerton Bay Hotel is the latest addition to Singapore's Marina Bay waterfront area. With spectacular views of the bay and Singapore skyline, the Hotel is prominently positioned in the heart of Singapore's prestigious Central Business District, and the Arts & Cultural precinct. This latest luxury hotel is also minutes from the iconic cultural landmarks and is close to the main shopping belts of Suntec City and the Orchard Road. The Hotel is located beside the Precinct's latest restaurant at Customs House, and is within walking distance of attractions that include Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay. Located in the heart of the Central Business District, The Fullerton Bay Hotel is ideal for the well-heeled business traveller.

5th Oct - BMI TEAM UP WITH BRUSSELS AIRLINES

BMI regional has announced a codeshare agreement with Star Alliance partner Brussels Airlines in a move that will add flights to Brussels from East Midlands, Edinburgh, and Leeds-Bradford to their network. Passengers will then be able to connect onwards to nearly 20 European cities using the Brussels carrier to cities such as Bilbao, Geneva, Madrid and Rome. BMI Regional managing director Stewart Adams said: "We are delighted to open up Europe to key UK regional airports for the first time and further showcase the benefits of our Star Alliance partnership."

4th Oct - AA EXPAND MOBILE BOARDING CARD SCHEME

American Airlines have expanded the number of airports that are now able to accept boarding cards on mobile phones to include Manchester. The American carrier started offering the scheme from London Heathrow in June, and have now increased the number of airports able to accept the mobile passes to include Manchester, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Milan, New York JFK, Puerto Rico, Rome, San Juan, and Zürich. The new service is offered in addition to the options of checking-in on-line or at the airport.

1st Oct - AIR FRANCE KLM PLANS AFRICA EXPANSION

Air France has announced plans to expand its network to Africa with the addition of five new routes. Part of the KLM / Northwest / Delta / Alitalia alliance, Air France plans from this winter to fly twice weekly services to Bata in Equatorial Guinea and to Kigali in Rwanda (via Entebbe) five times a week. From next summer it will add Freetown in Sierra Leone twice weekly, and Monrovia in Liberia three times a week, finally also adding a five times a week service to Tripoli. The French carrier also has plans to up capacity to Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo, Libreville in Gabon, Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, and also Dar Es Salaam and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, all subject to traffic rights.

30th Sept - ALITALIA INCREASE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Alitalia has increased the allowance for checked baggage on flights worldwide to bring it into line with its new partners, Air France/KLM and Delta . Hand-luggage allowances have increased from 5kg to 8kg and the checked allowance has increased from 20kg to 23kg. Economy passengers are now limited to one piece of checked luggage, with premium economy passengers allowed two and Business Class passengers allowed up to three check-in bags, weighing a maximum of 23kgs each.

29th Sept - GENERAL STRIKE CRIPPLES SPAIN

Airlines have cancelled at least one in five services to Spain as the country is gripped by a 24-hour general strike. The strike, which will also affect connecting services through Spanish airports, is taking place in protest to the austerity measures brought in by the Spanish government in the wake of the Financial Crisis. Many airlines are giving the option of free cancellation or changes, though passengers are advised to check the specifics of their ticket with the carrying airline. The strike is expected to run from 00:00 29th to 00:00 on the 30th September.

28th Sept - 23" SEAT RAISES EYEBROWS AT AIRCRAFT EXPO

Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors has unveiled a new type of airline seat, the SkyRider. Launched at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in California, and aimed at the budget airline market or short haul routes of less than three hours, the seat offers a paltry 23" of space in a half standing configuration compared to the current economy class seat pitch average of 30". Martino Matijevic, CEO of Aviointeriors said "The SkyRider has taken the concept of high density seating to the next level and will be of interest to the low fare airlines looking at new ways to maximise passenger capacity and profitability for their airline."

27th Sept - BMI TO LAUNCH HEATHROW - TRIPOLI

BMI is due to launch a new service from London Heathrow to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The service, due to run daily on an Airbus A319, will start on 1st December 2010. The flight will operate 2 cabins, with a full short-haul Business Class service on all flights in a 2:2 configuration, with the middle seat kept free. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, BMI's CEO said "BMI’s new route to Tripoli expands our existing services to and from cities of influence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Our business customers in particular will find the new, daily service gives them even more choice between the UK and Libya and offers convenient domestic and long haul connections via our Heathrow hub".

24th Sept - AIR CHINA RUNS NEW ROUTE

Air China has launched a direct route from Chengdu, southwest China, to Tokyo, Japan. The new route is the first direct flight to Japan from the region. The flights are due to operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the new route saving passengers at least 2 hours and 20 minutes. The new route is the 4th direct service to Japan operated by Air China, joining Beijing-Tokyo, Shanghai-Nagoya and Dalian-Osaka.

23rd Sept - ETIHAD & VIRGIN BLUE LINK UP

Etihad Airways and Virgin Blue Group have received interim authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to form an alliance on flights to Abu Dhabi. Under the terms of the decision the ACCC endorsement allows both airlines to begin the groundwork of forming an alliance before a final ruling. The alliance hopes to provide a new combined flight network to customers from the start of October. James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive, said "The ACCC decision to grant interim approval for this strategic alliance is clearly fantastic news for both Etihad and Virgin Blue and one we welcome wholeheartedly".

22nd Sept - IBERIA START EL SALVADOR SERVICE

Iberia have announced they will start flying four new weekly flights (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) between San Salvador and Madrid, becoming the first European airline to connect both cities. Commencing 2nd October, the flights will also allow travellers to connect onwards to other Central American cities with TACA, and to other European cities from Madrid with Iberia.

21st Sept - UNITED & CONTINENTAL MERGER APPROVED

Continental and United Airlines have voted to approve a proposed merger, creating the largest airline in the world. After votes in Chicago and Houston, shareholders in both airlines rubber-stamped the deal which is now expected to complete in a matter of weeks. Continental’s CEO Jeff Smisek said "We are grateful for our stockholders’ strong vote of confidence in this merger. In approving the transaction, our stockholders recognised the value of bringing together Continental and United to create a platform for increased profitability and sustainable long-term value".

20th Sept - BERMUDA BATTERED BY IGOR

Bermuda has been battered by Hurricane Igor this morning as the storm moves onwards to the North Atlantic. The impact has been felt across the island with some 20% of the inhabitants without power and widespread flooding reported. The storm has been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane but officials have warned it could still be the worst storm ever to hit the British overseas territory. The eye of the hurricane passed just north-west of the islands and took with it the most intense winds, but with the large wind field reaching over 90 miles from the centre, Igor's impact is likely to be felt for some time.

17th Sept - HURRICANE IGOR DUE TO BATTER BERMUDA

Hurricane Igor, the 9th tropical cyclone of the current season, is due to hit Bermuda some time on Sunday evening. The storm, which is currently category 3, is the largest of this year's hurricane season so far to threaten land. With one minute average winds in excess of 130mph, the hurricane, if it remains at this strength, is likely to cause major damage and disruption to the islands 68,000 inhabitants. While the exact time of the arrival of Igor is uncertain, the storm is likely to cause travel chaos on the island and the authorities are warning against all but essential travel.

16th Sept - VIRGIN ANNOUNCES US DEAL

Virgin Atlantic has signed a new interline agreement with Virgin America, making it easier for passengers to connect to domestic flights within the US. Operating from 7 gateway airports, the new agreement means that passengers' bags will be checked right through to their final destination, and that Virgin America flights can now be issued on the same ticket as Virgin Atlantic.

15th Sept - CATHAY COMPLETES £5bn PURCHASE

Cathay Pacific has bought 30 wide-bodied A350-900 aircraft in what, at £5 billion, is the airline's largest ever order. Due for delivery from the start of 2016, and staggered over a three-year period, Chief Executive Tony Tyler said the unprecedented purchase was part of the carrier's growth strategy and that the configuration of the A350-900 fitted well with its business model. He said: "The A350 fits perfectly into our operation. Its passenger capacity, flight range and operating economics are just right to become the backbone of our mid-sized long haul wide-bodied fleet."

14th Sept - GROUND STAFF ACCEPT BA OFFER

In news sure to be welcomed by the embattled airline, ground staff at Heathrow have accepted the latest contract offer from British Airways, ending talks begun in 2009. The dispute over working conditions and employment levels has taken more than 12 months to resolve, with new arrangements for breaks, flexibility and procedures for further changes also being agreed. The new deal, which covers staff based at Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5 will see overall staffing fall by 500.

13th Sept - DELTA REBRANDS PRIVATE JETS

Delta has announced that its private jet operation, Delta Air Elite, will be rebranded as Delta Private Jets. Wayne Aaron, Delta VP of Corporate Strategy and Business Development said "This rebranding demonstrates Delta’s continued investment in and commitment to the private jet business" Delta is the only U.S. carrier with both a commercial and private jet service, enabling customers to design bespoke plans with both an on-demand charter service and the world’s largest commercial airline network. Jim Segrave, president of Delta Private Jets added "With the resources of Delta Air Lines behind us, we are building a unique product and position in the private air travel market. We offer what private jet customers are telling us they want: better value, more options and greater flexibility".

10th Sept - AA ADDS RIO TO ROUTES

American Airlines has announced it will begin three days a week service between Dallas and Rio de Janeiro, commencing Dec 16th. The service will be seasonal and run through the Brazilian summer to April 4th, and then resume for the American summer from June 9th to Aug 22nd, with a similar format intended for 2011/12. The flights will operate on a 2-cabin Boeing 767-300 with 28 Business Class seats and 191 Economy Class seats, offering UK passengers a complete business class routing through Forth Worth.

9th Sept - VIRGIN PILOTS STRIKE AVERTED

Pilots at Virgin Atlantic have reached agreement with airline representatives, avoiding the possibility of industrial action that would potentially have caused huge disruption at the airline. British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "Both sides have conducted talks that were frank, to the point and creative. While the issue has created much debate, we are now happy with both the agreement and the ground that has been laid for our future relationship with the company".

8th Sept - NZ SAYS AVOID CHRISTCHURCH

Tourism New Zealand is advising passengers due to travel to Christchurch on the South Island to stay away following the earthquake last weekend. Although Christchurch International Airport is open and both international and domestic flights are able to operate, tourists are being asked to delay non-essential trips to give locals time to repair the damage. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said "The city has obviously been seriously affected and if visitors are planning a trip, they should contact their travel agent and accommodation provider before leaving."

7th Sept - FRENCH SRIKE CAUSING TRAVEL CHAOS

Air and rail travel to, from and within France is being hit today by a 24-hour national strike which is due to end at 5am, Wednesday 8th. The strikes are likely to cause delays and disruption to many services with many travellers left stranded as a result. The French Civil Aviation Authority has limited flights due to strike action by air traffic controllers, however Air France said it plans to operate all long-haul flights, and 90% of short haul flights at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and 50% of flights from Paris-Orly.

6th Sept - LUFTHANSA LAUNCHES A380 TO BEIJING

Lufthansa has launched an Airbus A380 flight between Frankfurt and Beijing, serving the city once a week. However, with coordination from Chinese authorities, Lufthansa aims to increase the frequency at a later date. The A380, which bears the name Peking, will fly under flight number LH720 to Beijing and will carry the return flight number LH721. The aircraft is configured with 8 First Class and 98 Business Class seats on the upper deck as well as 420 seats Economy Class on the main deck.

3rd Sept - GERMANS INTRODUCE NEW AIR TAX

Germany has introduced a new aviation tax that will add €25 on to flights to the UK as part of a package to help reduce the German government's deficit. The tax comes into play with immediate effect on flights booked from today and departing from the New Year. Lufthansa said it was strongly opposed to the tax saying "Such unilateral action will weaken Germany as a base for the aviation industry, and will massively distort competition."

2nd Sept - HURRICANE EARL NEARS EAST US

The approach of category 4 hurricane "Earl" to the eastern seaboard of the United States has initiated mass evacuations from coastal areas of both North and South Carolina, with fragile Cape Hatteras looking particularly likely to receive the brunt of the Major hurricane's advance. Winds, which could gust to over 200mph, are currently at a maximum sustained 1-minute speed of 145mph and are predicted to cause widespread damage to infrastructure if the hurricane makes landfall at its current intensity. However, there is hope that Earl will still turn out to the Atlantic over the next 48 hours. But, regardless of the actual track of the Hurricane, travel is expected to be severely disrupted in the region over the next few days.

1st Sept - A380 MAKES MANCHESTER DEBUT

The world's largest commercial airliner, the Airbus A380, has landed at Manchester Airport for the first time today. The 517-seat double-decker plane, carrying Emirates flight number EK017, arrived from Dubai at just after 1225 BST. Manchester is the first regional airport in the world to be served by the A380 and thousands of people were at the airport to watch the plane come in to land. One spectator was reported by the BBC as saying "This is amazing, once in a lifetime... a world first. It's fantastic see it land for the first time. I think it is a monumental occasion."

31st Aug - DELTA AIMS AT HEATHROW EXPANSION

Delta Airlines has announced plans to take advantage of British Airways & American Airlines vacated slots at Heathrow. The take-off & landing slots, dropped in order to win approval for BA & AA's alliance, have been targeted by Delta for new transatlantic routes. The services, if approved by both US and EU authorities, would run twice daily to Boston and once daily to Miami from March 27th 2011.

25th Aug - ACCOR HOTELS PLAN EXPANSION

The world’s fourth-largest hotel group, Accor, plans to almost double the number of hotels in its global portfolio to 7,000 in the next seven years. The €1.4bn expansion will see a new hotel opening every week in Asia, and the targeting of high-growth emerging markets, particularly in Brazil and India. Chairman and CEO Gilles Pélisson ruled out a blanket expansion across all emerging markets, with the group exercising particular caution in China, where with 96 hotels already, there was a danger of oversupply.

24th Aug - BANGKOK RAIL LINK OPENS

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport rail link has finally opened after numerous setbacks and delays. The new link provides both a 15-minute Express and a 30-minute "City Line" Service between Suvarnabhumi Airport and the City Air Terminal (CAT) in Makkasan. A baggage check-in service will be available at the CAT from 2011, with the link able to handle up to 50,000 passengers a day.

23rd Aug - DELTA UPS LHR SERVICES

Delta Airlines has announced that it will be increasing its capacity at Heathrow by adding a second Atlanta to Heathrow on four days a week, and with Detroit - Heathrow on an additional three. The new services are due to operate from November 1st, the Atlanta flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and the Detroit flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

20th Aug - MANCHESTER CERTIFIED A380 READY

The CAA this week certified Manchester Airport 'A380 ready', making it one of just 17 airports worldwide that can receive the world's largest passenger jet. It has cost the airport some £10 million in upgrades to achieve the certification, including a new state-of-the-art stand. Come September 1st, when Emirates will operate the aircraft to Manchester, it will become the first regional airport to be served by the A380. As part of the expansion of its fleet, Emirates also plans to start running the A380 from Dubai to Hong Kong via Bangkok, with services commencing October 1st.

19th Aug - BAA STRIKE DEAL REVEALED

BAA’s offer to avoid crippling strikes comprised an unconditional 2% pay increase and a £500 minimum profit-related bonus for 2010. The rise will be backdated to January 1st, while the bonus could rise to as much as £900, if performance targets are met. BAA, which operates Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Southampton, and Stansted airports, said the Unite union had agreed to recommend the new offer to its members, following Monday’s talks at conciliation service ACAS.

18th Aug - KISS FLIGHTS CEASE TRADING

Flight Options, parent company to Kiss Flights has ceased trading. According to CAA estimates, around 13,000 people are currently abroad and a further 60,000 people have future bookings. The London-based outfit, who specialised in sports tours and dynamic packaging, issued the following statement, going on to cite numerous factors contributing to their downfall: "In 2010, the companies suffered major setbacks due to very difficult and challenging conditions in the UK travel market resulting in poor yields and poor demand."

17th Aug - BAA STRIKE THREAT AVERTED

The threat of a strike this month by staff at the six UK airports owned by BAA has been lifted after a new pay deal was offered. The Unite union and BAA agreed a "basis for settlement" following talks on Monday. The strike threatened Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow Heathrow, Southampton and Stansted after fire-fighters and other ground staff rejected a 1.5% pay deal. The agreement to call off the threat of industrial action came after nine hours of talks; however no details of the new settlement were released.

16th Aug - ACAS HOPE FOR STRIKE RESOLUTION

Talks between BAA and the Unite union are due to begin later today in an attempt to avert a strike that could close six UK airports later this month. The talks are being held by the conciliation service ACAS and are set to address the concerns of airport staff who voted to strike over a 1.5% pay offer. If the security staff, engineers, and fire-fighters go ahead with the strike then it could close Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, BAA has warned.

13th Aug - STRIKE ACTION THREATENS UK AIRPORTS

Airports in the UK could be crippled over the August Bank Holiday weekend after Unite members voted three to one in favour of strikes following what the union described as a 'derisory' one per cent pay offer. BAA said any action by engineers, fire-fighters, security guards and other key workers will force a total shutdown of its UK airports. In a statement, BAA said: "We regret the uncertainty this vote has already caused our passengers and airline customers. We hope that the union will engage with us quickly to conclude an agreement. Fewer than half of those people eligible to vote have done so and we do not believe this result provides a clear mandate for strike action."

12th Aug - SPANISH ATC DELAY STRIKE ACTION

Spanish air traffic controllers have decided to delay any strike action this August in the wake of latent public hostility towards the move. The controllers, who voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over changes to pay and conditions last week, were due to start their industrial action at the height of the holiday season. The planned disruption has proven very unpopular in Spain where controllers can earn in excess of €350000 from the public purse, despite national austerity measures aimed at controlling a spiralling budget deficit.

11th Aug - CATHAY EXPANDS FLEET AS PROFITS RISE

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it is to buy 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft and exercise existing purchase rights for a further six Boeing 777-300ERs in a move valued at £6bn at list prices. The 30 A350-900s, to be delivered between 2016 and 2019, will be used both to replace older aircraft and accommodate the airline’s future growth. News of the planned growth comes as the Cathay Pacific Group announced a rise in net profit to HK$6.84bn (£552m) for the first six months of 2010, up from HK$812m a year ago.

10th Aug - MOSCOW WEATHER DISRUPTION CONTINUES

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising air travellers to consult their air line before travelling to Moscow, for the latest information on any disruption to flights. The disruption to and from Moscow airports in recent days is due to poor visibility from the wildfires still raging around the Russian capital. Anyone flying into or out of Moscow should check with their airline before departing for the airport as the situation may continue for some time. International travellers transiting through Moscow should be aware that British Nationals require a visa to enter the Russian Federation, and are advised to consult their airlines prior to travel on what arrangements they will make if disruption to flights occurs one they have arrived for transit.

9th Aug - US TO CHARGE FOR ESTA

The US immigration authority has announced that from next month, European travellers to the US will have to pay for electronic visas. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), have been compulsory for European tourists since January 2009. Currently free, from September 8th the US will start charging $14 for the ESTA, in a move that has been criticised by the European Union. As the ESTA lasts for two years, (or until the applicant's passport expires) people planning a trip to the US are being urged to apply now, before the new charge comes into force.

6th Aug - LAST SRI LANKA FCO WARNING LIFTED

The last remaining travel restrictions on Sri Lanka have been lifted by the UK government, a year after the end of the country’s civil war. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer advises against travel to the four northern districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Vavuniya though Sri Lankan government permission is still required. A spokesman for the Sri Lankan Government said: "This decision marks yet another indication of the return to a state of peace in Sri Lanka following the end of our 30 year war against terrorism.

5th Aug - SPANISH ATC STRIKE CONFIRMED

Spanish Air Traffic Controllers have voted to strike over changes to pay and working conditions proposed by the Spanish government, with action potentially starting from the 18th August. The reforms are part of an austerity budget aimed at lowering a public finance deficit, which at 11.2% is the 3rd highest in Europe. Currently paid at €350,000, the change would lower the average salary by 40% to €200,000, a sum that is still looked on by many in Spain as extraordinary. There was recent outrage when it was discovered that, after overtime, some Spanish controllers were earning in excess of €800,000 per year from the public purse.

4th Aug - SPANISH ATC STRIKE THREAT

Spanish air traffic controllers are threatening strike action in mid August which could see hundreds of thousands of UK passengers affected. If confirmed, it is expected to begin on August 18, though exact details of dates & duration are not confirmed. With more than 2,000 controllers involved, the Spanish government has said in the event of action it will seek to provide 'minimum services'. The dispute centres around changes to working conditions and pay.

3rd Aug - BA AND UNITE FAIL TO AGREE AGAIN

Talks aimed at resolving the ongoing industrial row between the Unite trade union and British Airways have ended without agreement. Talks held on Monday broke down at a meeting held at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) as the two sides continued to negotiate towards a compromise over pay and conditions at the airline. Hopes of a possible resolution were raised by a further meeting being scheduled for next week.

2nd Aug - BRITISH AIRWAYS REVEALS £164m LOSS

British Airways says it is still on track to break even at the end of this financial year despite a pre-tax loss of £164 million for Q1. The loss was £16m higher than for the same quarter in 2009, though the airline's operating loss was down to £72m, a drop of £22m from last year. Chief executive Willie Walsh said "Despite both revenues and cost being hit by the closure of UK airspace following the Icelandic volcanic eruption and the impact of industrial action, our financial performance improved during the quarter from underlying revenue increases and further cost reductions."

30th July - AA COMPLETES NEW LOUNGE

American Airlines have completed the extensive renovations of the Admirals Club lounge at in Boston's Logan International Airport .The new club's upgraded facilities and refurbished décor make the lounge a cutting edge sanctuary, set apart from the busy airport terminal. Set in Terminal B near Gate 36, the 10,000-square-foot space boasts an enhanced floor plan designed to create a spacious, open atmosphere, and offers seating for 214 guests.

29th July - COALITION MULLS PASSENGER LEVY

The new government is planning to revisit the idea of an additional passenger levy to cover the cost of repatriating stranded passengers when airlines go bust. The potential levy, which has been condemned by British Airways, could add £1 to the cost of every ticket purchased in the UK. The original plans were scrapped by the previous administration, but have been revived after pressure from leading airlines.

28th July - EU OK'S UNITED AND CONTINENTAL MOVE

The European Commission has granted unconditional clearance to the planned merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The Commission said the merger will not give rise to competition concerns on any specific route. The airlines still need approval from the US authorities but believe they are on track to complete the merger by the end of this year.

27th July - AIR BERLIN TO JOIN ONEWORLD

European budget carrier Air Berlin is set to join airline marketing alliance OneWorld. Sponsored by OneWorld founding member British Airways, Air Berlin is also due to "develop co-operative agreements with group members American Airlines and Finnair" a OneWorld spokesperson said. After Lufthansa which is a founder member of the rival Star Alliance, Air Berlin is Germany's second largest airline. With a European, transatlantic and Middle East network, Air Berlin carried some 28 million passengers in the past year.

26th July - BAA STRIKE THREAT LOOMS

Millions of airline passengers face the threat of severe disruption after the Unite trade union launched a strike ballot at BAA. The owner of the UK's largest airports including Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh and Glasgow is embroiled in a pay dispute with Unite which represents nearly two-thirds of BAA's workforce, some 6000 members. The strike poll closes on August 12th and means that the earliest Unite could order strike action for would be the 19th if members backed a walkout, making the August bank holiday weekend a potential candidate for industrial action.

23rd July - EUROSTAR UPS PARIS CAPACITY

Eurostar has added an extra 20 trains during August to meet higher demand for seats to Paris. The new services will run at weekends, at an additional 4 trains per day and tickets for these trains - 15,000 seats in total - were all priced at £69 return. Eurostar confirmed the rise in demand was partly due to the volcanic ash crisis, but claimed also that it reflected a general trend within the market and a strengthening of both business and leisure travel.

22nd July - MORE 777s FOR QATAR

Qatar Airways has ordered two more Boeing 777-200 long range aircraft as part of the continued expansion of its fleet in an order valued at US$501m. The Middle Eastern airline also brought forward the delivery of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the first now scheduled to arrive from September 2011. All told, the airline is to have five 787 aircraft in service by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

21st July - BA'S NEW GOTHENBURG SERVICE GOES ON SALE

British Airways flights to Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, are now on sale. The twice daily service from Heathrow Terminal 5 will commence operations on November 28 2010 with flights priced from £55.50 one-way. Richard Tams, British Airways' head of UK & Ireland sales, said: "Gothenburg boasts Michelin star restaurants, culture and Liseberg, the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia. The schedule is perfect for day trips from the UK and timely connections onto our worldwide network".

20th July - ETIHAD ADDS NEW ROUTE

Etihad Airways has announced it will add a 65th destination to its network in the form of a new route to Seoul. This latest addition to the airline's services will begin on December 12, with the Middle East carrier running a daily return service to the South Korean capital’s Incheon Airport using A330-200s in a three cabin configuration. Etihad’s CEO James Hogan said the new route was now viable as Korean business has been growing significantly in the UAE.

17th July - PUNCTUALITY NOT SO EASY

EasyJet's punctuality figures have slipped dramatically, with fewer than 50% of its flights from Gatwick departing on time last month, a figure worse than Air Zimbabwe. It is said that airport operator BAA has raised the matter with easyJet, with the airline blaming air-traffic control strikes on the Continent.

16th July - LOTUS BUSINESS TRAVEL JOINS THE PA CLUB

Lotus Business Travel is proud to say that we have joined The PA Club, a members club for high-flying Personal Assistants. The PA Club has 2,500 senior PAs and over 100 Corporate Members and membership is ONLY by invitation or recommendation from another member. PAs are accepted based on their seniority and spending power and all PAs in the club have to work for a CEO, Director, Partner or Chairman. We greatly look forward to building lasting relationships within the club and we'll see you at a networking event very soon!

15th July - IBERIA & BRITISH AIRWAYS MERGER APPROVED

The European Union has given British Airways and Iberia the all clear to merge in a move expected by the end of 2010. The two airlines have also been given final regulatory approval along with American Airlines by the European Commission on a joint business agreement on transatlantic flights. Now that the agreement has been rubber stamped by the EU, the three airlines can expect a final decision on anti-trust immunity from the US Department of Transportation. British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We await the DOT’s final decision but welcome this important and vital step forward."

14th July - DREAMLINER BECOMES REALITY

The long-awaited and much delayed Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make finally its UK debut at the Farnborough Airshow this weekend. Informally named "the limousine of the skies", the highly fuel-efficient plane will offer passengers more space with wider seats & aisles and a smoother and quieter flight. The jet also features bigger windows than previous aircraft and an LED lighting system which mimics sunrise and sunset to help passengers avoid jetlag and acclimatise to new time zones.

13th July - 777-300ER FIRST FOR BA

British Airways has become the first UK airline to receive the new Boeing 777-300ER. The 297-seat aircraft offers four classes: First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller. BA is to receive a further two aircraft by 2011 and an additional three by early 2012, bringing the total compliment up to 6.

12th July - EASYJET ADDS THREE NEW ROUTES

Budget carrier Easyjet plans to launch three new routes from Manchester. The new services to Amsterdam will start from November 1st, with Hamburg following on November 26th and Gothenburg on December 10th. With further new routes also being looked at, there may yet be more additions to the 22 routes currently operated from Manchester by the low-cost carrier.

9th July - NO INVASION OF BODY SCANNERS IN DUBAI

Dubai has announced that it will not introduce full-body scanners as part of their security programme at airports. The decision comes after the devices were said not to correspond with national customs and ethics. Brig Ahmed bin Thani, the Dubai Police's director of airport security said "I do not feel that it is necessary for us to implement such a technology while we are operating different methods and have different avenues that have worked so far. The use of such a device violates personal privacy and it raises a very sensitive issue for passengers, in addition to the fact that it does not complement our national ethics."

8th July - NEW FRANKFURT ROUTE FOR FLYBE

Flybe has announced it is to add a route to Frankfurt from Glasgow, via Southampton. With up to 12 flights a week, the service will operate year round and will complement existing Frankfurt flights to and from Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton. Flights will operate on four to six days a week with an overall travel time of 3hr 45 min.

7th July - ALITALIA JOINS AIR FRANCE-KLM & DELTA

Alitalia is the latest airline to join a transatlantic revenue and cost-sharing Joint Venture first launched back in April 2009 by Air France-KLM and Delta. The scheme now accounts for some 26% of total transatlantic capacity, with annual revenues estimated at more than $10bn. All told, the four airlines service approximately 250 flights with 55,000 transatlantic seats a day, now including 20 daily Alitalia services to five US destinations from Italy.

6th July - EMIRATES INCREASES CAPACITY AT BIRMINGHAM

Emirates is increasing its capacity from Birmingham to Dubai. The Middle East carrier is introducing a second Boeing 777-300ER so that now both timings operate the larger aircraft. The higher number of seats on the aircraft means an increase in passenger capacity of 22% - offering 78 more seats per day than currently available. Emirates area manager UK North, Laurie Berryman, said: "The introduction of this larger aircraft, along with the opening of our new dedicated lounge facility, reaffirms our commitment to further developing our operation from Birmingham."

5th July - NEW GATWICK TERMIAL SHUTTLE OPENS

A new shuttle link between Gatwick's North and South terminals opened on July 1st, the latest part of a £1billion investment by new owners Global Infrastructure Partners.

The link cost £43m and boasts new shuttle cars and better accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility. Both the track and the terminal stations have also been upgraded as part of the programme. The link was opened two months ahead of schedule, by NASA astronaut James von Hoften, who is a member of the Gatwick Board.

Mr von Hoften said "The new facilities are excellent but it's one small step in our plan to make Gatwick a great airport that passengers love to use."