Snowfall across the UK has caused chaos for commuters and travellers alike with over 2000 schools shut due to the extended cold weather, the likes of which hasnt been seen for almost 30 years.
The snow started in the North yesterday causing havoc at Manchester airport, which suspended all flights yesterday and is still suffering disruptions this morning.
Overnight the snow has drifted south and is now hampering the operations of Gatwick airport which has suspended all flights coming in and out, also Heathrow is experiencing major delays.
The cold weather is expected to hang around till the end of the week, passengers who are due to fly from the affected airports are being advised to check with their airline before travelling.
List of affected major airports
Gatwick - Flights suspended
Heathrow - Delays
Luton - Delays
Liverpool - Delays
Manchester - Delays
Birmingham - Delays
Southhampton - Delays
Bristol - Flights suspended
Cardiff - Flights suspended
Last update 06/01/10
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Monday, 4 January 2010
BAA Wins appeal against monopoly order
BAA has won its appeal against an order to sell three of the seven UK airports it owns on the basis that the ruling panel was affected by "apparent bias".
But the appeal tribunal refused to accept that BAA's argument that it was being forced to sell the airports too quickly. The Competition Commission had ruled in March that BAA must sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports within two years. Gatwick airport which BAA sold towards the end of last year will not be included in the judgement.
It is still unclear whether BAA will have be forced to sell the other airports in the original timescale. The Competition Appeal Tribunal stated they would allow more time to for both sides to voice their opinons as to what should happen next.
BAA said it was pleased they had won the appeal on the grounds of apparent bias and said further talks should now take place with the Competition Commission as the tribunal suggested.
A spokesman for the commission said it was reviewing the ruling and was planning to make further submissions to the tribunal, adding that the judge had made the ruling with "the greatest reluctance".
But the appeal tribunal refused to accept that BAA's argument that it was being forced to sell the airports too quickly. The Competition Commission had ruled in March that BAA must sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports within two years. Gatwick airport which BAA sold towards the end of last year will not be included in the judgement.
It is still unclear whether BAA will have be forced to sell the other airports in the original timescale. The Competition Appeal Tribunal stated they would allow more time to for both sides to voice their opinons as to what should happen next.
BAA said it was pleased they had won the appeal on the grounds of apparent bias and said further talks should now take place with the Competition Commission as the tribunal suggested.
A spokesman for the commission said it was reviewing the ruling and was planning to make further submissions to the tribunal, adding that the judge had made the ruling with "the greatest reluctance".
Friday, 18 December 2009
British Airways wins court battle
British Airways won a high court battle yeterday to prevent a 12 day strike being threatened by workers, Mrs Justice Cox ruled that the union had broken rules on balloting for industrial action, all BA flights are now expected to resume as normal over the christmas period and has saved BA millions of pounds.
The block on the proposed 12 day strike has been met with fierce criticism from union chiefs who claim it is a "disgracefull day for democracy". BA claimed a large number of people who voted for the strike had already taken redundancy and should not have been allowed to vote.
Unite the union for BA workers have said they wont stop at this and have already stated they intend to have a new ballot and another strike could be prposed for february. Flight tickets had rocketed with other airlines at the prospect of BA being out of the market over christmas and many people are now out of pocket.
The block on the proposed 12 day strike has been met with fierce criticism from union chiefs who claim it is a "disgracefull day for democracy". BA claimed a large number of people who voted for the strike had already taken redundancy and should not have been allowed to vote.
Unite the union for BA workers have said they wont stop at this and have already stated they intend to have a new ballot and another strike could be prposed for february. Flight tickets had rocketed with other airlines at the prospect of BA being out of the market over christmas and many people are now out of pocket.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
British airways strike rumbles on
Talks are ongoing today between British airways and Unite, the cabin crew union representitive, the proposed 12 day strike is being ruled by the High Court to check the legality of the strike
BA have applied to block the strike, which would see thousands of travellers stranded over the christmas period, Mrs Justice Cox will deliver her verdict later today.
BA is claiming that workers who had left the company took part in the ballot of 12,500 crew members voting for the strike.
Make sure you dont get caught short this christmas and pre book your airport parking early to secure a space.
BA have applied to block the strike, which would see thousands of travellers stranded over the christmas period, Mrs Justice Cox will deliver her verdict later today.
BA is claiming that workers who had left the company took part in the ballot of 12,500 crew members voting for the strike.
Make sure you dont get caught short this christmas and pre book your airport parking early to secure a space.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Building Commences on Flybes Training Academy
Flybe, the UKs Number One domestic airline, welcomed Aviation Minister Paul Clark MP to Exeter this week for an official turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of construction on the airline’s £24-million, Flybe Training Academy adjacent to Exeter International Airport.
The Flybe Training Academy is being designed and built by local firm, Rok, and is scheduled to open late next year. It will provide world-class training not only for its own staff but will also enhance the carrier’s growing reputation for providing an international training facility for the airline industry as a whole and for offering specialist training for companies involved across the travel-related spectrum.
Months prior to becoming the first UK airline out of 150 leading UK companies to sign the Government’s Skills Pledge in June 2007, Flybe had announced the intention to replace its outdated training facilities with a state of the art Training Academy to incorporate four flight simulators and an independently owned and operated 160-room hotel.
The Flybe Training Academy will be a showcase for future developments elsewhere. It will support delivery of appropriate vocational qualifications for Flybe staff and assist in growing its reputation as a world-class training centre. It will also enable the airline to take a lead in moving the Government’s Skills Agenda forward by delivering training and skills’ development to local companies in line with the RDA and the LSC agendas. This will include ‘over-training’ for companies involved in the full spectrum of the sector such as delivering the Skills Shop facility for Exeter International Airport.
Flybe is a British Airline headquartered at Exeter International Airport in Devon. It operates around 180 routes between 55 European airports. The airline's largest base is Southampton Airport and it has other large bases at Manchester Airport , Birmingham Airport and Belfast City Airport and 14 aircraft and crew bases across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Make sure you pre-book your Manchester airport parking to guarantee a space
The Flybe Training Academy is being designed and built by local firm, Rok, and is scheduled to open late next year. It will provide world-class training not only for its own staff but will also enhance the carrier’s growing reputation for providing an international training facility for the airline industry as a whole and for offering specialist training for companies involved across the travel-related spectrum.
Months prior to becoming the first UK airline out of 150 leading UK companies to sign the Government’s Skills Pledge in June 2007, Flybe had announced the intention to replace its outdated training facilities with a state of the art Training Academy to incorporate four flight simulators and an independently owned and operated 160-room hotel.
The Flybe Training Academy will be a showcase for future developments elsewhere. It will support delivery of appropriate vocational qualifications for Flybe staff and assist in growing its reputation as a world-class training centre. It will also enable the airline to take a lead in moving the Government’s Skills Agenda forward by delivering training and skills’ development to local companies in line with the RDA and the LSC agendas. This will include ‘over-training’ for companies involved in the full spectrum of the sector such as delivering the Skills Shop facility for Exeter International Airport.
Flybe is a British Airline headquartered at Exeter International Airport in Devon. It operates around 180 routes between 55 European airports. The airline's largest base is Southampton Airport and it has other large bases at Manchester Airport , Birmingham Airport and Belfast City Airport and 14 aircraft and crew bases across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Make sure you pre-book your Manchester airport parking to guarantee a space
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
New Flights to Canaries from Liverpool Airport
Travellers planning to enjoy some winter sun over the coming months can book new flights to the Canary Islands from Liverpool Airport flying with Easyjet.
The airline has based a brand new Airbus A320 (which is larger than the current Boeing 737 s) to operate three weekly flights to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
The new aircraft seats 180 passengers as opposed to 149 on the 737.
EasyJet first opened its Liverpool base in 1997 and now offers routes to 23 European destinations, with new flights to Dubrovnik Bordeaux and Naples being launched earlier this year.
It is reportedly the largest carrier in the north-west, having carried 2.4 million passengers from the region during the past 12 months.
The introduction of the bigger aircraft and new routes to the Canary Islands reflected continued commitment to the 22.5 million customers who flew with Easy jet last year.
The airline will be launching a total of 22 new routes during the winter season, including flights to Hamburg, Agadir and Porto from Gatwick Airport.
Robin Tudor, head of PR at Peel Airports Group, added: “EasyJet has been an important part of our success over recent years and will continue to be so in the future.
“The new aircraft highlights the continuing importance placed on the Liverpool operation and the confidence they have in us, despite the tough economic conditions.”
If flying to any of these new destinations be sure to book cheaper Liverpool airport parking or if travelling down to Gatwick for the new flights to Hamburg, Agadir and Porto and you are looking to stay overnight a Gatwick hotel parking package will be cheaper than booking your parking with one company and then your hotel.
The airline has based a brand new Airbus A320 (which is larger than the current Boeing 737 s) to operate three weekly flights to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
The new aircraft seats 180 passengers as opposed to 149 on the 737.
EasyJet first opened its Liverpool base in 1997 and now offers routes to 23 European destinations, with new flights to Dubrovnik Bordeaux and Naples being launched earlier this year.
It is reportedly the largest carrier in the north-west, having carried 2.4 million passengers from the region during the past 12 months.
The introduction of the bigger aircraft and new routes to the Canary Islands reflected continued commitment to the 22.5 million customers who flew with Easy jet last year.
The airline will be launching a total of 22 new routes during the winter season, including flights to Hamburg, Agadir and Porto from Gatwick Airport.
Robin Tudor, head of PR at Peel Airports Group, added: “EasyJet has been an important part of our success over recent years and will continue to be so in the future.
“The new aircraft highlights the continuing importance placed on the Liverpool operation and the confidence they have in us, despite the tough economic conditions.”
If flying to any of these new destinations be sure to book cheaper Liverpool airport parking or if travelling down to Gatwick for the new flights to Hamburg, Agadir and Porto and you are looking to stay overnight a Gatwick hotel parking package will be cheaper than booking your parking with one company and then your hotel.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Uk Tourism gets a boost as pound falls
The travel industry has never had so many obstacles to overcome with oil prices rising, bird and pig flu outbreaks and the worst recession in living memory. The pound has fallen to a record low compared to the euro and dollar and the majority financers believe the Bank of England is quite happy to see this happen, as this makes GB more competitive.
The fall in the pound has benefited British export traders, the UK domestic tourist industry and encourages people to choose a holiday at home. Furthermore, the Bank of England has taken a very even stance over this demise and has basically admitted this is not the worst thing that could happen.
Historically, as a percentage of population no other country sees so many travellers taking a foreign holiday and this has already damaged the profits typically seen in such countries as France, Spain, Turkey, America, Norway, Romania, Germany, Ireland, Croatia. Indeed it has been forcast that for 2009 over a million less Brits will venture to Spain and given Spain's high dependency on tourism income this will be a major blow to their economy at all levels, causing businesses to close and increase unemployment.
The main sector in the UK which will be damaged are those which work in foreign tourism such as travel agents, airlines, airport parking companies, airport hotels and the airports themselves who are all noticing decreasing turnover this year with the prospects even worse for 2010 because of the pound. Indeed the fall of the pound will probably have a worse impact than the recent credit crunch, with Brits opting to holiday at home. For those deciding to go abroad there is bound to be some superb discounts available for travellers using UK airports and in reality the cost of East Midlands airport parking or if you are planning on staying over before you fly your East Midlands hotel parking will be significantly cheaper
Another hazard to overcome is how to try and stay one step ahead of the currency markets, for example a foreign hotel might have to announce their prices now, without knowing which way the rates are going to go, but if the price is set in pounds and the pound continues to fall they could be in big trouble. Or conversely the travel company agrees the price in euros they could also be in danger
The fall in the pound has benefited British export traders, the UK domestic tourist industry and encourages people to choose a holiday at home. Furthermore, the Bank of England has taken a very even stance over this demise and has basically admitted this is not the worst thing that could happen.
Historically, as a percentage of population no other country sees so many travellers taking a foreign holiday and this has already damaged the profits typically seen in such countries as France, Spain, Turkey, America, Norway, Romania, Germany, Ireland, Croatia. Indeed it has been forcast that for 2009 over a million less Brits will venture to Spain and given Spain's high dependency on tourism income this will be a major blow to their economy at all levels, causing businesses to close and increase unemployment.
The main sector in the UK which will be damaged are those which work in foreign tourism such as travel agents, airlines, airport parking companies, airport hotels and the airports themselves who are all noticing decreasing turnover this year with the prospects even worse for 2010 because of the pound. Indeed the fall of the pound will probably have a worse impact than the recent credit crunch, with Brits opting to holiday at home. For those deciding to go abroad there is bound to be some superb discounts available for travellers using UK airports and in reality the cost of East Midlands airport parking or if you are planning on staying over before you fly your East Midlands hotel parking will be significantly cheaper
Another hazard to overcome is how to try and stay one step ahead of the currency markets, for example a foreign hotel might have to announce their prices now, without knowing which way the rates are going to go, but if the price is set in pounds and the pound continues to fall they could be in big trouble. Or conversely the travel company agrees the price in euros they could also be in danger
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