Newcastle Airport Future Uncertain

The future of Newcastle airport is uncertain after the 7 councils that own it including Durham, Gateshead, City of Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and the City of Sunderland have announced it may consider selling its share, Copenhagen airport which owns the other 49% are also thought to be considering selling.

The sale is due to mounting debts at the airport and the repayment deadline of a £320million loan taken out in 2006 which is due in 2013 December.

LA7 who manages the Councils stake say they had to pay out £22 million in interest during 2009 and are £4.2 million in the red.

If an investor can’t be found to pump more cash into the airport then the Councils will have to sell their stake.

Jersey to Glasgow and back with easyJet

Towards the end of March, easyJet announced that it will be launching a direct link between Jersey and Scotland. This will be the airline’s second route to Jersey as it already operates cheap flights between the island and Liverpool. It will operate this new, seasonal route three times per week between June and September.

Not only will this improve tourism in Jersey, but it will also provide residents of the island with an affordable low cost service to Scotland. At present, easyJet offers a successful year-round service between Liverpool and Jersey and according to the airline’s Assistant Minister for Economic Development, the Glasgow to Jersey service should achieve the same success.

Airports Ramp Up Prices In Time For Easter Break

The Uk airports have been slammed for steep price rises in airport parking just in time for the Easter break a recent survey carried out by Travelsupermarket.com found that prices had seen a massive 127% rise compared to 2010.

The short stay car park at Heathrow has been singled out in the report as an 8 day stay will set you back £394.40. The best way to avoid this massive charge is park in the Long Stay car park which will set you back a more modest £133.60

An even better way of saving money is by using a comparison site, just by booking in advance will save you lot of money and there are off airport sites that can be even cheaper.

If your planning a trip over the Easter break try and get flights from Blackpool airport as their parking is free!!!!!

Ryanair to launch child free flights

The infamous low cost airline, Ryanair, has recently announced that it will be launching child free flights on the most frequent routes as of October 2011, the start of the winter schedule. This announcement comes following a survey involving 1,000 passengers all over Europe. The results reveal that half of the passengers would pay more for airline tickets to avoid sharing a flight with children. In fact, 36% of those questioned claim their flight had been ruined by noisy children and 18% would be happy if Ryanair restricted the number of kids permitted on flights.

Despite half of the passengers in favour of separating the cabin into "adult" and "family" areas, Ryanair claims that this is not an option as it operates a free seating policy and passengers can pay extra for priority boarding should they so wish. Interestingly, the survey also revealed that passengers feel parents are to blame for their annoyance.

This will come as good news to anyone who is fed up with parents who allow their children to run up and down the aisles, kick seats and annoy other passengers.

Lee Westwood In Emergency Landing

Lee Westwood the World number 2 Golfer and Ryder Cup teammate Ross Fisher were forced to make an emergency landing after their private jet caught fire shortly after take-off. The Ryder Cup winning golfers had just finished participating in the Houston Open and are taking part in the this week’s US Masters Championship.

Westwood gave running commentary on his twitter account showing his humorous side with tweets including "Do the [fire] engines normally follow you down the runway? Only when there's smoke in the cabin I guess!!!” and "They're not here to put my putter out! That's not on fire!"

The plane landed safely, with no injuries to any crew or passengers a problem in the instruments panel caused the fire, which forced the emergency landing.

Stansted Must Go!!!!!

BAA have been told they must still sell Stansted airport along with either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport as the competition commission stood by its ruling to force BAA to sell another 2 airports. BAA was forced to sell Gatwick airport in 2009 after the commission ruled they had too much of a monopoly over the UK airports.

Further sales were challenged by BAA but they have failed and now must prepare to sell another 2 airports. Analysts say it might not be the worst scenario for BAA as it will ease their £12bn debt, however the airport owner is still reluctant to sell.

The commission says the break-up of ownership can only help airlines and passengers with greater competition around and price wars between the airports.

East Midlands Takes Part In Climate Change Week

East Midlands airport is taking part in Climate Change week, joining in with local schools and councils in an attempt to help educate people how to combat climate change and what they can do to help.

The airport will play host to road-shows and events this week, teaching staff members the importance of green travel and its sustainability and willow trees are to be planted around the airports perimeter.

Neil Robinson the Sustainability Director of East Midlands said by engaging staff to think about climate change the airport could reduce its carbon emissions and that the airport felt strongly about green travel.

The Airport is also playing hosting to the East Midlands Climate Change Youth Conference, where students will be lectured on climate change.