XML/RSS feed of Travel News from Just the Flighten-gbhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/travel/index.htmlFri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249453-bmibaby-confirms-new-flights-to-prague.htmlBmibaby will launch new flights from East Midlands Airport to Prague for the winter 2009-10 season.

The new service will begin on December 4th and run until March 26th next year.

Travellers will be able to catch three weekly flights to Prague from East Midlands Airport on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, with extra services being added over the Christmas period.

Julian Carr, commercial director of bmibaby, said the new route would be launched in time for people to visit the capital of the Czech Republic as it hosts its Christmas markets.

He added: "For those looking to do something different for New Year's Eve, the Czech capital has a host of events taking place that are sure to be very popular.

"We are proud to add another route from the East Midlands, and now offer 16 destinations from the airport."

Other European cities that bmibaby serves from East Midlands Airport include Paris, Nice and Amsterdam.

According to research by flightontime.info, bmibaby was the most punctual low-cost carrier operating from UK airports in the first three months of the year.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249453-bmibaby-confirms-new-flights-to-prague.htmlFri, 3 Jul 2009 13:21:09 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsamsterdamparisnicepraguetravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249433-flybe-the-uks-leading-domestic-airline.htmlFlybe has claimed that it is now the leading domestic airline in the UK.

The regional operator cited statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) showing that it carried some 451,413 passengers in April, placing it ahead of rival airlines such as British Airways and the bmi group.

More than a quarter (26 per cent) of UK domestic passengers who flew during April travelled with Flybe, according to the CAA figures, placing the carrier at the top of the list ahead of easyJet with a 22 per cent share.

Not long after announcing Gatwick Airport as its 14th UK base, Flybe carried more domestic travellers from the hub than any other operator based there during the months of April and May.

Mike Rutter, the regional airline's chief commercial officer, said: "Just six years ago, Flybe was a distant fifth in the UK domestic market. It's a mark of how far we've come that, in less than a decade, we're now number one – a phenomenal achievement.

"We now serve 35 airports in the UK, affirming our commitment to keeping Britain on the move through these challenging economic times."

As well as offering a range of services within the UK, Flybe operates a European network that includes flights to Amsterdam, Milan and Paris.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249433-flybe-the-uks-leading-domestic-airline.htmlFri, 3 Jul 2009 13:16:07 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsamsterdamparismilanlondonflybe british europeanbritish airwaysbmitravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249427-easyjet-confirms-extra-winter-flights.htmlEasyJet will extend its range of winter services during the 2009-10 season by launching 15 new routes across Europe.

Liverpool Airport will feature in the expansion, hosting new flights to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, while Luton Airport will be linked to Sharm el Sheikh and Paphos.

Gatwick Airport will also host two new easyJet services - to Hamburg and Porto - and Edinburgh Airport will be given a new connection to Lyon.

The range of new routes - which will also include intra-European flights serving destinations such as Rome and Amsterdam - will come into operation gradually between October this year and February 2010.

Andy Harrison, chief executive of easyJet, said: "We are delighted to be announcing even more new routes from the UK and across Europe.

"Times are tough for consumers, so we are proud to offer great year-round holiday opportunities in fantastic places such as Paphos, Fuerteventura and Sharm El Sheikh for incredibly low prices."

During the summer season this year, easyJet's additional services will include flights to Athens, Corfu and Dalaman from Manchester Airport.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19249427-easyjet-confirms-extra-winter-flights.htmlFri, 3 Jul 2009 13:14:36 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsamsterdamfuerteventuralyonportoromesharm el sheikhtravel newsthe canary islandscyprusspainhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19248272-oyster-cards-to-be-sold-on-easyjet-flights-to-london.htmleasyJet flights to London can now buy Visitor Oyster cards to use in the capital during their flight.

A deal was struck between Transport for London and easyJet that will see Oyster cards sold on the airline's flights in to Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport and Luton Airport for a period of three months.

If the trial is successful, the initiative will be extended, meaning London visitors will be able to transfer immediately to the capital's Underground, Docklands Light Railway and bus networks upon arrival in the city.

The deal is the first of its kind and marks the biggest expansion in the Visitor Oyster network to date.

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said: "Many of us share the experience of arriving in a new city and having our first moments taken up with the baffling process of working out what tickets are needed.

"People flying to London with easyJet can now pick up one of our cards and enjoy the ease, convenience and good value offered by Oyster."

EasyJet offers more services from Gatwick than any of its other bases in the UK, flying to destinations including Marrakech, Sharm el Sheikh, Rome and Helsinki.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19248272-oyster-cards-to-be-sold-on-easyjet-flights-to-london.htmlThu, 2 Jul 2009 17:07:46 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogslondontravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19247982-klm-tops-uk-punctuality-ratings.htmlKLM was the most punctual scheduled airline at airports around the UK during the first three months of the year, according to figures from flightontime.info.

The site revealed that KLM managed to keep 91 per cent of its departures to within 15 minutes of their scheduled time in the first quarter, with an average delay of 5.6 minutes.

Bmi regional's flights from UK hubs had average hold-ups of 5.9 minutes between January and March, placing the airline in second position ahead of VLM with an overall delay time of 6.2 minutes.

The flightontime.info study also covered low-cost airlines, with bmibaby at the top of the pile with an average delay of 7.9 minutes and Flybe also in the top three with 11.5 minutes.

Crawford Rix, managing director of bmibaby, said: "At bmibaby we work extremely hard to ensure all our flights are on time for our passengers. Our results for quarter one of 2009 are excellent."

The low-cost airline has already put parts of its summer 2010 programme on sale, allowing customers to book flights to Alicante, Malaga, Faro and other popular holiday hotspots.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19247982-klm-tops-uk-punctuality-ratings.htmlThu, 2 Jul 2009 16:22:12 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsflybe british europeanvlmklmbmitravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19247451-formula-one-season-continues-tour-of-europe.htmlEurope this summer to catch up with the Formula One World Championship.

The next race in the 2009 season will be held at the Nurburgring near Cologne in Germany on July 12th before the championship heads to Budapest, Hungary on July 26th.

Spain will be one of the most popular destinations for racing fans this summer when Valencia hosts the Grand Prix of Europe on August 23rd.

Last year, this race was won by Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who set a lap record on his way to victory.

The Ferrari team have not enjoyed anything close to the form they achieved in 2008 this year, however, currently lying fourth in the constructors' table behind Brawn-Mercedes, RBR-Renault and Toyota.

Following the race in Spain, the World Championship will head to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (August 30th) and Monza in Italy (September 11th) before the second Formula One night race in Singapore on September 27th.

Jenson Button is currently leading the drivers' section of the Formula One championship, meaning there is plenty of British interest in the sport this year.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19247451-formula-one-season-continues-tour-of-europe.htmlThu, 2 Jul 2009 13:51:09 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsbudapestsingaporevalenciatravel newsspainhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19245931-british-airways-to-launch-extra-flights-to-istanbul-warsaw.htmlBritish Airways has confirmed that it will launch extra flights to Istanbul, Turkey and Warsaw, Poland this year.

In further changes to its winter network for 2009-10, the airline will increase its frequency of services to both these destinations to three daily flights from Heathrow Airport on October 25th.

There will also be adjustments to British Airways' range of flights to Rome, with frequency from Heathrow Airport being increased from five to six services a day and the number of flights from Gatwick Airport dropping to one a day.

Richard Tams, head of UK and Ireland sales for the airline, said: "We're pleased to be offering increased frequencies to these European destinations.

"It's in response to demand and the additional flights to Warsaw have been timed to make it easier for our customers to connect to our long-haul operation."

Europe is not the only region that will be served by extra British Airways services this winter, with additional flights to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St Lucia also being launched.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19245931-british-airways-to-launch-extra-flights-to-istanbul-warsaw.htmlWed, 1 Jul 2009 16:27:26 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsromebritish airwaystravel newsturkeythe caribbeanhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19245232-heathrow-express-named-top-rail-operator.htmlLondon to Heathrow Airport, has once again been named the leading rail operator in the UK.

In the independent National Passenger Survey, carried out by consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, Heathrow Express achieved a score of 92 per cent for overall customer satisfaction.

The rail connection carries more than 16,000 passengers to Heathrow Airport every day and reportedly removes one million cars from the road.

Heathrow Express has now been running for more than ten years and describes its service as "the fastest and most reliable way" to get from the centre of London to the UK's biggest airport.

Richard Robinson, managing director of the company, said: "In this UK survey Heathrow Express has consistently delivered the top scores. To perform this well year after year is exceptional, but we are not resting on our laurels.

"Over the coming months we are introducing significant enhancements to our service which will demonstrate that Heathrow Express is an evolving brand."

Heathrow Express services depart from Paddington station every 15 minutes.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19245232-heathrow-express-named-top-rail-operator.htmlWed, 1 Jul 2009 12:59:03 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogslondontravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243738-world-class-golf-course-opened-in-muscat.htmlMuscat, the capital city of Oman.

The 18-hole, PGA-standard Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club is the city's first golf course.

It was laid out by internationally acclaimed golf course designer Paul Thomas and boasts a distinctive location in natural mountainous surroundings.

A number of features will be added to the Muscat course in the future, including a state-of-the-art clubhouse with leisure facilities and a shop.

Visitors will also be able to stay in a boutique hotel at the new complex as well as apartments and villas.

People planning to travel in the Middle East this year can try out a number of other activities in Oman, such as scuba diving along its more than 3,000km of coastline, kayaking, rock climbing and off-road driving in the desert.

Flights to Muscat are available with a number of carriers, including Oman Air, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243738-world-class-golf-course-opened-in-muscat.htmlTue, 30 Jun 2009 17:09:34 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsmuscatetihadqatar airwaystravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243617-easyjet-to-launch-new-flights-to-copenhagen.htmlEasyJet has announced that it will launch new flights from Manchester Airport to Copenhagen this autumn.

The airline will open a new route providing six weekly flights to Copenhagen from Manchester Airport, more than doubling its number of services from the capital of Denmark.

EasyJet has been gradually expanding its presence in Copenhagen over the past year.

Since last summer, the carrier has launched new services linking the city to Gatwick Airport and Milan, which joined existing connections to Berlin and Stansted Airport.

Thomas Haagensen, easyJet's regional market manager, said: "We believe that Manchester will be a successful route which will attract both business and leisure travellers.

"The percentage of business passengers in particular is generally showing a steady increase and this trend will…be supported by the new route."

The airline's network from Manchester Airport also includes flights to Alicante, Geneva, Tenerife and Athens.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243617-easyjet-to-launch-new-flights-to-copenhagen.htmlTue, 30 Jun 2009 16:48:40 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogscopenhagentravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243327-luton-airport-improves-passenger-access.htmlLuton Airport this year will be able to take advantage of a number of new facilities designed to improve access to the hub.

The airport announced that it had put together a new access plan to handle increasing traffic, with passenger numbers rising to ten million last year.

Coming into effect tomorrow (July 1st), the scheme includes a new mid-term car park area where passengers can be dropped off and picked up for free for a period of 60 minutes.

Luton Airport will also begin using a public transport interchange featuring coach, bus and rail shuttle services stopping outside the terminal building and a dedicated bus lane.

Glyn Jones, managing director of the London gateway, said: "London Luton Airport remains committed to ensuring all passengers are able to access the terminal in a secure and orderly manner.

"By encouraging use of our mid-term car park, which is only a two-minute bus ride from the terminal, and the excellent public transport links to and from the airport we will be better able to manage traffic flows around the terminal."

People travelling from Luton Airport can catch flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Galway and other destinations with airlines such as Flybe, easyJet and Aer Arann.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19243327-luton-airport-improves-passenger-access.htmlTue, 30 Jun 2009 15:48:40 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsamsterdamparislondontravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19241422-bmi-to-increase-capacity-on-uk-flights.htmlBmi has announced that it will be increasing capacity on its flights to Leeds-Bradford from Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport this summer.

The airline confirmed that its regional subsidiary will operate two daily flights from the Scottish destinations to Leeds-Bradford Airport, using an improved timetable that will enable business travellers to spend the whole day in the Yorkshire city.

From Glasgow Airport, bmi will also introduce a larger aircraft that will increase capacity on the route by a third.

Peter Kenworthy, commercial director of bmi Regional, said: "The new schedule for our Scotland to Leeds-Bradford route and the increased capacity on flights out of Glasgow reflects our commitment to key business destinations within the UK.

"Bmi Regional has been the UK's most punctual airline for four years running and through improved schedules and fantastic rewards for Diamond Club members, we strive to provide business and leisure travellers with the best possible level of service and added benefits."

Earlier this year, bmi reached an agreement with Virgin Atlantic on an extension to the airlines' codeshare deal that covered routes in the US, the Middle East and other regions.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19241422-bmi-to-increase-capacity-on-uk-flights.htmlMon, 29 Jun 2009 17:15:10 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsedinburghbmitravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19240976-bristol-airport-launches-development-project.htmlBristol Airport has this month launched a new walkway development scheme that is expected to deliver a number of benefits for passengers and airlines.

The £7.5 million project, which has been contracted out to Kier Western, will include a number of facilities to make the travel process easier for passengers with reduced mobility.

Other benefits will include the option for customers to walk to eight embarkation zones without using buses, which will reduce carbon emissions and should improve customer service.

Andrew Goodenough, head of development at Bristol Airport, said: "The western walkway will provide an improved experience for customers using the airport, providing direct covered access between aircraft and the terminal.

"This project represents a significant investment in passenger facilities and demonstrates Bristol International's commitment to building an airport the south-west can be proud of."

Travellers can catch flights to New York, Paris, Prague and many other destinations from Bristol Airport, which are provided by carriers such as Continental Airlines, Air France and easyJet.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19240976-bristol-airport-launches-development-project.htmlMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:16:00 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsnew yorkparispragueair francecontinental airlinestravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19240404-qantas-to-increase-a380-flight-frequency.htmlQantas has announced that it will increase the number of Airbus A380 flights that it offers to London and Los Angeles from Sydney this year.

The airline will receive its fourth A380 at the end of July, enabling it to increase the frequency of A380 flights to London, which operate via Singapore, from three to five per week.

Los Angeles will be served by four A380 services per week, with both changes due to come into effect on August 6th.

Qantas spokesman Rob Gurney said: "By November, Qantas will operate daily A380 services to London and Los Angeles from Sydney and will increase Melbourne-Los Angeles services from two to three A380 flights per week.

"By the end of 2009 this year Qantas will operate 34 services per week between Australia and the UK and US with its A380 fleet."

The airline launched flights using the A380 in October 2008 and has since carried more than 200,000 passengers on the aircraft.

It was recently announced that Qantas had introduced an online check-in service for its international passengers.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19240404-qantas-to-increase-a380-flight-frequency.htmlMon, 29 Jun 2009 13:28:22 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogssydneylos angeleslondonqantas airwaystravel newsaustraliahttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238968-emirates-reaches-landmark-on-newcastle-to-dubai-flights.htmlEmirates celebrated a milestone on one of its flights from Newcastle Airport to Dubai yesterday (June 25th), carrying the 250,000th passenger on the route.

Peter Roeves, the landmark customer, was travelling to Dubai and on to Perth, Australia to visit his son and granddaughter.

Mr Roeves said that being able to fly directly to Dubai from Newcastle Airport made his journey to Perth much easier than when he once had to travel via London.

Since it was introduced in September 2007, Emirates' daily service to Dubai has proved popular with travellers heading to the United Arab Emirates and on to popular long-haul destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Mauritius.

Lauri Berryman, Emirates manager for UK north, said: "A quarter of a million passengers in less than two years is a significant achievement.

"We are delighted and grateful for the support we have received from passengers and cargo shippers from across the region."

The airline launched a promotion at Newcastle Airport earlier this month offering economy fares that included an automatic upgrade to business class.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238968-emirates-reaches-landmark-on-newcastle-to-dubai-flights.htmlFri, 26 Jun 2009 16:56:25 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsdubaibangkokmauritiusperthemiratestravel newsaustraliahttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238432-new-attractions-opened-at-melbourne-museum.htmlMelbourne in Australia this year will have the opportunity to visit a number of new attractions at the National Sports Museum.

A development phase was recently completed at the museum, equipping it with a number of new facilities and exhibitions.

The NSM Cinema Sport centre is one of the additions, where visitors will be able to see non-stop sporting action on a big screen.

In the Game On! interactive area, tourists can try out a number of sporting pursuits that are popular in Australia, such as cricket, football and bike racing.

Melbourne visitors will find the National Sports Museum in the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.

There are many other cultural institutions to visit in the city, including Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building.

Travellers can catch flights to Melbourne with Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and other carriers.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238432-new-attractions-opened-at-melbourne-museum.htmlFri, 26 Jun 2009 14:51:44 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsmelbournecathay pacificmalaysia airlinesetihadtravel newsaustraliahttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238420-flybe-introduces-new-dusseldorf-flights.htmlflights from London Gatwick to Dusseldorf in Germany with regional airline Flybe.

The carrier introduced the service earlier this week, with a group of local VIPs greeting the aircraft upon its arrival in Dusseldorf.

Passengers were given specially baked souvenir gingerbread biscuits to mark the inaugural flight on the new route, which saw strong forward ticket sales prior to its launch.

Flybe will offer three daily flights to Dusseldorf during the week, as well as two services on Saturdays and one connection on Sundays.

Mike Rutter, the airline's chief commercial officer, said: "Our new London Gatwick to Dusseldorf service is of great importance to both Flybe leisure and business passengers and we've been delighted with our customers' early support.

"Flybe is gaining a reputation as an airline that bucks the trend in these challenging economic times and the early success of this route is a confident reflection in people seeking out the most affordable travel that also offers a quality service."

Flybe serves 11 destinations from Gatwick Airport, including Bergerac, Aberdeen and Belfast.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19238420-flybe-introduces-new-dusseldorf-flights.htmlFri, 26 Jun 2009 14:49:46 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsflybe british europeantravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236751-new-gatwick-coach-service-introduced.htmlGatwick Airport.

The new connection is operated by Excel Coaches and funded by the airport, with support from Kent County Council and Medway Council.

Coaches run every two hours, carrying passengers to Gatwick Airport from Chatham, Hempstead, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Godstone in Kent.

Liz Trevor, head of sustainability at London Gatwick, said: "One of our commitments towards delivering sustainable development at the airport is to provide good public transport links to and from the airport. This will contribute towards achieving our target of 40 per cent of passengers using public transport.

"This new initiative, funded by Gatwick Airport and supported by Kent County Council and Medway Council, will serve an important part of our catchment area for the first time."

London Gatwick is the UK's second busiest air travel hub after Heathrow Airport, handling some 35 million passengers a year.

The ten most popular international destinations accessible from Gatwick include Malaga, Amsterdam, Orlando and Faro.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236751-new-gatwick-coach-service-introduced.htmlThu, 25 Jun 2009 16:32:43 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsorlandoamsterdamlondonmalagatravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236493-skyteam-passengers-offered-wi-fi-access-at-london-heathrow.htmlHeathrow Airport can now use free Wi-Fi services.

It was announced that wireless internet provider BT Openzone had reached a deal with Skyteam to offer Wi-Fi access at the group's lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4.

Travellers will be able to use the wireless network for work or leisure purposes prior to their flight and also to make cheap VoIP calls.

Chris Bruce, general manager of BT Openzone, said: "Wi-Fi is essential for business and leisure travellers wanting to be productive or relax online before their flights."

The Skyteam airline alliance consists of international carriers including Air France, KLM, Continental Airlines and Korean Air, which offer an extensive network of international flights from London Heathrow.

Skyteam opened the first level of its co-branded lounge at Terminal 4 on June 4th. The facility has space for more than 300 passengers and provides amenities including a wine bar, massage chairs and a wellness centre.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236493-skyteam-passengers-offered-wi-fi-access-at-london-heathrow.htmlThu, 25 Jun 2009 15:49:32 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogslondonkorean airlinesair francecontinental airlinesklmtravel newstechnologyhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236134-qantas-committed-to-sustainable-tourism.htmlQantas has claimed that it will show its commitment to sustainable travel at the National Australian Tourism Awards.

The airline will sponsor an award recognising excellence in the sustainable travel sector in 2009.

Qantas spokesman Rob Gurney said that the accolade was being offered to encourage tourism operators based in Australia to minimise their impact on the environment.

He added: "Qantas will again offer a $25,000 cash prize to the winner of the sustainable tourism category at the National Australian Tourism Awards.

"The Qantas Group has a carefully coordinated approach to managing the environmental impacts of its operations in place. As a result we established this award last year to reward tourism operators who have demonstrated a real commitment to their environmental sustainability."

From its Australian hubs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Qantas operates an international network that includes flights to London, Los Angeles, Auckland and Singapore.

Earlier this month, the airline announced that it was introducing an online check-in facility for its international services.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19236134-qantas-committed-to-sustainable-tourism.htmlThu, 25 Jun 2009 13:33:26 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogssydneybrisbanemelbourneqantas airwaystravel newsaustraliahttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19234555-british-airways-to-launch-new-winter-flights-from-gatwick.htmlBritish Airways has confirmed that its 2009-10 winter season will include new flights from Gatwick Airport.

The airline announced that it would launch additional services to Bermuda, Barbados, St Lucia and Port of Spain, all of which will see increases in their weekly frequency.

These extra flights are in addition to the new routes that British Airways will be launching from Gatwick to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, Sharm el Sheikh and Innsbruck.

Travellers will also be able to make use of new flights to Las Vegas that British Airways is set to launch from Heathrow Airport.

Richard Tams, the airline's head of UK and Ireland sales, said: "We have some exciting new routes in our winter schedule and extra services to popular sun spots like the Caribbean.

"With our all-inclusive competitive fares including complimentary check-in, baggage allowance and refreshments on board, there has never been a better time to fly."

British Airways has also confirmed that it will go ahead with its plans to launch a business class-only service to New York from London City Airport in September.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19234555-british-airways-to-launch-new-winter-flights-from-gatwick.htmlWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:35:01 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsnew yorkbarbadossharm el sheikhbritish airwaystravel newsthe caribbeanhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19234477-finnair-launches-fourth-airbus-a330.htmlFinnair has launched its fourth Airbus A330 this week, commencing flights from Helsinki to Delhi in India.

The deployment of the new aircraft on commercial service also means that the airline will be able to launch additional flights to Osaka in Japan on July 6th.

Finnair is currently in the process of renewing its long-haul fleet, with a total of five new Airbus A330s set to be delivered this year.

All of the planes are equipped with a new cabin design which the airline claims has a "lighter" feel.

In a statement on the new additions to its fleet, Finnair said: "These aircraft represent the latest in travel comfort, modern technology and first class fuel efficiency."

The airline announced recently that it will use the Airbus A330 to operate flights to the holiday hotspot of Phuket in Thailand from next winter.

From its base in Helsinki, Finnair also offers flights to long-haul destinations including Mumbai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19234477-finnair-launches-fourth-airbus-a330.htmlWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:21:51 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogshelsinkihong kongtokyofinnairtravel newsthailandhttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19233841-british-airways-confirms-london-city-to-new-york-flights.htmlBritish Airways has confirmed that, despite the difficult economic environment, it plans to go ahead with the launch of flights to New York from London City Airport this year.

Tickets for the twice-daily service, which is the first ever long-haul route to be launched from the airport, went on sale this week and operations are scheduled to begin on September 29th.

The business class-only flights will be operated by an Airbus A318 offering 32 lie-flat seats and inflight internet access.

On its way to New York JFK, the flight will stop in Shannon in Ireland to refuel, where passengers will be able to pass US Customs and immigration checks before arriving at their final destination.

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said: "In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about.

"There is real enthusiasm from our customers for this project. This is BA at its best - stylish, British and ahead of the game."

The airline will also be adjusting its network from Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport this year, launching new flights to destinations including Barbados and Las Vegas.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19233841-british-airways-confirms-london-city-to-new-york-flights.htmlWed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:26 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogsnew yorklondonbritish airwaystravel newshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19232536-aer-lingus-flights-to-vilnius-welcomed.htmlAer Lingus' forthcoming flights to Vilnius in Lithuania from Gatwick Airport have been welcomed by the European country's tourist board.

The airline will launch three weekly flights to Vilnius on September 10th, increasing frequency to a daily service on October 24th.

Vilnius is already served by three Aer Lingus flights a week from the airline's base in Dublin.

Augusta Jaudegyte, director of the Lithuanian tourism office in the UK, said: "The Aer Lingus decision to launch direct flights to Vilnius is great news. This year is very special for Vilnius and Lithuania. We celebrate the millennium anniversary of the first mention of Lithuania's name in a historical source and Vilnius is the European Capital of Culture.

"The new, convenient and competitively priced flights will definitely help to attract more tourists from the UK."

The Vilnius service is one of six winter routes that Aer Lingus will be launching this year from London Gatwick, its first base outside Ireland.

Bucharest and Eindhoven will host new flights operated by the airline from October 25th, along with Tenerife, Warsaw and Lanzarote.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19232536-aer-lingus-flights-to-vilnius-welcomed.htmlTue, 23 Jun 2009 17:06:48 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogstenerifeaer lingustravel newsthe canary islandshttp://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19231717-singapore-airlines-to-serve-luxury-tea.htmlSingapore Airlines has announced that it will boost its inflight offering this year by providing a selection of gourmet teas to its first and business class passengers.

The range of international, Asian and Chinese tea blends, which the airline will begin serving on July 1st, will be provided by luxury Singapore brand TWG Tea.

Each selection of teas offered to passengers will be designed to reflect the route, with flights to China offering a wider range of Chinese teas.

Singapore Airlines also offers its first and business class customers a range of gourmet coffees, champagnes and wines.

Betty Wong, the airline's vice-president of inflight services, said: "Our collaboration with TWG Tea began as Singapore Airlines recognised the increasingly sophisticated palates of our customers.

"As a well-established tea company with blends of exceptional quality and diversity, TWG Tea is perfectly suited to meet the wide-ranging tastes of our customers."

Singapore Airlines will also be offering new network services to travellers this year when it deploys the Airbus A380 on its route from Singapore to Hong Kong and launches new flights to Manila in the Philippines.

Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2009 - Just The Flight]]>http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19231717-singapore-airlines-to-serve-luxury-tea.htmlTue, 23 Jun 2009 13:24:57 GMTtravelflightsairlinesholidaysdestinationsblogshong kongsingaporesingapore airlinestravel news