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Air Travel News
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In UK, British Airways to increase
its fuel surcharges on long haul flights
In UK, British airways is to increase its fuel surcharges again
on long haul flights as result of recent trends in the prices
of oil.
Reportedly the surcharges will start from next week and customers
will pay an extra £3 on one-way long haul trips, taking the surcharge
to £33 for flights under nine hours and £38 for longer flights,
news reported.
And the £8 fuel surcharge for one-way short-haul flights, £16
for a return, will remain unchanged, news reported.
The increase will take effect from Wednesday May 2, news reported.
-The AENNS (27/04/07)
Changed rules on allowing liquids
on flights coming into effect
New rules on allowing small amounts of liquids in hand luggage
on European and UK flights reportedly have come into effect on
Monday 6, November 2006.
Passengers are able to carry drinks and toiletries through airport
security, but only small amounts allowed.
Reportedly liquids are limited to 100ml per container and no more
containers than would fit in a one-litere plastic bag.
The new rules require the liquid containers containing items such
as toothpaste, cosmetics and saving foam be carried in clear plastic
re-sealable bag that does not exceed 20cmx20cm (8inx8in).
The new rules also allow essential medicines and baby food in
amounts larger than 100ml.
Reportedly passengers will be allowed to buy perfumes, cosmetics,
bottles of alcohol and other drinks in departure lounge after
passing through airport security.
Passengers have to remove jackets and coats, and take large electrical
items like laptop computers out of their luggage for separate
scanning.
It is getting a little longer for passengers to get checked in
and pass through security to the departure lounges today, news
reports said.
-The AENNS (06/11/06)
bmi leading a way
for global air travel
market
Sir Michael Bishop
bmi chairman is seen
in the picture
Sir Michael Bishop, OBE
chairman, British Midland plc, parent company of bmi, is leading
the way for global air travel-market.
He was born in 1942 at Bowdon, Cheshire, and educated at Mill
Hill School.
After leaving school, he entered the family business engaged in
building specialist commercial vehicle but soon decided his long-term
career would be civil aviation.
Sir Michael began his airline career at Manchester Airport in
1963 by setting up an aircraft handling business for a locally
based airline. When the airline was taken over in 1964 by British
Midland Airways, he joined the new company and has remained there
ever since.
In 1969, Sir Michael was appointed general manager of British
Midland Airways and subsequently a director in 1970, managing
director in 1972 and chairman in 1978.
From 1991-97 he was a board member of Channel 4 Television (deputy
chairman 1991-93, chairman 1993-97) and deputy chairman, Airtours
plc 1987-2001.
His interest in music is reflected in his appointment as chairman
of the D'Oyly Centre Opera Trust, which was revived in 1988 as
a company presenting Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
Sir Michael was awarded the CBE in 1986 and knighted in 1991.
He is an honorary companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society,
Freeman of Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, and honorary
member of the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.
UK's second largest
airline bmi celebrates
its Mumbai-London
Heathrow non-stop direct
flight services launch
on May 17, 2005
at Taj Mahal Palace
Hotel in Mumbai,
inviting 49 British
journalists from Britain
A special report by Vallabh Kaviraj
(Vallabh Kaviraj a longstanding Indian journalist, poet in London
and founding editor of Britain's pioneeringindependent Indian
Asian English newspaper The AEN-The Asian Express Newspaper
founded in London 1973, which is published daily on Internet from
London, writing a special report.)
Britain's second largest airline bmi has launched its Mumbai-London Heathrow non-stop direct flight
services on May 17, 2005, at India's historical great Taj Mahal
palace Hotel in Mumbai.
The airline bmi invited 49 British journalists including British Asian journalists
from Britain, arranging its special aircraft carrier to take the
British press party as well as special passengers to Mumbai for
the historic launch.
At London Heathrow Terminal 1, bmi created a special welcoming
atmosphere with cultural Indian dance and music for the press
party and guests, who were gathering in early morning on May 16,
and the bmi flight started at 9.35 AM and the air journey took
only eight and half hour to reach Mumbai. The bmi staff and crew
members were greatly helpful and the services were excellent.
Most of the passengers including some British journalists were
going to Mumbai first time and they were very excited to see the
city and the people there.
Mumbai at night was greatly observed with glittering street lights
from the sky before our aircraft landed at the Mumbai airport
and at last we reached Mumbai airport late at night, where we
found luxurious coaches waiting for us to take to the great Taj
Mahal Palace Hotel and after reaching the hotel we were greeted
with garland and we were provided each of us a luxurious room
with full service in this grand hotel.
Following day on May 17, a press conference was held with invited
British journalists during breakfast time in the hotel, where
chairman of bmi Sir Michael Bishop addressed it and answered questions.
Also a main press conference was held during the day, inviting
Indian press-media and it was observed like a Bollywood style.
In the evening, gala entertainment programme was held at the hotel
followed by dinner, where deputy British High Commissioner joined
in to mark the event.
Speaking at the launch of services to London, bmi chairman Sir
Michael Bishop declared that he was committed to bringing greater
value and choice to a market that had been under served and short
of direct capacity for many years.
The launch of the services to Mumbai represents an historic moment
for bmi, as these will be the first long haul services operated
by the airline from London Heathrow, its main domestic and European
hub. With its extensive domestic and European short-haul network
and a choice of onward travel with its Star Alliance partner,
air travellers will be able to choose from a wider choice of destinations
than ever before.
bmi released figures showing the fall in fares as a result of
it entering the route. Since more airlines were given the opportunity
to serve the Indian air travelmarket, fares have fallen. Limited
deregulation of air travel between the UK and India was agreed
in September 2004 and bmi was granted rights to fly from London
Heathrow to Mumbai in December 2004.
Since the declaration was first announced the fares have fallen
and total fare savings achieved since bmi entered the market.
Sir Michael Bishop chairman of bmi said" I congratulate the Indian
government on being courageous and agreeing to open the market
up to much needed competition."
"Allowing greater direct capacity between India and the UK will
now benefit both British and India carriers. Previously, more
than 53 per cent of the market between two countries has been
forced to travel via connecting airports in the Middle East to
the disadvantage of home carriers," said Sir Michael.
He added "For toolong our competitors have been able to get away
with promising to deliver greater choice and value on long-haul
routes such as those to to India. But they have not delivered
on their promises."
bmi announced that as a result of further deregulation in the
Indian market announced last month,it was evaluating options which
would allow the airline to further develop its route network from
India to London Heathrow.
However, the priority will be to increase bmi's Mumbai service
to a daily frequency as part of the winter 2005/06 programme.
Passengers have the choice of three classes of service-business,
premium economy and economy - on its Airbus A330 aircraft.
Also bmi's catering is of worl-leading quality - especially in
the business cabin, where meals are prepared by fully trained
on board chefs.
And passengers travelling to and from India can continue working
from skies with telephones, dataports and laptop power available
in the business and the new economy seats.
Those passengers who want to see movies and want to enjoy the
airline's state of the art inflight entertainment have choice
of channels. They can also playover 30 of the latest computer
games, all from the comfort of their seats.
On the final day of the bmi press party trip in Mumbai, a coach
tour which was organised during a day on May 18, for British journalists
with the very talented two young guide-very charming Indian ladies,
who guided the press party, showing interesting and historical
places such as universities, courts, legislative house, Mahatma
Gandhi's life museum, Jain temple as well as taking us to the
luxurious Indian restaurant Jewel of India, where we enjoyed delicious
dinner in exotic surronding, gave real glimps of progressive Mumbai
city.
After all, bmi's great launch trip to Mumbai from May 16 to 18,
gave journalists an opportunity to experience such a remarkable
fast air journy as well as gave an opportunity to stay in historical
great Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, that all who travelled enjoyed and
appreciated greatly, now all that- giving an opportunity to write
about many good things that they have observed with great interest
during the press trip. Admiring and appreciating all that we have
observed during the great historic launch trip, The AEN is highlighting
this news article about the remarkable event and wishing bmi every success.
(The author of this article, a longstanding journalist, poet,
writer, Vallabh Kaviraj was warrmly invited and joined in the
bmi press trip from London for three days.)
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Air passengers can demand
greater compensation
according to new EU rules
Air passengers who are unable board their flights because of overbooking,
cancellations or flight delays can now demand greater compensation
according to the new EU rules,media reports said.
Reportedly new EU rules set compensation at between 250 euros
and 600 euros,depending on the length of the flight.
The new EU rules will apply to all schedulled and charter flights,including
budget airlines.
Previously,passengers could claim between 150 euros and 300 euros
if they had been stopped from boarding.
Reportedly airlines have said they could be forced to push prices
higher to cover the extra costs.
The EU decided to increase passenger compensation in a bid to
deter airlines from deliberately overbooking flights, news reports
said.
-The AENNS
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Hotels News
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Piccadilly Backpackers
Hotel in UK opening
Japanese Pod Style affordable
accommodation
in central London
The world's one of the most expensive tourist destinations, London
where tourists look for affordable accommodation especially in
central areas of the city have now an opportunity to stay at The
Piccadilly Backpakers Hotel which is the first hotel in the UK,
opening Japanese Pod Style affordable accommodation near Piccadilly
Circus in central London.
The Hotel's newly renovated Third floor includes 70 Japanese Pod
Style capsules in dirmitory-style rooms, is open now from 10th
February, to make avaiable for tourists who look for affordable
accommodation to stay and to enjoy London's exotic attraction
in the heart of the city with historiccal places to visit around.
The management of The Piccadilly Baclpackers Hotel on Thursday
night invited a number of journalists to view the rooms on the
third floor and even offered free accommodation for a night while
celebrating eve of the opening Day on 10th February 2006.
-Vallabh Kaviraj
The AEN Newsnetwork, London.
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