Holiday News - Direct

London’s Gatwick airport released figures for December 2009, which showed the hub handled 2.12 million passengers – an increase of just under 2 per cent on December 2008.
The London hub monitored annual growth by recording the number of travellers flying to the UK, Channel Islands and Europe, December’s increasing passenger numbers for the third consecutive […]

The results for the world’s best airports are in. The survey is carried out by London based firm Skytrax, who are an aviation research institute. The total respondent’s = 8.6 million, the highest number since the survey began.
Passengers look closely at airports and airlines annually, evaluating certain criteria for each sector, which may […]

Virgin Atlantic pre-tax profits have risen up to end of February, defying current trends with competitors. It is reported the airlines pre-tax profits are up at £68.4m, doubling the profit from earlier in the year of £34.8m.
The rise in passengers from premium bookings is said to be the reason behind the surge, in comparison […]

This comprehensive list of money saving tips and ideas that will make your budget stretch further, especially in the current economic climate…
• Change your mobile phone tariff; many of the larger network providers have add-on deals, thus reducing costs of receiving and making calls and SMS text messages, costs can be reduced by up to 80%. […]

The Dutch government has abolished the recently introduced departure tax as part of its package to stimulate the economy, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed with open arms. The taxable cost varied from €11.25 and 45 Euros per passenger who departed from any Dutch airport, adding costs onto tourists holiday budgets.
Giovanni […]

Good news for holidaymakers looking for short or long-haul holiday breaks - innovations launched at Hamburg Airline industry expo.

From March 31st to April 2nd at the Hambuge Messe in Germany, new products are being launched at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2009. Innovations such as simulated product and systems, like, a birds-eye-view of what […]

Holiday-makers are searching for alternative destinations due to the exchange rate at present and the weak pound. However some travellers are reluctant to book long haul destinations so early in the upcoming year for fear of the recession deepening.
Travel organisations are launching early bookings and offering to reduce rates, free child places and recommend […]

Many airlines have been forced to cancel flights next winter as demand hasn’t been as high as expected, but bmi has decided to fly ‘ghost flights’ in order to keep the coveted Heathrow landing slots.

BMI will be starting a trial on paperless boarding – passengers will be sent a barcode as a text message which will then be scanned at the airport security. The text message will have a two-dimensional barcode which will be scanned at security, but it will only work once to avoid security breaches.

A travel agency has warned that not all airlines will be ready for full use of e-ticketing by the deadline of June 1st. There are several concerns over specific circumstances where e-ticketing will not be working.

Virgin Atlantic has confirmed the rumours that it will end the in-flight beauty service which has been offered to Upper Class passengers for 18 years. The airline currently employs 320 beauty therapists, all of whom will be cut from the staff. Holidaymakers in need of luxury, or business travellers wanting to have relaxing break while flying have been offered manicures, massages and other beauty services by the beauty therapists until now.

Holidays in the US could become more difficult in the future as the US government’s plans to fingerprint all arriving and departing visitors are causing controversy. The latest announcement said it would be up to airlines and cruise ship companies to take the fingerprints from their passengers arriving or departing from holidays in America and deliver them to the government in 24 hours.

Virgin Atlantic airlines has announced it will be adding a new daily service between London Heathrow and Washington Dulles International. From April 20, there will be a twice daily service between the two big cities by Virgin.