Virgin Offer Duty Free Vouchers During Summer

Virgin Atlantic Airways has launched a shopping incentive to promote online check-in during the summer holidays. Passengers travelling from London Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airport or Glasgow Airport between July 1 and August 31 will receive vouchers worth £6 ($9.85) off any inflight duty-free purchases of £30 ($49) or more.

Glasgow Airport To Become Fashion Centre

Glasgow Airport is set to literally become one of the most fashionable airports in the UK after the retail consortium McArthurGlen announced plans to open 11 stores as part of its multi-million pound revamp which is scheduled for autumn/winter 2009.

The company said the shops would feature young and directional fashion brands eager to capture an annual audience of 4 million departing passengers. The stores will be in Glasgow Airport’s £31m Skyhub terminal extension, which opened in October 2008 and provides state-of-the-art security screening and more space for travellers.

The new look departure lounge will be selling full price fashion labels through stores such as Collezioni that will be part of the stylish, curved avenue of stores. Glasgow is the first UK airport to welcome the collection which already occupies areas of Venice, Porto and Dublin airports.The centre's launch later this year is expected to further enhance the nearby city's reputation as the largest retailing city outside London and as a leading fashion centre.

No more flights to New York from Gatwick Airport

British Airways is ceasing operation of its Gatwick-New York route in October this year. It will mean that following earlier withdrawals by Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines and Continental this is the first time in 25 years that Gatwick Airport will not fly to the Big Apple.

The cancellation of the route is due to disappointing premium traffic, and BA is now planning to launch the first transatlantic service from the much smaller London City airport.

It is a business-class-only service on an Airbus 318 an requires a fuel stop at Ireland's Shannon Airport en route to New York, but the airline said that passengers would be able to do US customs clearance during the stop. Eastbound flights will be nonstop.

Gatwick Airport for Sale

BAA has today announced its intention to sell Gatwick Airport, which is the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow handling 35 million passengers last year.

They currently own Heathrow, Stansted and Scotland's three biggest airports and say that selling London Gatwick Airport would be of benefit to the business, customers and staff.

Their decision follows a report from the Competition Commission last month which identified significant competition problems because of BAA's dominant position and proposed that they stop running two of their three London airports.

BAA want to continue to operate their three other South East airports (which include Southampton) and its three Scottish hubs. However the Competition Commission may well order BAA to also sell Stansted Airport as well as either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.

Virgin Atlantic, owned by Sir Richard Branson, immediately stated that they are very interested in this proposal and want to join a bidding consortium for London Gatwick Airport.

Ryanair Launch New Ski Routes From Birmingham

Ryanair has announced two new winter ski routes from Birmingham International Airport to France and Italy.

The new destinations are Grenoble, France and Cuneo, near Milan, Italy. The routes will run weekly from the 20th December until April. This brings Ryanair's route schedule for 2008/2009 to 101 routes - up 40% on last year.

Ryanair Fuel Rations

Ryanair pilots have declared 'insane' new measures imposed to cap the amount of fuel reserves pilots can carry on flights. Pilots no longer have discretionary rights to request extra fuel.

According to The Times Online, a memo was sent to pilots in which it stated that they must now carry a maximum of 300kg of oxtra fuel, which equates to just 4 minutes of extra stacking time for a Boeing 737. Under European rules, planes must carry 5% of their load as extra contingency fuel, which should be enough to carry out an approach, divert to another airport, or hold for 30 minutes at another airport. The safety implications are obvious and very disturbing.

In the light of current oil prices, surely it's time for the airlines to re-visit their pricing strategy? Safety can not be compromised amid cost-cutting measures.

Emergency Landing After Fire On Gatwick Bound Flight

A Thomsonfly holiday flight from Pula, Croatia to Gatwick Airport was forced to make an emergency landing following an on-board fire.

The Boeing 737-800 had reached 3000ft after take off when staff became aware of black smoke filling the cabin.

The captain returned the plane to Pula in an emergency landing, where the plane was greeted by a fleet of fire engines.

The pilot was praised for his quick reactions, and although passengers were shaken, nobody was injured.