News Archive

Carbon emissions trading for airlines.

MEPs have voted to include airlines in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme from 2011 and for a lower ceiling on emissions.

The European Commission had recommended that airlines should not be included in the carbon emissions trading scheme until 2012, but MEPs in the European Parliament Environment Committee disagree. If their vote is upheld it will affect all flights within, leaving or landing in EU territory.

The ministers have also said that flights carrying monarchy, presidents and government ministers on official visits should be included because they should play their part in paying the cost of climate change. If adopted the scheme could add around £8 to the cost of flights in Europe and up to £32 on long haul flights.

easyJet celebrates 10 years at Stansted.

Low fares airline easyJet is today celebrating its tenth anniversary offering flights from Stansted airport.

On 21st May 1998 the budget airline’s first flight, under the brand name Go, took off from Stansted for the Italian capital of Rome. Go merged with easyJet in August 2002 creating one of the largest low cost airlines in Europe.

Stansted airport is now one of easyJet’s most successful bases, with 14 permanent aircraft and 522 staff. Over the last 10 years the airline has carried more than 39 million passengers from Stansted to 26 European and domestic destinations.

New flights for skiing holidays.

New flights from Blackpool airport to Geneva are part of low cost airline Jet2.com’s new winter ski schedule.

The schedule also offers flights from Leeds Bradford airport to Chambery, Geneva and Salzburg, plus flights from Manchester airport to Chambery and Geneva. There are further flights to Chambery from Edinburgh airport, Newcastle airport and Belfast International airport.

Fares start from £29.99 one way including taxes on various routes, including flights to Chambery from all airports, and on flights to Geneva from Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Blackpool.

Gatwick to Jersey flights popular.

Low fares airline Flybe says it is experiencing unprecedented demand for seats on its flights from Gatwick airport to Jersey.

The budget airline says advanced seat sales for the summer have increased by 25% compared to 2007. Interest in summer holidays in Jersey may be an indication that people are looking to take cheaper holidays closer to home as a result of the credit crunch.

The route is also popular with Jersey residents going on business or shopping trips to London, or using Gatwick airport for connecting flights.

Airline celebrates fourth birthday.

Low cost airline Wizz Air is today celebrating four years of offering flights to Central and Eastern European countries including Poland, Romania and Hungary.

Wizz Air claims to be the leading low fares airline in Central and Eastern Europe and has enjoyed spectacular growth in its short history. Last year the airline carried 4.2 million passengers, a 40% increase on the previous year.

Earlier this year Wizz Air opened its seventh and eighth bases in Poznan, Poland and Cluj, Romania. The budget airline’s other bases include Warsaw, Katowice and Gdansk in Poland, Budapest in Hungary, Sofia in Bulgaria and Bucharest in Romania.