News Archive

Airline allows mobile phone calls.

The first authorised mobile phone call has been made on an Emirates airline flight between Dubai and Casblanca.

This is the first time that a commercial airline has allowed its passengers to make calls using mobile phones during a flight. Previously Air France ran trials of in flight mobiles but has not yet allowed mobiles to be used on its flights.

The mobile phone system on board Emirates Airbus A340 has been installed by AeroMobile after the European Aviation Safety Agency and the UAE based General Civil Aviation Authority granted permission.

Ryanair brings cheap air fares to France.

Low cost airline Ryanair is launching its cheap flights in France and Germany as it continues to expand around Europe.

From the beginning of May Ryanair will operate four new flights a week from Beauvais airport about 50 miles north of Paris to Marignane airport near Marseilles. It is also launching new flights from Frankfurt to Berlin.

Luton airport and London City fastest growing.

The London airports showing the fastest growth are Luton airport and London City airport according to the latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Take-offs and landings at London City airport were up by 15.9% in 2007, and by 5.8% at Luton airport. London City and Luton airport also handled more than half a million more passengers in 2007.

The number of passengers was also up by more than half a million at Heathrow airport. But the biggest growth in passenger numbers was at Gatwick airport, up by a million.

The Queen opens Heathrow Terminal 5.

The Queen has officially opened Heathrow Terminal 5, the flagship new terminal for Heathrow airport which will be home to airline British Airways.

T5 will open for business on 27 March and welcome the first of up to 30 million passengers a year. The Queen opened the first passenger terminal at Heathrow airport - the Europa Building, now called Terminal 2 - more than half a century ago in 1955.

Hundreds of airport and construction workers greeted The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh against a backdrop of giant screens showing images celebrating the construction of Terminal 5. The Royal Party were met by the chairman of airport operator BAA, Sir Nigel Rudd, with Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly also in attendance..

"Terminal 5 marks the start of a new beginning for Heathrow, for BAA and for our millions of passengers. It is, by any standard, a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will breathe new life into Heathrow, allowing us to continue our transformation of the rest of the airport, and will put Heathrow and BAA back where they belong - at the leading edge of global travel," said Rudd.

Inland Turkey recommended to investors.

Overseas property investors are being encouraged to purchase a residence in inland parts of Turkey.

Foreign Property Buyer said that tourism authorities are now promoting the whole country to overseas consumers and not just coastal resorts.