India’s leading domestic carrier and only five-star airline, Kingfisher Airlines, is lining up to join oneworld® after signing a memorandum of understanding as its first step towards full membership of the airline alliance, subject to Indian regulatory approval.

The agreement was concluded at a meeting between Kingfisher Airlines’ Chairman Vijay Mallya and Chief Executives from oneworld’s 11 existing member airlines, which include some of the best and biggest names in the industry.

A target date for Kingfisher Airlines to join the alliance will be confirmed once this approval is gained. The process to bring any airline on board normally takes around 18 months to complete, so Kingfisher Airlines could be expected to start flying as part of oneworld during 2011.

Kingfisher Airlines’ addition to oneworld will link India’s extensive domestic network (58 Indian cities) with oneworld’s unrivalled global network – the only alliance with airlines based on every continent.

A four-day strike by Lufthansa pilots has started today.

Lufthansa is advising passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

For more information for passengers booked to fly between Monday 22 February and Thursday 25 February check with Lufthansa on 0800 850 6070 or here

Passengers can also check for updates on Twitter @Lufthansa_DE

Hey, this may be a publicity stunt but it is funny.

easyJet has offered the Pope free flights between Rome and London in an attempt to reduce the cost of his UK visit, which is estimated to cost the UK tax payer in excess of £20million.

According to easyJet’s website: The airline has contacted the Holy Press Office in Rome to extend the invitation and is currently awaiting a response.

How long before someone offers the Vatican free car hire, or free shuttle services?

It appears that, at the moment, all the major UK airports are open, however, there is still some disruption to flights as a knock-on effect from yesterday’s problems.

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline.

At Gatwick airport, Sky News is reporting that it is taking up to five hours to get some passengers off flights!

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline.

For information on possible flight cancellations check the following sites:

• British Airways: check your flight here: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/arrdep/public/en_gb
• Eastern Airways – one cancellation so far: http://www.easternairways.com/latest-news/weather-disruption-6-january-2010.html
• easyJet: the airline has now introduced a live chat facility – for a link to that and a list of cancellations click here: http://easyjet.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easyjet.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3708
• Flybe: http://www.flybe.com/news/1001/07.htm
• Manx2.com: no reported problems so far
• Ryanair: http://www.ryanair.com/en/notices/gops/100105-SNOW_UK_05JAN10-GB
• Virgin Atlantic: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/latestnews/index.jsp?WT.mc_id=twsnow

What a nightmare for travellers, road, rail and air, this snow has been. It has to have been the worst snow for around 15 years in England and about 30 years in Scotland and it appears it’s not over yet.

Apologies to anyone checking this website over the last couple of weeks for airport updates but I have been on an extended break and have been unable to blog.

Normal service will resume today, but firstly, I would like to thank Flybe for the calm and efficient way they handled my snowbound problem yesterday.

The heavy snow meant that although the airport was operational it was unreachable by road and flights I had booked could not be taken. A quick call to their call centre (change or amend a booking) meant that I was able to change the flights to a later one that day free of charge and wait for the roads to be cleared.

For those of you affected by blocked roads who need to take a Flybe flight check with the airline about changing your booking. I was informed yesterday that due to the snow passengers could change their flights, rebooking flights up to the end of January free of charge, but the rebooking must take place prior to the departure of the original flight booked.

Information from Flybe’s website:

Passengers booked to travel on any flights which Flybe is forced to cancel today due to adverse weather conditions are offered one of the following three options:

1. Refund for the flight affected
2. Travel to the final destination at the earliest opportunity.
3. Travel to the final destination at a later date (subject to availability)

Passengers unable to travel to/from airports within the next 24 hours due to continued adverse weather conditions can re-book to travel on another flight on the same route at no additional charge, subject to availability.

Please contact our Customer Call Centre on 0871 700 2000 or, if calling from outside the UK, 00 44 1392 268500.

For anyone flying today who is concerned about the status of their flight, check with your airline, they will have the most up-to-date information about what is happening.

British Airways has won its court battle to prevent strikes by cabin crews over the Christmas and New Year period.

easyJet has renewed and expanded its agreement with Airline Services Ltd (ASL) for provision of de-icing services at airports throughout the UK.

The new contract adds London Gatwick, Birmingham airport and Bristol International to the list of airports already supported by Airline Services and represents an increase of approximately 50% in the number of easyJet aircraft serviced by ASL.

Nick Whinder ASL Director Ramp Operations commented: “The extended periods of sub-zero temperatures during winter 2008/9 were a severe test of the UK’s de-icing providers. We have worked with easyJet for a number of years and the expansion of our contract is testament to the consistently reliable and professional service that ASL provides to all its customers.”

Airline Services will provide de-icing expertise on easyJet’s fleet including A319, A320, A321 and B737-700 aircraft. ASL now has representation at nine UK airports: Birmingham, Bristol International, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle airport.

British Airways is due to meet with Unite union at 3pm this afternoon in a fresh bid to end the proposed strike by cabin crews.

The meeting will take place one hour after BA is due in court to challenge the strike ballot.

For passengers affected by the planned industrial action, BA has now set up an FAQ section on its site here: www.britishairways.com/travel/strike-ballot-faq/public/en_gb

Aurigny is to waive ‘change of booking’ fees for customers who need to change their flights to connect with British Airways flights affected by the industrial action.

‘This is to cover flights originally booked for travel during the period 19 December through to 10 January,’ says Aurigny Commercial Director, Malcolm Coupar.

‘Customers wishing to use this facility should check the availability of Aurigny flights through our website to ensure appropriate flights exist, then contact us through our call centre on 01481 822886 to make the changes to their bookings.

‘Unfortunately we are not able to make this change facility through our website. Replacement Aurigny flights can be booked for any time in the next 10 months.’

Following the result of yesterday’s cabin crew ballot, BA has announced they are reworking flight schedules with a view to announcing them as soon as possible.

Passengers with bookings for BA flights between 22 December and 2 January – the expected industrial action period – should keep an eye on the following web pages for announcements as they happen:

Strike ballot announcement

Changing bookings

BA intends to inform affected customers directly if they have their e-mail address or by SMS text if they have their mobile phone number – you can check your contact details here