Archive for the ‘Belfast airport’ CategoryIn an attempt to stop the Government from further increasing the Air Passenger Duty (APD) this November, ABTA is calling on travellers to write to their MPs. APD, which currently raises £2 billion for the Government, was introduced in 1994 and has seen several increases since. Prior to 1 November 2009, fees were set at Reduced Rates (economy seats) £10 for European destinations and £40 for all other destinations. Standard Rates (premium seats, including business class only airlines) were £20 for European destinations and £80 for all other destinations. On 1 November 2009, four geographical bands were introduced based on the distance from London. The 2009 APD duty applicable for a single flight was levied at:
A further increase is set to be introduced this November with the fees increasing to:
For Premium seats the charges are double at:
In 2009 the Telegraph launched a campaign to get the APD scrapped. To find out more, and to add your name to their petition click here.
In a statement on its website, BALPA (the British Airline Pilot’s Association) has confirmed that it has asked to meet the management of Virgin Atlantic today, 24 August, for ‘last ditch’ talks to avoid confrontation between the airline and its pilots. On its website BALPA states “the dispute is over the way the company is denying pilots their entitlement to a minimum number of rostered days off which are allowed for in an agreement the pilots have with the airline. These 120 rostered days off per year are the equivalent of an office worker’s weekends and bank holidays but without the same predictability.” Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of BALPA, said: ‘BALPA always does what it can to assist airlines through downturns, as many airlines will testify, and we did this with Virgin during these past difficult years. To now find that the company is breaching an agreement and denying many pilots their entitlement to the equivalent of a weekend off is a real slap in the face and one which we cannot accept. ‘We call on the company to pick up our offer of talks and to find a way through’ The CAA is once again highlighting the need for passengers to be aware of items that are banned from being carried on a plane after a man was convicted of attempting to take dangerous chemicals on to an aircraft at Manchester Airport last year. The man was found guilty of ‘recklessly acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft’ after he pleaded guilty to attempting to take corrosive and flammable chemicals on to a plane. Geoff Leach, Manager of the CAA’s Dangerous Goods Office, said: “Unlike items restricted for reasons of security (eg knives and scissors) which may be carried safely in checked (hold) baggage, “dangerous goods” such as the chemicals involved in this instance can pose the same danger to the aircraft and its occupants wherever they are carried and consequently must not be carried by passengers at all. “It is vital that passengers check the list of permitted items well in advance of travel to determine whether any unusual items they wish to carry are allowed. Unfortunately, incidents like this cause delays and disruption to the travelling public as well as endangering the safety of passengers and staff at UK airports throughout the year. “ Dangerous goods that must NOT be taken on board an aircraft are:
Passengers requiring further information about what they can and can’t transport on aircraft can contact the CAA’s Dangerous Goods Office on 01293 573900. easyJet has announced it is to introduce flights from Belfast International Airport to Malta. The new Belfast flights bring the total number of services offered by easyJet from Belfast to 20. Flights to Malta will commence on 11 February 2011 and will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Manx2.com launched its flights between Galway and Cork last week. The Company, which hopes to stimulate commerce and tourism in Ireland, launched the special service on Friday in a bid to reconnect Galway in the heart of the West with Cork, Southern Ireland’s second largest city. Flights operate every Friday and Sunday between the two cities along with connections from the Isle of Man to Galway via Belfast International Airport also every Friday and Sunday. The flights are set to improve connectivity between the West of Ireland and Cork by reducing travel times from three hours to just 40 minutes. Work starts today at the front of the terminal building at Belfast International Airport, which could lead to some passenger inconvenience accessing the terminal from the short- and main-stay car parks. Passengers are advised to allow extra time to get to the airport as the access route to the airport terminal building from the car parks has been changed to enable the work to go ahead. Translink and Airporter will set down at a new temporary bus stop adjacent to the existing one. Diversions are signposted and the work is expected to last for around two weeks. To book Belfast airport parking and Belfast hotels click on the links. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the introduction of a new Time Limited Zone (TLZ) which will allow flights to take place though denser ash cloud than previously permitted. Following discussions with airlines, regulators, and aircraft and engine manufacturers the new Time Limited Zone, which effectively doubles the amount of permissible ash grammes per cubic metre of air, will reduce the need for airspace closures caused by volcanic ash. New procedures and the introduction of the zone will take place from midday today, 18 May 2010. To operate in the new zone airlines need to present the CAA with a safety case that includes the agreement of their aircraft and engine manufacturers. UK airline Flybe is the first to achieve this and will therefore be able to use the new zone from midday. Announcing the change Andrew Haines, Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive, said: “I’m pleased that the huge efforts we’re all making across aviation to keep flying safe whilst minimising the disruption from the volcano have resulted in further progress. Unprecedented situations require new measures and the challenge faced should not be underestimated. Firstly because the standard default procedure for aircraft that encounter ash, to avoid it completely, doesn’t work in our congested airspace. Secondly, the world’s top scientists tell us that we must not simply assume the effects of this volcano will be the same as others elsewhere. Its proximity to the UK, the length of time it is continuously erupting and the weather patterns are all exceptional features. “The answer can only come, therefore, from aircraft and engine manufacturers establishing what level of ash their products can safely tolerate. At an international aviation conference we held last Thursday, attended by all the leading airline operators this approach was welcomed and supported. The manufacturers are co-operating fully and urgently in this task and the new zone is an excellent example of how the industry should be working to move the issue forward and I commend Flybe for its work.” The introduction of the Time Limited Zone is based on measurements collected from test flights through the current ash cloud over the past month, as well as on data and evidence compiled and analysed from previous volcanic ash incidents combined with additional analysis from manufacturers.
The ash cloud is back causing disruption to more flights today. Following the closure of many UK airports over the weekend, the cloud is now affecting airports in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and South West England. A no-fly zone has been imposed by the CAA for airports in these areas until at least 13:00 hours today. Airports within the no-fly zones include all those in Northern Ireland, Ronaldsway, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Northern Scotland, Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol and Farnborough. Southampton is also closed with flights not expected to start until at least 13:00. Passengers are advised to contact their airline to check the status of their flights.
There’s more ash cloud misery today as the CAA has confirmed that some airspace over Scotland and Northern Ireland will be closed from 07:00 today. The following airports are expected to be closed from 07:00 until 13:00: Scotland Northern Ireland The CAA also expects the following airports to be closed between 13:00 and 19:00: Scotland Northern Ireland Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines for the status of their flights. To book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to book Glasgow airport hotels click on the links. NATS and the IAA have cleared Irish airspace to reopen at 13:00 today. |
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