In 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:

• Band A – flights to Europe £11
• Band B – flights of up to 4,000 miles £45
• Band C – flights to the Caribbean £50
• Band D – flights to Australia and New Zealand £60
• For Premium seats the charges are double.

A further increase is set to be introduced this November with the fees increasing to:

• Band A – flights to Europe £12
• Band B – flights of up to 4,000 miles £60
• Band C – flights to the Caribbean £75
• Band D – flights to Australia and New Zealand £85

For Premium seats the charges are double at:

• Band A – flights to Europe £24
• Band B – flights of up to 4,000 miles £120
• Band C – flights to the Caribbean £150
• Band D – flights to Australia and New Zealand £170

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.

Ryanair has unveiled four new services from Gatwick Airport.

The new Gatwick flights will operate to Bologna, Faro, Milan Bergamo and Porto commencing on 31 October 2010.

To book Gatwick meet and greet and Gatwick taxi transfers click on the links.

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’

Ryanair has announced its peak-season baggage charges are to return to €15 per bag and €25 for heavy bags for travel from 1 September, however, passengers travelling on international routes to and from the Canary Islands will still have to pay the peak-season charges – €20 per bag and €30 heavy bag – these higher charges will apply all year round.

The airline introduced higher baggage charges for flights during July and August this year with the ’sweetner’ of allowing passengers to check in two bags, subject to charges, of course.

British Airways has announced it is to launch a new service to Cancun from Gatwick Airport.

The new Gatwick flights will commence on 3 November 2010 and operate twice a week – Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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:

• explosives, such as fireworks, flares, toy gun caps;
• gases, such as culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders, tear gas, mace or CS gas devices;
• flammable materials such as petrol, lighter fuel, paint, thinners, non-safety matches, firelighters;
• poisons, such as weed killers, insecticides; and · corrosives, such as filled car batteries.

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.

There’s more misery for air passengers today as French airspace is disrupted by yet another strike by air traffic controllers.

The industrial action is expected to last until 7am (local time) 22 July 2010.

Gatwick Airport’s state-of-the-art inter-terminal shuttle launched into service today, two months ahead of schedule and just in time for the busy summer get-away.

At a cost of £43 million, the project to replace the shuttle system between the North and South terminals started in September last year and has seen the introduction of new shuttle cars, refurbishment of the track and transformation of the two terminal stations.

The new transit system also includes sensory technology to count the number of passengers waiting at the station, triggering the operation of the shuttle. Passengers will also benefit from extra seating, live journey information, high levels of security with monitored onboard CCTV cameras and full accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility.

Present at today’s launch was former NASA astronaut, James van Hoften, a member of Gatwick’s Board, who said, “The original inter-terminal shuttle made the equivalent of five return trips to the moon during its 20-year lifetime – something I’ve done a couple of times during mine!

“The new facilities are excellent but it’s one small step in our plan to make Gatwick a great airport that passengers love to use.”

Gatwick recently announced a £1 billion investment programme to be rolled out over the next three years, delivering new, modern facilities at throughout the airport, including the South Terminal departure lounge, security areas, immigration halls and baggage systems.

To book Gatwick airport parking or Help Me Park’s Gatwick valet meet and greet parking click on the links.

British Airways is set to launch direct Gatwick flights to Cancun from this November.

Flights will operate twice a week using a Boeing 777 with a choice of three cabins including BA’s Club World business class with fully flat beds.

The new service is set to commence on 3 November 2010 departing Gatwick at 12.45pm with arrival in Cancun at 5.45pm (local times).

To book Gatwick meet and greet and Gatwick taxi transfers click on the links.

Gatwick Airport has announced a £1 billion investment programme to improve facilities and deliver great services to travellers.

Aiming to be London’s ‘airport of choice’, the programme of improvements will take two years to implement and will offer modern facilities throughout the airport.

Over the next two years the airport will under go improvements to the South Terminal departure lounge, entrance forecourts, immigration hall, baggage systems and the North Terminal Interchange.

To book Gatwick airport parking or Help Me Park’s Gatwick valet meet and greet parking click on the links.