Monarch has increased the number of flights operating to Tenerife from Gatwick this Easter.

The additional flights will operate on 2, 6 and 16 April between the two destinations to cater for demand.

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Gatwick Express is offering passengers a 10% discount if they book their tickets online.

The discount offer runs until midnight on 8 April 2010 and only applies to tickets purchased online.

Tickets must be for travel within 6 months of the date of purchase.

To compare Gatwick airport parking and to search and book a Gatwick airport hotel click on the links

Monarch has announced it is to launch flights to Santorini from Gatwick this summer.

The new weekly Gatwick flights will operate every Tuesday from 5 May until 5 October 2010.

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The UK Border Agency is warning that travellers passing through UK ports could face possible delays and disruption due to strike action by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The strike action is taking place on Monday 8 March and Tuesday 9 March.

Lin Homer, the Border Agency’s Chief Executive, said: ‘We are disappointed that PCS members have voted in favour of industrial action. It means that the travelling public are likely to suffer disruption and delays at border control as a result of this two-day action.

‘We have robust plans in place to ensure that the essential work of the UK Border Agency is maintained and the border remains secure. UK border security will not be compromised by this industrial action.

‘We expect that people travelling into the country may experience some delays at border control, but we will work hard to keep these to a minimum and hope that passengers will welcome the commitment of those staff who will be working despite the strike action to ensure they are seen as quickly as possible.

BAA is advising passengers to have their travel documents, including passports, ready and to use automatic e-passport gates where available.

South West regional airline Air Southwest has launched the sale of Visitor Oyster cards on all its flights into London, giving customers quick and easy access to the capital’s public transport network.

Air Southwest is the first airline at London City Airport to offer the cards, and is also launching Oyster cards on its four times daily Gatwick Airport service from Plymouth and Newquay.

Following a deal with Transport for London, customers can buy a Visitor Oyster card for just £22, which includes £20 of travel credit.

Oyster is an electronic transport smartcard which enables passengers to pay for journeys on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses, Tramlink, London Overground, Thames Clippers river services and on all National Rail services in Greater London.

Mike Coombes, commercial director at Air Southwest, said: “This is all about giving Air Southwest customers from Plymouth and Newquay hassle-free travel in London, whether they are flying to London City Airport or Gatwick, without having to buy tickets.”

Customers arriving at London City Airport can board the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which puts them within minutes of the City or Canary Wharf.

Thanks to the DLR, more passengers leave London City Airport by public transport than any other airport in the country, and Air Southwest’s Oyster initiative has been applauded for improving access to the transport network.

Giles Bailey, Head of Group Marketing Strategy and Integration for Transport for London, said: “This is our first partnership into London City and we’re delighted to be working with Air Southwest on promoting the Visitor Oyster card as a quick and easy way of accessing London’s public transport network.”

Richard Gooding, Chief Executive of London City Airport said: “This is a great partnership that we hope to see repeated on other scheduled services into London City. The airport is committed to giving passengers the smoothest journey possible and this will add to that.”

On Sunday 21 February Gatwick Express will be operating a half-hourly service departing London Victoria Station at 00 and 30 minutes past the hour.

From Gatwick Airport services will operate at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour.

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Norwegian is expanding its Stockholm-Arlanda base to offer flights to London Gatwick Airport.

The airline will offer six flights per week between Gatwick and Stockholm-Arlanda – daily except Saturdays – from 29 April 2010.

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The severe and prolonged weather disruption last month is being blamed for a fall in passenger numbers at Gatwick Airport.

Figures recently released show passenger numbers fell by 5.4% in January when compared with January 2009. Overall, on a rolling 12 months from February 2009 to end January 2010 passenger numbers fell by 4.9% when compared with the previous 12 months.

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

With the half-term holidays nearly upon us, Gatwick Airport is bracing itself for a busy weekend when nearly 400,000 holidaymakers are expected to fly out from the airport.

And with around 100,000 passengers expected on Valentine’s Day alone, the airport has issued some advice to passengers to help avoid unnecessary delays.

Passenger advice includes:

• Plan your journey to the airport and arrive at least two hours before your flight departs.
• Check with your airline on restrictions that apply to both hand and checked-in baggage.
• Liquids in hand baggage must be in individual containers no greater that 100ml capacity and placed in a transparent re-sealable bag, no larger than 20 cm x 20 cm (8” x 8”) in size.
• Hand baggage: In many cases passengers can take more than one item of hand baggage per person through security providing any bag has maximum dimensions of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (22” x 17.7” x 10”). However, some airlines continue to permit only one bag and passengers are advised to check their airline’s baggage policy.
• Pack all sharp objects, such as knives and scissors in baggage you’re checking-in. They must not be carried in hand luggage.

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Flybe is offering a lifeline to expectant mums in the later stages of pregnancy.

Currently, women who are more than 34 weeks pregnant are not permitted to fly even with a medical certificate stating they are fit to fly. These rules can lead to some women having to travel and stay away from home to receive medical treatments that may not be available where they live.

After much investigation, Flybe has announced that, on specific routes only, it can accommodate women at any stage of pregnancy who need to attend mainland hospitals and who hold a signed medical certificate confirming that they are fit to fly.

Flybe’s approved routes are:

• Jersey to/from Southampton
• Guernsey to/from Southampton
• Jersey to/from London Gatwick
• Guernsey to/from London Gatwick
• Isle of Man to/from Liverpool.

Women who are between 28 and 34 weeks pregnant still require a medical certificate and can travel on any route.

Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Feto-Maternal Medicine at Southampton University Hospital, David Howe comments: “We are delighted that Flybe has been able to make this critical policy change. To the small number of women each year to which this is so important, this will make a huge difference at a time when they are already under considerable stress for other reasons and I am very grateful that Flybe has taken the time and trouble to consider and change this policy.”