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.

Tesco has announced it is to venture into airports with the opening of its first airport store at Glasgow Airport.

The new 24-7 Tesco Express store is set to open later this year offering items suitable for returning holiday makers needing to stock up on essential items, including dairy products, ready meals, breads, sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

To book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to bookGlasgow airport hotels click on the links.

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.

Flybe has announced new year-round flights to Frankfurt from Glasgow Airport.

The new Glasgow flights will commence on 1 August 2010 and will operate up to 12 times per week via Southampton Airport.

Flight schedule as follows:

BE1275 Departs Glasgow 1335 (arrives Southampton 1510 – departs 1535) arrives Frankfurt 1820
BE1276 Departs Frankfurt 1900 (arrives Southampton 1955 – departs 2030) arrives Glasgow 2200

Aer Lingus Regional – the joint venture by Aer Arann and Aer Lingus – has announced it is to launch a new service between Glasgow Airport and Shannon.

The new Glasgow to Shannon flights will begin on 1 July 2010 and operate seven days a week.

Flights will be operated by Aer Arann.

To book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to book Glasgow airport hotels click on the links.

Flybe has confirmed it is the first airline in the UK to be able to fly within the new Time Limited Zone.

Under the new regulations the airline will be able to fly through denser volcanic ash than previously approved – 0.004 grams per cubic metre compared with 0.002 grams per cubic metre.

Commenting on the news Flybe’s Chief Executive, Jim French said: “The CAA called upon the industry to bring forward thoroughly researched proposals to safely improve the ability to fly in the vicinity of low level volcanic ash concentrations.

Flybe worked closely with the Met Office, Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney Canada to develop the proposals which have today been endorsed by the CAA. Flybe’s overriding concern is always safety, and these new rules arise from a proven process of safety management within the company and the industry which helps make air travel the safest form of public transport.

The application of these new rules in the last 48 hours would have reduced our levels of cancellation from 380 flights to 21, or put another way, only 3% of our programme would have been affected. This level of cancellation would be more akin to a weather event and therefore much more bearable for customers and the industry.”

For Manchester airport hotels or to compare and book Manchester airport parking using an online instant airport parking price checker click on the link.

Arriva has launched a new bus service linking North Ayrshire to Glasgow Airport.

The Arriva 800 service operates Monday to Saturday linking Largs, Kilbirnie and Beith to Johnstone, Paisley and Glasgow Airport.

With a journey time of around one hour and 20 minutes, this is the first direct public transport link between the two destinations.

To book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to book Glasgow airport 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.

bmi is adding extra seats to some of its destinations during the forthcoming series of BA strikes.

The move – which will see larger aircraft placed on certain routes on bmi’s domestic and international network – is in response to growing demand as customers switch to bmi to guarantee that they will get to their destinations.

Thousands of extra seats will be added during the strike periods. The first BA strike will begin on 18 May, ending on 22 May, with three further five-day strikes beginning on 24 May, 30 May and 5 June.

In addition, bmi is helping former BA customers by offering:

• BA Gold and Silver Executive Club members access to bmi owned lounges, including the acclaimed Great British Lounge and the newly-refurbished London Room at Heathrow Terminal 1
• BA Executive Club members will also be offered a status match into bmi’s Diamond Club programme (e.g. gold to gold, silver to silver) and benefit from double miles on all bmi travel until the end of June.

To book Leeds airport parking using an instant, online price checker or to book accommodation at  Leeds airport hotels click on the links.

Another 20 days of strike action has been announced by Unite, the trade union representing British Airways cabin crew.

The latest proposed strike action will take place on the following days: May 18-22 inclusive, May 24-28 inclusive, May 30-June 3 inclusive and June 5-9 inclusive.