Archive for the ‘Glasgow airport’ CategoryGlasgow Airport has opened phase one of its multi-million pound terminal extension. The first phase includes a new ground floor UK arrivals hall, a bar and restaurant. Phase two will open next Tuesday revealing a new £12 million security search area on the first floor for all departing passengers. The third phase, which is due to start this month, will see the existing terminal upgraded to provide additional seating areas, new fashion stores and catering facilities. Phase 3 will be completed by spring 2009. For up-to-date Glasgow airport information and to book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to book Glasgow airport hotels click on the links. To celebrate the launch of Flybe’s first official flight with new franchise partner, Loganair, the airline is on a country-wide search for destination namesakes. So if you know of a Ben Becula or Kirk Wall get them to contact Flybe by the 20 October for the chance to win free return flights and an invitation to the official launch event on Monday 27 October. Flybe also wants to hear from any person whose name might mirror any other of those destinations flown from Glasgow Airport. Loganair Destinations from Glasgow International Airport (Winter 2008): Sumburgh Entries, with name and contact details, should be e-mailed to scottishnames@flybe.com by Monday October 20, 2008.
Ouch, it seems that credit crunch is beginning to bite at BA’s UK airports. Figures just released show that overall the airports handled a total of 13.3 million passengers in September – a decrease of 5% when compared with September 2007. The largest drop in passenger traffic was at Glasgow Airport where passenger numbers fell by 11% compared with September 2007. This huge reduction was largely down to the collapse of XL and Zoom. BAA’s other Scottish airports both reported a fall in numbers: Aberdeen Airport down 4.2% and Edinburgh Airport down 2.9%. Of BAA’s English airports, Stansted saw passenger numbers drop by 4.7%, Southampton airport down 4% and Heathrow airport saw a decrease of 3.6%. Gatwick airport reported an overall drop of 6.8% resulting from a 44% decrease in North Atlantic traffic and an increase of 8.8% in European scheduled traffic - attributed to the introduction of the ‘Open Skies’ agreement.
AirSouthwest has underlined its commitment to the South West of England’s air links with the early launch of its summer 2009 flight schedules. The airline, which flies from Plymouth, Newquay and Bristol airports, is encouraging travellers to and from the South West to book early in order to secure its lowest prices. Air Southwest deputy chief executive Mike Coombes commented: “In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever that we offer our customers low fares, with no hidden extras. Our pricing policy is very simple - the earlier you book, the lower the fare. So by making our summer 2009 flights bookable now, we are giving our customers plenty of time to grab a bargain flight.” The airline is also claiming that the launch of its summer 2009 schedules is good news for tourism in the region. Mr Coombes added: “With people all over the UK feeling the pinch in their wallets, I firmly believe that places like Devon and Cornwall, the destinations of childhood memories, will be a popular choice for summer 2009, as people shun expensive foreign breaks.” Air Southwest flies year-round from Newquay Cornwall Airport to London Gatwick, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford Airport, Glasgow Airport, Newcastle, Bristol, Cork and Dublin. At Plymouth City Airport, the airline offers year-round flights to London Gatwick, Manchester Airport, Leeds-Bradford, Glasgow, Newcastle Airport, Bristol, Cork, Dublin and Jersey. From Bristol, Air Southwest serves Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Newquay and Plymouth. The opening of Glasgow Airport’s £31 million terminal extension is just under a month away. ‘Skyhub’ is the biggest single investment at Glasgow airport since the 1990s and forms part of a £200 million investment planned over the next decade. The new extension will be the size of football pitch and will offer a new £12 million one central search area for all departures, new bars, shops, restaurants and seating areas. The two-storey, carbon neutral development will open in two phases – the ground floor domestic arrivals hall is scheduled to open on October 21; the new security search area on the first floor will open on 28 October, when the building becomes fully operational. To book Glasgow airport parking using an instant online price checker click on the link. British Airways is to add an additional daily flight between Glasgow airport and London City Airport. From 27 October 2008 the number of flights between the two cities will increase from four to five per day.
The XL Leisure Group – UK has collapsed leaving an estimated 85,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad and another 200,000 holding advanced bookings. The XL Leisure Group which comprises the following companies: XL Airways UK Limited, Excel Aviation Limited, Explorer House Limited, Aspire Holidays Limited, Freedom Flights Limited, Freedom Flights (Aviation) Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company plc, Medlife Hotels Limited, Travel City Flights Limited, Kosmar Villa Holidays plc, ceased trading this morning blaming volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn. All customers due to fly from the UK should not travel to the airport as all flights from the UK are now cancelled. Flights booked with the French & German arm of XL Airways – flight nos: XLF and GXL are unaffected by the failure. The XL Leisure Group (XLLG) in the UK was made up of four tour operators, XL Airways and Medlife Hotels. The following companies were ATOL protected:
Customers stranded abroad who booked their holiday or flight with an ATOL tour operator will be covered by the ATOL protection and the CAA will make arrangements for them to complete their holiday and fly home. Medlife and XL Airways flight nos XL booked direct with the airline are not covered by the ATOL protection. For more information and an ATOL claim form check out the CAA’s website. An ATOL emergency call room has been set up:
Zoom Airlines Inc and Zoom Airlines Ltd, the Canadian and UK airlines announced the suspension of all flights on Thursday after the companies failed to secure financing. In an announcement on their website, Hugh and John Boyle, the founders of Zoom, said “We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to cease all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff. “We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying.” Zoom operated flights from London Gatwick to New York, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and Bermuda, plus flights to Canada from Gatwick, Bristol airport, Cardiff airport, Belfast airport, Manchester airport and Glasgow airport. The Civil Aviation Authority, operator of the ATOL protection scheme, has issued advice for Zoom Airline customers at the CAA’s website. Sun seekers and ski fans will love the options available to them this winter from Glasgow Airport. On offer for skiers are:
For sun lovers there are new flights to North and West Africa, and the Caribbean, along side popular winter hot spots such as Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Alicante and Malaga:
For up-to-date Glasgow airport information and to book Glasgow airport parking using an online parking price checker and to book Glasgow airport hotels click on the links.
BAA, which owns and operates Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport, has welcomed a report from a group of MSPs calling for extra marketing support for airlines flying in to Scotland. Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow and acting MD of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Aviation is an integral part of the social and economic life of our country, delivering thousands of high quality jobs, generating investment and sustaining our tourist industry, now, more than ever, the lifeblood of our economy. We have made it clear that we believe there is a strong case for some form of EU-compliant marketing support fund and argued strongly for this in our evidence to the committee. Since 2002 BAA Scotland has invested in excess of £110 million in route development support for airlines starting new direct international services. This work has transformed Scotland’s international connectivity. We would welcome any additional support which builds on this success for the benefit of business and leisure travellers. “The worldwide airline industry is entering a difficult phase, with many carriers reducing capacity or scaling back expansion plans as a result of rising fuel prices and the impact of the credit crunch. We are working hard to support our airlines, in partnership with organisations such as VisitScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. Any additional support would be welcome.” |
