Archive for the ‘Humberside airport’ Category
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a new price comparison tool to enable travellers to see a summary of optional charges levied by the top airlines in the UK. The tool details information of costs of hold luggage, in flight meal charges, seat reservation and other optional airline fees. Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the CAA said: “The diversity of UK aviation offers excellent choice and value to UK consumers with airlines adopting various business models. To really benefit from that choice consumers want to know the full price picture. For some passengers and airlines the headline ticket price will be the most expensive part of the booking, whilst for others the impact of optional fees and charges can change their view of the best overall price. “Our table allows passengers to easily compare the optional fees that airlines charge and it’s important to consider those charges alongside the ticket price and the extra charges that could be applied before making their booking.” To view the fees and charges comparison table click here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2200/Comparing_airline_charges_1st_Feb_2012_.pdf The CAA plans to update the charges table on a quarterly basis.
The war of words over border control strike action continues in the press and it is unknown how badly affected airport passengers are going to be by the action – reports vary from minor disruption to significant. Border control will be affected from the evening of Tuesday 29 November until midnight on Wednesday 30 November – strike action start times will depend on shift patterns. Any delays will affect passengers arriving into the UK that need to pass through passport control – outgoing flights should not be affected. Tips to help avoid delays:
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has said that it has robust arrangements in place to maintain the security of the border and that it has
Rob Whiteman, chief executive of the UK Border Agency, said: ‘Securing the border is our priority and over the last weeks and months we have considered all options to ensure we are prepared for union action. ‘We always aim to minimise any disruption caused by the decision of unions to strike, but travellers could see longer waiting times at some ports and airports.’ For up-to-date UKBA information visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ The Air Travel Advisory Bureau (ATAB) is teaming up with law firm Barker Gillette to launch a coordinated legal claim against UK airlines that have not refunded Air Passenger Duty (APD) to passengers who have booked flights and not flown. Since the tax was introduced in 1994, ATAB estimates that consumers have lost out on millions of pounds in un-refunded APD. In fact, Which? Estimated that in 2003 alone Ryanair retained more than £5 million in un-refunded taxes. ATAB Chairman, Tony White said, “It is a scandal that some airlines hang on to this money. It never belonged to them. It’s a tax collected on the behalf of the Government. With a couple of exceptions, most of the UK airlines make it as difficult as possible to get your money back. If you don’t actually fly, for whatever reason, you are entitled to get the APD refunded. The airlines already have your credit card details, they should refund your card immediately. They make it difficult or expensive in the hope that you’ll go away – and most people do just that”. “It is truly shocking, we’ve found some airlines that will charge an “administration fee” greater than the value of the refund. This is a complete rip-off and it’s our intention to put an end to it. If you have booked an airline ticket out of the UK anytime since 1994, and not flown, then we want to hear from you” said White. For more information in reclaiming APD on unused flights visit www.atab.org.uk/action-now/reclaim-your-taxes/ A campaign to persuade the Chancellor to drop planned hikes in the tax levied on all flights leaving the UK was launched last Monday at airports across the country as a new poll is released showing 3 out of 4 people think that Air Passenger Duty (APD) should not go up in the next Budget. Of those saying APD should not go up 49 per cent said APD should be reduced. Only 6 per cent said APD should be increased. The Chancellor announced in this year’s Budget that APD will rise by double inflation in 2012. The ‘Hands off our Holiday’ campaign, backed by the Airport Operators Association (AOA), Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR-UK), and the British Air Transport Association (BATA) is urging people to email their MP via the website www.handsoffourholiday.com and to tweet their support for the hikes to be abandoned using the hashtag #handsoffourhols. The poll, carried out by Opinium Research for the Hands off our Holiday campaign also shows that nearly 4 out of 5 people were unaware of the plans to further increase the tax by double inflation. Commenting on the campaign, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA, said: “Our message to the Chancellor is that enough is enough. Air Passenger Duty has already gone up by 325% on long haul flights and 140% on short haul flights in the last five years. Family finances are under great pressure at the moment and most people save hard all year for their holiday. Working families deserve a break.” Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive of BAR-UK, added: “The UK already has the highest rate of flight tax in the world. Why should families be discriminated against for wanting to fly off on a hard-earned break once a year?” Simon Buck, Chief Executive of BATA said: “The government already takes nearly £3bn in tax from passengers. This is more than the tax on the banking industry. Most people simply aren’t aware how much flight tax they pay. The government should come clean about this stealth tax and drop the hikes planned for next year.”
A planned strike by UK Border Agency staff is likely to affect passengers arriving at some of the UK airports. The 24-hour strike is scheduled to start this evening, Wednesday 29 June 2011 – start times vary at different airports due to shift patterns. The Border Agency has issued the following advice to passengers arriving in the UK: Around 70% of Border Agency staff are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).
From changing a light bulb on the runway to fixing solar panels onto a HIV clinic in rural Uganda, this could become reality for staff at Manchester Airport. Employee’s skills are being sought to help transform lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities as the airport’s parent company MAG has today announced its three-year support of Medcare, a UK charity that runs the Wellspring Children’s Medical Centre in rural Uganda. Staff with practical skills from electricians to architects will have the chance to provide on-the ground support in Uganda at Wellspring and apply their skills in building a HIV/AIDS unit and a centre for disabled children. MAG has never adopted a Group-wide charity before and a key reason it selected Medcare is because their support will transform the charity’s ability to help so many children. Charlie Cornish, MAG’s Chief Executive, said: “We do tremendous work in our local communities and support brilliant local charities. But we’ve never had something that colleagues and business partners can get behind together, by applying a combination of fundraising and first-World skills in the third World which can really change lives. I am confident that our work will make an unfathomable difference to people who need help. Medcare is a relatively new, successful charity but is keen to raise its game and increase its impact. The parallel with MAG’s evolution makes Medcare the perfect partner for us.” Russell Craig, MAG’s Head of External Communcations, is leading the project and the first major development that funds are needed for is to expand the Wellspring Children’s Medical Centre in Kamutuuza, Uganda. The first part opened in 2008 and provides general health care, vaccinations, and acute malaria care to some of the most vulnerable children in Africa, together with sponsorship of children with HIV/AIDS and those with disabilities. Since then it has successfully treated over 20,000 children. Pauline Hutchinson, Medcare Founder, said: “I am so delighted that MAG has agreed to help and support Medcare. I know that just a small contribution can go a long way and change lives. I am confident that having MAG involved for three years will mean a huge difference to the lives of the children we look after at Wellspring.”
As the Treasury’s consultation on the reform of Air Passenger Duty (APD) enters its final week – ends on 17 June – ABTA is calling on the government to rethink the levels and structure of the tax which is the highest in the world. APD is based on distance travelled and at present a family of four flying to Europe will pay £48 in APD, to the USA the tax increases to £240, to Australia the tax increases to £340 – all based on the economy rate – however, the cost of the tax is set to rise again next April by twice the cost of inflation. Only five European countries impose some form of aviation tax with the UK’s level higher than anywhere else in the world. Denmark, Norway, Malta and Holland have all scrapped similar taxes as the revenue raised was outweighed by the damage caused to their economies. Ireland has pledged to follow suit shortly. ABTA is part of the Fair Tax on Flying www.facebook.com/afairtaxonflying alliance that has united the travel industry to raise awareness of the high levels and illogical structure of APD, which is damaging UK travel and tourism and adding an additional tax burden to holidaymakers and business travellers at a time when fuel prices are reaching record levels. Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “It is vital that the Government understands the damaging impact that APD is having on the tourism industry in the UK. We already pay the highest levels of aviation tax in the world, and if the Government goes ahead with its double-inflationary increase and levies an ETS tax on top of this in 2012, we will see another eye-watering increase in the tax burden on the industry and on holidaymakers and business travellers flying in and out of the UK. The industry is willing to pay its way, but this clearly puts us at a competitive disadvantage when compared with our European neighbours and punishes the travelling public unfairly.” ABTA encourages all of its Members and any others who feel strongly to make their own submissions to the treasury at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.htm Related stories: Manchester Airport launches ‘give us a break’ APD campaign UK Airport Consultative Committee: APD and European Emissions’ Trading Scheme = double taxation Double taxation on flights from 2012 A recent survey of 154 MPs has shown that more than two thirds did not know about the double taxation that airport passengers are facing in 2012. The survey, conducted by ComRes and Airport Operators Association (AOA), found that majority of the MPs were unfamiliar with the UK aviation industry’s planned entry into the EU Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) in 2012. This additional tax, coupled with a substantial increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) next year, will mean that air passengers face double taxation on flights. Of those MPs who did know about the additional tax caused by the introduction of the EU ETS, 63% believe that APD should be reduced or abolished. Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “The ComRes / AOA survey shows that the majority of MPs do not know that air passengers will face onerous double taxation on flights from 2012. It is shocking that our policy-makers are unaware that holidaymakers and business people will be paying a new cost on flying – the EU Emissions Trading Scheme – as well as even more APD, already the highest in the world. “Of those MPs who do actually know what is going on, more than 60% support the reduction or scrapping of APD to encourage economic growth by ensuring that passengers do not face a further tax rise in what are already tough economic times for everybody.” Andrew Hawkins, Chairman of ComRes added: “Fuel duty in one form or another has long proved a toxic issue politically and the impact of the ETS should not be ignored by politicians. It is notable that of MPs who are aware of it, the majority view is to ameliorate its impact by varying Air Passenger Duty. The ETS issue has all the hallmarks of a powerfully dangerous political mix.” The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, is conduction a two-week online survey on the travelling public’s experiences during the disruption caused to flights in November and December 2010. The survey aims to help the CAA gain a better understanding of passengers’ views about how airports, airlines and other companies operating at UK airports, met, or failed to meet, their expectations. For instance, the CAA is interested in finding out how well passengers were kept informed about the disruption and whether people were told about their rights to assistance from airlines. The survey can be accessed here: www.caa.co.uk/snowsurvey The CAA is keen to hear from as many people who experienced disruption as possible to try and build the best possible picture of what worked well and what did not, so we can work with industry to improve the situation in case of future disruptions. The CAA is also acting as an independent observer on the enquiry panel put in place by BAA to review Heathrow’s performance and establish the lessons to be learned following December’s severe weather.
Airports information blog is taking a welcome rest over the Christmas period and will be back with you on Tuesday 4 January 2011. As this is the last post of this year, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Thank you all for following and thanks for all your comments. For those of you still struggling to get flights in to or out of the country, the advice remains the same: if you have any questions about the status of your flight check with your airline. Your airline is totally responsible for your flight – there’s a previous blog post here with airline contact information and snow alerts. Ideally, check your airline’s website before calling – phone lines are busy and I’ve heard from some of you that have been waiting as long as five hours to get though. Check the online departures board of your airport to find out the status of your flight or even try the arrivals board on the website of your destination airport. Many airlines now use Twitter as a means of answering passengers’ questions, so try this contact method too. Have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year, I hope you all get to where you’re meant to be in time for the celebrations, Paula |
