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.

Fly to the Hajj from Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands with Jet2.com’s specialist pilgrimage service

Following overwhelming demand, Jet2.com has increased its dedicated service for pilgrims taking part in this year’s annual Hajj, with the announcement of specialist departures from Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands airports from 1st November 2010.

The flights represent a significant increase in dedicated departures from the Midlands and North of England to the Hajj, and are the only direct services available from Leeds Bradford and East Midlands.

Working in partnership with travel agents Sky-Fly Connections Ltd in Bradford and PAK Travels Ltd in Birmingham, the specialist Jet2.com programme is set to carry over 2,000 passengers to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to take part in the annual Hajj, the world’s largest annual pilgrimage.

Jet2.com will be operating a total of 10 return trips – four from Leeds Bradford, four from Manchester and two from East Midlands, representing a 300% increase on last year’s hugely successful service, which saw three flights leave from Leeds.

Furthermore, Jet2.com will respect Muslim tradition by ensuring that all catering adheres to Halal methods, there is no alcohol served and aircraft crew are sensitive to the practice of prayer whilst in flight. Prayer facilities will also be available in the airport terminal prior to departure. Jet2.com will also be increasing its baggage allowance of 22kg for pilgrims to bring back the important Zam Zam holy water.

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

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.

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.

A new airport lounge is set to open next month at Leeds Bradford Airport.

The Premier Lounge, which can be found in the same location as the previous Servisair lounge, is a newly refurbished lounge offering departing passengers high quality services and business facilities such as complementary snacks and drinks, Satellite television, newspapers & magazines and Internet connection for clients.

The Premier lounge is available from the 13th July 2010.

To book the Premier Leeds airport lounge or Leeds airport parking click on the links

Ryanair has announced it is to offer passengers the option of increased baggage allowances this summer.

The new allowances mean passengers can each check in up to two bags per trip and also have the option of paying for an increased weight allowance on their first checked-in bag – from 15kg to 20kg.

As with any Ryanair ‘extra’ you’ll have to pay for the privilege, and prices depend on time of travel – see below for online prices:

1st bag
standard 15kg allowance: €15/£15, or €20/£20 during peak season of July and August
increased 20kg allowance: €25/£25, or €30/£30 during July and August

2nd bag
15kg maximum allowance for the second bag: €35/£35, or €40/£40 during July and August

Jet2.com has just celebrated the launch of its 41st destination from Leeds-Bradford with island’s most famous sweet treat.

The North’s leading leisure airline, Jet2.com, served up Yorkshire tea and an aircraft-shaped Madeira cake to mark the launch of Yorkshire’s first ever direct service to the beautiful island of Madeira, from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Flights to the picturesque Portuguese island will commence on 14 February 2011 running right through to 31 October 2011. The brand new weekly flight is Yorkshire’s only direct scheduled service to the popular holiday haven and follows hot on the heels of Jet2.com’s highly successful Manchester to Madeira route, which was launched earlier this year.

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

As ‘Sex and The City’ mania sweeps the UK this week, there is more good news in store for the fashionistas in the North-East and Yorkshire, as  Jet2.com announces special, one-off return flights to New York this Christmas.

Package holidays are also available from Jet2holidays which includes return flights and 3 night’s hotel accommodation.

Departures leave from Newcastle and Leeds Bradford Airport to New York’s Newark airport this December as follows:

• 2^nd December returning 5^th December 2010
• 9^th December returning 12^th December 2010

Philip Meeson, boss of Jet2.com said: “We are thrilled to be the first scheduled airline to offer flights to New York from Newcastle and our seasonal flights to New York in 2008 from Leeds Bradford were an overwhelming success and we couldn’t wait to repeat them this festive season.

“Nobody does Christmas quite like the Big Apple and I’m sure that the people of the North East and Yorkshire will revel in the opportunity to do their festive shopping in the most magical of winter wonderlands.”

To book Newcastle airport parking or Newcastle airport hotels click on the links.

Following an overwhelming demand from holiday makers for destinations outside the Euro-zone, Jet2.com has announced the launch of its first ever service to the popular Turkish hot spot of Bodrum from Leeds Airport.

The new Leeds flights for summer 2011 will operate weekly between 23 June 2011 and 2 October 2011 and are available as flight-only or as a package holiday.

With Jet2.com’s new route offering the only direct scheduled service to the Turkish peninsula from Leeds Bradford airport, demand is expected to be high and compliments the airline’s twice weekly service to Dalaman which was launched earlier this year.

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

Ryanair has announced it now has a dedicated Volcanic Ash Disruption team set up to handle refunds and claims from passengers in connection with the disruption caused by the ash cloud.

For more information go to www.ryanair.com/en/notices/gops/100518-ASH_REIMBURSE_INFO-GB