Archive for the ‘Liverpool airport’ CategoryThe 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. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced the addition of a fourth daily flight to its schedule out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA). The new frequency commences on 10 May 2010 and alongside improved timings for the original three daily flights, the schedule will increase long haul connectivity via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This new frequency announcement comes less than a year after the route’s inaugural flight on 30 March 2009 and is a testament to KLM’s commitment to the Liverpool region. The faster long haul connections mean that travellers in the region can now take advantage of smooth and seamless travel to destinations such as Shanghai, Johannesburg and Mexico. A Fokker 70 jet aircraft, which carries up to 80 passengers, will fly the new frequency. Neil Pakey, Deputy CEO of Peel Airports comments: “We’re thrilled that KLM has confirmed a fourth frequency for the summer schedule. This gives the region’s business community more flexibility and the added convenience of starting long haul journeys to an even greater choice of worldwide destinations from their local airport. The airline’s entry into Liverpool has been a real boost for the business community as well as the Airport and this extra daily flight will ensure that our city can develop further on an international stage and seen as an attractive hub for global business.” KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, with its SkyTeam partners, connects Liverpool to over 800 destinations worldwide via four daily flights to Amsterdam. The carrier’s hub, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, offers smooth connections with just 40 minutes connection time for short haul flights and only 50 minutes for long haul flights. To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links. Ryanair is to launch a new twice-weekly service to Szczecin in North East Poland from Liverpool Airport. The new Liverpool flights will commence on 21 May 2010 and brings the number of Polish destinations offered from Liverpool to nine. To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links. Flybe has dismissed easyJet’s announcement of a Liverpool to Isle of Man service as ‘flash in the pan’ competition. The airline, which operates a four-times-per-day service between the two destinations, said it ‘welcomed competition – no matter how infrequent the flights – on any of its established routes’, and cited easyJet’s previous attempt to compete on the Jersey to Luton service in 2008 that lasted just ten months. Commenting on the easyJet announcement, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said: “Flybe welcomes the competition from easyJet on the Liverpool route because it will enable passengers to compare Flybe’s award-winning service with the very different business model that easyJet operate. Flybe will continue to offer a Liverpool service four times a day, from 0710 in the morning to 1855 at night, compared to easyJet’s irregular middle of the day schedule. Passengers will also find the ‘excitement’ of the easyJet scrum to get a seat on-board will soon wear thin when compared with Flybe’s guaranteed seat allocation.” “easyJet’s schedule is no substitute for a regular, reliable service and looking at past performance, will probably last for a maximum of six months before their planners decide to move the aircraft onto a different destination. Flybe on the other hand are in the Isle of Man for the long-term and we’re confident our services will outlast any easyJet short-term dalliance.” To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links. Manx2.com has called for Government to develop a long term aviation strategy for the Island. The company, which is based in the Isle of Man, has made the request following the announcement that UK airline easyJet will be servicing the Isle of Man. Chairman Noel Hayes said: “Manx2.com always welcomes fair competition and I’m sure the arrival of easyJet will bring short term benefits to the Isle of Man. However, I believe this highlights the need for Government to put in place a long term aviation strategy for our Island rather than the current ‘free for all’ open skies strategy which results in continuous instability and frequent changes in operators. “In the last three years alone, five airlines have stopped operations into the Island. Stability of operations would encourage long term investment in route development and pay dividends. Currently, an airline comes to the Island, there is generally a price war and then one is pushed out, bringing us back to where we started or worse. easyJet’s arrival will certainly make FlyBe re-examine their prices but these scraps only last for a limited period. “easyJet will only be indirectly competing with Manx2.com, but as a locally owned and locally based key provider of Isle of Man air links, I believe the stability of a planned aviation strategy is essential for a community which depends upon maintenance of essential transport links.” Manx2.com employs 60 staff and has a fleet of seven aircraft providing up to 30 flights a day to the Isle of Man. Its customer services, reservations and operations departments are all based in the new hangar facility at Ronaldsway Airport. To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links. After weeks of speculation, easyJet has today announced it is to launch a new service between Liverpool and the Isle of Man. The six-times-per-week service will commence on 21 May 2010 using one of the airline’s new Airbus 319 aircraft, which seat 156 passengers. This is the fourth new Liverpool route announced by easyJet this year and will offer Isle of Man residents onward travel to 26 of the airlines destinations from JLA. Flights will operate every day except Tuesdays, however, flights will operate on Tuesdays between 25 May and 8 June, to meet the extra demand during TT fortnight. To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links.
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:
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.” Disruption is expected to flights to and from Ireland today due to industrial action by air traffic controllers in Ireland. Affected airports are Dublin and Shannon, which will see industrial action between the hours of 14:00 and 18:00, and Cork Airport where industrial action is expected to take place between the hours of 16:00 and 18:00. Ryanair has cancelled 52 flights due to the industrial action – check here for details of cancellations To check the status of your Aer Lingus flight click here For Aer Arann disruptions click here Snow is causing disruption to flights and there are several cancellations today. The below list is not comprehensive list but does offer information on some cancelled flights.
 Gatwick bound BA flight de-iced at Stansted What a nightmare for air travellers it has been recently. The snow has caused total chaos and the uncertainty of not knowing whether you could get to the airport, and once there, would you plane be able to take off, has been really stressful. I know from the emails I have received, and the comments made on this blog, that passengers have also been hampered by the lack of information coming from some airports and some airlines. Passengers making their way home to Britain also faced problems not knowing if their flights would land at their intended destination. There were quite a few diversions last week, even Glasgow Prestwick Airport took in 24 diversions from flights destined for Heathrow, Gatwick, Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. The photo above shows a British Airways 747 being de-iced at Stansted on Friday. Bad weather forced the Gatwick bound jet to divert into Stansted after its long haul flight from Lagos, Nigeria. Flight update Although flights do appear to be getting back to normal, with the threat of more snow looming, we could still see more problems ahead. Anyone concerned about the status of their flight is advised to contact their airline and to monitor the flight departures boards on their airport website. Stories and suggestions If you have any stories about your travel experiences in the recent bad weather, or have any suggestions (polite ones!) that could help improve communications from the airports and airlines I love to hear them. Feel free to add them in the comments below or email me, thanks, Paula. |
