easyJet is set to trial allocated seating on selected routes.

The trial, which will be introduced in the spring of 2012, will mean each passenger will be allocated a specific seat, however, if they wish to sit in a specific seat, such as in the front row they can pay to reserve them.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, said, “This is another example of easyJet trying to do all it can to make travel easy and affordable for our passengers. We look forward to seeing how our passengers respond and how the trial works.

We will roll it out further only if it works operationally, from a revenue perspective and increases passenger satisfaction. If it doesn’t, we won’t.”

Peel Airports Limited, owners of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, has submitted its response to the Department for Transport’s Proposal for a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation, calling for the Government to recognise the benefits that regional airports have on their local economies and develop aviation policies that encourage sustainable growth.

The department for Transport’s scoping document was launched in March 2011. It framed the debate and asked a series of questions for response by a wide range of stakeholders on the future direction of aviation policy.

In a detailed response, Peel Airports has highlighted concerns that the proposals put forward, fail to set out a clear aviation policy that would grow the industry’s contribution to both the regional and national economies, with the intention to constrain growth by supressing demand for air travel. Such policies are in stark contrast to the Government’s stated aims of the policy, which stated “……We want to explore how to create the right conditions for regional airports to flourish.”

UK aviation already pays the highest aviation tax in the world and with further increases in Air Passenger Duty (APD) planned, in addition to the EU wide Emissions Trading Scheme taxation that commences in January 2012, the proposed policy framework fails to address this issue. UK airports are now far less attractive options for airline business than many of their European competitors, whose own Governments abolished their equivalent of APD. Under these latest proposals, this lack of a ‘level playing field’ is set to continue.

Travel behaviour in the regions is price led and further increases in air fares due to higher taxation will price a large proportion of passengers out of air travel.

High Speed Rail is seen by the Government as a substitution for domestic and European short haul aviation, however, UK domestic aviation is almost non-existent. This scheme will simply bring greater economic benefits for a small number of airports and those regions to be served by High Speed Rail, at the expense of others.

Peel Airports also questions the validity of passenger forecasts used in developing the Government’s proposals which show only minimal growth over the next 20 years, having failed to recognise a variety of developments across the regions served by the Peel Airports, which will undoubtedly help to stimulate growth in air travel.

Craig Richmond, Peel Airports CEO commented, “We welcome the Government’s review on future aviation policy, however we have one chance to get this right, otherwise regional airports and the regions they serve will have their economies damaged for the long term.

“The Government have stated on numerous occasions in the past that it recognises the importance of aviation for economic growth and rebalancing of the UK economy. Sadly these latest proposals contradict the desire for aviation related growth and we are calling upon the Government to implement a long-sighted aviation policy that appreciates the benefits to regional economies that aviation connections bring and supports growth in our industry whilst maintaining the balanced approach towards minimising the environmental impact.”

Wizz Air has teamed up with Dublin-based CarTrawler to offer passengers car hire when booking flights.

“CarTrawler is pleased to now include Wizz Air, as one of its valued international airline customers. Wizz Air passengers will have access to a choice of hundreds of car rental suppliers at many locations in all European countries when booking their flights, giving them even more reason to choose Wizz Air. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Wizz Air” – said Joe Farinella, Marketing Manager of CarTrawler.

“Wizz Air is excited to be partnering with CarTrawler as it offers quality and affordable car rental options on a large scale, covering all of Wizz Air’s destinations, in a truly innovative and intuitive way through wizzair.com” – said György Abrán, Chief Commercial Officer of Wizz Air.

Wizz Air has announced it is to add a second Airbus A320 to its base in Vilnius next May 2012.

The additional plane will be used to launch a new service between Liverpool Airport and Vilnius and also increase services to London Luton.

Vilnius to Liverpool flights will commence on 28 May 2012 and operate twice weekly.

Vilnius to Luton flights will be increased from 5 to 11 per week.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport witnessed its busiest month in its 78-year history last month (August) as more than 580,000 passengers passed through the airport.

The previous busiest month was August 2007 when the airport handled just over 575,000 passengers.

The increase in passenger numbers was helped by an increase in services by easyJet and Ryanair – operating to more summer sun destinations than ever before with a number of new holiday resorts featured for the first time – plus a growing numbers of passengers taking advantage of KLM flights from Liverpool to Amsterdam Schiphol with hundreds of onward connections.

Some 81,000 passengers travelled through JLA on 568 flights over the Bank Holiday weekend alone, surpassing the airport’s own passenger predictions. During a two hour peak early on Bank Holiday Monday, more than 2,200 passengers passed smoothly through the new airport security area and into the expanded departure lounge.

Craig Richmond, CEO of Peel Airports commented: “Even we have been surprised by the levels of growth seen in passenger numbers choosing to fly off during the summer months from Liverpool. Two weeks in the sun clearly remains very important for families in particular throughout the North West, despite the recession.

This is a great achievement and I know that staff here will be proud of this latest milestone for the Airport. It is because of their hard work that despite more passengers having passed through our doors, standards of service have continued to improve too”.

The August Bank Holiday period is expected to be one of Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s busiest ever, with around 76,000 passengers expected to be travelling through the airport this weekend, close to the previous record.

The poor British Summer is likely to have contributed once again to the increases in passenger numbers seen in recent months through the airport combined with the many great value flights currently available from JLA.

This year low cost operators easyJet and Ryanair have been operating to more summer sun destinations than ever before with a number of new holiday resorts featured for the first time.

With almost 100 departing flights to 21 Mediterranean resorts this weekend alone, thousands of passengers are expected to pass through the airport.

Liverpool Airport‘s busiest August Bank Holiday weekend to date was in 2007 when almost 80,000 passengers travelled through the airport and numbers are expected to come close to that record this weekend.

Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Peel Airports, commented: “Once again I’m sure the poor British Summer will be tempting the region’s passengers to spend time away from the UK in search of some prolonged sunshine. The great choice of value for money flights and increased destinations looks like proving irresistible for many.

In addition, the growing international reputation of Liverpool’s Mathew Street Festival this weekend will no doubt bring over many visitors from overseas into Liverpool too.”

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/

This week sees the start of Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s (JLA) busiest time of year with thousands of the region’s holidaymakers jetting off on holiday.

Now that the school holidays have started, the airport expects more than 130,000 passengers to pass through the airport each week – almost a 5% increase on last summer.

Management at the Airport is keen to remind passengers that they should leave plenty of time to not only travel to the airport, but importantly to pass through the Airport too at peak times.

JLA recommends passengers arrive 2 hours before their departure to allow sufficient time to check-in, pass through airport security and to take advantage of the many new passenger facilities now available in the departure lounge.

The airport is also reminding passengers to think carefully what they pack in any hand luggage as hundreds of items are still being confiscated daily.

Liquids and liquid based items in particular continue to be the main items causing disappointment and delays for a number of passengers passing through the new search area.

Dave Walsh, JLA’s Head of Terminal Services commented, “With direct flights to almost 80 destinations on sale from Liverpool, the region’s holidaymakers are taking advantage of great value flights and choice of destinations available, with the Mediterranean sun spots once again proving popular.

“We expect the airport to be really busy over the coming weeks and want to make sure all our passengers have a great start to their holiday. With a little thought and preparation in advance, passengers can help us to help themselves by making sure they allow plenty of time and don’t try to take items through security that they shouldn’t.”

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).