Monarch is increasing capacity on its service between Manchester airport and Tenerife this Easter.

By introducing larger aircraft on the service, it will increase the number of seats available by 46% – an extra 3,000 seats.

For Manchester airport hotels or to compare and book Manchester airport parking using an online instant airport parking price checker click on the link.

Monarch is to launch new charter flights to Santorini from Manchester Airport this summer.

The new Manchester flights will operate weekly (Tuesdays) between 5 May and 5 October 2010.

For Manchester airport hotels or to compare and book Manchester airport parking using an online instant airport parking price checker click on the link.

Passengers using Airparks Manchester Handforth Dean at Manchester Airport are advised that transfers between the car park and the airport now have two stops: the transport interchange and Terminal 3.

The transport interchange serves both Manchester airport’s Terminals 1 and 2.

Passengers requiring airport parking at Manchester can compare Manchester airport parking prices online and book parking by clicking on the link.

The 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.

bmi, British Midland International, has announced a new codeshare with sister airline SWISS. Under the agreement, bmi will codeshare with SWISS on all UK to Switzerland routes including Zurich, Geneva and Basel.

The new codeshare with SWISS is effective immediately for travel from 3 March 2010 and will allow bmi to offer fares between Zurich, Geneva and Basel from London Heathrow, London City airport, Manchester, Birmingham International and Edinburgh airport and improve connections between Switzerland and the wider bmi network.

The developing partnership will offer even greater flexibility to customers of both carriers and in particular will connect Scottish and Northern England passengers to SWISS’ network of 76 destinations worldwide (via Switzerland).

Lufthansa has announced that the four-day strike by pilots is over, however, there will continue to be ‘flight irregularities’ over the coming days.

A regular service will operate as of Friday 26 February.

For more information and details of Lufthansa’s special timetables click here.

To check the status of your Lufthansa flight click here

Etihad Airways has announced it is to up capacity on its flights at Manchester by nearly 60%.

From June, the airline is to upgrade its current two-class A330-200 aircraft to a two-class B777-300, which will increase its seat capacity by 2,100 seats per week on the Manchester to Abu Dhabi route.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer, said: “Our services to Manchester have been performing very strongly, with load factors of close to 80 per cent in 2009. The business and investment ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger and the introduction of the B777 furthers our commitment to this important route.”

Etihad has been operating from Manchester Airport since 2006 offering Manchester flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow with its codeshare partner, bmi and to Isle of Man, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton and Inverness with its codeshare partner, Flybe.

A four-day strike by Lufthansa pilots has started today.

Lufthansa is advising passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

For more information for passengers booked to fly between Monday 22 February and Thursday 25 February check with Lufthansa on 0800 850 6070 or here

Passengers can also check for updates on Twitter @Lufthansa_DE

Flybe has announced it is to launch a new service between Manchester Airport and Bournemouth.

The new year-round flights will commence on 27 May 2010, operating six days per week – not Saturdays.

For Manchester airport hotels or to compare and book Manchester airport parking using an online instant airport parking price checker click on the link.

Compulsory body scanning was introduced yesterday at Heathrow and Manchester Airports.

Although not everyone will have to be scanned – only a small selection of passengers – anyone selected but refusing to be scanned will be prevented from travelling.

Currently, the body scanners are only available at Heathrow Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport, however, Birmingham Airport is expected to install body scanners by the end of the month ahead of a nationwide rollout.

In a written parliament statement, the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: “In the immediate future, only a small proportion of airline passengers will be selected for scanning. If a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly. However, the interim code of practice stipulates: “Passengers must not be selected on the basis of personal characteristics (ie on a basis that may constitute discrimination such as gender, age, race or ethnic origin)”.

The Department for Transport’s interim code of practice for the acceptable use of body scanners includes privacy guidelines stating that:

An effective privacy policy must be put in place by the airport operator to protect passengers when being screened by body scanners.

The Security Officer(s) conducting analysis of the image (the screener) must not be able to see the person whose image they are viewing and the Security Officer(s) resolving any issues identified by the body scanner should not be able to see the image of the person being searched.

A person selected for scanning may request that the screen reader is of the same sex as the person.

If further resolution is required (i.e. a targeted hand search), an appropriate method of communication must be employed between the screen reader and the body searcher that does not include the use of the image to ensure that this privacy is protected.

The recent trials of the body scanners at Manchester Airport caused controversy over whether it was legal to capture the images of children on the scanners, however, a statement on Manchester airport’s website says:

“Previously, under 18’s were not allowed to participate in the body scanner trial at Manchester Airport. However, the Government has confirmed as part of the new rules that this exemption no longer applies.”

For video footage of the body scanners in use see below:

Manchester Evening News is conducting a poll of readers to see if they are happy to use the new body scanners http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/poll/c/1003315_airport_scanners