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.

Jet2.com has announced a brand new service to Geneva from Newcastle airport.

The Newcastle to Geneva flights will operate during the peak winter getaway times – from 26 December 2010 to 9 January 2011 and then between 20 February to 27 March.

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

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.

Jet2.com signalled further investment into the North East with the announcement of its summer 2011 schedule – which will see five new direct routes launched from Newcastle International Airport.

Jet2.com’s new services will include the only flights to Krakow, Prague and Toulouse from the North East, as well as popular holiday hotspots Alicante and Faro – bringing the total number of destinations served by Jet2.com to 24.

Services to Prague will commence in November 2010, ensuring holiday makers in the North East will be able to take advantage of the city’s famous Christmas Markets and festive offerings.

An extra 737 will be added to the fleet in May 2011, bringing the total number of aircraft to 5, to service the additional routes – passenger growth is expected to swell by a whopping 40 per cent in 2011. The addition of the 737 will also signal an extra 150,000 seats available for holiday makers in the North East, bringing the total number to a massive 500,000.

30 new jobs for airline crew will be created by the extension of Jet2.com’s services, who now employ over 150 staff based locally at the airport.

The new Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays from Newcastle International Airport for summer 2011 are:

• Prague – starting 5th November 2010
• Krakow – starting 28 March 2011
• Alicante – starting 1 April 2011
• Faro – starting 2 April 2011
• Toulouse – starting 22 May 2011.

To book Newcastle airport parking or Newcastle 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.

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

Flybe has confirmed it is the first airline in the UK to be able to fly within the new Time Limited Zone.

Under the new regulations the airline will be able to fly through denser volcanic ash than previously approved – 0.004 grams per cubic metre compared with 0.002 grams per cubic metre.

Commenting on the news Flybe’s Chief Executive, Jim French said: “The CAA called upon the industry to bring forward thoroughly researched proposals to safely improve the ability to fly in the vicinity of low level volcanic ash concentrations.

Flybe worked closely with the Met Office, Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney Canada to develop the proposals which have today been endorsed by the CAA. Flybe’s overriding concern is always safety, and these new rules arise from a proven process of safety management within the company and the industry which helps make air travel the safest form of public transport.

The application of these new rules in the last 48 hours would have reduced our levels of cancellation from 380 flights to 21, or put another way, only 3% of our programme would have been affected. This level of cancellation would be more akin to a weather event and therefore much more bearable for customers and the industry.”

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

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the introduction of a new Time Limited Zone (TLZ) which will allow flights to take place though denser ash cloud than previously permitted.

Following discussions with airlines, regulators, and aircraft and engine manufacturers the new Time Limited Zone, which effectively doubles the amount of permissible ash grammes per cubic metre of air, will reduce the need for airspace closures caused by volcanic ash.

New procedures and the introduction of the zone will take place from midday today, 18 May 2010.

To operate in the new zone airlines need to present the CAA with a safety case that includes the agreement of their aircraft and engine manufacturers. UK airline Flybe is the first to achieve this and will therefore be able to use the new zone from midday.

Announcing the change Andrew Haines, Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive, said: “I’m pleased that the huge efforts we’re all making across aviation to keep flying safe whilst minimising the disruption from the volcano have resulted in further progress. Unprecedented situations require new measures and the challenge faced should not be underestimated. Firstly because the standard default procedure for aircraft that encounter ash, to avoid it completely, doesn’t work in our congested airspace. Secondly, the world’s top scientists tell us that we must not simply assume the effects of this volcano will be the same as others elsewhere. Its proximity to the UK, the length of time it is continuously erupting and the weather patterns are all exceptional features.

“The answer can only come, therefore, from aircraft and engine manufacturers establishing what level of ash their products can safely tolerate. At an international aviation conference we held last Thursday, attended by all the leading airline operators this approach was welcomed and supported. The manufacturers are co-operating fully and urgently in this task and the new zone is an excellent example of how the industry should be working to move the issue forward and I commend Flybe for its work.”

The introduction of the Time Limited Zone is based on measurements collected from test flights through the current ash cloud over the past month, as well as on data and evidence compiled and analysed from previous volcanic ash incidents combined with additional analysis from manufacturers.

Due to a volcanic ash cloud, NATS has advised that a no-fly zone is in place in the West of Scotland, some airports in the Western Isles, and Northern Ireland until at least 13:00.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has also imposed restrictions on all flights operating into and out of Ireland until 13.00 on Tuesday 4th May.

Newcastle airport has introduced Fast Track Security passes to allow for a speedier transit through airport security.

The passes cost £3 per passenger – children under 5 are free when travelling with a fast-track paying passenger – and allows passengers to avoid security search queues and pass down the fast track security channel.

Fast track passes can be bought from one of two kiosks located in the terminal near security.

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