Robin Hood Airport based carrier, Wizz Air, is to launch a new flights from Doncaster to Vilnius, Lithuania, twice weekly on a Sunday and a Wednesday.

This is the first route to the Baltic States from Robin Hood Airport and is anticipated to bring around 30,000 passengers through Robin Hood Airport each year.

This new route will become Wizz Air’s sixth route from the airport, as Robin Hood Airport becomes the airline’s second largest UK base.

Passengers regularly travelling with Flybe should note that the airline has made changes to its checked-in baggage allowances and charges.

The airline now has four tiers of baggage allowances and charges.

Prior to 28 October, passengers paying the minimum charge of £9.99 (online price) were entitled to carry 20 kilos, however, this has now been reduced to just 15 kilos. Passengers wishing to carry 20 kilos will now have to pay an increased fee of £11.99.

The following table details weights and charges applicable when paying online. For full details of Flybe’s charges including call centre and at the airport charges click here: www.flybe.com/flightInfo/baggage_policy_changes.htm

The new Winter 2010/11 schedule for Thomson Airways, the airline for First Choice and Thomson Airways, will include additional flights to Lanzarote from Robin Hood Airport.

The new flights will give even greater choice to those passengers flying from the ever increasingly popular Robin Hood Airport, as the airport strives to add more flights from existing airlines to the airport as well as new airline carriers.

To book Doncaster Sheffield airport parking using an instant online parking price checker or Sheffield hotels click on the links.

Changes have been made to arrival and departure procedures for the following Robin Hood Airport parking products:

Robin Hood Long Stay Car Park

Arrival Procedures:

Robin Hood airport now operates an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR), DO NOT insert a credit/debit card into the car park barrier as you will be charged again. Car registration numbers should be entered at the time of booking.

Upon arrival at the car park, drive up to the entry barrier. The ANPR system will read the vehicle registration plate and automatically issue a ticket. (Please wait about 20 seconds for this process.) Remove the ticket, and the barrier will rise allowing you to enter. Your ticket should be retained as it will be required to exit the car park.

Should the system fail to recognise your vehicle or the barrier does not raise automatically when you arrive at the airport, please press for a ticket.

Departure Procedures:

On your return to the airport, collect your vehicle and drive to the exit barriers.

If you had to press for a ticket on arrival, please press the help button on the exit barrier and provide the operator with your booking reference number and surname. The operator will then raise the barrier manually for you to exit.

If the barrier raised for you automatically on arrival, please insert the original entry ticket in the exit machine, where the barrier will rise allowing you to exit the car park.

Any additional stay outside the pre-booked period will be charged at the standard tariff.

Robin Hood Premium Car Park

Arrival Procedures:

Robin Hood airport now operates an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR), DO NOT insert a credit/debit card into the car park barrier as you will be charged again. Enter your car registration at the time of booking.

Follow the directional signs for the Premium Car Park and Control Point 1. On the road towards the Premium car park you will pass through one set of barriers. Please proceed slowly whilst the barrier reads your number plate. The ANPR system will read the vehicle registration plate and automatically issue you with a ticket. Remove the ticket, and the barrier will rise allowing you to enter.

Should the system fail to recognise your vehicle or the barrier does not raise automatically press for a ticket.
Retain the ticket and keep it safe as you will need this to exit.

Continue forward and at the next roundabout, take the first exit, the Premium Car Park is on your right. On arrival at the Premium Car Park, the entry barrier will raise automatically – no ticket will be issued.

Departure Procedures:

On your return please drive towards the car park exit barrier and the barrier will automatically lift allowing you to exit.

Your booking will also be validated by the ANPR system on the exit lane barrier.

If you had to press for a ticket on arrival, please press the help button on the exit barrier and provide the operator with your booking reference number and surname. The operator will then raise the barrier manually for you to exit.

If the barrier raised for you automatically on arrival, insert the original entry ticket in the exit machine, where the barrier will rise allowing you to exit.

Any additional stay outside the pre-booked period will be charged at the standard tariff.

A 48-hour strike by UK Border Agency staff could result in some disruption at UK airport border control today and tomorrow, 13 and 14 October.

Lin Homer, chief executive, UK Border Agency said: ‘This strike action is fundamentally about the agency’s efforts to modernise its working practices to deliver a more efficient and effective service.

‘As always, our priority is to keep the UK border secure while speeding the travel of legitimate travellers and goods. We expect the vast majority of our facilities and services to remain open for business.

‘We will work hard to keep any possible delays to a minimum and welcome the commitment of those staff working despite the strike action to ensure we check passengers through the controls as quickly as possible.’

Delegates from Robin Hood Airport have flown to the annual World Route Development Forum, hosted in Vancouver, Canada in a bid to talk to international airlines about launching from the UK airport.

The forum, the 16th of its kind, brings together hundreds of airlines and airports from across the world in a chance to network and make contacts to further their business and development plans.

It was felt that the forum was the perfect opportunity for the world to see the potential that the Midlands airport has to offer. And speaking about the event, Airport spokesman Robin Tudor said: ‘The event can best be described as ‘speed dating’ for airports and airlines. If the airlines like what we have to say in our brief sales pitch, then a relationship can be established that can lead to more business in the future.’

To book Doncaster Sheffield airport parking using an instant online parking price checker or Sheffield hotels click on the links.

Robin Hood Airport has confirmed that easyJet is to withdraw from the airport with effect from 4 January 2011.

easyJet began operating from the airport in April of this year, offering 23 flights a week to Amsterdam, Prague, Barcelona, Faro and Majorca.

Nick Smillie, Aviation Sales Director for Peel Airports, said: “We are naturally very disappointed by easyJet’s decision to withdraw flights from Doncaster Sheffield Airport from 4th January 2011.

“Operational restrictions, largely due to the fact that the aircraft is not Doncaster based, have affected the viability of the operation. For example, the timings of certain key flights have affected their attractiveness to the region’s business community – a key source of passengers and revenues.

“However, where schedules have been favourable, aircraft have been flying up to 99 percent full. This provides us with strong evidence of demand for flights from Doncaster Sheffield.

“We are already talking to a number of alternative airlines regarding these and other potential new routes and are confident that many will be re-instated in the near future.”

To book Robin Hood airport parking using an instant online parking price checker or Sheffield hotels click on the links.

There’s more industrial action planned in France today, with strikes set to start at 17:00 today, 6 September, continuing until 05:00 on Wednesday 8 September.

Delays and disruption to flights into and out of France are expected with British Airways advising passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport.

BA passengers can check their flights either online at ba2go.com, or calling in the UK on 0844 493 0787 (0600-2000 local time).

Renovation works to the Runway at Warsaw Airport means that the airport will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays between 3 and 19 September.

During these times, flights to and from Warsaw will be diverted to Lodz Airport.

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.