The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a new price comparison tool to enable travellers to see a summary of optional charges levied by the top airlines in the UK.

The tool details information of costs of hold luggage, in flight meal charges, seat reservation and other optional airline fees.

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the CAA said: “The diversity of UK aviation offers excellent choice and value to UK consumers with airlines adopting various business models. To really benefit from that choice consumers want to know the full price picture. For some passengers and airlines the headline ticket price will be the most expensive part of the booking, whilst for others the impact of optional fees and charges can change their view of the best overall price.

“Our table allows passengers to easily compare the optional fees that airlines charge and it’s important to consider those charges alongside the ticket price and the extra charges that could be applied before making their booking.”

To view the fees and charges comparison table click here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2200/Comparing_airline_charges_1st_Feb_2012_.pdf

The CAA plans to update the charges table on a quarterly basis.

Stansted Airport has announced that a record number of flights departed from the airport last year, 2011.

According to figures from Stansted‘s aircraft noise department, more than 99% of those flights kept to their flight path, while 94% of incoming flights performed a Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) during landing.

During CDA aircraft descend gradually, reducing aircraft noise, fuel consumption and therefore reducing emissions.

Ryanair is to add 18 extra flights to the Six Nation rugby matches.

The extra flights will operate on the following routes as follows:

• Bristol – Dublin – two extra flights on 5 February for Ireland vs. Wales
• London – Rome – two extra flights on 10 and 12 February for Italy vs. England
• Dublin – Paris – six extra flights on 10/11/12 February for France vs. Ireland
• Paris – Edinburgh – four extra flights on 25 and 27 February for Scotland vs. France
• Dublin – Edinburgh – four extra flights on 9 and 11 March for Scotland vs. Ireland

The Christmas timetable for the Stansted Express service has been announced – see below for details

• Christmas Eve – a normal service will operate until 22:00
• Christmas Day – no service
• Boxing Day – Stansted Express service will operate between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale only
• 27 December – a revised timetable with trains only operating between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale
• 1 & 2 January – normal Sunday service
• 8 January – replacement coach service

For more information click here

Stansted Airport witnessed a reduction of 7.5% in passenger numbers in November.

The drop has been attributed to the reduction in seats available on domestic and European scheduled services.

The November fall continues the downward trend in passenger numbers at Stansted. Comparing the 11 months of this year (Jan to Nov) with the same period last year, Stansted saw a 2.8% reduction in passengers and, in a rolling 12-month period, the airport has seen a 3.4% fall in numbers.

Titan Airways, the VIP charter airline, has confirmed an exclusive arrangement with Corsican Places to operate the London Stansted to Calvi services next summer.

The flights are included in Corsican Places’ new 2012 brochure and offer convenient Sunday morning departures. Flights will be operated using a Boeing 737-300 aircraft, configured with just 130 seats with a generous 32-inch seat pitch.

Corsican Places commercial manager, Paul Kenny said: “We are delighted to continue our successful charter programme with Titan Airways for a third season. Titan Airways has achieved the highest praise of any carrier that we have worked with for the past two years running, achieving an impressive 85% score with our customers.”

The war of words over border control strike action continues in the press and it is unknown how badly affected airport passengers are going to be by the action – reports vary from minor disruption to significant.

Border control will be affected from the evening of Tuesday 29 November until midnight on Wednesday 30 November – strike action start times will depend on shift patterns.

Any delays will affect passengers arriving into the UK that need to pass through passport control – outgoing flights should not be affected.

Tips to help avoid delays:

• Use e-Passport gates where available
• Have travel documents, including passports, ready
• Fully complete landing cards
• Stay in family groups.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has said that it has robust arrangements in place to maintain the security of the border and that it has

• trained managers, staff and contractors to carry out border checks
• requested overseas staff to provide cover
• asked airlines and ports to identify potential pressure points.

Rob Whiteman, chief executive of the UK Border Agency, said: ‘Securing the border is our priority and over the last weeks and months we have considered all options to ensure we are prepared for union action.

‘We always aim to minimise any disruption caused by the decision of unions to strike, but travellers could see longer waiting times at some ports and airports.’

For up-to-date UKBA information visit  http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

The largest coordinated industrial action will see up to 3 million workers take strike action next Wednesday, 30 November 2011.

Among strikers will be UK Border Agency staff who look after passport control and immigration at all the UK’s airports and ports.

In order to alleviate chaos at the UK’s airports, the Government is to transfer civil servants from Whitehall to man the UK’s borders, checking passports of EU travellers and also man e-passport gates where passengers use their biometric passports.

A UKBA spokesman told the BBC: “The security of the UK border remains our top priority and it is absolutely right we explore all options to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action.”

Tips for passengers arriving in the UK on 30 November:

• Have passports and travel documents to hand
• Use e-passport gates if at all possible

Ryanair has announced it is to introduce reserved seating on all its flights.

The airline, which has been trialling priority seating on more than 100 routes since May, will extend the service on all flights from 10 January 2012.

The optional pre-booked seating is available for €10 (each way) and includes priority boarding.

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.”