Cheaper BA flights – but for passengers with hand luggage only: IOL Travel

[IOL Travel] British Airways is to take on budget airline rivals by charging less if passengers travel with just hand luggage.

British Airways is to take on budget airline rivals by charging less if passengers travel with just hand luggage. Photo: Wikipedia

The airline said the cheaper fares – initially to be offered on flights from Gatwick to five destinations – will give passengers “more choice”.

Holidaymakers with luggage to check in will not pay more to compensate for the lower “hand baggage only” fares, BA insisted.

The move will be seen as an attempt to compete with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet.

Peter Simpson, BA’s director at Gatwick, said: “The introduction of our hand baggage only fare is all about giving our customers more freedom to choose the kind of flying they want. Many British Airways customers on Gatwick short-haul breaks choose not to check in a bag as they’re already taking advantage of our generous two-bag hand luggage policy.

“Those who still want to check in a bag will simply pay the same price they do now.” …..

Read the full story at IOL Travel…..

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Daily Mail
21st Feb, 2013

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Gatwick Boss calls to expand Sussex and Essex airports: BBC News

[BBC News] A proposal to expand Gatwick and Stansted airports so they can compete with Heathrow has been put forward by Gatwick Airport‘s chief executive.

Gatwick wants three airports to compete but campaigners want demand spread across the UK. Photo: Gatwick Airport Ltd

Stewart Wingate said both the airports in West Sussex and Essex should expand.

The plan would see three airports of a similar size competing with each other and spreading the economic benefit and environmental impact, he said.

But anti-expansion campaigners said the South East had enough air capacity and demand should be spread across the UK.

Several plans have been put forward to increase air capacity in London and the South East including expansion of Gatwick, Heathrow, and regional airports.

There are also three plans to build airports in the Thames Estuary off Kent, and a proposal to build a four-runway airport on Goodwin Sands near Deal.

Mr Wingate said: “What we’re promoting is a model which sees the airports of the South East competing with one another.

“What that means for us is a second runway going into Gatwick and subsequently a second runway going into Stansted.”

But John Byng, vice chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said the prospect of a second Gatwick runway was “worrying” and added: “It will create much more noise and disturbance for local people.”

He said: “There are lots of services that would be further overstretched by the expansion of Gatwick and what’s more it’s not needed.

“There is plenty of capacity in the South East for the flights that are needed. There isn’t an airport in the country that’s full except Heathrow.

Read the full story on BBC News…..

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BBC News
1st Feb, 2013

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Gatwick Airport renews push for second runway: Telegraph

[Telegraph]  Gatwick Airport will resurrect proposals for a second runway this summer as it ramps up efforts to become London’s main gateway to booming economies in Asia.

GIP will publish a “master plan” next month setting out what the airport will look like in eight years’ time.

Details of the airport’s plans have emerged as its chief executive, Stewart Wingate, blamed rival Heathrow for giving foreign airlines a false impression that London was “closed for business”.

Gatwick, which has been owned by Global Infrastructure Partners since 2009, will publish a “master plan” next month setting out what the airport will look like in eight years’ time.

The airport’s bosses will also float two scenarios for how it could develop after 2020 – including the case for a two-runway airport.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Wingate said a second runway at Gatwick or Stansted would be less problematic – and costly – than either a new airport in the Thames Estuary or expansion at Heathrow.

The costs of building “Boris Island” seemed “prohibitively expensive”, he said, while a third Heathrow runway could cost in the region of £10bn-£15bn.

More people would be affected by the noise created by an enlarged Heathrow than at Gatwick or Stansted, the former BAA director added.

“There’s a noise contour which says that in and around Heathrow there’s about a quarter of a million people that live very close to…….

Read the full story at The Telegraph…..

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By Nathalie Thomas
9:30PM BST 23 Jun 2012

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Gatwick Runway Closed Again as Tyre Blows Out on Landing Kiev Flight

[Original Sources: Crawley Observer / BBC News] Gatwick’s only runway had to close yet again this morning following another emergency situation.

A passenger told BBC News that after making a “nice smooth landing, there was an almighty bang and the plane suddenly lurched to the right. Photo: Wikipedia

This incident again highlights how Gatwick Airport operations can possibly be severely affected by airstrip based emergencies, due to only having one runway available.

A tyre burst on a landing Boeing 737-300 this morning just before 11:30. The Ukraine International Airlines flight PS501 landed on schedule from Kiev Boryspil International Airport.

Gatwick Airport operational staff had to close the runway so that passengers could be safely taken to the airport’s South Terminal by coach.

One passenger told the BBC that after making a “nice smooth landing… there was an almighty bang and the plane suddenly lurched to the right”. The pilot managed to keep control of the aircraft, there were no injuries.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said to the Crawley Observer: “A Ukrainian aircraft landed earlier on today, as it did so a tyre burst.

“The passengers were safe, the plane was safe and there were no injuries on board.

“It was dealt with very quickly. The runway was closed for 10 minutes and it did not cause any cancellations or affect out bound flights. The passengers were coached to the airport.”

Ukraine International Airlines runs a daily return service into Gatwick from Kiev’s Boryspil International Airport.

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Chris Newman for the Airport Informer
Original sources BBC News/Crawley Observer
15th May, 2014

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Gatwick continues to emerge as Heathrow rival: BTN

[Breaking Travel News] Gatwick has continued its emergence as a serious rival to London Heathrow airport with the launch of its summer schedule.  

Average load factors were up 1.2 percentage points to 80.9 per cent in April 2012. Photo: Wikipedia

Korean Air commenced services between Gatwick and Seoul on April 28th, followed shortly afterwards by Air China, which started flights to Beijing on the May 2nd.

However, passenger numbers were down 1.3 per cent on the previous April, primarily driven by the Easter holidays starting in April last year but in March this year, and the additional public holiday in April 2011 to mark the royal wedding.

Average load factors were up 1.2 percentage points to 80.9 per cent in April 2012, despite the year-on-year shift in holidays.

Air traffic movements were down 2.6 per cent year-on-year due to reductions in charter operations and some away-based carriers, offset by growth from Gatwick-based low cost operators and new long haul airlines.

Air Nigeria confirmed they will commence daily flights to Lagos from May 17th.

Gatwick will also welcome Caribbean Airlines on June 15th who are planning to operate a six times per week service Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Nick Dunn, Gatwick Airport’s chief financial officer said……

Read the rest of the story at Breaking travel News…..

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Breaking Travel News
11th May, 2012

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Gatwick Airport aims to rival Heathrow after signing Air China deal: Telegraph

[Telegraph] Gatwick Airport has laid bare its ambition to rival Heathrow after announcing it had struck a deal with Air China over direct flights to Beijing.

Air China, a national flag carrier, will operate four direct flights a week between Gatwick and Beijing Photo: Bloomberg News

Air China is the latest long-haul carrier to sign up to Gatwick, which is trying to build a reputation as an alternative gateway between the UK and emerging markets.

The airport has started flexing its muscles as Heathrow’s owner BAA battles with the Government over building a third runway.

Air China, a national flag carrier, will operate four direct flights a week between Gatwick and Beijing.

Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer at Global Infrastructure Partners owned Gatwick, said the airport – the UK’s second largest – could serve London “just as effectively” as Heathrow, where take-off and landing slots are…….

Read the full story at The Telegraph…..

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By Nathalie Thomas
02 May 2012

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Stormy Gatwick sees the Dreamliner for the first time today: Amateur Video Footage

[LGW] Boeing’s new Dreamliner braved tough conditions to fly into London Gatwick today for the very first time. The visit to the UK’s second busiest airport was made in very poor weather conditions, and meant the Boeing crew had to battle high cross winds and pouring rain.

A windy and wet reception for the first Dreamliner to visit London Gatwick

The Dreamliner’s appearance at the West Sussex airport today is all part of the sixth leg of Boeing’s ‘787 Dreamliner World Tour’ and it  has been a very busy schedule, with Manchester and Heathrow already crossed off the list so far this week.

The 6th leg of the tour includes other European destinations before returning to the US:

• April  22– London’s Heathrow Airport
• April  23 – Manchester Airport
• April 25 – London’s Gatwick Airport
• April 27 – London’s Heathrow Airport
• May 1 – Oslo, Norway
• May 4 – Taranto, Italy
• May 7 – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – Washington, DC
• May 11 – Dallas, Texas
• May 14 – St. Louis, Missouri

The first landing at Gatwick came around 11am this morning with hundreds of spectators around the perimeters of the airport, braving the rough weather to get a first glimpse of the new aircraft.

It took off again at around 2pm for a short demonstration flight with invited guests on board.

The 787 crew had to battle 30 mph cross winds today in LGW, but achieved a very steady touchdown

Designated Flight No. BOE787 for this trip, it landing safely back at Gatwick at around 3.30pm and taxied to a stand to allow other invited guests to review the facilities on board.

The aircraft will return to Heathrow this Friday and then make its way to Oslo in Norway on Tuesday of next week, followed by a trip to warmer climes when it travels to Taranto in Southern Italy on the final leg of the European part of its tour.

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Chris Newman reporting
For the Airport Informer
25th April, 2012

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Monarch hikes credit card booking fees for flyers: This is Money

[This is Money] Customers heading overseas with budget airline Monarch this Summer should brace for a hike in credit card fees.

Three-quarters of Monarch passengers could see their credit fees rise, according to Which?

The airline has increased its credit card booking fees for the majority of its customers. Monarch used to charge a  £10 flat fee but now asks for £5 or 4 per cent of the cost of the total booking – whichever amount is higher.

This means a family of four flying to Spain in June would pay £1,243 for their flights and would then face an extra £50 in credit card fees.

The Government announced late last year would ban profiteering on all forms of payment by the end of 2012 and ruled businesses would only be able to charge what it costs them to process a transaction.

A Monarch spokesman says the airline will not make a profit through the fee hike and says many of the airlines 3.9m customers will pay less as a result of the change.

But a spokesman for consumer lobby group Which? says…..

Read the rest of this story at This is Money…..

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By Ruth Lythe
25 April 2012

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EasyJet chief urges Government to look at 2nd runway at Gatwick or Stansted airports

[Telegraph] Ministers must press ahead with an inquiry into a second runway at Gatwick or Stansted after last week slamming the door on Heathrow expansion, according to easyJet boss Carolyn McCall.

Carolyn McCall said a second runway at either Gatwick or Stansted made the ‘most economic sense’ in the medium term to solve the serious capacity problems in the South East Photo: Alamy

The head of the UK’s largest airline by passenger numbers has weighed into the fierce debate on aviation policy after Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers last week scuppered hopes that the Government might be moderating its stance on allowing a third runway at Heathrow – Britain’s only hub airport.

Ms McCall told the Telegraph it was “striking” how other European governments supported their airports while the UK was stuck in a “circular” debate about aviation capacity.

“In Europe there is a stark contrast…there is no debate. In Amsterdam, the Government and airport is completely aligned about developing Schipol. In [Milan] Malpensa, they are continuing to grow. No one is debating ‘should there be more capacity and should we have another runway?’ There’s just a real focus on the fact that air passengers bring money into the economy and   they are really important for growth.”

Speaking in Lisbon, where easyJet has launched its latest network base, Ms McCall said a second runway at either Gatwick or Stansted made the “most economic sense” in the medium term to solve the serious capacity problems in the South East.

“Theresa Villiers has closed the door to Heathrow again, which…..

Read the full story at The Telegraph…..

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By Nathalie Thomas, in Lisbon
4:39PM BST 24 Apr 2012

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easyJet plans Gatwick – Luxemburg services: BTN Breaking Travel News

[BTN] easyJet is planning to start services to Luxembourg from London Gatwick from 29 October 2012. This is the first time a low cost carrier has launched services on this important business route.

Luxembourg is a key commercial European centre

Luxembourg is a key commercial European centre with a number of large global companies basing their headquarters in the city including well known brands like Amazon, Paypal, Exxon Mobil and Skype.

The flights will add much needed competition on the London-Luxembourg route and offer more choice for passengers currently flying between the two cities. easyJet will initially operate four times a week with a view to increasing this number at a later date.

Paul Simmons, UK Director for easyJet, commented: “The launch of our new services to Luxembourg further bolsters our network of business destinations across Europe. Luxembourg is a key addition to the winter schedule which clearly demonstrates our commitment to providing a comprehensive range of key business routes – taking on the flag carriers, head on.”…..

Read the full story at Breaking Travel News…..

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BTN online
21st April 2102

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