02.29.2008 | 10:04 am | Flight Comparison
After flights from Dundee airport to Belfast and Birmingham were suspended last year, due to the ending of an agreement between Flywoosh and their Polish airline partner, it seemed that life at the airport would never quite be the same again. However, thankfully Loganair have come to the rescue after striking a deal with Flybe to supply the airplanes for the service. So what does this mean to the area?
Scotland has always been something of a difficult region when it comes to attracting quality airlines and popular routes. While Loganair originally started at Dundee airport way back in 1963 they had dropped out of the region somewhat over the last few years. Thankfully they have decided to revamp and reintroduce what were actually very popular routes before their suspension last year.
While the so called “bread and butter” air traffic will come from the business and student communities of the region, they are also hoping to bring in an increasing number of tourists to the area, something which has been vital to the local economy through the years. The airport is also looking to take some of the market share from the likes of Edinburgh airport which continues to heave under the strain of expansion and increased popularity. Not only does Dundee airport offer a possible alternative to Edinburgh airport, but it should also bring in much needed travel numbers from areas such as Perth and Fife.
It is looking as though this partnership is set to breathe new life not only into Dundee airport but also the surrounding areas. The beauty of Scotland is renowned throughout the world, but if travellers are not able to get to the heart of these areas then local economies do miss out on potentially massive influxes of tourist spending.
02.28.2008 | 12:59 pm | Flight Comparison
Each week we seem to be hearing about new and exciting places to visit, backed up by flights from the thousands of airport around the world. However, there are many who are now starting to question how much growth is left in the airline industry and how many more places can we visit in the world. So are the skies near full capacity or is there still life in the industry?
While we may hear stories about how crowded our skies are and how many planes are flying to and from the worlds major airports, we are no where near full capacity as far as places to visit. The main problem for the airline industry is airport capacity rather than space in the skies. When we see the new terminal at Heathrow finally going through after more that 10 years of fighting and campaigning, it just shows how difficult it can be to plan ahead and how much of a risk this entails.
That said, we do need to see the creation of more large scale airports and whether these will need to be well out of the way of big cities remains to be seen. The further towards the city you go the less land available and the further away you go the more problems there are with the environmentalists. Life in the airline industry can be very challenging to say the least!
But for anyone to suggest the industry has reached anywhere near capacity is just wrong, and while there are issues as to the location of new airports these concerns will be overcome at some stage in the future. While we as travellers may think we have it hard waiting for delayed flights, etc, you try planning your investments over 10 years in advance. Just consider how much can happen in 1 year never mind 10 years!
02.26.2008 | 12:37 pm | Flight Comparison
As the airlines continue to fight over the pool of trans-Atlantic travellers we are seeing more and more great deals for those looking to fly to the States for a break. So if you had the choice, where would you go to? Why not check out some interesting locations across the “pond” and see what catches your eye :-
New York City
New York has always been a very popular destination for the European market with more and more people choosing to shop in the “Big Apple” as Christmas time approaches. New York really does have it all, the culture, the entertainment with a vast array of shows and festivals throughout the year.
San Francisco
Located on the west coast of the US, San Francisco has been a popular tourist destination for some time with its unique landscape, modern and old architecture together with a mix of cultures. Famous for the TV program “The Streets of San Francisco”, a visit to this area of the US will be an adventure.
Las Vegas
What can you say about Las Vegas which has not already been covered before in great detail? The capital of the worldwide casino industry as well as a massive entertainment venue, Las Vegas has so much more to offer than just gambling. It also has a reputation as the US version of “Gretna Green”, a place where many couples run to when they want to get married!
San Diego
While maybe not the best known of America’s largest cities, San Diego has been growing in popularity over recent times with more and more people looking for something a little different. The city itself is situated upon a mass of deep canyons which gives it a fairly distinct landscape. San Diego has miles upon miles of beautiful beaches, something else which has caught the eye of the tourist market!
02.25.2008 | 1:07 pm | Flight Comparison
There can be few places in the world which have received such bad press as Belfast, an area of Northern Ireland which faired worse than most during the troubles of years gone by. But has the city rebuilt itself? Is it some where you should be looking for a break?
The Belfast of today is a million miles away from the Belfast of 20, 30 or 40 years ago, it is vibrant and has been through one of the toughest and potential most lucrative of changes. The people are as welcoming as ever, the facilities are excellent and there are more than enough eye catching venues to visit during your stay. Whether you want to simple the local life, the action in the bars of just visit the many different styles of architecture around the city, there is something for you.
No matter what you may have read in the press over the past 50 years or so, the people of Belfast have always been welcoming to visitors from foreign shores and it is only after the recent political and religious disagreements have calmed down that the “real” Belfast has been able to shine through. For those keen to look at the sights we have Belfast Castle, the Ulster Hall and the famous Crown Liquor Saloon to name but a few interesting places to visit. The city is also awash with art, poetry and music – avenues which had been used by many to convey there thoughts and fears through the troubled times.
If ever you have the chance to visit Belfast you should grab it with both hands as it is one of the most beautiful and friendly cities you would ever wish to experience. They may have had there troubles, there may have been disagreements, but the Belfast of today is booming and a beacon for more and more travellers from around the world.
02.22.2008 | 5:38 pm | Flight Comparison
While many in the UK continue to look overseas for exciting destinations and beautiful landscapes, many are missing what is on their very own doorstep – Scotland and in particular, Edinburgh. So what does the capital of Scotland have to offer?
Located across the central belt of Scotland, Edinburgh is situated on the west coast of the country with excellent access by air, sea and land. However, it is the history of the city which seems to be attracting so much attention, in particular from the United States. Those who have either visited the area or know of the city’s history will be well aware that there are probably more different styles of buildings in Edinburgh than most other places in Europe. The two most prominent styles are the Georgian architecture and the medieval styles which are so visible in many areas in and around the city.
While the population of Edinburgh may only be in the region of 500,000 – and it is not even the largest city in the country – it is central to many different locations in the country. Whether you are in to Football, Golf, Fishing, Walking, Hiking and any other pastime you can mention, it is all within touching distance of the capital.
The city also hosts the world famous Military Tattoo each year, an event which has seen increasing crowds for some time. There are also various art festivals, the international film festival and the New Year Hogmanay celebration – Scotland does know how to party at New Year!
The city itself is also host to a vast array of excellent hotels, art galleries, libraries, and designer shops, not to mention the famous Edinburgh Castle which proved to be a major thorn in the side of the English as they fought to take over Scotland. For those who have not visited Edinburgh before, whether from overseas or from the UK, there really is something for everyone.
02.21.2008 | 3:37 pm | Flight Comparison
While we covered the plans for the world’s first ever biofuels assisted commercial airplane flight, it has actually happened with confirmation that the flight took off from London Heathrow, bound for Amsterdam. However, the big publicity campaign surrounding the flight has been somewhat overshadowed by the fact there were no passengers on board and the fuel mix only contained 25% biofuels material. So is it really a step in the right direction?
There is no doubt that the aviation industry has been waiting for such a breakthrough, but upon further investigation it may not be as ground breaking as Virgin may have you believe. The biofuel component is a mixture of coconut oil and babassu oil, and while these are the ingredients for the biofuel industry, even Virgin has acknowledged that when the biofuel era moves into the full market (with higher percentages of the fuel mix) it is very unlikely that these ingredients will be used.
There are also many environmental groups who are complaining that while the fuel is more friendly to the atmosphere, the overall impact on the environment is minimal when you consider that the biofuel ingredients have to be grown and harvested. These are the groups who are crying foul and accusing the parties involved of using the flight as a publicity stunt. So what is the future for biofuels?
There is no doubt that biofuels will play a major part as the move towards more environmentally friendly fuels continues at pace. However, there is a need to ensure that the affect on the environment is actually positive when all aspects are taken into account, and it does not interfere with the traditional food markets of the world – causing undue price increases.
Until these factors can be ironed out there seems little likelihood of a truly environmentally friendly commercial flight in the short term.
02.20.2008 | 3:18 pm | Flight Comparison
In a move which has been welcomed across the board, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have agreed to re-route a vast number of UK departure and arrival flight paths in order to reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise pollution. This has always been a major headache across the country with airports such as Heathrow, Luton, London City and other major airports on the agenda for change. So how will it work?
NATS have introduced a 13 week consultation period in the UK to hear arguments from all parties involved, and give each group the time to put forward their points for and against the proposed changes. If the scheme is rubber stamped it will see approximately 20% less people affected by aircraft noise pollution, with an ongoing program to increase this figure as time progresses.
The reduction will be achieved by a number of measures which include, reducing the stacking system around UK airports, therefore leaving plans flying at higher altitude, burning less fuel, and producing less noise pollution. Also, a number of major arrival and departure routes will be re-directed to take them away from built up areas – although there is likely to be some disagreements with regards to more flights over the countryside, and the possible implications on wildlife.
While there is no way that NATS can keep every party happy, the move is seen as a very positive step in the reduction of both environmental pollution and noise pollution around UK airports. However, it does seem as though NATS have acted before they were forced to by the authorities, although whatever the reason it is sure to have an overall positive impact.
Many are now hoping that other major countries around the worldwide will instigate similar schemes, thereby lifting the reputation of the industry with regard to pollution. Whether this move is actually replicated elsewhere remains to be seen…..
02.19.2008 | 1:43 pm | Flight Comparison
With news that the Indian government have successfully tested a military pilot free plane, many are now starting to ask whether we will see some form of this technology transferred over to the commercial airline industry. Will we eventually see planes flying without captains? Will we see limited crew flights in the future?
While this is a question which has been asked many times, although one which the industry has not officially considered, there have been rumours for some time that more automation and fewer cabin crews may well be a way to cut costs in the future. But is it safe? Is it actually possible?
Many of those who are critical of this idea seem to forget that the modern day passenger jets fly on auto pilot for much of the time, with even the touch downs orchestrated more and more by onboard computers. While there are many skilful pilots up over the worldwide skies, their position is fast become one of monitoring and taking control in the event of malfunctions, which seems to be a waste of their considerable experience and skills. So will it really happen? Will we finally say good bye to the captain?
Those who are concerned that we may soon see crewless flights over the UK skies can rest at ease because this concept is years away – even if it were to “get off the ground”. There is no way on earth that the regulators around the world would dare to add even the smallest extra degree of risk to flying, especially in the name of cost cutting. However, if the system were proven to be safe in the future then there is a chance that we may see less crew staff required and a reduction in operating costs but even that really is some way off.
Rest assured our skies will not be filled with robot aircraft in the near future!
02.18.2008 | 1:40 pm | Flight Comparison
In a move which is sure to receive much comment in the worldwide press, British Airways have announced plans to increase their fuel surcharges by up to £6 from the 25th February. In a move that was not wholly unexpected long-haul flights of less than 9 hours will see the surcharge increase by £5, with those over 9 hours seeing the full £6 charge increase – taking the total surcharges to £53 and £64 respectively. So what next for the industry?
Now that one of the worldwide majors has broken clear of the pack and increased their charges we are sure to see a knock on effect throughout the industry. That said, the likes of British Airways and others in the long haul market will be keen to be seen to be acting alone – especially after the Virgin Airlines and British Airways price fixing saga of last year. However, there is no way that the others in the industry can afford to take on board the increased cost of fuel and not pass on any of this to their customers. Is this the right time to be introducing an increased surcharge?
While there are very few right times to introduce price rises, this one has been forced onto the industry by elements out of their control – i.e. the price of oil. If they could have chosen a better time they would have, as we already have a worldwide recession on the way and increased competition across the Atlantic routes, all of which will see profit margins under severe pressure over the next 12 months. So is the industry financially secure?
As we have covered in some of our recent posts, there are concerns that some middle to lower ranking airlines are in severe financial difficulties after being forced to take on much of the increase in the price of fuel themselves. Whether this surcharge move by British Airways will be too little too late for those who are suffering remains to be seen.
02.15.2008 | 6:00 am | Flight Comparison
We have seen a major change in sentiment towards the Philippines over the last couple of years with the country becoming one of the more prominent hotspots of world air travel. This is despite a number of high profile terrorist atrocities and concerns that there may be more problems to follow. So why is the area becoming the place to visit for 2008?
Like so any areas of the world which become dominated by negative headlines, the terrorist problem is present in the country but it is no where near as wide spread as the popular press may have you believe. Much of the hard work to promote the country over the last decade has been lost under the barrage of criticism of the authorities with regard to the terrorist issue, but what does the country really have to offer?
Weather
If you are looking for somewhere to relax for a few days of even stay for a few months, the Philippines is a place you really should check out. Picturesque beaches which stretch for miles and a favourable climate are just a couple of the main attractions which more and more travellers are experiencing.
Facilities
While the country has always regarded tourism as a major source of income for the economy, there have been some major new developments over the last few years. A general increase in the standard of facilities, the transport network and low travel costs has seen the area appear on more and more travel sites.
Access
Even though access to the area has never really been a problem, we have seen a decent increase in competition of late, which has exerted pressure on ticket prices. This double whammy of greater accessibility and lower ticket prices has ensured that this is no longer a major issue for anyone looking to travel to the area.
The Philippines has so much to offer and it is only now that the country is seeing the real benefits of the last few years, years which have seen massive inward investment and promotion . It is all starting to come together!
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