First low-cost
flights to Malta

The Maltese tourism industry received a boost in September when the government announced that it would allow low-cost carriers to fly to the country. Ryanair, Easyjet and Germanwings are all due to start year-round services, with Ryanair';s daily flights from Luton, UK, due to start on 31 October.

Ryanair has been granted three routes to Malta, from Luton, Dublin and Pisa, and is advertising flights costing just e1 (US$1.2) one-way, excluding taxes. The carrier estimates that it will carry 86,700 tourists to Malta on these three routes alone and boost visitor numbers to the island, which has seen a recent slump in tourist arrivals.

Ryanair';s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said, "The government has shown courage and initiative in inviting proposals from low-cost airlines and we are delighted to have succeeded with our plans for these three new routes."

Germanwings, Germany';s major low-cost airline, will begin twice-weekly services to Malta from Cologne and Stuttgart from March 2007. The airline is currently advertising flights to Malta from e19 (US$24) one way, excluding taxes.

Air Malta has also reduced fares on a number of flights to 33 destinations between November and March. Tourism Minister, Francis Zammit Dimech, said the offer was part of Air Malta';s overall strategy. "The arrival of low-cost airlines is an opportunity for Air Malta and not a threat."

Baggage restrictions eased in the UK

Since August, passengers flying to or from a UK airport have only been able to take on board one piece of hand luggage less than 45cm by 35cm by 16cm in size and no liquids apart from prescription medicines and baby foods. The new regulations will allow musicians to take fragile instruments onto aircraft as well as passengers to take small amounts of liquid such as contact lens solution and toothpaste in a clear plastic bag. The new maximum hand-baggage size will also be raised slightly, although will not be as large as before.

BAA, the owner of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in the UK, has estimated that the increased security measures introduced at airports since August have cost the company UK£13 million (US$24.8 million). Up to 2,000 flights were cancelled after police foiled an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners. The main financial cost for BAA came from lost landing and take-off fees charged to airlines.

Marking the start of a new business partnership between low-cost airlines and supermarket chains, Air Berlin started selling cut-price flights at Lidl supermarket checkouts in the UK earlier this year.

For one week in September, customers were able to buy a cut-price flight voucher for UK£19 (US$36) from any of Lidl';s 390 UK supermarket stores that could be exchanged for a one-way flight on the carrier, which serves 25 European destinations. Normal flight costs range from UK£19 (US$36) to up to UK£69 (US$131.5).

The flight voucher also provides allocated seating, a complimentary snack and soft drink. Air Berlin Chief Executive, Joachim Hunold, said, "Our ethos is to provide quality products and services at low prices and we are excited to be able to continually surprise new customers with special offers and promotions."

Passengers can use the Air Berlin vouchers on flights from from London Stansted, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Bournemouth airports, as well as on certain domestic flights in the UK.

Travel Update

Low-cost carrier Easyjet has named Madrid';s Barajas Airport as its base for domestic Spanish flights and its hub for central Europe. The carrier announced that it was already the second biggest international carrier in Spain, behind national airline Iberia, and will operate domestic flights from Barajas from February 2007. The airline is to invest e100 million (US$128 million) in the airport.

The UK';s capital city has been voted top for public transport by travellers around the world, in a survey conducted by TripAdvisor. London';s public transport system was voted best overall by a quarter of survey respondents, while New York was second and Paris was third. Transport in Los Angeles was voted the worst by the 2,000 travellers who took part.

Irish state airline Aer Lingus has announced plans to float on the Irish and London stock exchanges. The carrier will be the first airline to float on the London stock exchange since Easyjet six years ago. The Irish government will retain a 25.1 per cent stake in the company while capital gained from shares will be used to enable the airline';s future growth.

Scandinavian airline SAS has announced the launch of a direct Stockholm to Beijing flight that will start operating in April. "We are eager to be flexible and operate flights on routes demanded by customers," said Lars Lindgren, SAS President. "Since our direct routes to Shanghai and Beijing from Copenhagen are highly appreciated, we see great potential in the Stockholm-to-Beijing route."

Ryanair passengers may soon be able to use their mobile phones during flights after the airline announced a deal to install specialist technology on its entire fleet of Boeing 737s from mid-2007. Geneva-based company OnAir has developed the technology to allow the use of mobile phones on board planes, although the system has yet to be approved by the regulatory authorities.

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways is to launch two low-cost carriers next year that will serve the international and domestic markets. The move will allow the airline to compete with other low-cost carriers ahead of the planned expansion of Tokyo';s Haneda airport, which is scheduled to have a fourth runway by 2009.

South Africa has announced the construction of a new airport in Durban that will be completed before the city hosts football';s World Cup in 2010. South African Transport Minister, Jeff Radebe, said, "The present site of the Durban International Airport will never be able to handle the expansion of both freight and passengers."

China is to open more flight paths between Beijing and Shanghai, Shanghai and Hong Kong and Beijing, South Korea and Japan. Beijing Airport authorities are also spending more than US$3 billion on an expansion scheme to double capacity by next year.