BA Chairman says "No more kow-towing to U.S. on security"

October 27, 2010


The chairman of British Airways has criticized airport checks as "completely redundant" and said Britain should stop "kow-towing" to US demands for increased security, the Financial Times reported today.
The newspaper quoted Martin Broughton as saying at the annual conference of the UK Airport Operators Association in London on Tuesday that no one wanted weak security.
Broughton said, however, the practice of forcing people to take off their shoes and have their laptops checked separately should be ditched.
"We all know there's quite a number of elements in the security program which are completely redundant," he said.
Broughton said there was no need to "kow-tow to the Americans every time they wanted something done" to beef up security on US-bound flights.

Finnair strike ends

October 26, 2010


The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) said late on Tuesday that it had reached agreement on a new wage deal, ending a two-day strike by air transport technical staff, which had halted aircraft maintenance.
Finnish national carrier Finnair, which cancelled 35 flights on Monday and Tuesday, said its traffic is expected to return to normal on Wednesday.
"The strike has ended, industrial actions will be ramped down and employees will return to work," IAU said in a statement, adding that the new deal is for three years.
Finnair spokeswoman Paivi Huuhtanen said some 1,500 passengers were affected by the strike, but noted the costs had not been estimated.
Scandinavian airline SAS's Blue1 also had to cancel some 14 flights due to the strike.

Finnair cancels flights

October 25, 2010


Finnish national carrier Finnair has cancelled 19 flights on Monday and 15 on Tuesday, because of a strike by air transport technical staff halting maintenance of aircraft.
Finnair spokeswoman Inka Ikonen said about 900 passengers on Monday and about 500 on Tuesday were being impacted by the strike.
"It is very difficult to estimate the costs," Ikonen added.
Around 900 Finnish Aviation Union's (IAU) members begun a strike on Monday at 5 am local time after a new wage deal was not reached on Sunday.
Both the IAU and employer's representative on Sunday evening turned down the state mediator Esa Lonka's proposal for a new deal and the parties are now waiting for the talks to reconvene.
"We have not yet received an invitation for talks from Lonka," IAU's deputy chairman Reijo Hautamaki said.
So far Scandinavian airline SAS’s Blue1 and Finncomm airlines have not cancelled any flights.
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SAS Traffic Up In September

Scandinavian airline SAS said passenger traffic rose 8.5 percent in September from a year earlier while its yield in the month was seen coming in negative, in line with the previous month.
SAS said its passenger load factor rose 3.6 percentage points year-on-year to 74.3 percent.
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Not another BA strike ballot

September 1, 2010


Will it never stop?????

The union representing British Airways' cabin crew is considering balloting members over a fresh wave of strike action if no progress on a peace deal is made soon.
A spokeswoman for the Unite union said a new strike ballot was "always an option" and that there would be a mass meeting of its members on Monday, September 6.
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The union representing British Airways' cabin crew is considering balloting members over a fresh wave of strike action if no progress on a peace deal is made soon.
A spokeswoman for the Unite union said a new strike ballot was "always an option" and that there would be a mass meeting of its members on Monday, September 6.
Keep updated at Europebyair and find the cheapest fares to and beyond Europe.

BAA averts strike

Ground staff offered 2 pct rise plus one-off payment



LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - British airport operator BAA offered ground staff a 2 percent pay rise plus a one-off payment of at least 500 pounds ($781), averting strikes which had threatened to close major UK airports, the Unite union said.
Unite said on Tuesday it would recommend its members at BAA -- which include security staff, firemen and engineers -- accept the pay settlement reached on Monday following nine hours of talks. [ID:nLDE67F1RQ]
The deal is an increase on BAA's previous offer of a 1 percent rise plus an extra 0.5 percent conditional on changes to sickness agreements.
"The negotiations were tough but Unite has delivered a fair offer for BAA staff," Unite national officers Brian Boyd and Brendan Gold said in a statement.
The threatened walkout by ground staff would likely have shut BAA's six British airports, which include Heathrow and Stansted in London, disrupting the plans of thousands of travellers at the height of the holiday season.
BAA apologised to passengers for uncertainty caused by the dispute, which followed strikes by airline cabin crew and disruption from the spread of ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland this year.
"We believe this is a fair offer for staff in what remains a difficult economic environment for the aviation industry," a spokeswoman for BAA said.
"All parties brought a constructive approach to negotiations and we are sorry for the uncertainty ahead of yesterday's discussions."
Unite said that under the deal staff would get a 2 percent pay rise effective from the start of 2010, and arrangements to sick pay would remain unchanged.
BAA, owned by Spanish group Ferrovial (FER1.MC), had angered union members by withdrawing a 450 pound payment conditional on BAA's hitting earnings targets -- which it missed by 3 percent.
But the union said BAA had now agreed to lump-sum payments of between 500 and 900 pounds, linked to the earnings performance of each airport, to be paid in two installments.
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British airport operator BAA and the Unite union agree to talks

August 13, 2010


British airport operator BAA and the Unite union are to hold talks on Monday aimed at averting planned strikes by ground staff, conciliation service Acas said.
Unite said on Thursday its members at BAA, owned by Spanish group Ferrovial, had voted three-to-one in favor of industrial action in a dispute over pay.
The threatened walk-out by essential staff including security guards, firemen and engineers would probably close BAA's six British airports, which include London's Heathrow and Stansted, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of people.
"Talks between BAA and Unite will take place under the auspices of Acas at midday on Monday 16 August," Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood said, adding that the talks would take place at an undisclosed location.
Unite's officials are also due to meet on August 16 to decide the dates of any walk-outs. The union has to give seven days' notice of planned industrial action.

Spanish air strike on hold

I have not posted additional information on the status of strikes effecting Europe. The past few days I have been monitoring the situation. But, now Spain’s air traffic controllers have called off a strike planned for later this month, saying they don’t want to further dent the country’s troubled tourism industry.

According to MailOnline, around 300,000 British tourists could have had their holidays ruined following the breakdown of negotiations over pay and working conditions on Friday.
But after an outcry from Spain’s tourist industry and a damning response from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the UNSCA union has vowed to postpone the action.
Spain’s tourism industry was hit particularly hard by the recession and, although many Britons will holiday there this summer, its overall visitor numbers have dropped dramatically the third year in a row.
UNSCA spokesman Cesar Cabo said: ‘The union understands the concerns of the tourism sector and passengers.’
Uncertainty over the possibility of strikes had already hurt last-minute bookings, which are lower than predicted. But tourism and airline officials feared visitor numbers could fall even further after talks with Spain’s airport authority AENA broke down last week.
Many tourists had already looked at cancelling or postponing their trips.
‘We would have liked the decision to be definitive and not just for the month of August,’ said Juan Ignacio Lema, chairman of AENA, in a statement.
If you are holding reservations for a European destination it is always wise to check with the airline. When you are thinking of making reservations to Europe and Beyond look for the best deals at EuropebyAir.com

BA Ready for Strike Action

05 AUG 2010:

Talks between British Airways and the cabin crew union Unite, shows no sign of reaching an accord anytime soon. Instead, Unite is threatening to have cabin crew members vote again for further strikes starting in September. Meanwhile BA continues to train volunteer cabin crew and insists it will still be able to operate all its long-haul flights from Heathrow, regardless of the outcome of a strike vote.

The carrier issued a brief statement saying there had been a short a short meeting at ACAS on Tuesday and there were plans to meet again next week, but it provided no date for any future meeting.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said, "I want to reach a resolution, but we are preparing for further industrial action."

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Spain's Air Traffic Controllers Vote to Strike

August 4, 2010


Spain's air traffic controllers have voted to strike in mid-August to protest against pay cuts and changes to their job conditions, their union USCA said.
An exact date for the start or duration of the industrial action, likely to cause chaos in the nation's airports at the height of the busy tourist season, is still to be decided.
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Are Good Times Back Or Just a Great Summer

It appears good times are finally back for the nation's airlines. For you the traveler, it could mean fare bargins may be harder to find .Although today many of the carriers were offering reduced August rates to a number of destinations
This summer's travel season got off to a great start, fares were up, and fees from baggage and other items formerly free brought in large amounts of incremental revenue...
The six biggest U.S. airlines earned about $1.3 billion in the second quarter, and more profits are expected for the rest of the year. .
Here's a look at what travelers can expect in the months ahead:
FEES
A recent study shows that worldwide, carriers took in $13.5 billion from fees in 2009, a 43 percent jump in just one year.
"Fees are going to be around for awhile. Spirit Airlines' announced a fee of $45 for some carry-on bags beginning on some flights starting Aug. 1.
Summer fares are up an average of 18 percent, However, travel demand will taper off as fall approaches —
LOAD FACTORS
Leisure travel demand has been strong and although we are seeing some over the board sales for August. Seats are full like never before. Including regional flights, Delta filled 88 percent of its seats in June, Continental sold 87 percent, and American 86 percent — that's about 2 percentage points higher than last summer
Although the summer has been strong, advance bookings for the month of August are running behind last year's numbers..So, are we  out of the recession or just having a good summer?
EuropebyAir has some of the best bargins to and within Europe...Check out Flight Pass for hop scotching around Europe and beyond.

Flybe Expands Maintaining Profitability

British airline Flybe has ordered 35 aircraft worth USD$1.3 billion from Brazilian planemaker Embraer, as it drives expansion in continental Europe.

The order, which comprises 35 firm initial orders of the Embraer E series aircraft for USD$1.3 billion with options for 65 more and purchase rights for a further 40, has a potential total value of USD$5 billion.
Flybe chief executive Jim French said he was confident of growth, despite challenges earlier year from the ash cloud and nervous consumer sentiment.
"We have grown by about 20 percent compound, we see anything up to 10 percent going forward," he said.
He said the group was confident of its business model which focuses on domestic flights from smaller regional airports, after maintaining a profit through the recession. Flybe currently operates a fleet of 72 planes.
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Passenger Travel in Europe Increases

Two years after the financial crisis that affected countries across the globe, it seems that there are some improvements in business particularly air travel.

According to the AEA, or the Association of European Airlines, data shows that for the month of June this year, the passenger traffic in Europe has returned to its normal rate before the strike of the recession. This means that the number of air travellers in Europe has reached figures similar to that before the financial crisis.
More and more passengers are booking themselves on longer flights this year, thereby increasing passenger kilometres to eight per cent compared to data from June 2009. When making your plans to Europe and beyond ck with EuropebyAir for our insider fares.

UPS offers 'luggage boxes' as alternative to checking bags

Only days after federal officials announced that the nation's airlines had collected 33% more revenue this year from checked luggage fees, UPS offered its alternative to the hassle and expense of lugging a suitcase through an airport.

The world's largest package delivery service announced last week that it was selling specially designed boxes that resemble suitcases. Passengers can ship the "luggage boxes" to their final destination to avoid the airlines' check-in lines and luggage fees.
The new UPS boxes include carrying handles and come in two sizes.The UPS announcement came a few days after the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that the nation's 10 largest airlines collected nearly $770 million in checked baggage fees in the first three months of the year, a 33% increase over the same period last year.

The new luggage boxes are also hitting the market as demand for airline seats begins to rebound from a two-year slump.
The International Air Transport Assn. announced that international airline traffic jumped nearly 12% in May from a year earlier, raising airline traffic numbers 1% above pre-recession levels.
UPS officials say they created the new boxes simply to make life easier for frustrated travelers.
"It's meant to be a convenience," said UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg.
She conceded that airlines can usually deliver luggage faster than UPS but said luggage shipped by UPS can cost $30 to $80 less per package, depending on the route and the weight of the box.
Rosenberg noted another advantage to the UPS luggage box: A tracking number lets passengers know its exact location.
EuropebyAir would like to hear your input or comments on this LA Times article and of course when planning your next trip to and within Europe  contact us for great insider fares EuropebyAir.com 

Want an Airline Seat for 6 bucks

Budget airline Ryanair is planning to sell tickets for as little as $6 — if you're willing to stand.

Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief exec, will outline a series of new proposals today including charging customers to use the loo (bathroom).
A new standing area with "vertical seats" will also be introduced at the back each of its 250 planes.
He said he hoped charging $1.50 to use the toilets in flight would encourage travellers on short haul flights to use the loo at the airport instead of on the aircraft.
Mr O'Leary said he wanted to install the coin operated loos and said: "The other change we've been looking at is taking out the last ten rows of seats so we will have 15 rows of seats and the equivalent of ten rows of standing area."
A Ryanair spokesman said Boeing had been consulted about fitting the "vertical seats" — which would cost between $6 and $12 per person.
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British Airways Offer To Cabin Staff Could Postphone Strike Ballot

June 28, 2010


The Unite union said on Sunday that it would look to postpone balloting British Airways cabin crew on further strikes to allow union members to consider the latest offer from the airline's management.
BA made a new offer to cabin crew on Friday in a bid to end a long-running dispute over pay and conditions before the employees are formally asked to consider taking further industrial action.
The ballot over future walkouts was scheduled to begin on Tuesday but Unite boss Tony Woodley said in a statement on Sunday that he expected cabin crew representatives to confirm the vote would be delayed to give members the chance to consult on the offer.
"The company has made it clear that the offer on the table will be removed if the strike ballot starts on Tuesday," said Woodley, whose Unite union represents 90 percent of BA's 12,000 cabin crew.
"It would therefore be inexplicable if we did not put this offer to our members and I expect this course of action will be confirmed by our cabin crew representatives when they meet tomorrow."
The new offer from BA includes two years of guaranteed rises in basic salary from February 2011 in addition to annual incremental pay increases.
"We welcome this statement from the Unite leadership. We believe our offer is fair and reasonable and provides a genuine opportunity to end this dispute," BA said in a statement on Sunday.
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British Airways To Hire Lower Paid Cabin Crew

June 24, 2010


British Airways said it planned to recruit over one thousand new cabin crew on lower wages than current staff as it faces possible further strikes by existing flight attendants in August.
The Unite union, which represents 90 percent of BA's 12,000 cabin staff, criticised the move which would do nothing to end a bitter dispute which has resulted in a series of walkouts.
BA will recruit 1,250 new crew members this year and forecast that in 10 years, staff on the new terms will make up 40 percent of cabin staff.
The airline said it was making the move in light of the losses it has posted over the past two years.
"We have suffered back-to-back record financial losses and need to continue making permanent changes to our cost base to ensure our long-term survival," BA said today.
Existing cabin crew on short-haul flights from Heathrow earn an annual salary of GBP£25,700 (USD$38,490) while crew on long-haul flights from Heathrow earn GBP£35,000 on average. Those on short-haul routes out of Gatwick earn GBP£18,300.
A BA spokesman said the new recruits would work on both short- and long-haul flights and earn a salary "similar to current Gatwick crew."
"Our Heathrow cabin crew costs are way out of line with our competitors and much more than our cabin crew costs at Gatwick. We can no longer afford this cost difference," he said.

THIRD WAVE OF STRIKES
The British airline faces a third wave of industrial action, disrupting the peak summer travel season, after Unite said on Tuesday it would hold a fresh ballot of its cabin crew members.
Crews have walked out for 22 days so far this year, costing the airline around GBP£150 million (USD$220 million).
Unite said the ballot would run from June 29 to July 27, so walkouts could begin on August 3 if voted for.
"This will do nothing to persuade cabin crew that BA management is looking to resolve the dispute, and nothing to dissuade our members from voting for further industrial action," said Unite Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley.
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Europe The Dream Destination

Europe is one of the seven conventional continents of Earth. The western most peninsula of Eurasia, it is surrounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, to the southeast by the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea and the waterways connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean
Europe is a dream destination for travelers worldwide. Travel to Europe wins hands down on several accounts over other popular international travel destinations. The selection for the traveler in a short duration of time and distance is amazing and exclusive to Europe alone. Every province has countries with a rich cultural and political history. You could be attracted to Europe for reasons like the wide-ranging cultural opportunities. It could be the prosperous cultural ancient times and the art scene – with museums, art, literature, theater, cinema or music of countries like France, Germany and England. It could basically be wide-ranging natural beauty that travel in Europe ensures – like the mountains of Switzerland and the Tuscan sun surroundings the beaches of Italy. Be it the lifestyle, architecture, food or languages, Europe enthralls the travelers with its multiculturalism and diversity. A European river cruise brings maritime luxuries to the traveler. Europe is a continent filled with magnificent sights and views. There is a world prominent ice-skating rink for everybody to enjoy in London. There are traditional music concerts preformed in London. In Amsterdam, there is a tram that departs every 20 minutes that can let you move around the city with simplicity. Also, in Amsterdam there is an international casino with a variety of games that may not be accessible in other countries. There is a broad collection of things to do on this enormous continent. Be sure to acquaint yourself with the civilization and laws of the areas that you will be visiting so you know what is predictable. Leave a copy of your passport with your family or friends for emergencies. And most of all check with EuropebyAir for the best fares....

BA And Unite Strike Talks To Resume Today

May 28, 2010


British Airways said it would resume talks later today with the union representing striking cabin crew in an attempt to avert a further 10 days of industrial action planned by staff over the coming weeks.
"We expect talks will resume today and hope that a peaceful resolution can be found," a BA spokesman said.
Flight attendants are  protesting over reduced staffing levels and cuts to benefits

BA strike continues to 09 June

British Airways cabin attendant stike will continue until 09 June.. In the latest statement BA is trying to operate as many flights without interuption...Please click here for the latest updates BA STRIKE
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