Paul

Fog disrupting air travel in Europe.

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Some 20 European airports, plus all airlines, are warning passengers that poor visibility due to heavy fog in the UK and continental Europe is causing cancellations and delays for the second day in a row, with the disruption expected to continue throughout today (Monday 2nd November).

Heathrow Airport alone saw more than 90 flights cancelled yesterday and another 20 again early this morning, while other UK and European airports are also reporting cancellations and severe delays due to continuing foggy conditions.

The UK Meteorological Office has issued a yellow alert warning, as Air Traffic Controllers at Heathrow Airport in particular have issued requests that airlines reduce today’s schedules to maintain safety. 

So far, those airports that have reported disruption include the following: Aberdeen; Amsterdam; Belfast; Bristol; Brussels; Cardiff; Frankfurt; Gatwick; Geneva; Glasgow; Hamburg; Leeds Bradford; London City; London Gatwick; London Heathrow; Madrid; Manchester; Milan; Paris Charles de Gaulle; and Zürich.

These poor visibility conditions are expected to continue until mid-afternoon for some eastern parts of England and southern Scotland.

We (GTM) always recommend that all air travellers check in online for their flight and ensure that either we, or your airline, has your mobile/cell phone number and email address in order to help with alerts and notifications.

Paul

New British Airways Route.

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British Airways has today announced the start of a new London Gatwick to New York JFK service. This new daily service will commence next year on 1st May 2016, but seats go on sale today.

The flight will be operated by a Boeing 777 offering Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins. The flight times will be, from London Gatwick, an afternoon departure at 1640 landing in NY at 1930 and returning from JFK at 2200 arriving Gatwick the next morning at 1000.

Paul

Italian & French Strikes 8th October.

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Please note that there is industrial action planned for tomorrow, Thursday 8th October, in France & Italy.

In Italy ground handlers are planning to strike and in France trade unions are also planning nationwide strikes throughout the day.

Please remember to check in online for your flight and ensure that we (GTM) have your most up to date mobile number and email address.

Richard

Italy: Baggage handlers to stage four-hour strike on 8 October

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From media reports: Ansa reported that a union representing baggage handler workers has announced a four-hour strike nationwide on 8 October in a dispute about new contracts

The planned strike will take place from 1 pm until 5 pm, local time.

Paul

EASYJET – New Fees and Charges

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From the 24 September we’re introducing some changes to benefit your customers.

24 Hour Cancellation

Cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking for just £13 per passenger/per flight and receive a refund on your booking (valid up to 2 hours before the standard time of departure).

Name Changes

No longer able to travel?  Change the name on your booking for £15 per person/per flight up to 60 days or more before departure, or £45 per sector within 59 days of departure.  If done through the contact centre on the telephone, £5 will be added. However, the lead passenger must remain the same; otherwise it’ll be treated as a cancellation.

 

Flight Changes

Need to change your itinerary with us?  You can now change your flight for just £15 per passenger/per flight (plus any fare difference) up to 60 days before departure and £45 per sector (plus any fare difference) within 59 days of departure. If done through the contact centre on the telephone, £5 will be added.

 

Paul

Lufthansa Pilots’ Strike Enters Second Day.

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Pilots at German airline Lufthansa have started a second day of strikes today, Wednesday 9th September 2015, grounding around 1,000 flights and affecting 140,000 passengers, and said more strikes would come if the company’s management did not improve their offer in a row over cost cutting.

Lufthansa had tried to stop the strike, the 13th in 18 months, with a temporary injunction but on Tuesday night two courts ruled in favour of the pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit.

“If there’s no new offer from Lufthansa we will call for a further strike,” VC spokesman Markus Wahl told Reuters at Frankfurt airport. He said strikes could occur at any time, though the union would give 24 hours’ notice.

The pilots are striking over retirement benefits, pay and Lufthansa’s plans to expand low-cost operations. They want Lufthansa to halt the expansion of Eurowings, which has an Austria operating licence, while negotiations continue.

Lufthansa management has said it must achieve cost cuts in order to compete with budget rivals such as Ryanair, which are targeting the German market.

Paul

New BA Route – San Jose (SJC) California.

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British Airways has announced the start of services between London Heathrow and San Jose, California.

The daily service will be on sale from 27th August, with flights starting on 4 May 2016 from Terminal 5. The route will be operated by a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft with First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins on board.

The BA279 will depart Heathrow daily at 1515 arriving in San Jose at 1805 and will return as BA278 departing at 2000 landing the next day at 1405.

Paul

New British Airways Lounge in Singapore Now Open.

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The brand new British Airways lounge in Singapore has now opened following several months of refurbishment, during which time British Airways customers have been using the Qantas lounge.

The new lounge is a brand new lounge featuring the very latest Galleries design and an additional 42% capacity due to A380 services which increase to daily from December.

Highlights include stunning feature lighting, a dramatic feature wall and high communal dining tables. All art on display in the lounge has been chosen due its link to Singapore and includes mix of upcoming and established British and Singaporean artists.

The new lounge also features a world first – the exclusive Concorde Bar Singapore where First customers can dine, relax and work.

The Concorde Bar Singapore

The Concorde Bar Singapore is the first Concorde Bar to open anywhere in the world. An exclusive haven for First customers and their eligible guests only, the design is strikingly different in style from the main Galleries lounge with black timber, Nero marble and champagne metal finishes.

The Concorde Bar offers a variety of seating options including communal bar seating, more private sofa corners and dining booths. Customers can enjoy digital panoramic views of the Singapore skyline which will enable them to connect to the time of day outside when travelling through time zones.

Other Concorde Bar openings are planned globally, with the next opening to take place in Dubai.

Paul

Important UK Passport Holder Visa Updates.

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Please note the following important visa updates which affect UK passport holders.

1. Kenya

From 1st September 2015, travellers arriving in Kenya who were previously able to purchase a visa upon arrival, will now be required to process, and purchase, a visa online BEFORE arriving in the country. For instructions on how to apply, please use the following URL: https://immigration.ecitizen.go.ke/index.php?id=5

2. India

Eligible UK passport holders can now apply for an e-Tourist Visa online. Please note there are certain criteria which must be met in advance and the option also applies to those on a ‘casual business visit’. At this time we (GTM) are waiting for further clarification on the definition of a casual business visit. For more information, please visit, https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

 

Paul

New British Airways Service To Peru.

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British Airways will be launching a new year round long-haul service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Lima, Peru (LIM) commencing 04 May 2016. The new route will be operated by a three class Boeing 777 aircraft with 48 Club World, 24 World Traveller Plus and 203 World Traveller seats.

The new route will operate three services a week during the Summer and two services per week in the Winter.