BMI Regional, once part of BMI British Midland, which was sold to British Airways’ parent company IAG, is now operating flights again. Sector Aviation Holdings Ltd acquired BMI Regional from IAG and is now flying mainly UK domestic services.
Some of the cities BMI Regional are operating to/from are : Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Norwich. The European cities served are : Brussels,
Copenhagen, Groningen, Lyon & Zurich.
Further to our update below, posted on 7th November, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) strike, backed by unions in Greece, Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands, could lead to many flights being disrupted for up to three days this week (13-15 November).
Passengers booked to fly on all affected European sectors should therefore checkin online for the most up to date information regarding their flight/s. Easyjet has already cancelled many of its flights to countries in southern Europe. British Airways said passengers due to travel to or from Spain on Wednesday 14 November can change to another date free of charge; they also warned that there could be disruptions on services to other European countries.
Iberia has cancelled more than 350 flights this week, including those on the Madrid to London route as a result of the strike, which affects air traffic controlers. TAP Portugal has announced that London to Lisbon flights will also be affected on 13 November and 15 November.
Tomorrow’s industrial action, which has been organised by the European Trade Union Confederation, is in response to austerity measures being taken by the governments of several southern European countries. Protest marches, rallies and strikes will affect different countries at different times.
Spain’s largest trades unions have called a 24 hour general strike for Wednesday 14 November 2012.
Public transport within Spain and services at Spanish airports are likely to be significantly disrupted and public demonstrations in city centres may also affect local services. Check for transport delays before arriving in Spain and allow extra time for journeys.
Furthermore, a number of demonstrations and industrial actions are expected in Madrid and other city centres during the winter. These may affect local services. In particular, visitors are advised to check for possible transport delays before arriving in Spain,
and to allow extra time for transfers to and from airports. You are advised to stay clear of demonstrations.
Book air fares to China & Japan from just £62!
For a limited period only Finnair are selling flights from London & Manchester to various destinations in China & Japan, however, the selling period ends on 12th November 2012. The headline fare of £62 applies to Chongqing in China. The highest fare to any of the following destinations is only £123 (prices exclude airport taxes and fuel surcharge) : Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya.
Whilst the sales period ends on 12 November, travel can take place right through to 31st March 2013.
NB. Finnair flights connect via Helsinki, which is widely regarded as an efficent airport to transfer in, with minimal time spent on the ground.
British Airways is to move its London Heathrow-Singapore-Sydney services to Terminal 5 from the end of March 2013.
The airline will also roster its new B777-300ER aircraft onto the route from this date. BA says the changes ”confirm British Airways’ commitment to Australia”, following the
news that Qantas will end its joint business agreement with BA and strike up a new partnership with Emirates.
BA’s Sydney flights currently depart from Terminal 3 using B747-400 aircraft, but will move to Terminal 5 from 31st March, from where the majority of the carrier’s flights
already operate. The airline’s new B777-300ER aircraft feature a four-class World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First layout.
Cityjet is to launch twice-daily weekday flights between London City (LCY) and Nuremberg from January 2013.
The Air France subsidiary will commence services on the route on 27th January, with a lunchtime and early evening service from LCY, and a morning and late
afternoon service from Nuremberg. The carrier will also operate one Nuremberg-bound flight on Sunday evening, and a London-bound service on Saturday morning.
The LCY-Nuremberg route will be the carrier’s second service to Germany, following the announcement of flights to Munster-Osnabruck on October 29.
Air Berlin currently serves Nuremberg from London Gatwick airport, with BA codesharing it’s services.
Easyjet is to be allowed to operate flights from London to Moscow, in preference to Virgin Atlantic, thanks to a ruling by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA has announced that Easyjet will join British Airways in being entitled to fly on the London-Moscow route under the bilateral agreement between the UK and Russian
governments. Easyjet plans to operate its Moscow service from London Gatwick, while BA will continue offering flights from London Heathrow. Bmi had been the second UK carrier
flying between London and Moscow under the bilateral deal but it has now stopped operating on the route following its takeover by BA.
Virgin had wanted to fly from Heathrow using the former Bmi slots which are being relinquished by BA, as part of its deal with European regulators to allow the purchase
to go ahead.
Easyjet is set to start its Moscow service in spring 2013 and said it would offer two daily flights on the Gatwick-Moscow Domodedovo route and expected to carry 230,000 passengers in its first year of operation.
The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation is reporting significant inbound flight delays at London Heathrow and London City airports in the U.K., and at Vienna airport due to fog.
Tuesday’s delays mark the second day that adverse weather has affected flights at U.K. airports.
Please remember to check in online for the most up to date information. Alternatively, please call us and we will check your flight’s schedule.
It has been reported on various news channels that there will be nationwide strikes in France starting tomorrow, Wednesday 24th October, over proposed government reform to the national pension system.
Many, but not all, flights will be affected so please remember to check in online, or call us for the most up to date information.
We have already carried out a pre-flight check and have alerted any customers who have flights affected by this industrial action.
Please note that EasyJet is rolling out its new pre-allocated seating service in phases starting next month. The new service will allow passengers to pre-book,
for a fee, the seat number of their choice.
Starting on November 13th, passengers flying from London Gatwick (South Terminal), Luton, Southend, Bristol & Glasgow will be able to pre-assign a specific seat number.
The service is then rolled out for flights departing from London Gatwick (North Terminal), Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino & Paris CDG on November 20th.
Finally, passengers flying from the following airports can pre-assign their preferred seat nos : Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Basel, Geneva, Lyon,
Nice, Youlouse, Paris Orly, Madrid, Lisbon & Berlin Schonefeld.
It is also worth noting that if when flying with easyJet you normally pay for Speedy Boarding and a bag to go in the aircraft’s hold, you are actually better off buying an
Easyjet Flexifare. Flexifares entitle you to unlimited free date changes within a 4 week period, 1 piece of hold luggage, Speedy Boarding and no admin or credit card fees.
Finally, easyJet also offer easyJet Plus for regular travellers for £149. easyJet Plus entitles the card holder to Speedy Boarding on every flight you take and use of the
dedicated Speedy Boarding checkin desks.
