Author: Shawon Hannan

I tend to choose my holidays based on the wildlife I can see, as I absolutely love catching sight of exotic creatures up close. If you’re the same, and find it fascinating to see wild animals face-to-face, going on a holiday to Costa Rica could be the ideal getaway for you. Huge population of animals Costa Rica may be small in size, but it certainly makes up for it in terms of how many animals live in this Central American country. Despite only accounting for a tiny 0.03 per cent of the planet’s surface area, it is in the top 20…

Flybe, a UK-based airline company, is offering a new way to book its New Economy product fares. The airline is offering a new package that it claims offers passengers good value for money in a single fare bundle. The New Economy fare bundle includes seat fares, as well as add-on benefits of 10kg hand bag allowance, a complimentary standard sized hold bag, complimentary advance seat selection during time of booking and a complimentary itinerary change for a package price. Stephen Hobday, the airline director of sales, said, ‘Whilst the undoubted benefits of New Economy sell themselves, we nevertheless needed to…

Passengers travelling to London Heathrow Airport by rail may face disruptions on December 26, 2012. Transport for London (TfL), the UK-based government agency responsible for the transport system in Greater London, has reported that ASLEF, the union of tube drivers, has announced strike action on that day, coinciding with a planned maintenance work announced by Network Rail on the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect network connecting to the airport. A Heathrow Express statement on its website said, ‘Due to essential Crossrail improvement works, Heathrow Express will not be running any services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport on December 25…

London Gatwick Airport is gearing up to receive around 1.5 million people travelling through the airport this festive season, from December 17, 2012, to January 2, 2012. The airport expects to cater to around 700,000 passengers departing over the period, with the busiest day being December 23, 2012, when around 56,000 passengers are expected to fly from the airport for some festive cheer. Louisa Craven, a spokesperson for Gatwick Airport, said, ‘This year sees a great mix of top Christmas destinations as passengers fly out to enjoy the ski season in Switzerland, visit friends and family across the UK and…

Jet2.com, a UK-based low-cost airline operating out of Leeds Bradford Airport, is expanding its services to Barcelona, Spain; and Rome, Italy. The services from Glasgow Airport to Barcelona and Rome have been extended for all year round from the summer of 2013. Fares commence from £38 one way for a twice weekly service to Rome; while airfares commence from £37 one way for services to Barcelona. Steve Heapy, the chief commercial officer of Jet2.com, said, ‘Rome and Barcelona are two of our most popular destinations and so we want to ensure customers can visit at any time of year. With…

British Airways, the UK-based premier airline, may win around 20 slots at London Heathrow Airport if Ryanair, the Ireland-based low cost airline, acquires the Ireland based carrier, Aer Lingus. The parent company of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG), has entered into an agreement with Ryanair. According to the agreement, Ryanair will be giving away 20 out of 24 Aer Lingus slots at London Heathrow Airport if it manages to acquire the Irish airline. A statement by IAG said, ‘We have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Ryanair which is subject to EC approval and IAG board approval.’ Ryanair…

Monarch Airlines, a UK-based airline company, has commenced its new service to Grenoble, in south-eastern France, from Birmingham airport in the UK. The new service commenced on December 9, 2012, and the flight to the ski destination will also open up access to Europe’s other famed ski destinations of Val D’isere, Tignes, La Plagne and Meribel. The airline is offering the services three times a week. Kevin George, the managing director of Monarch Airlines, said, ‘We are delighted to be introducing this new route to Grenoble which we are sure will be very popular with skiers and strengthens further our…

Leeds in Yorkshire, UK, will be hosting the initial stages of the 2014 Tour de France. This is the first time Leeds is hosting Le Tour de France’s ‘Grand Depart’, and this is also the first time Le Tour will reach the north of England, compared to other visits to the UK when it had visited only the south. Last time the tour, an annual bicycle race held in France, visited England was in 2007. The first stage of the bicycle tour will be held on July 5 and 6, 2014, and then the tour moves south for the next…

Members of British Chambers of Commerce, the national body for 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce in the UK, will now be able to avail of exclusive membership discounts when renting out cars from Hertz UK, the car rental company. This would make corporate travel easier for members in the UK, with tailor-made rental offers and savings being offered to business travellers. The membership benefits include a special 35% members discount on long-term rentals of cars and vans, as well as fixed and preferential rates. The companies, which are part of the Chambers of Commerce, will also be able to avail…

London Heathrow airport has welcomed the initial flight from Aeromexico, a Mexico-based airline, to Mexico City, in Mexico. The airline has introduced a direct flight between London Heathrow and Mexico City, three times a week, operating a Boeing 767 aircraft. The airline, a founding member of SkyTeam global airlines alliance, will be operating out of Terminal 4 of the airport. Aeromexico operates over 600 daily flights to 45 cities in Mexico, as well as to destinations in the US, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. Andres Conesa, Aeromexico’s chief executive officer, said, ‘Our new flight to Heathrow is…