Author: Shawon Hannan
Aer Lingus, an Ireland-based airline company, is to relocate its operations in Belfast, North Ireland. The airline, which has been operating out of Belfast International Airport, will be based at the George Best Belfast City Airport from the commencement of its winter schedule on October 28, 2012. Christoph Mueller, the airline’s chief executive officer, said, ‘Northern Ireland’s vital London connections are secure with Aer Lingus. The two aircraft which we normally use in the winter for a mixture of sun destinations and Heathrow will be used for Heathrow and Gatwick with a third aircraft serving two European routes in the…
Kuoni Travel Ltd, a travel company that is based in Switzerland, has announced the launch of a new iPad app for customers wishing to access the company’s brochures, videos, travel article feed and website through their tablet devices. Matt Rooke, the company e-business and publishing vice president, said, ‘We want to make Kuoni as accessible as possible to all its customers and provide effective and efficient methods that feed the current demand. The app self-updates so we can rest assured that customers are getting the best quality of information on a daily basis, in a format that suits them. Also,…
Travel advice provider, Gogobot, has announced that it has launched a new iPhone application that allows customers to perform various travel-related functions through their smart phone. The company said that its Gogobot 2.0 app is a comprehensive solution that would allow customers to research, plan, book and share travel experiences with friends using a mobile device. The firm said that the app would have a role to play in all stages of travel, from planning a trip, to sharing experiences while on the trip, to reviewing a destination. Gogobot said that the new app relies on recommendations from friends and…
Taking in-flight entertainment to new levels, Qantas, the flag carrier of Australia, has announced that it will provide its customers with free iPads on selected routes. Customers will be able to use the iPad devices to access their choice of content from a menu that will be available during the flight. The airline said that it would offer the iPads without any extra charge on its B767 aircraft. The wireless QStreaming in-flight entertainment service may be accessed for free by users via the iPads in both the economy and business class areas of the aircraft. The service is to be…
The European Commission (EC) has postponed taking a decision on allowing passengers to carry liquids in their hand baggage. The EC had previously banned passengers from carrying liquids in hand baggage as a security measure, and it had set itself a deadline of April 2013 for the removal of the current restrictions. Authorities said that the decision was taken following consultations with stakeholders and trials conducted at airports. In a statement, the commission said that the decision was ‘based on results of trials carried out at a number of EU airports and on extensive consultations with a wide group of…
The average number of countries visited by a globetrotting three-year-old child in the UK is 13, according to a survey carried out by UK-based flight search engine, Skyscanner. The report reveals that the majority of toddlers in the UK have visited around double the number of overseas destinations that their parents had by the same age. The survey of more than 1300 UK parents showed that the preference of many parents to take their vacations overseas has resulted in the average child traveller having visited more foreign destinations than destinations in the UK. Mary Porter, the spokesperson for Skyscanner, said,…
StayWell Hospitality Group, an Australia-based hotel company, has recently announced plans to expand its hotel business in the UK, with the opening of a new hotel. The company has identified its first hotel project in the UK as the Park Regis Birmingham, which the company will be operating for the next 30 years. The 300-room Park Regis Birmingham is scheduled to open in 2014, and is located in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK. The hotel will have a rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar, a lobby restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, a library, a business centre, and…
British travellers spend an estimated £118 million a year on forgotten holiday items, once they are on a holiday, according to a recent study carried out by an international river cruise company. The study has reported that around 41 percent, or nearly one in two British travellers, has forgotten at least one item that they had intended to pack when going on holiday abroad. British holidaymakers leave around 15 million holiday items behind each year, with around 27 percent forgetting to pack shoes, 25 percent forgetting their mobile phone chargers, and 13 percent forgetting their sun cream, but as a…
The summer travel bug is biting as British residents look to escape the UK’s depressing run of bad weather and head off to sunnier climes. For those holidaymakers that are yet to decide on a holiday, France, Italy, Greece and Spain, are proving to be the biggest draw this summer, according to car hire specialist, 121carhire.com. British travellers are likely to get as much as 15 percent more value for money by visiting these European countries, as the British pound strengthens against the wavering Euro, following the recent Eurozone crisis. Michael Bond, the spokesperson for 121carhire.com, said, ‘We’ve definitely seen…
Hilton London Wembley is the latest of the new hotels to open in London in time to cater for the huge influx of foreign travellers to the city that is expected in the run up to the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza. The 361-room Hilton is located close to the iconic sporting venue, Wembley Stadium. The hotel was designed to incorporate British culture, history and heritage, and to blend into its Wembley neighbourhood. With its sporting location in mind, the hotel features a two-floor display depicting key events in the history of Wembley Stadium, while a separate custom made art installation…