Author: News Team

The UK government is planning to implement its special airport plans for the 2012 Olympics games from Sunday, July 15, 2012. The government’s plans include the addition of around 500 extra Border Force staff at airports during the Olympics, to decrease the long queues at immigration desks, which are a source of annoyance to overseas visitors. A government report states that 300 Border Force personnel will be joining their counterparts at London Heathrow Airport, which has suffered some of the worst queues at immigration desks in recent times. The airport authority at Heathrow will be keeping all of the immigration…

The 15th International Citroen Car Clubs Rally, an event that will showcase cars made from 1919 to the present day, by France-based automobile company, Citroen, will be held in the UK this year, for four days in August. The event will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground, near Harrogate, from August 9 to 12, 2012, and it is being organised by a team of volunteers from the three main British Citroen clubs. Although the International Citroen Car Clubs Rally originated in Britain, it has been to many countries in Europe and America since its inception in 1973. Amicale Citroen…

British Airways, a UK-based airline company, is looking for investors to input around £250 million, by purchasing its secured debt instruments. The airline is offering corporate bonds to raise funds, and the instruments will be secured against some of its London Heathrow Airport slots. International Airlines Group (IAG), the UK-based parent company of British Airways, has previously reported that it is planning to spend €1.6 billion in 2012 on proposed developments, and €4.95 billion on renewing its fleet, including taking delivery of its first Airbus 380 and Boeing Dreamliner B787 aircraft in 2013. In its statement, IAG, said, ‘The final…

Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, will be opening its newest base at Maastricht, in the Netherlands, in December 2012. The base will be the airline’s 51st, and it will be operating three new routes, to Dublin (Ireland), London (England) and Treviso (Italy). The airline is investing around $70 million to improve facilities at the privately owned Maastricht Airport and, once operational, it will be providing around 450 jobs to the local economy. The airline deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, said, ‘Ryanair is delighted to announce Maastricht as our 51st base and unveil 3 new routes (14 in total) -…

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian), which has been the flag carrier for Ethiopia for the past 65 years, has announced that it could take delivery of its first Dreamliner aircraft in August. The airline said that the craft would enhance its business in the region. The Dreamliner has been configured to carry 246 economy-class customers and 24 business-class customers. It is expected that the new aircraft will cement the airline’s position as one of the leading aircraft carriers in Ethiopia. Even though the initial launch of the Dreamliner craft was expected in June, its delivery had been delayed until August. The aircraft…

The luxury hotel brand, Sofitel, has opened its Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour location in Auckland, New Zealand. The new hotel is the hotel brand’s first location in Auckland and the second in New Zealand, the first being a hotel in Queenstown. The hotel is located near the city’s waterfront and was formerly an MGallery Lighter Quay hotel. Existing facilities at the location will be upgraded to meet the standards of luxury that the Sofitel brand strives for. The new hotel has rooms and suites that will have private balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and queen-sized bathrooms, with separate rain showers and deep…

Qatar Airways, a Qatar-based airline, has announced its new acquisition, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, at the international aerospace event, the Farnborough International Air Show, currently being held in Hampshire, UK. The airline will be taking delivery of five 787 Dreamliner aircraft during 2012, and is taking the opportunity to promote the latest inclusion to its fleet. The aircraft has also participated in an aerial display for the first time at the show. The airline chief executive officer, Akbar Al Baker, said, ‘This is a very proud moment for Qatar Airways and my country, the State of Qatar. As an…

Europcar Groupe SA, a France-based car rental company, will be using electric bikes to facilitate the delivery and collection of its hire cars during the London 2012 Olympics. The company has renewed its pledge to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions and, at the same time, reduce traffic congestion and speed up its service, by providing its delivery operatives with electric bikes when delivering and collecting cars from customers. The bikes can be folded and put in the boot of a car when not in use. The service has been developed in collaboration with logistics company, AutoClenz. Ken McCall, the…

UK-based airline, British Airways, the official sponsor for Team GB and ParalympicsGB, has announced film screenings of a number of popular sports films for passengers that fly with the carrier during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The films, which were all nominated by athletes from Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic teams, include around 30 titles, such as Coach Carter, a basketball film featuring Samuel L Jackson; Any Given Sunday, by Oliver Stone; Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone; and the recently released Formula One documentary, Senna. Team GB rower, Zac Purchase, said, ‘I don’t think you can get better then…

Sixt, a European car rental company, has recently included a range of high-end luxury vehicles for rental in the UK. The company is offering a new vehicle range that includes the Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari California, Porsche, Land Rover, Rolls Royce and Bentley models, for short term and long term rentals. The models are available from the company’s 20 or so van and car rental locations in London, including those at Heathrow Airport and Stansted Airport. The airport outlets will also be offering last minute deals on car rentals. For those customers outside London, the company will arrange to drop…