Filed under: air travel, airlines news, cheap flights, flights, main, news, perfect flights, travel | Tags: Breaking News, Business, Spain
Bmibaby has started new flights from East Midlands to Almeria in southern Spain today (March 30) as it celebrates seven years of flying from the airport.
Since launching at East Midlands in 2002, the low cost airline has carried over 8.7 million passengers to and from the airport. 
Bmibaby started operations with just one aircraft, flying to just one destination – Malaga. Seven years on the airline now has five Boeing 737 aircraft based at East Midlands and offers a choice of 14 destinations.
The airport’s commercial director, Stephen Turner, said: “Over the past seven years, Bmibaby have grown their route network, offering passengers from the region an excellent range of destinations to visit or travel to on business.
“This summer, Bmibaby will begin operating flights to Almeria and Menorca and will increase the frequency of flights to key summer sun destinations in the Mediterranean.”
Bmibaby currently operate flights from East Midlands to Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Belfast International, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow International, Jersey, Malaga, Menorca, Nice, Palma and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Filed under: air travel, airlines news, cheap flights, flights, main, news, perfect flights, travel | Tags: Business, Technology
USA Today reports that Amercian Airlines will Tuesday be announcing in-flight WiFi for all domestic flights, following a six month trial of the service on a 
limited number of flights.
AA has said will equip more than 300 planes used primarily for domestic flights with Aircell’s GoGo in-flight WiFi. According to USA Today, the service will cost $12.95 on flights over three hours, and $9.95 on shorter journeys. iPod Touch, iPhone, BlackBerry, and other smartphone owners can avail of the WiFi for a flat fee $7.95.
Filed under: air travel, airlines news, cheap flights, flights, main, news, perfect flights, travel | Tags: Breaking News, Business
Airfares for domestic summer trips have dropped for the first time since 2004.
The decline comes despite a recent uptick in oil prices. The savvy traveler might want to book now because fares typically rise with increased demand during the summer.
Sabre, a privately held computerized reservation system, conducted a review of summer prices for USA Today and found that the average roundtrip domestic airline ticket this summer costs $340, or 2% less than last year. Sabre’s review included reservations made prior to May 31 for travel in June, July and August.
Ticket prices rose last summer because many airlines reduced the number of flights in the economic slowdown, but demand rose. Some airlines have added flights this summer and that may moderate any price increases.
But keep in mind that most airlines now charge for services that were once free, including checking a bag, beverages, blankets, seat selection or even changing planes. The new fees can increase the overall cost of your travel.
The airline industry calls the new fees “unbundling.” The new pricing will give travelers lower base fares with the option to buy only the extra services they want.
Unbundling isn’t new. Cable companies have used the tactic for years to offer premium movies, sports and pay-per-view events for an additional fee. Airlines believe unbundling services will allow them to boost revenue and offset higher fuel prices.
United says planned fees will generate about $700 million a year. Northwest says baggage charges will increase revenue $150 million to $200 million a year. Continental looks to earn an additional $100 million from a new fee for checking the first bag – and that doesn’t include fees for additional baggage.
Ryanair , Europe’s largest budget carrier, has talked about charging a pay-per-pee fee while in flight, but so far hasn’t imposed it.
However, Southwest Airlines , a consistently profitable carrier, avoids most of the new fees charged by competitors and ballyhoos the fact in its advertising. But the carrier hasn’t ruled out some new fees in the future.
Which airline once plugged the “friendly skies”? No doubt the skies are still friendly, but the grin will cost you. Moral: shop around.
BMI operates a host of routes from the UK that no other airline offers.
We wanted to investigate whether BMI’s monopoly on these routes would give them effective licence to charge a hefty premium.
We looked at flight prices for three ‘BMI-only’ routes and compared them with the cheapest one-stop flights option using price comparison website Kayak.co.uk. We searched for flights leaving the UK on April 16, returning to the UK on July 25, and flights leaving the UK on August 1, returning on August 8. All prices are per person and include taxes and charges.
London Heathrow to Aleppo:
April 18 – 23
£643 direct with BMI (journey time 6h 55m)
£298 with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (journey time 16h 45m)
August 1 – 8
£697 direct with BMI (journey time 6hr 55m)
£560 with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (journey time 13hr 30m)
London Heathrow to Palma (Majorca):
April 18 – 23
£117 direct with BMI (journey time 2h 25m)
£154 with Iberia via Madrid (journey time 6h 35m)
August 1 – 8
£391 direct with BMI (journey time 2hr 25m)
£221 with Ryanair/Aer Lingus/BA via Edinburgh outbound and Dublin on return leg (journey time 6hr 55m)
Newcastle to Dusseldorf:
April 18 – 23
£158 direct with BMI/Lufthansa
£193 (journey time 1hr 25m) with BA via London Heathrow (journey time 4hr 25m)
August 1 – 8
£190 direct with BMI/Lufthansa (journey time 1hr 25m)
£191 with BA via London Heathrow (journey time 12hr 30m)
Our research on BMI flight prices for the above three routes shows that there is no set rule about whether you will pay a premium for direct flights. The crucial factor to note when deciding which option to take is the total journey time. Are the savings you can potentially make on your air fare really worth it when you take into account the number of extra hours you’ll have to spend flying or sitting in a crowded airport terminal?
Filed under: air travel, airlines news, cheap flights, flights, main, news, perfect flights, travel | Tags: Amsterdam, Berlin, Breaking News
In the beginning of June Estonian national carrier Estonian Air will launch direct flights to Germany’s capital Berlin and Holland’s capital Amsterdam, the company announced. 
Estonian Air will start with flights between Tallinn and Amsterdam on June 7. The flights will be three times a week – Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
From June 8 Estonian Air will fly between Tallinn and Berlin twice a week – Mondays and Fridays.
