Budget Airline Guide

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Airberlin now flies to Kaliningrad, Russia

By Budget Airline News

As of June 5, 2012, budget airline airberlin offers direct flights between Berlin and Kaliningrad, Russia. The initial schedule will be 3 flights per week, increasing to 4 flights per week in September 2012.

Before the inaugural flight, airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said: “The economic relations between Germany and Russia continue to grow and this means an increased demand for air travel, especially in the market sector of business travel. No other airline connects these two cities nonstop from Germany. Our new route between Berlin and Kaliningrad fills this gap in the European route network.”

Berlin – Kaliningrad flights are available every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Starting September 15, there will also be Saturday flights. One-way fares start from €59 with taxes.

Virgin Atlantic launches London – Vancouver flights

By Budget Airline News

On May 25, 2012, Virgin Atlantic launched direct flights between London and Vancouver. This is the 32nd destination for the popular low-cost airline and its first in Canada.

Virgin Atlantic will operate four London – Vancouver flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 28, 2012. The airline hopes to eventually increase the frequency to a daily flight year-round.

The airline’s founder Richard Branson appeared in Vancouver for the launch and said: “This is our 32nd destination. We’ve been practicing on the Africans, the people from the Far East, the people from America, and now we feel we have the product absolutely right for Canadians.”

Wizz Air’s new routes to Slovenia

By Budget Airline News

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, had announced two new routes to Ljubljana, Slovenia.  Starting in October 2012, it will offer direct flights from London – Ljubljana and Brussels – Ljubljana.

The Brussels (Charleroi Airport) – Ljubljana route will begin on October 29, 2012, with one-way fares from €22.99. The London (Luton Airport) – Ljubljana route will commence on October 30, 2012, with one-way fares from €27.99.

In a statement, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said: “Wizz Air is delighted in launching these two new routes to Brussels and London. Over the last 4 years Slovenian passengers have travelled to airports in neighbouring countries to access low-fare flights. Wizz Air returns to Slovenia with increased efficiency and low costs and will offer Slovenian passengers and visitors really low fares. We expect these low fares on our five weekly flights to be very popular and hope to invest further in Slovenian tourism and job growth in the future.”

Ryanair launches Edinburgh – Szczecin flights

By Budget Airline News

Ryanair has launched its newest route from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Szczecin, Poland. The budget airline will operate two round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Ryanair released a statement: “Ryanair is delighted to celebrate the start of its new route to Szczecin in Poland from Edinburgh which will operate twice-weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, making it perfect for a short getaway.”

One-way fares for this new route start from £29.99 including taxes, with additional fees for extras like checked luggage and meals.

Flybe to expand services from East Midlands and Birmingham

By Budget Airline News

Low-cost carrier Flybe has announced it will be expanding its services from East Midlands and Birmingham airports in the UK. This comes just days after news that BmiBaby will be reducing the frequency of these routes and eventually ceasing all operations later this year.

Flybe will be doubling its weekday flights to from Birmingham to Belfast City Airport to four a day. The airline also plans to operate additional flights from East Midlands to Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey in the coming months.

In the press release, Flybe managing director Andrew Strong stated:

“We have been surprised at bmibaby’s decision to close some of its routes within just six weeks time and as a result we are doing everything we can to work with our airport partners in ensuring that those passengers wanting to travel from East Midlands Airport are not left stranded.

“We realise that many passengers rely on East Midlands for their regional and European travel. We are therefore pleased that we can offer them continuity of service with increased weekday frequency on our Belfast City service and that our flexible special offer over the next few days will facilitate urgent bookings to take place with due peace of mind.”

“Flybe has long had a desire to bring to the East Midlands the specialist long term and stable regional air services that we have brought to virtually every major UK regional airport over the last 25 years. We are confident that the measures we have taken today should ensure that passengers experience little or no service disruption on what are crucially important links for the East Midlands economy.”

Cimber Sterling declares bankrupty, all flights cancelled

By Budget Airline News

On May 3, 2012, Cimber Sterling Airlines cancelled all flights, later declaring bankruptcy. All flights are cancelled and travelers have been advised to seek alternative transport.

A statement in Danish has been posted on the airline’s official website and translates to:

“The Board of Cimber Sterling has decided to ask the company bankrupt and has therefore been filed for bankruptcy with the court in Sønderborg on Thursday 3rd May 2012 at. 06.30.

The consequence is that all flights from that time are canceled. If you should have been off today it will unfortunately therefore be futile to go to the airport. We apologize sincerely.

Cimber Sterling is registered in the Travel Guarantee Fund. That means you could get the ticket refunded if you simultaneously with the purchase of the ticket has purchased a bankrupt insurance. You will be contacted directly by the fund. If you befiunder up abroad and have a bankruptcy insurance, you will also be transported home free. Read more at Rejsegarantifonden.dk ”

Budget airlines Flybe and Vueling are offering ‘rescue fares’ for stranded travelers.

BMI Baby cancels routes, to cease all operations by September 2012

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline BMI Baby has announced it will cease all operations by September 2012, with certain routes from Belfast and East Midlands terminated as of June 11. The airline has been looking for a new buyer, but has been unable to find one.

A statement from BMI Baby said:

“Progress has been made with a potential buyer for bmi Regional, but so far this has not been possible for bmibaby, despite attempts over many months by both Lufthansa and IAG. Bmibaby has therefore started consultation to look at future options including, subject to that consultation, a proposal to close in September this year.”

“To help stem losses as quickly as possible and as a preliminary measure, we will be making reductions to bmibaby’s flying programme from June. We sincerely apologise to all customers affected and will be providing full refunds and doing all we can with other airlines to mitigate the impact of these changes.”

Routes terminated from June 11, 2012 include those from East Midlands airport in central England to Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Nice, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newquay. Routes from Birmingham and Belfast are also affected.  Services from London Heathrow are currently unchanged.

Travelers holding tickets for the the canceled routes after June 11 should contact BMI Baby customer service for a refund or alternative travel arrangements.

Flybe drops its £9 debit card fee

By Budget Airline News

British budget airline Flybe has dropped its £9 flat fee for passengers paying for by debit card for flights booked online. This change comes just at Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is considering action against airlines that pass on the debit card transaction fees to the consumer.

In a statement, Flybe said it has removed the debit fee as “”a fair, open and transparent approach to sales and service policies”.

Most budget airlines currently charge a transaction fee per flight leg, per passenger. Flybe’s decision to drop this fee may lead to other budget airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet having to drop theirs too in order to remain competitive.

easyJet to fly Manchester – Tel Aviv

By Budget Airline News

easyJet, the UK-based budget airline, has announced a new direct route from Manchester to Tel Aviv, Israel. The new route will begin November 1, 2012, and operate year-round.

The initial schedule will be two flights per week. One-way fares start from £82.99 inclusive of taxes.

In a statement, the easyJet commercial manager said: “”We’re excited to be expanding our Manchester operation by launching easyJet’s first route to Tel Aviv from the North West of England today. There is a very strong cultural link between the North West of England and Tel Aviv, with a large Jewish community in Manchester and the surrounding areas, and we hope this direct route will demonstrate our commitment to providing low cost flight options for popular routes.”

Ryanair cancels routes from Liverpool

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline Ryanair has announced some surprising changes to their summer 2012 schedule, canceling routes and reducing departures out of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. The axed routes are Liverpool to Milan, Rome, and Rimini in Italy, as well as to Almeria, Spain.

The reason for the cancelled routes in increasing taxes, and a Ryanair spokesperson stated: “As the UK government has increased Air Passenger Duty, yet again Ryanair has been forced to close Liverpool routes to/from Almeria, Milan, Rimini and Rome, from April, and to reduce frequencies on a number of other routes.

Passengers affected by the cancellations will be given the choice of a full refund or tickets on an alternative route.