You may want to avoid travelling on Bangladesh’s state carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The airline is planning to cut down on the frequency of flights to international destinations because it cannot pay for the repair of five of its fleet of 13 aircraft. Five out of Biman's 13 aircraft are now out of service due to mechanical faults and routine maintenance. Besides lack of aircraft, Biman was losing money because of high operational costs, including soaring fuel prices, and poor management. The airline has been unable to pay for aviation fuels.
Category Archives: enewsletter
Lost Luggage Rises
According to newly released US government statistics, lost or mishandled bags increased by nearly 25 percent in August as airlines struggled to handle an increase in checked luggage after authorities banned most liquids and gels from passenger cabins. At United Airlines, mishandled bags jumped from 5.4 per 1,000 passengers in July to 9 in August, a 66 percent increase, according to statistics tracked by the Department of Transportation. Overall mishandled bags jumped from 6.5 per 1,000 passengers in July to 8.08 in August. On Aug. 10, U.S. security officials banned most liquids and gels from the passenger cabins of aircraft, resulting in a 20 percent increase in checked baggage. At the end of September, US officials revised the ban, allowing passengers to carry-on small toiletries in a clear plastic bag.
Climate Change
A recent study by British insurers, the Halifax Travel Insurance says that climate change may lead to the British package holiday to the Mediterranean becoming “consigned to the scrapbook of history”. Places like Majorca may be too hot by 2030, and replaced by UK holidays, and health, sport and cultural visits. The report said more extreme weather events and higher temperatures may put tourists at greater risk abroad.
People may switch their main holiday to the winter or the spring, for example, a winter holiday to the Mediterranean and a summer holiday to Sweden might become a popular trend. By 2030, global sea levels could rise by 25cm affecting large parts of the Maldives and Seychelles which could be submerged and shorelines could retreat by as much as 1,230ft, it is claimed. As much as 90% of the world's reefs, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef could die. Long-haul destinations such as Florida could be hit by increasingly powerful hurricanes and a loss of beaches. And extreme conditions such as drought, storms and torrential rainfall could increase, according to the study.
People Still Travelling
Have international holidaymakers been put off by the recent global terror alerts? Apparently not. According to lastminute.com, late deals to the US were selling above average particularly trips to New York and business was brisk to the Mediterranean. Possible reasons cited by Lastminute’s travel director included passengers possibly feeling safer amid the tighter security measures at airports.
US Poll of Air Safety
A recent AP/AOL Travel poll says that 79 percent of people surveyed, say the easing of restrictions on taking liquids and gels onto airplanes makes no difference in how they feel about the safety of air travel.
44 percent indicated that they believe security in not consistent at various airports, and 41 percent of Americans feel that it is consistent. While most Americans (64 percent) say the rules regarding liquids and gels are easy to understand, a significant minority, 32 percent, believes the rules on what can be carried aboard airplanes are confusing.
On a positive note for the travel industry, 43 percent of Americans feel that air travel today is very safe, which is somewhat higher than other polls taken since the 9/11 attacks, including one this summer that reported Americans’ satisfaction levels with air safety in the 30s.
Failed Medical
We’ve bought you stories about space travellers, well, judging by recent events, not everyone, even if you have the twenty million dollars to buy your ticket gets accepted. Russian Federal Space Agency officials recently announced that Japanese entrepreneur Daisuke Enomoto, who was set to become the world's fourth space tourist, has been ruled unfit to travel into space. Mr Enomoto was due to board the Soyuz spacecraft set to be launched on Sept. 14 – seems like he failed his medial. But no worries, there are other wealthy people ready to step in at the last moment
Easyjet to Open Spanish Markets
British low-cost airline easyJet says that thirty percent of all flights in Spain are low cost and believe this figure is sure to rise. They have named Madrid as a base for domestic flights and a hub for southern Europe, putting pressure on Spain’s national carrier Iberia. EasyJet say they are already the second biggest international carrier to Spain behind Iberia, with 7.5 million passengers last year, and from mid-February 2007 they will operate domestic flights from Madrid's Barajas Airport. What does this mean for us? A wider choice of flights within Spain and hopefully lower prices all round as Iberia has to compete.
More Space Adventures
Space Adventures, the company that sent the first space tourists into orbit is offering future clients the chance to do a space walk. The optional excursion will cost $15m (£8m) on top of the $20m cost for the flight. So what do you get for this? Private space explorers will get a 1.5 hour accompanied extra-vehicular-activity (EVA) outside the International Space Station (ISS). The EVA would lengthen a stay on the ISS from 10 days to between 16 and 18 and would require additional training. Eric Anderson, president of and CEO of Space Adventures said, “those with enough money would get to “hang out” outside the space station with a trained cosmonaut as a guide”.
Cheapflights Website
Cheapflights has been nominated for a prize at this year's prestigious British Travel Awards (BTA).
Along with Expedia, Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor and Yahoo! Travel, Cheapflights has been nominated in the Best Travel Information Online category.
Sponsored by travel industry big hitters such as Avis, Thomas Cook and Reed Travel Exhibitions, the awards reward the best in various categories that also include Favourite Airline, Best Low-Cost Airline, Favourite Cruise Line and Dream Destination.
The BTA organisers recognise that “holiday makers' purchasing patterns have changed drastically in recent years”, meaning that internet-based companies and no-frills airlines have come to the fore to “alter the landscape of the travel industry”.
People Still Travelling
Have international holidaymakers been put off by the recent global terror alerts? Apparently not. According to lastminute.com, late deals to the US were selling above average particularly trips to New York and business was brisk to the Mediterranean. Possible reasons cited by Lastminute’s travel director included passengers possibly feeling safer amid the tighter security measures at airports.