Europe votes on data sharing
STRASBOURG, 19 April 2012: A controversial deal to transfer EU air passenger data to US authorities goes to the European Parliament on Thursday for final approval after being held up for two years over privacy concerns.
While a key parliamentary panel finally agreed to the deal last month, some MEPs are expected to voice continuing concerns about its personal data protection standards ahead of the vote due to take place around 1000 GMT.
The agreement, intended to replace a provisional accord from 2007, sets the legal conditions for the transfer of air passengers’ personal data to the US Department of Homeland Security.
IATA asks to delay carbon tax
MONTREAL, 8 March 2012: The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday urged the European Union to delay rolling out a carbon tax on air travel next year, warning it could provoke trade wars.
“Non-European states see it as a direct attack on their sovereignty,” the IATA’s director general Tony Tyler told a forum on international relations in Montreal.
“That is easy enough to understand when European states essentially would be pocketing taxes for emissions by non-European carriers over the sovereign territory of non-European states,” he explained. Read more
Europe in grip of cold snap
KIEV, 6 February 2012: The deadly cold snap that has gripped Europe for more than a week strained emergency services, wrought travel chaos and claimed more lives over the weekend, bringing to more than 300 the tally of victims.
The homeless population has borne the brunt of the deaths, with dozens of transients freezing to death in unheated apartments, fire escapes or in makeshift street shelters.
Authorities on Sunday found two homeless people’s bodies in France who had likely frozen to death, bringing to at least 307 the number of cold-related deaths across Europe. Read more
Euro airlines close 2011 ahead
BRUSSELS, 20 January 2012: European airlines carried 24 million more passengers in 2011 or a 7.1% increase, but the trend is unlikely to last, the Association of European Airlines said Thursday.
Preliminary figures released by the AEA, which represents 35 carriers collectively operating more than 11,000 flights per day, said network airlines in all carried 363 million passengers.
“There is much to encourage us in the 2011 figures. In times of austerity and financial turmoil, European citizens continue to vote for air travel,” said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus. Read more
Finnair ups frequencies on Asian routes
January 11, 2011 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 11 January 2011 – Finnair will embark on expansion in Asia, this year, with a new non-stop service from Helsinki to Singapore plus frequency increases on several key routes between Europe and Asia.
Two A340s will join the fleet specifically to add a capacity on routes to Asia.
No changes are planned for Bangkok, the airline’s oldest station in Asia dating back to charter flights in the 70s. Today, the airline operates twice daily services during the winter season, but scales back to a single daily service during the summer timetable.
Gulf Air sells online Euro fares
December 9, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Travel Deals
BANGKOK, 9 December 2010 – Gulf Air has introduced a fare promotion through its website for three European destinations — London, Paris and Frankfurt — valid until the end of February next year.
Inclusive of taxes and surcharges, a roundtrip economy class deal to London, via Bahrain, costs Bt29,335; Paris Bt26,230 and Frankfurt Bt27,495.
The sales period will run through to 28 February and passengers must commence the outbound journey by the same date. Tickets have two months validity after departure. Read more
Snow closes Europe’s airports
LONDON, 2 December 2010 – Heavy snowfalls forced some of Europe’s busiest airports to close and wreaked havoc on roads and railways Wednesday as an unseasonable cold snap swept the continent, claiming at least 15 lives.
Temperatures dropped to as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius (minus 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of Germany, while driving rain in Italy triggered the collapse of two Roman walls in Pompeii and flooding in Venice.
Thirteen people died of exposure in central Europe, including eight in Poland. Most were under the influence of alcohol, according to police.
TCEB gears up Euro promotions
November 25, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 25 November 2010 – Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau will launch a MICE campaign in Europe, ‘Believe in Thailand,’ in cooperation with 27 Thai agencies at the EIBTM 2010 trade show, 30 November to 2 December, in Barcelona.
According to TCEB president, Akapol Sorasuchart, there are five packages in ‘Believe in Thailand’ featuring cultural performances, corporate social responsibility (CSR), green meetings, team-building and golf and spa activities.
Air France-KLM returns to profit
PARIS, 18 November 2010 – Air France-KLM said Wednesday it returned to profit in its second quarter, taking advantage of an improved situation in the civil aviation sector as a whole to raise its financial targets.
The carrier reported net earnings of Euro 290 million ( US$392 million) in the June to September period after a loss of Euro 147 million a year earlier.
PG-Air Berlin FFP Partnership
November 15, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Travel Deals
BANGKOK, 15 November 2010 –Bangkok Airways and Air Berlin announced, last week, joint frequent Flyer programme cooperation that allows members on either airline to earn and redeem points on both airlines.
It is an extension of the airlines’ code-share agreement signed in 2009. To introduce it, FFP members of both airlines can earn double points on travel undertaken by 31 December.
