Air

Help for energy bills imminent, while Esta cost rises today

Chancellor to unveil help for soaring energy bills that could boost consumers’ disposable income; elsewhere, the US has increased the price of Estas by 50%

Industry backs variable Atol Protection Contribution – CAA

CAA’s initial consultation on reforms to the Atol scheme found there was broad support for a ‘fairer system’ based around a variable APC

BA to restart direct flights to Pittsburgh next week

Operating year-round on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the flight departs London at 4.45pm and lands in Pittsburgh at 7.50pm local time

Cost and economic worries suppress demand for travel to UK and Europe

New research shows Ukraine war not a barrier for long-haul travellers to UK and Europe

Tui extends Sri Lanka cancellations following FCDO advisory

Operator cancels all holidays to Sri Lanka departing up to, and on, 12 June

Energy bills help ‘on the way’, plus Tui's court payout

Government agrees windfall tax to help consumers with energy bills, according to reports in Wednesday’s national press

Jet2 adds five new routes to summer 2023 programme

Airline and operator to launch brand new services from Birmingham, Stansted and Manchester next summer

London City to gain new air link with northern France

L’Odyssey to operate weekly service to Normandy seaside town Deauville

Air France to introduce new long-haul business class

Redesigned seat will be rolled out from September on services to New York

Cause of Sandals’ deaths revealed, plus sandstorms threaten flights

Toxicology report into the deaths of three Sandals’ guests staying in the Bahamas is revealed, while sandstorms disrupt flights in the Middle East

New Glasgow-Toronto WestJet service launches

Flights will operate four times a week

Virgin Atlantic to restart Cape Town flights in November

Daily Heathrow service to get under way on 5 November

Spain relaxes Covid rules, but Monkeypox concerns grow

Spain confirms unvaccinated can travel to Spain if tested, however, worries are growing about the spread of a new virus in Europe and around the world

Airlines launch new summer services to Jersey

Blue Islands’ inaugural flight to Norwich took off last week and Eastern Airways is set to launch new routes to the island this weekend

Malta to relax rules on child Covid testing

Malta’s health minister confirms it will dispense with PCR test requirement for child visitors

Jet2 and Exodus Travels triumph at 2022 Which? Awards

Airline and tour operator Jet2 named Travel Brand of the Year, while adventure specialist Exodus crowned Sustainability Champion of the Year

American Airlines marks 40 years in the UK

American Airlines to run its biggest-ever schedule from Heathrow as it marks 40 years of transatlantic flying

Virgin Atlantic axes Edinburgh-Barbados service

Route will not resume next winter, carrier confirms

Spain poised to relax Covid pass rules ‘in days’ – reports

Spain’s tourism minister indicates the country is ready to ease its Covid entry restrictions ahead of current 15 June expiry date, according to national press reports

Japan to reopen to UK visitors next month

Japan agrees limited reopening of borders to tourists from June

UK flights in June ‘to reach highest level since October 2019’

New data from Cirium highlights significant growth in flights to Turkey and Greece, and decline in those for Spain, Italy and Croatia, in particular

Heathrow fees hike ‘affecting regional connectivity’, say MPs

MPs claim Heathrow flights from regions are at risk because of airport’s high passenger charge

Flight schedule chaos ‘undermining customer confidence’

Uptick in schedule changes, amendments and cancellations creating yet more admin for under-pressure agents, TTG told

European airport traffic on course to recover a year early

ACI Europe revises up passenger traffic forecast, and now expects a full recovery to pre-pandemic volumes by 2024 rather than 2025 but warns of three key risks