A nice read on what American business travellers should expect and how they should conduct themselves when in Europe. Perceptions change and universal perceptions regarding Americans have changed bit post 9/11, Katrina, and the war in Iraq.
Archive for January, 2007
For the American business traveller
Tuesday, January 30th, 2007Backpacking students now range far and wide
Tuesday, January 30th, 2007This link is an excellent resource to other sites that offer information on all things related to a backpack trip across Europe and other places. Youngsters of today are becoming increasingly adventurous and even though Western and Eastern Europe remain favourites with the backpackers, exotic destinations from all over the world such as Asia, South America and Australia are now on the tour lists of intrepid travellers thanks to low-cost airlines and communication over the net which helps travellers to exchange useful information regarding inexpensive lodging and boarding.
EU package for European airports
Friday, January 26th, 2007The European Commission has adopted an “airport package†which has three key initiatives in it. These initiatives cover a proposal for a directive on airport charges, a communication on airport capacity, efficiency and safety in Europe and a report on the implementation of the ground-handling directive. Read more.
FlyLAL looking to spread its wings
Friday, January 26th, 2007FlyLAL, the Lithuanian carrier has made a $156 million bid for the Hungarian national airline Malév Zrt. FlyLAL is looking for partners for expanding its operations in Eastern European regions, Ukraine, and Russia.
Malév could either go to FlyLAL or OAO KrasAir, which is owned by Boris Abramovich. This is the seventh attempt by the Hungarian government to sell Malév which has cost the country $82 million and is increasingly becoming an unviable proposition due to competition from discount carriers. Read more.
Fly SWISS
Friday, January 26th, 2007Business Traveller has named SWISS as the “Best Airline for Europeâ€. The carrier from Switzerland was voted the best in the following categories by the readers of Germany’s Business Traveller magazine. The categories were the “Cabin Crewâ€, “Ground Servicesâ€, “Cabin Comfort†and “Inflight Food & Drinkâ€.
SWISS was also voted third in the “Best Airline to the Middle East and Africaâ€. Business travellers also voted Zurich airport as the “Best Major European Airport and Hubâ€. Zurich Airport is a hub for SWISS.
Strike-hit British Airways to cancel flights
Friday, January 26th, 2007British Airways is cancelling 1,300 flights originating from London for two days in the coming week because of a strike planned by cabin-crew staff.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, the members of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, numbering 11,000, will not work because they feel they are being short-changed on issues related to sick leave, pay and planned reductions in cabin crews on some flights. The strike which has come at such short notice will affect more than 150,000 passengers.
British Airways flights from Heathrow are being cancelled and so are domestic flights originating from Gatwick. This is the third instance of flight schedules going awry at Heathrow in six months. Read more.
EC regulations at European airports unwelcome
Friday, January 26th, 2007European Commission’s plans to regulate charges at European airports have come in for criticism from the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA).
John Hanlon, ELFAA’s secretary general, said in a statement: ‘ELFAA has repeatedly said that competition and not regulation should determine the future of Europe’s airports. The emergence of low fares airlines offering direct, point-to-point services has rejuvenated previously under-utilised regional and secondary airports across Europe and the resulting increased competition has forced these and some of the main city airports to seek efficiencies and lower their charges.
‘There is therefore no need to regulate these competitive airports, as regulating them will only impose an unnecessary administrative burden and increase costs without positively impacting the level of charges.’ Read more.
Sabre Travel releases new platform
Friday, January 26th, 2007Sabre Travel Network has initiated a platform called Sabre Air which will help air shopping and pricing. Travel Agencies will now be able to locate the best fares for their customers in a more efficient manner.
Richard Adams, senior vice-president of Sabre Travel Network Europe has stated that the service now offers a greater choice and varied itineraries with several fare options to choose from. Read More.
A “Europe Earlybird” can get you a scooter
Friday, January 26th, 2007Jetset Travelworld Group agents can win a European-styled VMoto Montego Scooter by booking tickets of Singapore Airlines’ “Europe Earlybird” fare. The offer is open till 23rd February 2007. Other prizes include 58-cm LCD TVs and $25 David Jones vouchers. Read more.
Tourism in Cyprus slowing down
Friday, January 26th, 20072006 saw a drop in the number of tourists visiting Cyprus as compared to 2005. There was a 2.8% drop in the number of tourists from 2005; the number of tourists in 2006 was 2,400,924. Cyprus has registered figures that are in contrast to what the rest of Europe showed in 2006.
Some of the reasons for tourism in Cyprus slowing down include the uncertain future of Cyprus Airways that led to cancellations; the Israel-Lebanon conflict; the security alert at Heathrow; and a reduction in the number of travellers from Greece owing to the air crash at Athens. Read more.