More travellers will keep a closer eye on what they spend whilst on holiday in 2011, a travel company has predicted.

Furthermore, travellers will watch the pennies not only in the run-up to trips but also while they are away, according to responsibletravel.

“The pressure on travellers’ finances has not disappeared and 2011 will mark the age of ’selective austerity’, the company added.

Justin Francis, responsibletravel managing director, said: “Travellers will do whatever it takes to save pennies on the mundane stuff – packed lunches, cutting out the daily latte, rethinking their journey to work, switching to a different energy provider.

“These small selective cuts to daily living will allow them to pursue their annual dream holiday.”

He added: “We’ll also see the idea of ’selective austerity’ influencing holiday schedules.

“Travellers will, for example, opt for four nights in a cheap hotel so they can afford a few nights somewhere magical at the end, or dine out at local markets in order to afford to stay in a blow-the-budget guest house.”

The firm also predicts that more people will use trains to get to their holiday destinations as the number of travellers inquiring about rail journeys has risen 20% year on year.

Such trips are popular with what the company calls the “journey junky” who is addicted to slower travel and savours the journey as part of the overall holiday experience.

But travel is still expected from UK airports such as Luton, Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow, with Responsibletravel also predicting a rise in holiday destinations that offer the learning of traditional skills and crafts such as weaving and pottery.

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BA has revealed that the number of passengers travelling on its flights last month rose almost 6%, compared with the same period last year. 

BA announces November passenger rise

The airline announced that it carried just under 2.48 million people in November – which represents a 5.9% increase on the same month in 2009.

However, BA bosses warned that the recent adverse weather conditions are likely to detrimentally affect passenger numbers for December as flight schedules at a number of UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, have been disrupted because of heavy snowfall and the freezing conditions.

According to the company, its Asia-Pacific routes did particularly well last month – with traffic rising by 11.7%, while UK and Europe passenger numbers increased by 7.9%.

Meanwhile, BA passengers travelling to the Middle East rose by 3.3%, and traffic to and from North and South America, including the Caribbean, increased by 1%.

BA also revealed that passengers travelling by first or business class in November increased by 4.5% year-on-year, while economy-seat traffic rose a steady 3.2%.

The airline might have benefited from more passengers using their services during November, but it also revealed that a healthy 74.7% of its planes flew full during the month – a 1.2% decrease on the same month last year.

Stansted has been named amongst the UK’s top five busiest airports, it has been revealed.   

Stansted makes top 5 airport list

The BAA-owned airport takes its place alongside Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh on the list of the top five UK airports. 

It is Edinburgh’s first appearance on the list, which is based on passenger numbers in the year ending October 2010.

Airport chiefs said Edinburgh’s impressive recovery from the effects of the volcanic ash cloud had contributed to the airport’s year-on-year growth, despite being particularly badly affected at the time.

Edinburgh Airport said consistent growth since its best month yet in July had seen the airport move into the “upper league” of UK airports.

The airport’s managing director, Kevin Brown, announced earlier in the month his vision to help travellers bypass London by establishing more direct links to the Middle East and the United States.

The airport said passenger numbers had been steady from June onwards, picking up from August with modest growth being predicted month-on-month well into 2011.

Meanwhile, a controversial £1 drop-off charge is said to be working successfully after the fee was introduced by BAA at the end of October.

Luton Airport also introduced a £1 fee to drop off passengers at the terminal in April last year. Drivers have 10 minutes to unload passengers and their baggage and pay the £1 charge at barriers as they leave the area.

Copyright Press Association 2010

London 'gives tourists best welcome'

London has seen off several of the great European capitals when it comes to giving tourists the best welcome, according to a recent study.

The “mystery shopper” poll showed that the UK capital scored the highest out of six capitals, with high ratings for airport signs, taxis, bus tours and city centre tourist information offices.

And the city – which has transport links feeding Luton, Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick airports – scored top marks for its city centre public transport.

London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome and Berlin were subject to a 24-hour visit from mystery shoppers who rated the cities on the basis of the welcome given to visitors in 11 categories.

London came top of the secret shopper survey, followed by Paris and Amsterdam in joint second place. The Spanish capital Madrid came fourth followed by Italy’s Eternal City Rome, with Berlin languishing in sixth and last place.

However, the UK capital came dead last when it came to how tourists were received in museums, airport tourist information offices and some restaurants later on at night. And there was better news for Paris as it scored highly for airport signage, public transport to and from the airport, food and museums.

The survey, commissioned by the Paris and Ile de France regional tourist board, was released at World Travel Market in London. 

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BAA may invest more in its British assets after selling its stake in Naples International Airport

Airport operator BAA could invest heavily in its British assets like London Heathrow and Stansted after selling its stake in Naples International Airport.

Reports suggest that the Italian airport will be sold to an entity controlled by Italian infrastructure fund F2i SGR SpA for €150 million before the end of the year.

The deal will allow BAA, which also owns Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton and Aberdeen airports, to focus on its British assets, according to Colin Matthews, BAA’s chief executive officer.

He said: “Naples has been a significant part of the BAA group for many years.

“BAA’s substantial capital investment and improvement programme is now well established in Naples and is bearing fruit.

“Now is the right time for Naples International Airport to move ahead under new owners and for us to sharpen our focus on Heathrow and our other UK airports.”

BAA currently owns a 65% stake in GESAC SpA, which holds the licence for Naples International Airport until 2043. The sale will conclude BAA’s refocusing of their assets to UK airports.

Since 2006 the company has sold Budapest Airport, its subsidiary that had interests in six Australian airports, its share in the Airport Property Partnership (APP), World Duty Free and four US retail management contracts.

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Politicians may have been too hasty in seemingly ruling out new runways at airports in the South East like Stansted, Luton and Gatwick, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has said.

A report by the organisation found the Government’s “better not bigger” policy ran the risk of undermining the competitiveness of the UK’s aviation industry, explaining the country could be overtaken by expanding northern European rivals.

While agreeing with the need to cut emissions and improve aircraft and airport efficiency, the ICE urged politicians to carefully consider both their options and the long-term effects of restricted growth.

Heathrow is operating at 99% of capacity, the ICE says

ICE aviation expert Simon Godfrey-Arnold said: “World-class airport infrastructure helps attract inward investment, enables access to an international labour force and provides direct business and leisure links to growing economies around the world like China, Brazil and India.

“But Heathrow, with its two runways, is currently operating at 99% of permitted capacity. Journey times are increasing as aircraft become stacked up in queues both on the ground and in the air.”

Responding, a Department for Transport spokesman said: “We must begin a new chapter in aviation policy – one that promotes a competitive aviation industry, supporting UK economic growth, whilst recognising the need for restraint. 

“That is why we have established a new South East airports taskforce which draws together key players from across the industry and beyond to consider how we can make the most of existing airport infrastructure at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and improve conditions at these airports for all users.”

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Thomas Cook Airlines has finished bottom of a Which? Holiday magazine survey on customer satisfaction, it has been revealed.

The carrier was voted bottom of an 18-airline satisfaction rundown for short-haul flights. Thomas Cook only scored 37 points in a survey of 5,745 Which? members about their most recent short-haul journey.

Airlines have been rated in a survey measuring customer satisfaction

Switzerland airline Swiss (72) and Aer Lingus (71) topped the table for short-haul journeys. Ryanair, which counts Luton airport among its base, also finished towards the bottom of the table.

Air New Zealand (86) claimed top honour in the long-flight journey satisfaction list. The highest-placed UK airline among long-haul passengers was Virgin Atlantic (67), which operates out of Stansted among other UK airports, in seventh place. British Airways (58) was 11th and First Choice (51) was 14th.

South African Airways came bottom of the long-haul chart with a score of 37 after 2,987 Which? members were questioned over their latest experience.

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Airline Qantas is to launch a new service between Melbourne and London next year, it has been announced.

The group is increasing its fleet of A380 airliners in the coming year from six to 10.

By March next year, the airline will offer daily flights between Melbourne and the capital. 

Beforehand, daily flights between Sydney and London are also planned for the end of this year as Qantas receives its seventh A380.

The Melbourne flights will be available five times a week once Qantas has received its eighth airbus, increasing to six services per week upon delivery of its ninth A380.

Qantas will also expand its presence at London airports by increasing its selling space on British Airways (BA) services between London and Singapore each week.

Further expansion plans include an increase in its codesharing on BA services between Heathrow and Rome, Milan, Toulouse, Prague, Warsaw and Budapest. 

Travellers will be able to purchase the flights from June 14 for departure from July 21.

Copyright © Press Association 2010