ebookers News

Jazz Air Follows Air Canada With Job Cuts

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:06:28 +0100

Jazz Air has proposed to chop about 5 percent of its staff in the near future. The announcement follows in response to cuts declared last month by Air Canada, its main customer in an effort to cope with surging fuel prices.

Notably, Jazz Air is the regional feeder carrier for Air Canada. The airline observed that the steps taken by the airline to roll back 270 jobs and 5 percent cut in capacity are unavoidable to match the available resources with its forcibly minimised expectations for revenues.

According to Jazz spokeswoman Manon Stuart, the staff cuts will affect all areas of the Halifax including pilots, customer service agents, flight attendants and maintenance and administrative staff, in addition to managers, said. Also, if Air Canada is forced to squeeze its service and work force more, then there could be deeper cuts could be expected.

On 17th June, Air Canada said that it was proposing to reduce its capacity to US destinations by 13 percent and between the cities of Canada to 2 percent once the winter and autumn schedule comes into effect. As per the plan, Air Canada is cutting about 2,000 jobs estimated to around 7 percent of its workforce. This move is in addition to the fuel surcharges on fares announced during the earlier part of this year. According to Stuart, the airline is yet to determine which routes are to be cut or frequency on which routes to be reduced since the plan is still on progress.

Airbus To Sell Five A380s To Japan's ANA - Report

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:04:43 +0100

Airbus has finalized a deal to sell five A380 superjumbo aircraft to All Nippon Airways (ANA). Reported in the Nikkei business daily on Friday, notably, this is the first sale of the world's biggest passenger plane to a Japanese airline. When compared with the half share elsewhere, the European plane maker will see a big breakthrough resulting from this sale in Japan as the company presently has only about 4 percent of Japan's market.

Nikkei said that following a friction in the late 1980s, the Japanese airlines have been making all necessary efforts to mend the trade relations between Japan and the United States. As part of this effort, the Japanese company has been purchasing almost all its planes from Boeing.

According to an ANA spokesman, the airline had created a committee on Thursday to select a brand new fleet of large aircraft, but so far no decisions have been arrived at. Further he added that the committee was exploring three options: either the A380 or Boeing's B747-8, or not going for a new fleet at all.

Though it is not clear as to when the final decision will be arrived at, the airline has consistently expressed its added interest in the A380 aircraft according to the spokesman.

According to Nikkei, amidst the soaring fuel costs pressurizing the airlines, ANA is interested to save fuel by using the A380, since it can carry more passengers on fewer flights. However, on the other hand, delay in the delivery of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is also yet another reason for ANA to think of buying A380s.

Group seeks to ban night flights at Trudeau Airport

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:03:17 +0100

A group consisting of the residents of suburbs and municipalities lying in the close proximity to the Pierre Trudeau Airport of Montreal is pressurizing the local officials to ban all night flights from the airport. This is due to the reason that this densely populated area is facing a bothering disturbance from the annoying noise produced by the arrivals and departures, as the airport is less than at about 15 minutes drive from the core area of the downtown.

On the other hand, the airport authority of the city Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) claims that it has no plans to ban all the night flights completely. It has also ruled out the possibility of the idea that the Mirabel Airport located at about 60 minutes drive from Montreal is reopened.

However, ADM has confirmed that it certainly has plans to alter the paths of all aircrafts to enable limiting the noise generated by them. However, the residents of Ville Saint-Laurent, a Montreal borough sited to the north of Trudeau Airport, believe that this change of flight paths will have a severe adverse effect even as it helps the municipalities located to the south and west of this airport. To solve all these issues at once, the group opposing the night flights believe that the best solution is to consider the reopening Mirabel and transfer all these routes to this place, which was once known as one of the largest airports across the globe.

Luc Marion, the group's spokesperson commented, "We are fortunate to have a second airport that is fully functional. Send them back."

Holiday prices could jump by £70 per person

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:02:53 +0100

Amidst the weakening of pound and the unprecedented soaring of oil prices, the cost of holidays for the residents of UK is expected to rise next year up to not less than £70 per person as the condition of present times continue to affect the tour operators.

According to the prediction by Roger Allard, chairman of the All Leisure Group, a 10-15% increase in package holiday costs can be expected in 2009, as most major tour companies are reducing capacity. He observed, "If the big tour operators have hedged fuel and currency, with the increases in hotel costs, they will need to increase prices by £70 on mainstream package holidays."

He too said that the average selling prices for holidays during late summer 2008 are up to £100 higher than last year. According to the report published by Thomas Cook during last week, the average selling prices for 2008 is expected to increase by 5% on last year, in addition to 19% fewer holidays on offer.

In the year 2009, consumers are likely to feel a greater pressure on disposable ¬income. This means that fewer people will travel abroad. Allard added, "Some demand will fall off and mainstream operators will cut back.

Commercial and product director at Cosmos Tours Stuart Jackson, noted, "People who take two holidays a year or weekend breaks, which could be deemed a luxury, are most likely to come out of the market, which will probably affect low-cost carriers."

Owner of Miles Morgan Travel, Miles Morgan, said, "It's not doom and gloom and hopefully it will educate people to book early."

Aegean Air Increases Ticket Prices As Oil Climbs

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:59:07 +0100

Aegean Airlines, the reputed Greek carrier said in a statement released on Friday that it will raise ticket surcharges for domestic and international flights by up to three euros to meet the soaring cost of jet fuel. Most notably, the carrier ably competes with the state-owned Olympic Airlines operating domestic and international routes. The airline reported a loss of EUR4.4 million euros (USD$6.91 million) during the first quarter due to 57 percent jump in energy costs.

The company noted in a statement, "Taking into consideration the continuing rise of oil prices... Aegean is forced to increase the surcharge on its ticket prices." During the first quarter, Aegean, ably continued to expand its business even amid challenging conditions forced by the soaring prices of oil. The company observed that when compared with the same period last year, the prices of fuels in dollars have risen 110 percent.

The company reported, "Fuel costs account for 35 percent of total company costs, despite the ongoing investment in new A320/321 Airbus planes, which reduce fuel consumption."

The airline has been constantly in the process of renewing its fleet and seeks to add more destinations. It has taken delivery of four brand new A320 aircraft. During the first quarter, the traffic rose up to 10 percent to 1.1 million passengers.

On Friday, crude oil futures dropped less than USD$145 a barrel. However, it remained within the reach of record highs attained in the previous session. This week, the price reached near USD$146 due to the mounting of tensions between Iran and Israel.

Air Canada Jazz dismisses hundreds of employees

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:57:29 +0100

Amidst unprecedented soaring of oil prices, Jazz, the regional airline associated with Air Canada has taken a decision to dismiss not less than 270 among its 4,980 employees in order to cope up with the crisis of the times. In addition, the carrier foresees that the number of travelers with the airline is expected to decline due to increase in the price of tickets and due to the fact that increasing number of potential clients are canceling their travel plans.

However, Joseph Randell, Jazz's chief executive officer feels that the biggest problem of the times for all the airlines that singly stands out as a highly bothering issue is the record high price of fuel. He observed, "We are in a period of great uncertainty and cannot predict where the price of fuel is going," Randall explained. The Jazz chief did, nonetheless, indicate that he continues to hold out hope for an upswing in the air travel industry, as soon as fuel prices start to go down.

Based in Halifax-Nova Scotia, Jazz, is a highly popular carrier in Canada and enjoys the pride of owning the second largest fleet of the country. However, after the mainline service of Canada, WestJet remains the second largest airline in the country as all the planes of Jazz are relatively smaller, regional Canadair-Bombardier jets.

According to Randell, Jazz needs to reduce its capacity and routes by 5%. In addition, there is yet another concern that the airline will roll back its operations in Halifax that might have an adverse effect on the tourism industry of Nova Scotia.

A car at Hertz in 10 minutes or less

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:56:05 +0100

In a highly welcomed move, the most reputed Hertz Car Rental company has launched an express self-service check-in program across 50 U.S. airports. This shall help the customers reach their rental cars within ten minutes or less right from their counter. The company is highly positive that this move shall certainly enhance the profile of the company and also help the company meet its claim that it shall give a $50 credit on the cost of the rental to any customer who happens to wait any longer than this.

For getting the eligibility to make use of this brand new offer, the customers have to first check in at www.hertz.com and take a print out of the confirmation of the reservation. Following this, once they arrive at the airport, they have to go to anyone of the express counters or new kiosks for competing the reservation process. Most notable among the airports that participate in this program are Atlanta, O'Hare in Chicago, Dulles and Reagan in Washington D.C., LAX, Maui's airport and LaGuardia and Newark in the New York area, in addition to San Antonio, Texas.

Hertz also observes that in introducing this service, the company is paying sincere attention to customer requests. Recently, the company has made certain changes to the prices charged for refueling. Now the company charges market prices in addition to a fee, for those who refuel through Hertz on returning their rental car.

Visit www.hertz.com

Air France KLM, Veolia In Rail Alliance Talks

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:54:27 +0100

Air France KLM has recently announced that it will offer high-speed rail travel in addition to adjusting its winter seat capacity to manage the rising fuel costs. Notably, the airline is the biggest in the world in terms of revenues. Earlier this year, the carrier pulled out of a bid to release Italy's Alitalia. The airline is competing with the emerging transatlantic partnership between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain's Iberia.

In its one of its statements addressed to the media, the airline confirmed that it was seriously considering a high-speed rail alliance with Veolia, the French utility that operates several rail connections. However, Veolia is not very active with respect to high-speed travel, which is dominated by state-owned firms like SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Thalys and Eurostar.

An Air France-KLM spokesman noted, "As part of the opening to competition of rail transport in 2010, Air France and Veolia are looking into the possibility of a partnership to create a new high-speed rail player on the European scene. We are reviewing the feasibility and possibility of such a project, but it is too early to discuss its terms."

On Friday, the Financial Times said that as per the agreement, Veolia Transport could be seen operating trains under the Air France brand connecting the airline's hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to several destinations across Europe. Most notably, this move might mark the decline of short-haul air travel routes including Paris-Frankfurt, which are now served by high-speed links.

New Gatwick to Biarritz service from easyJet

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:52:58 +0100

In a highly welcomed move, easyJet, the low cost airline has introduced a brand new service connecting London Gatwick Airport with the French seaside resort of Biarritz.

On its launch, the low-cost carrier is to offer four times weekly services to this most popular southwestern town. The flights under this service are scheduled to depart four times a week, with flights available on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The airline has also introduced most attractive one-way fares starting from just £25.99. Amazingly, this price included all taxes and other charges. The airline is highly positive that this route shall prove to be highly popular among the passengers flying to the region. The airline says it expects not less than 10,000 passengers who would take advantage of this amazing offer and make their flight during the first year.

Most notably, Biarritz is located on the Bay of Biscay and has been famed as the 'Monte Carlo of the Atlantic' by virtue of its glorious hot summers and the most amazing architectural wonders of the 18th-century. The location has been recently into the limelight as one of the most interesting places to visit in the region.

EasyJet spokesman David Osborne observed, "Biarritz is already a popular destination from other easyJet bases and now travellers from Gatwick have the opportunity to explore one of the most popular destinations on the west coast of France. Forward bookings for the route have been strong, which further proves the demand for affordable flights to the sun this summer."

Hertz launches summer offer in Dubai

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:48:00 +0100

With Hertz, the famous car rental company offering reduced rates on longer-time rentals at the Festival City branch, visitors to Dubai during this summer can take advantage of this amazing offer from the company while booking for car rentals. Most notably, this branch is the newest operation of Hertz in the UAE.

Recently, Hertz celebrated its 15th year in the UAE. Over and above, to herald the opening of this new branch in Dubai, the company is announcing a cut of 10% over monthly rental deals on select range of cars. The Festival City branch is located inside the shopping mall bearing the same name, sited adjacent to Crabtree & Evelyn, Japengo Café and Hiedard Coffee Shop. The location is easily accessible from both the Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental hotels.

Sunil Kumar, the national operations manager of Hertz, UAE noted, "We want to provide safe, secure, hassle-free car hire for tourists as the mercury continues to rise. This summer deal encourages the vast number of Dubai visitors to take in all the activities on offer here as well as exploring other parts of the UAE."

Most notably, Hertz offers its customers free maps helping them navigate their way around the country. Over and above, all the cars in the fleet are completely insured and thoroughly inspected before each rental. The company also arranges to provide a 24-hour back-up repair service in addition to vehicle replacement services as and when necessary.

Visit www.hertz-uae.com