ebookers News

ebookers mobile website launch

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:29:32 +0000

Publication: TTG Live
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News outlining the newly launched a mobile website which enables consumers to browse and book direct from their mobile phone

Publication: e-tid
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: ebookers customers can now browse, book and pay for holidays, flights, hotels and car hire via their mobile phones

Publication: Breaking Travel News
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Eye For Travel
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Hotel Deal Finder
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Revenue Management
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Topix
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: UAE Travel Club
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Revenue Management Society
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on ebookers newly launched fully bookable mobile site

Publication: Phone Forums
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Direct Marketing Association
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on ebookers newly launched fully bookable mobile site

Publication: Haymarket Digital Bulletin
Date: 10.01.11
Summary: News on ebookers newly launched fully bookable mobile site

Publication: Brand Republic
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: ebookers has launched a mobile website that lets consumers book holidays securely from a mobile device

Publication: Travolution/Travolution Blog
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: Article highlighting how ebookers has added a booking service to mobile site

Publication: Marketing
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: T Nooz
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: ebookers launches fully bookable mobile website

Publication: HEXUS
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: ebookers launches fully bookable mobile website

Publication: I Want Sun
Date: 11.01.11
Summary: News on the newly launched mobile site

Publication: Internet Retailing
Date: 12.01.11
Summary: Ebookers.com has addressed the growing need of its customers for a mobile way of making and amending bookings with a mobile site launched this week

Publication: ABTN
Date: 13.01.11
Summary: News on ebookers newly launched fully bookable mobile site

Publication: International Travel News
Date: 13.01.11
Summary: ebookers has launched a new website to allow customers to book using their mobile phones

Publication: eConsultancy
Date: 14.01.11
Summary: ebookers.com launched a mobile website this week, which allows customers to browse and book flights and hotels from their phones

'Solidays' soar as holiday purse strings tighten

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:15:10 +0000

ebookers.com reveals one in six Brits decide to travel alone as recession hits holidaymakers

ebookers.com, one of Europe.s leading online travel agents, has found that .Solidays. are on the rise with an increasing number of Brits heading off alone on holiday as friends and family struggle to fund travel plans, according to a new study released today. The research, which polled 4,000 UK adults, reveals one sixth (15%) of holidaymakers has travelled alone in the last 12 months on a leisure holiday due to friends and family being unable to afford the trip as a result of the recession this year. The research also uncovered:

When looking to book a Soliday, more than 1 in 10 (14%) admitted they were motivated to travel alone due to a greater offering of package deals for singles available to them.
A third (33%) of those who travelled alone admitted that they wanted to try something different to the usual package holiday or city break.
Men are twice as likely to go it alone compared to their female friends, with a fifth of men going it alone (22%) compared to 1 in 10 women (11%) .
When it comes to maximizing holiday opportunities, people are taking advantage of travelling with work with 1 in 10 (11%) extending overseas business trips to explore their destination.
21% of those who took a Soliday this year, claimed it was because they wanted to travel to a far-flung destination
The most popular length of time for a Soliday is 5 . 7 days (21%).

Ben Reynolds, Head of Marketing for ebookers.com, says: .The recession is changing the way we travel, with people looking at new ways to ensure they can still jet off on a break this year. The Soliday seems to be emerging as a trend for people who can still afford a break. Despite friends and family impacted by the recession choosing to stay at home . Solidaymakers have found a way to plan and book travel carefully to ensure they get a bargain break . even if it means going alone..

Location, Location, Location The research uncovered the top Soliday destinations include Europe (34%), India (14%) and Africa (11%). And although the continent leads as a short-haul Soliday destination, nearly half (40%) of travellers admitted they have headed as far afield as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South America and the United Arab Emirates.

Soli-day Success Despite not travelling with friends and family, almost a third (32%) of people said going on a Soliday allowed them to meets lots of new people, an experience they wouldn.t have had if they had travelled as part of a family group. Over a quarter (26%) enjoyed travelling alone so much that they would definitely try it again in the future.

Young and Free Leading the Soliday trend are those aged between 18 and 25, with more than half (51%) of this age group admitting to travelling alone in the last 12 months. Of this travel group, almost a third of them have been on at least five holidays or more in 2009 alone! .We know our customers are looking for value for money and by offering great savings on hotels, flights, and holiday packages ebookers hope to help those Soliday-makers to maximise their money during these tough economic times . whether it.s for city breaks, short-haul or long-haul destinations. added Reynolds.

ebookers reorganises into three key regions Europe

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:10:10 +0000

Tamer Tamar, President, ebookers.com comments: "ebookers, one of Europe's largest online travel companies, and Orbitz Worldwide's (NYSE: OWW) full-service European travel brand is reorganising its business operations.

A burgeoning turn-around story in Europe following completion of its platform migration in 2009, ebookers websites now benefit from increased access to hotel inventory and technology that delivers more innovations faster to consumers.

ebookers posted a 43% year-on-year growth in hotel room-nights in the third quarter of FY2009, contributing positively to Orbitz Worldwide's performance. In order to further leverage the common platform and accelerate growth, ebookers is reorganising its business operations from being driven at the country-site level to a nimbler regional structure that will increase speed of execution and catalyze innovation. The twelve ebookers country sites will move to a 3 region operations structure effective immediately.

The three regions include: . Region 1: UK, France & Ireland . Region 2: Switzerland, Germany and Austria . Region 3: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Benelux

As part of this re-organisation, I am pleased to announce that Pierre-Alain Regali, former Managing Director for ebookers Switzerland will assume responsibility for Region 2, and Didrik Von Seth, former managing Director for Sweden/Denmark/Norway will assume responsibility for Region 3.

Region 1 will be led by Guillaume Cussac who joins ebookers after spending nearly 6 years with Expedia Europe on various general management assignments. The three Regional MD's will manage their regional category management and marketing functions and will be accountable for their regions' targets.

Integral to ebookers' new organisation will be the formation of a new Business-to-Business (B2B) Group led by Gilles Despas, VP, ebookers B2B, and former MD for Continental Europe. In his new role, Gilles will lead the B2B team to collaborate with the three ebookers regions and Global Partner Services Group, to source and revenue manage non-hotel supply, support ebookers' efforts to streamline processes in product operations, and focus on Media Solutions and Private Label opportunities. Gilles brings a wealth of supply and demand knowledge and will strengthen ebookers' B2B foundations.

The new organisation will help ebookers further leverage its new common platform and increase its speed of execution as it focuses on growing the business in Europe in 2010.

BA to acquire stake in GoAir?

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:07:30 +0000

A recent media report has revealed that British Airways is considering buying a stake in GoAir. In a recent article, The Economic Times has stated that BA is debating whether or not to take up a 25 per cent stake in the low-cost Indian carrier.

Citing sources close to the potential deal, the newspaper said that a meeting is scheduled to take place between the two airlines in London somewhere during next month.

Asked about the media speculation, BA declined to comment. However, GoAir said that it "does not have any agreement with any other foreign carrier at the moment".

On the other hand, a knowledgable source hinted that BA"s interest in GoAir followed changes introduced by the Indian government to the rules pertaining to the investment in domestic airlines.

The newspaper quoted the source as saying, "The interest in buying equity stake in GoAir comes in the wake of the development that the Indian government is considering a proposal to allow foreign airlines to pick up stake in domestic carriers.â�?

Industry circles say that BA was involved in merger talks with Qantas during the recent past, but the discussions did not yield any results.

Flight numbers down at major UK airports

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:06:23 +0000

New figures have revealed that the number of flight arrivals and departures at major UK airports has dropped by about 10 percent. The implication of this situation for the residents of Suffolk is a decrease in the number of noisy planes zooming overhead. However, campaigners claim that the decline noticed at present is temporary.

Forecasts state that traffic will rise once again in the spring, besides growing more rapidly over the coming years on account of expansion projects to be launched at both Heathrow and Stansted airports, in addition to a range of other regional airports.

Industry circles indicate that the current fall in air traffic is due to winter service reductions, in addition to attempts by airlines to deal with financial difficulties besides a significant decrease in the number of air passengers.

November figures published by NATS are pointing to a drop in traffic by about 10 per cent. It is said that this was the fifth consecutive month of decrease with respect to flight numbers.

A spokesman for the company said, "All centres and airports where NATS provides a service saw a reduction in traffic this month with the domestic market down by 13.5 per cent, transatlantic arrivals and departures by 10.3 per cent and other arrivals and departures by 9.5 per cent.â�?

He added, "Figures show a total of 169,539 flights, against 188,015 in 2007 - a reduction of 9.8 per cent.â�?

Huge losses predicted for European airlines in 2009

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:04:37 +0000

Industry forecasts state that this year will see a continued decline in air passenger numbers leading to enormous losses for airlines in Europe.

A recent report published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has predicted that the total value of European airline losses would probably reach about $1 billion in 2009.

According to the prediction published by the industry group, it appears falling passenger demand combined with a weakening euro might result in losses that would be ten times the amount witnessed in 2008.

The losses anticipated have been predicted despite the fall in the price of oil which touched a bottom low of about $40 per barrel during last week after touching a sky high of $147 in July. The situation indicates that the carriers across Europe are undergoing a particularly difficult year.

Lorne Riley, a spokesman for the IATA said, "Airlines are under pressure due to falling revenue and decreasing passenger and cargo traffic. The global recession is having an impact on the way we travel, and despite the welcome fall in oil prices, airlines will suffer.â�?

Figures published by the IATA during last week revealed that that air passenger traffic across the globe had declined by 4.6 per cent in November, when compared with the same month a year earlier. Also, international cargo witnessed a sharper fall by up to 13.5 per cent. The IATA has added that the declines might be expected to stretch further into 2009 making it the first instance of a full year decline since 2001.

EU Extends Review Of Lufthansa Bid For Brussels Air

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:00:51 +0000

In a statement made on Tuesday, EU"s competition watchdog said the European Commission has decided to extend its review of a bid by Lufthansa to take over smaller Belgian rival Brussels Airlines.

The Commission confirmed that the deadline for its review of the deal was extended to 26th January from 12th January, with the total worth of the deal estimated at EUR250 million euros (USD$337 million). The commission said the move followed its interest to examine commitments targeted at remedying the concerns that the transaction might be anti-competitive.

The announcement was part of a daily list of mergers presently under review by the Commission, which supervises competition in the 27-country European Union. However, it declined to give any further details.

Announced in September, the acquisition would enable the German carrier to expand its flight network and add premium travellers.

Brussels Airlines would get logistics experience and a wide network in addition to a prime location where the European Union and NATO are based with the inclusion of many flights operated to and from Africa.

Lufthansa has revealed its plans to buy a 45 percent stake in the Belgian airline worth up to EUR65 million, with an option to buy the remaining from 2011.

The carrier said while the deal was announced that the total price would depend on performance-related factors and on 2010 results to start with.

US Planes Full In December Despite Economic Woes

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:57:10 +0000

Data has revealed despite slumping demand for travel, US Airlines saw their planes flying full due to downsizing their operations. Capacity cuts resulted in an upsurge in unit revenue at Continental Airlines in addition to reflecting a rare stability for its business that was seen under crucial financial crisis a year ago.

Morningstar analyst Basili Alukos observed, "I can"t see any of the airlines filing for bankruptcy unless you see demand drop like 30 percent. I think they"re in a lot stronger shape. Prices have come up across the whole spectrum.â�?

Clawing their way out of a downturn due to high fuel prices during the first half of 2008, most airlines were compelled to reduce the number of seats for sale during the second half in an effort to improve efficiency and support fares. However, plummeting oil prices from July insulated the carriers from the economic difficulties that challenged other industries.

The data reported by Continental showed a 6.7 percent year-over-year drop in December traffic due to a capacity reduction of 8.1 percent. The carrier said that its December unit revenue increased between 4 percent and 5 percent for its mainline operations. Continental is the only carrier among major airlines to publish monthly unit revenue figures.

Also, United Airlines and American Airlines said though their traffic fell in December due to decline in capacity, their planes were fuller when compared to a year ago.

UK holiday destinations benefiting from strengthened euro

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:36:44 +0000

A recent report compiled for the budget hotel chain Travelodge reveals that more than half of UK holidaymakers confirm they had decided to take their breaks closer to home this summer. In addition, the report has listed Blackpool and the West Country among the top destinations.

The survey involved about 3,500 Britons, and has discovered that about 54 per cent of them have planned to take their summer holidays in the UK. Most of them said that they would prefer heading to the coast, with around 13 per cent said they would prefer visiting Blackpool. On the other hand, fifteen per cent stated they would be going for their holidays in the south-west.

Commenting on the survey data, Guy Parsons, the managing director of Travelodge, said this was great news for the country"s domestic tourism industry. However, he stressed that Britain was not doing its best to attract foreign tourists, who are most likely to visit to take advantage of the strength of the euro against the pound.

Official statistics point out that the number of foreign tourists arrivals fell by 4.5 per cent in October 2008, when compared with the same month in 2007.

He said, "If marketed correctly the UK has the chance to position itself as the top value destination in 2009. With the strong dollar and euro, a trip to London can become an affordable luxury.â�?

Already several tour operators have cut back on the number of holidays offered by them abroad for summer 2009 because of a fall in demand.

Taiwan to China charters to exceed 108 weekly target

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:35:43 +0000

A report published by Taiwan"s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) states that the original target of 108 weekly flights offering direct connections between Taiwan and mainland China will be exceeded by 5 January.

CAA said with every consecutive week, applications made by aviation companies for destinations and flight numbers have been increasing which has helped achieve a rate of 108 return weekly flights by the time it was four weeks from the inception of the programme.

The terms of an accord signed by China and Taiwan in November permitted a maximum of 108 weekly charters on the basis of a framework that had been set up in July during when weekend non-stop charters were launched.

Taiwan has opened eight of its airports to both China and Taiwan-based airlines to operate their charter flights across the routes. For these routes, the most popular airports are the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the Taipei Songshan Airport in northern Taiwan, the Taichung Chingchuankang Airport in central Taiwan and the Kaohsiung International Airport located in the south of the country.

With the direct flights increasing in frequency from weekly to daily operations, the number of destinations in China served by these connections has also undergone an increase from five to 21.