|
1) Changes to USA Visa Waiver
Scheme
From 1st August 2008, application
for an Authorization to Travel to the United States
(ESTA) will be accessible via the internet and is
recommended that customers apply for it on a voluntary
basis to familiarise themselves with the new system.
Customers travelling to the USA will need to apply for
an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)
prior to their journey with minimum of 72 hours before
departure. From early 2009 it will be compulsory for
customers travelling to the United States under the Visa
Waiver Programme (VWP) to apply for an Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) no later than 72
hours prior to departure. This online form will replace
the green visa waiver form which is currently completed
whilst en-route to the US. Customers should visit
http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and fill in the
required information. An approved travel authorization
is valid for 2 years for multiple entries into the US
although a new application will have to be made if a new
passport is obtained within the 2 year period or of any
of the YES/NO questions on the ESTA form change.
Travellers will still need to complete the current visa
waiver form during the trial period as their plane's
cabin crew will not be aware who has or who has not
completed an online ESTA.
2) Advanced Passenger Information
requirements for India from 1st August
2008
From the 1st August Advance
Passenger Information (API) is required for Indian
authorities. All airlines will be required to
collect specific information from every passenger
travelling to India. This information is compulsory and
is required for the purposes of ensuring aviation safety
and security.
Below is a list of the information
required:
-
Full given
names
-
Surname
-
Gender
-
Nationality
-
Date of Birth
-
Travel document number e.g.
passport number
-
Travel document expiry
date
-
Travel document country of
issue
In order to minimise unnecessary
delays at the airport, it is essential that where
possible, all travellers provide the API prior to
travelling. For further details please visit the link
below.
http://www.batraveltrade.com/travel/imminfo/public/en_fr
3) BA
counters negative T5 image with ad campaign
British Airways launched a campaign
to promote Terminal 5 on the 5th August 2008 in a bid to
counter the negative image it has carried since its
chaotic opening in March. The "Terminal 5 is working"
campaign photographed real people using the terminal and
featured them in media adverts the next day. This
campaign will appear across all media channels for 38
days. To see the campaign click on the link
below.
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/yesterday/
4) Emirates celebrates arrival of
first A380
Emirates made history when an
Airbus A380 landed at New York's JFK International
Airport on 1st August 2008 following a flight from
Dubai. This was the first commercial A380 'superjumbo'
jet to touch down on the US soil, with the 13.5 hour
flight taking off at 11am Dubai time with 489 passengers
and 24 cabin crew on board. Emirates will operate the
worlds largest passenger aircraft three times a week on
the New York - Dubai route from the 8th August 2008. The
aircraft will be deployed on the London Heathrow route
from December 1st and on Sydney and Auckland services
from February 2009.
5) In-flight showers - latest A380
innovation
First class passengers flying on
Emirates new Airbus A380 double deck aircraft will be
able to take showers. An on board 'shower spa' will be
regulated through a software programme that works a
traffic light system, giving each passenger a five
minute shower. The upper deck of the UAE carrier's A380s
are dedicated to premium Class passengers. The 14 flat
bed suites situated near the front of the aircraft are
designed to offer a spacious work area, electronically
controlled mini bar and an advanced in-flight
entertainment system.
6) Ryanair considers selected ban on
checked luggage
Ryanair is considering a ban on
checked-in luggage on selected flights in a bid to cut
costs after announcing an 85 per cent fall in
profits. The carrier said a hand luggage only rule
was being considered for some morning and midweek
departures which contain a high proportion of business
travellers. A spokesman said that although the
airline had a general policy to encourage people to
travel with only hand luggage, the rule, if introduced,
would be confined to non-tourist routes and
flights.
7) New flights to Melbourne with
Ethiad Airways
Ethiad
Airways will launch daily flights from London
and Manchester to Melbourne in Australia with
connections through its home base in Abu Dhabi from
March 2009. The airline, which operates 17 flights a
week from Heathrow and seven from Manchester, will
use a three cabin Airbus A340-600 on the flights to
Melbourne, with 244 passengers in economy, 30 in
business and 12 in First.
8) More
choices for passengers flying to
Scandinavia
From September 1st 2008 passengers
will be able to fly from Leeds, Bradford and East
Midlands airports to Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen in
the same day with bmi regional and Scandinavia Airlines
(SAS). The new routes will depart from the two regional
airports up to three times a day, and passengers will
fly via Brussels to Scandanavia.
BA have
increased some of their fees to change
fares
AIRLINE
TAXES
Unfortunately taxes are
continually rising all the time! This is outside of our
control and is due to rising airport charges. We do
apologise.
NEW GROUP BOOKINGS
SPECIALIST
Matrix Travel
Management have recently taken on a new Groups
Specialist.
Rodney has
over 20 years experience in this field.
He can
organise ANY Group booking whether it be for a small or
large group/Meetings/Conferences for 10 travellers
upwards.
For any
further information please contact
Rodney Claydon:
Tel:
01296 734209
Email: Rodney@matrixtravel.co.uk
Matrix
Travel 'bill-back' facility
If you wish to pay for your hotels
and cars after the event then you can avoid the
aggravation by letting us book your
hotel and car choices, and then we will sort out the
payment for you! Our 'bill-back' facility is available
to all our customers and helps relieve the stress of
arranging payment!
Please ask for
details.
| 
Newsletter
