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  • Luxor suspends balloon flights following tragedy

    Hot air balloon flights within the popular Egyptian destination of Luxor was suspended following a tragedy which claimed 19 lives yesterday. 

    Three British visitors, travelling with Thomas Cook, were killed inside the incident which saw a hot air balloon catch fire and explode.

    The balloon was operated by local firm Skycruise.

    Eyewitnesses report it catching fire because it came in to land following a dawn flight over ancient sites nearly Luxor.

    Britons Yvonne Rennie and Joe Bampton and his Hungarian-born partner Suzanna Gyetvai, who was living within the UK, were among 19 passengers killed.

    Egyptian prime minister Hisham Qandil ordered all flights to be suspended while an investigation was implemented.

  • News: Ryanair to appeal EU Commission decision blocking Aer Lingus takeover

    Ryanair has confirmed it could appeal the ecu Commission decision to ban its latest offer for Aer Lingus.

    The low-cost carrier claimed it offered an “historic” and “unprecedented” remedies package that included not one, but two upfront buyers to take over approximately half Aer Lingus’ short-haul business.

    Routes would have gone to British Airways and flybe.

    The transfer to those upfront buyers of Aer Lingus’ business at the 46 crossover routes identified by the european Commission, along with the relevant slots, aircraft, personnel and branding, was ensured by binding, irrevocable commitments by those upfront buyers including board approvals.

    The history of the EU’s treatment of Ryanair’s two offers for Aer Lingus conclusively proves that this prohibition is a “political” decision to pander to the vested interests of the Irish government, Ryanair argued in a strongly worded statement.

    The Irish government maintained a 25 per cent stake within the carrier.

  • Rotana expands into Turkey

    Rotana, the leading hotel management company inside the Middle East & Africa, is increasing its portfolio by a complete of 410 rooms with its first foray into Istanbul, Turkey.

    Rotana will manage both Arjaan by Rotana properties; the Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana for the Turkish group Dap-Yap.

    The Burgu Arjaan by Rotana that’s divided into two connecting towers, Burgu 1 and Burgu 2, could have a complete of 222 rooms.

    The two towers, with 111 rooms each, will share a number of significant facilities equivalent to the lobby, café, business centre, restaurant, gymnasium and indoor pool, outdoor pool and landscaped areas, in addition to five to 6 meeting and conference rooms.

    The Tango Arjaan by Rotana could be a 188- key hotel.

    Selim El Zyr, president, Rotana, commented: “The new properties will represent a milestone for Rotana – the Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana often is the first step in taking our brand, that’s already iconic within the Middle East and Africa region, to the broader world.”

    The projects can be found on Turkey’s longest coastal lane ranging from Fener and ending at Tuzla, conveniently situated for both leisure and work guests.

    The new Istanbul properties will offer a privileged city life to families and guests who wish to stay for a protracted period within the most lovely buildings inside the region.

    Guests will feel at home within the fully furnished apartments with 24-hour room service. Each apartment offers fabulous views of the encircling areas and is a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the town.

    Ultra-high speed wireless internet connections, LCD televisions, fully equipped and furnished kitchens, courteous and discreet staff and the best quality leisure facilities are guaranteed.

    Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana are designed to near the space between hotel and residential.

    Exclusive to those two new properties would be the ‘rent if you are away’ scheme which supplies another source of income for owners.

    The weekly, monthly and annually rented apartments might be operated and managed by a pro system and apartment owners could have the alternative of earning extra income by renting their apartments through Rotana to right away gain a return on investment.

  • German National Tourist Office UK hosts accessible tourism workshop

    The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) today hosted a product workshop and round table discussion to set up the necessities for promoting accessibility travel from the united kingdom to Germany – an idea called Barrier Free Travel.

    Representatives from tour operator companies, disability charity organisations, travel website specialists, plus Deutsche Bahn and the Germany Embassy were all eager about the discussions.  These included subjects corresponding to methods of assisted travel, different levels of accommodation, inspiring activities for every age and for all kinds of needs; in brief, how visitors to Germany could experience the fullest, most fun and barrier-free holidays as possible.

    Klaus Lohmann, the director for the GNTO UK and Ireland said: “The London Paralympics set a dynamic and vital example to the area in helping to bring the topic of disability into the mainstream. We wish to keep this dynamism going, that’s why we are going to be doing all we are able to to expose that holidays in Germany can offer something for everybody inside the most simple and rewarding way”.

    The workshop comes before a campaign, to be announced summer 2013, for you to show just how the GNTO could be supporting the united kingdom travel industry and consumers curious about barrier-free holidays.  Any travel professionals inquisitive about this campaign should contact the GNTO.

  • Iberia drags International Airlines Group into red

    International Airlines Group has reported an operating lack of €23 million before exceptional items for the year to December 31st.

    While British Airways made an operating profit of €347 million in the course of the period, the crowd was hamstrung by Spanish carrier Iberia, which made an operating lack of €351 million.

    Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “Last year was a year of transformation for IAG – we bought bmi and integrated it into British Airways and initiated our restructuring of Iberia.

    “Our operating performance was solid and the €23 million loss before exceptional items was better than our guidance to the market.

    There was an important impact at the results from exceptional and non-operating items resulting in a pre-tax lack of €997 million.

    These items include provision for restructuring and impairment costs in Iberia and non-cash pension accounting requirements.

    Revenue for the year was up 10.9 per cent to €18.1 billion, including €872 million or 5.4 per cent currency impact.

    Passenger unit revenue for the year was also up 9.4 per cent, on top of volume increases of two.8 per cent.

    Walsh continued: ““We achieved synergies of €313 million in 2012, exceeding our €225 million target set first and foremost of the year.

    “This is another excellent performance, notably through higher than expected revenue synergies. However, we must never be complacent – while this trend must continue it must be hand-in-hand with structural change.”

    Despite three months of negotiations between Iberia and its trade unions, no agreement was reached on an initial restructuring plan.

    Therefore, IAG has announced that Iberia will proceed with a fifteen per cent cut in capacity and has started the formal collective redundancy process so as to affect 3,807 jobs.