Budget Airline News

Virgin Boss Branson Tells Airline Staff Threatening To Strike To Find Another Job

According to The Times, Virgin Atlantic Boss Richard Branson has told airline staff who are threatening to stage two 48 hour strikes later this month that they should consider working for another company if they want more money.

Branson wrote a letter to the airlines 4,800 cabin crew telling them that he would not be meeting their pay demands.

The entrepeneur said, "For some of you, more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your life-style and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere."

A spokesman for the Unite Union, who are calling the strikes on January 9-10 and January 16-17, said the letter was “insulting” and would worsen relations with employees.

United Airlines Flight Gets Stuck In The Mud

According to reports on CBS News a United Airlines flight bound for Denver had to be evacuated on Sunday Morning after the plane took a wrong turn and became stuck in the mud.

No one was injured in the accident, which occurred shortly before 7 a.m. CST, and the 182 passengers were taken by bus back to the terminal, said Kansas City International Airport spokesman Joe McBride.

"The road is not wide enough and the nose gear and right main gear went into the mud," he said.

Cost Of Entering US Rises As Price Of Visa Increases By 31 Percent

CNN report that the price of entry to the United States is set to increase by 31 percent on January 1, 2008.

The cost of a tourist, business or student visa will rise from $100 to $131.

A spokesman for The State Department said, "Because of new security-related costs, new information technology systems, and inflation, the fee is lower than the actual cost of processing nonimmigrant visas."

The only foreign visitors unaffected by the increases will be citizens of the 27 mainly European countries that are part of a waiver program and who do not require U.S. visas unless they want to stay in the U.S. for longer than 90 days at one time. Those countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Cyprus Airways To Make Profit - If Nobody Goes On Strike

The Cyprus Mail reports Cyprus Airways expect to generate a profit in 2008 as long as the airline, baggage handlers or air traffic controllers don't go on strike.

Airline executive chairman Kikis Lazarides invited unions representing CY staf to a meeting at a Nicosia hotel where he urged them to restrict their pay demands to help Cyprus Airways meet its goals.

Union bosses remained tight-lipped and refused to comment on the situation.
 

Newspaper Claims Holidays To Soar In Price Next Year

Holidays will be more expensive next year and travellers will have less choice because of recent consolidation in the travel industry according to The Scotsman Newspaper.

The Edinburgh-based paper reports that Travel agents said the merger of four major tour operators means there will be 1.25 million fewer summer holidays to choose from, creating demand which pushes up the price.

However, industry experts in Scotland said the market for cheap holidays north of the Border was better than ever because of an increase in destinations from Scottish airports.

Holiday Price War Bonanza For Summer 2008

FAMILIES are snapping up the cheapest summer holiday ever today as travel bosses begin slashing prices accordding to the Daily Express.

The cut-throat battle for business brought about a Boxing Day bonanza for holidaymakers grabbing early deals with one expert stating that “dream holidays are available at dream prices”.

Some firms are claiming that holidaymakers could save up to £250 per booking.