Lte Airways suspends flights with immediate effect

LTE Airways is forth Spanish low cost carrier to stop flights. In the past few weeks other Spanish carriers; Futura, Lagunair and Flysur also discontinued their services.

At the moment, there is no indication of how the advance reservations or refunds will be handled.

On its website Lte International Airways states:

Lte International Airways S.A. wish to inform you that due to the financial situation of the company, that make it difficult to meet the operational expenses in the next days, we have had to suspend our charter and scheduled operations.
Lte is doing everything to minimize the impact of this suspension of services on its clients and providers. After 20 years operating with maximum dedication to our clients it just was not possible to avoid this situation given world events lately.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to our passengers, clients and suppliers.
Lte International Airways S.A.

Virgin and British Airways cut fuel surcharges

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are reducing fuel surcharges paid by their customers from midnight on October 15th.

In response to falling oil prices Virgin Atlantic yesterday announced the cut in fuel surcharge for its economy and premium economy passengers. Depending on class and a route the flight tickets are going to be cheaper by up to £26.

According to British Airways, its move to cut the fuel surcharges for up to £13 has nothing to do with the price of oil – as British Airways, hedges the cost of fuel to avoid unpredictable price changes.

Human Advertising - New Zealand style

Remember Gordon Brown advertising Fiji? Remember Ryanair's sexy schoolgirl?Well, we have a new kid in town who would like to show us all how well their creative juices are flowing.


Starting later in October, Air New Zealand will advertise at Los Angeles airport with… "cranial billboards". Air New Zealand decided to hire a bunch of bald scalps and temporarily tattoo them with slogans like "Need a Change? Head Down to New Zealand". Yes, scalps are firmly attached to the human being.

Air New Zealand Marketing Manager Steve Bayliss said: "The cheeky sense of humour in the campaign has sparked people's imagination," and when human billboards are not on airport duty they are "making new friends and being stopped on the streets to talk about the campaign."

India banned smoking in public places

Even though the list of countries with smoking ban in public places is long, the smoking bans are much rarer in Asia. Now, India is following footsteps of Hong Kong and Singapore prohibiting smoking in many public places.

From the 2nd October smoking in hospitals, train stations, offices, hotels, restaurants and even bars in India is banned. According to government, there are over 120 million smokers in India, most of them under 30 years old.

The violators of the smoking ban will get a $5 fine initially, however India officials consider to raise the penalty to $25 in future.

New Qantas uniforms

Qantas said today it would launch a new version of its cabin crew uniforms to coincide with the commencement of its A380 flights in October.

Qantas Group General Manager Customer Product and Services, Ms Lesley Grant, said the new colour had been created by the uniforms' designer, Peter Morrissey.

"Qantas launched its current Morrissey designed uniforms in 2003," she said.

"While the uniforms remain stylish and distinctive and are popular with both our crew members and customers, the time is right to introduce a new colour palette, in keeping with our increasing focus on contemporary design and to coincide with the arrival of the new generation A380."

Ms Grant said Qantas and Peter Morrissey had continued to work with the textile design Wirriyarra from the Balarinji Design Studio.

"Australian wool suits in black are combined with Wirriyarra scarves or ties in a new 'dusk' print - characterised by silver and blue tones - and a dusk print dress has been created for female flight attendants," she said.

"Qantas Customer Service Managers will also wear new ties and scarves, including 'platinum' box weave silver for men and platinum silver for women.

"Qantas cabin crew are the face of our airline and this updated uniform is fresh, contemporary and reflects our premium style."

In 1938, Qantas' first male cabin crew dressed in white waiters' jackets when serving dinner to passengers. In 1947, female crew joined Qantas and wore a military style uniform. Qantas' cabin crew uniform has been re-designed nine times since - in 1959, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1985, 1993, 2003 and 2008 - created by leading designers such as Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent and George Gross and Harry Who.

London Gatwick airport for sale

Do you have spare $3.5 billion, more less? If yes, here is your big chance to buy yourself UK second largest airport.

You might have some competition though. Australian company Macquarie, Germany's Fraport and Virgin Atlantic expressed their interest. However, if you miss this opportunity, you may always bid for Stansted airport, which is going to be sold next.

Qantas to introduce online check-in

Qantas said today it would introduce new online check-in options, including paperless check-in, from early 2009 to make the process faster and easier.

Qantas Executive General Manager, Mr John Borghetti, said the new check-in options included:
- online check-in for international customers, building on the successful domestic online check-in options already available;
- the option for customers to select their seat from the point of booking, for both domestic and international flights;
- the option for customers who have not made their booking online to select their seat via the 'Manage Your Booking' service on qantas.com; and
- the ability for customers who select their seat online before departure to be automatically checked-in and have a 2D barcode sent to their mobile phone, portable device or PC.

"Domestic customers electing to receive their boarding pass on their mobile phone or portable device can have a paperless experience, from booking, to check-in to boarding. Customers with baggage can proceed directly to the bag drop facilities before heading straight to their flight," he said.

"For our international customers, passengers who have already checked-in will proceed straight to a dedicated online bag drop counter."

Mr Borghetti said these technological enhancements formed part of a broader mobile strategy for Qantas, giving customers access to information and services via portable devices.

"As part of this strategy, Qantas is working to ensure all services are available for customers with the iPhone 3G," he said.

Regardless of which option they use, all passengers and their baggage will continue to pass through all required airport security screening.

Zoom Airlines cancels all flights

Zoom Airlines sincerely regrets to advise its customers that it has suspended operations with effect from 19:00 hrs on Thursday 28 August 2008. Both Zoom Airlines Inc and Zoom Airlines Ltd, the Canadian and UK airlines, have started administration proceedings in their home countries.

All Zoom flights have been cancelled and aircraft grounded.

For customers who have future travel plans involving a Zoom flight for which reservations and payment have been made, you should refer to your credit or debit card company to apply for a refund.

We have set out details of other airlines who operate the same or similar routes to those flown with Zoom in the hope that this may assist you in making alternative travel plans to replace the flights that you had booked with Zoom.

If your travel arrangements have been made as part of a holiday package originating in the UK and booked through a holiday company, you may be able to make a claim under the CAA's Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme. For information on this, please consult the CAA ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.

Hugh and John Boyle, the founders of Zoom, said tonight: "We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff.

"We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights.

"We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying. Even late today we believed we had secured a new investment package to ensure future operations but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying. Having been unable to complete the investment package the directors of Zoom had no option but to instigate administration proceedings.

"The suspension of operations is a result of the exceptionally difficult trading conditions which have affected all airlines over the last 12 months. We have worked hard over the last seven years to build up a successful business but have incurred losses in the current year due to the unprecedented increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate. The increase in the price of oil has added around $50 million to our annual operating costs and we could not recover that from passengers who had already booked their flights.

"We would like to thank the many thousands of passengers who chose to travel with Zoom during the last seven years and efforts of the airline's staff. We are extremely sorry for today's unavoidable actions."

Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have indicated that they will be offering special fares to customers whose travel plans have been affected by Zoom's suspension of flights.

Services offered by other airlines which may be of assistance to Zoom customers:

London Gatwick to Toronto Canadian Affair, Air Canada, Fly Globespan, British Airways
London Gatwick to Vancouver Canadian Affair, Air Canada, Fly Globespan, British Airways
London Gatwick to Calgary Canadian Affair, Air Canada, Fly Globespan, British Airways
London Gatwick to Montreal Canadian Affair, Air Canada, British Airways
London Gatwick to Ottawa Canadian Affair, Air Canada
London Gatwick to Halifax Canadian Affair, Air Canada
London Gatwick to Winnipeg No direct flights. See Air Canada for options to change planes at airports in Canada to fly on this route.
London Gatwick to Bermuda British Airways
London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale No direct flights. See British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines for flights to Miami; or other US airlines for flights via hubs in America.
London Gatwick to San Diego No direct flights. See British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Air New Zealand and United Airlines for flights to Los Angeles or other US airlines for flights via hubs in America.
Glasgow to Ottawa No direct flights
Glasgow to Halifax No direct flights
Glasgow to Calgary Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Glasgow to Vancouver Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Glasgow to Toronto Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Manchester to Vancouver Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Manchester to Toronto Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Belfast to Toronto Canadian Affair, Fly Globespan
Belfast to Vancouver No direct flights.
Cardiff to Toronto No direct flights
Cardiff to Vancouver No direct flights

Airline removes life vests

Toronto Star reported that Jazz airlines, Air Canada's regional affiliate, have removed life vests from all of its planes; including those that fly over water. The reason? Saving money of course.

According to Transport Canada regulations, the carriers that fly within 50 nautical miles of shore may use flotation devices instead of vests. So Jazz airlines passengers in the "unlikely event of a water landing" will hold to their floating seat cushions.

Me thinking: children, me thinking: cold water, me thinking:... insane.

Hotel Missoni opens in 2009

Iconic Italian fashion house Missoni teamed up with the Rezidor Hotel Group on Hotel Missoni projects. The first two hotels should be open in early 2009 in Edinburgh and Kuwait City.

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh – will offer 136 bedrooms and suites, the signature Cucina Missoni restaurant, Bar Missoni, a fitness suite and several meeting spaces. The supposed colour scheme is blacks, whites and silver to match Hotel Missoni Edinburgh business nature.

Hotel Missoni Kuwait - will offer 200 bedrooms, all with views of the Arabian Gulf, Cucina Missoni restaurant; a Six Senses Spa, conference rooms and a ballroom. Hotel Missoni Kuwait is going to be leisure orientated, therefore its colour scheme allegedly will feature saturated colours.

Hotel Missoni is planning to open in another 8 locations across the world in the next five years

Ciao Chow on Spanish Steps

Italian cities are cracking down on ‘misbehaving’ tourists. After Venice banning picnics and bare torsos from St Mark’s Square, now Rome bans … snacking near the tourist attractions in historic centre during the tourist season (the ban was put in place last weekend and stays in effect until the end of October). The fine can set you back €50.

Eight new sights added to Heritage List

Eight new sites deemed "of outstanding value to humanity" were added to the world Heritage List. The World Heritage List names 878 vistas; 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed in 145 countries.
The new listings include:

• Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada)
• Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China)
• Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France)
• Surtsey (Iceland)
• Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
• Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
• Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland)
• Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

Fancy unspoiled wedding location?

For 30,000 – 40,000 Israeli shekels (£4,500 - £6,000) you can now rent the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra or the Antipatris Fortress in Tel Afek, along with other 20 sites located in Israel national parks. All proceeds go to protection of those sites.

Great for the parks, great for the couples, but on the other hand, I am not sure if I would like to be a tourist refused to enter due to ongoing ceremony.

Siam Park opens soon in Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Siam Park, supposedly Europe’s greatest water theme park is rumored to be open this August in Costa Adeje, Tenerife.

Siam Park, as name suggests, has Thai theme running through out all its rides, park buildings and restaurants. The attractions include, lazy river, numerous slides, wave pool with up to 3 metres waves and surfing school, rafting ride, children play area.

pictures: siampark.net

Refunds from BA and Virgin

This week British Airways and Virgin Atlantic start the ‘refund advertising campaign’. Both airlines were ordered to do so by US court who found them guilty of fix surcharges.

Passengers who travelled long-haul flights with BA or Virgin Atlantic between August 11, 2004, and March 23, 2006, might be able to claim between £4 and £20 for a return trip for a ticket purchased in the UK and between $7 and $34 for the US.

A black cab to conquer the world?

Manganese Bronze, the manufacturer of iconic London’s cabs is developing a new ‘zero emission urban taxi’ model which is hoped to appeal to worldwide audience.

There supposed to be around 3,000 international orders placed for the black cab, with first 500 to be supplied in early 2009.

So do not be too shocked if you usual New York’s yellow taxi is a black one indeed.

British Airways plane turned around back to Belgrade

Panic set on a British Airways flight Belgrade and London when passengers smelled foul odour. Fearing a terrorist attack, the captain turned plane around back to Belgrade, where aircraft was evacuated.

After last of the screaming passengers left the plane, the investigators started their examination expecting a leakage of some sort of acidic chemicals. Thankfully, upon further investigation, the source of suspicious odour was narrowed down to a package of curry.

What a curry on!

Hotels in USA in statistics

With pound standing strong against the dollar more people consider taking their holidays in US. So what can you expect from an average hotel in USA? According to American Hotel & Lodging Association :

• 91% offer Internet (15% hotels charge for it, and of those, 75% to 91% of them fit into the luxury to up upscale category)
• 82% have refrigerator in the room
• 75% have a computer in the lobby for guest use
• 70% offer a free newspaper
• 67% have weekend specials
• 66% offer healthy meals
• 58% have outdoor swimming pools
• 56% allow pets, and of those, 67% charge extra for your four-legged family member.
• 48% offer vegan meals
• 47% have indoor swimming pools
• 43% have flat-screen TVs
• 40% have only non-smoking rooms
• 25% have allergy-free rooms

On the other hand, there was a 9% drop in hotels offering free breakfast compered to last survey carried out two years ago and more hotels are charging for late cancellation.

Visas to China double the price

As Beijing Olympics are approaching, China has increased the cost of their tourist visa.

The standard single entry visa remains at £30 per person, but now there is an "application service fee" at £35.25 per person (£47 for express service).

The Chinese Embassy explains the risen fees by the necessity to outsource some of the administrative work associated with issuing visas. From now on, the new visa applications will have to be submitted to the "Chinese Visa Application Service Centre" (CVASC).

New York City Waterfalls

Tourists visiting New York this summer have an unique chance to admire four waterfalls by Danish artists Olafur Eliasson. 90 to 120 feet tall structures are located along the East River waterfronts of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The New York City Waterfalls will be disabled in October. More information can be found on
The New York City Waterfalls website

Wizz Air to operate in Ukraine

Wizz Air finally received approval to operate in Ukraine.

The new service will run on domestic routes from July, linking Kiev with Odessa, Simferopol and Lviv. The cheapest one way ticket will cost around £18.

Wizz Air is planning to open an international link from Kiev later on this year.

Sphinxes avenue and new pyramid discovered

The missing section of Sphinxes avenue and new pyramid has been found in Cairo at Saqqara area.

According to Farouk Hosni, Egypt’s minister of culture, the avenue was mentioned in Roman manuscripts and documents unearthed beside the Serapeum, the necropolis of the Apis bulls at Saqqara.

The newly discovered pyramid might be dated back to the Old Kingdom. Despite the lack of cartouche, Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities believes that it may belong to King Menkauhor of the Fifth Dynasty, which would make it almost 4500 years old.

Guys night out... kind off.

For those who have enough ado about Sex and the City, the Four Seasons in New York has perfect solution; wait for it … "It's-Not-All-About-Sex-and-the-City" package created exclusively for man.

For cool $2000 a night one will be able to enjoy:

- One round of "anything but Cosmos" in The Bar
- Steak Dinner in 57 Restaurant*
- Complimentary DVD library featuring Rambo, Die Hard and Full Metal Jacket
- "Clog Your Arteries" breakfast the following morning in the guestroom or one of the hotel's dining outlets
- Double-bedded accommodations

Am I the only one who thinks this is a conspiracy of Manolo’s devotees, who through the sneaky use of the 'open' bar and cholesterol want to dominate the world?

British Airways increases fares by up to £60

More grim news on flights prices. From 3rd of June, British Airways will increase their surcharges due to soaring fuel prices.

The surcharges on long-haul flights over nine hours will increase by £30 each way and on long-haul flights under nine hours will rise by £15 each way. The short-haul surcharge will rise by £3 per each way.

Silverjet ceased operations today

Silverjet, the all-business-class airline, which flew from Luton to New York and Dubai, ceased operations today.

Travellers who book through the travel agents or bought a ticket as part of a package can expect a full refund.

British Airways has offered Silverjet passengers the chance to re-book flights from Heathrow and will waive both its advance-purchase and Saturday-night stay rules to reduce the cost of re-booking.

Virgin Atlantic offers the Upper Class fares of £759 one-way to Dubai and £899 to New York with proof of a purchased Silverjet ticket.

Customers should contact their travel agent or visit the CAA website at atol.org.uk.

Ryanair's is rising extra charges yet again... again

Ryanair announced changes to its optional priority boarding service which allows passengers to be first to board their flights. From June 3 all passengers flying with Ryanair will be required to pay £4 for priority boarding; this includes passengers checking-in online who till then checked-in free.

Should you be travelling in America this month, you might be in luck for some free buzz.

On Wednesdays in May in June, on selected flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco, Virgin America will serve their passengers two free cocktails.

Your boarding pass will also ‘open bar’ for you in Tao Lounge, XYZ bars and The Venitian.

Please see the promo page for further details, including dozens of pages in fine print.

First Class, Business Class, Economy Class, … Loo Class?

The New Yorker flying with JetBlue from New York to San Diego on a “buddy pass” - a standby travel voucher that JetBlue employees give to friends – was forced to give his seat to flight attendant and told by the pilot to sit in a… toilet.

When passenger objected, he was told by the pilot that "he was the pilot, that this was his plane, under his command that (passenger) should be grateful for being on board,"

For some reason now the passenger is suing the JetBlue airline for $2 million.

And who was laughing at the Hale&Pace's 'Yorkshire Airlines', ha? But do not worry, we do not sell JetBlue tickets, you are safe… for now at least ;)

Most luxurious hotel to be built t in Antalya

An hotel being constructed by in southern province of Antalya's Aksu region is set to surpass world's most luxurious hotel in Dubai namely Burj al-Arab.

Mardan Istanbul Palace is expected to re-define the concept of luxury in hotels throughout the globe.

Rooms in Mardan Istanbul Palace will be rented for fees ranging from 400 USD to 20,000 Euros.

The hotel will have 500 rooms. 70 percent of all rooms will be 60-70 square meters large. Standard rooms will be 45-50 square meters large while double-bedrooms will be 200 square meters large.

In addition, there will be 20 villas each 100 square meters large and king suites on top floor of the hotel, each 2,500 square meters large.

The swimming pool, which will resemble the Istanbul Strait –Bosphorus, will be 24,000 square meters large and will be the world's second biggest swimming pool. The pool will be surrounded by restaurants.

Interior decoration of the hotel is being made by Zeynep Fadillioglu. All decorative materials resemble historical artifacts from the Ottoman era. Ismailov paid 80,000 Euros for a single sofa dating back the Ottoman era.

While the main body of the hotel will resemble the Dolmabahce Palace, the garden floor will resemble the Covered Bazaar.

Lesbos in court over 'lesbians'

When hearing the word ‘lesbian’, do you think of the geographical destination or sexual orientation?

Well, that’s the point three people from Lesbos are trying to make by taking a gay rights group to court for using the word ‘lesbian’ in its name. According to one of the plaintiffs, the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

My sister can't say she is a Lesbian," said Dimitris Lambrou. "Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos," he said.

So here you go, not all Lesbians like lesbians. I am trying hard to feel sorry of either of the groups, but I just cannot stop laughing at the idea of the court case :D Very un-pc of me.

$1m palm tree

Scientists in Ivory Coast are trying to sell a coconut tree for 1 million dollars.
The tree is botanical curiosity as most of coconut palms have single trunk and head, but this one has three.

Even though the tree is for sale to fund the further research, the idea is just bananas, isn’t it?

Source and photo: BBC

Vatnajokull - Europe's largest national park opens soon

Vatnajokull in Iceland, the largest national park in Europe is to open from 7th of June. The 13,000 square kilometres park covers 13% of Iceland and will include previously unprotected land as well the existing Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur national parks.

Olof Yrr Atladottir, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said: “Personally, I see a myriad of possibilities for all sorts of activities opening up such as action tours, eco-recreation, study visits and learning experiences as well as the chance to experience the nurturing silence of Iceland's highlands.”

easyJet to fly from Manchester to Alicante

A new winter sun flight route from Manchester to Alicante in Spain will start on September 29th 2008.

Flights will operate four times per week throughout the winter on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

UK commercial manager for easyJet Carly Brear commented: "This is the first new route easyJet has introduced to its new Manchester base and we look forward to further expansion in the near future."

New routes from Newcastle to Corfu and Rhodes

Jet2.com will be flying to popular the holiday destinations of Corfu and Rhodes this summer from Newcastle International airport.

The two new scheduled services have just gone on sale and the first flights will depart on June 4th to Rhodes and June 20th to Corfu.

The new services from Newcastle airport are part of Jet2.com's continued expansion programme in the north.

Inca Trail sold out for summer 2008

Bad news for all hopefuls who planned to go trekking on Peru’s famous Inca Trail, but did not made a booking yet. The stunning walk route to Machu Picchu is completely sold out the 2008 summer travel season, with the next available opening in September 2008

The restrictions were implemented by Peruvian government back in 2005, limiting a number of daily hikers on Inca Trail to only 500.

End of $40,000,000-a-flight space tourism

Due to national criticism of the space tourism project, Russia is scrapping the $40,000,000-a-flight space tourism enterprise.

There are just 2 year left, so better hurry up everyone!

Further restriction on travel to China

China furthers travelling restrictions with new requirements, just weeks after stopping the issuing of multiple entry visas.

Travellers to China will have to present a copy of a travel ticket both in and out of the country and a hotel voucher before a visa application is accepted. Without this supporting documentation the visa application will be rejected.

In addition, citizens of many countries will now no longer be able to apply for a visa in Hong Kong, which is a popular place to arrange travel into China and has a separate legal and visa system from the mainland.

Nationals from nearly 30 countries, including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, will have to apply at the Chinese embassy in their home capital.

Project Genesis

Royal Caribbean is building its biggest ship yet – the 1,180ft long and 220,000-tonne luxury liner with the working name Project Genesis.
The cruise liner is to have a New York style "Central Park" open air space onboard the ship. The park will be located on Deck 8 of the 16 deck ship and open to the sky, with dimensions of 62ft (19m) wide and 328ft (100m) long. Trees in the park will tower more than two-and-a-half decks tall and the area is to have micro-climate control techniques to make sure the plants thrive.

Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive of Royal Caribbean, said: "This ship is a quantum leap in architecture and design and will deliver an unparalleled vacation experience to all who sail with us."

It is spectacular… but one has to wonder; when big is too big…

Flight delay forecasting

With airline schedules became more and more unpredictable with chronic flight delays would it not be nice to have a crystal ball telling which flight will be actually on time?

Believe it or not, there is a website which predicts flight delays. Delaycast was established to provide information about possible difficulties in flight itineraries and to give travelers realistic expectations about their travel plans. Its goal is to help flyers avoid delays, missed connections, and unintended stay overs.

Online multi language keyboard

So you sit in the internet café in Beijing and look with despair at a keyboard… what do you do?

• I carry on without any problems; I am Chinese and speak Mandarin fluently after all…
• I carry on with slight panic in my eyes, hoping someone will understand…
• I give up and go for Chow Mein instead; after all there is no hurry…
• Chinese keyboard? No problems at all… There is multi-language Virtual Keyboard and I am not afraid to use it!

It does not matter what language you speak, there is Online Keyboard that enables you to write in your language wherever you are in the world, with an online on screen keyboard emulator. After you finish writing, just copy and paste it to your email browser. Easy peasy lemon squeeze!

Oasis Hong Kong Airline - help information for stranded passengers

Oasis Hong Kong Airline announced yesterday its voluntary liquidation cancelling all its flights and leaving passengers stranded in Hong Kong, London and Vancouver.

Notice To Passengers

Date: 9 April 2008 – 2050h HKG time

It is with regret that Oasis Hong Kong Airlines announces that the airline has this morning applied to the Hong Kong Court to appoint a provisional liquidator. The Court has appointed Edward Middleton and Patrick Cowley of KPMG as the provisional liquidators, and they have assumed control of the airline with effect from 1400h HKG time today.

Our flight operations have been cancelled until further notice. The Provisional Liquidators are liaising with other airlines in order to help customers make alternate travel arrangements as quickly as possible.

The Hong Kong government is implementing contingency arrangements with other airlines to help travellers, secretary for transport and housing Eva Cheng told a press conference. Ms Cheng said passengers seeking compensation should approach Oasis or the Hong Kong consumer council for help.

Oasis has set up hotlines for affected passengers - 0844 482 2323 in London and +44 129 359 6633 outside the UK).

Cathay Pacific is offering to help stranded Oasis passengers

"We sympathise with the many passengers in Hong Kong, London and Vancouver who have been stranded by the Oasis’ decision, and we will do our very best to help them through this difficult and stressful period,” Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said today.

Cathay Pacific is adding two extra flights to London, scheduled for the early hours on Friday and Sunday . A number of seats would be set aside on these as well as scheduled flights, where possible, to accommodate the returning students.

"We hope our contingency arrangements can accommodate as many as possible of the school children affected, and take people home who have been stranded by the closure,” Mr. Tyler added.

Special ticketing arrangements have been made to help Oasis customers who had confirmed bookings on the airline over the next two weeks – effective up to and including 23 April 2008.

A special one-way Economy Class fare at HK$2,500 (plus applicable charges) will be offered to eligible Oasis ticket holders on Hong Kong to London, or Hong Kong to Vancouver. The special fare from London to Hong Kong is GBP160 and from Vancouver CAD320.

A hotline has been established and the airline urges Oasis ticket holders to call the number on 2747 6181 to ascertain details of Cathay Pacific’s special ticketing arrangements. The Hong Kong hotline is open 24 hours and available with immediate effect until further notice. Details can also be found at www.cathaypacific.com.hk.

"We will be doing our utmost to help people out, but our efforts are complicated by the fact that our own flights are very full at the moment, and remain so for the next few weeks,” Mr. Tyler said.

China halt multiple entry visas until further notice

According to Singapore travel agents, China stopped issuing multi-entry visas and one-day travel visas from Hong Kong until further notice. There is also news of considerably slower visa processing times.

Finnish student fined and banned after vandalizing Easter Island statue

A Finnish tourist, who vandalized a Moai statue on Easter Island last month, was sentenced by Chilean court with €10,000 fine, banned from entering the island for three years and also compelled to make a public apology.

According to Finish newspapers, this is the highest fine that the local Chilean court has ever imposed for a similar offense.

"Sex and the City" perfect days

"Sex and the City" fans now have a chance to live life of their favourite character for four days.

For a cool $24,000, a New York based travel agency offers "Sex and the City" tours, filled with chauffeured trips to chic department store Saks Inc and Barneys New York, dinning experience in famed restaurants including Balthazar and Pastis, and clubbing at Bungalow 8 and other exclusive nightclubs.

The experience varies depending on a character; Charlotte’s fans will take a trip to jeweler Tiffany & Co and a tour of art galleries, while Samantha’s devotees will shop on Madison Avenue and visit a high-end sex shop.

The same travel company plans future trips based on films including the Lord of The Rings including a trip to New Zealand, where it was filmed.

Tsukiji Market restricts tourist access

Anyone visiting Tokyo has to visit Tsukiji Market (築地市場, Tsukiji shijō) – the largest fish and seafood market in the world and its world famous tuna auction.

So far tourists could roam the Tsukiji Market freely. Unfortunately, from 1st April tourists will have restricted access due to numerous complaints from traders. From now on Tsukiji Market visitors will be able only to watch the tuna auctions from a designated area. The entry times are also being restricted from 05.00am to 06.15am.

Metropolitan Opera to transmit La Boheme to Princess ships at sea

In an industry exclusive event, Princess ships will become the first cruise vessels ever to broadcast a live performance from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The special The Met: Live on the High Seas presentation of Puccini's La Boheme will be held on Saturday, April 5 as part of the Met's series of eight opera performances that are transmitted live via satellite to movie theaters around the world.

This unique experience will be offered across Princess' 16-ship fleet. On vessels equipped with Movies Under the Stars, passengers can enjoy a unique "Opera Under the Stars" event, as they take in the production on the giant poolside LED screens. Other vessels will show the broadcast in the Princess Theater. Opera lovers and newcomers alike can enjoy this famous love story while sailing in locations such as Mexico, the Caribbean, or Hawaii, as well as exotic locations such as Cape Horn and Egypt.

"It's quite unusual to be able to sit by a pool in the Caribbean and watch a world-class opera live from New York," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president. "We're very excited to be breaking new ground with this first-ever live Metropolitan Opera broadcast at sea. It's a rare opportunity to present our passengers with such an enriching cultural experience included in their cruise."

Kanye West - travel agent

So probably you have already heart about Kanye West opening online travel agency. Putting aside divagations ‘is it an April’s Fool joke or not’ where the sense of such a decision? Whatever next? Posh Spice with a helpline "How to gain few pounds?"...

I have no idea about plumbing… maybe I should open the plumbing services, sounds great! www.nocluewhatiamdoing.com and here I come!

No Eiffel Tower flower power

It seems that Eiffel Tower will not get its makeover.

After reports about Serero Architects winning the bid to temporarily redesign the Eiffel Tower’s viewing platform, The Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel said that it had never solicited a redesign and that it envisaged no changes to the tower’s appearance.

David Serero, principal of Serero Architects, now says that his firm’s proposal was merely a spontaneous design. I was neither in response to a design competition nor a project contracted by the tower's management; the architectural firm had merely put pictures of the proposed project on its website and the media jumped all over it, assuming it was a fixed deal.

Resource

Terminal 5 shambles continue

The chaos at London Heathrow Terminal 5 seems to carry on today.

British Airways cancelled a fifth of its flights from Heathrow's Terminal 5 this morning as it admitted the £4.3billion facility was not ready to be opened.

The airline continues to offer apologies. It has set up an information line for passengers: 0800 727 800 and service updates are available at www.ba.com.

I think today’s Metro summed this national embarrassment very well with a question; ‘Why can’t BA and BAA get you from A to B without A BA**S-UP?’

Picture: Daily Mail

Mobiles on airplanes are OK

Ofcom has given the go ahead to mobiles on UK-registered airplanes, although subjected to approval by both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK.

Ofcom also said that when people received a call in-flight, the cost would be a matter between them and their mobile operator – however they added that they were, "Concerned about this issue as tariffs may well be high relative to other mobile communication services and there is a danger that consumers will receive unexpectedly high bills."

Satellite comms vendor Inmarsat welcomed the decision since it currently provides inflight communications for government and private users – "Much of the required infrastructure for inflight mobile phone use is already in place," added Inmarsat.

Gordon Ramsay to open hotel in London

The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is opening a boutique hotel and restaurant in Camden, North London, in May.

It will be located in York and Albany pub in Parkway, Camden Town, which opened in 1827 and was designed and built by Regent’s Park architect John Nash and named after his friend the Duke of York and Albany.

The venue will be most likely run by one of Gordon Ramsay protégés, Angela Hartnett, formerly head chef at Mayfair hotel’s The Connaught.

“It’s Angela Hartnett’s project,” said a spokeswoman for the project. “It’s owned by Gordon Ramsay’s group but it’s very much Angela who’s taking it under her wing.”

Paris bargains - free museum admissions

Until June 30th 2008, some of the Paris best museums will be admission free.

• Musée Guimet - National Museum of Asian Art
• Musée Cluny - National Museum of the Middle Ages
• Musée des Antiquités Nationales de Saint-Germain-en-Laye - National Museum of Archeology
• Musée National de la Renaissance d'Ecouen - Everything from Renaissance sculpture and paintings to furniture
• Musée des Arts et Metiers - Houses the collection of the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, which was founded to preserve scientific instruments and inventions
• Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace - National Museum of Air and Space

Also, four other famous Paris museums are opening their doors free to students aged 18-25, with one night a week;

• Centre Pompidou - Wednesday nights
• Musée d'Orsay Thursday nights
• Louvre Friday nights
• Musee du Quai Branly Saturday nights

KLM pilot misses new Hyderabad airport

One would thing that all that state of the art equipment on board of airplanes should make it impossible for pilot to miss the arrival port, but then one would be mistaken.

In a slip-up barely hours after the Shamshabad airport opened for business, a KLM flight from Amsterdam, which was supposed to land at Hyderabad, skipped the airport and flew across the country — first to Delhi, and then to Mumbai.

Apparently, the pilot knew nothing about the new airport and was flying towards Begumpet only to be told that the facility had been shut. He was directed to Shamshabad, to which the pilot asked the air traffic control: "Shamshabad? What’s that?" The pilot then flew to Delhi, from where, after being refused permission to land, he took the plane to Mumbai.

Next time, give a guy GPS system, I heard TomTom is good.

Atlantic Alliance to promote west coast of Europe

Fifteen ports from seven countries on Europe’s West Coast have joint their forces in Atlantic Alliance to launch a campaign to promote themselves as the new cruise destinations.

“Europe’s West Coast is a treasure trove for travellers seeking exclusive experiences beyond what has become conventional luxury,” said Dirk Moldenhauer Managing Director, Hamburg Cruise Center and Managing Director of the Atlantic Alliance, at Seatrade 2008.

The Atlantic Alliance expects more ports and tourism boars to join existing members; Hamburg and Bremerhaven - Germany; Ijmuiden, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam - The Netherlands, Antwerp – Belgium, Cherbourg, St. Malo, Brest, Nantes, La Rochelle, and Bordeaux - France, Santander and Vigo - Spain and Lisbon – Portugal.

Eiffel flower – Eiffel Tower decoration for its 120th anniversary

Next year Eiffel Tower will celebrate its 120th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion Eiffel Tower will have a bit of a makeover.

Serero Architects of Paris have won the open competition to redesign the structure's public viewing platform and reception areas. The winning design will double the capacity of the public viewing area and does not require any modification of the existing structure.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Société d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel explained that the plan to restructure the top of the tower aims to increase the quality of access. Average waiting times for the tower's elevators currently run at more than an hour at peak times.

Source:TrendHunter

Happy Easter!

According to Association of British Travel Agent, over two million Britons will be going on holiday this Easter.

Justin Fleming, president of ABTA, said: "The early Easter has given our customers the extra option of heading to the slopes as well as topping up their tans, and the extended peak period has also seen a flattening out of prices."

As a result, holidaymakers may be able to take advantage of the number of "bargains" available at the moment, he added.

Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel

The first women-only hotel opened this Wednesday in Riyadh, the capitol of Saudi Arabia.

"Inside this physical structure, we are all women. We even have bell-women. We are women-owned, women-managed and women-run, from our IT engineer to our electrical engineer," says Executive Director Lorraine Coutinho.

"This is meeting a very big demand. There are women's hotels all over the world, from Berlin to the United States to everywhere," she said.

According to Luthan Hotel & Spa website:

Luthan means “escape”, at the spa we create a world that offers you refuge from the pressures of daily life.

Luthan has 25 luxurious individually designed suites and bedrooms for those who wish to extend their day with a weekend stay at this privately owned Boutique Hotel.The rooms are an extension of the spa where treatments can be carried out en suite on request.

A wide choice of leisure activities is available for all guests to enjoy. Guests to the Luthan Hotel can also attend the regular programme of excercise classes,where a varying choice from Aerobics to Yoga are available.

From the moment you step in our doors your senses will be awakened. A spa treatment which is uniquely yours, that will restore your peace of mind. Our first consideration is your personal comfort and relaxation. This reassurance never leaves us which is why a hands on treatment is so overpowering to the body.

At Luthan we cater to all your senses, the perfect urban retreat.

Dubai to launch cheap airline

Dubai’s government is to establish a low-cost airline, which will be managed by the biggest Arab airline Emirates.

Dubai is also spending $33 billion to build what it intends to be the world's largest airport at Jebel Ali in the south of the emirate. The six-runway al-Maktoum International Airport will be 10 times the size of Dubai's existing airport and bigger by area than London's Heathrow and Chicago's O'Hare airports combined when completed in 2012.

London Heathrow Terminal 5 - quick facts

Today, Her Majesty the Queen will officially open controversial London Heathrow Terminal 5, which will open its door to the passengers on March 27.

Some quick facts about Terminal 5:

• Cost: £4.5bn
• Construction: 7,5 years, 100 million man hours
• Aircraft stands: 50, to be increased to 60 by 2010
• Annual passengers traffic: 30 million
• Car park spaces: 3,800
• Self service check-in kiosks: 96
• Standard check-in desks: 54
• Security lanes: 20
• Bags processed per hour: 12,000
• Lifts: 192
• Escalators: 105
• Seats: 9,140 (excluding catering outlets)
• Toilet blocks: 112
• Toilets: 800
• Baby change facilities: 32
• Retail units: 112, including Cartier, Caviar House, Boss, Bally, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Tie Rack (including 25 food and drink outlets)
• Children's play areas: 3 (for toddlers to 7 year olds)
• Designed :by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners

It is a big shopping mall really ;)

American Airlines moves from Gatwick to Heathrow

After 26 years at London Gatwick Airport, the American Airlines are moving to London Heathrow.

The American Airlines’ planning senior vice-president Henry Joyner said: "We want to strengthen our competitive position within the new open skies regime, so it makes sense to focus our efforts in London at Heathrow.

"These changes do not impact the total number of American flights to and from London. We'll operate up to 18 daily departures to Heathrow this summer from seven US airports."


The last American Airline service from Gatwick will be will be a Dallas/Fort Worth connection on April 13.

There is a skeleton in you luggage!

The Munich baggage control handlers had a quite a surprise when during a routine luggage scan, one of the bags showed human skeleton sealed in plastic bag.

After some investigation, the airport police stopped for questioning the 62 year old woman and her friend. As it turned out, travelling from Brazil to Italy woman was fulfilling the last wish of her brother, who died 11 years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil - to be buried in Italy.

After producing appropriate documentation from Brazilian authorities, the travelers were sent on their way to Naples.

Police spokesman Christian Maier said: "Airport security spotted the skull and bones when the suitcase was put through the x-ray machine.

"We questioned the women and they produced a valid death certificate showing he had died 11 years ago of natural causes.

"As they were not violating any German laws they were allowed to continue their journey to Italy."

Creepy or what?!

The most luxurious train in the world - Beijing to Lhasa

China is launching "the most luxurious train in the world" to Tibet's capital, Lhasa on September 1.

The Tangula Express will run regular trips from Beijing to Lhasa, traversing the world's highest railway through the spectacular scenery of Tibet.

"The interior of the train will be decorated according to the standards of a five-star hotel, making it the most luxurious train in the world," said Zhu Mingrui, general manager of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation.

"Such a train can only seat 96 passengers. The fare would be about 20 times the normal price(2,000 Yuan - £180) and also much more than an airline ticket," he said.

Each of three trains will have 12 passenger cars, two dining cars and a sightseeing car. Each passenger car will have four 10-square-metre suites featuring a double bed, a living room and bathing facilities to accommodate its guest during this 5 days long journey.

Although Chinese authorities present this 1142-km railway as an important means in modernising and developing Tibet, critics warn against flooding Tibet with Chinese Han majority, which may lead to destruction of the local culture and acceleration of environmental degradation of the region

Terror tourism - Law Enforcement trip to Israel

Not a lot of things can really stunt me, but when I read about “terror tourism” I just felt… weird. Who in the right mind would offer tours like these and who would actually take a part in them?

The latest tour is themed “Law Enforcement trip to Israel”. It is all inclusive bus tour through the Holy Land, with exclusive access to Shin Bet, Mossad, military bases and more. The itinerary promises "observation of a security trial of Hamas terrorists" and briefings on "the realities of Israel's policy of targeted killings".

"We started organizing this [terror tours] a few years ago when tourism dropped off," said Avi Leitner, a lawyer with Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, an Israeli organization that sues terrorist organizations and countries on behalf of victims of terror attacks.

The “Law Enforcement trip to Israel” tour is different to previous trips organized by Shurat HaDin. In the past the terror tours were aimed at the regular tourist, featuring evening cruises, cookouts, and "luxurious bus transportation. The “Law Enforcement trip to Israel” tour is organized with a American homeland-security firm and is aimed primarily at law enforcement, therefore groups are dominated by police officers, homeland-security officers and bounty hunters.

So here you go, Israel has its own theme park… the terror one.

Resource

Philippines barres Dutch tourist for being rude.

The Dutch woman, Jenifer Sharmila Kalka, 42 has been barred by Philippine authorities from entering the country after she allegedly insulted the country's residents.

According to the officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Ms Kafka refused to answer standard set of questions from immigration and became abusive when asked to fill in a disembarkation form.

"You Filipinos are effing lazy," she allegedly said. "That is why you are poor."

The rude tourist was then put on the next available flight to her port of origin.

"A foreign tourist who exhibits arrogance and rude behavior upon his arrival in the Philippines should be turned back right away for he does not deserve the hospitality of our country and people," he Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Bargain holidays in Bulgaria

According to new holiday survey, Bulgaria offers Britons the best bargains, with pint of lager for just 49p, Big Mac for £1 and three-course meal for £7.

Sun, golden sand beaches and one of the friendliest people on Earth are free.

American Airlines cross Atlantic with just five people on board.

The American Airlines Boeing 777, able to carry 245 passengers on board, made a nine-hour journey from Chicago to Heathrow with just five passengers on board, using usual 22,000 gallons of fuel. It is 4,400 gallons per passenger.

Richard Dyer, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Flying a virtually empty plane is an obscene waste of fuel.

"Through no fault of their own, each passenger's carbon footprint for this flight is about 45 times what it would have been if the plane had been full."

To sum up the equivalent of this huge carbon footprint a car would have to travel 123,000 miles or the average British household would use up its five years gas and electricity supplies.

So much for green initiatives.

Know your Cairngorms from your Argyll

The VisitScotland website visitors were puzzled when trying to figure out the mountain showed on the photograph in the Perfect Day promotional competition. The photograph was labelled Aviemore and the Cairngorms and showed trees outlined by a mist with snowy peaks towering above them. As it turned out, the snap was taken at Loch Tulla, just outside Bridge of Orchy, not in the Cairngorms.

Dr Watson, Cairngorm ecology expert, said: "It just obviously wasn't in the Cairngorms. I know these hills very well, I've been going there since I was a boy and I wrote the Scottish Mountaineering Club's district guide to the Cairngorms. It definitely wasn't the Cairngorms.

"Anyone can make a mistake but it's surprising that a body like that would not find it easy to find good photographs of the Cairngorms."

VisitScotland described the gaffe as an "honest mistake", caused by agency provided the image and is now looking to improve their process of image selection.

Resource: BBC News

The fake Beijing 2008 Olympics tickets

How many of you watched The Fake Trade on C4 few days ago? It portrayed quite a scary picture, and I am not talking about designer labels but the medication and eggs.

It is not surprising then, that the fake Beijing 2008 Olympics ticketing sites are popping out everywhere. Imitating official website the fake sites make it even more difficult to tell the difference. Which one of these two would you say is fake; Beijing Olympics tickets* and Beijing 2008 tickets ? The second one, although they look pretty similar.

The Beijing Olympics are just five months away. Most tickets are long gone, so be very careful when seeing a “bargain”. If it is too good to be true, it most likely is.

--------
* site disappeared for some reason 8)

Dogs in fight with bedbugs

Dogs are the latest secret weapon in fight with bedbugs. Radar the beagle and Taz the Australian kelpie are part of a crack team of sniffer dogs sweeping apartments and hotel rooms across New York to combat bedbugs.

"We are inundated with requests from hotels and apartment owners," said Carl Massicott, the mastermind behind Advanced K9 Detectives. "A dog's nose is cutting-edge technology."

Both dogs were rescued from shelters and went through police dogs’ style training. They are thorough and efficient and able to check the room in less than two minutes.

As the old saying goes – dog is a man’s best friend.

Resource: NY Daily News

Your weight in gold, so get fit

The Bioferienhotel Mandler's Landhaus hotel in Austrian Alps has quite a new idea about their pricing system – it charges per pound of flesh – literally. The rates at this all organic food hotel are determinated on arrival, when hotel guests are "weighted-in" at reception; the skinnier you are, the smaller a rate.

“It is not only encouraging health and weight awareness, it also stimulates people to do more fitness training,” a hotel spokesman said.

Source: Times Online

Local customs – Italy

Private to stay private as Italy's Court of Appeal outlawed men from scratching their crotches in public. Superstitious Italian men often hold or touch their privates for good luck when they see a hearse or to ward off bad luck - the equivalent of touching wood in Britain.

Oopsa-Fiji

It seems Mr Brown is in trouble over the Fiji campaign. Apparently, someone forgot to inform Mr Brown that Fiji is ruled by a Military Dictatorship. Participation of the Prime Minister in a commercial advertising looks silly enough, but for a democratic leader to endorse military regime is just plain nonsense!

According to Downing Street, it is all a misunderstanding and the artwork was not cleared at the correct level. One has to wonder though, what would be appropriate artwork to highlight "military junta"?

Unsurprisingly, the Fiji Visitors Bureau is very happy over the fantastic media exposure and says the bookings are on the increase.

Swimming with dophins

Tomorrow, 1st of March new attraction – The Aquatica water park opens in Orlando, Florida. This new SeaWorld venture blends up close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and wide, sandy beaches.

“SeaWorld is famous for immersing guests in the mystery of the sea and its animals,” said Jim Atchison, executive vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando. “Aquatica takes this immersion to a new level, inviting guests to play in, over, and under the water itself.”



Sounds and looks like a true winner with kids of all ages.

Message in the sand saves life

The search for the missing 22 years old French tourist who ventured into the Australian Outback finally ended with success after 3 days. The woman was saved after a rescue team spotted the word "Help" scribbled into the desert sand.

1 Good night in Paris?

Paris Hilton supposedly would like to open her own hotel chain. Her empire already consists of clothing, shoes, canned champagne and perfume lines.

I cannot help but to wonder if video cameras are going to be standard equipment and if next to The Bible hotel guests will find 'The Tinkerbell Hilton Diaries'?

resource: Metro

Royal rendezvous Down Under

Yet another royal appointment took places lately. On 24th February QE2 and Queen Victoria Cunard cruise liners met up in Sydney Harbour.

For QE2 this is last voyage, before becoming a floating hotel in Dubai.

Fiji me, Fiji you. AHA!, Mr Brown

Fiji, gorgeous golden sand beaches, bluest sea, relaxing atmosphere, stunning sunsets, unspoilt nature, exotic heaven, in other words – one of the coolest places on Earth. So who do you think should endorse this little paradise? Well, Gordon Brown of course (?!)

Last week, Fiji Visitors Bureau launched the new face for their ‘Fiji me’ campaign - UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown shown with red flower behind his ear. The picture is supposed to represent a “get me out of here” theme portraying the pressure Mr Brown has been under lately.

Jane West, the director of the Fiji Visitors Bureau,said: "Gordon Brown has taken his fair share of criticism lately and has been under a lot of pressure in his job. The advert is saying that if you've had a tough time lately, where would you rather be in the middle of February, Britain or Fiji? It's an exotic island and is a great place to come to get away from your troubles."

The campaign was designed by the London agency DK Advertising and was supposed to feature other “stressed” public figures; the Duke of Edinburgh, London's Mayor Ken Livingstone, and Jérôme Kerviel – fraudster who cost the French bank Société Générale £3.6bn. However, only Gordon Brown gave permission for his image to be used … hardly a surprise.

A380 flying casino

'High-roller' can quite acquire yet another meaning soon, as the Airbus is in talks to create the A380 casino.

Businesses from Asia and U.S. are interested in turning Airbus A380 into a flying casino. "Certain clients of ours have shown their interest," said David Velupillai, marketing director at Airbus executive aviation. "The principle draw of the A380 is that it offers 50% more floor space than a Boeing 747, and if you plan to create something like [a casino], you have enough space."

François Chazelle, Airbus head of the executive and private aviation division stated that should the agreement be reached soon, superjumbo casino could be operational as soon 2012.

Place your hand luggage in overhead storage and your bets on roulette!

It's Same Difference time!

‘Potentially the most annoying people you've ever met’ aka Same Difference will entertain Butlins’ visitors in Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis. Same Difference will be performing between 24th March and 13th April and overall give five shows.

Fellow X Factor contestant Chico will also be performing at Butlins between February and June, when he will host 28 shows with Ben Mills, Eton Road, Robert and Ashley as guest stars.
source: Butlins

2008 - Year Zero in time travel?

Wormholes, bending space and time travel might not be science fiction any more.

The Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator in the world is to be operational in May 2008. According to two Russian mathematicians, Irena Aref’eva and Igor Volovich, the Large Hadron Collider will be powerful enough to tear space and time allowing for creation of a wormhole through which time travel would be possible.

Unfortunately, the time travel would be possible only to the time when first wormhole was established.

And here go my hopes of letting myself from a week ago know what will be the winning numbers in the European Lotto this week with a £95 million rollover. Although there is still hope that the future me will visit me before the draw

Public holidays cut back in Indonesia

Last Tuesday, the Indonesian government cut down the number of public holidays by three days, bringing it to total of 20 days. According to the decree issued by the ministers for religious affairs, manpower and transmigration the cut back is caused by fear of a global economy slowdown.

The cut three holidays were among so called “sandwich holidays” - days sandwiched between public holidays and weekends, introduced in 2002 to encourage domestic tourism.
Private sector businesses can decide whether or not to offer the holidays to their employees.

I am trying really, really hard to feel sorry for Indonesians. However, with our mere eight days of public holidays, just somehow I am more envious than sympathising.

Increase in visa fees to Zambia

The government of Zambia has ceased the existing visa-waiver scheme. From now on, Britons planning holidays in Zambia will have to pay £75 (increase from £33) for their visa and £240 for multiple entry visa (up from £45).

Cheap flights are "squeezing the life out of British tourism" ?

Travelodge accused Ryanair and easyJet of "squeezing the life out of British tourism" and causing a £18bn “tourism deficit” by drawing British holidaymakers away from Britain.

According to Travelodge, inward tourism has fallen by 16% between 1995 and 2002, while British spending abroad has risen by nearly 50%. Greg Dawson, Travelodge director of communications, said no-frills carriers were "the single biggest cause of decline in traditional tourism resorts and we urge the enquiry and government to investigate the airline's unfair grip on holidaymakers that is squeezing the life out of British tourism". Further, Dawson called on the Government to add VAT to air travel.

How would this affect Joe Bloggs’ interest, I wonder?

Ryanair's sexy girl banned

A Ryanair ad showing a skimpy dressed schoolgirl has been banned. After an investigation based on 13 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority said the model’s clothing strongly suggested she was a schoolgirl.

“We considered that her appearance and pose, in conjunction with the heading 'Hottest’, appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour and was irresponsible and likely to cause serious or widespread offence,” the watchdog ruled.

Ryanair argues the number of complaints to be insignificant, when compared to the newspapers’ combined readership of 3.5 million, in which the advert appeared.

Stop for a minute! ... or better for a week.

A survey done by Virgin Holidays revealed that 40 per cent of Brits fail to take their full holiday entitlement. Further, many of these on holiday still work from home or just “have to pop to the office to polish the details”.

According to a study, the most common reason for not taking holidays is being too busy at work, although some admitted to be too disorganised to book a break.

So maybe make yourself a new New Year resolution … I will go on holidays this year and leave my laptop at work!

Big four say no to holidays in Kenya.

Thomas Cook, MyTravel, First Choice and Thomson have put on hold holidays to Kenya until the end of April 2008, despite the latest change in travel advice issued by the Foreign Office.

Statement issued by Thomson reads: “In light of the FCO’s advice against all but essential travel to large parts of Kenya and as the security and political situation in the country remains unpredictable, the decision has been taken to cancel both the First Choice and Thomson charter flight operation to Mombassa, Kenya for the winter season.”

To infinity, and beyond! - next space tourist begins his training

Stuck for holiday's ideas? Bored with beaches of Goa or buzz of Magaluf? So why not try something new?

An American space tourist has begun his preparation for spaceflight. Richard Garriott will spend six weeks training for flight aboard a Soyuz spacecraft.

Garriott is paying cool $30 million for 9 days ‘holidays” and is contemplating a $15 million spacewalk as an additional extra.

"This year is definitely where all my priorities and schedules have rotated to where space becomes the top priority and terrestrial activities become secondary. […] There's no aspect of the actual training that I perceive that's going to be scary or intimidating, I just look at it as going to be really smooth from here."

Buy the launch, Garriott must familiarise himself with all working aspect of Russian Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station, and the Russian language.

You can read more about Richard Garriott's mission preparations at his personal website: www.richardinspace.com