Ryanair boss O’Leary forced into apology July 15, 2010 EASYJET’S Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou yesterday achieved the nigh-on unthinkable as the High Court forced Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary into a grovelling apology over a mischievous advertising campaign. Stelios launched a suit against his arch-rival at the start of the year over the ads, which featured a caricature of the easyJet founder as Pinocchio and claimed [...]
MARKETING July 15, 2010 Q. I am starting a business and I need to think about marketing but I don’t know where to start. Can you offer me some advice? A.This is a common problem. Most people will have heard of marketing, but they don’t know quite what it is. Mark Brewerton, the managing director of Total Marketing Solutions, [...]
Regulators approve BA and Iberia merger July 14, 2010 BRITISH Airways and Spain’s Iberia gained EU regulatory approval for their merger to create the world’s third-largest airline. The carriers hope the merger will enable them to compete better with rivals Lufthansa and Air France as well as low-cost carrier Ryanair. It will also clear the way for a tie-up with American Airlines. The European [...]
Ryanair to cut Dublin flights as passenger traffic declines July 8, 2010 IRISH airline Ryanair said it would cut its Dublin winter capacity by 15 per cent as passenger traffic falls, and again called for a tourist tax to be scrapped and airport charge increases to be reversed. Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier will cut its Dublin base to 12 aircraft from 14 aircraft this winter and will [...]
Ryanair won’t be put off by court block July 6, 2010 RYANAIR yesterday said an EU court decision upholding a takeover block would not stop them from bidding for Aer Lingus again in the future. The airline also welcomed the decision to allow it to retain its 29.8 per cent share in Aer Lingus. The EU Commission, the body that looks after European competition, ruled in [...]
Unite strike causes BA traffic to drop July 5, 2010 STRIKE action by Unite, the union representing British Airways (BA) cabin crew, saw passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers reduced by 11.1 per cent last month. As a result of the nine-day strike period in June, BA on average filled only 77.5 per cent of its planes, while passenger capacity fell 8.6 per cent [...]
INSURERS STRAP IN FOR BLUNT’S MILE-HIGH RECORD-BREAKING GIG June 30, 2010 EVER wanted to watch James Blunt sing his heart out – live – at 42,000 feet? No, neither have we, but let’s not diminish Royal Sun Alliance’s (RSA) achievement in breaking the Guinness World Record for the world’s highest altitude live music show. The insurance group has kicked off its 300th anniversary celebrations with gusto [...]
Ryanair to cut back winter capacity by 16pc in the UK June 29, 2010 RYANAIR is expecting to cut its UK winter capacity by 16 per cent, marking the largest cut it has made to its winter traffic. The Irish low budget airline blamed the government’s air passenger duty (APD) for damaging UK tourism and forcing it to make the cut. Chief executive Michael O’Leary said yesterday the airline [...]
TRAVEL NOTES June 20, 2010 Valencia restaurant week: 5-11 July Like tapas but want to explore the best of Spanish food further? Combine a week of serious food discovery with a sunny Spanish holiday in Valencia, one of southern Spain’s most beautiful cities, which will be hosting its third restaurant week from 5 July. On offer will be delicious local [...]
Global airline equities are cleared for take-off June 7, 2010 THE global airline industry is set to take off this year, provided the economic recovery holds up, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an association of 230 airlines. IATA has revised its 2010 profit forecast for the industry up to $2.5bn, having formerly predicted a $2.8bn loss. It says that low oil prices, [...]