Airport Stories

Plonky Pilot Pulled at Heathrow

2008-12-23T16:05:00.000Z

A Heathrow pilot was prevented from taking to the air with 300 passengers because he reeked of alcohol.

Michael Harr, 62, was escorted from the aircraft by armed security police after having been breathalysed. The police had been tipped off by vigilant airport staff who smelt alcohol on the pilot as he boarded the aircraft.

The Jet Airways flight, bound for Mumbai in India, was delayed until a sober replacement pilot could take the controls.

Climate Campaigners Cause Travel Mayhem

2008-12-08T15:30:00.002Z

Eco-protesters from the climate action group Plane Stupid have broken into Stansted airport to stage a protest at the recently agreed plans for airport exapansion.

Over 50 of the protesters were arrested for aggravated trespass, conspiracy to commit a public nuisance and attempting to gain access to a restricted area.

One of the protesters said that they regretted the impact that their action was having on travellers but they wanted to do everything they could to lessen the amount of CO2 making getting released into the atmosphere.

Complaints Lead to Parking Charge Reductions

2008-11-24T10:07:00.000Z

Parking charges at Newcastle Airport have been reduced after complaints were received from airport visitors.

Vehicles that remain for more than five minutes will still be required to pay but airport officials have reduced the cost of airport parking to £1 for up to 20 minutes.

Travellers Unaware of Saving Opportunities

2008-11-10T12:24:00.001Z

Many travellers using the UK's airports are unaware of how they can save money on their airport hotel and parking charges.

While most regular traveller understand that they can receive significant discounts by booking their car parking space in advance most are unaware that, if they book a room at an airport hotel, their airport parking charge would be included.

In many cases this means that the hotel room will effectively cost almost nothing as the combined cost of a room with inclusive parking is often close to the cost for parking alone.

Booking a room in one of the many airport hotels provides a great way to relax before flying and if that room has cost little more than it would have cost to park it can feel like a free holiday.

The UKs Best Airport Lounge

2008-10-31T13:19:00.004Z

The hunt is on to find the UKs best airport lounge.

Airport lounges provide an excellent setting in which you can relax before your flight. Typically they provide complimentary refreshments, newspapers, magazines and comfortable, quiet surroundings away from the busy main terminal.

But not all airport lounges are the same. The level of service that each provides, the decor, furnishings etc. all vary. We want to hear about your experiences at any and all of the various UK airport lounges.

So drop us a note with some details of the lounge that you have used, when you were there and your experience of the service and facilities. We'd love to hear from you.

Pilot Arrested for Suspected Drunkenness

2008-10-20T12:22:00.000+01:00

A 44 year old United Airlines pilot was arrested by police at Heathrow airport on Sunday morning after failing a breath test.

He had been scheduled to pilot a Boeing 777 United Airlines aircraft to San Franscisco, a journey of 5,300 miles.

United Airlines were quick to point out that their alcohol policy is amongst the strictest in the industry. Safety is their number one priority and they do not tolerate any violation of their strict no-alcohol rules.

Passengers have said that they didn't have a clue what was taking place when the pilot was arrested. Several commented that they were horrified to think that they could have been flown across the Atlantic by a pilot who was the worse for drink.

Gatwick Car Park Fire Damages 19 Cars

2008-10-13T09:57:00.000+01:00

A fire in a car park used by travellers from Gatwick Airport has seriously damaged 19 cars.

Four appliances from West Sussex Fire and Rescue service attended the packed Gatwick Road open air car park in the early hours of Monday 13th October, called by a passer by.

The fire had initially only affected two of the parked cars but quickly spread to adjacent vehicles ultimately resulting in 19 cars becoming badly damaged. It is thought the most of the parked vehicles are owned by travellers who are now in for an unwelcome surprise when they return to retrieve their vehicles.

EasyBus Launch Cheap Fares Between Gatwick and London

2008-10-07T08:59:00.000+01:00

Easybus have launched a promotion lasting until December 15th which means passengers will only have to pay £2 for a one way ticket, when purchased online.

The £2 fare significantly undercuts the Gatwick Express fare from London to and from Gatwick. The new £2 service runs every 20 minutes to and from Fulham Broadwey underground station to the Gatwick North terminal arrivals.

EasyBus have stated that their new service is intended to help business and pleasure travellers save money. They have also stated that their new service is eco-friendly.

Chinese Airline Passengers Get Out and Push

2008-09-26T14:47:00.002+01:00

Passengers on a Chinese CRJ7 plane were asked to help push the 20 tone aircraft to the arrivals terminal after it broke on landing at Zhengzhou.

Initially only the airport staff were involved in trying to push the plane to its parking spot, but they couldn't get it to move. So the 69 passengers on board were asked for their help. Even with their assistance it still took nearly two hours to push the plane 1000 yards to the arrivals terminal.

UK Travel Industry in Meltdown

2008-09-15T10:58:00.000+01:00

After the collapse of the XL leisure group last week which left around 100,000 travellers stranded abroad and 1,700 employees facing an uncertain future a second tour operator, K&S Travel, ceased trading on Saturday 13th September.

The collapse of K7S travel leaves around 150 travellers stranded in Bodrum, Turkey. K&S travel also trade under the name Travel Turkey, specialising in Turkish holidays.

This latest casualty in the UK travel industry has led many to speculate that the industry is in serious decline as many UK holidaymakers are tightening their belts and choosing to 'staycation' rather than travel abroad.

Unhappy Passenger Complains Loudly at Manchester Airport

2008-09-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

A very unhappy holiday maker vented her frustration over delays experienced at Manchester Airport last week by taking control of the public address system and sharing her frustration with fellow travellers.

Her frustration was understandable as her flight to Cuba had initially taken off an hour late at 09:45 only to return to Manchester airport after developing a technical fault. Passengers were eventually disembarked and checked into an hotel at 16:00 but were then awoken at 03:00 to board a new flight. Then they were told that their flight was actually still in the hangar.

After passengers experienced difficulty in eliciting information from airline representatives the woman managed to take control of a microphone and began complaining about the dreadful treatment that they had received and requesting attention from a Thomas Cook representative. As she said in her announcement "We were dragged from our beds at 03:00 and the plane wasn't even ready. It's disgraceful".

Lucky Escape for Heathrow Hotel Customer

2008-09-03T15:46:00.003+01:00

A customer at a popular and well known Heathrow Airport Hotel recently escaped serious injury when a dog landed on his head as he was departing from the Hotel.

Luckily for the dog, the customer broke his fall and only suffered minor internal bruising. The customer, who was headed for the airport terminal for a flight to the middle east, was treated for shock and minor scratches. Unfortunately he missed his flight.

It was thought that the dog, a small mongrel about the size of a Jack Russell, had been smuggled into the hotel by guests. It appeared to have fallen from an open window on the second or third floors. Hotel security staff were investigating the incident.

Gosimply.com Puts Site Visitors First

2008-08-16T15:54:00.003+01:00

The new website from Gosimply.com has so clearly been designed and structured with the visitor in mind. They provide an exceptionally user friendly website for travellers looking for the best deal on airport parking, airport hotels and airport lounges.

Their approach is to go beyond the basic services provided by many other vendors. They present an easy way for people to not only compare prices but also every other aspect of their airport services.

There are numerous impartial customer reviews that give the site visitor confidence in what they are booking. They provide maps showing where all those airport car parks are in relation to their airports and even go so far as to make suggestions to help those in a hurry.

If you have not paid their site a visit I suggest you take a look. The site is an example exactly what a genuinely user-friendly website should look like and how it should perform. Excellent.

Buy Belfast City Airport for £100 Million

2008-05-27T15:23:00.001+01:00

It has just been announced by Grupo Ferrovial, the Spanish owners of George Best Belfast City Airport, that it is to be sold. It is expected to fetch in excess of £100 million (125 million Euros) after having been purchased in 2003 for £35 million.

The sale is expected to be completed in the final quarter of this year after strong initial interest in the sale.

The busy airport has been enjoying continued growth with an increase in passenger figures of 29% last month over previous month's figures. It is expected that over 2.7 million passengers will use the airport this year.

Aberdeen Airport Security Delays

2008-05-27T10:17:00.004+01:00

A failure of the check in facility at Aberdeen Airport meant that passengers ended up being checked in manually on Friday 23rd. Further delays were caused when the pilot refused to take off due to uncertainty over the number of passengers and bags on board.

The BMIBaby flight from Aberdeen to Birmingham was delayed by more than three hours while passengers disembarked in order to identify their bags on the tarmac. The manual check was required for security reasons and this resulted in the three hour delay in taking off which finally took place at 22:30

Book your Aberdeen Airport Parking space in advance for savings of up to 60%

UFOs Spotted Somewhere Near You

2008-05-19T14:13:00.001+01:00

The Ministry of Defence has released a number of files providing details of UFO sightings throughout the British Isles, along with the government’s response to the reports.

A number of documents can be downloaded from the National Archives website detailing numerous reports of UFOs seen between 1978 and 2002. These documents are just part of an archive of around 200 such documents that are to be made available over the forthcoming four years.

No matter what your personal views are regarding the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life the reported sightings make for some interesting reading.

Daily Mail UFO Reports.

Heathrow Boss Quits

2008-05-13T17:00:00.001+01:00

Mark Bullock, managing director of Heathrow Airport has resigned in the aftermath of the Terminal 5 chaos.

Heathrow’s third boss this year will be Mike Brown, the current managing director of London Underground. He will take up the new position at the end of the busy summer season. Terry Morgan, BAA’s airport services director, will take the helm temporarily while Mike Brown serves out his notice period.

Prestwick Airport Wins Top Industry Cargo Award

2008-05-12T14:30:00.003+01:00

Prestwick airport, just 32 miles from Glasgow, has just been awarded the prestigious Air Cargo News award for the Best Cargo Airport at a ceremony in London.

The awards ceremony, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, was attended by over 500 of the air cargo industries top executives. Prestwick airport handles up to 100,000 tonnes of air freight per year.

The volume of freight handled at the busy airport has seen a consistent year on year increase and their focus upon freight development is clearly paying dividends.

Nico Le Roux, Group Manager Freight Development, has said that “Cargo operators are attracted by the airport’s perfect geographical location, fast turnaround times and our team’s ability to easily handle large and unusual items.”

Prestwick airport are immensely pleased to have received the award which required that they meet a number of stringent criteria as well as being recognised by various industry experts.

Don't forget to book your Prestwick Airport Parking Space in advance for massive savings.

Prestwick Airport to Host Elite Business Circle

2008-05-12T14:30:00.001+01:00

Prestwick Airport is to host the next meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle on the 30th of May when they will launch their website.

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is a newly formed association involving some of the foremost companies in Ayrshire. The function of the organisation is to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of business services, industries and commercial enterprises within Ayrshire.

Member companies are involved in a range of enterprises from building to finance, golf, marketing, web design and travel. They include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayre Racecourse and Brunston Castle Golf Club.

Prestwick airport, located just 32 miles south of Glasgow provides a crucial service to the Ayrshire economy. Passenger and freight transported through the airport has been enjoying a steady increase as more routes are added to the links already serviced by the popular Scottish airport.

Ex-Police Officer Farina Arrested on Gun Charges

2008-05-12T12:11:00.002+01:00

Actor Dennis Farina, perhaps best known for his part as New York detective Joe Fontana in the popular television series 'Law and Order' was arrested at Los Angeles international airport yesterday for carrying a concealed weapon as he boarded an aircraft.

The 64 year old ex-Chicago Police officers told the arresting officers that he had simply forgotten that he was carrying the loaded .22 caliber hand gun which was found in his hand luggage.

His new film, 'What Happens in Vegas' opened in cinemas this weekend.

Delta Airlines Launches Service to New York from Edinburgh

2008-05-06T17:15:00.001+01:00

I have just returned from New York on a direct flight to Edinburgh after flying to JFK on Friday 3rd. Delta Airlines have just launched this new service to JFK which is set to become as popular as there existing services to Newark and New Jersey.

My journey ended at JFK but the new service means that travellers will be able to take advantage of the range of onward connections available from the popular New York airport. For this flight I took full advantage of the airport parking facilities at Edinburgh. The service continues to be exemplary with attentive and helpful staff and clear directions to the car parks.

The flight itself was very comfortable, as was the return journey. I routinely need to visit New York, and Edinburgh is my local airport, so I shall definitely be using this excellent service again, soon. Highly recommended.

Five Inch Bullet Passes Heathrows Security Checks

2008-05-02T08:43:00.003+01:00

Security checks at Heathrow's terminal 5 failed to detect a five inch bullet in a boys luggage.

The inept airport security staff confiscated Ben Thetfords milkshake but, amazingly, failed to detect a five inch shell that was inside his school bag. Ben, and friends from Parkside School, passed through Heathrow on a their way to Bulgaria for a skiing trip. The bullet had been in his school bag since Ben had completed a school project on World War two. It wasn't until Ben was on his return journey that the more vigilant security staff at Sofia airport in Bulgaria found the shell and confiscated it.

The bullet was not live. The shell and the bullet had been found by Bens father with a metal detector near his home. The bullet and shell had been put together to resemble a live cartridge which is thought to have come from a spitfire.

The incident raises serious questions regarding security procedures at Heathrow'w troubled terminal 5 where security staff had required a man in the same security queue as ben to drink some of his baby's milk to prove that it wasn't liquid explosives. It would appear that security are so focussed upon concealed explosives that it has become possible for a passenger to overtly carry potentially live ammunition onto an aircraft.

Scottish Airport Car Park Staff are Most Polite

2008-04-30T06:18:00.004+01:00

In a recent survey of passengers using airport parking facilities throughout the UK, staff at Scottish Airport Car Parks came top for politeness, courteousness and helpfulness.

Those who regularly travel through Scottish airports are no doubt aware of how helpful staff at these facilities can be. This survey focussed upon airport car parks in particular and the staff who work in them, including transit bus drivers and office personnel.

Edinburgh airport car parking staff came in for particular praiss and staff at all of the Scottish airport car parks scored highly for politeness, courteousness and overall willingness to help passengers when requested.

Ryanair Want Hand Luggage Only

2008-04-30T06:14:00.002+01:00

In a bid to encourage passengers to bring only hand luggage Ryanair announced that they would be increasing baggage check in charges this week.

In a statement Ryanair said: "Ryanair encourages passengers to avoid these charges altogether by travelling with our 10 kg hand luggage allowance and checking in online".

From May 5 all passengers who pre-book baggage they want to check in will be charged 10 euros.

Rising Cost of Oil Forces BA to Increase Fuel Surcharges

2008-04-30T06:05:00.002+01:00

The continued rise in the cost of a barrel of oil is forcing British Airways to increase their fuel surcharges.

All tickets issued from Friday 2nd of May will be subject to the new charges. On short haul flights this means an increase of £3 on a single ticket, raising the surcharge to £13, and £6 on a return ticket, making the surcharge £26.

On long haul flights of less than nine hours the surcharge will rise by £10 to £63 and on flights longer than nine hours it will rise by £15 to a staggering £79.

UK to Introduce Face Scans at Airports

2008-04-28T17:06:00.001+01:00

Facial recognition systems are to be used at UK airports to improve security, commencing this summer.

It is hoped that the use of the new technology will ease congestion, alleviate passport officers and improve security. Unmanned clearance gates will scan passengers' faces and match the image with that stored in the computer chip in their biometric passport.

Obviously, the new system will only be used for passengers who hold a new biometric passport.

Edinburgh Baggage Recheck Apology from KLM

2008-04-27T12:13:00.005+01:00

A security recheck of baggage on April the 10th at Edinburgh airport meant that many passengers missed their connections. KLM offered an apology for the occurrence yesterday.

Passengers on the KLM flight from Edinburgh airport to Amsterdam each had to identify and claim their bags which were removed from the plane and laid out on the tarmac. The problem had been caused by a baggage checking agent who had not correctly checked the bags as they were loaded onto the plane, resulting in the security recheck.

KLM apologised for the delay and any inconvenience caused.

Glasgow Airport Hero Opens Leeds College

2008-04-26T18:34:00.005+01:00

John Smeaton, the Glasgow airport baggage handler who confronted terrorists who attacked Glasgow airport terminal building last year, has just opened a college in Leeds that bears his name.

The Leeds college is actually named after an 18th century, Leeds born engineer, also named John Smeaton , who was responsible for building bridges and municipal buildings.

Since his heroic Mr Smeaton faced up to the terrorists at Glasgow airport he has been thrust, reluctantly, into the limelight. He has met Gordon Brown, been to the states and taken a new position as head of security at one of Glasgow airport's car parks.

Passenger Numbers Increase at Glasgow Prestwick Airport

2008-04-23T20:16:00.006+01:00

The financial year has ended on a record high at Glasgow Prestwick Airport with a 6% increase in passenger figures when compared with the same month in 2007.

The airport handled a total of 2,426,630 passengers in the year, a small increase on the previous year. Several new routes have been added and these appear to be paying dividends. There has also been a marked increase in freight traffic at the airport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is looking forward to further development throughout 2008 and into 2009 and expects to see additional passenger routes added and further increased in freight traffic.

Ghostly Orb Photographed Near Edinburgh Airport

2008-04-23T19:52:00.004+01:00

A member of staff at Edinburgh Airport took this photograph of a ghostly orb hovering in the air just off East Field Avenue, close to the airport terminal.

The orb was not visible to the naked eye but the member of staff reported that they experienced a sudden and distinct drop in the air temperature and noticed a peculiar movement in the trees, prompting them to take this photograph. When the image was viewed the orb could clearly be seen towards the top of the photo.

Orbs can be created by many non-paranormal factors including light reflections, airborne debris and dust. The photographer is convinced that this is the real thing. There have been other uncorroborated reports of apparitions at the airport, including a woman in a white dress who appears to be floating several feet above the ground.

New Service from Glasgow to Faro

2008-04-23T13:56:00.002+01:00

EasyJet have just started running a twice weekly new service from Glasgow airport to Faro in Portugal. Currently flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the new service is set to run three times a week during the busy summer season between June 26th and August 28th.

This new route to Portugal is anticipated to be very popular and prebookings have so far been very strong. When combined with the excellent services available at Glasgow Airport including a number of airport car parking options and a popular meet and greet, chauffeur parking facility, Scottish travellers will be able to get to the Algarve, from their homes, in no time at all.

Government Promises BAA Review

2008-04-22T16:02:00.000+01:00

The Competition Commission has issued a report in which they have indicated that BAA may be failing airlines and consumers.

In the report Christopher Clarke, chairman of the BAA airports inquiry, stated "We are particularly concerned by BAAs lack of responsiveness to the differing needs of its airline customers and hence passengers".

The report has prompted the government to review the economic regulation of the UKs airport system. Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary, has said that the review will look at how to improve customer service, boost investment and deal with environmental concerns.

She went on to say that much has changed since the Airports Act in 1986 and that there was a need for reconsideration of how the framework needs to be updated.

She said that the governments review would recognise the points made by the Competition Commission, the aviation industry and key stakeholders about the potential shortcomings of the current regulatory system.

Heathrow Security Guard Wins Sexual Harassment Case

2008-04-21T16:45:00.000+01:00

Allwyn Rondeau, a security guard at Heathrow airport, has won his tribunal case in which it was stated that a female colleague, Lucy Chiltern, had thrust her breasts against him, even though he had indicated to her that he was homosexual and not interested.

The tribunal heard how Miss Chiltern had bent over a place seat and shook her backside at Mr Rondeau saying “Come on, give it to me”.

The tribunal settled in favour of Mr Rondeau that he had experienced sexual harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Package Sparks Terror Alert at Glasgow Airport

2008-04-21T11:49:00.000+01:00

A suspicious packaged prompted a terror alert at Glasgow airport on Saturday.

The package was spotted in the main terminal at about 10:00. Police were quick to respond, removing the package for inspection where they found that it was harmless.

Strathclyde police said that the incident didn’t require the terminal to be evacuated and that a 28 year old man was helping detective with their inquiries.

Bagpipes at Prestwick Airport

2008-04-20T15:46:00.002+01:00

Bagpipes played at Prestwick Airport:

Flying to Edinburgh Airport from Stansted

2008-04-20T15:41:00.002+01:00

Flying to Edinburgh Airport on EasyJet flight from Stansted:

Aberdeen Airport Tornado F3 Flypast

2008-04-20T15:39:00.002+01:00

Here's that F3 flypast at Aberdeen Airport captured to video:

Body Imaging Preferred Over Pat Downs

2008-04-19T15:01:00.002+01:00

Ninety percent of passengers subjected to body image scanning in trials at Phoenix airport say that they prefer the imaging technique over over pat downs.

The body image scanning program is set to be expanded in the U.S. to include airports in New York and Los Angeles but the whole body imaging machines have sparked complaints from privacy advocates.

Read more from CNN:

Farewell Flypast of 56 Squadron at Aberdeen Airport

2008-04-18T16:48:00.001+01:00

A few stills taken at Aberdeen Airport of the 56 Squadron farewell flypast featuring nine F3 Tornados.

Bristol Airport Closes Forecourt to Passengers

2008-04-18T16:39:00.002+01:00

A press release issued by Bristol Airport warns passengers that the area in front of the terminal building is currently closed to vehicles, except the airports own buses and airport vehicles.

Tighter vehicle access restrictions are being implemented throughout British airports as a result of the terrorist attacks at Glasgow airport in 2007.

Passengers are advised that they should use Bristol Airports rapid pick-up car park for dropping people off.

Lost Baggage Increased in 2007

2008-04-17T16:47:00.003+01:00

A new report from SITA, the Geneva based air transport communications and IT company, says that 42 million bags went missing in 2007. This was a 25% increase on the baggage lost in 2006.

SITA have stated that the cost to carriers was around $90 per item or £45.50. This makes a staggering total of $3.8 billion.

The main causes have been identified as congestion, due to increased passenger numbers, tight aircraft turnaround times and increased security.

The baggage losses in 2007 represent approximately 2% of all checked luggage so passengers had a 1 in 50 chance of losing a bag.

Check For the Park Mark Safer Parking Award

2008-04-16T13:55:00.003+01:00

Not all airport car parks are the same. Security is a top priority for those leaving their vehicles at airport car parks. Before you choose your car park be certain to find out what security facilities are in place.

The Park Mark Safer Parking Award is only given to car parks that have stringent security measures in place. These are rountinely inspected and verified by an appropriately qualified Police Officer.

A couple of examples of secure airport car parks that hold the Park Mark Award are Edinburgh Airport's Secure Airparks and Glasgow Airport's Parksafe car park.

The last thing you want, upon return from your journey, is to find your car has been burgled or stolen so always check the security facilities at an airport car park before booking your space.

BA Managers Sacked Over T5 Problems

2008-04-16T13:48:00.002+01:00

After having cancelled around 500 flights and losing approximately 28,000 bags British Airways have sacked two of their top managers.

The operations director, Gareth Kirkwood, and the customer services director, David Noyes are reported by BA to be "leaving the company" after the terminal 5 fiasco. Chief executive, Willie Walsh, is somehow managing to hang on to his job even though he acknowledged responsibility for the issues when he said "If people want to assign blame for this, it comes to me."

BA announced last Friday that they are postponing the transfer of 120 long haul flights from terminal 4 to the new terminal 5 until June but many think this date is somewhat optimistic and Christmas 2008 might be more reallistic.

CAA Report Indicates Punctuality Improvements

2008-04-16T13:39:00.003+01:00

According to figures just released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) the punctuality of UK airlines improved a little during the final quarter of 2007.

The on-time performance of scheduled flights improved by 1% while the average delay for these flights fell from 18 minutes (in 2006) to 17 minutes.

Charter flights showed a similar improvement of 1% in their on-time performance and a reduction in average delays from 29 minutes (in 2006) to 26 minutes. Delays at Glasgow airport remained the same.

BA Give Kate Moss Special Attention Over Lost Bags

2008-04-15T09:07:00.002+01:00

BA have fast-tracked compensation of £10,000 pounds paid to supermodel Kate Moss after the airline lost eight of her bags on a flight to Los Angeles.

The supermodel lost the bags due to the Heathrow airport luggage chaos. Other passengers have had to suffer the consequences but Kate Moss was immediately awarded a compensation payout of £10,000 for the bags which are reported to have contained new Top Shop fashion designs.

Unlinke other passengers Ms Moss was able to contact Top Shop billionaire owner Sir Peter Green who contacted the BA chairman Martin Broughton. This resulted in BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, fast-tracking Moss's compensation, quickly paying a staggering £10,000 for the lost bags.

It is reported that all of her bags were found and reunited with their owner. BA passengers who are still waiting for their bags to be found are advised to keep in contact with BA and make appropriate claims for compensation.

Bristol Airport Car Park Shuttles Examined

2008-04-14T13:24:00.001+01:00

Shuttle vehicles used to transfer passengers between the terminal and car parks at Bristol airport have targeted by police and safety inspectors for examination.

More than 20 vehicles were examined to determine if they were safe and that their drivers were properly licensed and insured. One vehicle was prohibited from being used due to defects and some of the drivers were found to have incorrect insurance and one had an invalid driving license.

Robin Hood WW2 Dakota to Make Last Flight

2008-04-14T13:16:00.000+01:00

New European rules mean that passenger flights in a WWII Dakota DC3 aircraft from Robin Hood airport are to come to an end.

Tour firm, Classic Flight, is required to stop taking people on flights as the old wartime Dakota DC3 does not have the up to date navigation equipment required by European regulations. The last flight of the Dakota DC3 is scheduled to take place during the weekend of April 19th / 20th. Anyone interested in a £65 seat on the flight should visit www.classicflight.com or telephone 08703 304 747.

Glasgow Airport Terrorist Attack

2008-04-12T09:23:00.004+01:00

Sky News reports on the investigation into the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on Glasgow airport. Hear the voice of one of the Muslim doctors involved in the attack.

Simulated Early Morning Landings At Aberdeen Airport

2008-04-12T09:16:00.003+01:00

FS2004 Early Morning Landings at Aberdeen Airport:

Ryanair Launch New Barcelona Service From Prestwick

2008-04-11T08:42:00.001+01:00

Ryanair have added another service from Prestwick Airport. Ashley Casey, Ryanair sales and marketing executive, has said that the airline is delighted to launch the new service from Glasgow Prestwick Airport to Barcelona Reus.

Barcelona is one of the most popular Eurpopean destinations for city and weekend breaks. Travellers will be able to take advantage of the excellent car parking at Prestwick airport which includes a popular meet and greet chauffeur parking service. The new Barcelona service means that Ryanair are now providing 26 destinations from the airport.

Ryanair have been in the news again recently after having been referred to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after being accused of having misled consumers in recent advertisements.

Edinburgh Continues To Experience Huge Passenger Numbers

2008-04-10T19:15:00.003+01:00

New routes and services are understood to be the reason that Edinburgh Airport is continuing to experience record levels of passenger traffic.

International routes to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris and Stavanger are the most popular, especially with business passengers who like to leave their cars in one of the available on airport car parks.

On airport car parking at Edinburgh is generally preferred as transfer times to and from the airport terminal can be as little as only 1 minute (if using the Edinburgh Secure Airparks facility.)

Drunken Oil Workers Charged and Fined at Aberdeen

2008-04-10T08:38:00.001+01:00

Six oil workers on a flight from Las Palmas to Aberdeen Airport were charged with being drunk on board the chartered aircraft. One of them, Ryan Gunn, dropped his trousers exposing his buttocks.

Mr Gunn was fined £3000 for his bit of fun and his drunken colleague, 23 year old Hugh McLead, was fined £1500 at Aberdeen Sheriff court.

The drunken incidents occurred on November the 4th 2007 on board a Boeing 737 that had been chartered by Pertrolia Drilling. A total of six oil workers were arrested when the plane landed at Aberdeen Airport after the captain had contacted air traffic control about the incident. All of the accused were alleged to have failed to obey the captains orders that they should remain in their seats and fasten their seat belts.

Yet another incident of drunken, loutish behaviour that had to be handled by airline staff.

Ryanair Breaks ASA Rules Again

2008-04-09T08:32:00.001+01:00

The airline Ryanair has been referred to the office of fair trading (OFT) by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who have said that they exaggerated claims regarding flight availability at the prices advertised. It is claimed that the prices omitted taxes and charges and had actually misled consumers.

The ASA have found Ryanair in breach of their advertising rules a total of seven times in two years. Ryanair has responded by complaining back to the OFT about the ASA's rulings.

The ASA's directory general, Mr Christopher Graham, said that Ryanair had been given every opportunity to put its house in order and to ensure that their advertising adhered to the ASA codes but instead they had continued to mislead consumers and denigrate competitors.

Taking Off From Glasgow Airport

2008-04-08T15:56:00.000+01:00

Some great views of the beautiful Scottish countryside in this video.

Another Day, Another Drunk

2008-04-07T16:13:00.000+01:00

A 38 year old foreign fisherman, Raimonds Galins, was fined £1000 at Inverness Crown Court on Tuesday of last week after having been convicted for being drunk on board an aircraft and causing a breach of the peace.

He had been arrested on Monday afternoon when his flight from Gatwick arrived at Inverness Airport. A mid air incident meant that the new jet aircraft, launched by budget airline Flybe, was put in a holding pattern over Inverness for 20 minutes before being cleared to land.

The incident resulted in knock on delays for passengers booked onto the return flight to Gatwick.

Drunk Restrained in Prestwick Airport Car Park

2008-04-06T01:51:00.003+01:00

A drunken passenger arriving at Prestwick Airport needed to be forcibly restrained from taking his car from the car park this week raising questions over the serving of alcohol on flights into the airport.

Prestwick Airport car parking attendants noticed the passenger struggling to both find his keys and then open the door of his Mercedes car so they approached the passenger and asked him to hand over the keys as he was clearly incapable of driving safely. The passenger became belligerent and abusive and needed to be forcibly accompanied to the airport security offices.

Enquiries indicate that the passenger had been drinking heavily both before embarking on his business class flight from Spain and during the flight. If it was not for the vigilance of the airport car parking staff a nasty accident may have occurred.

Naomi Campbell Arrested At Heathrow

2008-04-04T09:17:00.002+01:00

Short-tempered British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been released on bail after having been arrested for allegedly spitting at a police officer. She is reported to have been handcuffed on a plane and removed from the BA flight to Los Angeles.

Passengers reported that the 37 year old Campbell was aggressive and abusive to staff. A Metropolitan police spokesman said that a woman had been arrested t the terminal for an alleged assault on a police officer.

Naomi Campbell has a well reported history of bad tempered behaviour. In 2007 she was found guilty of reckless assault and sentenced to carry out a week mopping floors for striking her maid with a mobile phone. And in 2000 she pleaded guilty to an assault charge for beating an assistant during filming in Canada.

It sounds like the anger management training, that she attended in 2007 after her previous conviction, wasn't as effective as it might have been!

Edinburgh Airport Delays

2008-04-02T13:41:00.003+01:00

Passengers destined for Palma on the 08:00 Flyglobespan flight from Edinburgh airport had to endure an 8 hour delay yesterday after a problem with the air conditioning was discovered shortly after take off.

The flight was aborted as a precautionary measure eventually leaving Edinburgh, 8 hours late, at 17:00.

For great prices for parking at Edinburgh Airport visit Simply Parking.

Flight Cancellations Used to Minimise Disruption

2008-04-02T13:30:00.002+01:00

A further 50 flights were cancelled at Heathrow terminal 5 yesterday. These were carried out on purpose to alleviate the disruption at the terminal.

Willie Walsh, boss of BA, issued a fresh apology for the disruption caused by the problems at Heathrow terminal 5. A spokeswoman said that it was still too early to say when the terminal would be operating normally.

Heathrow Terminal 5: The Bagpuss Theory

2008-03-31T08:51:00.001+01:00

You have to laugh, or else you'd cry....

Amusing little video considering the baggage problems at Heathrows Terminal 5:

The Cost of Lost Baggage

2008-03-30T15:59:00.001+01:00

Delays, cancellations and baggage chaos are set to continue into next week at Heathrow's new terminal five. Its looking like the extent of the problems are actually far worse than that which is being reported or acknowledged by British Airways.

On Saturday the 29th 66 flights were cancelled which is 12 more than were originally announced. BA have stated that they are trying to distribute 15,000 baggage items to their owners but sources at the airport have said that the true figure could be much higher, in excess of 20,000 items.

The baggage problems have been blamed on computer glitches affecting the new baggage handling system. But this acknowledgement goes nowhere in compensating travellers for the problems caused by lost bags.

Mr X arrived from South Africa on Saturday with two colleagues. They are in London to pitch for a new engineering contract that would be worth several million pounds over the forthcoming years. The presentation is due to take place on Monday but all of the materials required to make the presentation have been lost in transit due to the baggage issues. The deadline is the 1st April and there will be no second chance so it is absolutely imperative that Mr X and his colleagues are reunited with their luggage immediately.

This is just one story from the many thousands that have arisen due to the baggage and cancellation chaos that have plagued the opening of the new Heathrow terminal five.

Rolls Royce Phantom in Edinburgh Airport Car Park

2008-03-28T09:25:00.002Z

Check out this beautiful car spotted by a visitor in one of Edinburgh Airport's Car Parks.

Chaos At Heathrow Terminal Five

2008-03-28T09:22:00.000Z

Heathrow Terminal Five: Teething Problems

2008-03-28T09:06:00.003Z

British Airways, the only airline using the new terminal five at Heathrow airport, apologised yesterday for what they described as 'teething problems' after 34 flights had to be cancelled.

Passengers arriving from Hong Kong at the new, E5.6 billion terminal, reported problems with baggage, directions and the availability of information. Other reported problems included delays in staff security screening, delays in staff training and problems with airport car parking facilities.

British Airways acknowledged that there had been problems but pointed out that the new terminal, which is the first addition to the airport for 20 years, represents one of the most complex and largest airport moves in history.

British Midland Most Punctual UK Airline

2008-03-27T09:52:00.004Z

New figures show that BMI are the most punctual airline on the UKs most popular route, between London and Edinburgh.

Statistics show that BMI flights have departed from Heathrow airport within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time.

Last year (2007) BMI were named the most punctual regional airline with 90% of their flights leaving within 15 minutes of their stated departure times.

To compare parking at Edinburgh airport, and prebook your car parking space, visit SimplyParking.co.uk.

New Train Station for Glasgow Airport

2008-03-27T09:41:00.002Z

It is expected that four trains an hour will run between a new station at Glasgow airport and Glasgow central station once the new rail link is completed in 2011.

Plans for two platforms close to the main Glasgow airport terminal have been submitted by Strathclyde partnership for transport. It is anticipated that the new rail link will cost £210 million and BAA will provide a walkway between the new station and the busy airport.

Badly Behaved Kids in Airports

2008-03-26T17:59:00.003Z

I can't be alone in my dislike of badly behaved children who impose their bad behaviour upon fellow travellers at Airports and onboard aircraft.

On a recent trip to Barecelona, travelling from Prestwick Airport, we had a short wait before embarking. Two young children were energetically playing, chasing eachother around the waiting area. They decided to introduce some obstacles to their course and, without asking the owners, started to drag peoples hand luggage into the walkway in order to present a number of hurdles for them to jump over.

My fellow passengers were all quiet until one of the children tripped over a bag and bashed his face, painfully, on a chair. His screams would have been heard in Barcelona. I was quietly chuckling to myself thinking that it deserved him and his parents right.

Once on board the aircraft my mood was soon changed when I found that I was seated in front of this particularly unpleasant boy who proceeded to kick the back of my seat persistently. I asked his mother to stop him, but she ineffectively asked him to stop, which he ignored. I then decided that I should be firm and insist that he stopped, which I did. This resulted in more screams and looks of disapproval (towards me) from my fellow passengers.

Our arrival at Barcelona, from Prestwick, was all too long in coming.

Heathrow Passenger Fingerprinting

2008-03-24T12:06:00.000Z

The UK's data protection watchdog have challenged proposed plans to fingerprint all passengers going through security checks at Heathrows new terminal 5.

The proposed fingerprinting plan, intended to tighten security, will apply to all passengers both domestic and international. It will allow both groups to mingle in the departure lounge.

Airport operators, BAA, have been warned by the Information Commissioner that by taking passenger finger prints they may be in breach of the data protection act.

Airport Cab With Live Entertainment

2008-03-21T16:49:00.000Z

This Iowa airport taxi driver has a captive audience for his harmonica playing:

I think I'd prefer if he kept both hands on the wheel...

Airport Security Machine Toy

2008-03-20T15:39:00.000Z

The Scan-it toy airport security machine is intended to support pretend play enabling children to recreate the security checks carried out at airports. Scan-It Security Check Toy.

Marketed as an educational aid, additional information and resources are available at: OperationCheckpoint.com.

For more traditional, wooden toys visit Mulberry Bush. The reputable and reliable online toy store with a great selection of classic traditional toys, travel toys and games for children of all ages.

Airbus Come To London

2008-03-19T08:41:00.000Z

The new Singapore Airlines A380 airbus made its first return flight to London. This is the start of a new daily service from Singapore to Londons Heathrow airport.

The Singapore Airlines flight carried 449 passengers who had each paid between 2000 and 20000 singapore dollars to be on the flight.

Singapore Airlines now has three of these superjumbos in service, a further 16 are on order with an option for a further 6.

Airport Safety Vehicles Not Roadworthy

2008-03-18T10:02:00.000Z

A recent survey conducted by the Health and Safety Executive has found that the servicing of work vehicles at airports was generally poor and some inspected vehicles were simply not roadworthy.

It is important that all airports should:

Maintain all vehicles properly
Ensure that all vehicle operators are fully trained
Ensure that personnel are properly supervised
Employ planned traffic flow systems.

The rate at which aircraft are turned around means that corners are often cut in safety and security. For example, baggage carrying vehicles are often overloaded to minimise the number of trips to and from an aircraft.

It is the responsibility of airport transport managers to ensure that their airport vehicles are maintained appropriately and used in a safe and acceptable way.

For the best deals in commercial vehicle contract hire and van leasing contact Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

Heathrow Terminal 5 Opens

2008-03-14T08:45:00.000Z

The new international terminal 5 at Heathrow is due to be opened by the Queen today. The new state of the art terminal building is a third of a mile long and nearly 200 metres wide.

Man on Runway at Heathrow Airport

2008-03-13T16:58:00.000Z

A man on the runway at Heathrow airport has resulted in flight cancellations and a controlled explosion.

It is reported that a man ran onto the northern runway at Heathrow airport carrying a bag. It was expected that the bag would have to be destroyed in a controlled explosion and that a number of flight cancellations would have to be carried out.

Security continues to be a top priority at the busy international airport.

Prestwick Airport Luggage Chaos

2008-03-10T17:35:00.000Z

Is this familiar to anybody...

Airport Detention

2008-03-10T17:21:00.000Z

I came across this story of a poor man ulawfully detained at Belfast city airport: African Engineer Unlawfully Detained. It reminded me of a friend kept for 3 days at Gatwick.

He'd just returned from Marocco where he'd spent 2 weeks trekking. The customs officials at Gatwick decided that he was a drug smuggler and kept him for 3 days in order for them to give some close scrutiny to his poo. Apparently it was passed into an adjacent room where a suitably attired customs official would fish through the foul smelling fecal matter in search of contraband narcotics.

Needless to say, they found nothing. But my pal didn't even get an apology, let alone compensation for the 3 days he'd spent confined to a customs cell at Gatwick Airport.

A Recent Experience at Aberdeen Airport

2008-03-09T19:15:00.000Z

A recent business trip to Norway finished with a surprising liaisson in the airport car park.

I'd flown in from Stavanger in Norway where I'd been visitng. On the return flight I'd noticed one of the young flight attendants, and she appeared to have noticed me. But I didn't really take much notice of her, thinking that she was just being pleasant.

The flight was uneventful and I was looking forward to getting home to Aberdeen and enjoying a relaxing weekend with my dogs in the countryside. I'd been travelling alone, but when I arrived at the airport I ran into an old colleague and stopped for a chat and a coffee.

I eventually made my way to the car park where I'd left my car the previous day. Just as I was unlocking my car door I heard a familiar female voice say 'Hello'! I looked up to see the friendly flight attendant from my Stavanger flight standing next to a Lexus only 3 cars away.

We exchanged a little small talk for a few minutes and then she asked me if I knew how to adjust the drivers seat in her car. Being a gentleman I offered to see what I could do, although I know nothing about cars, least of all a Lexus.

As I was bent over, leaning into her drivers side door, she boldly stroked the back of my leg and backside, making some lascivious remark that I couldn't hear properly. I stood and turned to face her and she forcefully pushed me back into the car, rubbing her thighs against mine as she kissed my face and neck.

So I found myself in Aberdeen Airport car park having sex with a flight attendant, whose name I had learned only moments before. It was brilliant! Immensely exciting and spontaneous.

I gave her my card and asked for her telephone number but she was reluctant to share so I figured that there may be a man at home. What the hell, it was one of those one-off experiences that stand out as being just a bit weird but incredibly exciting and fun!