According to Flightontime.info, from January to March 2009, 86.8 per cent of bmibaby flights departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time.

Flightontime.info uses data from the Civil Aviation Authority and shows that the average number of flights from low cost carriers departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time was 77.8 per cent, so bmibaby is exceeding the industry standard.

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“At bmibaby we work extremely hard to ensure all our flights are on time for our passengers. Our results for quarter one of 2009 are excellent. This result coupled with our excellent customer service and fantastically low fares, is why passengers choose bmibaby.

“Our top result also blows apart the myth that in order to maintain a punctual operation, customers must suffer the stress of not being allocated a seat in advance, or have to pay to stand at the front of a queue. bmibaby customers always know in advance which seat they have been allocated which avoids the ‘crush and rush’ situation.”

These €1 tickets exclude only optional fees for discretionary services, so any passenger paying by Visa Electron, travelling with hand luggage only and declining the convenience of priority boarding can fly on hundreds of Ryanair’s routes for a total one way fare of just €1.

Ryanair’s Daniel de Carvalho said:

“Today’s 1 million €1 seat sale will allow thousands of passengers to travel right across Europe in October and November for just €1. These seats can be booked until 24:00hrs Thursday 6th August, but are sure to be snapped up fast. So let the recession stay at home as you go for a sun tan! Book your seats today on www.ryanair.com, before they all sell out”.

Ryanair’s four new routes from Porto to Basel, Eindhoven, St Etienne and Tours from September and a doubling of flights to Paris Beauvais (to twice daily) will increase Ryanair’s traffic at Porto to 1.5 million passengers p.a. which will sustain 1,500 well paid local jobs.

Ryanair celebrated its new Porto base, two new aircraft, 16 routes and 1.5 million passengers by releasing 1 million €9 seats for travel across its European network for travel in late August, September and October which are available for booking on www.ryanair.com until midnight Sunday (5th July).

In Porto, Ryanair’s Michael Cawley said:

“Ryanair is delighted to announce Porto as our 33rd base and our first base in Portugal. Our four new routes from Porto go on sale today. With a total of 16 low fare routes from Porto, passengers can beat the recession by choosing Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharges to exciting destinations all over Europe. Ryanair’s 1.5 million passengers will sustain 1,500 jobs locally in Porto.”

EXISTING ROUTES:

Barcelona (Girona); Birmingham; Bristol; Brussels (Charleroi); Frankfurt (Hahn); Liverpool; London (Stansted); Madrid; Marseille; Milan (Bergamo); Paris (Beauvais); Pisa

NEW ROUTES:

Basel; Eindhoven; St Etienne; Tours

This unit also earned the distinction of the Best European Hotel in this international site www.tablethotels.com that evaluates boutique & luxury hotels worldwide. The Heritage Av Liberdade Hotel leads both categories in the last 12 months.

TabletHotels.com was founded in 2000 on the principle that people would prefer the unique and the substantial over the ornate and the ostentatious, if only they had a chance to be exposed to it.

This is one more recognition of the manifest satisfaction to our concept with relation to quality and price that we seek to infuse to all Lisbon Heritage Hotels” says Manuel Duarte Fernandes, the Managing Director of this 100% Portuguese chain.

The Heritage Av Liberdade Hotel is situated in this same noble with it’s name, where can be found 42 rooms distributed by seven floors. This unit from the Heritage Hotels chain also has the Thé Bar, a Fitness Room with a Jet Pool and a Library. The Hotel was totally restored, a project entrusted to the Architect Miguel Câncio Martins, in which the original XVIII century draft was kept along with some elements from the past, all together in a modern and functional decoration.

Besides the most recent Heritage Av Liberdade Hotel, the Hoteis Heritage Lisboa consist in As Janelas Verdes, a XVII century house with a library overlooking the Tagus River, next to Ancient Art Museum; the Hotel Britania, found in a quiet street just of Lisbon’s main avenue, in a 40’s building design by the famous architect Cassiano Branco and recently renovated into its original Art Deco style; The Hotel Lisboa Plaza situated next to Avenida da Liberdade and property of the same family since its construction in 1953; and Solar Do Castelo, situated within the walls of São Jorge Castle, a reconstructed 1765’s Palace.

For your convenience we have highlighted below the main changes to our check-in procedure.

Important Information for passengers that have made new bookings made from 21st May 09 onwards:

All passengers must check-in online and bring their printed boarding to the airport for presentation at airport security and at the boarding gate.

Online check-in is available from 15 days up to 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure. (Once you have checked in online by the 4 hour deadline your boarding pass can be reprinted up to 40 minutes prior to scheduled flight departure)

If you do not check-in online you will be required to pay the relevant fee to re-issue your boarding card at the airport.(Euro 40/ GBP 40), this fee is only available for purchase up to 40 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure

All passengers (including infants and passengers travelling on domestic flights) are required to hold a valid passport or valid national identity card including Kindausweis and Certificato di Nascita. – (Driving Licences are NOT accepted)

All Non EEA/EU passengers MUST present their online boarding pass and passport at the Visa/Document Check Desk (irrespective of their visa requirements) for validation BEFORE going through security or travel will be refused. The Visa/Document Check Desk closes strictly 40 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure.

Passengers travelling with checked luggage will be required to present their online boarding pass and checked baggage at the airport bag drop desk at least 1 hour prior to departure (bag drop desks will close strictly 40 minutes prior to scheduled flight departure).

Ryanair no longer accept bookings for unaccompanied minors (under 16 years old).

As a result of an EU enforcement investigation started in September 2007 – with 15 EU national authorities and Norway – 115 airline websites out of the 137 websites investigated have been corrected. Following an additional “health check” process involving independent mystery shopping in March 2009 on 67 major airlines, 52 airlines have either been given a “clean bill of health” and undertaken to maintain the same standards or immediately responded to the Commission’s consultation with undertakings to remedy outstanding issues (see lists after the jump).

The health check process checked websites against a comprehensive 14 point checklist, which was previously agreed with the airline industry. The Commission is now working to put in place an industry wide agreement to provide a level playing field for airlines across the EU and to maintain sites to a high standard.

“EU Consumer Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva said: This Europe-wide airline investigation is changing the face of airline websites across the EU. There is no room for complacency; there is more work to be done. But this first pan European enforcement investigation has shown it has real “teeth “and can deliver. The next step is an industry wide agreement, and we will continue to monitor developments in the sector closely.”

Vice President Antonio Tajani, in charge of Transport said, “Applying full price transparency is an obligation under the air services regulation. It is a duty for airlines to impose high standards across the industry; it is our responsibility to ensure that all players respect the same rules. This is of first and foremost importance for the consumer who wants to compare prices across airlines and make a real choice.”

1. Results of the 2007 Airline Ticket Selling Sweep Investigation

Enforcement actions have now been completed in 85% of cases. Of the 137 websites investigated representing about 80 companies, 115 have now been corrected (see summary table in attached MEMO/09/238 showing the enforcement data as of end March 2009.)

2. The airlines health-check study

The Health Check process, aimed to comprehensively monitor the overall situation in the area of online air ticket sales taking into consideration also the entry into force of two new pieces of EU legislation enhancing consumer protection since the first sweep checks in September 2007 (Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices, Air Services Regulation). On the basis of a 14-point checklist agreed with the airline industry (see MEMO/09/238) the health check looked at the 7 most important airline websites in all 27 Member States – covering 67 airlines and approximately 339 million passengers in total. The results of the consultation process carried out by the Commission on the basis of the findings of the study, including commitments given by airlines, are summarised below. (see table Annex 1 to press release)

What happens next?

* The results of the Health check process have been passed to national enforcement authorities, to be followed up where necessary
* The Commission is working with the airline industry to put in place an industry wide agreement to uphold standards, including independent third party monitoring.
* The Commission will bring forward in June 2009, a Communication on enforcement, to strengthen the work of the network of national enforcement authorities (CPC network) after its first two years of operation.

Background:

Sweep page http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/enforcement/sweep/index_en.htm

If modern, cutting-edge architecture is your thing, then there’s nowhere better in Lisbon than the former Expo 98 site, now the Park of Nations. Located in the north-east of the city on the Metro’s Red Line, this landscaped riverside park is a great afternoon out for the kids with Europe’s largest Oceanarium and the science and technology Pavilion to Knowledge.

Check the Low cost flights to Lisbon

The Star inn Hotel is the new low cost brand which goes along with the evolution of the new touristic trends. The New Travellers search for an unbeatable relation quality / price and refuse to pay for luxuries they just don’t need. The Hotel Star inn gives an answer to the demands of the New Travellers, presenting itself as a budget brand with unmistakable design and style. The Hotel Star Inn is also a non-smokers hotel.

The Star inn Hotel Porto is the first star of this brand to appear and has an excellent location. In Oporto, placed between Circunvalação Road, Via Norte (N14) and Via de Cintura Interna (A20). It has an unique appearance and it’s ready to satisfy the wants and needs of everyone who spend their time in what really matters.

You can now appreciate the magic of Oporto with its historical patrimony, its cultural dynamics, its business speed, its unique architecture, its mythical gastronomy, its excellent wines and its agitated nights and pay less for the hotel room.

Contacts:
Rua Senhora do Porto, 930, 4250-453 Porto, Portugal
T +351 22 834 70 00 F +351 22 834 70 19
reservas@hotelstarinn.com
www.hotelstarinn.com
GPS Lat. 41° 10′ 46″ N Long. 8° 37′ 28″ W

EasyJet – £95.58
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with EasyJet found within the last 7 days, was £95.58 on the following dates

• Departing: 21 September 2009
• Returning: 30 September 2009

TAP Air Portugal – £131.30
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with TAP Air Portugal found within the last 7 days, was £131.30 on the following dates

• Departing: 22 February 2010
• Returning: 01 March 2010

Iberia – £135.50
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with Iberia found within the last 7 days, was £135.50 on the following dates

• Departing: 22 February 2010
• Returning: 01 March 2010

Brussels Airlines – £560.90
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with Brussels Airlines found within the last 7 days, was £560.90 on the following dates

• Departing: 21 May 2009
• Returning: 24 May 2009

Aer Lingus – £756.70
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with Aer Lingus found within the last 7 days, was £756.70 on the following dates

• Departing: 30 August 2009
• Returning: 10 September 2009

British Airways – £792.30
The cheapest fare to Lisbon from London Gatwick with British Airways found within the last 7 days, was £792.30 on the following dates

• Departing: 22 February 2010
• Returning: 01 March 2010

Flights to Faro, the gateway to that stretch of beach and shimmering sea on the Algarve, are available from Belfast, Bristol, London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports.

Travel between May 25 and July 8. Book early, via the website (www.easyjet.com), as the airline warns that prices, while discounted, may rise during this peak summer period.

This Champions League Special flight will depart from Liverpool Airport at 07h on April 15 and return from Porto at 13h45 on April 16.

The airline will fly out of Manchester at 8.30am on April 15 and the return flight will leave Porto at 1.15am on April 16.

Tickets are on sale now, with fares starting from £146.99 (including taxes and charges).

Bmibaby’s managing director, Crawford Rix: “Bmibaby is currently the only scheduled low-cost carrier to fly from Manchester to Porto on this date, so the flight is going to be very popular.”

The tickets are starting as low as 31€.
No excuse for the “Parisians” to enjoy the sunny Algarve.

Starting at the 14th of April the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany will receive the biweekly flights from Faro.

Book now your tickets for this new route and enjoy sun at the Algarve.