Airline News - Europe.

European Regions Airline Assn. said it is proposing to the European Commission that instead of a tax on air transport to fund development aid, money should go to improving the air transport infrastructure in developing countries with "targeted and focused" spending. Thirteen countries agreed to impose the development tax on airline tickets last week. "We agree with the principle of increasing aid from developed to developing countries, but we are strongly opposed to the political expedience of imposing a tax on one essential industry, the air transport industry, to fund this additional aid," ERA DG Mike Ambrose argued, adding that European citizens traveling to those countries would benefit as well. Mar 7, 2006

Inexpensive travel takes off in Europe. European travelers are taking advantage of airfares that are as inexpensive as bus fares for travel within Europe. Some people are buying second homes because they can afford to travel to them. A roundtrip flight from London to Slovakia, for example, can cost less than $40. The market for inexpensive flights started to take off at the end of the 1990s, when European carriers received the nearly unlimited ability to schedule flights and routes. Mar 6, 2006

Aer Arann 

Aer Arann is further expanding its European network with the introduction of three new services from Liege to Luton, Birmingham and Lorient in South Brittany and a new service from Luton to Angers in the Loire Valley and from Cardiff to Lorient. The five new routes will be operated by ATR 72s from May 15. The carrier has already announced new summer routes to Jersey and Angers from Cork and from Manchester to Angers, Galway to Liverpool and Dublin to Inverness. http://www.aerarann.ie Mar 12, 2006

Aer Arann will launch services from Liege to London Luton, Birmingham and Lorient, from Luton to Angers and from Cardiff to Lorient beginning May 15 aboard ATR 72s. Mar 10, 2006

Bmi

Bmi has written to members of its final salary pension scheme warning them that its deficit is rising at an unsustainable rate. The airline said it seen a 78% increase in its pension deficit during the last three years to [pounds sterling]66m. Annual deficit rises are around the [pounds sterling]10 million mark, added the carrier. http://www.flybmi.com Mar 12, 2006

British Airways

British Airways insiders confirmed that the airline is in an advanced stage of negotiations with Boeing for up to 20 777-300ERs to replace some early delivery 747s from 2008. Former BA CEO Rod Eddington said that his preferred option was for dash 300ERs to replace 747-400s. It also is understood that the carrier is discussing the proposed 787-9 and 787-10 along with the A350 as a longer-term replacement for its 767s. Key to acquisitions is a reduction in BA's debt, which it forecasts will be lowered to under [pounds sterling]2 billion this month. Mar 10, 2006

EAE European Air Express 

EAE European Air Express became the newest carrier to complete an IATA Operational Safety Audit on March 6. On the same day, the German Regional started codeshare services with KLM between Munster/Osnabruck and Amsterdam. EAE operates a fleet of seven ATR 42-300s on six routes to eight destinations. Mar 7, 2006

Elysair

Elysair, a French version of all-business-class carriers Maxjet Airways and Eos, is expected to take to the skies in October, La Tribune, reported. French DGAC awarded an AOC on Feb. 22. Elysair initially intends to launch a Paris Orly-Newark service aboard a single-class 757. If successful, it plans to operate to Los Angeles, Dubai and Sao Paulo. Mar 6, 2006

Finnair

Finnair will eliminate the Bangkok stopover on its Helsinki-Hong Kong service from mid-May and increase frequencies from thrice-weekly to four-times-weekly from July to October. Flights to Shanghai will grow from five weekly to seven in July and Guanghzhou service will rise from thrice-weekly to four-times-weekly. Mar 7, 2006

KLM

KLM is using its website to tempt cool and funky Brits to come to Amsterdam and check out its trendiest bars, clubs and shops. In a move to reshape the Dutch capital's focus away from sex, drugs and Rembrandt, klm.com focuses on its most celebrated hip, young, designers, DJs and fashion gurus. Top DJ Carl Cox launches the new section of the site and encourages young Brits to try the more tasteful side of Amsterdam. http://www.klm.com Mar 12, 2006

Lufthansa

Lufthansa to cooperate with price-fixing probe. Germany's Lufthansa said it will cooperate with officials investigating possible price-fixing among air-cargo carriers, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many carriers were asked to provide information during the investigation, including American Airlines and United Airlines. Lawyers say Lufthansa could receive immunity from some charges if it provides evidence against other carriers. Mar 8, 2006

Lufthansa was forced to cancel about 56 domestic and European flights Friday morning owing to heavy snowfall across Germany. Flights were delayed by up to an hour. The airline said that all long-haul flights were expected to operate on time. Mar 6, 2006

Lufthansa Systems

Lufthansa Systems implemented its NetLine/Plan and NetLine/Sched solutions at Qatar Airways, including optimization modules Fleet Assigner and Hub Optimizer and further supplementary modules. Mar 10, 2006

MAXJet Airways rescheduled the March 15 launch of its all-business-class service between Washington Dulles and London Stansted to April 3. The carrier said the postponement is due to "finalizing servicing and outfitting of the new aircraft." Frequency was raised from four-times-weekly to five. Mar 6, 2006

SAS Group

SAS said it finalized a full-content agreement with Worldspan under which the airline will provide the GDS "with all fares, schedules and availability including published low fare classes and Web fares that are available through SAS's own reservations and ticket agents as well as SAS Group websites." Mar 9, 2006

Wizz Air

Wizz Air will operate thrice-weekly Warsaw-Gothenburg service from June 18. Mar 9, 2006