Low Cost Airline News - Europe.

Edited by Aram Gesar, [e-mail] For more global news, data, analysis and features, please go to: http://www.AirGuideOnline.com/order_formsubs.htm Sep 18, 2006

Bmibaby

Bmibaby pilots, represented by the British Airline Pilots Assn., reached a deal with the company last week and will not strike, the union announced. The company has signed the agreement, which has been sent to membership for ratification. The pilots, along with those at bmi and bmi regional, voted to strike late last month over a variety of compensation and work rule issues. No deal has been reached with the other two groups, also represented by BALPA. Sep 11, 2006

Bmibaby

Bmibaby said it will launch a twice-daily Birmingham-Aberdeen service on Oct. 29 aboard 737s. Aberdeen is the carrier's 13th destination from BHX. Sep 11, 2006

EasyJet

EasyJet has warned that ongoing security measures at UK airports are likely to hit future demand as passengers seek alternative transport. The airline said its forward bookings had returned to normal after last month's crisis but it was worried tighter security arrangements at UK airports would eventually affect demand. Easyjet, canceled 469 flights in August after the security alert and lost [pounds sterling]4m, but the legacy of the situation could linger it says. http://www.easyjet.com Sep 17, 2006

EasyJet

EasyJet CEO Andrew Harrison threw down the gauntlet yesterday, challenging airports to begin their own low-cost revolution and warning that the growing power of the green movement in Europe threatens the growth and well-being of the low-fare airline sector. Airports and potential environment-related taxes are "the two boundaries closing in on our industries," he declared. In the keynote address to the World Low Cost Airlines Congress in London, Harrison said the environmental lobby is targeting LCCs as a major contributor to pollution and global warming. LCCs face a "serious threat" from "daft green taxes" imposed by "knee-jerk politicians," he said. Anti-airline activists are "very well organized and very well funded. Unless we get our act together, we will not have a voice," he told delegates. Harrison also had strong words of criticism for airports: "We need a revolution." Airlines "thrive on lower costs," but airports are incentivized to build "gold-plated cathedrals" because the rates they charge are based on the size of their investment. Furthermore, there has been "no real pressure for change" brought to bear on airports. He singled out the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport, arguing that rather than spurring traffic, the [euro]1.8 billion ($2.28 billion) project "will choke off growth of low-fare travel in Berlin." Harrison's concerns were discussed later in the day by Berliner Flughafen VP-Marketing and Corporate Communications Burkhard Kieker. Acknowledging that 55% of Berlin airport traffic comes from low-fare airlines, a smiling Kieker said that BBI "will not be one of those gold-plated marble airports." The facility will feature two runways with two low-cost piers. BBI will "guarantee" 20-min. turns to LCCs, he said. Sep 13, 2006

Ryanair

Ryanair is suspending four routes to France due to poor performance in terms of advance bookings. The services are Luton - Brest, Stansted - Deauville, Nottingham EMA - Nimes and Shannon - Nantes. However, Ryanair said that the routes will restart next February. The cancellations free up one plane which has been earmarked for route development. Within the next four weeks the carrier will announce a new European base and a number of new routes from existing bases. http://www.ryanair.com Sep 17, 2006

Ryanair

Ryanair announced the suspension of thrice-weekly London Luton-Brest, London Stansted-Deauville, Nottingham East Midlands-Nimes and Shannon-Nantes services during the winter schedule starting in November and lasting through February. It cited a dearth of advance bookings for the decision. Specific dates for suspension and resumption vary slightly. It also will postpone the launch of its thrice-weekly STN-Deauville service to Feb. 28 from Oct. 31. Sep 15, 2006

SkyEurope

SkyEurope Holding AG announced the launch of its [euro]17.5 million rights issue Friday via the sale of 10 million shares arranged by UBS Investment Bank and CA IB. The flotation was announced late last month. The subscription period will close Sept. 22. Sep 11, 2006