Up in the air …

American carriers line up to offer Cuba services 

United Airlines has submitted its formal application to the US department of Transportation for authority to provide service from four of its largest US gateway cities – Newark/New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago – to Havana.

American Airlines issued proposal to operate scheduled services, including ten daily frequencies to Havana from American’s Latin America gateway hub in Miami. American will also offer additional service to Havana from its hubs in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Flybe to launch Southampton-Lyon route

FLYBE has confirmed details of a new daily flight between Southampton and Lyon, #France, as part of its 2016 summer schedule. 

It is its second route to be operated under the UK government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund. Tickets are available for booking now at www.flybe.com with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges for travel between May 23 and October 29.

Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘It is fantastic to see Flybe launch this service between Southampton and Lyon. Our smaller airports are vital engines for local economies, connecting the UK and overseas destinations and opening up opportunities. That is why the government is backing new regional air routes to drive investment and boost growth across the country.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40451021@N07/11210896385">Lyon</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)

Southampton's QEII cruise terminal set for £5m upgrade

A £5 MILLION revamp of Southampton’s QEII cruise terminal will begin this winter.

The work, jointly funded by ABP Port of Southampton and Carnival UK, is being carried out over two phases in 2015/16 and will include a ship-to-shore walkway to replace the existing one, which was initially installed for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. This will ensure a greater range of ships can use the terminal.

The upgrade will also include improvements to the existing check-in, baggage, and passenger X-ray areas, installing a 46-person lift and re-organizing the passenger drop-off area.

ABP Southampton director, Nick Ridehalgh, said: ‘The number of cruise passengers coming through Southampton’s port continues to rise, with 1.75 million expected to pass through this year. It’s therefore vital that we ensure our facilities are in the very best shape to accommodate these passengers and that they are laid out in a way that gives people a seamless and stress-free start to their holidays.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Eastern Airways expands Leeds Bradford-Southampton service

LARGER aircraft and increased frequency are being introduced by Eastern Airways on the Leeds Bradford-Southampton route. The regional carrier has almost doubled seat capacity on the route following a hike in frequency in September from three to four return flights a day on weekdays.

A larger 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft will operate services with an additional 3,700 seats a month available on the route from November 2.

The change of aircraft will also result in improvements to the schedule with departures from Yorkshire at 6.50am, 10am, 2.30pm, and 5.50pm, arriving in Southampton at 7.55am, 11.05am, 3.35pm, and 6.55pm. Flights from Southampton will depart at 8.25am, 11.30am, 4.15pm, and 7.25pm, landing in Leeds Bradford at 9.30am, 12.35pm, 5.20pm, and 8.30pm. Sunday services will leave Leeds Bradford at 4.50pm and Southampton at 6.45pm.



The airline’s commercial director, Kay Ryan, said: ‘By increasing capacity and recently upping the frequency of services due to the popularity of this important route, this demonstrates our firm commitment to both regions. We’re providing greater choice with more seats, a business-focused schedule with improved adjustments to timings to meet increased demand from business travellers commuting between these two vibrant business centres.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Dotty for dinosaurs?

Dino Encounter at SeaCity Museum, Southampton … to September 27: Come face to face with some of history's most fearsome beasts, be greeted by moving #dinosaurs, discover more about man's obsession with these gigantic creatures, and learn about new techniques that are helping experts to understand more about dinosaurs. 

Fossils Rock at Winchester Cathedral … to November 1: A family trail will lead visitors through the cathedral to discover the stories within the stones. The cathedral is almost 1,000 years old, but the stone used to build it is millions of years old, created during a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Interactive and hands-on, it is an opportunity to 'find and feel' the cathedral's ancient history.

Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight: #DinosaurIsle is Britain's original dinosaur attraction. Meet life-size models of the Isle of Wight's famous five dinosaurs – Neovenator, Eotyrannus, Iguanodon, Hypsilophodon, and Polacanthus, and follow in the footsteps of these beasts on one of the museum's family fossil walks along the beach.

The Jurassic Coast, Dorset: Studland beach near Bournemouth is the easiest place to access the eastern end of the #JurassicCoast, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The spectacular, unspoilt coastline at Purbeck offers four miles of golden beaches. The gently shelving waters, designated trails, and fossil hunting opportunities make the beach a magnet for families.

Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton: Originally founded as a Victorian collector's private museum, the museum brings natural history to life with interactive displays spanning three centuries plus a number of special exhibitions and hands on activities.

Planet Earth at Paradise Park, Newhaven, East Sussex: Discover the world of animals and plants from millions of years ago to the present day, and see life-size dinosaurs and a collection of fossils, minerals, and crystals.

Dinos in your Garden, Gosport Museum … October 10 to December 5: Discover how meat-eating dinosaurs evolved into birds, their nearest living relatives. See feathers, claws, teeth, eggs, and footprints, and you'll never look at a magpie the same way again.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15013772@N00/357140322">Hedz</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/12842055@N03/12472205164">Dinosaurs Alive! Brookfield Zoo 2013</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/76917657@N00/16122434272">Ammonite</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Up in the air . . .

YOU might curse Southampton Airport for using the ‘C’ word in July, but it suggests there is no better time to be thinking about next Christmas. The airport has planned flights to Finnish Lapland for Xmas 2015, increasing capacity by 300 percent. 

Jan Halliday, director of Marketing & Communications, said: ‘It must be every child’s dream to see Santa in Lapland, so this year we’re making it possible for even more families. We’re delighted to be able to offer additional flights from Southampton Airport which, particularly for the day trippers, will be a much more convenient alternative to the larger London airports.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/19646481@N06/4123836032">Santa Chair</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Travel facts . . .

FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES’ 929-guest ship Braemar will for the first time ever be based in Southampton for a six-month cruise season next year. 

Due to Braemar’s shorter and shallower draft, the line is able to offer a series of #RiverCruises in 2016 to destinations including Seville in Spain, Rouen in France, Lisbon, and cities in Germany. 

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: Braemar (ship, 1993) by Ivan T. - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Southampton cruise terminal re-opens following make-over

SOUTHAMPTON’S Mayflower Cruise Terminal has re-opened following a multi-million pound refurbishment. The terminal now has an open plan interior, with expanded security, check-in and passenger reception areas. Other improvements include additional passenger and baggage x-ray machines and a redesign of the drop-off and pick-up areas.

Port operator ABP Southampton said the project was critical to ensure Southampton retains its title as Europe's leading cruise turnaround port.

An increased number of cruise ships visiting Southampton, coupled with the rising capacity of new ships, means P&O Cruises, Cunard, and other lines are expecting passenger volume to increase by 25% at Southampton over the next two years.

The terminal is one of four in Southampton, and handles calls by ships such as Queen Mary 2, Ventura and newly-launched Britannia.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: MS Independence of the Seas in Southampton by Aztec06 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Up in the air …

Southampton best for service – SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT has topped the list of UK airports in an Airport Service Quality survey, a global benchmarking programme measuring passengers’ satisfaction while they are at an airport.

The south coast airport scored highly in a range of categories, including overall satisfaction with the airport, waiting time at security and the courtesy and helpfulness of airport staff – in particular, check-in and security staff. Passengers also scored Southampton Airport favourably for the walking distance inside the terminal, Wi-Fi services, business lounges and the comfort of waiting areas.

London City set for £200 million expansion – LONDON CITY AIRPORT has been given the go-ahead for a £200 million expansion to generate more short-haul capacity in the UK.

The East London airport would be able to handle 111,000 flights a year compared with the current 70,000. This would be facilitated through an increase in runway capacity so more take-off and landings can take place during peak times, while also allowing larger aircraft to use the airport.

Work is expected to be finished by 2023, doubling its economic impact to £1.5 billion a year and creating 2,000 jobs.

Norwegian plans Med charter flights from Gatwick – BUDGET CARRIER Norwegian will fly charter passengers from Gatwick to destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Portugal following deals with major operators. Agreements have been struck with Tui, Thomas Cook, and Swedish operator Nazar for flights to Mediterranean destinations.

New flight to the Aegean – EASYJET has added Liverpool-Zante (Zakynthos) flights to its summer schedule.

Happy birthday, kids! – CHILDREN aged 0-12 flying on Pegasus Airlines will get a personal inflight announcement and a birthday cake.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Southampton to the States, via Dublin

FLYBE has signed a codeshare agreement with Aer Lingus for flights from Southampton Airport. This enables Southampton passengers to access, via a single stop in Dublin, a wider range of destinations across North America including Boston, New York, Toronto, Orlando, and Chicago.

Customers need to book their flight via the Aer Lingus website or through local travel agents and, with just one airline ticket, they can enjoy seamless onward flights through Dublin. The added benefit is that Dublin Airport also provides US Customs pre-clearance, meaning that passengers arrive in the United States as a 'domestic passenger' and can proceed straight through to arrivals at their destination, by-passing lengthy US Customs and Immigration queues.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Heathrow pulls in £1 billion from regional airports sale

HEATHROW Airport Holdings has confirmed it will sell its 100 percent holdings in Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports to a consortium formed by Ferrovial and Macquarie.

The deal – subject to European Union merger regulation clearance – is expected to bring the airport operator £1.04 billion in cash and assumed debt.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow, said: ‘This sale enables us to focus on improving Heathrow for passengers and winning support for Heathrow expansion. Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport, connecting the whole of the UK to the world and bringing economic benefits locally and nationally.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Guernsey fuels August record for Southampton Airport

SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT saw more than 200,000 passengers through its doors in August – the highest number in a single month since 2007 and a three percent increase on the August 2013 total. The route with the largest year-on-year growth was Guernsey with a 53% increase in passenger numbers.

The city break destinations experiencing growth included Manchester (43%), Belfast (22%), Dublin (32%), and Amsterdam (19%), compared with August 2013. Expansion was also seen in French regional flights to and from Clermont Ferrand, Brest, Rennes, Limoges, Nantes, Bordeaux, and La Rochelle.

The airport is gearing up for a busy autumn, with new flights to Hamburg and additional services to Leeds Bradford and Aberdeen starting at the end of October, with Flybe.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Passenger boom for Southampton Airport

SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT has had its busiest July in seven years.

More than 192,350 passengers travelled through the airport in July, a 1.9% increase on July last year and the largest number since 2007.

The top five summer sun destinations from Southampton were Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro, and Bergerac. Flights to Guernsey also proved to be popular, with 5,000 more passengers flying there compared to July last year.

Jan Halliday, director of Marketing & Communications, said: ‘Passenger numbers this July have been similar to pre-recession levels.’

The airport is gearing up for a busy autumn, with new flights to Hamburg and additional services to Leeds Bradford and Aberdeen starting at the end of October.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK