p20 Air Mar5 2/3/10 16:32 Page 20
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit ttglive.com/air
Ryanair makes its
Now boarding –
debut in Greece
with a barcode
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES claims to be the first
carrier to offer paperless boarding passes on
flights from Heathrow to the US.
Gary Noakes.
routes, we start on a test basis, but from the UK, Passengers can now opt to receive boarding
RYANAIR has made its first foray into Greece, the problem with Greece is the flight length,” passes electronically on their mobile phones or
launching three routes from mainland Europe, he said. other handheld devices providing they are trav-
but indicated that flights from the UK are He explained that services to the Canaries elling non-stop to the US. A barcode is sent to the
unlikely. from the UK, only a slightly shorter travelling phone which is then scanned at airport security
Services to Rhodes, Kos and Volos, on the time than Greece, permitted Ryanair to fly a and again at the boarding gate. It is claimed that
mainland, will start in May from Milan, Frankfurt separate short return flight to the Spanish the technology prevents manipulation or dupli-
and Pisa. The routes mean Greece is the latest mainland before the aircraft returned to the UK. cation of boarding passes and heightens security.
country to join other mainstream holiday desti- This allows Ryanair to maximise profits, but a The extension of the scheme to Heathrow
nations served by Ryanair, which include Spain similar set-up is not feasible in Greece. follows its introduction in the US in late 2007.
and the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands government also gives in- Continental currently offers mobile boarding
Ryanair often centives to airlines passes at 42 airports including its hubs in New
tests new destina- which increase its York, Houston and Cleveland.
tions with flights visitor numbers,
from mainland Eu- which Greece does
rope before launch- not.
ing them from the “The Canaries are
In brief
UK. However, a attractive as there
Ryanair spokesman is a 100% rebate ■ Varsity Express adds jet terminal at Edinburgh
said there were no of charges if you Start-up airline Varsity Express is to offer
plans to begin UK bring growth,” the passengers use of the private jet terminal at
flights to Greece spokesman said. Edinburgh airport. Varsity Express began flying
because of the rel- “Greece is still to the Scottish capital this week from Oxford
atively long flying lagging, but if they airport. The airline’s founder is Martin Halstead,
time of around four see fit to encourage the entrepreneur who launched the short-lived
and a half hours. airlines, then we Alpha One Airways in 2005 when he was 19. It
“As with all Boats and swimmers at the Anthony-Quinn bay in Rhodes will consider.” flew briefly from Edinburgh to the Isle of Man.
■ Malev brought back under state control
CityFlyer makes Barcelona year-round
Malev, the loss-making Hungarian airline, has
been brought back under state control. The
carrier was privatised three years ago, but has
LONDON CITY airport is to add another Spanish destination but there is a big demand from both found competition from budget carriers tough
destination from March 28, when British business and leisure passengers for us to and has also axed all long-haul services.
Airways’ CityFlyer resumes flights to Barcelona. continue through the winter.”
The BA subsidiary will offer the previously ■ SAA appoints Mzimela as chief executive
summer-only route year-round and add a South African Airways has appointed its first
Saturday morning flight from May, making female chief executive. Siza Mzimela was formerly
Barcelona daily. One-way fares are from £63. the chief executive of SAA’s domestic partner
BA, whose current sole Spanish route from airline, SA Express. Cheryl Carolus, SAA
London City is to Madrid, also begins flying from chairperson, said Mzimela was “the ideal
the East London airport to Palma and Ibiza in May. candidate to fulfil the mandate of SAA to
Luke Hayhoe, BA CityFlyer commercial man- be an African airline with global reach”.
ager, said: “The Spanish destinations are prov-
ing popular from London City airport. Barcelona
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20 05.03.2010
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