Travel News 

The new owners of Alitalia and worker unions are now back at the table following the cancellation of nearly 100 flights on Monday and 43 yesterday at Rome’s Fiumicino airport. The parties are endeavouring to thrash out a deal over the exact number of jobs that will be secured when the smaller, mo... [more]

In a landmark hearing, judges at Europe’s highest court have ruled that passengers must be compensated if an airline cancels a flight for technical reasons, unless "extraordinary" events are to blame. [more]

Aer Lingus has opened a new base at Gatwick airport, its first hub outside Ireland, as it attempts to thwart an increasingly hostile take-over bid from Ryanair. The loss-making airline said it will operate short-haul service from Gatwick to Ireland and other European destinations. The expansion ... [more]

British Airways has confirmed that its £4.1bn merger talks with Qantas have ended, quashing Willie Walsh’s hopes for a “truly global” airline. Neither side was able to agree over key terms, and in a joint statement the two airlines said that after detailed discussions about a potential merger, t... [more]

BAA looks odds on to be forced to sell two of its three London airport following a Competition Commission report released today. The CC confirmed that the Spanish-owned operator must sell Gatwick and Stansted, as well as Edinburgh Airport, although the decision is subject to a final consultation... [more]

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have announced they are reducing their fuel surcharges as the price of oil has plummeted. Both airlines said the cuts, effective Thursday, reflected the lower price of oil, and BA also credited its fuel hedging policy. [more]

A report on the astounding perks — free living accommodations and transport to work, 50% discounts at local bars, restaurants and health clubs — and the remarkable drawbacks — smoking and eating in uniform are prohibited, and if an attendant gains too much weight, he or she is put on a diet — of ... [more]

Ryanair is offering a €200m carrot to the Irish government in its bid to buy Aer Lingus. The move comes in the same week as the low-cost carrier sensed the government was warming to the prospect of a take-over, with finance minister Brian Lenihan saying the renewed takeover would be considered “c... [more]

Etihad Airways launched flights between Abu Dhabi and Moscow. The five flights a week service to the Russian capital has been followed by a new service to the Kazakhstan commercial capital Almaty, bringing the total number of destinations served by the carrier to 50. [more]

Emirates has launched double-decker Airbus A380 flights between London Heathrow and Dubai. The A380 deployed on the Dubai - London Heathrow route is the third of 58 that Emirates ordered. Despite its colossal size, the Emirates A380 makes less than half the noise of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet and us... [more]