Workers at six UK airports are being balloted for strike action by the Unite union.

Unite is to ballot more than 6,000 members based at BAA airports, including Heathrow, in a dispute over pay.

It has accused BAA of offering a “paltry” pay offer for 2010 after a pay freeze in 2009.

BAA issued a statement today saying: “We are disappointed that Unite is to ballot members across its UK airports for strike action.

“During recent discussions with Unite, we proposed a conditional 1.5% pay increase.

“We believe this to be a reasonable offer at a time when BAA and its airline customers are seeing a decline in passengers due to the impacts of recession and volcanic ash.

“We regret Unite´s decision, which will cause unnecessary concern for millions of our passengers and damage Britain´s reputation around the world.”

via New strike threat at UK airports-16 July, 2010.

Spain to be ultimate winner of Government scrapping of Heathrow expansion.

British Airways Plc may use Madrid as its seat of growth in the future.

In the eyes of Willie Walsh, the British Airways chief executive, the government appears to be resistant to developing Heathrow any further which could potentially hinder the airline's growth.

BA is set to merge with Spanish carrier Iberia which will give BA a foot in Spain.

The government’s decision to axe the expansion programme at Heathrow means the runways are now full, Walsh told the Institute of Directors.

As a result, the airline’s planned Spanish merger could allow the airline to exploit Barajas Airport’s four runways, according to Walsh, who said that currently the airport operates only 80 per cent of its capacity.

Walsh also hit out at the increasing rise in air passenger duty (APD) and argued that separate UK airline taxation should come to an end otherwise it could be damaging to the economy as commercial carriers leave the country.

Calling for an end to Air Passenger Duty when airlines join an EU emissions trading scheme in 2012, Willie Walsh said: “APD on longhaul routes will have tripled or even quadrupled in four years. We are in severe danger of pricing large numbers of people out of flying.”

Walsh related how a family of four flying economy class to visit relatives in India had seen APD rise from £160 to £300 in a year.

“We cannot go on layering ever more punitive tax burdens on this industry,” Mr Walsh said, pointing out that global airlines had collectively lost $47bn (£31bn) in the last decade and only been profitable in three of those years.

He noted how the United Nation´s climate committee had recently suggested that the global airline industry pay a $10bn tax as its contribution towards the $100bn a year promised at Copenhagen from developed to developing countries.

via SME Web – news, tips and information for small businesses in the UK | British Airways says Spain will win.

With the summer now getting into full swing Alicante’s El Altet airport is expecting to consolidate it’s recovery with it’s passenger traffic increasing by 7% over the 2009 figures between now and next Thursday with almost 172,000 users.

This year, although the recession continues to plague the tourism sector, the situation improved substantially between January and May with the airport serving 3.233 million passengers, an increase of 58,000 (2.8%) passengers.

Indeed authorities say that but for the Icelandic ash cloud, which disrupted over 50,000 passengers in Alicante alone, the figures would be much better.

via INCREASE IN ALICANTE AIR TRAFFIC | Costa Blanca | Leader Newspaper – News, Sport, Advertising, Property, Classifieds – Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Calida, Costa de Almeria, Spain.

An incident involving a Ryanair jet at Valencia airport in Spain last month is being investigated by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission although the airline has described the matter as ´minor´.

On May 14th last, Ryanair flight FR-8384 from London Stansted to Alicante in Spain, was on approach to Alicante airport when the crew was forced to initiate a ´go-around´ because of adverse weather conditions. A ´go-around´ is undertaken when an aircraft on ´final approach´ is forced to abort a landing.

The crew of flight 8384 subsequently attempted a second approach on a different runway however, once again, strong winds prevented the crew from making a safe landing and so they elected to abort that landing also. The crew then decided to divert to Valencia airport 133 kilometres (72 nautical miles) to the north of Alicante.

The crew declared a PANPAN distress call to air traffic controllers at Valencia stating that they were flying “below the final fuel reserve.” However, while on approach to Valencia airport, the crew upgraded their emergency and declared a MAYDAY before performing a safe landing.

The Spanish Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission) has confirmed that after landing in Valencia, the remaining fuel on board the Boeing 737-800 jet was measured and that one of the aircraft´s three fuel tanks was completely empty. Tank 1 (left wing) was found to have 440kgs of fuel while in tank two (right wing) a total of 470kgs of fuel was found. Investigators have stated that there was no fuel (0kg) in the centre tank, the largest of the three fuel resevoirs.

The airplane was refueled and returned to Alicante with a delay of almost 2 and a half hours.

An airline spokesman said: “Ryanair flight FR8384 diverted to Valencia as it was unable to land at Alicante due to adverse weather. Following operating procedures and to ensure no further delay, the crew requested a landing priority at Valencia, which was granted. This minor issue was reported to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and their review is now closed with no follow up action required.”

The IAA has confirmed: “We are aware of this incident and can confirm that the flight was operated in accordance with the regulations (EU-OPS). The flight was diverted due to wind sheer at the destination airport. A MAYDAY was not issued but I understand that a PAN was raised due to wind again at Valencia.”

The Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission has confirmed that it has commenced an investigation in to the incident.

Under aviation rules, every aircraft must carry a contingency load of about 5 per cent of the total trip fuel as well as enough to carry out an approach, divert to an alternative airport, or hold for 30 minutes above an alternative airport.

via Spain Launches Investigation Into Ryanair Jet Incident.

Spain´s National Court has convicted three members of the Basque separatist group ETA of murder, attempted murder and participation in a terror attack and sentenced them to 1,040 years in jail each.

They were found responsible for a Dec. 30, 2006, explosion at Madrid s Barajas airport that destroyed a five-story parking garage, killing two Ecuadorean immigrants and wounding 41 other people. ETA later claimed responsibility for the attack, which marked the end of an cease-fire that the group had begun nine months earlier.

The verdict and sentence for Mattin Sarasola, Igor Portu and Mikel San Sebastian were released Friday.

ETA has killed more than 825 people since the late 1960s in its campaign for an independent Basque homeland.

via Madrid airport bombers given 1,000-year sentences.

The CAA’s no-fly zone required by the high density volcanic ash cloud will not affect London airports for the period 1300-1900 (local time) today.

The no-fly zone for this period has moved east to a line stretching from Prestwick on the west coast to Humberside on the east coast and south to a line just north of Birmingham.  Airports which fall within the no-fly zone include all those in Northern Ireland, Ronaldsway, Prestwick, Carlisle, Manchester, Liverpool, Doncaster, Humberside, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands and some Scottish island airports including Campbeltown, Islay and Barra.

There are currently no other restrictions within UK airspace. According to information from the Irish Aviation Authority, Dublin will remain open until at least 0100 tomorrow (Monday) and Shannon until 2300 tonight.

We are working closely with the Met Office and with the CAA, which agrees no-fly zones based on Met Office data, and will issue any further notice on this website as necessary

via NATS: The UK’s leading Air Navigation Services Provider | Home.

We are delighted to report that most restrictions on UK airspace began to be lifted at 2134 (local time) this evening, following new guidance from the UK’s safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority on restrictions to UK airspace as a result of the volcanic eruption.

Air traffic control services have resumed in the UK with the exception of an area over the north west of Scotland which continues to be affected by a dense concentration of volcanic ash. Based on current information this situation is not expected to change overnight. The situation continues to be dynamic as a result of changing weather conditions and the prediction of dense areas of volcanic ash. NATS will continue to monitor the latest Met Office and VAAC information and the CAA’s updates on the availability of UK airspace.

This brings to an end a period of disruption and uncertainty for air passengers. Our operation is fully staffed and already responding to the backlog of flights entering UK airspace. We will be working with the airlines and airports to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Due to the scale of the disruption, it will take some time for flights to resume normal operations and passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information about flights.

There are no further operational changes expected overnight and on this basis our next update will be at 0900 (local time) on 21 April.

Britain’s holidaymakers may be wasting thousands of pounds by listening to unfounded myths and rumours about airport car parking; many families could easily save more than £100 a year according to HolidayExtras.com. They’re also missing a chance to get their holidays off to a relaxing, hassle-free start.

A recent investigation into car parking myths revealed that many holidaymakers are needlessly worried that their car will become a prime target for thieves, is liable to be damaged and is ultimately, expensive. Many others are throwing money away by paying ‘on the day’ gate prices rather than booking in advance.

Travelling Brits can save on average £37 rising to £72 when booking car parking 30 days in advance – and it can take less than five minutes to do. Sean Hagger, head of commercial parking for HolidayExtras.com, said: “There are still millions of UK holidaymakers listening to rumours that their car is a target for crime, it’s expensive and that it’s simply a hassle. They’re all missing out on the proven benefits of booking airport parking in advance.”

The key myths are:

My car will be stolen: If your car park has the Park Mark you can rest assured that it’s been checked by the police and assessed as safe. Sean commented: “In 27 years of business, the percentage of car park crimes at any airport car parks used by HolidayExtras.com has been minimal, probably making it safer than parking on the street at home. This is thanks to HolidayExtras.com’s quality control process.” Sean added: “If we wouldn’t leave our car there, why would we let our customers?”

Accidental damage by other drivers: Again the chances are much exaggerated. Cars are parked by experienced staff. But if you are worried, take photos of the car and note any existing marks. If there is cause for concern when you go to pick up your car, report this to the car park BEFORE YOU LEAVE. If damage is proven to be caused by the staff at the car park, and not a third party, then you would be covered by their insurance.

Unauthorised driving of my car: Another urban myth but, if you’re worried about this one, just set your odometer to zero before you leave your car.

A taxi will be cheaper: Unless you live next to the airport this is highly unlikely. If you’re approximately 35 miles from an airport, a return taxi would cost around £160 plus a 10% tip. Compare that to a week’s luxurious Meet and Greet parking, the most convenient holiday parking, booked in advance for just £64 plus your petrol costs.

Long-term off-site car parks are always miles away: Not true; most long-term car parks are within three miles or a 10-minute shuttle ride. All car parks offered by HolidayExtras.com are always accessible when the airport is open; in fact most operate 24/7.

As with anything, do your research on the car park you’re using, search for the best price and ensure the company you book through is reputable, some like HolidayExtras.com offer a Best Price Guarantee*. This alone will give you peace of mind so you can kick back on holiday and relax knowing your car is safe, secured and waiting for your arrival back in the UK.

IATA head Giovanni Bisignani said authorities in Europe had “missed opportunities to fly safely”.

“This volcano has crippled the aviation sector, firstly in Europe and is now having worldwide implications. The scale of the economic impact (on aviation) is now greater than 9/11 when U.S. airspace was closed for three days,” Bisignani said, referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

“We must move away from this blanket closure and find ways to flexibly open air space, step by step,” he told a news briefing in Paris.

European transport ministers are due to discuss the airspace crisis at 9 a.m. ET after a meeting of the European aviation control agency Eurocontrol, which said on Monday it expected between 8,000 and 9,000 flights to operate in Europe.

That would represent just 30 percent of normal flight traffic, and marks only a modest increase from Saturday and Sunday, when less than 25 percent of flights operated. Since Thursday at least 63,000 flights have been canceled.

Austria opened its airports on Monday but other countries kept no-fly decrees in place. Italy closed its northern airspace after briefly opening it on Monday.

The closure of most of Europe´s airspace because of a huge cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano stranded millions of passengers, and importers and exporters have been hit.

The crisis has had a knock-on effect across the world and its impact on everyday life in Europe has deepened. In Britain, companies reported staff had been unable to get back from Easter holidays abroad and hospitals said they were cancelling some operations because surgeons were stuck in far off places.

Britain's official weather forecaster the Met Office released a graphic predicting little movement of the ash plume over Europe on Monday, but saw it spreading toward the eastern seaboard of North America.

“The wind flow is staying very much the same through the day. Probably for the next three of four days the wind regime is not going to change terribly much,” a Met Office spokesman said.

Bisignani called for urgent action to safely re-open airspace and called for a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations aviation body.

“We have to make decisions based on the real situation and not on theoretical models. They (the authorities) have missed opportunities to fly safely,” he said.

A senior European Union official said on Sunday the current situation was not sustainable, as airlines called for a review of no-fly decrees after conducting test flights at the weekend without any apparent problems from the ash cloud.

“We cannot wait until the ash flows just disappear,” said EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, adding he hoped 50 percent of European airspace would be risk-free on Monday.

Dutch airline KLM, which has flown several test flights, said most European airspace was safe despite the plume of ash, and dispatched two commercial freight flights to Asia on Sunday.

Volcanic ash is abrasive and can strip off aerodynamic surfaces and paralyze an aircraft engine. Aircraft electronics and windshields can also be damaged.

via Airline body seeks moves to reopen Europe airspace | Reuters.

Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK’s safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace. We are currently awaiting CAA guidance.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.