BA Transatlantic from London City

AV8Tours understands that British Airways is to go ahead with the launch of the first New York flights from London City Airport despite the economic downturn.

Flights are already on sale with the first flights due to take off on September 29.

The new all-business class service launches with a daily return to New York JFK except Saturdays when London City airport is closed, increasing to two flights a day from mid-October.

The aircraft on the route will be a specially configured Airbus A318s, the largest aircraft that can be flown from the Docklands airport.

Fitted with just 32 seats, which convert to fully flat beds, the aircraft will fly across the Atlantic after a refuelling stop at Shannon in Ireland, where passengers will be able to clear US Customs and Immigration.

Return flights from New York will be non-stop, as the aircraft can use JFK's full-length runways and take off with sufficient fuel for the whole transatlantic crossing.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about. There is real enthusiasm from our customers for this project. This is BA at it's best - stylish, British and ahead of the game. Reviving the BA001 flight number for the first long haul route out of London City could not be more appropriate. Every aspect of this service has been designed to maximise convenience for customers to fly between the world's two biggest business centres - Wall Street and London's extended financial district in the City and Docklands.The UK's first web access on transatlantic flights means that customers can work and keep in touch with the office between London and New York via email and texts. Above all the exclusive service style will bring the feel of a private jet to a business class cabin."

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Florida Bounces Back

Florida has emerged as one of the late booking summer holiday favourites, according to new research.

Bookings to Florida saw a 49% increase on last year at the beginning of June compared to an 8% drop at the start of May.

The US bookings surge has been prompted by the strengthening value of the pound against the dollar, according to the UK's largest independent travel retailer.

The analysis shows that in the same period the pound rose in value against the dollar, from $1.48 to $1.65 (a rise of over 11%).

Av8Tours believes a significant boom in bookings is still to come.

The same effect can also be seen in the eurozone, but with the pound rising only 4% in the same period.

"If the pound continues to rally against foreign currencies, we believe this upward trend will continue."

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Heathrow Express Maintains Service

Heathrow Express maintains service during tube strike. Heathrow Express is to operate as normal during the current 48-hour London Underground strike. The company said trains would continue to run from Paddington station to the airport every 15 minutes between 05.10 and 23.42. Trains call after 15 minutes at Heathrow Central for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 before arriving at Terminal 5 in 21 minutes.

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Airlines Get Wired Up

According to The LA Times, airlines are bringing back wireless Internet service on planes, allowing business tech savvy travelers to check their e-mails, browse the Web and log into their corporate and social networks while in flight.

Now several smaller Internet companies have come up with cheap systems that are working well. AirTran Airways, which has six departures a day at Los Angeles International Airport, said it will equip all of its 136 planes with WiFi by the end of July.

Larger carriers, Delta Air Lines, which operates more than 1,000 planes, and American Airlines, with more than 600 jets, are rolling the service out over the next year.

Under American's system, passengers can begin accessing the Internet with their laptops, smart phones and hand-held PDAs once the plane reaches 10,000 feet.

The fee will be $12.95 for flights longer than three hours and $9.95 for those that are less. Hand-held device users will be charged $7.95 regardless of the flight's length.

Virgin America has also begun offering wireless Internet service on flights between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. as well as on all flights to Boston. The airline expects to have Internet on all flights by summer.

The fee is similar to American, but it also has a red-eye special of $5.95 for those flying across the country late at night.

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Non-Essential Mexico Travel Back On

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has lifted a ban on all but essential travel to Mexico following the swine flu outbreak.

The revised advice comes three weeks after the flu outbreak reached its peak in the country. The latest FCO advice says: "Following a decline in the number of reported new swine influenza cases in Mexico since its peak on 26 April 2009, we no longer advise against all but essential travel."

The revised advice is likely to lead to a resumption of holiday flights to Mexico.

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Industry Reaction to Budget Inaction

The travel industry has reacted with anger and dismay after the Government failed to scrap plans for a rise in Air Passenger Duty. In his Budget announcement last week, the Chancellor Alistair Darling made no reference to the travel tax, which is due to increase in November and again in 2010. Airlines, agents, ABTA and other industry associations had urged the Chancellor to scrap the tax altogether, or at least cancel the second phase of increases. But despite their pleas, and evidence to show the negative impact on the tourism industry, the Government has refused to back down.

"The rise in APD to destinations such as the Caribbean, dependent on tourism, will be as much as 87%, equating to a tax bill of £600 for a family of fourt ravelling to the Caribbean in premium economy in 2010 compared with today's£160.

*Here's how the phased increases will impact travel costs:

For flights to Europe, APD will go up by 10% to £11 and to £12 in 2010. US travellers, the UK's key market for tourism, will see their taxes rise from £40 to £60 in 2010.

For long-haul visitors travelling over 6,000 miles (including Australia, NewZealand and Malaysia, three key inbound markets), taxes will rise from £40 to£85 in 2010.

Business visitors will also be severely affected with taxes for travellers ona ny flights above economy rising to anything up to £170 from 2010.

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Gourmet Menus from Virgin

Virgin America introduces new health-focused, gourmet menus.

Virgin America announced the introduction of new menus that offer guests a selection of healthy and wholesome meal and snack options for the spring travel season. The new menus include an on-demand selection for guests in the Main Cabin and a new seasonal First Class menu designed by world-renowned Chef, Luke Mangan. Both menus are crafted using an assortment of nutritious ingredients, including fresh fruits and vegetables, premium meats and artisan breads and are designed to give travelers more healthy and satisfying options to choose from for their in-flight meals and snacks.

Chef Mangan honed his skills at some of the world's most prestigious restaurants, including the world-famous, three Michelin star Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. Today, Chef Mangan owns four restaurants around the globe, including South Food + Wine Bar in San Francisco, Salt and World Wine Bar in Tokyo, and Glass Brasserie in Sydney.

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