http://travel.creteforyou.com
29 February 2008
Aer Lingus have announced the introduction of a new service between Dublin and Athens,
Greece.
Commencing on 30 March 2008 the airline will operate three flights weekly, Wednesday,
Friday and Sunday. Final flight on this route during 2008 will be 25 October.
Flight times are: Depart Dublin 14:30 Arrive Athens 20:30
Depart Athens 21:30 Arrive Dublin 23:55
Sample fares: Search on 29 February 2008
Dep. 14 May Ret. 28 May €144.10 p.p. plus a "handling fee" of €6.00 Total: €150.10
return.
Flights on 13/27 August are currently priced at €296.10 return.
Note that prices may change, particularly as you approach departure date.
NEW ATHENS - LONDON STANSTED SERVICE
AEGEAN AIRLINES have announced that they will be adding a twice-daily service between Athens and London Stansted, commencing on 15 May 2008, the start of their summer schedule.
Brand new Airbus A321 aircraft with 195 seats in two classes will be used on the route and Aegean say that the aircraft have state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment systems.
A flight search on their web site for flights in May and June shows three fare levels - Saver, Semi-Flexible and Flexible. So far we have only looked at the Saver fares and they look quite competitive at approximately €177* return, including taxes.
Departure times from Athens are 07:30 and 17:10 and from London Stansted at 10:220 and 20:00. These are convenient times for Athens but slightly less so for travellers from Crete. The earliest flights from Xania and Iraklio are too late to catch the morning flight from Athens and anyone travelling from Stansted on the 20:00 flight will have several hours to fill before the first departure to Crete the next morning.
Fares from the two airports in Crete are also considerably higher. At the time of writing no Saver fares are shown and return fares are about €358* from Iraklio and €365* from Xania.
* Please note that these figures are based on only a few sample flights and are indicative
only. Prices may increase if bookings are made only a short time before departure
or they may be lower if booked well in advance. There are also likely to be differences
around national holiday dates.
Aegean Airlines are offering some competitive fares between Athens and London Stansted commencing 15 May.
Careful selection of dates finds return flights for under €200 including all taxes and charges.For more details click here
31 January 2008
easyJet completes acquisition of GB Airways
easyJet today announced that the acquisition by its wholly-owned subsidiary, easyJet
Airline Company Limited, of GB Airways Limited (“GB Airways”) from its parent, Bland
Group Limited has now been successfully completed following final regulatory clearances
on 18th January. The acquisition has been completed in line with the timescales outlined
in October when the intention to purchase was first announced. easyJet paid £103.5
million in cash for GB Airways of which £11.5 million is held in escrow.
Andy Harrison, Chief Executive of easyJet said:
“We are delighted to have completed this transaction and we welcome the GB Airways
staff transitioning across to become part of the easyJet team. The deal enhances
easyJet’s customer offering of low cost with care and convenience and will create
value for shareholders.”
The acquisition of GB Airways strengthens easyJet’s position as the leading short
haul airline in the UK operating around 18% of available seats. easyJet is now able
to offer its customers more routes at convenient times from two major UK airports
– London Gatwick and Manchester. easyJet will now carry more passengers from Gatwick
than any other airline and the GB Airways acquisition means that easyJet will be
offering services from Manchester for the first time.
The integration of GB Airways into easyJet is progressing well - its routes are already
on sale via easyJet.com and plans are in place to ensure a smooth transition by GB
Airways to the easyJet Air Operators Certificate. As part of the integration process
synergy benefits in the areas of overheads, insurance, ground handling, aircraft
ownership and ancillary revenues have been identified and over the medium term easyJet
will be able to drive further benefit from the acquisition as it optimises its network.
In the current financial year, before exceptional costs of around £12 million, the
acquisition will be earnings enhancing.
easyJet takeover of GB Airways
Easyjet has taken over GB Airways, who operated flights to Heraklion as a British Airways franchise. Easyjet has guaranteed to fly the full GBA 2008 summer schedule to Heraklion, honouring any bookings taken by GBA.
Travellers who booked flights with GBA before the takeover was finalised and do not wish to fly with Easyjet may claim a full refund from British Airways. Details are available from British Airways.
Easyjet has not indicated whether they will be introducing a winter service. [GB Airways operated a summer-only service.]
