The takeover of bmi by British Airways is set to lead to up to 1,200 job losses in Britain, the airline announced today.

Seven new routes to holiday destinations in continental Europe are to operate from George Best Belfast City Airport.

IRELAND is still perceived as an expensive location, according to tourism chiefs, who say business from Britain has collapsed.

Flights from George Best Belfast City Airport to Stansted are set for take-off again after a budget airline announced it was taking on the discontinued route.

EFFORTS by Shannon Airport to secure a replacement airline to take over the successful Shannon to Paris route, which will be axed by Ryanair in November, have been dealt a severe blow with two more operators confirming they have no plans to take up the service.

LOW-COST airline bmibaby is to schedule extra flights from Belfast after Ryanair said it was pulling out of the city.

Low-cost airline bmibaby is to schedule extra flights from Belfast after Ryanair said it was pulling out of the city.

A FEW weeks ago a spokesman for Cork airport said the new bmibaby service from the east midlands in England was a sign of green shoots.

THE incoming head of the Irish Travel Agents’ Association says he’s concerned that Cork Airport management aren’t doing enough to attract new business.

Airline bmi today announced a restructuring involving a reduction in planes and routes and the possible loss of at least 600 jobs worldwide.

Among the thousands of rugby fans descending on Cardiff this weekend is one who has waited longer than most for Ireland to clinch a second grand slam.

SHANNON Airport says it expects Ryanair to honour its commitment to deliver two million passengers a year at the airport despite the airline saying it is going to cut services.

AIRCRAFT traffic at Cork and Shannon airports has suffered a double-digit decline so far in 2008, according to figures from the Irish Aviation Authority.

Abu Dhabi airline Etihad has approached bmi over a possible merger that would value the UK carrier at up to £600m (€757m), a report said today.

Knock Airport has said its passenger numbers were up 25% in the first four months of the year to more than 177,000.

CONSUMERS are being hit by a triple whammy of airport baggage charges after three airlines increased their luggage fees within days of each other.

CONSUMER champions last night claimed airlines could be breaking the law by billing passengers automatically for travel insurance as they book flights.

Aer Lingus was Cork Airport’s biggest customer last year, carrying 1.2 million passengers, according to the airport’s end of year report.

Airport bosses are expecting a record-breaking year in numbers flying to and from the west of Ireland, it emerged today.

Cork Airport was flying high today after it announced a record 3.2 million passengers passed through its new terminal last year — a 6% jump in traffic on the previous year.

AIRLINE passengers are being stung by repeated price hikes since fees for luggage were brought in last year — with charges now as high as €16 a bag.

CONSUMERS hunting for cheap business or holiday flights face a bewildering array of charges, just for luggage.

PASSENGERS are having increasing difficulty in getting low fares from airlines, consumer champions warned last night.

FLIGHTS out of Cork to three British airports could be affected by a strike by a low-cost carrier’s pilots.

Airline group BMI today hailed a major overhaul of its strategy for helping to revive profits at a time of soaring fuel costs.

Knock Airport launched its new route to Durham Tees Valley Airport today with members of the Connacht Rugby squad taking off to play their European Challenge Cup match against the Newcastle Falcons.

Knock Airport recorded its most successful year ever in 2005 with passenger numbers reaching over 530,00, an increase of 42% on the previous year’s figures.

Bmibaby is offering free travel for infants under two years of age. They are the only major low cost airline to offer this service.

The British airline BMIbaby is planning to operate flights between Knock Airport and the north-east of England from next spring.

Knock International Airport today announced that additional flights from Knock to Birmingham will be offered by bmibaby from July 4.

Bmi (formerly British Midland Airways) group is back in the black after today reporting a £2.1m (€3m) pre-tax profit for 2004.

British regional airline BMIbaby started its Knock-Birmingham route yesterday. The airline will operate six flights each week over the winter months and will step up operations to provide a daily service in the summer.

Budget airline bmibaby today revealed details of its plans to open a new base at Birmingham International Airport – with one-way fares from just 4p - and with new services to Knock and Belfast.

Ryanair and bmibaby intend to challenge easyJet’s dominance at Gatwick Airport. Ryanair has so far been restricted at London’s second biggest airport due to high landing charges.

British Airways is still the favourite airline for UK business travellers despite the rise of the low-fare carriers, a survey out today showed.

The ISEQ continues to struggle after last week's uncertainty following the Madrid bombing.

Low-cost airlines Germanwings and bmibaby are to co-operate in order to compete with easyJet and Ryanair.

Tickets have gone on sale for a new UK-Ireland service to be started next month by low-cost carrier bmibaby.

Knock International Airport welcomed the announcement that bmibaby will operate daily direct services between Knock International Airport and Nottingham East Midlands Airport, commencing April 30.

RYANAIR has joined with other European low-fares airlines to challenge new European Union legislation guaranteeing compensation to passengers who are denied boarding or are subject to flight delays or cancellations.

bmi has been named as the Best Ireland/Europe Airline for 2003 at the annual Irish Travel Trade Awards, for the second year in a row.

A UK regional airport today risked anger in two of its three neighbouring cities as it unveiled a new name.

A British airport will today reveal if it is to change its name and spark a dispute between three neighbouring cities.

Bmibaby is set to operate daily direct flights between Knock International airport and Manchester, commencing on March 28.