Budget Airline Guide

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Virgin Atlantic launches London – Vancouver flights

By Budget Airline News

On May 25, 2012, Virgin Atlantic launched direct flights between London and Vancouver. This is the 32nd destination for the popular low-cost airline and its first in Canada.

Virgin Atlantic will operate four London – Vancouver flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 28, 2012. The airline hopes to eventually increase the frequency to a daily flight year-round.

The airline’s founder Richard Branson appeared in Vancouver for the launch and said: “This is our 32nd destination. We’ve been practicing on the Africans, the people from the Far East, the people from America, and now we feel we have the product absolutely right for Canadians.”

AirTran offers new routes to Mexico & Puerto Rico

By Budget Airline News

AirTran, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, has launched new international routes to Mexico and Puerto Rico.

On May 24, 2012, it began service from San Antonia, TX, to Mexico City and Cancun. Service from Austin, TX, to Cancun begins on May 25.

On June 3, 2012, AirTran will launch flights from Orange County, CA, to Cabo San Lucas and Mexico City.

In addition, on May 24 AirTran began its new service from Fort Lauderdale, FL, to San Juan, Puerto Rico with two flights per day.

Allegiant Air announces new routes to Hawaii

By Budget Airline News

American low-cost carrier Allegiant Air has announced they will offer new routes from west coast cities to Hawaii. The new routes begin in mid-November 2012 with departures from Bellingham, WA; Eugene, OR; Santa Maria, CA; and Stockton, CA.

According to the Allegiant Air press release:

The carrier will offer introductory fares as low as $159* one-way, including taxes and fees, from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to:
1. Bellingham, Wash. — begins November 15 with fares as low as $159* each way
2. Eugene, Ore. — begins November 17 with fares as low as $179* each way
3. Santa Maria, Calif. — begins November 17 with fares as low as $199* each way
4. Stockton, Calif. — begins November 18 with fares as low as $199* each way

The carrier will offer introductory fares as low as $199* one-way, including taxes and fees, from Kahului Airport (OGG) to:
1. Bellingham, Wash. — begins November 14 with fares as low as $199* each way

Visit www.allegiantair.com for more information or to make an online booking.

Allegiant Air to charge for carry-on luggage

By Budget Airline News

US budget airline Allegiant Air has announced it will charge a fee up to $35 USD for carry-on luggage. The charge will apply to large items that must be stowed in overhead bins. There will be no charge for smaller items, such as purses or laptop bags, that fit under the seat.

The fee will range from $10-35 USD depending on its size and the length of the flight. Travelers can pay for their carry-on luggage during the online booking process or at the airport.

This new rule goes into effect from Wednesday, April 4, 2012, making Allegiant Air the second airline in the USA to introduce such a policy after Spirit Airlines did so in 2010.

Interjet now flies Mexico City – Miami

By Budget Airline News

Interjet, the Mexico-based budget airline, commenced its newest route from Mexico City to Miami on February 23, 2012. The airline will offer daily flights from Monday to Friday and two flights per day on Saturdays and Sundays.

The route is operated using a Airbus A320 aircraft. Promotional round-trip fares start from USD349 and are available through the Interjet website.

Southwest Airlines now serving Atlanta

By Budget Airline News

Southwest Airlines officially began flights to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on February 12, 2012. The budget airline will offer 15 daily flights from Atlanta to domestic destinations like Austin, Chicago, Washington, Denver, and Houston.

Southwest will also be adding direct flights from Atlanta to Las Vegas and Phoenix starting March 10, to Los Angeles starting June 10, and Louisville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Seattle on August 12.

Southwest’s new services to/from Atlanta are one of the first stages of its take-over of AirTran Airways. Southwest will  gradually take over all AirTran flights over the nest two years.

WestJet to create regional spin-off airline

By Budget Airline News

WestJet, the Canadian low-cost airline, revealed plans to create a subsidiary regional airline that will fly to short-haul destinations. The proposed airline will hopefully launch by the end of 2013.

WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky said the proposed subsidiary will still use the WestJet brand, but will have a separate operating certificate. To keep costs down, it will operate a single-type fleet of either Bombardier Q400s or ATR 72-600 turboprops.

“We’re trying, to the degree possible, to replicate exactly how WestJet was started in 1996: single fleet, low cost, highly productive, good utilization, a seating configuration that provides us with a cost advantage over other operators,” said Saretsky.

Southwest to take over 22 AirTran destinations, drop 15

By Budget Airline News

US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has announced it will keep flying to 22 cities served by AirTran Airways but end flights to six other destinations. Southwest purchased competitor AirTran in 2011 and the two airlines are now being merged.

The newly terminated destinations are smaller cities and include Allentown and Harrisburg, PA, Lexington, KY, Sarasota, FL, Huntsville, AL, and White Plains, NY. Previously cut routes include Miami, FL, Knoxville, TN, Asheville, NC, Atlantic City, NJ. Bloomington and Moline, IL, Charleston, WV, and Newport News, VA.

In addition to the overlapping destinations, Southwest Airlines will take over AirTran flights to 22 cities plus destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.

The 22 U.S. cities served by AirTran that will eventually switch to Southwest service: Flint and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Rochester, N.Y.; Pensacola and Key West, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; Dayton, Ohio; Richmond, Va.; Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Akron-Canton, Ohio; Wichita, Kan.; Des Moines, Iowa; Branson, Mo.; Portland, Maine.

Virgin America’s 17th destination is Philadelphia

By Budget Airline News

Virgin America has announced that its 17th domestic destination will be Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The budget airline will operate three daily non-stop round-trips to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) starting on April 4 and two daily non-stop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting on April 10, 2012.

To mark the announcement of its new destination, Virgin America has launched a system-wide “The City of Brotherly Love: Just Got Lovelier” fare sale, with one-way PHL-LAX fares from $129 and one-way PHL-SFO fares from $149 plus taxes and surcharges.

Tickets for the new flights are now available at www.virginamerica.com and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN

Porter Airlines begins operations at Dulles Airport

By Budget Airline News

Porter Airlines is arriving at Dulles Airport on April 16, 2012. It will be the Canadian low-cost carrier’s sixth U.S. destination with up to three daily round-trip flights operating between Dulles and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

“Greater Washington is a region that our passengers have told us is their number one priority for new Porter service,” Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines, stated. “We expect great interest for both business and leisure trips and look forward to bringing competition to the route.”

Porter is known for its exceptional customer service and offering a premium experience at affordable prices. Lounge access in select airports, coffee bars, wine and beer on-board, and extra legroom are just part of the experience that is complimentary for all passengers.

Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said, “We are looking forward to welcoming Porter Airlines to our family of airlines providing extensive international service to the Greater Washington Metropolitan Region. Porter will provide new convenient service to downtown Toronto and throughout Canada for our region. Dulles International Airport is the international gateway not only to Washington, but also to a significant part of the eastern seaboard, and this new air service from this leading Canadian business destination will be a great addition.”

Porter Airlines was founded in 2006 as a short-haul airline and serves several routes throughout Canada. In addition to Dulles, its U.S. destinations include Chicago Midway, Logan Airport in Boston, MA, Newark Airport in New Jersey, and seasonal flights to Burlington, VT, and Myrtle Beach, SC.