Road Warrior: EU air traffic strikes cost €9.5 billion

Strikes by air traffic controllers cost EU €9.5bn

A study commissioned by the representative group Airlines4Europe has estimated the cost of air traffic control strikes from 2010-2015 as a €9.5 billion reduction in the EU's GDP.

Compiled by PwC the impact of 167 days of air traffic control strikes had an effect not just on business, but also tourism and reduced airline revenues.

The strikes occurred most frequently in France, followed by Greece, Italy and Portugal and led to 30,000 cancelled flights. Already this year 2,500 flights have been cancelled and more strikes are planned over the summer. The continued strikes will lead to the Single European Sky getting closer.

Ryanair changes business product gets leisure tweak

The ever-changing Ryanair has introduced new products and changes in the Business Plus fares.

Currently Business Plus does not include a bag but does mean fast-track at 31 European airports. You can change your tickets within a two-day window either side of the booking and have free airport check-in.

The new Leisure Plus fare includes a 20kg checked bag, priority boarding and reserved seating.

Cold winds hit UK travel sector as it feels Brexit effect

Britain’s five-star hotels already feeling the effects of the EU referendum vote before it even happened will now feel it more.

Hotel shares fell along with sterling.

The industry is dependent on European employees with three quarters of staff in London’s hospitality sector being foreign-born.

Ryanair has also announced that it will not be adding any new routes in the UK in the next year.

The only consolation for the industry is the drop in sterling may encourage tourists to visit the UK if the pound continues to decline.

Changing plans for ATO a boost for NextGen

In the United States there a proposal to spin off the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Transport Organization (ATO) as a not-for-profit organisation. It is the operational arm of air traffic management.

The proposed ATO would be less constrained by federal budgets and more in a position to further and implement the NextGen air traffic management systems.

NextGen is behind schedule and over budget but vital to the future of global commercial aviation.

The current authorisation for the FAA expires on Friday, July 15th.