Latest news with #AntonRadchenko
Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
Urgent advice for anyone going to Greece, Turkey or Italy after earthquakes
Urgent advice for anyone going to Greece, Turkey or Italy after earthquakes Experts have explained what you need to know about current delays, cancellations and travel rules A cloud of ash and gas rise about ten kilometers above the summit craters, as Volcano Etna erupts again Travel experts have issued urgent advice for anyone heading to the Mediterranean this summer after earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. An earthquake hit the Greek island of Rhodes on Tuesday morning and a second hit the Turkish resort or Marmaris shortly after, leaving a 14-year-old girl dead and dozens of people injured. The earthquakes came hours after the volcano Mount Etna in Italy erupted. Etna, Europe's most active volcano, began spewing ash early in the day on Monday, temporarily disrupting air traffic at Catania Airport, and sending locals and tourists running for safety. Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket said: 'Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can leave holidaymakers facing increased delays, travel disruption and cancellations. Travellers who are affected should check their travel insurance policy documents to see if they are eligible for compensation. 'Travel insurance policies that include natural disaster cover will generally cover you for cancelled accommodation, travel and activities, as well as emergency medical care and evacuation should you need it. 'Under UK and EU regulations, airlines are not required to compensate you for delayed or cancelled flights in 'extraordinary circumstances', which include natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis. If your flight, however, is delayed because of this, your airline has an obligation to offer food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of your delay.' 'If extreme conditions are forecasted before you book or leave for your trip, and you choose to travel regardless, your insurance provider may not cover you for any related problems. Article continues below 'Buying your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip can ensure you are protected against the unexpected. Check your policy terms before buying your insurance, as some travel insurance providers may not cover you as standard in the event of a natural disaster. 'Be aware that if your policy includes natural disaster cover, this will only be paid out if the FCDO warns against anything other than essential travel. If your plans are impacted by a disaster, contact your insurance and airline as soon as you can.' In Italy, Catania Airport is now open, but 20% of arriving flights are facing delays. Article continues below Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor, said: 'Natural events like volcanic eruptions can be unpredictable, but they don't have to ruin your travel plans. The June 2 Mount Etna eruption has understandably caused concern, but the good news is that Sicily remains open and safe for travel. "So, there's no reason for Brits to cancel their Sicily holidays. Airspace is open, and the Mount Etna activity, while newsworthy, is being managed by Italian aviation authorities with high precision. Our analysis of flight data shows that while 20% of Catania flights are delayed, there are no cancellations, and that's critical for UK passengers planning summer getaways. "The key takeaway here is: don't cancel, just prepare. I always tell travellers to treat nature like you treat traffic—plan for a bump in the road, but don't abandon the journey. Book flexible tickets, arrive early at the airport, and keep an eye on real-time updates from the INGV and Catania Airport. Also, remember that even if compensation under EU261 may not apply due to the nature of the disruption, your right to meals, hotel stays, and alternative travel options still stands. Don't let uncertainty catch you off guard; if you're prepared, you'll travel with peace of mind. "Last but not least, here's a pro tip: check if your travel insurance covers natural disasters. It's a small detail most people miss, but it can make a big difference if your plans change last-minute.'
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Ryanair axes all flights from EU airport and adds new UK flight in major revamp
Ryanair has savagely scrapped all of its flights from a major EU airport - while adding a new route from the UK - as it continues to criticise countries across the continent for rising taxes Ryanair has cancelled all of its flights from a popular EU airport, as it continues to wage a war on aviation levies across the continent. The budget airline recently revealed its latest shakeup will see all of its routes from Maastricht Airport in the Netherlands axed from October 26. Branding the hub one of Europe's 'most expensive' airports, Ryanair slammed the airport's costs along with the country's rising aviation taxes - arguing both will 'irreparably damage Dutch connectivity'. Maastricht Airport introduced an eco-tax back in 2021, landing Ryanair with an increasing bill of almost €30 per passenger. The mass cancellation will remove routes to popular destinations such as Alicante, Bari, Girona, Porto, and Zadar - and will result in the loss of 150,000 seats per annum, as well as five direct connections. Ryainair's CCO Jason McGuinness said the airline was 'disappointed' with the decision, blaming Maastricht Airport for its 'soaring' taxes which have increased by 275 per cent in the last four years. "Ryanair continues to grow traffic (this year from 200m to 206m) by offering unbeatable low fares to customers across Europe at airports that have low access costs," he added. "Maastricht's sky-high costs are damaging its connectivity. [This is] evidenced by the Airport's failure to recover its traffic post-Covid, lagging far behind the rest of Europe at just 50 per cent of pre-Covid traffic in 2024 – a figure set to fall even further following Ryanair's exit." This isn't the first time Ryanair has retaliated against unwanted fees by pulling flights from an airport. Earlier this year, it announced it was slashing its summer traffic in Spain by 18 per cent - resulting in the loss of 800,000 seats and 12 routes. It also scrapped all flights to and from Aalborg, after Denmark confirmed a 50DKK (£5.57) fee, will be applied to all passengers departing from Denmark and will be paid for by airlines. However, in good news for Brits - Ryanair has also unveiled a new UK flight route, scheduled to kick off in October. Twice-weekly flights will take off from Edinburgh, in Scotland, and take passengers over to the lesser-known EU city of Rzeszów in Poland. According to reports, fares will start as low as £15. Known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and acclaimed Christmas markets, Rzeszów is the largest city in southeastern Poland and dates back to the Middle Ages. For years, it's stayed out of the tourist limelight - overshadowed by the likes of Krakow and Warsaw - but the new flights may quickly change that. In a statement sent to the Mirror, Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert & Founder of AirAdvisor, said the route reshuffle sends two 'clear signals'. "Regional airports in the UK are getting more love, while underperforming bases like Maastricht are being cut loose," he added. "For UK passengers, this creates more direct options from places like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Norwich, but also leaves them exposed to short-notice route cancellations."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Major airline strike could spread to 21 more airports as 110 flights grounded
The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced three fresh strikes which began on May 30 at Helsinki Airport. This is Finland's seventh aviation strike in under a month A major airport strike threatens to spread to other travel hubs this summer, impacting tens of thousands of British holidaymakers. On Friday, Finnair cancelled 110 flights, affecting 8,000 customers, on the first day of a three-day strike. Today is the second day of action, with a further strike due on June 4. Workers in the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) have targeted Helsinki Airport in Finland's seventh aviation strike in less than a month. When workers walked out on May 30, alternative travel options spiked. Ferry fares from Tallinn to Helsinki rose 100-130% within 48 hours, reaching £150-£200 one-way, per FerryScan data. Helsinki Airbnb rates jumped 40-50% (£120-£180/night from £80-£120), trends suggested, while train fares from Stockholm to Helsinki increased 30-40%, according to Omio. Finnair has been rerouting long-haul flights via Stockholm and Budapest due to strike-related fuel shortages at Helsinki Airport, causing multi-hour delays on routes to Tokyo, Bangkok, and New York. These changes are especially disruptive for UK–Asia passengers. June 2's strike will see flights rerouted via Frankfurt and Amsterdam, likely causing one to three-hour delays for 1,500-2,000 daily passengers. A potentially bigger issue is now looming on the horizon. If IAU-PALTA talks remain stalled, the IAU may expand strikes to all 21 Finavia-operated airports, which include Rovaniemi, Oulu and Kuopio, in the upcoming days. This could disrupt 20-30% of Finland's 2,000 daily flights, meaning as many as 60,000 passengers impacted. Each week 20,000 UK travellers could be affected if such a strike were to rumble on. Later this month, IAU may shift to short two—to three-hour strikes targeting high-traffic weekends such as June 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29, disrupting 50-100 daily flights at Helsinki Airport. Passengers concerned about being caught up in the travel disruption can buy strike-cover insurance for as little as £20, use websites such as FlightRadar24 for real-time flight tracking, and avoid Helsinki connections by taking other routes such as vua Stockholm. Anton Radchenko, found of AirAdvisor, said: 'This is no longer a strike story, it's a system failure story. Helsinki has now had more strikes in 30 days than most countries have in a year. This represents something far more serious than a few cancelled flights: they signal a system on the brink. Helsinki Airport, once considered one of the smoothest hubs in Europe, is now suffering from chronic unpredictability. For UK passengers, this isn't just about Finland, it's about how a local dispute can derail an entire travel experience across Europe." The IAU, which represents ground handling, baggage, catering, maintenance, and customer service staff, has called the strikes over pay disputes with PALTA. According to the IAU, the average earnings of Finnair Group employees increased by 6.4 percent between 2020 and 2023. During that same period, the national average increase across all sectors was 10.4 percent. PALTA, the employers' association, insists most workers seemed willing to agree to the mediator's suggested pay rises, as reported by Helsinki Times. However, they claim the IAU are pushing for increases exceeding what has been proposed to others. On Friday a representative for Finnair told the Mirror: " As industrial action cause significant disruptions to the operation of flights, Finnair have canceled approximately 110 flights today, on Friday 30 May. We have contacted our customers directly about today's cancellations already during last Wednesday and majority of the customers whose flights were cancelled are able to travel today. "We are deeply sorry that our customers' important travel plans were disrupted."
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Ryanair adds new flight from Scotland after axing five popular European routes
Plus, the full list of new Ryanair routes this summer revealed FLIGHT NEWS Ryanair adds new flight from Scotland after axing five popular European routes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RYANAIR has added a new route to its Scottish flight plan in time for a winter getaway - after it axed five routes to popular European destinations. Many holidaygoers will be planning to jet off for a holiday during the colder months for a nice break away. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The new route will fly from Edinburgh Airport Credit: Andrew Barr So the budget airline's news that direct flights will take off from Edinburgh to Rzeszów, in Poland, couldn't come at a better time. The new twice-weekly flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays, giving passengers the ideal excuse to travel before Christmas. The new service is set to launch on October 27, 2025, and experts say it will provide direct access to a region with a strong Polish community presence in the UK. Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert and Founder of AirAdvisor, said the new route is "giving communities exactly what they need", adding that this is something that Ryanair is "quietly mastering". However, he warned that "passengers need to be cautious" because "seasonal or niche routes are the first to disappear if bookings fall short." The warning comes after the budget airline axed five routes from its Maastricht base, which is popular among British holidaymakers. Bosses at Ryanair said it came after the airport substantially increased costs, making it one of the most expensive airports in Europe. All flights to and from the airport, including routes to Alicante, Bari, Girona, Porto, and Zadar, are cancelled from October 26. Anton said: "Ryanair's route reshuffle sends two clear signals: regional airports in the UK are getting more love, while underperforming bases like Maastricht are being cut loose. "For UK passengers, this creates more direct options from places like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Norwich, but also leaves them exposed to short-notice route cancellations. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine "The launch of Edinburgh–Rzeszów may not make headlines like Rome or Barcelona, but it offers something Ryanair is quietly mastering: giving communities exactly what they need. "The VFR traffic here is strong, and the airline knows it. However, passengers need to be cautious because seasonal or niche routes are the first to disappear if bookings fall short. "What's important to remember is that when routes are cancelled more than 14 days in advance, passengers aren't eligible for compensation under EU261. "Only refunds or rerouting are guaranteed. And with other airlines like easyJet or Wizz Air already operating near capacity on similar routes, UK passengers could face price hikes and availability issues. "My top advice is to book early on new routes, watch for red flags on unpopular ones, and don't wait too long to rebook if your flight gets axed. "And always keep track of your rights: free meals, hotel accommodation, and airport transport are still owed for delays over two–four hours, depending on the flight length, even if compensation isn't.' Full list of new Ryanair routes this summer HERE is a full list of all the new Ryanair routes flying from the UK this summer: Aberdeen - Alicante (April) Aberdeen - Krakow (April 2) Bournemouth – Chania (June 1) Bournemouth – Fuerteventura (April 1) Bournemouth – Rhodes (June 4) Bristol – Toulouse (May 3) Edinburgh – Funchal (March 30) Glasgow – Malta (April 1) London Stansted – Bodrum (March 19) London Stansted – Clermont-Ferrand (April 20) London Stansted – Dalaman (June 2) London Stansted – Linz (March 24) London Stansted – Munster (May 20) London Stansted – Reggio Calabria (March 19) Manchester – Rabat (March) Manchester – Toulouse (March 31) Ryanair's CCO Jason McGuinness said: 'Ryanair is disappointed to announce the removal of all our flights to Maastricht Airport from 26 October 2025, which comes as a result of the Airport's excessive cost increases and the Dutch Govt's soaring aviation taxes of almost €30 per passenger, which have increased by +275% since 2021. "These significant cost increases make Maastricht Airport one of the most expensive airports in Europe and completely uncompetitive compared to other countries and low-cost airports elsewhere in Europe, who are reducing airport costs and abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic recovery and growth. "Ryanair continues to grow traffic (this year from 200m to 206m) by offering unbeatable low fares to customers across Europe at airports that have low access costs. "Maastricht's sky-high costs are damaging its connectivity, as evidenced by the Airport's failure to recover its traffic post-Covid, lagging far behind the rest of Europe at just 50% of pre-Covid traffic in 2024 – a figure set to fall even further following Ryanair's exit.'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits warned of ‘significant' holiday hotspot disruption as airport staff strike
The Finnish Aviation Union has announced three strikes among workers at Helsinki Airport over the coming weeks, with Finnair the airline most impacted by the industrial action Finnair has grounded 110 flights, impacting 8,000 customers, on a single day of a three-day strike. Brits flying to Finland are facing travel chaos yet again, as the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced three fresh strikes on May 30, June 2, and June 4 at Helsinki Airport. This is Finland's seventh aviation strike in under a month. The industrial action is predicted to impact just shy of 30 UK flights across the three days. As the summer getaway kicks off, this latest wave of strikes will have ripple effects across Europe. The IAU, representing ground handling, baggage, catering, maintenance, and customer service staff, will strike over wage disputes with PALTA in 4-hour staggered shifts, leading to full-day disruptions. Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ According to the IAU, the average earnings of Finnair Group employees rose by 6.4 percent between 2020 and 2023. During that same period the national average increase across all sectors was 10.4 percent. The strikes are designed to maximise disruption, with union officials organising the walkouts at strategic times across a six-day window. The result is a wave of residual disruption: cancelled flights one day, incomplete baggage delivery the next, and last-minute rerouting throughout. Palta, which represents employers, has argued that most employee groups were ready to accept the mediator's proposed increases, Helsinki Times reports. It has said that the IAU is demanding adjustments beyond what others have asked for. The cancelled direct flights from the UK will see nearly 5,400 passengers affected. Since Helsinki is a direct transit hub for Brits flying to Asia, the Baltics and Northern Finland. According to Air Advisor, 11,400 UK passengers will be affected. Key UK routes likely to be impacted include London Heathrow to Helsinki, Manchester to Helsinki, and Edinburgh to Helsinki. The IAU strikes are not the only ones impacting European aviation customers this week. The May 30 to June 4 strikes align with Italy's May 28 aircrew/taxi strikes, creating a rare 'Nordic-Mediterranean Disruption Corridor', disrupting Helsinki, Milan, and Rome hubs. This will strain Frankfurt and Amsterdam connections, adding excessive pressure on these hubs. Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor, said: This is no longer a strike story, it's a system failure story. Helsinki has now had more strikes in 30 days than most countries have in a year. This represents something far more serious than a few cancelled flights: they signal a system on the brink. Helsinki Airport, once considered one of the smoothest hubs in Europe, is now suffering from chronic unpredictability. For UK passengers, this isn't just about Finland, it's about how a local dispute can derail an entire travel experience across Europe. "The most worrying aspect is the deliberate spread of these strikes. By placing them days apart, IAU is stretching airline operations beyond recovery: think of aircraft out of position, bags not making it to destinations, and crew timing out. It matters because this kind of disruption doesn't stay in Finland; it ripples across hubs like London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, making it even more chaotic." Affected passengers should check the airline's website and mobile app for alternative flight options and manage their bookings accordingly. Finnair has told impacted customers that they will be supported with rebooking options to minimize inconvenience.
