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The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Talk on Gaza is cheap. Why not take some proper action?
There may be a grain of truth in the Israeli foreign minister's retort that yesterday's joint statement is "disconnected from reality". There is something unreal about declaring opposition (or worse, expressing concern for Israel's reputation) and threatening further action while again doing nothing. There will be something equally unreal and disconnected in its maintaining it took every possible action to prevent it should all Gaza's people shortly be concentrated in the "humanitarian city" being built on the ruins of Rafah, to ready their displacement. Martin Johnstone, Lochwinnoch. Read more letters Drop-off charges are a disgrace Mike Dooley (Letters, July 19) is right to question the puerile excuses of the chief executive of Airport UK for dropping-off charges. However I can confirm that my taxi to the airport does suffer a dropping-off fee. Nevertheless that taxi produces the same fumes and occupies the same road space as a family car would, so the dropping-off charge does not help any environmental or traffic relief as claimed in those excuses. Outwith airports there are friends, family, or taxi drivers waiting in lay-bys or side streets to limit picking-up charges of pounds for minutes. Does this also help to reduce pollution or traffic flow? After the Glasgow Airport ram raid in 2007 all airports had to install expensive barriers and traffic control systems. Parking and drop-off charges were needed to cover these costs. That money has been recovered long ago so why are the charges for parking maintained at a higher level and why is a dropping-off charge needed at all? How do most European airports manage to balance their books without dropping-off fees? It is interesting that our hospitality industry questions possible tourist tax levies when airport charges must have a similar effect, albeit built into a different part of travel and stay costs home or away. We are perhaps fortunate that hospital parking is not priced in a similar manner. JB Drummond, Kilmarnock. Grease: a lost opportunity Brian Ferguson anticipates change at Pitlochry Festival Theatre ("Will Alan Cumming help Pitlochry become Scotland's next culture capital?", The Herald, July 22). Unfortunately a great opportunity has been missed this season. Last Saturday my wife and I were in the audience at the theatre for a performance of Grease. Musically, the show was excellent, with a cast of superb musicians and singers. (Take an extra bow, the girl on the bass guitar.) However, our enjoyment of the production was much diminished as the diction of the spoken passages was virtually unintelligible, due largely to the use of stupid American accents. Grease is, of course, originally set in late-fifties USA. But what an opportunity was missed to transpose the show to 1959 Scotland and present it in a Scottish idiom with local dialect and accents. Perhaps a little imagination by an artistic director will reap dividends. By the time we return, later in the summer, for The Great Gatsby, I hope some change may have been effected. Eric Begbie, Stirling. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Image: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire) Ze answer I fully agree with your correspondents who dislike the use of "they/them" as being ungrammatical and confusing (Letters, July 18, 19, 21 & 22). May I point out that there already exists a gender-neutral pronoun in English? Though little used, it would be ideal for those not wishing to employ he or she. The word is "ze", pronounced "zee". It should, I think, be more widely used, and should be widely publicised. Do other correspondents agree? H Shearer, Cumbernauld. Grammar and the control freak I have been enjoying the recent correspondence about the poor use of grammar. Of course, football players, commentators and managers seem to take this to extremes. I'm sure many of the common mistakes they make are familiar to most of us: "The boy done good"; "The ball clearly has went over the line"; "He literally killed him with that tackle". Is it fair though that we expect those involved in the beautiful game to speak as eloquently as Cicero? Can we not offer congratulations when they have obviously been swotting up on the beautiful language? Listening to the radio as I drove home on the last day of the previous football season, I heard an interview with an under-pressure football manager prior to a very important game. I must applaud him for his wonderful use of the rhetorical device polyptoton: a figure of speech in which the same word is used in different forms in the same sentence. The example used by the beleaguered yet eloquent manager? "We can only control what we can control so we're going to be controlling the controllables." I'm not sure if his team won or if the match was lost due to his players' uncontrollability, but his copy of The Dark Arts of Rhetoric was obviously money well spended. Gordon Fisher, Stewarton. • While working in an inner city school in the late 1950, I heard 'I seen", "I done", 'I have went" and 'my pencil's broke" so often that I became converted and I began to believe that they were correct. Isobel McEwan, Skelmorlie.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Meet Santa in Lapland this Christmas with day trips flying from Scotland
The package includes flights, meals, thermal gear, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, storytelling, and a private visit with Santa Families in Scotland can experience the magic of Lapland this winter, with special day trips from Glasgow Airport taking passengers on a festive adventure to meet Santa Claus himself. TUI's Search for Santa flights will return this December, offering two dedicated departures from Glasgow on December 13 and 23. The one-day itinerary takes families from Scotland to the snowy wilderness of Finnish Lapland and back, all within 24 hours. The festive package includes return flights to Kittilä, in-flight meals, thermal clothing for the Arctic conditions, and a full day of wintry activities, while all ground transfers in Lapland are also included, Glasgow Live reports. The lucky families that head north will enjoy husky and reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling, Arctic storytelling, and a private visit with Santa Claus. And every child will receive a gift from Father Christmas himself. Prices for the all-inclusive day trip start from £720 per person. The experience begins with a traditional cooked English breakfast served onboard the flight to Lapland. After landing, passengers collect their complimentary snowsuits and boots before heading to the snowy wonderland. One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to the spectacular Snow Village, an ice hotel featuring igloo-style rooms, an ice bar, and intricate ice sculptures. Families can enjoy a sleigh ride guided by reindeer through the forest and take a short journey on a husky-led sled through the Lappish countryside. Adventurous guests will also have the chance to try snowmobiling, learning how to ride before heading out into the frozen wilderness. For those looking to soak in Lapland's traditions, a local storyteller will share age-old legends around a roaring fire. The day continues with snow fun for all ages, from snowball fights and sledging to building snowmen. A warming hot berry juice is offered by the campfire before the main event: meeting Father Christmas. Families will hop on a skidoo and travel through snow-dusted woodland to Santa's log cabin, where elves greet them and even teach visitors how to say hello in Finnish. Each child will enjoy a private visit with Santa and receive a special gift to take home. A hot lunch is served in Santa's Village during the day, while a festive roast dinner is served on the flight back to Glasgow in the evening. Chris Logan, Commercial Director at TUI UK, said: "Our much-loved festive Search for Santa day trips are back, and we're making it easier than ever for families across the UK to experience the magic of Lapland. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Now with flights from 11 regional airports, families have the ease of flying from their local airport to meet Santa and create unforgettable memories together.' TUI's Lapland day trips have long been a popular Christmas treat for families looking to enjoy a taste of the Arctic and the spirit of the festive season. With a packed schedule and everything included, this year's trips from Glasgow promise to deliver an unforgettable winter experience for children and adults alike. Tickets can be booked now through TUI, with limited availability expected as the festive season approaches.
Metro
a day ago
- Business
- Metro
Airline founded by UK millionaire 'parks' only plane — after two return flights
From Richard Branson to Elon Musk, powerful men have long been launching themselves into the skies. But Global Airlines, founded by 36-year-old British multimillionaire James Asquith, has found itself grounded after just two return flights. The new UK carrier made its maiden journey on May 19, departing from Glasgow Airport in Scotland for New York's JFK, with a return flight four days later. A second journey from Manchester Airport to New York took place on May 21 and returned on May 25. Global pledged to take passengers back to the 'Golden Age' of travel, delivering premium service on the world's largest passenger plane: the double-decker A380. But even before take-off, the plan was on shaky ground. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Initially, return economy fares were £778, 95% more expensive than a comparative a standard £399 British Airways seat. However, sluggish sales saw those prices more than halved. And now, Global's only plane, 9H-GLOBL, is currently parked up in Tarbes Airport in France. Home to the largest aircraft storage facility in Europe, it's typically used for long-term storage. Tarbes also serves as an aircraft recycling centre, the place where aircraft go 'when the time comes', according to Simple Flying. Global Airlines shared the news on Instagram, but insisted it 'won't be long before [the plane] is up in the clouds once again on the way to the next adventure.' A statement said: 'After completing the latest maintenance in Dresden, 9H-GLOBL will be heading to Tarbes to park until it is time to head off to the next stage of heavy maintenance.' From the beginning, Global Airlines has raised eyebrows among aviation insiders, who questioned whether its business model — using big, old, expensive A380s — is sustainable. And the latest news is only adding to the skepticism. So — as its only plane is parked up for the foreseeable, what's Global Airlines all about, and will they fly again? Metro approached Global Airlines, and a spokesperson stressed that the carrier is very much alive and well. 'The aircraft has not gone to storage,' they said. 'It's just parking in Tarbes. We know the people there well, and it was the perfect place for us to stop off until the next hangar slot is ready for us.' Global says that people have chosen to 'leap to conclusions and got it very wrong.' The spokesperson added: 'There really isn't anything to see here – an aircraft needs to park somewhere and Tarbes has a lot of experience looking after A380's so it makes it the perfect place for now.' While it's unclear what its next steps will be, Global said: 'The plans remain for the aircraft to get the next round of maintenance done and then move on to the next round of operations in due course. 'Meanwhile, various other matters are progressing behind the scenes, and we continue to move ahead with the Global journey.' When asked for specifics on what this plan might be, Global did not respond. Overall, aviation experts aren't convinced. The crux of the issue? Global's business plan is based on using a particular type of aircraft: the Airbus A380, the largest commercial passenger aircraft. These massive, double-decker planes are no longer being made; there are now less than 200 in circulation, after being discontinued in 2021. Today, Emirates remains the largest carrier of A380s. But across the board, they fell out of favour due to running costs. 'The A380 is a massive plane, with four engines, and space for lots of different classes,' Marina Efthymiou, Aviation expert and professor of aviation management at Dublin City University, tells Metro. 'Starting an airline is already incredibly expensive: you need to buy the planes, find the staff, and get your air operator's certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority, which can cost hundreds of thousands.' Which begs the question, why does James think he can build a business on these planes? While some Metro readers welcome the idea of travel being more comfortable for the masses, others have stated that it won't work. Or if it does, it's only a matter of time until money becomes an issue. You can read their thoughts here. And that's where the industry is stumped. The entrepreneur told The Independent that the A380s are actually Global's USP as 'people want the largest commercial aircraft in the world.' 'It's a passenger favourite,' he said. 'It's a crew favourite. It's a pilot favourite. And obviously an airport favourite as well.' He even cited the glamorous Pan Am flight attendants as a reference point for the kind of experience Global Airlines could offer both passengers and employees. As the world still digests the confusing news that an army of uber-rich celebrities headed off to space on a glorified hen-do, is this yet another example of a rich man offering the elite an extravagant way to take to the skies? 'It could be a case of 'boys with big toys',' says Marina. 'Maybe he just wanted to own an airline in the same way some men want a football club. 'But A380s aren't that prestigious anymore. They might be a novelty, and people might be curious, but in the aviation world, they're not that impressive.' And given the ratio of first-class passengers to economy, the idea that Global is only for the top 0.1%, doesn't quite ring true either. 'It would be easy to say he's just catering to an elite, but the majority of Global's passengers will be in economy, paying the lowest fares,' says Marina. Another problem with A380s is their load factor, which relates to how efficiently they are can fill available seats. 'The A380s can carry from around 500 to more than 800 people, depending on the configuration of seats,' says Marina. 'This is a huge amount of passengers, which even big airlines have problems filling. The average on a transatlantic flight route is about 250. 'Global could be flying with half-empty planes and there are already very thin profit margins when it comes to plane tickets. 'How long Global can survive, will depend on how rich James Asquith is, and how long he is able to afford operating at a loss.' When asked about the latest development that Global's plane is currently parked in a storage facility, Marina said it was a sign that 'this airline is not working.' She continued: 'They say the aircraft is being sent for heavy maintenance, but in any case, they're not doing much traffic.' The statistics are pretty bleak: over 18 months, the aircraft has only clocked up 62 hours of flight time, including test flights and trips for maintenance. 'What are their profit margins, considering how few flights they've taken?' Marina asks. When asked whether this could be the end of the road for Global, she said she couldn't speculate but added: 'At a minimum, the aircraft will be out for four to 10 weeks, and it's only just taken off. 'As a business model, it's not picking up.' Global is the brainchild of self-made UK millionaire, James Asquith, who became the youngest person to travel to all 196 countries, aged just 24. Already CEO and founder of Airbnb rival, Holiday Swap, James announced plans for his start-up airline back in 2022 — a dream he'd had since he was a child, growing up with pilot parents. In a world where Ryanair charges €55 for the simple pleasure of checking in at the airport, James has vowed that Global would 'bring back the golden age of air travel, with a modern flair.' In other words, that it will make flying glam again. For first-class passengers, that would mean 12ft long 'suites' with the potential for a double bed. Forgetting no subgenre of traveller, the airline even created a 'Gamer class', complete with Xbox and Playstations. However, that plan has since been dropped. More Trending Ambitious plans said flights would launch from London Gatwick in 2023, and that by 2025, a fleet of 100 planes would fly from European hubs too. However, as with most start-ups, not everything went according to plan. After the two transatlantic trips from the UK to NYC in May, no other flights are on sale. A version of this article was originally published on May 15. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: London's Oyster card prices to nearly double – full list of affected cards MORE: 'First-of-its-kind' Eurostar-style train to directly connect UK with Berlin and two more cities MORE: Our Travel Editors' picks of underrated destinations in the easyJet summer 2026 sale
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
TUI announced day trips to popular spot from Glasgow Airport
TUI UK & Ireland has announced the launch of its 'magical' Lapland day trip programme for Winter 2026. The exciting programme includes flights from 11 regional airports across the UK, including Glasgow. The travel firm said the 'Search for Santa' day trips allow families the 'ultimate Lapland experience' with the chance to meet the real Santa Claus in his snowy homeland and be back in their own bed the same night. READ MORE: Jet2 reveals two new incredible destinations from Glasgow Airport With tickets starting at £750 per person, the package includes return flights with in-flight meals, including a delicious roast dinner on the flight home, a private meeting with Santa, and a gift for every child. Travellers will also be able to enjoy a range of snow activities, including husky and reindeer sleigh rides, mini skidoo adventures for youngsters, and tobogganing. Additionally, thermal clothing is included in ticket prices, plus a hot lunch in Santa's village, and all transfers to Lapland, which is located in Finland. TUI is offering day trip flights to Lapland from airports including Glasgow, Cardiff, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Birmingham, Stansted, Dublin, and Bournemouth. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Major plans revealed for Glasgow Airport after billion-pound takeover READ MORE: One of world's busiest airports which welcomes Glasgow flights to close (Image: Newsquest) Here is the day trip itinerary: Fly to Kittila – Customers will get a traditional cooked English breakfast on the flight, before landing and heading to pick up the included snowsuit and boots. Snow Village – Kittila's Snow Village is home to an ice hotel with igloo-like rooms, an ice bar and ice sculptures. Reindeer Sleigh Ride – Climb into a sleigh and let Rudolph and co guide the way through snow-covered forests. Husky Adventures – Hop on the back of a husky-led sleigh and be whisked off on a short ride around the Lappish countryside. Snowmobiling – After learning how to ride, head off on a short ride to explore the winter wilderness. Arctic Storytelling – Get a real taste of tradition when meeting one of the Lapland locals and listen to age-old stories and legends about Lapland. Meet Santa – Hop on a skidoo and travel through the snowy woodland to meet Santa, where his elves will teach families how to say hello in Finnish. Snow Fun – It's not Lapland without playing in the snow, so start a friendly snowball fight, ride a sledge or build a snowman and then warm up by the campfire with a hot berry juice. Home Time – After the day at Snow Village has finished, Santa's elves will take customers back to the airport, where you will get a Christmas dinner in the sky on the flight back home. READ MORE: Jet2 announced two new destinations from Glasgow Airport READ MORE: Major airline announces new Glasgow Airport route Chris Logan, Commercial Director at TUI UK, said: "Our much-loved festive Search for Santa day trips are back, and we're making it easier than ever for families across the UK to experience the magic of Lapland. "Now with flights from 11 regional airports, families have the ease of flying from their local airport to meet Santa and create unforgettable memories together.' Those interested in a day trip to Lapland in 2026 from Glasgow Airport can either fly out on December 12, 2026, or December 22, 2026.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Most popular holiday destinations for Scots revealed – but there's a warning for travellers as ‘busiest day' approaches
The top holiday picks have been revealed for those seeking guaranteed sun, outstanding food, culture and natural beauty HOT TICKET Most popular holiday destinations for Scots revealed – but there's a warning for travellers as 'busiest day' approaches Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE most popular destinations for Scots holidaymakers this summer have been revealed - and Spanish hotspots took first place. Taking the prime spot was Malaga and Alicante in Spain for those seeking guaranteed sun, outstanding food, culture and natural beauty - closely followed by Faro in Portugal. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alicante in Spain took joint top spot with Malaga Credit: Alamy 2 September 5 is set to be the busiest day for Scotland's airports Credit: Michael Schofield Other popular destinations included Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes, Tenerife, Antalya and Dalaman. The new report by easyJet Holidays also found Edinburgh and Belfast were said to be the most popular domestic destinations for Scots holidaying closer to home or visiting family. However, those planning a sunny getaway have been warned as Scotland's busiest day of the summer for travel is on the horizon. easyJet research found Friday, September 5, is set to be the busiest day for Scotland's airports. The budget airline will see nearly 2,000 flights take off with over 300,000 customers expected to fly. This includes 180 flights carrying a whopping 28,000 customers to and from Scotland alone. This year, the airline launched eight new summer routes Scotland, including Antalya and Reus from Glasgow, and Enfidha, Dusseldorf, Zurich, Olbia, Marrakech, and Milan Linate from Edinburgh. Sophie Dekkers, easyJet's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "Every year, millions of customers continue to choose easyJet for the unrivalled choice of destinations we offer across our network, our great value fares and our crew's fantastic service. 'And this year with more seats and more new routes, we're offering more choice for customers than ever before, and we look forward to taking them away for a well-deserved holiday, always aiming to make travel easy.' The new data comes as Glasgow Airport was named as the best in the UK and another Scots hub was named in the top 10. The airport was hailed as the first choice for fast and affordable travel. Sould Park opening in Malaga Travel experts analysed air hubs across the UK, comparing the best and worst for average flights per day, average delays, cancelled flights, and flights delayed by 30 minutes or more. Staff at the ground transport firm hoppa also took into account the number of airport links, lounges, parking cost per day and scored the airports out of 10. With a rating of 9.21 out of 10, Glasgow Airport came out on top, The study found the airport has around 158 arrivals and departures per day, with an average flight delay time of 9.6 minutes.
