Latest news with #LutonAirport
Metro
14 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Wizz Air launches 5 new Spanish routes from the UK – but not everyone is happy
Wizz Air has announced five new routes from London to some of Spain's most popular destinations. Launching in March 2026, the airline will run flights from Luton Airport to Bilbao, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Seville. Fares start from as little as £17.99 one way. While this is great news for budget-conscious travellers, it's no secret that Spain is currently grappling with the effects of overtourism. Barcelona and Madrid — two of the cities on the list — have seen full-throated anti-tourist protests since last year. Much has been said about the role of short-term holiday platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO in all of this. Cruise ships have also come under fire. But do airlines play a part in overloading destinations with visitors, too? Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Jaroslaw Grabczak, Head of Commercial Product at Thomas Cook and eSky Group online travel agency, says that while much of the overtourism debate focuses on short-term rentals and cruise ships, airlines play an equally critical – and often overlooked – role in overcrowding. 'The rapid growth of air travel, particularly driven by low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair, funnels huge volumes of visitors into already saturated destinations,' he tells Metro. Grabczak says that this creates pressure on local infrastructure, housing, and the social fabric of communities. As for how to rectify the problem, he urges the industry to move beyond outdated measures, such as basing the popularity of a place on the number of visitors. Instead, he says the focus should be on longer stays and deeper cultural engagement: 'Close collaboration is needed between airlines, online travel agencies and local governments to grow demand in a way that benefits communities.' Marta Moya, a PR director who works with the Spanish Tourism Board, says the dream is for every player in the travel industry to do their bit. 'Our preference is for airlines to focus on launching new routes to lesser-known Spanish destinations,' she tells Metro. Marta says they would like to see more people travelling during off-peak periods, such as shoulder season — the months directly before and after summer. She says travelling off-season guarantees a more authentic experience and a glimpse into what life is like in a place, beyond summer. A Wizz Air spokesperson tells Metro that, as an ultra-low-cost airline, its mission is to make travel accessible for everyone. This means keeping fares low and 'opening up opportunities to discover new places and enjoy local cultures.' They explain that over 800 routes across more than 50 countries are available: 'By offering direct connections to multiple cities beyond tourist hotspots, we not only provide passengers with the choice and flexibility when planning their trips, but also boost local economies through increased demand for services, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.' The spokesperson — who also notes that Wizz Air doesn't operate flights to destinations where there are existing train connections that take less than six hours — says the airline encourages its customers to travel when it's less busy. They continued: 'We encourage travellers to consider travelling during off-peak periods and explore off-the-beaten-track destinations to get the most authentic and affordable experiences.' Short-term holiday lets and cruise ships have long been accused of destroying destinations and pricing locals out of their homes. Moves have been made to stop them. Earlier this year, Madrid City Council temporarily suspended the granting of new short-term rental licenses. This rule will be in effect until February 2026. As for cruise ships, Barcelona's mayor last year announced plans to increase the tourist tax for day-trippers who visit the city for 12 hours or less. In terms of holiday rentals, Christian Petzold, Best of Barcelona Travel Director, says there is now concern about a drop in tourism due to soaring hotel rates. He said the restriction on Airbnbs and new building projects are partly to blame. 'Airbnb helps to equalise income from accommodation spending, because many owners are renting out their second or third apartment for this. But, they still live in the communities and spend their money here,' he says. Instead of imposing further restrictions, Petzold believes tourist cities should expand their Airbnb licences into surrounding areas: 'This would mean less-central neighbourhoods could benefit from tourism, too.' Combined with improved public transport and a smarter distribution of holiday rental licenses, he argues that the new Wizz Air flights could be an opportunity to create a more balanced tourism model. All five routes will launch on March 29, 2026. This gives travellers the chance to bag cheap flights both during the shoulder season and peak summer. More Trending There will be five flights per week to Bilbao and Valencia, four to Seville, and 10 flights to Barcelona. The Madrid route will operate daily. Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK, said the airline is 'excited to announce not one, but five new Spanish routes' from its base at London Luton Airport. While some airlines 'stick to siestas,' she said Wizz Air is bringing 'serious competition' with low fares and a high-efficiency model. Moynihan added that these new flights will make travel 'accessible and affordable to all.' 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Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Scroll.in
Man held for shouting ‘death to Trump, death to America' aboard flight in UK
A 41-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after he shouted 'Death to America, Death to Trump' aboard a flight in the United Kingdom, the BBC reported. The man was identified as Abhay Nayak, a resident of the town of Luton near London. In videos shared on social media, he was heard shouting 'I am going to bomb the plane' and 'Allahu Akbar' repeatedly while raising his hands in the air. The incident occurred on EasyJet flight 609, which had departed from the London Luton Airport at around 7 am on Sunday. The flight made an emergency landing at Glasgow at about 8.20 am. "I'm going to bomb the plane, death to America, death to Trump and Allah-hu-Akbar" passenger shouts on easyJet from London's Luton Airport and en route to Glasgow Airport in Scotland. Abhay Devdas Nayak pretended to be a muslim and shouted the slogans. #easyjet #viralvideo … — Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) July 29, 2025 Nayak was tackled by fellow passengers to the ground till officials confirmed that there were no explosives on board, reported India Today. He was arrested and appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on charges of assault and endangering the safety of an aircraft, according to BBC. He has been remanded in custody to appear in court again next week. In its statement, EasyJet said that the man was removed from the flight due to his behaviour on board, reported The Indian Express. 'EasyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time,' stated the airline. 'The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat: Why did Abhay Nayak yell ‘Allahu Akbar'? Passenger shouts ‘Death to America'. This is what happened next
EasyJet mid-flight bomb threat was posed by Abhay Nayak. He yelled 'Allahu Akbar', 'Death to America' and 'Death to Trump' during the flight. The EasyJet flight from London to Glasgow made an emergency landing after the disruptive passenger caused an alarm mid-air. The man, identified as Abhay Nayak, shouted bomb threats and slogans targeting the United States and President Donald Trump. Authorities intervened immediately. The case is now under legal proceedings in the UK. EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat: Passenger Sparks Panic At approximately 8:00 am on July 27, 2025, an EasyJet flight from London's Luton Airport to Glasgow faced an in-flight disruption. Abhay Nayak, a passenger on board, began yelling threats and slogans after exiting the plane's lavatory. Witnesses reported that he shouted, 'I'm going to bomb the plane,' followed by, 'Death to America,' and 'Death to Trump.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA others Digital Marketing Project Management Degree Data Science Public Policy Technology MCA Artificial Intelligence Product Management Finance Healthcare Design Thinking Others Data Science healthcare Operations Management Cybersecurity Management PGDM CXO Data Analytics Leadership Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details — wienerdogwifi (@wienerdogwifi) He also shouted 'Allahu Akbar,' a phrase in Arabic meaning 'God is great.' The sudden outburst caused panic among passengers. One passenger quickly tackled Nayak to the floor. The flight crew managed to take control of the situation with assistance from other passengers. EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat Led to Emergency Diversion to Glasgow Airport The pilot took immediate action and diverted the flight to Glasgow for safety. The aircraft landed safely. Police and security teams were waiting on the ground. Nayak was arrested at around 8:20 am local time and was taken into custody. Authorities confirmed that no explosives were found on the aircraft or with Nayak. Live Events The passengers and crew were unharmed. Officials said Nayak acted alone. The flight resumed normal operations after a security check. Abhay Nayak Court Appearance and Legal Action Nayak appeared in Paisley Sheriff Court the following day. Prosecutors charged him with assault and with endangering the safety of an aircraft. These charges fall under UK air navigation laws. At present, there are no terrorism charges filed. Nayak has not entered a plea. He remains in custody, and his next court appearance is expected in eight days. Investigators are reviewing evidence, including videos recorded by passengers. Identity of Abhay Nayak Abhay Nayak is a 41-year-old man from Luton. There is limited public information about his background. Officials have not released details about his personal or professional life. His statements during the flight indicated political intent, particularly toward the United States and Donald Trump. Trump was reported to be in Scotland at the time, staying at his Turnberry golf resort. It is unclear if this fact is directly related to Nayak's actions. EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat Videos Shared Widely on Social Media Shortly after the plane landed, video clips of the incident began to circulate online. The videos captured Nayak's shouting and the moment he was subdued by another passenger. Social media users expressed concern about the safety of air travel and questioned current security screening procedures. There is no confirmation from authorities on whether Nayak was listed in any government watchlists before boarding. EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat Airline and Police Response EasyJet issued a statement confirming the incident and the flight diversion. The airline thanked passengers and crew for their cooperation. It said safety remains the top priority. EasyJet added that it is working with authorities during the investigation. Police in Scotland confirmed that the incident involved a single individual and that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. FAQs Who is Abhay Nayak and why was he arrested? Abhay Nayak is a 41-year-old Luton man arrested for shouting bomb threats and political slogans on an EasyJet flight from London to Glasgow. What charges does Abhay Nayak face in court? Nayak is charged with assault and endangering aircraft safety under UK air navigation laws. No terrorism charges have been filed yet.
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
‘Death to Trump': EasyJet flight to Scotland diverted after bomb threat
A man was arrested and charged over a disturbance on an EasyJet flight from London's Luton Airport to Scotland's Glasgow Airport on Sunday. Footage circulating online shows a man on the flight shouting, 'I've got a bomb!' along with 'death to America, death to Trump!' and 'Allahu Akbar!' — which translates to 'God is great' in Arabic. The footage then shows another passenger tackling the man and holding him down on the ground as other passengers assist in restraining him. 'Why are you saying you're going to bomb this plane?' a passenger asks the man, as he's being held down on the airplane floor. 'Because I want to send a message to Trump,' the man replies, before referencing the U.S. president's trip, which saw him arrive in Scotland over the weekend. Story continues below advertisement Police Scotland told People magazine that authorities boarded the aircraft once it arrived and arrested a 41-year-old man. He remains in custody and is due in Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, reports the BBC. A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a disturbance on a flight arriving into Glasgow on Sunday, 27 July, 2025. Read more: — Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) July 28, 2025 'At this time, we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved,' police said in a news release, but did not confirm the charges the man faces. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We are aware of videos circulating online and these are being assessed by counter-terrorism officers.' An EasyJet spokesperson confirmed the incident and said that the passenger was removed 'due to their behaviour onboard.' Story continues below advertisement 'EasyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time,' the rep continued. Trump is currently on a four-day visit to Scotland. He is expected to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday at a golf property owned by the president.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Flyer shouts Allahu Akbar, makes bomb threat on UK flight to send Trump a message
An easyJet flight from London to Glasgow was forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday morning (local time) after a passenger began shouting "Allahu Akbar" and claimed to have a bomb onboard. He said he wanted to "send a message" to US President Donald Trump, who was at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland at the incident occurred on easyJet flight 609, which had departed from London's Luton Airport shortly before 7 am and was en route to Glasgow when the 41-year-old man emerged from the restroom shouting, "I'm going to bomb the plane! Death to America! Death to Trump!"advertisementThe video of the incident went viral on social media. The footage from inside the aircraft shows the man yelling before fellow passengers tackled him to the men holding the suspect in place could be seen then interrogating him, with several passengers slamming him as an "idiot" for threatening innocent people in a stunt directed toward Trump, New York Post passengers who overpowered the suspect were able to keep the man in place until the jet landed and police and airport officials confirmed there were no explosives on board as they took the suspect into police are investigating the case, stating that the individual acted alone and poses no broader risk to the suspect's outburst came at a time when Trump is staying at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, less than an hour's drive from Glasgow CHARGED FOR MID-AIR DISTURBANCE: POLICEAuthorities confirmed the suspect has been charged in connection with the mid-air disturbance and is scheduled to appear in Paisley Sheriff has been circulating online showing the man on an aircraft who appears to shout "death to America, death to Trump" and "Allahu Akbar" – an Arabic phrase meaning "God is great", BBC also confirmed that a suspect had been arrested by police after the emergency landing.A passenger, who did not want to be identified, told The Sun, "He literally came out of the toilet shouting "Allahu Akbar" with his hands above his head.""Then he said 'I've got a bomb, I've got a bomb' - at this point people were confused," he added."He pushed the airline staff and was being aggressive towards them. He was a big guy, about six feet, and they were these petite women. When he pushed them, that's when things changed," The Sun quoted the passengers as saying."At that point, one guy managed to grab him from behind and pull him down, then everyone jumped on top of him.""The pilot announced he was making an emergency landing and took the plane down so quickly," he further added.- Ends
