- StyleThe Independent
UK’s worst airports revealed
Stansted is the UK’s worst airport, according to a new ranking.Compiled by The Points Guy, the list of the nation’s best and worst airports looked at the largest 20 facilities and scored them out of 100.
- StyleThe Independent
‘Could have been beyond tragic’: Family nearly hit by train while taking photos on rail tracks
A family in the US narrowly avoided tragedy when a fast-moving train sped towards them while they were taking photos on a railway line.The incident took place in Greencastle, Pennsylvania East, on 23 February.
- StyleThe Independent
Heathrow ruling spells continued paralysis for UK aviation
“Champagne corks heard popping at Schiphol and CDG,” texted one interested party minutes after the Court of Appeal ruled that the government’s expansions plans for Heathrow breached environmental rules.The airports in Amsterdam and Paris will certainly be cheered by the continuing paralysis in the world capital of aviation: even though London handles far more passengers each year than any other city, its main airport has long been full.
- StyleThe Independent
‘Ghost town’: What it’s like to be on holiday in northern Italy amid coronavirus shut down
Walking onto the main square of Fabriano yesterday was like stepping onto a film set.First there’s the buildings – brick, elegant, renaissance-style, from the sombre cathedral to the portico of the art gallery opposite it – but looking oddly new, since they were restored after a major earthquake in 1997.
- StyleThe Independent
Coronavirus: How your travel plans could be affected and whether you can cancel your holiday
The spread of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, to and within Europe has sparked huge concern among travellers.Several towns in northern Italy have gone into isolation, while a hotel in Tenerife is now on lockdown.
- StyleThe Independent
Best last-minute holiday deals for March
February’s bonkers weather has long outstayed its welcome, and has been enough to get anyone inspired to head off to a place that’s more agreeable.Try somewhere far away and hot, or closer to home and in the mountains. If you’re planning on a June getaway, take a look at some of these ideas.
- StyleThe Independent
Plane makes emergency landing when phone battery catches fire
A plane had to make an emergency landing when a phone battery caught fire mid-flight.United Airlines flight 1456, flying from Newark to Nassau, Bahamas, had to make an emergency landing at Daytona Beach Airport in Florida.
- StyleThe Independent
Heathrow expansion blocked by Court of Appeal in victory for climate campaigners
The Heathrow airport expansion has been blocked by the Court of Appeal in a victory for climate campaigners fighting to block controversial plans for a third runway.Lords Justice Lindblom, Singh and Haddon-Cave said the government did not take enough account of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change when setting out its support for the proposals in its National Policy Statement (NPS).
- StyleThe Independent
Heathrow expansion: why not use airport capacity elsewhere?
“I cannot let your comments regarding the plans for a third runway at Heathrow go unchallenged,” writes Caroline Wilson from Selby in North Yorkshire. She is referring to my observation that Heathrow and Gatwick are bursting at the seams while every other UK airport has spare capacity.“The reason everyone goes from Heathrow or Gatwick is the rest of the country has little choice. Most of the brochures sent to me advertising holidays all depart from those two airports, or Manchester. This incurs extra cost and inconvenience.”
- StyleThe Independent
Coronavirus: Fliers can change cheap tickets for free, says US airline
As airlines worldwide ground planes and lay off staff as a result of the coronavirus, one US carrier aims to get people travelling by suspending its normal fare rules.JetBlue, a “boutique” airline based in New York with a big hub at Boston, says passengers who want to cancel or change their trips can do so without penalty.
- StyleThe Independent
Coronavirus: Everything you need to know about travelling to and from China as the disease continues to spread
As the deadly Wuhan Coronavirus continues to spread, concern is growing among travellers with bookings for China and other east Asian countries later in the year.As of 26 February, there have been 2,666 deaths and over tens of thousands of confirmed cases in China alone.
- StyleThe Independent
Memphis city guide: Where to eat, drink shop and stay in the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll
Few places on Earth match Memphis’s musical legacy. The city has nourished legends such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Otis Redding, and plenty of attractions honour this harmonious heritage.Memphis is more than a sum of its musical parts, though. It’s also a city steeped in poignant Civil Rights history, and one whose artsy neighbourhoods speak volumes about the creativity of Memphians.
- StyleThe Independent
Tui passengers flown home from Gran Canaria five days late
“Your flight operated at the earliest opportunity” – that was the message to around 200 Tui passengers who had been waiting since Saturday to fly home from the Canary Island of Gran Canaria.They finally touched down on Wednesday morning at Manchester airport, almost 80 hours late, aboard a jet chartered from the Spanish airline Wamos.
- StyleThe Independent
Demand for space tourism has doubled, says Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic has said it plans to release more tickets for its first space tourism flights amid growing demand.Sir Richard Branson’s brand said it has received nearly 8,000 registrations of interest, more than double the number it had received by the end of September 2019, on top of the 600 tickets already sold for its inaugural flight.
- StyleThe Independent
Coronavirus: What are the options if you want to leave China?
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Foreign Office is now warning: “If you’re in China and able to leave, you should do so. The elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be at heightened risk”.British citizens have plenty of options for leaving the People’s Republic of China.
- StyleThe Independent
Coronavirus: how serious are disease outbreaks on board cruise ships?
The outbreak of coronavirus on board Diamond Princess meant that thousands of passengers had to go into quarantine in Japan.But the incident has drawn attention to the risks of catching bugs on cruise ships.
- StyleThe Independent
British Airways to remove 700 tonnes of single-use plastic from flights
British Airways has announced it will eradicate 700 tonnes of single-use plastic from its flights during 2020.The airline said it planned to get rid of more than a billion single-use plastic items, which would fill the equivalent of more than 30,000 suitcases.
- StyleThe Independent
How to spend a week in Dubai
Dubai suffers a great many afflictions, most of them involving superlatives. This city has the tallest building in the world, the hottest desert, the most ridiculous pudding (profiteroles covered in gold flakes, anyone? More on that later). I’ve got another to add to the list: its long-suffering reputation as a stopover city. Tourists stay for an average of three and a half nights, according to local newspaper The National – possibly without ever leaving the confines of some luxed-up five-star resort. Shame.Since we’re in the age of slow travel, I wanted to stretch a week-long holiday to the United Arab Emirates’ glitziest city carpaccio-thin. This would be my sixth visit to Dubai, with most previous visits hovering around the 24 to 48 hour mark, usually before escaping via Emirates’ excellent terminal to Africa, Asia, or elsewhere in the Middle East. Dubai makes light work out of the “48 hours in” template beloved by newspapers, including this one.
- StyleThe Telegraph
Virgin Voyages: Will Richard Branson's first cruise line sink or swim?
It was somewhat surreal. I’d stepped out of an overcast, blustery afternoon in Dover and into the glistening interior of Richard Branson’s debut cruise ship, Scarlet Lady. I’d passed by the ship’s mostly gunmetal grey exterior – perhaps an acquired taste. Her scarlet stern is signed in white with Virgin's scrawling logo, so she’ll be unmistakable in port, or at sea. Dover was the first stop on Scarlet Lady’s world tour, before she moved on to Liverpool, followed by New York and Miami, where she will be christened on March 28. Following some preview voyages, she'll be sailing on four-and five-night cruises from Miami to Key West, the Bahamas and Mexico. I’d first seen Scarlet Lady at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, back in summer 2018 when her name was revealed. Here, Branson promised to shake up the world of cruise, ditching traditional trappings such as set dining times and buffets, and introducing fresh features instead: from drag-themed brunches to a variety of workout spaces. Glass of champagne in hand, I was led into The Manor nightclub, named after Branson’s first recording studio. “Ahoy!” yelled Virgin Voyages president Tom McAlpin up into the balcony of The Manor. “Ahoy!” replied the crew lining the upper level.
- StyleThe Independent
Italy travel advice: Is it safe to visit amid coronavirus fears?
Italy currently has the largest number of confirmed coronavirus patients within Europe.A total of 229 people have tested positive for the virus, also known as Covid-19, while seven have died.
- StyleThe Independent
'Charles de Gaulle is becoming the hub for the UK': Heathrow boss warns 'no global Britain' without third runway
The boss of Heathrow Airport has made what will be seen as an appeal to Brexiteers for support for a third runway, despite the prime minister’s opposition.Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Heathrow’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, warned of the consequences of cancelling expansion at Britain’s busiest airport.
- StyleThe Independent
Major airline unveils 'game changer' lie-flat bunk beds for economy
Air New Zealand has unveiled new lie-flat bunk beds for economy that could revolutionise travel on long-haul flights.The Economy Skynest was developed by the airline at its innovation centre in Auckland, Hangar 22, with input from 200 customers over three years.
- StyleMarie Claire Dorking
The top 25 emerging travel destinations to visit in 2020
Time to book your next holiday.
- StyleThe Independent
Why airport security needs to be overhauled
Pan Am departure lounge, Frankfurt airport, 2 January 1989: two Middle Eastern men who had checked in for the same flight to Berlin as me were denied boarding.Thirteen days earlier, Pan Am flight 103 from Heathrow to New York JFK had been blown out of the sky over Lockerbie, killing 270 people. It became chillingly clear that profiling based on ethnicity was already under way.
- StyleEvening Standard
Air New Zealand could soon have lie-flat bunk beds in economy class
Air New Zealand has announced it could be introducing a lie-flat option for its long-haul economy class passengers.Called ‘Skynest’ the Kiwi airline announced across its social media channels that it has filed a patent and trademark applications for six full-length lie-flat sleeping pods measuring 200cm by 58cm.
