Airline & Holiday Information

Archive for the ‘World Airports’ Category

When the rich and famous start buying second homes on a Caribbean island, it’s a sure sign that the island must be pretty special. Giorgio Armani, Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey are just a few of the stars who have chosen Antigua as their island escape.

Antigua has everything one would expect from one of the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations. Luxury retreats and resorts nestle along white-sand beaches whose crystal-clear waters soon break upon vibrant coral reefs. With 365 beaches to choose from, finding which part of paradise to relax in will likely be the most troubling part of the holiday.

On the northwest coast, Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay are the resort hotspots and full of life. Less developed beaches can be found to the south, most notably Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach. It can be a bumpy ride getting there, but if looking for tranquillity it is certainly worth the effort. On the south-eastern corner of the island, Half Moon Bay is a good spot for family excursions. The water is calm and swimming is very safe.

There are plenty of activities available both on land and water. Tennis, golf, hiking and bird watching keep the landlubber’s happy, while every water sport imaginable can be found along the coast. If arriving during Sailing Week, prepare for the arrival of yachts and yachtsmen from all over the globe.

Getting to Antigua is not complicated. The island’s airport is serviced by many major airlines such as British Airways, US Airways, Continental and Caribbean Airlines.

If you’re looking for a bit of unexpected excitement and sophistication amidst the antiquity and spirituality of Israel, then a flight to Tel Aviv is just what you need. 

Located on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, the city of Tel Aviv has some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. The mild year-round climate makes the seaside a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The beaches are informally divided, based on activities, sunbathing at one, water sports at another, young crowd here, family atmosphere there. Just keep wandering until you find the vibe that’s right for you.

The nightlife in Tel Aviv is on par with major metropolitan destinations like London and New York and the commercial and financial sectors are also growing rapidly. Fantastic clubs, bars and restaurants seem to pop up around every corner and the city is fast becoming an important place to do business for companies all over the world.

For the cultured traveller, the abundance of cheap flights to Tel Aviv provide instant access to some excellent museums and theatres. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art houses a remarkable collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings; the Diaspora Museum ushers millions of visitors each year through the annals of Jewish history and both the New Israel Opera and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra are located in Tel Aviv.

As the home of thousands of Jews, Muslims and Christians, Tel Aviv offers a diverse collection of cultures and traditions. These unique influences are apparent in everything from the food to the architecture.

All visitors to Jordan, regardless of their travel purposes or country of origin, are required to obtain a visa upon arrival. Visas can be acquired before taking flights to Jordan or may be issued at the airport. You’ll also need to present documentation and tickets for any travel you plan to do beyond Jordan. British citizens will have to show a valid passport. 

Queen Alia International, the main airport in the country, is located just 35kms from central Amman. Domestic flights are limited to a single route between Amman and Aqaba, so if you plan to travel around the country it is generally easier and more flexible to hire a car. Filling stations are few and very far between, so be sure to plan ahead and fill up before heading out of the larger towns and cities. If you have held a valid driver licence in your home country, for at least a year, you will be allowed to hire a car in Jordan. Driving is on the right-hand side and road signs are in both English and Arabic. Look out for the brown signs that mark various points of interest for tourists.

If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, you can take any of the bus routes through the major cities. Aimed at the tourist population, buses are modern and air conditioned and stop at all main tourist attractions. Bus travel is a bit pricier than hiring a taxi or renting a car, but it’s safe and comfortable. 

Officially opened in 1940 with a single flight to Liverpool, Dublin Airport is now the busiest in all of Ireland.  More than 23 million travellers pass through its doors yearly and 78 different airlines operate out of the terminals.  Ireland’s national carrier, Aer Lingus, is headquartered there, as is budget flight innovator Ryanair.  Flights from Dublin now depart for destinations all over the world. 

To be sure you reach the airport in time, hail a taxi or use one of the city’s express bus routes.  Taxis and minibuses are readily available and generally fast; buses are more affordable and can be quicker thanks to direct routes to the airport.  Most major hotels also provide a free shuttle service to and from the airport to ensure you’re always on time for your flights from Dublin.

Dublin Airport is fully accessible for disabled travellers and also provides additional amenities such as currency exchange kiosks and ATMs; a full service bank and post office; an array of restaurants and pubs; duty-free shopping and a shopping concourse; luggage lost-and-found office; business services including phones; faxes; and photocopy; meeting rooms; catering; a pharmacy; a free nursery; and ample baby-change facilities throughout the complex.

Two major hotels—The Holiday Inn Dublin Airport and Dublin Airport Great Southern Hotel—are located right on the premises.  With several other quality hotels close nearby, there’s no reason to miss early flights from Dublin.

For help with travel, reservations, accommodation for disabled travellers, information, and addition services offered at Dublin Airport, visit one of the information centres located on the arrivals concourse.

The capital city of the island of Mallorca, Palma is a relatively large city (population about 325,000) with a substantial seaport.  The city has a vibrant mix of culture, history, and modern nightlife that provide a welcome respite from the crush of tourism at the region’s beachfront resorts. 

The highlight of flights to Palma is the city’s historic centre district, full of narrow streets bound by the towering walls of ancient edifices.  Easy on the feet and perfect for walking, Palma’s heart extends inland from the sea to the cathedral and palace that are the city’s most significant landmarks.  Both were built on top of Moorish structures that were demolished when conquering Christians took the island from the Moors centuries ago.

Palma is a central, convenient location perfect for those looking for great shopping, dining, and entertainment.  The best quality hotels are located just west of the city’s centre, but there are plenty of moderately-priced resorts and hotels there, too.  This is also where most of the city’s brilliant nightlife is concentrated, so the atmosphere is fairly energetic.

Daytime entertainment includes sightseeing in the city’s historic district, with attractions that include ancient Arabic baths and commercial ports.  There is also Bellver Castle and the Pueblo Español, reproductions of typical Spanish architecture.  Flights to Palma reveal many points of interest for the history buff or day-tripping sightseer.

For nightlife, you won’t be disappointed by the scene in the El Terreno neighbourhood.  From concerts to exhibits to festivals to performances to clubbing and pub-hopping, flights to Palma deliver many satisfied travellers home after a fabulous holiday.

Travel in Egypt’s largest city is generally safe and reliable and there are many options for tourists that will get you where you need to be.

Upon arrival to Cairo on a flight, there are always taxis for hire outside Cairo International Airport’s arrival halls. From the airport, a cab ride to the city centre takes about 45 minutes. There are also shuttle buses available for travel between the airport and the city and to the pyramid sites at Giza. Public transport and comfortable, air-conditioned coaches depart regularly from the airport’s Terminal 1.

Once you’re in the city, transport is cheap and efficient. Cairo’s metro system is reliable and affordable and buses are the cheapest way to travel, though most tourists avoid them, as they can be crowded. Microbuses and large service taxis are operated by private companies and can take you almost anywhere. Private microbuses are also popular, but these vehicles do not display their destinations, so it’s wise to educate yourself on the various routes before you hire one.

If you only need to travel a short distance within the city, the taxi service is fast and cheap. Haggling is the name of the game as most drivers rarely use their in-vehicle fare meters; if you’re picking up a taxi in front of a hotel, be sure to talk down the price before you get in. Fares are usually higher early in the morning and late in the evening.

Cairo has one of the highest rates of vehicle related fatalities in the world and parking can be atrocious, so hiring a car or driving yourself is not advised.

Flights from London, Birmingham and Manchester, to Brussels, in Belgium, take around two hours. The city’s main airport (BRU) lies near the R0 road, some 12kms to the northeastern side of the capital. This modern airport boasts two multi-story parks; one of which is located opposite the main terminal and the other towards the northern side of the airport, around 6kms from the main terminal.

The airport has its own railway station, which is conveniently located below the main terminal building. Trains heading to the centre of the capital are usually available four times an hour, with fares costing around €3. Bus services are also frequent and reliable and there are taxis, which charge around €30 for travel to the centre of Brussels.

There are some 17 bars, cafes and restaurants in the airport, as well as money changing and cash machine facilities, retail shops, an Internet area, post office, and places of worship. The retail space, which is located at Pier A, carries a number of international brands.

Carriers that offer flights from Brussels to the UK and Ireland include Brussels Airlines, BMI, Lufthansa, VLM Airlines and Flybe.

Another international airport, located reasonably near to the city, is Brussels South Charleroi Airport, which is 46kms away. This airport is strategically located to make it accessible from key European regions, lying south of the Netherlands, west of Germany, 1-2hours by road and northeast of France and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Vancouver Airport (YVR) is the closest airport to the famous ski holiday destination Whistler, which is located is the Coastal Mountain range in British Columbia, Canada. Whistler is the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic Games and due to the additional investment that the resort has had means it is a great place to enjoy your skiing holidays in Canada. The Olympic Games are being held from February 12th – 28th and the Paralympic Games are held March 12th to 21st, so if you are planning on going skiing in 2010 then you’ll need to book around these dates. Although Vancouver Airport is the closest airport to the Whistler it is still 134km away which can take around 2 hours by car.

YVR has four runways 08L/26R which is 9,940FT, 08R/26L 11,500FT long, 12/30 7,300FT long and 26A which is a short 3,500FT in length.

The airport has 4 terminals; the domestic terminal was originally built in 1968 and has very recently undergone a full restoration. The international terminal was only built in the early 1990’s. The south terminal is placed in a remote part of the airport but mainly only serves short internal flights within British Columbia. The domestic and international terminal can really be classed as one building that is separated into buildings.

Back in 2005 the government reduced the rent on which the land lies on by at least 54% which will reduce the cost of the lease be $840 million CAD or $5.0 Billion over the entire term of the lease which ends in 2052.

Vancouver airport at night

Newark Airport was the first major airport to be opened in the New York Area on October 1st 1928 placed in New Jersey on old marshland which was filled with reclaimed soil.
Newark Liberty International Airport is within the city boarders of Newark and Elizabeth.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey fully manage the airport, this is the third airport that they manage the other two are John F Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

Newark International Airport From Above

Newark Liberty International Airport has three terminals.

Terminal A, isn’t equipped with any immigration facilities or personnel so it only handles flights from countries that have US customs pre clearance, though some international flights will depart from this terminal.

Terminal A & B are the original terminals and where completed in 1973 and both have four floors. All retail shops and departing gates are located on the 3rd floor.
On the 2nd floor of both terminals A & B, baggage carousels and international arrival lounge’s are placed.

Terminal C was completed in 1988 and has two floors dedicated to selling tickets one floor for international and one for domestic flights.

Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal C

Newark Liberty International has 3 runways and 1 helipad. 
4L/22r is the main runway and is 11,000ft in length, 4R/22L is the second runway and is 10,00ft in length. 11/29 is the shortest runway at 6,800ft.

The H1 helipad is 40Ft or 12m.

Newark does have a monorail system which is more commonly referred to as AirTrain Newark, this in turn connects to the airports railway station which offers services from Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Service.

The Airtrain is free to use between all rail stations but if you wish to enter or exit you must pay the fee of around $5.

Newark airport shuttle

Originally known as Idlewild Airport and renamed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963 just one month after President Kennedys assassination, although commonly referred to as JFK.
The original name came from the Golf course that the airport was built on top of in 1943.

JFK Airport Overview

35,000 people are employed at JFK which counts for $9.8 billion in annual wages.  Back in 2008 JFK airport handled 43,124,992 passengers and contributed $30.1 billion in to the economic activity in the NYC area.
The busiest airline at John F. Kennedy International Airport was jetBlue Airways with 28.3% and British Airways at the bottom with 2.9%.

JFK is served by close to 100 airlines and flys to over 50 countries worldwide,  JFK to London Heathrow is the busiest international  route with just under 3 million passengers, Paris Charles De Gaulle is second with just over 1 million customers.

John F. Kennedy International Airport has four runways, 13R-31L which is just over 14,500ft long making it the second longest commercial runway in North USA. 

13R-31L runway is next to Terminal 1, 2 and 3 and serves around one half of JFK’s departures. It due for maintenance work to be carried out 2010 so it will be closed for 120 days so that it can be widened and resurfaced.

JFK Terminal 1

4L-22R is just less than 11,500 ft and lays next to terminals 4 & 5 landings & takeoffs can be completed from both ends of this runway.

JFK Terminal 4

13L-31R is 10,000 ft long and is equipped at both ends with ILS and ALS.
 
4R-22L is the baby runway with a length of only 8,400ft, but its fully equipped with ALS, TDZ,EMAS and the arrestor bed concept which is aimed to slow planes down quickly if they over shoot the runway.

JFK is connected to NYC’s subway and the rail system by AirTrain. AirTrain stop at all of JFK’s Terminals and Car Parks allowing easy access for all passengers. Manhattan is only 30 minutes away when using Airtrain.

JFK Airport NYC Subway

If you’re in Manhattan and need to be at John F. Kennedy International Airport in a hurry then head down to East 34th Street Heliport and you can be at JFK in around 9 minutes, but it will cost you $159 for the one way trip.