briefs in association with Barrhead Travel

Sep 19 2008

Travel

Baa Scotland figures have shown a decrease in passenger numbers at Scotland's main airports last month.

Some 2,009,246 passengers used Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports in August, a drop of 3.4 per cent on the previous year. The drop was largely a result of falling demand for internal flights.

However, international traffic was up across the three airports for the first time in four months.

A spokesman for BAA Scotland said: "This has been a difficult year for the airline industry and August was no exception.

"The Olympic Games, the rising cost of living and reduced capacity on key services, were all factors."

Travelodge has reported a 45 per cent increase in revenue from business travellers.

With the impact of the credit crunch showing no sign of abating, the benefit of staying in a budget hotel has appealed as finance directors look to make savings in their firms' travel expenditure.

Travelodge UK managing director Guy Parsons said: "Many of the traditional business orientated hotels charge an enormous excess for facilities and room extras that customers simply do not use."

Lufthansa has formally taken a 45 per cent stake in Brussels Airlines for £65million. The agreement also gives the German carrier the option of buying the remaining 55 per cent from 2011.

It will allow Brussels Airlines, which was owned by SN Airholding, to operate as an independent airline in the Lufthansa group.