New personal information system on flights to Spain

Next month British travellers flying to Spain will be required to give specific personal information before boarding their flight, according to a new US-style entry procedures applied by the Spanish airport authorities which will come into force on 13th June.

The new rule, issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior will apply only to countries that are not signed up to the Schengen treaty, an agreement which allows free travel, without presentation of a passport, between EU member states that signed the treaty. Britain is not a Schengen member.

The system about to be enforced by the Spanish government is known as API (Advance Passenger Information) and, according to the new regulations, passengers who do not submit the required information (including full given names, surnames, nationality, date of birth and number of travel document – passport or ID) risk being barred from flights. Travellers to Spain will be required to give the information either to the travel agency or, if they have booked online, at the check-in desk. If the airlines fail to provide the Spanish authorities with the API information of passengers on board, they face fines of up to 60,000 euros.

Some airlines fear delays because of the fact that the check-in on flights to Spain will now take longer, although some airlines are expected to create mechanisms to enable them to get the information prior to check in to avoid delays.

Easyjet has already announced this on its website, although it is still not clear exactly what the procedure will be: “As a web based company easyJet will collect this information in advance online and will shortly announce details of what passengers need to do, by emailing affected customers with details of the new procedure. Information will also be available on our website. EasyJet is aware of the change in requirements and is working with the Spanish authorities to achieve compliance as soon as possible”.

British Airways has already adapted its online booking system, enabling passengers to enter their API information via the Manage my Booking facility. Passengers making an online booking with BA will be prompted to supply the information at the time of booking or prior to arrival at the airport. The airline also intends to set up a self-service kiosk at airports where passengers will also be able to enter the necessary information.

Record number of flights programmed for May 2007

According to a report by OAG, a company that analyses the aviation industry, there are 2.51 million flights programmed for the whole world this month which is 5% more than the same month last year and more than the historic maximum recorded in August 2006 which only reached 2.49 million.

This figure is 113,827 flights more than in May last year and 17.7 million more seats. Spain has experienced one if the largest increases in the number of flights with 100,000 more than in May 2006, a growth of 16%.

The low cost flight sector in Spain has registered a 22% increase over the last year with 70,000 more flights than in May 2006 a 26% increase in the number of seats which is approximately 12 million more seats available.

For example low cost flights in Barajas airport in Madrid have increased from 2% in 2003 to 10% of the total flights just four years later.

It is a similar story In Barcelona where the low cost flight sector has grown significantly and now accounts for more than 23% of total flights. In 2003 this sector only made up 10% of total flights. In Malaga low cost flights have grown from 34% to 47%. However, Palma de Mallorca has the most low cost flights. This month they made up 52% of total flights.

Overall there has been a 68% increase in low cost flights for the whole of the country which works out at 2.5 million more seats available on such flights.
The route which has shown the highest increase is that between Western Europe and Africa, this month there are 2,200 more flights operating between the two continents than this time last year, a 13% increase. However, flights from or to Latin America have registered the smallest increase from 55,336 flights last year to 55,437 this May.

Nevertheless despite the good prospects for the aviation industry some ecological groups say that they are worried about possible repercussions on the climate. Kevin Anderson, a climatological researcher from Manchester University, believes that expansion in the aviation sector contradicts efforts to combat climate change. He explained that although the growth in this sector was good news for share holders it was bad news for the climate and ‘for our children who will pay the price in the future’.

Ryanair lowest fares

Ryanair has launched a new offer whereby if customers find a cheaper return flight on one of the routes included in this deal, Ryanair will pay double the difference between the air fare paid to Ryanair and the lower fare quoted by another low cost airline which should include, in both cases, all taxes, fees and charges, and exclude credit/debit card fees, baggage fees, web check-in/priority boarding fees or any other optional fees.

Although it sounds like a fantastatic offer, there are quite a few conditions in the small print which might actually make it quite difficult to find a cheaper flight. For instance, the departure time of the competitor airline must take place within 1 hour of the Ryanair departure times and in order to qualify for the “double the difference” payment, a passenger must book a return flight on www.ryanair.com and then submit the claim using the attached form (English only) to within 1 hour of making the booking, so you have to be very quick.

Furthermore, Ryanair will only verify competitor fares from 9.00 to 17.00 from Monday to Fridays, so weekend claims are impossible as are any lower fare claims outside office hours.

Despite the fact that Ryanair chairman has said that he does not expect that his company will have to pay outmany claims during this promotion because his airline offers the lowest fares, the offer puts a limit of €100 (GBP £70) compensation on each claim.