Just three months after launching flights to Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X has announced that it is to cease operations from Gatwick Airport.

Citing high fuel prices, Air Passenger Duty (APD) and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as reasons for its withdrawal, the airline will cease Gatwick flights on 31 March 2012.

The airline is also scrapping flights to Paris from Kuala Lumpur.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said “AirAsia X remains focused on maintaining its global leadership position in the low cost, long-haul segment. We intend to concentrate capacity in our core markets of Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea where we have built up stable, profitable routes within an infrastructure that supports low cost services.

“The continued high jet fuel prices and the weakening demand for air travel from Europe, brought about by the current economic situation together with exorbitant government taxes, have placed cost pressures on operating long-haul low cost flights between Asia and Europe, compromising our ability to offer the low fares AirAsia X is known for.

“The implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the escalating Air Passenger Duty taxes in UK, which will rise yet again in April 2012 has forced our decision to withdraw our services to Europe.”

Adria Airways is set to reintroduce its Gatwick to Ljubljana flights this spring.

Flights will commence on 28 March 2012 and operate five times per week.

Korean Air will begin flights to Seoul from Gatwick airport in April.

The flights will begin on 29 April 2012 and operate three times per week using a Boeing 777 aircraft in a three-class configuration.

Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “We are very excited to welcome Korean Air to Gatwick. South Korea remains one of Asia’s fastest growing economies and an important growth market for the UK. It is critical therefore that the UK has strong connections to this country and we are pleased that the airline has chosen to grow its London-Seoul route from Gatwick. We will work in partnership with Korean Air to help make this route a success and look forward to building a strong, long-term relationship with them.”

Due to essential maintenance work on aircraft, Aurigny has reduced the number of flights it operates between Gatwick and Guernsey for the next five weeks.

Aurigny will not be operating its 8:30 and 16:30 departures from Guernsey nor the return services at 10:00 and 18:00 from Gatwick.

A normal flight schedule will resume on 10 February 2012.

Aurigny’s commercial director Malcolm Coupar said, “Obviously all aircraft have to undergo essential maintenance work. This is an annual process for us and, as we experience lower demand during the opening weeks of the year, this is the optimum period to undertake this work. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

A malfunction of de-icing equipment this morning, 5 December 2011, meant delays to Flybe flights from Belfast City Airport.

Eight flights were affected by delays, including the Belfast to Gatwick service to London Gatwick, which was scheduled to depart at 06:45 but was delayed until 07:23. The longest delay was to the Belfast to the 06:55 Glasgow flight which finally left Belfast at 10:00.

Flybe apologised for the fault.

Gatwick Airport has gained another long-haul airline in its battle to become the ‘London airport of choice’ after it was announced that Hong Kong Airlines is to launch flights from Gatwick.

From March 2012, Hong Kong Airlines will operate daily Gatwick flights to Hong Kong.

Flights will operate non-stop using an Airbus A330-200 in a unique Club Class seating configuration (Club Premier and Club Classic).

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are very excited to welcome Hong Kong Airlines to Gatwick. This is a unique service which provides a real choice to business and premium leisure traffic to one of the world’s great cities, with excellent connections to other points in Asia.

“We are committed to matching the premium service Hong Kong Airlines will be offering their passengers on board their flights with a premium service at the airport. We have already introduced premium security lanes in both terminals to combine speed with high levels of service. There are also premium car parking options to give time-strapped passengers quick and easy access to check-in, new luxury lounges, and a porter service to help passengers with their luggage, both on their arrival and their return to the airport.”

Gerard Clarke, General Manager, UK for Hong Kong Airlines stated: “We have gained a reputation for outstanding service over the past five years and we look forward to extending this to our new flagship route, connecting two global business capitals of the world. The concept for the all Club Class aircraft will provide passengers with a private jet style ambience and an exceptional crew to guest ratio, and we are confident that we have the right knowledge and experience to make a success of the new all Club Class daily service.”

British Airways is offering new low fares to some of its most exotic holiday destinations from Gatwick Airport this winter.

From today (November 15) World Traveller and World Traveller Plus fares to 10 destinations in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean have been cut by up to £127. The biggest saving is on a World Traveller return fare to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic down from £757 to £630.

World Traveller fares start at £595 to Antigua, Tobago and Barbados and World Traveller Plus fares are available to Antigua, Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia, Jamaica and Barbados from £995.

Colm Lacy, British Airways head of commercial Gatwick, said: “British Airways already offers a fantastic longhaul leisure network from Gatwick to 17 destinations including the addition of a new route to Mauritius. Our new prices make flying with British Airways to these fabulous holiday destinations even more attractive.

“Not only have we got some great World Traveller fares but there are also new low World Traveller Plus fares which give customers the chance to sample the larger seat and extra legroom offered in our premium economy cabin.”

Over the next five years British Airways globally will be investing more than £5bn in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground. At Gatwick customers are already benefitting from the new dedicated check-in hall featuring state-of-the-art technology, which makes check-in even faster.

The 10 destinations with low fares are: Antigua, Punta Cana, St Kitts, Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia, Trinidad, Barbados, Kingston Jamaica and Mauritius

Turkish Airlines has announced the launch of a new scheduled service between İstanbul Ataturk Airport and Gatwick.

The new flights will launch on 20 December 2011 and operate daily.

AirAsia X has finally arrived at Gatwick after switching its London base from Stansted to Gatwick.

The airline now operates a five-times-per-week Gatwick to Kuala Lumpur service using AirAsia X’s 327-seat Airbus A340-300, which includes 18 Premium Fly Flat bed seats.

AirAsia Head of Commercial, Darren Wright said: “Gatwick Airport was chosen as it demonstrated the passion to work with us in realising our objectives to grow passenger traffic between our hubs in London and Asia Pacific.

“With our new home base in Gatwick, guests will be able to further benefit from the airport’s regional access and market connectivity potential with faster and cheaper rail connectivity to the city as compared to Stansted. AirAsia X sees strong potential for the airport as we believe our entry will address the fact that direct services to Asia have been significantly underserved from Gatwick.”

easyJet has announced it will add an extra four flights per week to Gibraltar.

The increased frequency will see an extra flight on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during the summer.

Paul Simmons, easyJet’s UK Director, said: “We’re thrilled to provide extra frequency on this busy route, particularly as the new terminal facilities at Gibraltar Airport will soon be available.”

easyJet’s Gatwick to Gibraltar flights operate all year round.