January started with the troubled BMI threatening to withdraw its Heathrow – Glasgow route after passenger charges at Heathrow were raised (this was confirmed a month later). Ryanair returned to Manchester with four new routes. And the political troubles in Egypt disrupted flights.

Spiraling conflict in Egypt caused complete cancellation of routes to popular holiday destinations in February. Meanwhile, Which? launched a super complaint on airline card fee charges,the cost of Qantas’ engine troubles were revealed, and airlines flying from the UK finally started to show clearer air fares.

March brought faster flight times under a deal signed by traffic controllers. But by far the biggest news of the month was the huge tsunami which hit Japan and led to re-routing of flights to avoid possible radiation risk, and advice to leave Tokyo.

A Skyscanner survey found Spain back in favour for British holidaymakers in April.

In May Belfast Airport started to charge for going for a cigarette break, and the ongoing battle between Unite and British Airways was finally settled!

More natural disasters happened in June with violent aftershocks in Christchurch, New Zealand and volcanic eruptions in Chile.

The News of the World phone-hacking scandal broke in July with airlines withdrawing their advertisements as a result.

In August research revealed the use of smartphones were ruining people’s holidays.

The Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand in September, where Wales’ hopes were dashed.

The first biofuel passenger flight took place in October, however green campaigners claimed it wasn’t as environmentally friendly as everyone thought.

Europe announced a ban on body scanners at airports in November, but the UK decided to go against the decision.

Finally, December saw 150mph winds hit parts of Scotland, which is where we are now at the start of 2012 as tremendous winds continue to batter the UK once more.

So, what travel news is in store for 2012? Keep up to date here!

travelled to their resorts within 48 hours of making their booking.

The trend towards late booking is partly the result of economic uncertainty and partly because more people are seeking last minute bargains. However, most people still book well ahead, which gives the widest choice and peace of mind. The survey showed that 8.0 million people booked this year’s holiday at least six months ahead, with a further 12.6 million booking between one and five months beforehand.

Sainsbury’s estimates that a total of £5.46 billion of summer holiday expenditure was placed on credit cards, with the majority of people (58%) paying that off within a month.

Meanwhile, a poll of 2,000 British adults by Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance has found that 11 per cent of Britons holidaying abroad have been the victims of theft in the last five years. They lost an estimated total of £1.7bn of possessions, yet only just over half the victims (51%) reported the incident to local police, which is normally required if an insurance claim is to be made. The average value of the items stolen was £326 per person.

Pickpocketing was the most common form of theft (21%), followed by stealing from a car (17%), bag snatching (16%) and theft from a hotel room or villa (15%). Cash was stolen in 35% of cases, with cameras (15%) and mobile phones (14%) next in line.

At its peak in mid-April, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused the cancellation of more than 100,000 flights, affecting eight million passengers. But there could be worse to come, vulcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson told a conference to discuss how to improve coordination of the global response to another eruption. Each of the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in 920, 1612, and 1821-1823 was followed by an eruption of its larger neighbour Katla. If the same thing happens this time, Katla is likely to send up massive plumes of ash.

Nancy Graham, the director of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, called for new scientific standards to judge whether air space closure is necessary. Other speakers stressed the need for clear decision making if there is another eruption, calling for a ‘single European sky’ with air traffic in the whole of European airspace controlled by a single body.

While there isn’t much anyone can do about volcanic eruptions, it does make sense to check your travel insurance policy to see if it covers flight cancellations through volcanic activity.

It also said that it will be harder for people with pre-existing health conditions and there will be age restrictions put in place by many insurers.

Director Peter Hayman said that after three years of falling premiums, previously unthinkable increases are now being pushed through.

“Rate increases of 20+% are not untypical,” he said.

“These changes will take some time to filter through to the public. Many will coincide with the increase in insurance premium tax on travel insurance from 17.5% to 20% on January 4.”

The initiative is funded through a matching program of up to $100 million in private sector contributions and a $10 fee on visitors to the US who do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the country. The fee will be collected once every two years in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. This will mean the US taxpayer will avoid making any contribution.

The Corporation will work with the US departments of Commerce, Homeland Security and State to develop a nationally co-ordinated, multi-channel marketing and communications program to attract more international visitors and explain changing travel security policies.

Caroline Beteta, chair of the US Travel Association and president and CEO of the California Travel & Tourism Commission, said: “We know how successful a public-private partnership to promote travel can be from our own experience at the state level.

“With the best minds coming together from government and private industry to boost international travel to our country, we can make travel an even stronger economic engine for America.”

Commenting on legislation which establishes the Corporation, US Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow said: “The United States Congress has sent a clear message that travel is a high priority to our nation and that tangible steps must be taken to increase travel to and within the United States.”

It has also been reported that US airlines must also take an active role in the new partnership, not out of good-will, but out of self-interest by purchasing advertising space on the DiscoverAmerica.com website once the site traffic has increased and thus improving their own exposure.

British Airways picture by Flickr User BribriTO

Following on from the British Airways strike news in my previous blog (here) a further blow has been dealt to those passengers who booked flights after 2nd November, the date Unite first announced that they were to hold a strike ballot. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have announced that it is unlikely that passengers will be covered by insurance policies as they should have ‘assumed’ a walkout would occur.

“Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events and circumstances you could not be reasonably expected to be aware of” said Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI.

“When the strike ballot was announced, it was reasonable there would be strike action. If you can be reasonably expected to know something is happening then you are not covered.”

The airline has promised to refund the price of cancelled flights, however no other additional costs caused by the cancellations will be covered.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, described the cabin crew strike as “double disaster” for BA.

“Its customers are now going to be significantly affected and the airline will take a financial hit from the action,” he said.

“It’s an incredibly sad day for the British Airways brand. It’s 12 years since BA staff members have taken direct action and, whilst they may believe they have a strong case in their disagreement with BA management, the real losers here are the everyday leisure and business customers who will have their Christmas and new year plans disrupted.”

Responding to the revamp of the system announced by transport secretary Lord Adonis, the body’s head of research Rochelle Turner said: “The ATOL scheme in its current form provides great protection for anyone taking a package holiday or booking through an ATOL bonded agent.

“But a significant number of people book hotels from direct links on airline websites, or use online travel agents to book their own package, and could be left without the peace of mind that they are protected should something go wrong.

“While it’s great that the Government is taking steps to make the scheme relevant to today’s holidaymaker, we are concerned it doesn’t go far enough to ensure that all travellers are equally protected.

“The proposed ‘flight plus’ category needs clarification to prevent consumers being left open to loopholes which may leave them stranded should something go wrong.”

Flight plus’ measures have been proposed whereby ATOL protection would include all sales of a flight together with another significant element, such as hotel accommodation or car hire.

Which? Holiday said it is aware of a growing trend towards “reverse packaging”, where people are booking hotel accommodation and then booking their flights through a link on the hotel website.

This would not be covered under the proposed changes to the ATOL scheme, the body claims.

The proposals to reform the ATOL scheme are designed to reflect changes in the holiday market and make it easier for those booking holidays to understand whether their trip is covered or not, the Department for Transport said.

The changes could see the new wider ‘flight-plus’ category introduced, to make clear that anyone booking a flight and another holiday component such as car hire or hotel will be protected by the scheme.

The ATOL scheme reform plans are subject to a 12-week public consultation.

Detailing the ATOL review, the DfT said: “The objective of the reforms in the consultation is to provide greater clarity for consumers and the travel trade about the scope of ATOL protection for holidays and flights.

“‘Flight plus’ measures are proposed whereby ATOL protection would include all sales of a flight together with another significant holiday element.

“In addition, the consultation provides options to clarify the financial protection of flight-only sales, by parties other than an airline, so as either to include or exclude them from the ATOL scheme.”

When you book your next villa or apartment holiday, make sure you choose your travel insurance carefully, tourism experts have advised, after the collapse of airline and charter company XL Leisure.

Many independent travellers who booked flights with  XL discovered, too late, that their insurance policy did not cover airline failure. In some cases they had to dig deep to pay for expensive return tickets with other airlines at the end of their holidays.

If you book accommodation through Holiday Villas or www.villaseek.com, and then fix up your flight separately, we advise you to get cover for possible airline collapse.

Only a  small number of companies offer this, although more are starting to do so. They include: the Post Office; Swiftcover; Karma Insurance, and International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP). You may also be able to get an add-on policy through your existing insurer – it’s worth asking. Or, for about £4 internet insurer InsureFor offers a standalone policy for supplier failure to add on to an existing insurance you have with any other company.

If you pay for your flights by credit card you have some protection, though a refund will only kick in if your flight cost more than £100. Incidental costs will not be paid but the company should pick up the bill for getting you back to Britain.

Useful websites are: protectmyholiday.com; postoffice.co.uk; swiftcover.com; insurefor.com. Or you can find a list of travel insurance providers on the travel services page of villaseek.com.