Make air travel more expensive 'to save the planet'

The cost of air travel should be increased to deter people from flying in an attempt to combat climate change, the government's advisory body had claimed.

The Climate Change Committee said prices should rise so carbon dioxide emissions from aviation can be reduced to 2005 levels.

The rises would also raise billions of pounds in taxes to be used to help compensate developing countries for the damage aviation has had on the environment and help them adapt for the changing climate.

In a letter to the transport secretary Lord Adonis and Ed Miliband, the climate change secretary, the committee declared an agreement to cap emissions from aviation had to be agreed at the United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen this December.

The committee's chairman David Kennedy said: 'It is vital that an agreement capping global aviation emissions is part of a Copenhagen deal.

'We are calling for a cap that would not require people to fly less than today, but would constrain aviation emissions growth going forward.

'Such a cap together with deep emissions cuts in other sectors would limit the risk of dangerous climate change and the very damaging consequences for people here and in other countries that this would have.'

The committee had called for the aviation industry to cut emissions from planes back to 2005 levels by 2050.

It is claimed new technology or biofuels may help cut levels to those recorded four years ago.

Spain bears brunt of rowdy Brits abroad

More than 2,000 British tourists were arrested in Spain in the year before this summer, the latest government figures have shown.

Details from British consulates around the world reveal Spain to be the hotspot for Britons getting into trouble abroad, with 2,290 arrests and 741 hospitalisations.

But with Spain far and away the most popular destination for UK tourists, British travellers were most likely to be arrested in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand and the US.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned that British tourists should always be aware of local customs before travelling, with topless sunbathing, public displays of affection and swearing punishable offences in many of the above countries.

'Researching the local laws and customs before you travel could avoid time in a foreign jail,' said Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant.

'Getting comprehensive travel insurance means that whilst an accident may disrupt your holiday, it won't bankrupt you in extortionate medical or repatriation bills.

'The message is clear – have a great time while you're away, but make the necessary preparations before you go.'

The figures out today show that in the 12 months April 2008 to March 2009 there were 2.1 million consular enquiries worldwide.

In the same period there were 991 arrests of UK citizens - a fifth of all arrests - for drug offences; 116 cases of rape and 154 sexual assaults; and 29,774 cases of lost or stolen passports.

Ryanair to close 9 of 10 Manchester routes

Ryanair has today announced it will be closing nine out of its ten routes from Manchester at a loss of 600 local jobs.

However, the airline said they hoped to switch the routes to other lower cost competitor airports.

The budget airline said the move came after Manchester Airport refused to lower its charges to 'reflect the lower fares being paid by passengers in the current recession'. The alterations to their routes will result in the loss of 44 weekly flights, 600,000 passengers a year and up to 600 local jobs.

The airline said they had offered the international airport an additional 28 weekly flights and 400,000 new passengers, creating 400 new jobs, if they reduced their charges. However, Ryanair claims the airport rejected the offer, saying they did not think their charges were 'unreasonable'.

From October 1st Ryanair's Manchester routes to and from Barcelona, Bremen, Brussels, Cagliari, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Marseille, Milan and Shannon will cease.

The airline said in a statement 'Passengers affected will be emailed directly by Ryanair and provided with a full refund or the alternative of flying to some destinations from competing, lower cost airports in East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool'.

Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: 'Ryanair continues to lower fares to encourage travel, but with passengers paying lower fares airports must lower their charges – particularly high cost airports like Manchester, London (Stansted) and Dublin.

Ryanair had offered new routes, traffic and growth to Manchester Airport but since they prefer to preserve their high cost base than to grow, Ryanair will now switch/close nine Manchester routes to East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool from October 1st.

'Ryanair will continue to grow at low cost airports which work with us to deliver the low fares required to keep passengers flying during this recession. Ryanair apologises to passengers affected by these cancelations and will contact them in the coming weeks to provide them with a full refund or a switch to similar flights to/from lower cost airports in the region.'

The airline recently announced new bases at Leeds Bradford and Porto airports.

A Manchester Airport spokesperson responded to today's announcement, saying: 'Not withstanding all of our investment in Manchester Airport including during the current recession, we don't believe that charges as low as £3 per passenger are unreasonable. Clearly, Ryanair do and that's regrettable.

'We've consistently cut our charges for the last 15 years even when faced with increased costs such as security.

'Passengers will still be able to travel directly to the majority of the destinations affected by choosing other airlines.'