THE UK’s aviation watchdog has issued a new travel warning as thousands of families will jet off on their summer holidays this week.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has updated its travel warnings about common packing items that could delay your travels – or even see them cancelled.
Holidaymakers need to think twice about packing certain items this summerCredit: Getty Anything with a lithium battery – like a vape, needs to be in hand luggageCredit: Getty
The CAA has warned that incidents involving lithium batteries are on the rise – so it’s important to pack certain gadgets correctly.
It’s well-known now that items like vapes and power banks have to go in hand luggage, but lots of other ones fall under the same category.
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The CAA has named another eight items that you may not have realised are powered by lithium batteries.
All of these items should be taken onboard as hand luggage.
This is so that if an incident occurs – like a power bank overheating – the cabin crew can react quickly.
The CAA said that on average, passengers carry four lithium battery devices each which works out as four million gadgets taking to the skies every day.
If any are packed incorrectly, it increases the likelihood of delays and or cancellations to flights.
For example back in May, an easyJet flight was forced to divert when a passenger informed crew during the flight that the portable charger was in the hold of the aircraft.
The flight had been heading to London Luton from Hurghada in Egypt but had to land in Rome as a ‘precaution’.
Other items like electric fans should go into the cabin – not in checked-in luggageCredit: Getty
In another case, a Hong Kong Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a fire broke out in one of the overhead bins.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, had some further advice: “Before you head to the airport, give your devices a quick once-over. If a battery is bulging, swelling, changing shape, overheating or showing any other signs of damage, don’t take the risk.
“Instead, safely dispose of it as soon as possible at a local recycling centre with dedicated facilities for electronics and batteries and never put it in your general waste.
“Battery safety starts before you even step foot on an aircraft, starting with where you shop.
“When shopping for your summer getaway, the best way to protect yourself and those around you is to stick to a reputable high street retailer you know and trust to ensure your power bank or any other lithium-ion battery product you’re taking away with you is safe.”
AIRPORTS are a gateway to travel – but some of them are so much more than that with swimming pools, indoor rainforests and panoramic sky decks.
Travel + Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Awards’ named the top 10 airports – and sadly none are in the UK.
The impressive Singapore Changi Airport has the world’s biggest indoor waterfallCredit: AlamyIt has an airside hotel with a rooftop pool that’s open to allCredit: Unknown
The airports were declared the best by readers who voted in their thousands for their favourites in multiple categories for the publication.
At the very top of the ‘Best International Airports’ is Singapore Changi Airport which got a score of 95.19 out of 100.
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Travel + Leisure said about Singapore Changi Airport: “Back on top after a two-year hiatus, this legendary hub has efficient operations, excellent hospitality, and eye-catching amenities like a butterfly garden and a swimmingpool.”
It stretches across five square miles and no one could ever say it’s an ordinary airport.
Inside is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a tropical rainforest, butterfly garden and even a hedge maze which is the largest in the country.
It also has a swimming pool and hot tub up on the roof at the airside Aerotel Singapore, which is even open to non-guests to watch the planes take off.
Hong Kong Airport has mountain views on Lantau IslandCredit: Hong Kong Airport
She said: “Within a few hours I’d strolled through a tropical rainforest, tucked into traditional sweets in a souq and had a sumptuous massage in a tranquil spa where airport stresses melt into distant memories.”
“The Orchard is the airport’s indoor tropical garden, constructed in 2022 – tall leafy palms and lush, green banana plants flourishing in the sunlight under a glass dome.
“All of the shrubs are real. The birds hiding within them are not, although the chirping sounds floating from hidden speakers nearly had me fooled.
“I wasn’t surprised to catch passengers reading a book on the artificial grass, or cosying down in one of the wooden tipis – with the noise of the nearby waterfall muffling out the chaos of a busy airport, this is surely the most peaceful spot in Hamad International.”
Sophie calls Hamad International Airport the ‘ultimate layover destination’Credit: AlamyZayed International Airport got a score of 91.24 out of 100Credit: Alamy
Coming in third spot is Istanbul Airport followed closely by Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai International Airport also made it onto the list even though, surprisingly, the hub will eventually close in around 10 years time.
The airport which has a wellness spa, luxury boutiques and sleepover lounges will close to make way for Al Maktoum International Airport.
Hong Kong International Airport on the list has incredible surroundings from mountains on Lantau Island to the South China Sea.
Visitors can take it in on the Sky Bridge which is the world’s longest airside pedestrian bridge – and there’s a Sky Deck with 360-degree views.
Other winners include Tokyo Haneda Airport and Adelaide Airport in Australia.
IF you’re planning to jet away this summer, Amazon has got the perfect cabin bag.
The bargain buy can fit everything you need for your trip away and is now cheaper than ever.
Amazon has slashed the price of an easyJet-approved cabin bag to just £16.69 but shoppers will need to be quickCredit: AmazonThe carry-on case measures 45x36x20 and weighs just 1.3kgCredit: Amazon
Weighing just 1.3kg, this luggage offers a whopping 33 litre capacity so you can bring all your summer holiday essentials.
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It comes in black, blue, light blue, green, red, grey, and purple, and features one main compartment, a large front pocket, a side grab handle, skate wheels, and a telescopic handle.
And as well as saving on the price, you are also guaranteed to avoid any dreaded baggage fees as this case is designed specifically for easyJet’s 45x36x20 free hand luggage allowance.
ANOTHER family missed their flights home and were forced to spend nearly £2,000 due to massive airport queues abroad.
Matthew Wilson, his wife and their son were travelling home to Manchester from Milan back in April.
The Wilsons missed their flights home after long queues at EESCredit: Getty
They were returning to the UK after a nine-night holiday when they got stuck huge passport queues due to the new European entry rules.
Talking to the iPaper, Matthew said that despite easily getting through security, they were then stuck in another queues for 90 minutes, in which they only moved about 10m in that time.
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Frustratingly, he family were then told by ground staff that their luggage had been removed from the plane as the flight was going to depart while they still stuck in the queue.
They were then forced to wait three hours before easyJet, who the family were flying with, offered the family a flight back home – but this was six days later than the original flight.
Rather than waiting, Matthew spent £1,969 on new flights from Barcelona, taxis, food and accommodation.
This was on top of the money they had already paid on the flight they missed which had cost £377.
Not only that, but their travel insurance provider also said they were unable to recuperate his costs.
Matthew said: “It was very stressful – we will think twice before travelling in Europe again.”
The family then spent £2,000 to get home after the delaysCredit: AlamyThe operator of Milan Airport apologised saying EES ‘requires longer processing time’Credit: Getty
The airport operator apologised, adding that EES “requires more complex operations than before and longer processing times”.
Not only that, but it said that on the day the Wilsons were due to fly home (April 12), there were malfunctions at the automatic gates due to issues connecting to the border systems.
This resulted in “particularly long waiting times” as passengers had to be manually checked at passport control.
The flight to Manchester had been held for nearly an hour “but it had to then depart due to crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours”, explained easyJet.
There have been warnings over wait times because of EES – and it’s only set to get worse.
Rafael Schvartzman – the vice-president forEuropeat the International AirTransportAssociation (Iata) – warnedqueue timescould stretch to as much as six hours this summer.
Mr Schvartzman said: “What we are seeing is a very hard risk of really challenging times or waiting times, talking about expectations of three, four, five, six hours which is unacceptable.
“We know for a fact there are many cases where people have lost flights or their connectivity.”
Romanian authorities at the airport said that the woman’s departure hadn’t been properly recorded after a visit to Amsterdam in April 2026.
The problem was that she hadn’t been to Amsterdam – but her identical twin sister had.
EES appeared to have confused the twins despite taking biometrics.
The woman was questioned for about 15-minutes but was ultimately allowed to fly home.
Around 12,000 sets of twins are born in the UK every year, so this could cause problems for thousands of people.
Asking experts what could have caused the flaw in the system, Niovi Vavoula, chair in cyber policy at the University of Luxembourg, gave two possible explanations.
The British traveller was questioned by authorities in the airportCredit: AFPShe was mistaken for her twin sister who had travelled to AmsterdamCredit: Getty
The first suggestion is that there may have been an improperly registered exit for the twin in Amsterdam.
The second they explained could have been down to the Romanian authorities in Cluj.
Niovi Vavoula told Politico, “It appears that the authorities are not well trained to distinguish between different processes and rely on facial images as the sole identification method.
“The fact they didn’t check the passport details in the EES, nor take into account that the EES is still fresh and there are various problems, shows what is called anchoring bias — when you rely on the first piece of evidence and disregard everything else.”
Romanian Border Police responded in a statement that said that EES had functioned properly at the time.
But that data in the system had to be “corrected” by border staff, who it added had not followed “applicable operational procedures.”
They added “we emphasise that this is an isolated incident and should not be considered representative of the overall performance of the [EES] system.”
The first planes to get the new headrest will be the A350s by the end of this year.
The airline also previously ordered 270 new Boeing 777Xs, which will all have the headrest.
And then next year, the airline will install the headrest on its Airbus A380s and existing Boeing 777s.
Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said: “Emirates never rests on its laurels when it comes to customer experience and we have found a way to significantly improve the comfort for Economy Class passengers, especially those travelling long-haul.
The seat will have a padded headrest meaning you don’t have to take a neck pillow onboardCredit: EmiratesThe new seat will be rolled out before the end of this yearCredit: Alamy
“The U-Dream changes the game if the person wants to sleep – by supporting the neck in full. No more neck pillows needed.
“It’s another innovation that shows our commitment to customers and cements our Economy Class as the best.”
DONCASTER Sheffield Airport has taken a big step forward towards its reopening.
Approval has been given by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to move forward with a crucial stage in order for the airport to welcome back passengers.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport has taken a step towards its reopeningCredit: City Of Doncaster / Mayor Ros Jones
The CAA has said that the hub can go ahead with its public consultation on the Airspace Change Proposal (ACP).
Locals and stakeholders get to state their opinion about its reopening – a necessary step in the process.
Christian Foster, Director for FlyDoncaster Ltd, operators of Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “A reopening project of this scale includes a number of important milestones, but being able to go out to public consultation around our airspace is one that is absolutely crucial.
“We want to hear the views of people from across Doncaster and beyond, so that they can have a meaningful say about the airspace connected to this airport.
“As a community asset, it’s vital that we engage with those who live and work nearby to us and ensure we listen to the views of local people.”
Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed back in 2022 but could reopen to passengers in as little as two years’ time.
The regional airport in the north of England provided a gateway toEuropefor those living in and around Doncaster up until four years ago, after it was deemed ‘not financially viable’, and closed.
Christian Foster, Director of FlyDoncaster – the company set up to manage the airport – told us: “It does feel like the world has changed post-Covid, whereas people were focused two weeks inSpainorGreece, nowadays we’re seeing a lot of people keen to take city breaks.”
When talking of where he would like to fly, he said: “We’d love to fly to places like Croatia, and other destinations that are a bit more quirky like Azerbaijan.
“We’re keen to look at emerging places to visit as well, likeIndia.“
AN airline has temporarily axed one of its routes until the end of August.
Skybus has announced there will be no services between Newquay and St Mary’s Airport on the Scilly Isles with existing customers being rerouted.
Skybus has suspended one of its routes until August 31Credit: Alamy
Passengers received the news yesterday of the cancellations with Skybus.
The airline explained the route has been suspended due to “a combination of a shortage of both aircraft and qualified pilots”.
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Skybus continued to say: “We have explored every available option to maintain the Newquay service, but with a limited fleet and crew availability, we would be unable to operate the route reliably throughout the remainder of the summer.
“Our priority is to provide certainty for our passengers.
“We want to assure passengers booked to travel between Newquay and St Mary’s, you will be transferred onto a Skybus flight departing from Land’s End Airport on the same date.”
They said that by “concentrating” available aircraft and crews on services from Land’s End they can “provide greater reliability and reduce the risk of further disruption during the peak travel period.”
Customers will be contacted soon with dates for alternative flights.
They will also be offered free parking at Land’s End Airport, a refund of any fare difference between their original and revised flights, and a voucher to spend at the airport café.
Skybus operates year-round to the Isles of Scilly, but only from Land’s End AirportCredit: AlamyFlights from Newquay and Exeter usually operate seasonally between late March to OctoberCredit: Alamy
Skybus operates year-round to the Isles of Scilly, but only from Land’s End Airport – and flights take about 20 minutes.
Flights from Newquay and Exeter usually operate seasonally between late March to October.
Christine Negroni, who released a book on the world’s most mysterious air disasters, shared with Sun Travel that when it comes to fires onboard a flight, leggings could leave you with terrible scars.
She said: “Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.
“I’d advise wearing cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres.”
Anything that restricts blood flow is also not advisable – particularly for long journeys.
The vein specialist at Metro Vein Centers told the Huffington Post: “Wearing restrictive garments such as skinny jeans that are too tight reduces blood’s ability to flow into and out of the legs.”
This, combined with sitting for long periods of time, can cause blood to pool in the legs, which increasing the chances of thrombosis – a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the leg.
To be safe, it’s advisable to wear non-restrictive clothing, like trousers, skirts, shorts or dresses that have an elastic waistband.
Any clothing with swear words or offensive slogans could see you asked to cover up before boarding too.
Wear clothing with elastic waistbands for comfort and health reasonsCredit: GettyHigh heels and flip flops should be avoided as they’re not ideal in an emergencyCredit: Getty
Holidaymakers who are flying to a hot destination are encouraged to dress “modestly”.
For any fan of flip flops, these aren’t advisable to wear onboard a flight – again, for health and safety reasons.
Former cabin crew member Tony Kuna commented on Quora: “During an emergency, all sorts of debris and unpleasant ground surfaces will block your way towards the exit, as well as outside the aircraft.”
“If your feet [aren’t] properly covered, you’ll have a hard time making your way to safety.”
Sitting in the same category are high heels – as these won’t be easy to wear in an emergency.
For more on what to wear – here are the travel bags, plane outfits and accessories we love that start from 99p.
Bags
There’s fewer rules when it comes to bags – apart from make sure they comply with the measurements of the airline.
But to give yourself full comfort, it’s advisable to take a less rigid bag with you if it’s going under the seat.
Having a stiff bag, like a basket or weave one, will restrict your own legroom as it can’t be compressed.
You have to pack power banks in your hand luggage – and NOT use them onboardCredit: GettyWoven and basket beach bags are difficult to collapse downCredit: Alamy
Other items
It might be tempting to pop your contact lenses in before a flight to avoid the faff of glasses.
But the dry environment on a flight really isn’t suitable.
On the London Vision Clinic website, it explains: “With the average humidity on planes coming in as low as 20 per cent, our skin and eyes can dry out pretty quickly.
“Combine this with the moisture-sapping effects of contact lenses, and you can have a real recipe for disaster on your hands.”
Wearing contact lenses on flights can cause itchy, irritated eyes and can even result in “distorted vision”.
At first glance, the premium economy legroom feels very impressive – I had no problems stretching my legs and my knees (as a 5”5 lass) were miles aware from the seat in front of me.
Another perk I loved were the addition of slippers. Usually reserved for business class passengers, I had barely sat down myself before I realised all the cabin had already put theirs on.
Along with complimentary water bottles, blankets and pillows, premium economy passengers get complimentary toiletries made by British brand Hunters.
Inside it were the usual – lip balm, cream, ear plugs, socks, eye mask and toothbrush kit – but it was the bag itself I was a huge fan of.
Coming in both red and black, the cord strap makes it the perfect dog walking bag to take back home.
Settling in for the flight, I was also impressed that we were all given free WiFi on the plane.
The premium economy is in a 2-4-2 formation, and each seat has their own locker spaceYou get free slippers – often only reserved for business class passengers
While somewhat patchy at times, I still managed to check my work emails during the 11 hour flight without too many problems.
That’s not to say the experience was 100 per cent perfect.
I was slightly let down by the film choices, having just 144 available. This is compared to Emirates which has more than 2,000.
It didn’t pass my test of having my favourite inflight film – Crazy Rich Asians – onboard, with fewer than 10 romance films.
I would also say food was fine, but nothing crazy to write home about. I loved the metal cutlery, which felt like a nice step up from economy.
They also had herbal teas, something which many airlines struggle with unless you are a business class passenger.
I opted for the chicken and potatoes as well as a breakfast frittata.
(Although the chocolate mousse was nearly licked clean, it was so delicious).
Having a pull out tray from the arm rather than the back of the seats was also preferable as well, as it gave the feeling of more room too.
When it came to getting sleep, the seats are exceptionally comfortable.
There is so much leg room and my knees were nowhere near the seat in frontThe meals were pretty good too – especially the chocolate mousse
I usually struggle to drop off, but the seat itself was soft so no bad backs, and the insanely deep recline meant it almost felt like a bed.
So is it worth it? I would say it is definitely one of the best premium economy seats I have tried, from the little extras to the reclining options.
And in even better news, they will be rolling out their new, upgraded premium economy soon that is even more high class.
It will 42 inches of pitch – making it the world’s most spacious premium economy.
I guess I’ll have to just try them again…?
Return flights from London to Bangkok from £1,871 in premium economy with Eva Air.
The airline expects to be the only one in the US that offers this seating option.
The new perk from United comes after the announcement of United Relax Row.
Major airline introduces new seat perk that lets you keep the middle seat free, Credit: UnitedCredit: United AirlinesThe airline is also introducing Relax Row where seats turn into a sofa, or bedCredit: United Airlines
The Relax Row seats come with a custom-fitted mattress, blankets, extra pillows and a toy for children.
These will be onboard its Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft and are expected to be available from 2027.
Andrew Nocella, United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “The XLR is our newest aircraft and not only offers all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room.
“Our customers are going to love all these new options.”
Instead, they must give the seat next to a child to the person accompanying them if they are under the age of 14.
The same rule applies to pregnant women or anyone with reduced mobility.
Ryanair used to make adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee and then they could select seats beside them for up to four children.
This meant for a usually for a family of four, and additional fee of £8 each way, per adult – if both parents wanted to sit with their children.
= Potential savings: £32
Hidden carry-on and hand luggage fees
Under new rules, airlines will not be allowed to have hidden hand or cabin luggage feesCredit: Alamy
Another trick by airlines to get more money was to charge for suitcases, sometimes even at the gate.
Under the new rules, there will be a baseline for ticket pricing where comparison sites and airlines have to display fares including cabin luggage, from the offset.
Passengers will be allowed a personal item each, which can measure up to 40x30x15cm and a small cabin suitcase weighing up to 7kg.
If you do travel bag-free, some airlines may offer a discount.
For Ryanair, passengers could be set back between £46 and £75 for a standard 10kg cabin bag that hasn’t been booked.
This would rise to between £70 and £75 for any oversized cabin bag, each way.
= Potential savings: £300
Boarding pass fees
Airlines will no longer be able to charge to print off boarding passesCredit: Alamy
Some airlines force you to download their app or create an account just to get your boarding pass.
And if you didn’t and instead wanted a paper boarding pass, often you are forced to pay.
However, under the new rules, airlines cannot force passengers to use the app or charge for a physical boarding pass.
For example, with Wizz Air if you check-in at the airport and they print off your boarding pass this will set you back between £33.92 and £42.20 per person, per way.
= Potential savings:£337.60
Name correction fees
If you accidentally made a typo or spelt your name wrong, you’d often have to pay a fee to have this corrected.
Airlines will no longer be able to charge for correcting a basic typo on a ticket.
A number of airlines allow for allow minor corrections of up to three characters for free, such as Wizz Air and Ryanair.
However, if there is anything more than this or the correction is made less than 48hours before your flight, then Ryanair charges between £115 to £160.
= Potential savings: £640
‘No show’ flight cancellations
If you miss your outbound flight, your return flight will no longer be allowed to be cancelledCredit: Alamy
For some reason or another, you may miss or skip the outbound leg of your return trip.
This previously has resulted in the airline cancelling travellers‘ return flight and as a result, the passenger is forced to buy a completely new ticket – often last-minute and therefore more expensive.
This could even cost thousands depending on the location.
Soon this will change though as passengers with a return trip will be allowed to use their return flight, even if they didn’t take their outbound flight, without any additional fees.
There will also be new shops at the airport, as well as a VIP lounge for non-Schengen departures.
Several areas outside the airport will see improvements as well, including car parking and new taxi and bus drop-off zones.
If you don’t plan on driving to and from the airport, then this too will become easier with a new rail link that would have an underground station.
The train will link onto a nearby commuter line and is expected to be built between now and 2030.
There will be a new area dedicated for non-Schengen departuresCredit: GettyInside, there will also be the latest technology as well as new shopsCredit: WERNER WILMES/Wikipedia
The first phase will start in 2027 and is expected to be completed by 2031.
The second phase will then take place in the mid-2030s.
The upgrade was first announced last year.
The project comes as the airport handled nearly 20million passengers last year, with it expected to pass that number this year, with Brits making up one of the largest groups of tourists.
For those travelling in Premium Economy, there will be no changes.
The rules will apply for both inbound and outbound flights.
A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “From 1 November 2026, we are making some changes to the food and drink service included for customers travelling in Economy on our long-haul flights.
“Customers will continue to receive complimentary soft drinks throughout their flight and a complimentary beer or wine served with their main meal.
“Additional alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase onboard.”
Adults with pre-existing bookings affected by the change will be given a £12.50 refund per flight, each way, as a gesture of goodwill.
A WIZZ AIR pilot-in-training has revealed all about what it is like to work for the airline including the flying tips and tricks you need to know.
Having joined Wizz Air back in 2024 as cabin crew, Sebastien Harrison is now training to be a pilot through Wizz Air’s Cabin Crew to Captain programme.
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And from spending years in the air, he has loads of tips for travellers.
When it comes to flying itself, the 20-year-old had many tips including where the best place to sit on Wizz Air planes.
He said: “The best seats in the plane for turbulence are on or about row 15; this is because if the plane is pitching up or dowduringne turbulence in the middle of the plane there is least movement.”
And for nervous fliers, Sebastien says: “If you are a first-time or nervous flyer, let the crew know as soon as you board.
“They are excellent at providing reassurance and will check in on you throughout the flight.”
And when it comes to managing tiredness when you reach your destination, Sebastien recommends not napping before your bedtime so you get solid sleep and avoid “pushing back the tiredness”.
He added: “Go to the gym at maybe 5pm because it’s going to make you tired and then you can go to sleep a bit earlier.”
And of course, there are a number of destinations Seb is excited to see and recommends visiting.
He revealed: “I’m very excited for the Greek destinations like Santorini, because obviously it’s an island with very beautiful weather and beautiful scenery.”
And if you want to head to a really unique destination then Seb recommends Tromso in Northern Norway.
He shared: “It’s in the Arctic Circle and it’s very beautiful, set in a valley surrounded by mountains.
“It is some of the best scenery I’ve seen in the world.
“You can see the Northern Lights, head skiing, spot whales and see reindeer – it’s just a very interesting place with loads to do.”
He added that the destination is also super unique because in the summer you get midnight sun, and in the winter you get polar night, where the sun remains below the horizon between late November and mid-January.
For a more beachy destination, Sebastien suggests heading to Catania in Sicily – which is Italy‘s sunniest destination.
He said: “There’s a volcano which you can see from the airport and the beaches are really cool.”
Having grown up only 10 minutes from Glasgow Airport in Scotland, Seb knew he wanted to one day become a pilot.
He said: “As a child I was always excited to literally leave the earth – you’re defying gravity.
“I think being able to literally fly planes is very rewarding.”
Then in 2024, his dream of working on planes came true as he got a job as Wizz Air cabin crew.
He said: “Being cabin crew has been a very useful experience.”
“Obviously I went into cabin crew knowing that I wanted to become a pilot and I just thought as cabin crew I would have the opportunity to speak to pilots a lot and really gain a lot of insight about the job.
“I knew that if I was cabin crew, I’d kind of see the job firsthand – it’s a very sociable job being cabin crew too.
“When I’m a pilot, it’s probably going to make me a better pilot as well because I’m going to understand what the cabin crew do as well, but some pilots they don’t 100 per cent appreciate it.”
“At the moment we’re only doing classroom theory training and we’re in the classroom for about four hours a day on average.
“There’s quite a lot of testing maybe about two or three tests a week just to make sure that you’re progressing – there’s 13 theory exams that you have to pass in total across around two years.”
EVERYONE loves a cheap holiday – and a budget airline is about to launch their own package deals from the UK.
Wizz Air has launched Wizz Holidays – a new holiday booking service, where you can get your flights, accommodation and transfers all in the same package.
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Wizz Air has launched a holiday booking platformCredit: Alamy
According to the airline,travellers can choose their destination and travel dates or browse the site with filters to find the best holiday deals – from city breaks to beach trips.
There are also options to add extras onto your booking, such as 25l luggage.
The new travel platform uses AI to find travellers personalised holiday packages.
According to local media, Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Office Silvia Mosquera, said at the press conference yesterday: “Wizz Holidays offers a smarter solution that makes travel planning easier and more flexible.
“With our Unpackage Yourself message, we encourage our passengers to discover our competitive prices and the possibilities of multi-city travel.“
The platform is already live and due to launch in the UK soon.
While destinations from the UK haven’t been revealed, the airline heads to a number of popular spots including Alicante in Spain, Corfu in Greece and Rome in Italy.
And when the platform eventually launches for UK customers, Brits will be able to use the tool to plan and build a tailored holiday package which can include a different number of stops.
One of the current packages available for example, is a multi-stop trip in Italy, flying from Budapest.
The seven night trip would cost €600 (£513.03) per person including hotels, with four days in Lampedusa and then three days in Catania between August 28 and September 4.
Places like Alicante could be potential destinationsCredit: Alamy
Or perhaps you’d prefer to head to Portugal?
The deal from Budapest to Porto, includes five days there before flying to Lisbon and spending four days there for €445 (£380.50) per person between November 3 and 13.
A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “Today’s launch marks the first phase of WIZZ Holidays, our smarter, more intuitive package holidays platform, which is initially available in selected markets.
“While holidays departing from the UK are not yet available, the UK remains an important market for Wizz Air.
“We’re working towards making WIZZ Holidays available to UK customers as part of the second phase of the rollout and look forward to sharing more details as soon as we can.”
THERE’S been a new plea to suspend the new passport checks this summer amid fears of even more chaos this summer.
So far, some airlines have had to leave passengers behind and there are already queues of up to six hours at border control.
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Airlines and airports have asked for EES checks to be suspended for the summerCredit: Alamy
The situation is only predicted to get worse with summerholidays on the horizon when millions of Brits including lots of families will be heading abroad.
Passenger numbers are predicted to increase by an extra 40million across Europe in July and August.
As a result, a number of airlines and airports have submitted a letter the president of the European Commission asking to suspend EES checks.
A number of industry groups have said they’ve reached a “critical point”.
They continued: “Passengers have already been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough.
“Airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues.”
The groups have asked the authority to allow airports to “completely suspend” the EES when “passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border control facilities”.
They’ve said that “immediate intervention” is needed before the situation “deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season”.
There has also been a call for “flexibility’ in September as well.
The Entry Exit System (EES) involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their biometrics taken to enter the Schengen Area.
There are already queues of up to six hours for BritsCredit: Alamy
The progressive rollout began in October 2025 and has caused a number of problems.
A NUMBER of holiday companies have gone bust this year leaving British travellers with cancelled holidays.
From airlines to Claudia Winkleman-approved sailing trips, the UK has had to say goodbye to many holiday companies this year – so here’s a round-up of all the travel companies that have gone bust in 2026 so far.
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A number of travel companies have gone bust this yearCredit: Alamy
Groupia Ltd
Just this week it was announced that group-based travel company Groupia Ltd has entered administration.
The company used to operate group trips such as hen and stag dos, adventure holidays and ski trips.
Any customers who have a holiday booked with the company on or before August 31 will still have their trip as planned.
However, trips from September 1 onwards have been cancelled with the company’s website sharing information on how to get a refund.
Edinburgh’s EcoJet went bust despite having never launched a flight.
The planned flights included between Edinburgh and Southampton and across Europe.
The company was originally founded in 2023 and aimed to be the world’s first electric airline.
However, in May, liquidators had been appointed at the firm.
A spokesperson said: “EcoJet was a start-up business and has no material assets.
“The members have elected to fund the liquidation process to ensure that the company’s employees receive their full statutory entitlements.”
EcoJet planned flights for between Edinburgh and Southampton and across EuropeCredit: Refer to Source
Regen Central Ltd
Regen Central Ltd used to sell package holidays to Europe and South East Asia.
However the company entered administration in January.
The company was founded in 2011 and used to have package holidays to Italy, Bali, and Thailand, as well as the Middle East, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Tripsmiths (and TS Travel)
Tripsmiths and TS Travel used to operate trips across Europe including getaways to French vineyards, African safaris, Italy’s Lake Garda and city breaks.
However, the company entered administration in May.
Though, for those with trips booked with the company, bookings were being honoured and not cancelled.
For Tripsmiths used to operates a range of trips across EuropeCredit: Handout
Gold Crest Holidays
Also in January, Gold Crest Holidays entered liquidation.
The holiday company used to sell coach tours as well as short breaks to a number of European destinations including major cities and Disneyland Paris.
The 30-year-old company cancelled all future trips at the time of closure.
Salamander Voyages
Based in Belfast, Salamander Voyages used to sell private boat holidays in Turkey, Greece, Italy and Croatia.
According to The Gazette, administrators were appointed on April 22 after 23 years of business.
Luxury holidays with the company weren’t cheap though, costing around £3,000 per person.
Celeb Claudia Winkleman has even previously been a customer, commenting: “The holiday was absolutely amazing. The boat is beautiful and the crew were outstanding.
“The most relaxing week of our lives. We love you Salamander.”
Salamander Voyages used to sell private boat holidays in Turkey, Greece and ItalyCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Strachan Travel
Based in Lancashire, Strachan Travel used to operate bespoke holidays.
The company had been operating since 1983, but because they acted as an agent mainly selling holidays with tour operators such as TUI and Jet2, customers’ holidays were mainly unimpacted.
Ascend Airways
Ascend Airways entered liquidation back in April.
The Hertfordshire-based company used to be a ‘wet-lease’ airline, operating mainly out of London Gatwick, Stansted and Southend airports.
Ascend Airways used to ‘wet-lease’ planesCredit: Ascend Airways
Zenith Aviation
Back in May, Zenith Aviation entered administration.
THE summer of warned EES chaos is almost upon us – but two airports are set to scrap the new entry rules for Brits.
Both Rome Fiumicino Airport and Rome Ciampino Airport could suspend the requirements to avoid length queues at passport control.
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EES could be suspended at two Italian airports during the summer periodCredit: Alamy
Talking to the Financial Times, Aeroporti di Roma Chief Executive Officer Marco Troncone said that allowing passengers to skip EES checks is the only way to avoid “disaster”.
He added “we are very worried for the summer” and rated his concerns an “eight or nine” out of 10.
Marco Troncone said: “The process proves to be incompatible with the peak volumes that we are going to face.
“So the only way is to open up the valve. There is no way that we can deliver 100 per cent of the enrolment.”
These two Italian airports can be particularly busy during the summer period.
Rome Fiumicino Airport sees over five million passengers per month during the peak summer travel season.
In recent years, numbers have been as high as 180,000 in a single day.
Rome Ciampino Airport is a little quieter but can still see up to 3.9million total passengers per year.
During the summer, there are estimates of up to 400,000 passengers per month through the airport, according to Aeroporti di Roma.
EES requires UK and other non-EU nationals to register at the border with their biometrics and will replace manual passport stamping.
EES has caused lengthy queues and passengers have even missed their flight homeCredit: Alamy
But since their introduction there have been reported issues which have caused up to six- hour queues through airports.
Another issue was raised by Olivier Jankovec, head of the airports industry group ACI Europe.
H said that one of the biggest problems is that the self-service EES points “don’t work”.
He also said that there is congestion caused by a lack of organisation.
Once enrolled with EES, travellers should be able to go through gates automatically on future trips without needing to use the machines again.
But at the moment, lots of airports haven’t introduced separate queues for those who have already completed EES checks which is adding to wait times.
Queues at passport control have been so long at some airports that passengers have missed flights.
Earlier this month, a Ryanair flight was forced to leave up to 50 of its passengers behind when they were stuck in Athens Airport in what they dubbed a ‘mega queue’.
A FRESH warning has been issued over a major travel item that many of us now use, that actually poses a huge threat when flying.
Over the past couple of years, power banks have caused several issues across a number of flights.
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A new warning has been made to travellers about heading on a flight with a power bank this summerCredit: Alamy
In response, airlines have introduced new measures that specify the type of power bank you can or cannot take onboard.
As the school summer holidays approach, travellers are now being reminded to carry these items in their hand luggage.
Power banks contain lithium batteries, which according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), pose a huge risk to aircraft, with more and more devices being found in hold luggage over the past year.
The aviation body also said that the average person now takes four different lithium-powered devices on a flight.
However, they are prone to overheating, especially if they are defective and this can cause a fire.
The CAA states: “Passenger awareness remains low – over a third (36 per cent) of travellers are unaware of the dangers of packing batteries in checked baggage, even though 92 per cent fly with a mobile phone, 55 per cent with a laptop and 49 per cent with a power bank – suggesting hundreds of batteries could be incorrectly packed on a typical flight.”
While some airlines have responded to the increased use of lithium batteries by carrying containment bags – such as Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air – they still pose the biggest risk of fire to flights.
And it’s not just power banks that have lithium batteries though and they aren’t anything new – you’ll also find them in your laptop, mobile and smart watch.
Over the past couple of years, power banks have caused a number of incidents on flightsCredit: Alamy
When an incident regarding a lithium battery occurs in the cabin, cabin crew can handle it more easily.
However, if the issue is in the hold it is a trickier problem to solve.
According to the CAA, there are around two lithium battery incidents every week.
And these incidents can cause delays as well as the plane diverting.
The rules to be aware of include taking items such as your mobile phone, vapes and power banks on board in the cabin.
If you are taking power banks, you are allowed a maximum of two and you cannot charge them during the flight.
Laptops must be switched off if they are in hold bags.
As part of its new campaign ‘Pack right, Safe flight’, the CAA added that travellers should “choose reputable suppliers and brands when buying devices and spare batteries” and that “batteries that show signs of damage, overheating, or swelling should not be used and should never be carried on an aircraft”.
Passengers need to be aware of airlines’ rules on power banksCredit: Getty
Giancarlo Buono, Director of Aviation Safety at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Flying is by far the safest way to travel, and we want to keep it that way.
“Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you.
“This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”
Here are the rules on batteries for some of the major airlines:
British Airways
British Airways allows each passenger to carry two power banks with themCredit: Getty
You can take up to 15 battery-operated Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) that contain lithium batteries such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, music players, smart baggage tags (e.g. Apple AirTag) onboard.
If in hand luggage, they must be switched off or placed in flight safe mode.
If in checked luggage, they must be completely switched off – not in sleep or hibernation mode.
You can only carry up to two power banks per person and they must be in the cabin in either the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you and they cannot exceed 100Wh.
Ryanair
All electronic devices must be carried in the cabin on Ryanair flightsCredit: PA
Electronic devices and spare lithium batteries must be carried in the cabin only.
Each passenger can carry up to 15 electronic devices for personal use in the cabin “including but not limited to: smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, handheld gaming consoles, headphones”.
Each passenger can only carry up to two power banks and these are included in the overall limit of 20 spare lithium batteries – which cannot exceed 100Wh.
Ryanair adds: “Spare lithium batteries and power banks must be carried on the passenger’s person or in the under-seat cabin bag stowed under the seat in front.
“Power banks and spare lithium batteries must not be placed in cabin baggage stored in the overhead lockers.“
Power banks cannot be recharged when onboard or during the flight.
EasyJet
Power banks cannot be used onboard an easyJet flightCredit: AFP
EasyJet has a limit of 15 electronic devices per passenger, which must be 12V or less and 100Wh or less.
When it comes to power banks, Wh ratings cannot exceed 160Wh for lithium batteries, and only two can be carried per passenger.
EasyJet states: “Power banks are prohibited from use on easyJet aircraft and must not be used to charge other devices.
“Power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage only, and it is recommended that power banks are carried where they can be monitore, d i.e. on your person.”
Virgin Atlantic
Power banks cannot be charged when onboard Virgin Atlantic flightsCredit: Alamy
For Virgin Atlantic, you can travel with up to five spare batteries and/or power banks, depending on their watt-hour (Wh) rating.
All batteries and power banks must be able to fit inside the airline’s onboard Fire Containment Bag, which measures 37×28×10cm.
The airline states: “Please keep them in an accessible place during your flight — not in the overhead locker.
“Power banks cannot be plugged into your seat’s power supply at any time.
“Power banks cannot be used to charge other devices while onboard.
“Batteries and power banks must be under 100Wh.”
Wizz Air
Wizz Air only allows one power bank per passengerCredit: Alamy
For Wizz Air, power banks cannot be used during any phase of the flight, and they are not allowed in checked luggage.
Each traveller is limited to a maximum of 20 spare batteries, including a maximum of one power bank, which cannot exceed 100Wh.
The airline states: “Power banks and e-cigarettes should be carried where they can be monitored, i.e. on the person.”
A LESSER-VISITED airport is about to get a massive upgrade – its biggest in its 96-year history.
Hollywood in Los Angeles, USA, is known for being one of the most famous tourist spots in the world.
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Hollywood Burbank Airport is opening a new £1billion terminalCredit: CorganThe airport is near one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world – HollywoodCredit: elevatebur.com
And most people will get there via LAX Airport – but don’t realise there is also Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The airport is not only closer to Hollywood, but also closer to Universal Studios Hollywood and Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
This October the airport will be opening its £1billion new terminal – called The Icon – which will replace the former historic terminal which opened back in 1930.
The new terminal will be bigger than the former one and have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, filling the terminal with natural light.
The airport is also close to Universal Studios Hollywood as well as Warner Bros. Studio ToursCredit: CorganThe airport will be themed like ‘old Hollywood’Credit: elevatebur.com
To get to the 14 gates, passengers will head through an eight-lane TSA security area with modern screening technology.
There will be a central food court with restaurants and shops for travellers, with plenty of seating outside each gate.
The airport is often used by celebs due to being close to Hollywood.
Recent celeb sightings include actress Jennifer Garner and actor Neal McDonough.
The airport itself has even appeared on the big screen as a filming location, including in Ocean’s Eleven and The Office.
Visitors will be able to head to a sleek bar with views of the parked planesCredit: Corgan.comThe new terminal will open in OctoberCredit: Corgan
A LOW-COST airline with cheap long-haul flights is returning to the UK after more than a decade.
AirAsia X, a Malaysian airline, used to operate budget long-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to London but the service stopped in 2012.
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AirAsia X is launching flights from the UK after 14 yearsCredit: Alamy
However, the airline has confirmed it will relaunch flights from London Gatwick to Kuala Lumpur via Bahrain.
Flights will be on an Airbus A330-300, which with AirAsia X holds between 285 and 377 passengers.
The stopover in Bahrain helps to keep costs low, as does flying from London Gatwick as opposed to London Heathrow.
Travelling from Kuala Lumpur, flights will leave late at night before stopping in Bahrain for two hours and then arriving into London Gatwick at around 7:30am the next morning.
The route was due to launch tomorrow, however that date has been postponed by two months due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Flights will now launch on August 27, operating four times a week until November 2, where flights will then take place daily, according to Air Traveler Club.
The airline has also confirmed that tickets will be getting cheaper as fuel costs ease.
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Chief Executive, London Gatwick previously said: “The arrival of AirAsia X and flights to Kuala Lumpur is fantastic news for London Gatwick passengers.
“The new daily service will provide excellent opportunities to visit the city or onward connectivity across the region – ideal for holidaymakers, businesses and the many British‑Malaysian families who will now have even better options for visiting friends and relatives.”
Bo Lingam, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia X added: “Our return to London marks a significant milestone for AirAsia X and we’re excited to commence our operations at London Gatwick this June.”
