http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/a-3/en-gbAll contents are Copyright (C) 2009 Holiday Lettings Ltd 1998-2009Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:36:36 GMThttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60HL Newsfeed Generator 1.0Severe flooding has hit Cumbria. The RAF evacuated more than 200 people from the town of Cockermouth.

The town centre was cut off and RAF helicopters were called in to rescue people trapped by the rising waters. The Guardian reports the mountain rescue teams and fire crews were also called upon to help.

RNLI lifeboats were launched in Cockermouth as the town "bore the brunt" of the heavy rains and strong winds that hit northern England and Scotland. Forecasters have warned that more bad weather is on its way.

Over 1,000 homes in the area were left without electricity. A further 349 homes in Keswick were affected by the weather, as were more in Kendal.

The flooding was caused as heavy rains led to the rivers Cocker, Greta and Derwent to burst their banks. Water levels rose 300mm in less than an hour. Trees were reported to be floating down the streets in Cockermouth, where one local resident described the amount of rain as "staggering".

Winds of up to 95 miles per hour were recorded in mountainous areas. Meanwhile, gusts of 65-75 miles per hour hit the western coast.

The Met Office had 31 flood warnings were in place for England and Wales last night. Cumbria is likely to continue to be badly affected.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/general-travel/cumbria-floods:-raf-evacuates-200/a-3-143-1975/Travel NewsFri, 20 Nov 2009 09:46:42 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/general-travel/cumbria-floods:-raf-evacuates-200/a-3-143-1975/The French ski resort of Les Arcs is to host the first European Film Festival. The festival coincides with the opening of the resort for the 2009/10 season.

The European Film Festival will run from 5 to 12 December with daily screenings. According to The Guardian, the festival will show over 50 feature films from all over Europe.

A number of directors and actors will also make appearances at Les Arcs. However, the full details have yet to be announced.

Lesarcs.net adds that workshops will also be offered as well as plenty of good food and wine. The festival will get under way on the same day the resort opens to skiers.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/new-destinations/les-arcs-opening-hosting-european-film-festival/a-3-144-1973/Travel NewsThu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:15 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/new-destinations/les-arcs-opening-hosting-european-film-festival/a-3-144-1973/British Airways (BA) is increasing its flights to St Kitts and Nevis. The carrier will add new flights from next spring.

From March, BA will operate its service between Gatwick and St Kitts and Nevis twice a week. Flights will depart from London on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Caribbean route was launched earlier this year. BA describes demand for the service as "ever increasing".

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/ba-increases-st-kitts-and-nevis-flights-from-gatwick/a-3-145-1972/Travel NewsWed, 18 Nov 2009 11:32:58 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/ba-increases-st-kitts-and-nevis-flights-from-gatwick/a-3-145-1972/Eurostar is reducing its Disneyland Paris services. The train operator will cut back services from the New Year.

Direct Eurostar services to/from the Disneyland Paris resort will be pared down from January 5, reports Travel Weekly. As a result, services will no longer run on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Tourists renting Paris apartments will still be able to use Eurostar's regular services and take daytrips to the Disneyland resort. Eurostar has blamed its decision on the recession.

"It's a reflection of the prevailing economic conditions and particularly a reflection of demand from the UK," said Eurostar spokeswoman Lesley Retallack. "The exchange rate doesn't help and families are having to look at their budgets."

Should demand pick up again, Eurostar could reintroduce more services, she added. However at the moment it is "very much about being sensible and practising good housekeeping".

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/eurostar-cuts-back-disneyland-paris-services/a-3-145-1970/Travel NewsTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:32:49 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/eurostar-cuts-back-disneyland-paris-services/a-3-145-1970/Finnair strikes have begun. Finnair pilots are striking and nearly all today's scheduled flights have been cancelled.

Finnair passengers whose flights have been cancelled can choose to reroute or postpone their journey to/from Finland. A refund of any unused part of a ticket can also be obtained. The airline recommends that travellers postpone their journey if at all possible.

Those affected should contact their original point of sale or phone Finnair on +358 800 3466/+358 600 140 140. Passengers should also check finnair.com/info for up to date information.

The industrial action has also led to Finnair cancelling tomorrow's scheduled flights, according to boarding.no. More than 400 flights have been cancelled in total, affecting 32,000 passengers.

Certain flights will be operated by Finncomm Airlines during the strike. Passengers should check Finnair's website for specific information.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/finnair-strikes-today-tomorrow/a-3-145-1967/Travel NewsMon, 16 Nov 2009 11:14:23 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/finnair-strikes-today-tomorrow/a-3-145-1967/Cornwall is a step closer to becoming officially bilingual. Street signs in the county would be amended to show both English and Cornish under new plans.

Official publications and literature would also be available in Cornish, as would the county's website. However, only 300 people speak the language fluently, exclaims The Daily Mail.

The move would see those renting Cornwall cottages becoming more aware of the country's heritage and culture. "Cornwall's uniqueness is its Celtic heritage and we have to promote that as a brand to attract more overseas visitors," explained councillor Dick Cole. "These sorts of things are vitally important when trying to make an area stand out from the rest."

Experts have welcomed the move: "The Cornish language is an important part of Cornish culture and that is something that should be celebrated," said Jenefer Lowe from the Cornish Language Partnership. "I think people will be very receptive to the new signs."

Nevertheless, the news has not gone down well with everyone. "This will not be welcomed in my part of the county," said Morwenna Williams, councillor for Troon and Beacon. "Some people in Cornwall will find this ridiculous and unnecessary."

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/celebrity-travel-news-and-miscellaneous/cornwall-road-signs-to-be-written-in-cornish/a-3-146-1966/Travel NewsFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:27:35 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/celebrity-travel-news-and-miscellaneous/cornwall-road-signs-to-be-written-in-cornish/a-3-146-1966/Iberia's cabin crew are set to strike in December. Unions representing workers have outlined eight days of industrial action.

Passengers taking Iberia flights could be affected by strike action in the coming weeks, reports The BBC. The proposed dates for Iberia cabin crew strikes are November 30 to December 2 and December 14-18.

Spain's flagship carrier was also forced to ground hundreds of flights this week due to strike action. Cabin crew are locked in a dispute with Iberia over a current wage and hiring freeze.

"We have called for eight more days because there is no will to reach an agreement," read a statement from the SITCPLA union. "Our wages have been frozen since 2005 and...this will continue until 2011."

Iberia is trying to cut costs in the face of falling profit. The airline recorded a 165.4m euros (£145.7m) loss in the first six months of this year.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/iberia-strikes-planned-for-december/a-3-145-1963/Travel NewsThu, 12 Nov 2009 10:31:35 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/iberia-strikes-planned-for-december/a-3-145-1963/A United Airlines pilot has been arrested at Heathrow on suspicion of being drunk. The flight's departure was "imminent" when the pilot was removed from the plane on Monday.

The 51 year old pilot is due to appear before magistrates in London on November 20, reports The BBC. Erwin Washington was charged with "being aviation staff performing an aviation function whilst exceeding the proscribed alcohol limit".

The Chicacgo bound flight was preparing to take off when Washington was arrested. The flight was cancelled and the 124 passengers were put onto different planes.

A spokesman for United Airlines said that the carrier is "cooperating with authorities and conducting a full investigation". The pilot has been removed from service, he added.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/drunk-united-airlines-pilot-arrested-at-heathrow/a-3-145-1961/Travel NewsWed, 11 Nov 2009 11:37:08 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/airline-and-transport-news/drunk-united-airlines-pilot-arrested-at-heathrow/a-3-145-1961/Mallorca is to hold a film festival. The inaugural Mallorca International Film Festival will take place in April 2011.

Mallorca is already popular with celebrities and the island hopes its new film festival will attract more high profile visitors. Both Anna Friel, currently starring in London's Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Catherine Zeta Jones own Mallorca villas, according to The Daily Mail.

The organisers of the Mallorca International Film Festival also want to provide a new cultural attraction for holidaymakers. It is envisaged that the event will extend the traditional summer tourist season, boosting the island's economy.

Spanish film director David Carreras is behind the festival and lives in Mallorca. "The island is stunning, we have beautiful scenery and it would be perfect to hold an international event like this," he said.

Events such as concerts, performances and food shows would run alongside the main festival, Carreras added. His ultimate aim is for a film studio to be built on Mallorca in 2015.

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Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us]]>http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/new-destinations/mallorca-international-film-festival-to-launch-in-2011/a-3-144-1960/Travel NewsWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:28:51 GMThttp://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/travel-resources/travel-news/new-destinations/mallorca-international-film-festival-to-launch-in-2011/a-3-144-1960/American Airlines has fired an employee after he responded to a customer's complaint. Dustin Curtis complained on his blog about the American Airlines website.

The American Airlines employee is known only as "Mr X", explains The Daily Telegraph. Curtis was not impressed by his experience with the American Airlines website and wrote a lengthy blog post, including a suggested redesign.

Mr X, who worked as a web designer for American Airline, responded to the blog post and said Curtis was "so very right" about the site's problems. The employee added that it was down to the internal culture of American Airlines rather than the web designers themselves. The site was being improved, he said, but it was a slow process.

However, by speaking to Curtis, Mr X breached his non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with American Airlines. The NDA bars employees from discussing sensitive information about the airline.

Curtis claims that after Mr X commented on the blog post, American Airlines searched through their email database and identified the employee. He was then fired for a breach of the NDA.
Commenting on his blog about the turn of events, Curtis wrote: "[American Airlines] fired Mr X because he cared. They fired him because he cared enough to reach out to a dissatisfied customer and help clear the company's name in the best way he could."

A spokesperson for the airline rejected Curtis's complaints about the website. American Airlines claims that over 90 per cent of its customers rate the website as "good" or "excellent". "We value and consider all the opinions we receive," concluded the spokesperson.

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