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Phase one of the new terminal extension at London Stansted has been opened. The extension is being built to focus on improving passenger facilities.

The extension is 6000 square metres and includes a sixth baggage reclaim belt, facilities for immigration control and additional waiting areas.

BAA said the extension should be completed by December as shops and more waiting areas are still to come.

The extension is said to be essential to Stansted as it ensures that the airport continues to grow and become more successful.

3,300 passengers go through the terminal an hour meaning the new extension is definitely needed to provide more space for them.

By 2015, passenger numbers at Stansted are expected to rise to 35 million meaning that improving customer service is now the airport’s top priority.

The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has branded London Heathrow as Europe’s worst airport.

The AEA revealed that almost half of all flights arriving or departing from London Heathrow were at least 15 minutes late. All of this information was revealed after collating data from the first quarter of 2007.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found out that 44% of all Heathrow flights were delayed by around 25 minutes. This was revealed last month.

The AEA have ranked Heathrow as the worst airport out of their 27 European airports. Heathrow has come in the bottom 5 airports for the last 16 successive quarters.

The airport itself and British Airways have hit back at the reports blaming record-high passenger numbers. This also gave them the chance to bring up their need for a third runway.

Heathrow is very congested and does work to full capacity every day. Minor delays can be expected when an airport is operating at this level and one delay leads to a knock on effect for the rest of the day.

Faliraki – located on the north east coast of Rhodes

Faliraki is a resort full of large hotels that appeal to families looking for luxury together. Groups of young singles will enjoy the centre of the resort as it is lively and has a very vibrant nightlife. The transfer time to Faliraki is around 30-40 minutes, giving you just enough time to look around at surrounding scenery as well as gain an understanding of the location of the resort and the location of your accommodation within the resort. The beach in Faliraki is brilliant, stretching at 2 and a half miles, with golden sands leading down t o the clear waters edge. There are plenty of sunbeds and parasols available for you to hire on the beach although these tend to go quickly in the summer months. A number of water sports are also available for you to enjoy. There are a number of hotels in Faliraki, ranging from 2-5-stars and offering a wide range of facilities. Self-catering apartments and smaller hotels are available closer to the centre of the resort but most hotels offer room-only, half-board or all-inclusive.

Faliraki – a number of beach and water based activities for you to enjoy

Faliraki has some brilliant water sports available throughout the year. You can find these down at the beach and you can choose from windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, paragliding, hiring out a pedallo or even swimming. Boat trips are also very popular as are banana boat rides. There is also a water park that is popular among groups as well as families. There are also a number of local excursions for you to enjoy. There are scuba diving trips to go on as well as shopping and sightseeing in Rhodes Town. There is a full island tour to be enjoyed, where you will see places such as Petaloudes which is the Valley of the Butterflies or take a boat trip to Symi. Coastal cruises are popular as well as a boat trip to Lindos and an excursion to Turkey comes hugely recommended.

Faliraki – a wide number of taverns and restaurants to enjoy

Faliraki is home to some brilliant taverns and restaurants with a wide range of cuisines on offer. You will find a number of traditional Greek dishes as well as a lot of seafood to enjoy, although if you prefer something more international and familiar, then you will also find British, Chinese and Italian. There are also a number of snack bars for you ton enjoy throughout the day. On the outskirts of the resort, you will find a number of quieter bars to enjoy that are more suitable for families, however in the centre of the resort, you will find many lively bars and nightclubs to enjoy that offer live music, entertainment, cocktails and are open until late. It does get extremely loud in the area and is very popular among the younger groups of singles. There are a number of local souvenir shops in the resort, however for more choice head to Rhodes Town. There is a regular bus service for you to get into Rhodes Town or a taxi rank located in the centre of the resort.

Faliraki – long hot Mediterranean summers

Faliraki enjoys a Mediterranean climate of very long and hot summers. July and August are the hottest months in the resort with an average temperature of 25°C although this commonly rises to highs of well over 30°C. May is the official start to the summer with temperatures at 21°C which quickly rises to 25°C by June. There is normally no rainfall over July and August and the evenings remain hot at highs of 22°C. July and August see 12 hours of sunshine a day which drops to around 5 hours a day in the winter. Spring and Autumn are pleasant times to come if you are not keen on very hot weather, with temperatures mostly ranging between 16-20°C. Winters tend to be mild in Faliraki with temperatures staying at around 10°C. Between October and May you can expect to see some rainfall but not to the extent that we are used to. December if the wettest month in Faliraki however it still tends to remain fairly warm.

Rhodes – located at the south east end of the 12 islands that make up the Dodecanese chain

Rhodes is an extremely popular destination that appeals to people of all ages. Families, couples and groups of singles all enjoy the island for relaxation, the range of activities available and the nightlife. People who enjoy relaxing on the beach all day long will also enjoy the island of Rhodes. The beaches in Rhodes are brilliant, covered in golden sands leading down to the waters edge. The beaches are all attractive and have plenty of sunbeds and parasols available to hire. Many of them also attract a number of water sports enthusiasts with their various facilities. However if you are just looking for a place to relax then you will find a number of quiet beaches that you can enjoy. There is plenty of accommodation in Rhodes for you to choose from including a number of hotels, self-catering apartments and villas. The hotels offer half-board or all-inclusive and all accommodation is mainly 2-4-stars with some 5-stars dotted around.

Rhodes – plenty of beach based activities for you to enjoy

Rhodes has some brilliant beaches which many people use purely for relaxing, however there are also plenty of water sports available for those of you who want to try something a bit more exciting. The water sports available include banana boat rides, jet-skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing, surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, paragliding or even hiring out a pedallo. Swimming is also very popular and many of the beaches have been awarded with the European Blue Flag for their safety and cleanliness. When scuba diving or water-skiing, you are offered fully qualified instruction as well as being able to hire the equipment. There are a number of boat trips for you to enjoy to other islands such as Kos or Turkey. Some cruises will take you around the island of Rhodes, giving you the chance to try out the various beaches. Cycling is a very popular activity and a brilliant way to get around the island. Other activities on dry land include tennis, horse-riding, hiking, gold, go-karting, mini-golf, pain-balling, bowling and even bungee jumping. The water park in Faliraki is a popular choice among families as well as the Aquarium in Rhodes Town. Rhodes Town is one of the most popular areas to visit with a number of sites to see as it is the medieval centre.

Rhodes – plenty of restaurants for you to choose from

Rhodes is home to some brilliant restaurants that you can enjoy. The main cuisine on offer is the traditional and local Greek as well as a number of seafood dishes. If you would prefer something more international then you will also find Chinese, British and Italian. Some areas of Rhodes have a brilliant nightlife which is perfect for groups of singles looking to dance until dawn. You will find a number of lively bars, nightclubs, pubs and discos to enjoy with live music, cocktails and a wide range of entertainment. Some resorts have quieter evenings with quieter bars that stay open late but not all night long. Shopping in Rhodes is good in some areas with clothing, shoes, bags, souvenirs and a number of crafts. Public transport comes in the form of buses, taxis and car hire.

Rhodes – long hot Mediterranean summers

Rhodes enjoys a Mediterranean climate of very long and hot summers. July and August are the hottest months in the resort with an average temperature of 25°C although this commonly rises to highs of well over 30°C. May is the official start to the summer with temperatures at 21°C which quickly rises to 25°C by June. There is normally no rainfall over July and August and the evenings remain hot at highs of 22°C. July and August see 12 hours of sunshine a day which drops to around 5 hours a day in the winter. Spring and Autumn are pleasant times to come if you are not keen on very hot weather, with temperatures mostly ranging between 16-20°C. Winters tend to be mild in Rhodes with temperatures staying at around 10°C. Between October and May you can expect to see some rainfall but not to the extent that we are used to. December if the wettest month in Rhodes however it still tends to remain fairly warm.

United Airlines are axing their London Heathrow to Denver route this autumn.

The service has only been up and running for 3 months, however the final flight is due to depart on October 25th. The route is United’s only long-haul overseas connection from Denver.

Operations are having to decrease due to the rise in oil prices. British Airways also occupies the route which is a big competing airline.

The fuel prices have reached a record high meaning aircraft are being retired and capacity is being reduced to save money.

The changes mean that United Airlines will be able to conduct its operations more effectively.

Other routes to be cut include the Los Angeles to Frankfurt route, the San Francisco to Nagoya, Taipei and Taiwan routes and the Chicago flights.