Indian summer Flydubai has announced flights to the world's third fastest growing city, Ahmedabad. Flights to India's seventh largest city will operate weekly on Saturdays from 27 August 2011. Ahmedabad, the 39th operational destination, will start on 27 August 2011. Flights to the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkiv and Donetsk, and the Russian cities of Kazan and Ufa will begin next month, bringing the total number of operational destinations to 44. Ghaith Al-Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: "The growing Indian expatriate population in the UAE and the increasing reliance our two nations have on each other for our economic growth and development, makes the introduction of quality, affordable direct flights between the UAE and India's numerous secondary airports very important. A one-way fare to Ahmedabad from Dubai starts at AED550, and includes one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop bag or hand bag. Fares from Ahmedabad to Dubai are priced from AED620. Checked baggage starts at AED50 for 20kgs. A seat with extra leg room costs AED100. Fuel hurts profit Sky-high fuel prices have hit the profits of the world's airlines, though Europe's carriers recovered after suffering last year from a volcanic ash cloud that brought traffic to a standstill. The International Air Transport Association says world airlines are showing their first year-on-year fall in profits since mid-2009, despite improving profits in Europe. IATA said that early results for the second quarter 2011 show global airlines posting $1.04 billion in net profits, a big drop from last year's $2.88 billion. "The sample is too small as yet to come to clear conclusions but Asian airlines appear to have been under [the] most pressure, whereas European airlines have improved operating profits [partly because second-quarter 2010 results were hit by the ash cloud last year]," the Geneva-based group said. Along with Europe's recovery, another bright spot for airlines is that air travel volume overall looks to be expanding at a rate of 4 to 5 per cent a year, IATA said, though air travel and freight dipped lower in June. But IATA said those sources of revenue had been more than offset by the rise in jet fuel prices above $130 a barrel on worries about supply, which partly reflects the ongoing civil war in Libya. Based on the average fare each passenger pays per mile, gains in airline revenue are slowing and have not yet recovered to pre-recession levels outside the United States, IATA said. Top holiday destinations British Airways has revealed its top holiday destinations for travellers still wanting to get away in August for a late summer getaway. Favourite locations for travellers include hotspots in destinations such as North America, Caribbean holidays, Indian Ocean and Europe. With increased frequencies of flights to Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Tampa in Florida this summer, customers now have increased choices when it comes to leisure destinations. Claire Bentley, managing director of British Airways Holidays, said: "Yet again the Great British summer has proved a complete wash out so we are seeing a heavy demand from our UK customers for last minute overseas holidays. The top worldwide destinations booked in August include New York, Orlando, Barbados, Rome, Barcelona, Mauritius, Las Vegas, St Lucia, Venice and Jersey.
