Luton a loser with fliers

LACKLUSTRE Luton has topped a poll of the worst airports in Britain.

The survey by airporttransfers.co.uk, asked nearly 2,500 holidaymakers to rate airports in six categories - cleanliness, staff friendliness, check-in efficiency, shopping experience, lounge areas and security check time.

In marks out of ten, Luton scored just 16 out of 60, with only three for cleanliness, and an astonishing one for staff friendliness.

London's airports accounted for four of the five "worst" spots, with East Midlands third.

Chris Brown, co-founder of airporttransfers.co.uk, said: "I was surprised London's four main airports were in the top five, but many people are put off by larger airports."

Birmingham was voted best airport, scoring nine for cleanliness and full marks for staff friendliness.

ICELANDAIR is increasing its flights to Reykjavik from Manchester and Glasgow.

It will operate from September 14 to October 26 and from April 12 to June 6, 2011.

Flights will take a "triangle" route, starting in Reykjavik, flying to Manchester, then Glasgow and back to Iceland. See icelandair.co.uk.

TWO American companies have been given the go-ahead to join forces to create the world's biggest airline.

The European Commission decided a merger between Continental and United would not hinder competition in Europe - where the pair fly to 35 destinations.

If the plan gets the go-ahead in the US, it will fly seven per cent of the world's commercial planes under the name United Airlines.

Air France-KLM is currently the world's biggest passenger carrier.