Spanair Passengers Stranded

Thousands of passengers are facing travel disruption across Spain after the domestic carrier Spanair ceased operating on Friday night and prepared to file for bankruptcy protection.

The collapse of the Barcelona carrier took place shortly after Qatar Airways walked away from talks to take over the airline after months of negotiations. A statement from Spanair said: "Due to a lack of financial visibility for the coming months, the company has had no option but to cease flying out of a duty of care for the safety of its operation and the well being of all concerned. The appropriate next steps will be taken as soon as possible. The company would like to apologize to everyone affected by this announcement and thank the aviation authorities for their help and support," as well as other airlines that are assisting affected passengers."

More than 200 Spanair flights have been cancelled, affecting more than 22,000 passengers. The Spanish Government may fine Spanair with about €9 million and cancel its airline license due to the sudden cancellation of flights and its failure to assist passengers saying that Spanair is required to assist customers and reimburse cancelled tickets.

Many passengers complained that Spanair was struggling to provide flight alternatives or even return the luggage from passengers who checked in shortly before all flights were cancelled. The company has set up a customer service hotline on their website, while the Spanish Airport Authority is providing passenger support at the country's main airports.

Carrier Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana is accepting affected Spanair passengers and offering lower airfares. Other domestic carriers also are assisting Spanair customers.

Spanair is the third Spanish airline to shut down in recent years with the collapse of low-cost airlines Air Comet and Air Madrid.

All Spanair Flights Suspended

It is being reported are that Spanair is to suspend all its flights from 02:00 am today due to its untenable financial situation with large losses and a huge debt.

Qatar Airways has decided not to invest in the Spanish airline and the Barcelona Generalitat regional government has announced they will no longer inject funds into the airline.

This means the airline will not get the 150 million euros it was expecting from Qatar for a 49% share. Since 2009 the Barcelona Generalitat has given more than 100 million euros to the airline, and Qatar wanted assurances that the European Commission would not claim that money back at a later date.

The Ministry for Development said that they could be fined as much as nine million for two serious infractions and have their licence withdrawn. The Government considers the airline has failed to supply a continued service and failed to respect the rights of the passengers.

The company normally operates around 200 flights a day and employs around 4,000 people.

If you have tickets call +34 902 13 14 15 or +34 900 13 14 15 for more information

Limited Availablility on Flights to Malaga Airport

With more and more airlines operating reduced flight schedules over the winter period in a bid to keep their aircraft flying full and cut down on costs, it is becoming increasingly difficult to book last minute flights on the more popular days. Flights are also far more expensive the later you book.

You will secure a better deal if you can offer some flexibility on your travel dates and flying times. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the cheapest days to fly with most airlines.

Things have improved slightly with British Airways now flying to Malaga Costa del Sol Airport from London Gatwick, but on the minuis side AerLingus have cancelled their flights into Malaga and do not seem to be reinstating any routes in the foreseeable future. Also Monarch Airlines currently only fly to the Costa del Sol five days a week instead of on a daily basis as they did before.

Search for Gas and Oil in Andalucia

The search for gas and oil deposits off the Andalucia coast over an area of 130,000 hectares off Almunecar, Salobrena and Motril (Granada) and Nerja and Torrox (Malaga) are expected to begin within the next month.

Many Costa del Sol residents are horrified at the thought of oil rigs off the coast, and opponents to the project have intensified calls for the new central government in Madrid to revoke the licences and urged both the PP and PSOE to take action.

Last year Repsol YPF’s permits for prospecting off Mijas, Fuengirola and Marbella were extended until August 2013. These initiatives, said Marbella’s lady mayor, Angeles Munoz, were an attack on tourism “our principal source of income” as well as the environment.

Professional fishermen are convinced that fishing grounds will be adversely affected and it would be still worse if gas or oil was eventually located and drilling authorised.

Olympics Tickets for Sale in Marbella and Malaga

If you were left disappointed after failing to get tickets for the UK Olympics you might be interested to hear that unlike most EU countries who are selling their allocation online, Spain’s National Olympic Committee are selling theirs over the counter. Therefore hundreds of highly sought after passes are readily available in Spain.

Tickets for events including basketball, beach volleyball and gymnastics have been on sale in 20 branches of the Fnac music shop including those in Malaga and Marbella since December.

Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, James Morrison, Noel Gallagher and Red Hot Chilli Peppers Concerts in Spain

Some of the UK’s top bands are performing in Spain this year. The Arctic Monkeys are currently on a world tour following the release last year of their fourth studio album Suck it and See, and they kick things off in Madrid on January 27th and then appear in Barcelona on the 28th.

Former Oasis front man Noel Gallagher is in Barcelona on March 4th, while James Morrison is there on March 24th and Madrid on the 25th.

Coldplay return to Madrid to play the Vicente Calderon stadium on May 20th, less than a year after kicking off their European tour in the city’s bullring and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are the first band to be confirmed for the Rock in Rio Madrid festival to be held on July 7th.

For tickets visit www.elcorteingles.es / www.ticktackticket.com or www.rockinriomadrid.es.

Alcolocks Car Breathalysers Rejected by Spain

If you are hiring a car from Malaga Costa del Sol Airport when you arrive in Spain you will be pleased to ear that the country has rejected breathalysers for cars on the basis that “the only safe way to drive is with zero alcohol in your system”.

Alcolocks have been made obligatory for all new cars in France as they stop vehicles functioning if drivers breathing into them have had too much to drink.

Spanish traffic bosses have rejected the Alcolocks as they believe the decision whether to drive should not be about how much alcohol you have drunk but more about whether you have drunk at all. Motorists are legally authorised to take the wheel in Spain as long as they don’t have over 0.05 per cent alcohol in their blood (0.03% for new drivers).