EASY WAY TO PALMA

The airline concentrates on transporting passengers from point A to point B in the easiest, least expensive manner possible. The company is modelled on the American domestic carrier, Southwest Airlines, which is based in Dallas, Texas, but operates nation-wide. Air travel in the States is approximately half price mile-for-mile compared to air travel in Europe. "As deregulation of the airways continues within Europe, easyJet will make flying affordable for more and more European citizens," said a company spokesperson.

easyJet started flying in November 1995 with 2 leased aircraft and 2 routes. The airline now owns five boeing 737-300s, all easily recognisable in their orange livery with the reservations telephone number painted along the fuselage of each aircraft. They operate eight routes out of London Luton and Amsterdam airports.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Amsterdam, Nice and Barcelona are served from London Luton Airport and there is one other route between Amsterdam and Nice. easyJet has a secondary base at Liverpool with daily flights, seven days a week, to Amsterdam and Nice.

Daily flights between Palma De Mallorca/Luton started last week and Luton/Geneva flights start on 16th December, both using a new Boeing 737.

This is a ticketless airline which deals direct with its customers. Passengers telephone the easyJet reservations centre in order to book a seat on an aircraft and pay by credit card or Switch. They are then given a confirmation number which they present at the check-in along with proof of their identity (passport for international flights). At check-in, passengers are given a reusable boarding card which gives them access to the aircraft which operates a one class, free seating policy.

The airline is owned by, thirty year old, Stelios Haji-Ioannou who is also the Company Chairman. He was managing director of his father's shipping business by the age of twenty-three, set up his own tanker business at the age of twenty-six and created easyJet at the age of twenty-eight. The company has paid deposits for twelve more Boeing aircraft to be delivered between August 1998 and the end of the millennium to support its target of transporting six million passengers a year.

LONDON TAXIS IN PALMA

It is not an optical illusion but the city's first Fairway, the latest model from the company, London Taxis International (LTI). The taxi, owned and driven by Maroa Isabel Mulet, has been approved by both the Traffic Department and the Town Council and carries the new IB Balearic registration plate. The Fairway cost five million pesetas but Maroa Mulet believes that it was well worth the extra expense.

Palma is one of the first cities outside Britain where this typical model can be seen as LTI has only sold its taxis on the British market. However, other cities in Spain, including Barcelona, are considering introducing this model to the city taxi fleet.

Although the taxi retains its traditional look, its interior has been completely modernised to include push button electric windows, dividing glass panel, radio cassette and mobile phone. The five-passenger taxi can also easily accommodate a wheel chair due to its wide door and level flooring with a ramp accessory.

When not in use, the two pull-down seats also provide more space for a wheelchair or for people with physical disabilities.

In order to provide the maximum service for its customers, LTI frequently consult taxi owners before bringing out new models on the market.

MENORCA AND ITALY TEAM UP

This joint project was proposed by the president of the Lothiga Association, Letitia Lara, a French sculptor who lives in Ciutadella. The Association promotes the use of natural stone in Menorca and they are trying to prevent the old stone quarries, with their famous "pedra de marás" from closure.

Before last holiday weekend, a commission from Ciutadella Council, headed by mayor Assumpta Vinent, travelled to Italy to meet their Italian counterparts to ratify the agreement and officially declare Ciutadella and Cursi, twin cities. At the meeting in the Palazzo della Provincia de Cursi, the programme of activities was presented and both mayors signed the "brotherhood" agreement. The Italian city has a population of 4,000 inhabitants and is part of the southern Italian province of Lecce.

A SMILE ON EVERYONE'S FACE

Bid hairdo, garnish costume and Hindenberg-sized falsies - it can only mean one of two things... either the office Christmas bash is getting out of hand or you're at a panto .It takes a lot of bottle to dress up like a cross between Barbara Cartland and Boy George, but dames are certainly game for a laugh.

Another newcomer to the company was the long-legged, cart-wheeler- extraordinaire, Izzie France, playing Hans who fell in love at first sight with Princess Melitta played by Selena Garfield.

For me the "Monster Mash" routine was the highlight and five-year-old Antonia brought the house down with her interpretation of the Bobby "Boris" Pickett hit.

All participants (production, actors, dancers, behind the scenes, front-of-house - and, most important, participating audiences) who helped to make this fun panto a roaring success (as ticket sales proved) are to be congratulated and the Bay Entertainers proved once again that they are the company to put a smile on everyone's face as the run up to Christmas continues.