A few days ago, BMI Regional announced that they were closing their service between Edinburgh and Stornaway due to insufficient demand. The airline ensured there would be no inconvenience to their customers already booked by transferring their tickets to the continuing British Airways service.

When the route was introduced a couple of years ago, many might have been puzzled as to why a remote Scottish island would be interested in another daily service to the capital. However, increases in tourism, and the developing governance of the Scottish Executive would have been good reason to believe that passenger numbers were likely to increase. Whilst numbers have increased, so has the capacity of the Loganair planes, and there are simply too many empty seats to make it worthwhile for BMI to continue.

We're pleased that BMI have immediately rebooked passengers on the alternative flights. It contrasts with the practice of some low cost carriers who try to avoid rerouting passengers, instead thinking that a refund will be satisfactory. We take a brief look at passenger rights when a route is closed.

Budget airline Flybe has risen up the hype league, by claiming that its offer to sell you travel insurance including schedule airline failure shows that it 'leads the way in customer protection'.

We think the claim is nonsense. The airline is effectively admitting that it has no cover should it suffer financial difficulties, and suggests that customers purchase its insurance policy in case it were to fail. It hopes that this will be sufficient to prevent the government from introducing legislation to require all airlines to insure against financial collapse.

We believe that airlines should adequately provide for any situation where passengers risk being stranded or inconvienced, and strongly support new legislation if airlines are unwilling to regulate this themselves. We think that Flybe's attempt to move the responsibility to the customer in this way, and the packaging of schedule airline failure insurance with its main travel insurance product is irresponsible and unfair.

In an anticipated move, Ryanair announced today that passengers will have to pay up to £10 per return flight per bag or item carried in the hold.

The airline aims to apportion the cost of baggage handling to those passengers actually using the service, enabling a fare reduction of 9% through introduction of the charge. Customers booking online can pay a reduced rate of £2.50 per bag each way if purchased at the same time as the flight.

The new charge will apply from 16th March 2006.

Low cost airline Flyglobespan is to stop services on its Glasgow and Edinburgh to London routes, and will not move ahead with a planned link between Edinburgh and Bournemouth.

The surprise announcement has been blamed on poor ticket sales and a need for the airline to concentrate on its European routes out of Stansted. Flights will continue to be operated through to the end of February.

The Scotsman newspaper reports that hundreds of customers have been left high and dry and simply had their fares returned, being advised to make alternative arrangements.

With many airlines now having a festive sale, it's a good time to remember to be careful checking flight prices. There is no longer a good flight comparison site, so it's time to do some research before you part with your cash.

Ryanair are advertising many fares free until 5th January, and if you can pick up one of these it's unlikely that you'll find any better deal. Remember that the flight is not actually free; you have to add in taxes, fees and surcharges to get the final price.

Advertising guidlines state that where offers are advertised as "from" an amount, that at least 10% of the seats should be available at the promotional rate.

We have a quick look at how this offer stacks up a busy domestic route - London to Glasgow.

Low cost airline flyBe has announced that it will start charging passengers for hold baggage from February 2006.

Passengers will be charged £4 per item checked in at the airport, although this is reduced to £2 if booked online when the flight is purchased. The charge applies one way, so for a return flight the cost is £8 per item (£4 if prebooked). flyBe are minimising the impact of the new charge by reducing all fares by £1.