Airlines across Europe have begun discounting their tickets as the peak summer travel season gives way to the traditionally slower months of more subdued bookings. Discounter EasyJet said Monday that it’s offering 20% off on more than 1.7m seats for flights from mid-September to the end of March. British Airways launched an end-of-summer sale on the same day on short and long-haul destinations for flights and package holidays. Airlines reported a booming summer with high demand following the pandemic, though how long the peak will last for this year is less clear. Budget-conscious consumers are grappling with a higher cost of living as mortgages, energy bills and groceries inflate. Expensive plane tickets combined with the possibility of travel disruption because of strikes and air-traffic control issues are other factors that could put people off air travel. In an attempt to win back travelers, airlines are reducing ticket fares, a tactic that budget specialist Ryanair Holdings Plc has said it would introduce toward the end of the year to fill seats as consumers become more cost sensitive. Aer Lingus also announced a September sale on Monday, while Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic Airways offered return flights from London to the US for as little as £240 ($302.99).<br/>
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Airlines could face a crackdown on hidden fees, as part of a new government plan to improve transparency for people shopping online. A public consultation will look at ways to clamp down on firms that add necessary charges at checkout, bumping up the final price. Airlines UK said the industry already delivers excellent value to consumers. It comes as new government research suggests the practice is "widespread" across a range of industries. In total, this costs consumers £1.6bn a year, the research said. The consultation, which is being launched by the Department for Business and Trade on Monday, will last for six weeks. Airlines now offer a plethora of extras at the booking stage, from speedy boarding and checking cabin bags to seat selection, which often come at a price. The government said so-called "drip pricing" - where the price paid at checkout is higher than originally advertised due to extra, but necessary, fees - occurs in products ranging from ticket fares to food deliveries. Almost three-quarters of transport providers, including air and rail, include hidden fees in their products, the research showed. The practice also occurs in 54% of providers in the entertainment industry and 56% of hospitality firms. Fake reviews and confusing labels are also being targeted in separate new consultations launched on Monday. Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said the new proposals would ensure people have "the clearest and most accurate information upfront" before making a purchase. "From the shelves of supermarkets to digital trolleys, modern-day shopping provides a great wealth of choice. But fake reviews and hidden fees can make those choices increasingly confusing and leaves customers unsure about what product is right for them.<br/>
Sarawak will begin commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from microalgae next year, and by 2030, the largest state of Malaysia aims to produce 100,000 barrels of SAF per day. Deputy state secretary Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel said microalgae grown in waters mixed with carbon dioxide would be used to produce SAF, which is increasingly adopted by global airlines. SAF, which reportedly could reduce carbon emissions by about 80%, have powered some 450,000 flights by mid-June 2022. AirAsia, for example, is also exploring options to introduce SAF into its fuel mix before 2025. Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) is also investing in SAF technology from crude algae oil that is being developed in Sarawak. The use of carbon dioxide for the cultivation of microalgae comes at a time when Sarawak is also exploring more business opportunities in the multi-billion-dollar carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) industry. “We have identified 10,000 acres of land in Bintulu for the purpose of algae plantation. About 1,000 acres of algae can produce 10,000 barrels of SAF a day, so with 10,000 acres, we can produce 100,000 barrels by 2030,” he said.<br/>