Public transport

To fight traffic congestion, pollution and other challenges that plague modern cities, an increasing number of French towns are choosing to make their public transport networks completely free.

The chaos reigning over the introduction of a new electronic ticketing system for public transport in Athens is truly mind-boggling. It is, however, clearly the result of the enormous amount of red tape - requiring that transit pass applicants submit all sorts of forms and certificates - in what really ought to be a simple process.

There was an emergency landing this morning at Sofia Airport. Shortly after taking off, Bulgaria Air's plane has returned, Nova TV reported.

The machine took off this morning at 07:00 for Amsterdam. But the plane had to come back due to a technical problem. The company has provided another airplane for the passengers. The new departure was scheduled for 14:00.

The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) is installing additional electronic ticket dispensers at various metro and ISAP electric railway stations to meet a spike in demand for the new swipe cards that are replacing the small paper slips that need to be stamped.

The municipal carrier in Burgas offers the prices of the tickets and the public transport cards to jump one third from the next month, reports bTV. 

Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis is scrambling to impose some order following the confusion caused by half-baked plans to activate a new electronic ticket system on public transport and end sales of some paper tickets.

Fraport Greece has started the renovation of Myconos airport, forming part of the infrastructure work the consortium has pledged across its 14 regional airports, adding up to 400 million euros.

The island's airport will remain closed from November 16 to the end of the month, as the runway will have to be dug up and relaid in its entirety.

A British Airways aircraft was evacuated on the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris because of a threat of a terrorist attack. Reports CNN. 

The Athens Public Transport Organization (OASA) on Tuesday announced a buy-10-get-one-free deal for its paper tickets in a bid to boost sales. The offer is valid for regular 1.40-euro tickets and discounted 0.60-cent tickets.

European holidaymakers jetting off to popular summer destinations are experiencing long queues at airports after the introduction of tighter security checks, Financial Times reports.

Airline passengers have faced queues of up to four hours at European airports, including Palma de Mallorca, Madrid, Lisbon, Milan and Paris-Orly.