lancashireroseblinds

© Rennett Stowe

The metal group Iron Maiden's private plane was recently borrowed by a major airline to transport tourists from Scotland to Greece and Turkey. The jet, named "Ed Force One", features custom interior designs including iron maiden logos and a flight number 666. The plane is usually piloted by lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, and the band uses it whenever they're on tour.

The plane is owned by Astraeus Airlines, which also gave Dickinson his official pilot license, but when they aren't using it they allow it to be used by the airline for commercial transport. Because the airline recently needed the plane on short notice, there was not time to remove the band's custom-made interior decor, and thus travelers had the honor of flying on the jet surrounded by Iron Maiden style.

© Сергей Шинкарюк

AirBaltic has announced that they will open direct Finland flights to and from the city of Oulu in northern Finland. This will turn Oulu into an "Arctic Gateway" for the Barents region, as the hub will likely be lined to seven other regional cities including Tromso, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. Oulu is the second busiest airport in Finland and will be substantially expanded over the next several years.

The new airBaltic hub at the airport in Oulu will be in operation beginning in 2012, and the flights with airBaltic from northern Norway, northern Russia and other airports in Finnish Lapland will likely be routed through the new hub. The first step in the Oulu hub development will be to link the four other airports in northern Finland, Kuusamo, Rovaniemmi, Kittila and Ivalo, with flights to Oulu.

© pizzodisevo

Fuerteventura is a premier destination on the Canary Islands, but not everyone will appreciate its many charms. Some tourists dislike its crowded beaches and many resort bars, while others love it for its miles of sandy beaches and balmy climate. Many hotels and villas are under construction as this resort continues to boom, yet it remains less developed than neighboring islands and it still offers some of the most affordable holidays.

The Canary Islands cluster are grouped into two distinct provinces, with Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura to the east and Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma to the east. All these islands are major resorts drawing millions of visitors each year. Flights from the UK to Fuerteventura are short and cheap, so it's no wonder the island attracts so many British tourists.