Oasis Hong Kong Airlines are the first to offer low-budget long-haul flights in what it seems to be the beginning of a trend (if all goes well for Oasis). They are offering a cheap economy one way from London to Hong Kong starting from 75GBP (112GBP with tax). Business class starts from 470GBP one way.

They claim the cheap flights do not come with a decrease in comfort, promising comfortable seats, multiple meals, audio channels and personal TV screens. For instance, the seat pitch in economy will be 32'', which is the same or even better as other companies offer between Hong Kong and London.

The inaugural flight between Hong Kong and Gatwick suffered from some problems with the Russian authorities who claimed Oasis didn't have clearance to fly over Russian space. The service eventually took off and the airline issued a statement saying the journey times will be affected as they had to change flying route. The move added 1 hour and 10 minutes to the published schedules.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is a budget airline based in Hong Kong and using Hong Kong International Airport as its main hub. The first long haul route will be a direct London - Hong Kong route, with destinations in the EU (Milan, Berlin, Cologne/Bonn) and in the US (Oakland, Chicago) to follow shortly.

Oasis was established in February 2005 by a pastor, Rev. Raymond C. Lee and his wife, Priscilla H. Lee. The CEO, Steve Miller, was the founder and CEO of another Hong Kong based airline, Dragonair.

Oasis is flying 2 ex-Singapore airlines Boeing 747-412 aircrafts. The configuration will be 81 Business class seats and 278 Economy class seats.

The move is very relevant for the holiday home owners as it might mark the beginning of a trend for cheap air flights, which in turn might see holiday home owners moving further away from their home ground in their hunt for bargain holiday home deals. With the European real estate market becoming more and more competitive, it's a move many holiday home owners will contemplate. It's a move that, if successful, can really open the Asian real estate market to the European holiday home owner.

While it is a good news for holiday home owners who have more options, it is however a bad news for the environment. As flights get cheaper, more people are encouraged to fly and more carbon emissions we release into the atmosphere.

According to the UK National Statistics, during June to August 2006, there were 7.7 million visits to the UK by overseas residents - an increase of 5% compared to the same period on the previous year. Spending increased by 8% compared to the same period on the previous year, to £3.8 billion.

Visits overseas by UK residents showed an increase of 2% when compared to the same period an year earlier. Spending increased 6% to £8.3 billion.

Visits by overseas residents to the UK rose by 6% during the 12 months ending August 2006, from 29.5 million to 31.2 million. The number of visits from North American residents increased by 4% (to 4.4 million), from residents of Western Europe by 5% (to 20 million) and from other parts of the world by 10% (to 6.8 million).

In the same 12 month period, visits abroad by UK residents rose by 3% from 65.8 million to 67.7 million. Visits to North America decreased by 6% (to 4.7 million). However, visits to Western Europe increased by 2% (to 50.7 million) and to other parts of the world by 13% (to 12.4 million).