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London is the hub for convenient, cheap flights throughout Europe

A large number of people who fly to London on business do no business in London.

In the past few years, a number of cut-rate airlines in Europe have changed the way business people travel throughout Europe. From the five London airports, a traveler has the opportunity to fly to more than 200 European destinations and back the same day. Ryanair (which I tend to think of as Air Walmart), East Jet, Flybe, bmibaby, Air Berlin, Germanwings and many others operate more than 2,000 flights per day from London.

Because all of Europe, with the exception of Russia, is roughly the same area as the U.S. east of Chicago, 90 percent of the flights are less than two hours, and 60 percent are less than one hour.

The European air system also is different from that of the U.S., in that our airlines concentrate flights in major hubs in order to allow multiple transfers and connections. The European airlines concentrate their activities in certain cities, because connections and transfers are rare.

By using London as a base, one can stay in the same hotel, thus avoiding the constant and almost mandatory baggage check at the airport, and the daily hassle of checking in and out of hotels.

Not long ago, I made visits to Germany, Italy and France on three successive days, while staying at and traveling from Stansted Airport in London. By staying at the Radisson Hotel, located about 50 yards from the front door of the airport, I was able to walk to the gate every morning and back to the hotel each evening when I returned.

Using the services of a printer at the hotel, I was able to print out my boarding passes for each flight as well. Instead of the usual two or three hour scramble to the airport, standing in line to check a bag and obtain a boarding pass, I was able to leave my hotel room 30 minutes before the flight and casually walk on board.

This type of itinerary obviously is not what the tourist is looking for, but if one is truly traveling on business, then this is a way to get the best use of time and money.

Ryanair and the other cut-rate airlines have done for the airline industry what Walmart has done for retail shopping. If you are looking for club lounges, frequent flyer points or miles, or anything other than economy seating, forget it! But if you are looking for the cheapest way to fly from point A to point B, this is the way.

Like Walmart, these cut rate airlines also have forced the traditional airlines to cut their fares. Despite the ambiance of a commuter train or a Greyhound bus, these airlines offer the business traveler exactly what most of us are looking for; convenient schedules and value for the money.

The fact that Ryanair has been the most profitable airline in the world for the past five years should send a message

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