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Air transport in the news

Inevitably air transport has been in the news over the last seven days with IATA meeting in Beijing, leaks coming from Downing Street that the Government, in the shape of the Prime Minister, may have changed its mind on Heathrow's third runway, and Flybe announcing further losses.  This drowned an important assertion by the Exeter-based airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Jim French, concerning APD.

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Air France and KLM trial wi-fi

Never one to rush into things, many airlines are already well down the in-flight wi-fi route, in partnership with Panasonic, Air France-KLM are launching a joint in-flight connectivity programme on board their long-haul flights, with trials starting early 2013.

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Boeing hits the road

The visit to London of Randy Tinseth, Vice President Marketing (see issue 14 May), was quickly followed by Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing’s Commercial Aircraft Division, speaking to the Aviation Club at the Institute of Directors.  It is all part of a war of words (and orders) with Airbus, leading up to Farnborough.

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DoubleTree Dubai

Hilton Worldwide has signed an agreement to convert The Royal Ascot Hotel into a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, the second DoubleTree branded property planned for Dubai and the third for the UAE (in Ras Al Khaimah).

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easyJet official Olympic carrier

Gatwick Airport is to welcome Olympic athletes over the coming weeks with the news that Jordan has become the first country to make a budget airline its official Olympic Games carrier, choosing easyJet.  The airline flies three times per week between the South London airport and Amman.  It is also the first instance of a UK carrier sponsoring a foreign team.

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Flybe makes loss

Exeter-based Flybe has reported a £6.4m loss for the year ending 31 March, compared to a £3.8m profit for the preceding 12 months. 

Revenue for the year – including new subsidiary Flybe Nordic – was £678.8m, up 14% on last year’s £595.5m.  Without Flybe Nordic revenue rose 3.3% to £615.3m.  Passenger numbers increased 7.6m, up 5.8% on the previous year’s figure.

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Langham for Sydney

Sydney is the latest destination for the Hong Kong based Langham Hospitality Group.  The Observatory Hotel, located near Sydney’s historical Rocks district is scheduled to become part of the Group on 8 August 2012.

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Ryanair and the OFT

Ryanair may be forced to sell its minority stake in Aer Lingus after a decision by the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT), a Government department, to refer the matter to the Competition Commission.

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Victoria Z hotel

Today (18 June) sees the opening of London’s second Z Hotel, in Lower Belgrave Street, just off Buckingham Palace Road, and close by Victoria Station.  With eight floors it features 106 rooms.

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Vueling launches Vueling Pass

A mixture of both low cost and full service (it flies into Heathrow), Vueling, the Spanish airline, has launched its own branded VIP pass.  It can be used in the executive lounges at 10 European airports, offering preferential boarding and other benefits to card holders.

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ON TOUR: Business Travel Market

Under the new ownership of Reed Exhibitions, who also run World Travel Market, the Business Travel Market (BTM) took place last week at London’s Excel exhibition centre in Docklands.  Much was the same as in previous years with Paul Robin, who created the show in a private capacity in 2009, still very much in charge.  Visitor numbers and exhibitors were on par with the previous year, but what was very obvious was the relatively large number of European visitors coming in from Heathrow on the hosted buyers scheme.  Exhibitors Gutsi (Green urban transport sustainability initiative), and Heathrow Express provided an electric bus shuttle to Paddington and onward travel to Heathrow.

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AND FINALLY:

A clean ‘mother-in-law’ joke

From our friends at IFALPA. 

One could argue this is not a travel joke but does involve a taxi.  It is funny.

A couple were going out for the evening to celebrate wife’s birthday. They had got ready - all dressed up, put the cat out, etc.

The taxi arrived, and as the couple walked out of their home, the cat ran back into the house.

Not wanting their often rowdy cat to have free run of the house while they were out, the husband went back upstairs to chase the cat out.

The wife, not wishing it known that the house would be empty, explained to the taxi driver, "He’s just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother".

A few minutes later, the husband got into the car.  "Sorry I took so long", he said.  "Stupid old thing was hiding under the bed and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out!"

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