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COMMENT: Olympic slots

The next seven days are likely to be very important for GB Ltd in the eyes of the world.  London 2012 has arrived.  When IOC President Jacques Rogge declared that “the city of London” had won the right to hold the games for the third time many of the senior people in the air transport community were gathered at the Institute of Directors to hear the then Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon discuss his airline’s future.  His first, and clearly enjoyable, task was to announce the outcome of the 2005 Singapore vote.

Yes there could be minor hick-ups, exploited by bad news hungry press.  Nothing is perfect, but London does seem to be ready on time, on budget, and even with a reasonable weather forecast.  The airlines are coping well and Heathrow’s long established arrangements working to plan.  So far so good.  

From a business travel point of view it is believed that around 5,000 slots have been taken to date for non-scheduled aircraft in respect of the games, with perhaps another 3,000 to come.  As it is not a state occasion Presidents and the like do not take precedence (with the exception of those arriving at RAF Northolt).  Airport Coordination Ltd is looking after all matters but applications need to made to the fixed-base operators at the various airports.  Helicopters are banned over London with the exception of Battersea which is promoting the use of speedboats via Limehouse to the Olympic Park.

Unless travellers have diplomatic status or are part of the Olympic ‘family’ the problems are likely to be with ground transportation. 

It is understood that Luton is now fully booked and Cranfield, 20 miles on the M1 motorway to the north, is being offered as an alternative.  Stansted has plenty of space and aircraft parking facilities and an hourly train service to Stratford.
 
Southend could prove to be the most popular Olympic airport.  It also offers up to nine train services per hour to Stratford.  Biggin Hill is still open for bookings, and is ideal for the Greenwich venues.  Farnborough has plenty of slots, as has Oxford and Cambridge. 

It was predicted 12 months ago that the Olympics would require 10,000 slots and that not a hotel room would be available in London over the busiest two weeks.  So far both have been proven wrong.

In 1896 the founder of the modern Olympics Baron Pierre de Coubertin, summed up the whole culture of the occasion, true for all whether it be athlete, organiser or spectator "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part”. 

Get into the spirit of the games and enjoy until the final Paralympic event.

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A Fair Tax on Flying

The Fair Tax on Flying campaign is gaining much momentum, even with the Olympics as competition.  It is expected to pass the 100,000 email marker shortly.

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group are the latest organisations to throw their weight behind the mission which is calling for a major Treasury review into the impact of Air Passenger Duty (APD) on the UK economy.  Chris Fletcher of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: “We fully support A Fair Tax on Flying’s 2012 campaign and we will be encouraging businesses and travellers in the North West to make the case to their MPs.”

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American Airlines merger

Currently trading in Chapter 11, American Airlines has been sounding out a possible merger with US Airways.  US has limited North Atlantic services from Philadelphia and Charlotte and was created by a reverse take-over by America West, which still operates the rump of the routes.  It is also a member of Star Alliance.

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Chelsea FC and Delta

Delta Air Lines, the archetypical American air carrier, has struck a deal with Chelsea Football Club, the European Club Champions, to become its official airline sponsor.  Quite how this arrangement, with what is known in the US as a soccer club, was put to the board of the Atlanta-based airline has not been stated, but it might well be the first time the “the beautiful game”, is to be promoted by a United States' airline.

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Germanwings and luggage

Lufthansa’s Germanwings subsidiary has joined the budget airline luggage allowance war.

Bringing it in line with the legacy carriers the airline is raising the maximum weight for first luggage items from 20 to 23kg.  For its “Best” and “Flex” tariffs, one suitcase will be free of charge.  Customers with “Basic” tariff tickets will simply pay €10 for one piece of luggage if they check-in online.

Each additional item of luggage of up to 23kg will cost €70, cheaper than previously.

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Kabul from Delhi

India’s low-cost carrier SpiceJet is launching a three times a week service between Delhi and Kabul from 3 August.  Kabul is the carrier’s fourth international destination.  Already serving the route is Air India, Ariana Afghan Airlines and Safi Airways, the independent Afghanistan carrier.

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Lisa makes airplanes

Since it is a very serious product, designed to conform with the new US light sport aircraft regulations, and with regard to the somewhat wet weather we have had in the UK of late, BTNews is pleased to report that the French-built Lisa Akoya amphibian aircraft is to be demonstrated at Oskosh. 

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Warsaw-Modlin

The Polish capital gained its second international airport last week with the opening of Warsaw-Modlin Mazovia.  The airport is expected to be mainly used by low-cost carriers as an alternative to the main Warsaw Chopin International airport and handle up to 5,000 passengers per day. Previously a military airfield, it has the IATA code of WMI and is about 40km (25 miles) northwest of the Polish capital. 

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ON TOUR: Cutty Sark

You may have seen on TV over the weekend the first man to sail around the world single handed, Sir Robin Knox Johnson, with the Olympic flame in his hand, run by the Cutty Sark resting in its final home at Greenwich.  It was a symbolic gesture to the gods of sailing.

Cutty Sark was completed in Dumbarton in 1869, the year that the Suez Canal opened, making her and her fellow clipper ships seemingly redundant overnight.  Strange that exactly 100 years later QE2 went into service just as Concorde was making her maiden flight, the death knell of the transatlantic liner. 

Just like the QE2, Cutty Sark was something special not to be quickly consigned to a premature end.  Today she sits close to the National Maritime Museum (which she is now part of) having survived a dramatic fire in 2007.  In April of this year she was reopened by the Queen, together with the Duke of Edinburgh, who has been closely involved with the ship since she arrived in her purpose-built dry dock in 1954.

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AND FINALLY: “The Open” has just been won

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and Murray was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot when a voice came over the clubhouse loudspeaker:

"Would the gentleman on the Ladies' tee back up to the men's tee, please!"

The former airline Captain was still deep in his routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption.

Again the announcement - "Would the MAN on the WOMEN'S tee kindly back up to the men's tee!"

He had had enough.

He straightens up.

And then shouts,

"Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot?"

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