30 JUNE 2014
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- COMMENT: Don’t forget the regions
- A350 test fleet complete
- Aerohub’s success
- Air France’s social success
- BA view from above
- Backdated delay claims allowed
- Etihad’s 200th trainee
- Flyafrica.com launched
- French strike chaos (again!)
- Hilton partners with Garuda
- HS3 for the North?
- LEAP into life
- London buses go cashless
- Monarch winter routes
- New 787-9 certified
- Queen opens T2
- Return of the Super Star
- Turkish Airlines' extra 737s
- Vueling codeshare
- World Cup blues – the upside!
- Zagrosjet to Europe
- ON TOUR: Ypres, Belgium
- AND FINALLY: “Austrian Rock”
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Air France’s social success
Air France has been nominated as Europe’s best airline for using social media in customer service. The award, made by an independent jury, is a great testament to the abilities of the airline’s social media customer service centre.
Etihad’s 200th trainee
Last week Etihad Airways welcomed the latest group of graduates from its innovative development programme to join divisions across the airline as pilots, managers, contact centre staff and technical engineers.
Hilton partners with Garuda
Hilton HHonors, the loyalty programme for Hilton Worldwide’s eleven hotel brands, has announced a new partnership with Garuda Indonesia, the national carrier of Indonesia.
COMMENT: Don’t forget the regions
With the various discussions surrounding the future expansion of London airports, it seems to be forgotten that the rest of the United Kingdom also has its fair share of airports.
This weeks BTN is brought to you by Stephen Bridgewater (Guest Editor)
A350 test fleet complete
On June 20 the fifth Airbus A350 XWB flight test aircraft took to the skies for the first time. This aircraft (MSN005) completes the five-strong development fleet and the second passenger cabin-equipped A350.
BA view from above
Choosing from more than 180 different routes, British Airways’ pilots have taken part in a special poll to select their top ten views from the air.
Flyafrica.com launched
A new African budget airline has launched with a plan to offer very low fares between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
HS3 for the North?
This week the Chancellor, George Osborne MP, announced a plan to boost the economy of the North by building England’s third high-speed rail link. Immediately dubbed ‘HS3’ by many in the media, the new network will initially link Manchester and Leeds but will ultimately stretch from Liverpool to Hull.
London buses go cashless
From July 6 it will no longer be possible to hop on a London bus and pay with cash.
Monarch winter routes
Monarch, the UK’s leading scheduled airline to leisure destinations, has announced a new route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Gran Canaria for winter 2014/15.
Queen opens T2
On June 26 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the new terminal at London’s Heathrow Airport, unveiling a plaque that names the facility ‘Terminal 2: the Queen’s Terminal’, in recognition of her long association with the airport.
Return of the Super Star
Lufthansa’s airworthy restoration of a Lockheed Super Star (L-1649A Super Constellation) is making great progress and the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung (DLBS) has released details of the airliner’s modernised cockpit.
World Cup blues – the upside!
England’s early departure from the World Cup may have been a blow for football fans, but it has provided a great boost to the tourism industry.
ON TOUR: Ypres, Belgium
As the world prepares to commemorate the centenary of the start of the Great War, Stephen Bridgewater makes a pilgrimage to Ypres in Belgium
AND FINALLY: “Austrian Rock”
For some time Airbus has been engaged in programmes to limit fuel burn.
Aerohub’s success
Local Growth Minister Kris Hopkins MP has made an official ministerial visit to Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport to mark the aerospace Enterprise Zone’s success.
Backdated delay claims allowed
The Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in the Dawson vs Thomson Airways case, confirming that flight delay compensation claims can now be made up to six years from the date of the flight.
French strike chaos (again!)
French air traffic control staff held Europe to ransom once again last week as they began yet another round of industrial action. This is the fourth such strike in the last twelve months.
LEAP into life
CFM International has successfully begun ground testing of the first all-new LEAP-1B jet engine. The new high-bypass turbofan powerplant will be used exclusively on the Boeing 737 MAX airliner.
New 787-9 certified
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has now been certified by both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for commercial service. Boeing is now in the final stages of preparing for the first 787-9 delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand.
Turkish Airlines' extra 737s
Turkish Airlines has finalised an order for 15 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8s, valued at $1.6 billion at list prices. The order follows the announcement in May 2013 when the Turkish flag carrier placed the largest Boeing order in the airline's history for 50 737 MAXs and 20 Next-Generation 737s.
Vueling codeshare
British Airways customers now have access to new destinations and scores more routes, with the airline adding its flight code to more than 170 Vueling services.
Zagrosjet to Europe
Zagrosjet, the new flag carrier of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, has announced it will begin operations to Amsterdam, Netherlands on June 26 and Munich, Germany two days later on June 28. Both services will be flown weekly by the rapidly growing Iraqi airline.