1 JUNE 2015
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Andrew Harrison, Managing Director, Stansted Airport
- A380 Malaysia sale?
- Aer Lingus and IAG
- Berlin’s white elephant?
- Bournemouth Hampton
- Deakin stands down at NATS
- Edinburgh Airport
- Flight delay compensation and BA
- Flying with pets
- Gatwick v Heathrow
- Heathrow v Gatwick
- John Holland-Kaye at the Aviation Club
- Laker Airways
- London City redevelopment
- Paris Air Show
- Roof-top tea in Oxford Street
- Ryanair profits
- Singapore Airlines incident
- Stobart Air – Aer Lingus Regional
- Titan gains wi-fi
- UK rail strike
- ON TOUR: EBACE celebrates 15th year
- CRUISE NEWS JUNE 2015
- AND FINALLY: Somewhat confused in Liverpool
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Deakin stands down at NATS
Air traffic control body NATS has announced that Richard Deakin, Chief Executive, is standing down.
Flying with pets
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created a comprehensive guide highlighting the different rules and regulations across major airlines for travelling with ‘man’s best friend’.
This can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website and follows a series of useful pieces of research by the car park operator. (Go to SEARCH on the BTN website “APH”)
Singapore Airlines incident
On 23 May a Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 carrying 182 passengers and 12 crew members suffered a loss of power in both engines. The aircraft dropped 13,000ft before regaining altitude en route from Singapore to Shanghai.
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ON THE SOAPBOX: Andrew Harrison, Managing Director, Stansted Airport
While all the news coverage over the last few months has concerned Gatwick and Heathrow, London’s third airport, Stansted, has been just getting on with its business. It has a vital part to play in the future of UK air transport.
Andrew Harrison joined London Stansted Airport as Managing Director in March 2013 and has worked for the Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G) since 2005 having joined as Commercial Director of Manchester Airport. He became Managing Director of Manchester Airport in 2010 and then Chief Operating Officer for M.A.G in 2012.
Aer Lingus and IAG
The Irish government has formally accepted the IAG bid for its share of Aer Lingus with various built in guaranties. However a take-over is still subject to EU competition scrutiny, considered a formality by most experts in the field, and the acquisition of the largest share element, the 29% held by Ryanair.
Berlin’s white elephant?
Repeatedly delayed due to red tape and technical problems, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is on course to open in 2017, according to a spokesman, denying a media report it could end up as a white elephant.
Gatwick v Heathrow
Last Friday (29 May) was the closing date for public comment on the impact of airport expansion on air quality (See BTN 11 May).
Gatwick Airport chose to hold a series of high-powered briefings attacking Heathrow fronted by Chief Executive Stewart Wingate. There is nothing friendly about this confrontation. The stakes are high and the message from the South London airport clear.
Heathrow v Gatwick
Following Gatwick’s media round last Friday which featured prominently in London TV, radio and press Heathrow Airport Ltd issued the following statement. (see Gatwick v Heathrow in this issue)
John Holland-Kaye at the Aviation Club
Next Thursday (4 June) will see many in the airline industry gathering at London’s Institute of Directors for an Aviation Club luncheon.
Laker Airways
Following the mention of Laker Airways in last week’s edition (See BTN 25 May “Long Haul Low-Cost”) John Jones, the former Commercial Director of the airline has been in touch.
Ryanair profits
Whilst Ryanair ponders on the future of its Aer Lingus stake, and also no doubt considers what to do for its 30th anniversary in July, the airline has announced record profits for the 12 months ending 31 March.
UK rail strike
Talks will continue today (Monday 1 June) to try to avert National rail strikes called by the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) trade union for Thursday 4 June for 24 hours, and 9 June for 48 hours. Both start at 17:00, designed to cause the maximum disruption.
ON TOUR: EBACE celebrates 15th year
Alison Chambers reports from Geneva and a record European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE).
CRUISE NEWS JUNE 2015
It has been a very newsworthy couple of months regarding ships as the UK cruise industry reaches out towards two million annual packages. It has not made it yet (1.7m is predicted for this year) but there is much new capacity being very publicly unveiled, and the established stars are also doing well in the publicity stakes.
See also CRUISE INTELLIGENCE below
The Queen named Britannia in March; Anthem of the Seas made its debut just a few weeks later and BTN in this issue introduces Explorer of the Seas following a major refurbishment.
Liverpool set new standards for city hospitality when it hosted Cunard’s three Queens last week.
A380 Malaysia sale?
All might well be revealed this week regarding its A380 prospects when Malaysia Airlines is expected to disclose future fleet plans. It has been placed in voluntary administration as part of a restructuring under its government owners.
Bournemouth Hampton
Now a member of the Premier League (in football terms) Bournemouth is in the news once again (see BTN 11 May and 25 May).
Edinburgh Airport
It might seem some way off but both scheduled and holiday airlines are now busy selling their 2016 summer programmes. It is good for ‘cash flow’ too.
Flight delay compensation and BA
A firm of solicitors has issued a statement concerning a judgement handed down last Friday (29 May) at Staines County Court in the case of Davies v British Airways Plc. District Judge Beck ruled in favour of the couple fining BA €800 for a delay of 3hrs 51mins on a flight from Catania to Gatwick in 2012.
London City redevelopment
A £16m redevelopment programme is set to transform departures at London City Airport (LCY).
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show looms up with the opening day Monday 15 June, the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the French public, by which time most sensible people in the aerospace business would have escaped.
Roof-top tea in Oxford Street
London’s Marriott Hotel Park Lane has opened a rooftop food and drinks venue.
Stobart Air – Aer Lingus Regional
Aer Lingus Regional, the trading name of Stobart Air, has experienced 2.5% growth in the year to date, flying over 338,000 passengers in the first four months of 2015. By summer 2015, it will operate 680 flights per week across 31 routes from 24 departures points throughout Ireland, UK, France, Germany and Netherlands.
Titan gains wi-fi
Stansted-based charter and sub-charter specialist Titan Airways has begun to equip its growing narrow-body fleet with an installed IFE streaming platform provided by Media in Motion (MiM), a UK-based provider of modular and wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions.