6 JULY 2015
- ON THE SOAPBOX: Brenda Dean – Chair of Runways UK Advisory Board
- Airport wi-fi
- Airports Commission report
- ANA to Brussels
- Chelsea – Delta continue relationship
- Chopin Airport extended
- Crossrail for London City?
- Delta – Virgin route swop
- Eastern Airlines flies again
- Jane Middleton for BATA
- Jumeirah Turkey
- JW Marriott Venice Resort
- London airports surge ahead
- Mumbai St Regis
- Northolt not overlooked by Davies
- Peter Woodman retires
- Quieter Lufthansa
- Ryanair ditched by Hertz
- The watchword is ‘Priority’ for oneworld
- ON TOUR: Porto
- CRUISE NEWS JULY 2015
- AND FINALLY
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Chopin Airport extended
Warsaw Chopin Airport opened its 60,000sq m extension timely for the Star Alliance Chief Executives gathering (see last week’s issue). In fact it was not an extension at all, but the rebuilding of an existing facility, seamlessly connected to the building known as Terminal A.
Eastern Airlines flies again
Do not get too excited. In its time Eastern Airlines was one of the great American airlines, if not quite Pan Am. At one point its routes included London but it went spectacularly bust in 1991.
JW Marriott Venice Resort
Isola delle Rose (Rose Island) is the private island in the Venetian lagoon that the new JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa calls home. It is now officially open.
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SPANISH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO STRIKE
11, 12, 25, 26 July for three hours each day
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ON THE SOAPBOX: Brenda Dean – Chair of Runways UK Advisory Board
The Rt Hon Baroness Dean of Thornton le Fyde (Brenda Dean), is a Partnership Board Director of National Air Traffic Services (NATS). She is President of Abbeyfield Society and Non-Executive Director of the housing and regeneration company, Places for People, and Council Member of the University of Nottingham.
She was Chairman of the Freedom to Fly campaign and has been Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body; the Housing Corporation and Covent Garden Market Authority. She was the first woman to be elected General Secretary of a major manufacturing trade union – the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades.
Airports Commission report
Not unexpectedly the government sponsored Airports Commission last Wednesday (1 July) reported in favour of Heathrow as the site for London’s new runway.
ANA to Brussels
Brussels is to be directly linked to Tokyo for the first time.
Crossrail for London City?
Sharp-eared listeners at last week’s House of Commons air transport networking reception heard Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill mention a link by Crossrail to London City Airport.
Was it is mistake? It was said very quietly.
London airports surge ahead
Figures now available show that in the 12 months until the end of March 149,002,951 passengers passed through London’s six airports, a rise of 6% on the previous year.
Northolt not overlooked by Davies
Contrary to reports by the BBC, the use of RAF Northolt to deal with the current deficiency crisis of London flights from the regions has not been ruled out by the Airports Commission (see in this issue). “A plan to open up RAF Northolt – about six miles from Heathrow – for short haul civilian flights was also rejected.” Not so. Paragraph 15.4 says: “The Commission has not taken a position regarding the future use of civilian capacity at RAF Northolt.”
Ryanair ditched by Hertz
It came out of the blue just before midday last Thursday (1 July). A terse press release by Ryanair to the effect that the airline had been ditched by Hertz, one of the world’s largest car rental companies. See also AND FINALLY
The watchword is ‘Priority’ for oneworld
Oneworld, the airline grouping, is to make it easier for frequent flyers to see where they can take advantage of the privileges the alliance offers them at airports, making their journeys just that little bit smoother.
ON TOUR: Porto
For the British holidaymaker (and businessman) Portugal has a lot going for it. The weather is generally very kind, they keep to the same time zone as the United Kingdom, and with the current £/€ ratio it is cheap.
Our choice for a weekend break was Porto (Oporto was a British translation now falling out of favour) taking in a package organised by Bravo Travel.
CRUISE NEWS JULY 2015
For July month we concentrate on rivers cruises for the most part.
With the August BTN expects to offer the latest sea going ship deals and a review of Vision of the Seas by Wendy Long, the editor’s retired assistant, who with husband Peter, is just back from 12 nights in the Mediterranean. They had a fine holiday on one of RCCL’s smaller ships.
Airport wi-fi
A strong internet connection is important when you are travelling, especially when you are working remotely. The Rotten Wifi App found the top 10 airports with the fastest wi-fi and put them into a handy infographic. Users of the app tested out and rated more than 130 airports in 53 countries around the world. Europe has the most airports on the list with five – the United States has two.
Chelsea – Delta continue relationship
Delta Air Lines has inked a new three-year deal with Chelsea Football Club as the club’s official airline sponsor. Chelsea is the English Premier League champions.
Delta – Virgin route swop
The partnership between Virgin Atlantic (VS) and Delta Air Lines (DL), 49% owner of Virgin, is to be further cemented this coming winter.
Effective 7 October Delta is to drop its daily flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles. From that date onwards Virgin Atlantic will be twice daily on the route but also carrying a DL code-share. It is also flown by Air New Zealand, American Airlines and British Airways.
Jane Middleton for BATA
The trade body for UK airlines, the British Air Transport Association (BATA), has a new Chairman, Jane Middleton taking up her role on 1 July, when Dr Barry Humphreys, Chairman for the last six years, stands down.
Jumeirah Turkey
Now open is the Jumeirah Bodrum Palace, formerly The Golden Savoy.
Mumbai St Regis
The famous Palladium Hotel in Mumbai is to become a St Regis Hotel and will fly the flag for the iconic brand in India from the third quarter of 2015.
Peter Woodman retires
His name may not be familiar to most, and his face unknown, but Peter Woodman’s words would have been read by virtually every person in the land over the last 36 years. Everywhere on the globe where English language newspapers are produced has used his copy. Peter Woodman, Transport Correspondent of the Press Association (PA) has retired.
Quieter Lufthansa
Experts from Lufthansa Technik will be equipping the 100th aircraft of the Lufthansa A320 fleet with sound-reducing vortex generators in the next few weeks.