14 SEPTEMBER 2015
YOUR WORDS
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- BTN’s visiting Editor
- COMMENT SPECIAL: The (even) shorter Heathrow runway
- Airports fight APD plan
- BA fire at Las Vegas
- Biggin hosts BGAD
- bmi and Loganair to rationalise
- easyJet booms
- Economy Class beds
- Flight tag printing
- Goldcar and the UK
- Hanoi International Airport
- Heathrow’s new bus service
- Lufthansa strikes
- Madrid Airport rail link
- New Hilton for London
- Oktoberfest time!
- São Paulo Airport hotel
- Save UK airfields petition
- Southend appointments
- The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest
- W Hotels opens in Amsterdam
- WTM and “the Terminator”
- ON TOUR: Exploring Western Australia
- MOTORING UPDATE: Jaguar XE Portfolio
- AND FINALLY: An airport at Kings Cross
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Biggin hosts BGAD
This year’s UK Business & General Aviation Day, or BGAD, takes off on Tuesday (September 15) at Biggin Hill.
easyJet booms
With carryings topping the seven million number for August, the second month in a row it has exceeded the magic figure, easyJet has raised its full-year profit outlook. As of Friday 11 September the share price stood at 1760.
Madrid Airport rail link
Spanish Minister of Development Ana Pastor has announced that a new and faster Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport rail line will open later in September, a month earlier than originally planned.
The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest
Budapest, Hungary is to have Ritz Carlton from Spring 2016. Following an extensive renovation programme The Elizabeth Park Hotel, once a La Méridien will be rebranded The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest.
BTN’s visiting Editor
Richard Cawthorne has been appointed Visiting Editor at Business Travel News and next week will publish his first issue.
Richard started his journalistic life as a reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norwich before venturing into the world of travel. His appointments since have included Deputy Editor of the then BEA News; Senior Press Officer, British Caledonian Airways; US Editor, Travel Weekly; and most recently Editor, Travel GBI. If you are in the news-providing business do keep him informed at richardcawthorne@btinternet.com
COMMENT SPECIAL: The (even) shorter Heathrow runway
Following Jock Lowe’s plea that the extended northern runway is the answer to the Prime Minister’s dilemma, aviation expert David Starkie has come up with the idea of a shortened version of the Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) scheme.
Airports fight APD plan
The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has challenged the government to use the debate over Air Passenger Duty (APD) to review the tax and introduce a fairer version for the whole of the UK.
Responding to the Treasury Discussion Paper on options for supporting English regional airports from the impacts of APD devolution, the board says the current government clearly recognises it inherited a deeply-flawed air tax but tinkering is no solution to the challenges posed by tax devolution.
BA fire at Las Vegas
A Gatwick bound British Airways Boeing 777-200 BA 2276 suffered a serious engine fire at Las Vegas, Mccarran, International Airport last Wednesday 9 September. All 172 people on board got away relatively uninjured after using the escape chutes as the aircraft began its take-off run.
Economy Class beds
Chameleon Products, the specialist interior supplier and Flying Service, a UK-based aircraft seat manufacturer, have collaborated to produce the world's first economy bed seat, called ESP Xtra which BTN previewed 23 February.
Hanoi International Airport
The new terminal 2 at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi is now fully operational and doubles the capacity at the Vietnamese capital.
Lufthansa strikes
It looks like the wave of Lufthansa strikes, which has disrupted travel plans for many, are over after a judge in Frankfurt said that the union's reason for the latest strike was to fight low-cost expansion.
Southend appointments
Two industry specialists have been appointed by Stobart Aviation, operator of the airports at Southend and Carlisle Lake District, to spearhead its operations. Glyn Jones becomes Chief Executive Officer of Stobart and Jon Horne steps up as Chief Operating Officer.
WTM and “the Terminator”
The man dubbed “the Terminator” and charged with restructuring Malaysia Airlines following its annus horribilis in 2014 will headline World Travel Market London 2015’s Aviation Programme.
ON TOUR: Exploring Western Australia
By way of an introduction to Richard Cawthorne joining Business Travel News as Visiting Editor (see BTN’s Visiting Editor in this issue) he has written a travelog about Western Australia, a practical destination from the UK, but perhaps not that popular due to the distance involved and no direct flights. The beach he describes is a long way from Perth, Capital of the State, but clearly worth the effort.
MOTORING UPDATE: Jaguar XE Portfolio
On Test with Ted Wilkinson of The Guild of Motoring Writers
Compact Jag Worth The Wait
AND FINALLY: An airport at Kings Cross
When planes were small and buildings expected to be large, putting an airport right in the centre of a city was seen as a very sensible idea.
And thus it was that in 1931, an architect showed off one of the most famous of architectural “bonkers ideas”, an airport at King’s Cross.
bmi and Loganair to rationalise
Following the recent creation of Airline Investments Ltd (AIL), combining the separate bmi regional and Loganair brands, the group plans to consolidate its headquarters under one location at East Midlands Airport.
Flight tag printing
Maybe other airlines already offer the service, certainly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line does (see in this issue) with all paperwork sent via email.
Goldcar and the UK
As one of the leading recreational car rental companies in Spain Goldcar is expanding its marketing activities in the United Kingdom.
It has launched Rhodium, a premium option as it embarks on a new stage of international growth, to expand its consolidated position in the Mediterranean to new global markets.
Heathrow’s new bus service
Passengers heading to Heathrow from the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead areas now have an extended 24hr bus service on routes 75 and 78 into the Central Terminal zone to make their journeys easier.
The new service has been launched as part of the airport’s £1m Local Transport Development Fund, which is operated in partnership with the Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead councils and First Group.
New Hilton for London
London has a new Hilton on the way with the opening next month of the Hilton London Bankside close to the City, Tate Modern, the Thames, Borough Market and Shakespeare's Globe.
Oktoberfest time!
In just a few weeks, it will be "take-off" time for the Munich folk costume crew during Oktoberfest the traditional city beer festival week.
São Paulo Airport hotel
Terminal 3 São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport Brazil, now has a Tryp by Wyndham hotel. It is the busiest airport in Latin America with 40m annual passengers.
Save UK airfields petition
Anyone involved or interested in UK general aviation is being urged to join a campaign to change the classification of airfields from ‘brownfield’ sites in an attempt to avoid them being used for future housing.
W Hotels opens in Amsterdam
W Hotels Worldwide will make its debut in the Dutch capital next week with the opening of W Amsterdam behind the Royal Palace between Dam Square and the canal district.