9 NOVEMBER 2015
- COMMENT: New arrival at BA
- Airbus crash latest
- Alex Cruz for British Airways
- AOA 2015 Wingate v Holland-Kaye
- Branson launches Hawaii
- China's rival to A320/B737
- Commons Environmental Committee
- Delta axes Atlanta – Dubai
- Fast connection for Marriott
- Flybe deploys surplus Embraer jets
- Heathrow tenders out for R3
- Hertz and WTM
- Hogan at the Royal Aeronautical Society
- Jaguar targets 11-17 year olds
- Oriental food joins BA menus
- Oxford Airport to London
- Qatar celebrates Dreamliner
- Sheraton Sydney major refurb
- Sustainable Aviation at Parliament
- Twenty years at the same price
- WTM United States visa announcement
- ON TOUR: WTM 2015
- MOTORING UPDATE: Range Rover 3.0L Signature
- AND FINALLY: Nice to see you, to see you – Nice!
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
China's rival to A320/B737
China has surged into the market for narrow-bodied passenger aircraft with the unveiling of the C919 twin-engine jetliner to compete with Boeing and Airbus. It is due to fly next year and enter airline service in 2019.
Fast connection for Marriott
Courtyard by Marriott has opened its third property in Japan with the arrival of the Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station hotel, a one-minute walk from the Shin-Osaka bullet train station.
Hertz and WTM
With new Senior International Vice President Sales & Marketing Jim Mueller very visible Hertz put on an alternative show at World Travel Market (See ON TOUR in this issue).
Sheraton Sydney major refurb
Australia’s largest hotel, the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney at Darling Harbour, has launched a Aus$200m redevelopment plan to spearhead the revitalisation of the area as Australia’s leading meeting destination.
COMMENT: New arrival at BA
easyJet may carry more passengers but British Airways is still our national flag carrier as far as the world is concerned. For the most part it does it very well.
The appointment of Alex Cruz (see below) as Chairman and Chief Executive comes as no surprise. As CEO of Vueling he was intimately involved with that airline's successful takeover by IAG, and has seen it grow further under the tutelage of Willie Walsh. When he arrives at BA next April he will find it in rude health and its future clearly marked out, a tribute to the quiet work by retiring Chairman and Chief Executive Keith Williams over the last 18 years.
Airbus crash latest
The Russian operated, but Irish registered Airbus A321 that crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula broke up in mid-air, an official of the Moscow-based Intergovernmental Aviation Committee said after visiting the disaster site, but stressed it was too early to draw conclusions. The Moscow-based agency represents governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups Russia and other former Soviet republics.
Alex Cruz for British Airways
International Airlines Group has announced that Alex Cruz is to replace Keith Williams as Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways in April 2016 when he retires after 18 years at the airline.
AOA 2015 Wingate v Holland-Kaye
The Airport Operators Association (AOA), the industry trade body, has updated the speakers’ list for its two-day UK Aviation Conference 23/24 November, organised in conjunction with BATA, BAR UK and the Royal Aeronautical Society. The Chief Executives of Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye, and Gatwick, Stewart Wingate will both speak on different days at the London Hilton Metropole.
Commons Environmental Committee
With both Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith offering scrutiny last week’s appearance by Heathrow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye before the Commons Environmental Committee was bound to be a testy affair.
Flybe deploys surplus Embraer jets
With its half year results due on Wednesday (11 November), Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, has resolved its last major legacy issue through the redeployment of all its remaining surplus Embraer E195 aircraft.
Hogan at the Royal Aeronautical Society
"New competition in global air travel must not be stamped out by the entrenched interests of the legacy carriers", said James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, delivering the 2015 Brabazon Lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.
Jaguar targets 11-17 year olds
The second Monday of each month is when Guild of Motoring Writers member Ted Wilkinson features a road test. On 14 September it was the all-new Jaguar XE. Today it is another car from the same owner, the Range Rover 3.0L Signature.
Oriental food joins BA menus
British Airways has added a Taste of the Far East menu to its line-up of pre-paid inflight dining options for long-haul Economy passengers in its World Traveller cabins.
Sustainable Aviation at Parliament
The air transport industry, and Westminster in all its facets, gathered on the Terrace of Parliament last week for the 10th anniversary reception of Sustainable Aviation, the lobbying alliance.
Twenty years at the same price
Easyjet officially celebrates its 20th anniversary tomorrow (Tuesday 10 November) and is marking the occasion – and highlighting its low-fares heritage – by releasing details of research on changing consumer prices since it started in 1995.
ON TOUR: WTM 2015
John Burke has visited 79 countries as a travel writer and photographer. He has attended World Travel Market (WTM) since 1985, and also been a regular to ITB in Berlin and Resalivet in Oslo.
MOTORING UPDATE: Range Rover 3.0L Signature
On Test with Ted Wilkinson of The Guild of Motoring Writers
The Ultimate 4x4?
Plus “NO SPEED LIMIT” by Stuart Bladon
Branson launches Hawaii
San Francisco-based Virgin America celebrated the launch of its new service from its home airport to Honolulu last week with an Hawaiian-style send-off for the inaugural flight.
Delta axes Atlanta – Dubai
Airlines in the US are attacking what they say are unfair subsidies being paid to Middle East carriers for forcing them off key routes, despite the Open Skies agreement between the countries.
Heathrow tenders out for R3
Managers at Heathrow Airport are already lining up potential contractors to build its third runway although the Government has, as yet, not followed up the Airports Commission recommendation that its proposed scheme should go ahead.
Oxford Airport to London
With the opening of the new Chiltern Railways service to London Marylebone (see BTN 26 October) Oxford Airport has begun offering business jet passengers and crew complimentary shuttle services to and from the new Parkway station by the Water Eaton park-and-ride site.
Qatar celebrates Dreamliner
After what might be called a ‘slow start’ the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is really taking off.
WTM United States visa announcement
US Ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Gil Kerlikowski announced the expansion of its Global Entry programme at World Travel Market. (See ON TOUR) This Programme allows for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travellers. UK citizens can register from 3 December.