15 FEBRUARY 2016
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- ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Brian Donohoe, former MP
- Airport decision "by the summer"
- Amy Johnson flying scholarship
- ANA live TV
- Artistic Manchester Airport
- BA at Stansted
- Carsten Spohr at Aviation Club
- Crisis management and IATA
- Crossrail update
- Delta North Atlantic
- East Midlands gains Eurowings
- easyJet pulls Gatwick flights
- Europe to New York
- Gatwick's second runway
- Goldsmith quiet over Heathrow
- Luton to Zurich
- Oman Air at Heathrow
- SAS goes 'light'
- Somalia bombing update
- Southampton’s four new airlines
- Taxi plan for easyjet
- ON TOUR: Not yet Eldorado
- AND FINALLY: Bureaucracy gone mad
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ANA live TV
Panasonic Avionics and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have announced a partnership to launch ANA Sky Live TV and broadband internet services on its aircraft flying domestic routes across Japan.
Delta North Atlantic
Delta will be offering six new routes for summer 2016 between Europe and the United States.
Somalia bombing update
Surveillance video footage taken at Mogadishu airport shows two men handing what appears to be a laptop computer to the suspected suicide bomber of a Daallo Airlines A321 after he passed through a security checkpoint.
ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Brian Donohoe, former MP
Brian Donohoe was the Labour MP for Central Ayrshire from 1992 to 2015, with Prestwick airport on the boundary. During that time he was a member of the Transport Select Committee and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Aviation, the latter producing a well-received report on Air Passenger Duty and Aviation Policy. Since his retirement he has maintained an interest in air transport and helping the development of Prestwick.
Airport decision "by the summer"
Summoned by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee to update members on the Airport Commission's recommendations Transport Minister Patrick Mcloughlin said last Monday (8 February) that he did not think a June EU referendum vote would derail the current timetable for deciding on expanding either Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport, or Gatwick, the second-busiest.
Artistic Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport has seen the results of its first ever international artist in residence capturing the buzz of its expanding global route network.
BA at Stansted
British Airways is to begin flying from Stansted (STN) this summer under the CityFlyer banner. Its last venture into the Essex airport was cut short in 2002 when Go stopped flying and was incorporated into easyJet. This two-class single aircraft foray is clearly experimental and could go places or be stopped at the end of the season. On Sundays the Faro flight leaves STN 05:40.
Carsten Spohr at Aviation Club
While EU membership is not as crucial in aviation as it is for other companies, German businesses would “feel alone without you guys,” Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, responded last Wednesday (10 February) at the London Aviation Club when asked about the implications of a so-called Brexit. “We will only have the socialist people around us like the French,” he explained making it clear he was rooting for Britain to stay in the European Union, “not least to maintain a political counterweight to the French”.
Crisis management and IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is bringing together top experts from the legal field to discuss best practices on managing corporate risk and reputation in an era of news-making social media. This will be one of the highlights of this week’s IATA Legal Symposium in Barcelona (Spain), 17-19 February.
Europe to New York
Following a suggestion by Business Travel News, data specialist OAG has produced some research on the Europe to New York market.
Gatwick's second runway
Back in 1979 the then Gatwick airport owner BAA signed an agreement with West Sussex County Council not to build a second runway until at least 2019.
Goldsmith quiet over Heathrow
The London Evening Standard reports that Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith is in a ‘quiet zone’ with regard to Heathrow.
Oman Air at Heathrow
According to the Sunday Times Oman Air has purchased a pair of Air France Heathrow take-off/landing slots for US$75m, an airport record. This will double the nonstop flight frequency from the tiny Sultanate’s Muscat capital, British Airways also offering a direct service but via Abu Dhabi.
ON TOUR: Not yet Eldorado
John Burke has long covered Latin America for several media, ranging from Reuter’s Television to Travel Trade Gazette. With the Olympics due in the summer, and also sadly the zika epidemic concerning infection during pregnancy, it seemed a good idea for John to review an immense continent that has something for everyone. Nothing detailed but the Iguassu Falls should be on everyone’s wish, and Macchu Pichu is on the editor's list.
Amy Johnson flying scholarship
easyJet has launched the Amy Johnson Flying Initiative to help boost female pilot recruits.
In partnership with British Women Pilots' Association (BWPA), the airlines will underwrite the funding for six female recruits through the initiative.
Crossrail update
London Crossrail construction continues apace, now 70% complete and expected to be delivered on time and on budget. Liverpool Street to Shenfield is due to be initiated in May 2017 with the key Paddington to Abbey Wood section set for December 2018.
East Midlands gains Eurowings
Eurowings, the Lufthansa regional operation, is to introduce a six times per week service from Düsseldorf to East Midlands Airport at the end of March operating a single class Bombardier CRJ 100 jet.
easyJet pulls Gatwick flights
While its move to a total operation at the North Terminal gathers pace easyJet is to drop its Gatwick flights to Brussels, Cologne and Düsseldorf at the end of the winter season 27 March.
Luton to Zurich
Vueling, the IAG low-cost airline, has quickly followed up its announcement of a Luton operation with the introduction of a Zurich service from 12 June. This route will initially be operating six times a week, with an Airbus A320 aircraft but will be up to seven for the peak summer months.
SAS goes 'light'
Since the beginning of air travel, carriers have been quick to create marketing concepts even if they are old ideas refashioned.
Southampton’s four new airlines
bmi regional is the latest airline to announce its presence at Southampton Airport, joining newcomers KLM, Aer Lingus and Volotea, a Spanish carrier established in 2012 with a fleet of 19 Boeing 717.
Long-standing resident Flybe continues to expand its routes with a daily Lyon service intoduced 23 May.
Taxi plan for easyjet
easyJet has unveiled plans for a hydrogen fuel cell system that would remove the need for aircraft to use their engines for taxiing.
The airline said that trials of the concept, developed by the airline and students at the Cranfield University, would take place later this year.