29 FEBRUARY 2016
YOUR WORDS
Readers are invited to add their comments to any story. Click on the article to see and add.
BTN DISTRIBUTION
BTN also goes out by email every Sunday night at midnight (UK time). To view this edition click here.
- ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow Airport
- Britain’s airports – The top 40
- Air tax reduced
- Airbus Group results
- Airport access and Westminster
- Amazon on board
- Bakerloo Line and Heathrow Express
- bmi regional expands
- Britain sets tourism record
- Delta’s UK launches
- Dubai’s new terminal
- Embraer’s new regional jet
- Farnborough 2016
- Four Seasons Abu Dhabi
- Heathrow protesters not jailed
- Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre
- IAG profits
- London City Airport sold
- Norwegian cancels and adds
- Republic into Chapter 11
- T5 lounge refreshment
- ON TOUR: The Business Travel Show
- AND FINALLY: The joke is on Boris
The Business Travel News
PO Box 758
Edgware HA8 4QF
United Kingdom
info@btnews.co.uk
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Bakerloo Line and Heathrow Express
Major improvement works at Paddington Tube station are set to begin in April in order to boost capacity at the station in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail in 2018.
Farnborough 2016
Not that far away, the first trade day is Monday 11 July, the 2016 Farnborough International Air Show is 90% sold out with only limited exhibitor opportunities available.
T5 lounge refreshment
British Airways' First lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 has come in for a much needed refurbishment.
ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow Airport
John became CEO of Heathrow Airport Ltd July 2014 after successfully masterminding the construction and opening of T2. He joined the company as commercial director in May 2009 from Taylor Wimpey Plc, having held a number of positions including operations drector of Taylor Woodrow Developments and commercial director of Taylor Woodrow Inc.
Airbus Group results
Airbus said 2015 profits rose slightly but it still had problems with its military aircraft production line in Seville. Operating earnings before one-off items rose 2% to €4.13bn as revenue gained 6% to €64.45bn.
Airport access and Westminster
An inquiry looking at UK airports by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee has concluded poor surface access restricts growth, adversely affects passenger experience and forces airport users, local commuters and airport employees to use road transport which exacerbates environmental concerns.
bmi regional expands
Munich is to become a major hub for bmi regional, now Britain’s fourth largest scheduled airline.
Dubai’s new terminal
British Airways has become the first tenant of the brand new Concourse D in Dubai International Airport.
Fellow oneworld Royal Jordanian carrier is also now in this latest extension to the original Dubai airport.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi
With its opening in the UAE capital just months away, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is now confirming reservations for arrivals beginning 8 May 2016.
IAG profits
As expected International Airlines Group (IAG) produced a strong quarterly result last Friday (26 February) and for the first time since it was created in 2011 will pay a dividend.
London City Airport sold
The Alberta Investment Management Corporation, on behalf of its clients, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and the infrastructure investing arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority (Wren House Ltd), has confirmed it has signed an agreement to acquire the company that owns and operates London City Airport.
Republic into Chapter 11
Regional US carrier Republic Airways has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming several quarters of falling revenue after grounding aircraft during a pilot shortage.
The Indianapolis-based airline has a swap arrangement with Flybe regarding Q400s and an Embraer order but how this is affected is not known.
ON TOUR: The Business Travel Show
Perhaps it was the sun shining through the Victorian roof of Olympia’s Grand Hall, maybe at the second time of asking both visitors and exhibitors have got to terms with the venue and access, but last week’s Business Travel Show (BTS) and accompanying Travel Technology Europe (TTE) were record breaking and easily the best since the first of the series at far-away Islington in 1994.
AND FINALLY: The joke is on Boris
In this week’s email version of BTN’s Most Read League the winner is the The Boris Riddle.
Air tax reduced
Families with teenage kids will fly for less from 1 March with the removal of the UK’s air tax, Air Passenger Duty (APD), on Economy flights for children under 16.
This follows the abolition of APD on flights for children under 12 last May.
Amazon on board
US carrier Southwest Airlines is now offering Pay with Amazon on-board its wi-fi equipped aircraft, offering customers a new and convenient way to purchase in-flight products through the carrier's entertainment portal.
Britain sets tourism record
New figures show that 2015 set a new record for inbound tourism to the UK with 35.8 million visits, 4% up on 2014 and the sixth consecutive year of growth according to the Office for National Statistics.
Delta’s UK launches
In partnership with Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines is gearing up for two important UK route introductions in the spring.
Embraer’s new regional jet
Embraer has rolled out its first next-generation E-Jet, an E190-E2, at its factory in São José dos Campos (Brazil).
The E190-E2’s first flight is slated for the second half of 2016 with first deliveries expected to take place in 2018.
Heathrow protesters not jailed
To the surprise of many a group calling themselves ‘Plane Stupid’ have not been jailed following a serious breach of security at Heathrow.
A protest on 13 July 2015 saw the collective cut a hole in a fence and block the airport northern runway leading to the cancellation of 25 flights.
Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre
April 2016 will see the launch of Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre, a 4-star hotel in Manchester’s vibrant Piccadilly area by the station of the same name.
Norwegian cancels and adds
What was going to be the launch for Norwegian Air International's Irish operation has been cancelled.
Planned flights from Cork to the US have been postponed pending receipt of a permit to enable the flight plan to commence.