7 MARCH 2016
YOUR WORDS
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Stewart Wingate – CEO Gatwick Airport
- Airports Commission decision
- AOA Annual Dinner
- Birmingham airports show
- Doha to Sydney
- Doncaster Airport motorway link
- Edinburgh’s 100 years
- Emirates Air Line closed
- Flight MH 370 and Quest
- Flybe drops Liverpool
- Good and bad Sukhoi news
- Marriott – The Hague
- Nadler Hotel London Victoria
- Norwegian Air to the US
- Qatar Airways ‘Super Business Class’
- Ryanair advertising complaint
- Schengen collapse problems
- Southend Summer 2016
- Transavia and Delta
- Virgin anniversary
- Z Hotels opens fifth London property
- ON TOUR: Big Orange – New York City
- CRUISE NEWS: MARCH 2016
- AND FINALLY: Road opening
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Birmingham airports show
Some of the top British and Irish aviation experts have accepted invitations to speak at the inaugural British-Irish Airports EXPO 8-9 June, NEC Birmingham.
Edinburgh’s 100 years
One-hundred-year air transport anniversaries will soon be coming through thick and fast but well done Edinburgh in reminding everyone that RAF Turnhouse started life as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome on Thursday 2 March 1916. Last year another RAF station, a one time scheduled service operation, Northolt in west London, also celebrated 100 years.
Nadler Hotel London Victoria
Nadler Hotels Group has announced the opening of its newest property. Located just steps away from Buckingham Palace, this is the third London opening of the group’s unique concept in designer boutique hotels.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Stewart Wingate – CEO Gatwick Airport
Last week John Holland-Kaye put his case forward that the Heathrow Airport Ltd's North West Runway project should be named as the victor following the Airports Commission's recommendation that a new runway needs to be built in the South East by 2030.
Stewart Wingate has led the campaign for Gatwick to be selected and has chosen BTN to announce the results of a YouGov* survey.
Next week it is the turn of Captain Jock Lowe, director of Heathrow Hub Ltd, who suggests that their scheme should be selected, with its extended runway and simpler terminal facility.
Airports Commission decision
Robert Goodwill, civil aviation minister at the Department for Transport, was in a positive mood when he spoke at the Airport Operators Association’s annual dinner last Tuesday (1 March) focussing on the postponed Airports Commission decision.
AOA Annual Dinner
Last week in a speech which covered many of the major topics involving UK air transport including APD, the Davies report, Aviation Commission National Infrastructure Commission, Visa requirements for visitors from overseas, and airport surface access, Ed Anderson, executive chairman of the Airport Operators Association emphasised how important the sector is to the country overall.
Emirates Air Line closed
Users and potential visitors of the Emirates Air Line should note that the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Victoria Dock public cable car will close for one week for maintenance from today (7 March) to Sunday 13 March.
Flight MH 370 and Quest
Tomorrow (Tuesday 8 March) is the second anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of flight MH 370.
Within the last few days a piece of debris has been found off the coast of Mozambique which could be from the Boeing 777 aircraft. The debris is being tested by officials in Australia, with help from Malaysian authorities and Boeing representatives.
Good and bad Sukhoi news
CityJet has confirmed that the first two of 21 Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 on order are due for delivery from the completion centre at Venice in May and June. These aircraft will initially be used on charter services and ACMI operations on behalf of other airlines, both markets in which the airline says is seeing strong growth.
Qatar Airways ‘Super Business Class’
It may well be revealed at ITB Berlin, which starts on Wednesday (9 March). Qatar Airways is working on a new ‘Super Business Class’.
Schengen collapse problems
A collapse of Europe's 26-nation Schengen zone of passport-free travel would create major congestion and cost larger airports hundreds of millions of Euros to redesign terminals, according to ACI (Airports Council International).
ON TOUR: Big Orange – New York City
Our visiting editor Richard Cawthorne used to live in New York. Here he reports on his latest visit and finds the city as compelling – and busy – as ever. And since this is a cruise issue we can clarify to readers that while once the Hudson River was the world’s busiest liner port the revamped terminals are still used (but do make time visit the Intrepid Museum & Concorde). Cruise ships now also come in to the Brooklyn and Newark terminals, both someway from downtown New York.
CRUISE NEWS: MARCH 2016
The major news this month is CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) publishing the statistics for 2015. Plus Scenic, once only known as an Australian luxury tour operator, but now very much into river cruising, unveiling its very exciting seagoing plans for 2018. Also newsworthy is Crystal Cruises exploring prospects to revive the SS United States and Australian billionaire Clive Palmer claiming that his Titanic 2 project is finally under way.
AND FINALLY: Road opening
The opening of the Great Northern Way (see in this issue) reminds the editor in chief of an incident in East Africa.
When visiting the international airport, he was proudly informed that the new motorway to the city was nearly complete.
Doha to Sydney
Qatar Airways has inaugurated a daily service to Sydney from Doha.
Doncaster Airport motorway link
A major link road, which will cut journey times to the UK’s fastest growing airport and help to create thousands of new jobs and homes in Doncaster, was officially opened last Monday (29 February) as Great Yorkshire Way. Please also see AND FINALLY
Flybe drops Liverpool
The Flybe Liverpool to Amsterdam service will be dropped at the end of March.
Marriott – The Hague
Formerly the Bel Air, The Hague Marriott Hotel has opened following an extensive four-month refurbishment.
Norwegian Air to the US
Now as a British licensed airline (See BTN 16 November 2015) Norwegian Air has gained British government support in its bid to operate more services to the United States, despite opposition from unions and other airlines.
Ryanair advertising complaint
Dublin-based Ryanair has welcomed a ruling by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which found that eDreams advertising on Google was “misleading” consumers and breached the advertising (CAP) code. The UK ASA reviewed a series of complaints from consumers who were deceived by eDreams masquerading as Ryanair and easyJet using the airline’s name, brand and logo in a blatant attempt to dupe consumers into booking higher priced tickets on eDreams than those available on the Ryanair.com website.
Southend Summer 2016
easyJet has introduced a four times per week service to Paris Charles de Gaulle that will operate all year round. As with all easyJet flights out of Southend (SEN) it is flown by a 156-seat Airbus A319.
Transavia and Delta
Delta Air Lines has signed a codeshare agreement with the Transavia subsidiary of KLM that will expand the choice of onward destinations offered from the United States via its hub at Amsterdam.
Virgin anniversary
Virgin Trains has celebrated the first anniversary of its east coast rail franchise spending almost £18m on fleet improvements in the last 12 months and committing £140m over the eight years of the franchise.
Z Hotels opens fifth London property
Boutique hotel chain Z Hotels has opened its fifth London property called Z City, actually in the City of London.