6 JUNE 2016
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Tony Tyler – director-general and chief executive, IATA
- Air Canada non-stop to Brisbane
- Amsterdam's new Hampton
- Anniversary expansion for Aer Lingus
- Beyond ‘baby on board’
- Chinese are coming
- Dublin sunshine at IATA
- Etihad expands in Australia
- Euro football chaos
- Flybe annual results
- Frequent fliers like airports
- Hawaiian's new Business Class
- London City new-look departures
- Luton Airport – Work in progress
- Monarch and the A380
- Praise for Turkish record
- Ray gun to combat drones
- Singapore Airlines Heathrow celebration
- Spaceflex A320 at easyJet
- Travel summit sets date
- United introduces Polaris
- ON TOUR: EBACE sees bright skies ahead
- CRUISE NEWS JUNE 2016
- AND FINALLY: Russia at the Euros
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Ray gun to combat drones
A British device said to be able to knock drones – or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – out of the sky with radio signals is to be tested at airports in the US.
Spaceflex A320 at easyJet
EasyJet has taken delivery of its new Spaceflex Airbus A320, which incorporates previously-unused space at the rear to add six extra seats, bringing the total to 186.
United introduces Polaris
A new premium cabin called Polaris Business Class was unveiled by United Airlines on Thursday.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Tony Tyler – director-general and chief executive, IATA
After a five-year tenure as director-general and chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler, previously chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airlines, will stand down in September. He hands over to Alexandre de Juniac, chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM. Here we paraphrase his Dublin AGM delivery. Mr Tyler’s full speech can be viewed.
Air Canada non-stop to Brisbane
Non-stop flights between Vancouver and Brisbane, Australia, were launched by Air Canada last week as a prelude to the start of daily year-round service from 17 June.
Beyond ‘baby on board’
Innovative 'care zones' introduced by the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit company (SMRT) at stations and on trains were highlighted at a London conference last week as one of the ways travel organisations could improve their customer service, writes Andrew Sharp.
Dublin sunshine at IATA
The airlines of the world gathered at Dublin last week with glorious weather, while in the UK people were putting on their central heating, and IATA boss Tony Tyler forecasting £27.3bn membership profits for this year, a rise of 12% (See ON THE SOAPBOX).
Etihad expands in Australia
Two Australian-route milestones were celebrated by Etihad on Thursday with Melbourne joining the airline’s expanding network of A380 destinations and arrival of the Etihad B787 Dreamliner on the Perth service.
Euro football chaos
Fans travelling to and from and within France could be hit by French air traffic control strikes during the Euro 2016 soccer competition. The unionised controllers called off their latest three-day strike on Friday but that is not to say they will not be imposed again at short notice.
Flybe annual results
Next Thursday will see the announcement of the 2015/2016 results for Flybe, Britain’s third largest airline. The market will look with interest, the shares crashing from around 90p at the end of last year to 53p at the close of the London Stock Exchange last Friday.
Frequent fliers like airports
While others may complain about queues, delayed flights and lost luggage, more than half (53%) of frequent travellers polled in a new survey agree the airport is something to be enjoyed.
Luton Airport – Work in progress
This year, London Luton Airport is expected to move 14.8m passengers, an astonishing figure when one considers that in 1996 the figure was just 2.4m. The growth over the past two years has been 42%.
ON TOUR: EBACE sees bright skies ahead
Alison Chambers (alison.chambers@emeraldmedia.co.uk) reports for BTN from EBACE 2016 in Geneva and sees bright skies ahead despite ‘a bit of turbulence’.
CRUISE NEWS JUNE 2016
Business Travel News was in July 2014 somewhat critical of new river cruising guide published by Berlitz and edited by Douglas Ward.
Over some 31 editions, Ward’s Cruising and Cruise Ships has built up an inevitable reputation as “the” guide to sea-going cruise liners, its ratings not really to be argued with. Each year it is updated and is a fine publication (now available online as a e-book and as an app).
Sad to say Berlitz’s first 2014 attempt at a river-cruise guide was not received with complete enthusiasm by BTN, with the summary speaking for itself: “We look forward to a much improved second edition." If anything, the new volume literally ‘misses the boat’ but even more so.
Amsterdam's new Hampton
Hilton Worldwide’s Hampton by Hilton brand has opened its second and newest hotel in Amsterdam, bringing the parent company’s presence in the city to eight properties.
Anniversary expansion for Aer Lingus
Los Angeles, Newark and Hartford, Connecticut, are joining Aer Lingus’ expanding route network as the carrier celebrates its 80th anniversary year.
Chinese are coming
Tianjin Airlines is the latest Chinese airline to arrive in the UK, operating a twice-weekly flight from Chongqing to Gatwick. Chongqing serves as the economic centre of the upstream Yangtze basin and is a major manufacturing centre and transportation hub.
Hawaiian's new Business Class
Lie-flat seats are being installed for the first time by Hawaiian Airlines on its Airbus A330 fleet on US West Coast routes this month as an introduction to passengers of its new Business Class cabin, which enters service later this year.
London City new-look departures
Work is progressing fast on the first new departure gates installed at London City Airport (LCY) as part of its upgrade programme. The gates could be ready for use shortly.
Monarch and the A380
The engineering division of Monarch Airlines has won approval to add the Airbus A380 to its maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) capabilities.
Praise for Turkish record
In a week of anniversaries, Turkish Airlines has been congratulated for its record of service to passengers at Birmingham Airport since it began operating from the Midlands with five services a week to Istanbul in December 2008.
Singapore Airlines Heathrow celebration
In the same week that Heathrow celebrates its 70th anniversary, Singapore Airlines is celebrating 45 years since its first flight landed at the airport on 3 June 1971.
Travel summit sets date
The 2016 Hospitality and Tourism Summit opens at the Grange St Pauls Hotel, London, on 27 June – four days after the EU referendum.