29 MAY 2017
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- Monday 29 May is a United Kingdom Bank Holiday
- COMMENT: BA fails to communicate
- A380 No 10 for Etihad
- Aberdeen extension on track
- Airports expo taking off
- Arkia heads for Stansted
- Delta Dublin – Boston launch
- Durham Tees Valley upgrade
- Emirates' Birmingham boost
- Evo 'eco-jet' bows in
- Gatwick's new high-tech aid
- Hotel Jen opens in Beijing
- Huerta for Aviation Club
- JFK Flagship Lounge reopens
- Kimpton arrives in Europe
- KLM adds Mumbai
- Oman arrives in Manchester
- Private jets in focus
- Ryanair goes long-haul
- Star Alliance looks ahead
- Sun shines on EBACE
- Thomas Cook adds San Francisco
- ON TOUR: Portland on the Pacific
- AND FINALLY: Crisis? What crisis?
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Aberdeen extension on track
The new £20m international passenger arrivals route at Aberdeen International Airport goes live tomorrow (Tuesday) following a behind the scenes sneak preview of the facility today led by airport managing director Carol Benzie.
Evo 'eco-jet' bows in
Boutique private aviation company ConnectJets has sealed the first UK sale of Piaggio Aerospace’s pioneering “green flying machine”, the Avanti Evo. Noted for its unusual design, the aircraft is said to deliver significant fuel savings, and cut emissions and operating costs.
KLM adds Mumbai
A direct service between Amsterdam and India’s largest city, Mumbai, is being launched on 29 October by KLM as part of an expansion in the region following the airline’s beginning a strategic co-operation with Jet Airways.
COMMENT: BA fails to communicate
British Airways had a serious IT problem over the weekend.
BTN does not know the full details of the breakdown but one thing for certain needs sorting out. The lack of communication to its staff, and they in turn to the public!
Delta Dublin – Boston launch
Long-standing ties between Ireland and the US East Coast were strengthened further last week with the launch of Delta Air Lines’ new daily service to Boston.
Durham Tees Valley upgrade
Major improvements to passenger facilities are on the way at Durham Tees Valley Airport under the first phase of an investment programme due to be completed by the end of September involving extensive remodelling of the departure lounge.
Gatwick's new high-tech aid
In what is claimed to be a world first for an airport, Gatwick has installed 2,000 indoor navigation beacons to make it easier for passengers to find their way around and avoid missing flights.
Huerta for Aviation Club
One of the airline industry’s top regulators is set to speak at the Aviation Club UK on 15 June. Michael Huerta runs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US, and is responsible for the safety and efficiency of the world’s largest aerospace system.
JFK Flagship Lounge reopens
Twin developments in a $200m investment by American Airlines in amenities for premium passengers were unveiled last week when the company opened its renovated Flagship Lounge and new Flagship First Dining at New York JFK.
Oman arrives in Manchester
With a new Thomas Cook Airlines service to San Francisco under its belt (see this issue), Manchester Airport has also been celebrating Oman Air’s new daily flight to and from Muscat, the latest move in a fleet and network expansion by the carrier.
Ryanair goes long-haul
Long-haul flights from Madrid to Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and the US have gone on sale on the Ryanair website after the Irish carrier sealed a new flight partnership deal with Air Europa.
Star Alliance looks ahead
A future strategy of harnessing digital technology to further enhance the travel experience of air passengers has been announced by the Star Alliance as it returned to Frankfurt, the place of its birth, to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Thomas Cook adds San Francisco
Consolidating its position as the biggest carrier to the US from Manchester, Thomas Cook Airlines has launched a San Francisco service, with inaugural passengers treated to a US-style send-off including a giant Golden Gate Bridge cake.
ON TOUR: Portland on the Pacific
Delta Air Lines began flying from Heathrow to the important business centre of Portland in the US state of Oregon on Friday, opening up a new non-stop destination for British travellers in the Pacific North West.
AND FINALLY: Crisis? What crisis?
This photograph was possibly taken on Saturday morning of the British Airways Crisis Management Centre.
A380 No 10 for Etihad
The 10th and final Airbus A380 superjumbo to join the Etihad Airways fleet was handed over last week, shortly after the airline announced Paris is joining London, Sydney and New York from 1 July as a year-round A380 destination.
Airports expo taking off
More than 200 exhibitors and some 2,000 visitors are expected at this year’s British-Irish Airports Expo, which returns to the Birmingham NEC on 7-8 June to showcase all aspects of the industry.
Arkia heads for Stansted
Israeli carrier Arkia is to launch three-times-weekly flights between Stansted and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport from 12 June using Boeing B757s and B737s in its new logo introduced following a rebranding programme.
Emirates' Birmingham boost
“Huge demand” from passengers wanting to travel on the Airbus A380 has persuaded Emirates to introduce a second daily superjumbo service between Dubai and Birmingham from 29 October. A similar move is planned in China.
Hotel Jen opens in Beijing
A new member of the Shangri-La International Hotel Management group has opened in the Chinese capital in the shape of the 450-room Hotel Jen Beijing. It is the group’s 98th hotel globally and second Hotel Jen branded property in mainland China.
Kimpton arrives in Europe
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has brought its Kimpton brand to Europe with the opening of the Kimpton De Witt in the heart of Amsterdam. It is also the first example of the brand outside the Americas.
Private jets in focus
With the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) just concluded (see this issue), aircraft hangar manufacturer Rubb Buildings has been researching how the UK’s private aircraft market compares with the rest of the world.
Sun shines on EBACE
The static display at EBACE, Europe’s premier business aviation show, was bathed in sunshine the whole week, writes Alison Chambers.