28 AUGUST 2017
- COMMENT: Oh no, it’s Project Fear
- AA boost for PHL
- Air-rail event countdown
- Airports in Brexit warning
- Al Baker to head up IATA
- BA strike pause
- Border 'chaos' under attack
- China's new speed record
- EasyJet seeks more women
- El Al welcomes first B787
- Eurostar’s new challenge
- Finnair highlights Japan
- Heathrow's business boost
- Hilton's big plans for UK
- KLC Embraer No 40
- More Tokyo for Air Canada
- New fleet for Cathay Dragon
- Reshuffle for Aurigny
- St Helena forges ahead
- Sydney – London non-stop?
- WOW grows at Stansted
- ON TOUR: Israel on the Med
- AND FINALLY: Eclipse this!
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Airports in Brexit warning
Frustration at Britain’s apparent foot-dragging in the Brexit negotiations surfaced again last week after a confidential report from leading airports to the government warning of the consequences of delay was obtained and published by Sky News.
Heathrow's business boost
Twenty small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) from across the UK have been awarded funding and support packages from Heathrow to encourage them to export their goods or services to new international markets.
More Tokyo for Air Canada
Year-round non-stop flights linking Montreal and Tokyo Narita with daily service during summer and three times a week in winter are being launched by Air Canada using its flagship three-class Boeing B787 Dreamliner.
COMMENT: Oh no, it’s Project Fear
Just when you thought Project Fear was dead, as many believe it should be, up pop two stories which while ostensibly not linked have caused a ripple in the atmosphere and more than that if you believe in conspiracy theories, which of course BTN does not.
AA boost for PHL
Non-stop flights between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and three European cities are being introduced next year by American Airlines in a move it says will begin affirming its “commitment to PHL as its transatlantic gateway”.
Al Baker to head up IATA
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker has been elected chairman of the board of governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), effective from June 2018.
BA strike pause
Talks aimed at ending the long-running strike by mixed-fleet cabin crew at British Airways could be on the horizon this week after the Unite union proposed a “pause for peace”.
Border 'chaos' under attack
UK border security was called into question last week in an unexpected intervention by British Airways, which said “serious inefficiencies” were causing residents and visitors to endure long queues and frustrating delays on arrival at airports.
China's new speed record
As Britain wrestles with the HS2 debate, China will introduce the world’s fastest train on the prime business route between Beijing – Shanghai next month, knocking 1hr off the 1,318km (819mi) journey. The route opened in 2011 and is one of the country’s busiest lines.
El Al welcomes first B787
Described as “a highlight in the ongoing renewal of our fleet”, Israel’s flag carrier El Al last week celebrated the delivery of its first Boeing B787 Dreamliner. The airline has leased the aircraft through an agreement with Air Lease Corporation.
Eurostar’s new challenge
More competition for airlines on short-haul European routes is on the way from Eurostar with the release of more than 44,500 seats from £29 one-way in a new promotion starting tomorrow, 29 August, and running for 14 days to 11 September.
Hilton's big plans for UK
Plans to open up to 30 new hotels in the UK over the next two years have been revealed by Hilton Hotels and Resorts in a move that would increase its presence by some 25%.
Sydney – London non-stop?
Non-stop flights between London and Sydney using a new route over the North Pole instead of the usual way over Europe and Asia are being planned by Qantas “within the next five years”. The journey would take 20hr.
ON TOUR: Israel on the Med
Fans of sun, sea, history and good living have a feast in store along Israel's Mediterranean coastline. From Tel Aviv, listed regularly by top travel publications as among the best beach cities in the world, up the coast to the historic (and ancient) towns of Caesarea, Zichron Yaakov, the Old City of Akko (Acre) and beyond, the area is robust with culinary attractions, natural landscapes and cultural and historical sites from the Byzantine, Crusader and Ottoman eras that will intrigue even the most discerning.
AND FINALLY: Eclipse this!
Virgin Atlantic is claiming to have given London – Miami passengers the best view of last week's long-awaited total solar eclipse with its Flight VS5 from Heathrow commanded by Capt Jason Shergold circling at 35,000ft over the US to allow fans an unclouded view.
Air-rail event countdown
Speakers are due to be announced next month for various business sessions due to take place at the 2017 Global AirRail Conference and Awards event being held in Brussels on 13-14 November.
EasyJet seeks more women
More female engineers are being sought by easyJet with the airline extending its successful Amy Johnson initiative aimed at new pilots by setting itself the target of filling half the places in its 2017 engineering apprenticeship intake with women.
Finnair highlights Japan
Special promotions to highlight the convenience of flying from the UK to Japan via Helsinki have been launched by Finnair. The company claims to serve more Japanese cities than any other European carrier.
KLC Embraer No 40
Services on the KLM Cityhopper network, which includes flights to and from 17 UK points including London City, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, have now been joined by the airline’s 40th Embraer.
New fleet for Cathay Dragon
A new fleet of 32 Airbus A321neos is on the way to Cathay Pacific’s regional subsidiary Cathay Dragon after the parent company last week signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase. The order is worth US$4.06bn at list prices.
Reshuffle for Aurigny
Reorganisation of its London-bound operations as one of a number of changes “to improve efficiency and financial performance” has been announced by Guernsey flag carrier Aurigny Airlines.
St Helena forges ahead
An Airlink Embraer E190-100 departed St Helena Airport on Tuesday afternoon after carrying out a successful proving flight to the island from its base in Johannesburg and completing a series of flight trials.
WOW grows at Stansted
More onward connections between Iceland and the US are being opened up by WOW air as the carrier prepares to launch a new service between Stansted and Reykjavik next April and add four new American cities to its network.