2 OCTOBER 2017
YOUR WORDS
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Declan Collier - chief executive of London City Airport
- Boeing attacks non-competitor
- Monarch in administration
- Air Canada joins the rush
- Airfields on RAeS agenda
- Berlin votes for Tegel
- Cathay keeps up momentum
- Douglas lands Etihad top job
- E-tickets for Grand Central
- EasyJet electric
- IHG unveils Avid brand
- LATA elects Stewart
- Norwegian's Singapore revolution
- PAL upgrade on track
- Qatar Airways at 20
- Ryanair counts the cost
- Same car, different airport
- Sheraton revamp forges ahead
- Southend's domestic bonus
- Sweet dreams on American
- Wizz seeks to fill 1,300 jobs
- ON TOUR: Waverley. BTN takes a “cruise” on a paddle steamer
- OCTOBER CRUISE NEWS
- AND FINALLY: Twinjet twins
- AND A FINALLY FINALLY
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Air Canada joins the rush
Next year’s promised summer of airline expansion continued on several fronts last week, among them Air Canada announcing new non-stop services from Toronto and Montreal, including three new destinations – Bucharest, Zagreb and Porto.
Cathay keeps up momentum
Barcelona, Tel Aviv and Fukuoka were in the Cathay Pacific spotlight last week as the airline said it was boosting services to all three destinations as part of its continuing expansion of key routes.
Southend's domestic bonus
Sixteen direct flights a week to and from Glasgow are being launched by Southend on 29 October as the airport stepped in to promote domestic services and what it called its own convenient facilities for passengers.
Wizz seeks to fill 1,300 jobs
A need to fill almost 1,300 new direct jobs in the coming year prompted Wizz Air last week to launch what it described as the biggest recruitment campaign in its history, with opportunities available across the network.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Declan Collier - chief executive of London City Airport
Declan Collier has been chief executive of London City Airport since March 2012. Previously chief executive of the state-owned Dublin Airport Authority from 2005, and prior to that with ExxonMobil, Collier is chair of the World Board of Airport Council International (ACI), the airport equivalent body of IATA, and formerly chair of ACI Europe.
In April, he announced his decision to stand down at London City, 30 years since the Queen officially opened the LCY terminal, his post taken at the end of this month by Bristol Airport's CEO Robert Sinclair.
Here, Mr Collier reflects on his six years at the helm of London City Airport and what he sees as the priorities for the industry in the years ahead.
Boeing attacks non-competitor
Tom Appleton, the man who launched the de Havilland Canada Dash 7 and with it London City Airport, has come in with some strong words following an initial decision by the US Department of Commerce to attach a 220% import tax on the Bombardier C Series which Delta Air Lines has on order.
Monarch in administration
KPMG have been appointed aministrators to Monarch Airlines Limited and Monarch Travel Group Limited.
Airfields on RAeS agenda
The future of UK airfields is under discussion later this month at an all-day conference at the Royal Aeronautical Society. It follows news that the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the subject (BTN 18 September) has now passed the 40-member mark.
Douglas lands Etihad top job
Former Heathrow CEO and current Ministry of Defence executive Tony Douglas has been named CEO of the Etihad Aviation Group. The announcement was made by Etihad group chairman Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei.
EasyJet electric
It is not going to happen for some time yet but easyJet, well known for its ground-breaking concepts, unveiled ideas for an electric powered aircraft at the annual Innovation Day last week held at Gatwick. Britain’s largest airline has combined with Wright Electric to outline a solution for the future.
Norwegian's Singapore revolution
A new era for long-haul travel began last week as Norwegian surged into the UK – Far East market with a four-a-week Dreamliner service between Gatwick and Singapore. At 12hr 24min, It is the world’s longest low-cost flight.
PAL upgrade on track
Ambitious plans for the further expansion of Philippine Airlines were outlined in London last week during celebrations marking the arrival of the carrier’s new Boeing B777-300ER on the London – Manila route.
Ryanair counts the cost
Company bosses at Ryanair were counting the cost at the weekend of what was widely described as a “capitulation” to CAA demands that the airline should clarify the options open to passengers disrupted by its planned flight cuts.
Same car, different airport
Business travellers who find it necessary to fly out of one airport but return to another and then find themselves without transport because their cars are still at the original departure point now have a solution.
ON TOUR: Waverley. BTN takes a “cruise” on a paddle steamer
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world. Since 2003 Waverley has been listed in the National Historic Fleet by National Historic Ships UK as "a vessel of pre-eminent national importance".
OCTOBER CRUISE NEWS
THE NEW CUNARDER
The big news in cruising announced last week is the decision by Cunard (in effect Carnival Plc its owner) to build a new liner, a sister ship to Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth and the fourth member of the Cunard fleet. In 2022 it will be the first time since 1998 that the luxury brand will have four ships in simultaneous service.
AND FINALLY: Twinjet twins
Twin brothers born within 30min of one another who went on to become British Airways pilots celebrated their 60th birthdays and retired on Saturday after landing their final flights 30sec apart.
AND A FINALLY FINALLY
Forget Ryanair – it’s 40 years since Skytrain first took off.
Berlin votes for Tegel
The saga of a new airport for Berlin took a new turn last week after citizens voted in a referendum to retain the existing Tegel facility after the new and much-delayed Berlin Brandenburg complex opens, an event now not expected until next year.
E-tickets for Grand Central
Yorkshire and north-east England train operator Grand Central Rail has joined the trend towards introducing e-ticketing as a purchase option for passengers, allowing them to buy tickets online and display them on their mobile or tablet devices.
IHG unveils Avid brand
A new global accommodation empire is taking shape after InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) revealed its new mid-market brand is to be known as 'Avid'.
LATA elects Stewart
Air Europa’s director for the UK and Ireland, Colin Stewart, has been elected chairman of the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) in succession to Byron Shirto, who stepped down last month.
Qatar Airways at 20
Britain’s Red Arrows aerobatic team and members of the Qatar British Business Association were among the guests on Saturday for a celebration in Doha of Qatar Airways’ 20th anniversary.
Sheraton revamp forges ahead
The latest stage in the multi-million-pound top-to-toe refurbishment of the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel has been completed with finishing touches to the 331 classic rooms and 89 club rooms, complementing the recent transformation of the property’s public areas.
Sweet dreams on American
A “best-in-class sleep experience” was unveiled by American Airlines on Thursday as part of a programme of inflight enhancements for long-haul international and transcontinental First Class, Business class and Premium Economy passengers.