15 JANUARY 2018
- COMMENT: Budget Airline (BA)
- Airport figures UK 2017
- Aviation Club 2018 line-up
- BelugaXL transporter rolls out
- British Airways long-haul Economy
- Business Class double beds
- Cobalt Air expands
- Flaris Jet under test
- Flybe succumbs to Loganair
- Gatwick to Tallinn
- Heathrow and the disabled
- ibis Styles London Gloucester Road
- Luggage not so 'smart'
- Luton and more Wizz
- Malaysia invests in Australia
- Ryanair’s passenger warning
- Stansted to Dubai
- Unionised Ryanair
- Victory House hotel Leicester Square
- Westminster boost for General Aviation
- Worldwide by easyjet
- ON TOUR: Cathay Pacific Business Class
- AND FINALLY: Get me to the loo on time!
- YEAR END QUIZ: Record entry
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
BelugaXL transporter rolls out
The first structurally complete airframe for the new BelugaXL has rolled out from its assembly hangar in Toulouse.
Malaysia invests in Australia
With the introduction of the Airbus A350 XWB on the London – Kuala Lumpur route later today (15 January) Malaysia Airlines has announced that it will be reinstating direct flights between KL and Brisbane from 6 June. By that time it is expected the Heathrow route will be totally serviced by the new long-range Airbus.
COMMENT: Budget Airline (BA)
It once called itself “The World’s Favourite Airline” but has British Airways gone too far this time? Is it now perhaps “The World’s Favourite Budget Airline”?
Aviation Club 2018 line-up
Wednesday 7 February at London’s Institute of Directors sees the start of the 2018 programme of the Aviation Club UK with the first speaker Aegean Airlines’ CEO Dimitrios Gerogiannis.
British Airways long-haul Economy
If you are on BA 117 08:25 LHR – JFK Wednesday 17 January you will participate in the launch of multi-million pound investment in its World Traveller (long-haul Economy cabin) catering. YOUR WORDS (see at the end of this article) are welcome from flyers on BA this week.
Business Class double beds
Qatar Airways has kicked off 2018 by introducing its innovative Qsuite on Washington DC flights, making the city the second US destination to offer the innovative new Business Class product.
Cobalt Air expands
A further London route is likely as Cyprus start-up carrier Cobalt Air expands. The airline already flies to Gatwick and has taken the former Cyprus Airways’ crown as the established Cypriot airline. Established in 2016 it now flies to 18 destinations.
Flybe succumbs to Loganair
Loganair is to honour all forward bookings on Flybe routes between Shetland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Exeter-based airline has withdrawn its services.
Heathrow and the disabled
A multi-million pound package of investments and tools to improve the travel experience of passengers with disabilities and mobility restrictions has been announced by Heathrow.
Luton and more Wizz
Wizz Air, a UK registered and London Stock Exchange listed low-cost airline is to further expand its operations at Luton with three new routes.
Westminster boost for General Aviation
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on General Aviation has welcomed a commitment by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, to revisit Government planning policy in relation to airfields.
Worldwide by easyjet
EasyJet has announced that it is extending its ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ connections platform to Milan Malpensa airport. This means that, combined with the existing connections offered through Gatwick, one third of the airline’s flights, and over 24m easyJet customers, will now be able to connect to airline partner long-haul services and other easyJet flights in a single booking.
ON TOUR: Cathay Pacific Business Class
For his latest trip Down Under, BTN editor Richard Cawthorne flew Business Class with Cathay Pacific from Heathrow to Hong Kong and then onward to Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
YEAR END QUIZ: Record entry
We have a winner for the quiz, and runners up too. But we need approval to mention names. Hopefully next week.
Airport figures UK 2017
Last week the UK airports were quick to rush out their passenger figures for 2017 which once again showed a healthy growth.
Flaris Jet under test
Embryo Polish light jet manufacturer Flaris has issued a statement noting that the yet-to-fly much delayed Lar 1 is currently undertaking ground tests.
Gatwick to Tallinn
The Latvian airline AirBaltic will launch twice weekly flights from Tallinn to Gatwick on 27 March 2018 with the start of the summer timetable.
ibis Styles London Gloucester Road
Accor Hotels, the French hotel management company, has rebranded its 85-room hotel near Gloucester Road tube station in London as ibis Styles Gloucester Road.
Luggage not so 'smart'
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has followed Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Delta Air Lines in banning non-removable batteries from the new ‘smart bags’.
Ryanair’s passenger warning
In yet another about-turn Ryanair from today (15 January) is insisting that non-priority customers must put any second and bigger bag in the hold. It is free.
Stansted to Dubai
Emirates is to launch a daily route from Stansted (STN) to Dubai (DXB) on 8 June. It becomes the first airline to offer long-haul services from all three major London airports.
Unionised Ryanair
Ryanair's decision to enter talks on recognising unions for both pilots and cabin crew, disclosed last month, will create a "markedly different" company, HSBC has predicted in an analyst note.
Victory House hotel Leicester Square
An MGallery by Sofitel, the Victory House London Leicester Square, has opened offering, as it says “a cosy escape in the heart of the vibrant West End”.