23 APRIL 2018
- COMMENT: Airline insolvency
- A380 flex for Qantas
- ABTA targets business travellers
- Air Canada comfort boost
- Airlines warned over strikes
- Double celebration for Delta
- Eurowings long-haul takes off
- Gatwick to Heathrow in three minutes
- Heathrow looks back
- London City non-stop to Washington. And Kathmandu
- Luton transit on its way
- Marriott loyalty reshuffle
- New-style seats for KLM
- Plymouth Airport next stage
- Principal open for business
- Southwest engine probe
- Top marks for ExecuJet
- Virgin's Azuma preview
- VLM expands at Cologne
- Wizz beefs up Luton
- Yotel for Istanbul
- ON TOUR: Down South
- AND FINALLY: Dublin's daughter
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Air Canada comfort boost
In a first for a North American airline, Air Canada is now designating aircraft with lie-flat seats for premium passengers on select non-stop transcontinental flights within Canada and to the US.
New-style seats for KLM
New-generation lighter Business Class seats to reduce fuel consumption have been ordered by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for its Boeing B787-10 fleet due to start entering service in June next year.
COMMENT: Airline insolvency
Among all the words in last week’s call for evidence for the government’s Airline Insolvency review (BTN last week), one key phrase stood out.
A380 flex for Qantas
In what has been interpreted as a move to boost sales but which Airbus says is “part of the efficiency-boosting A380 cabin enablers”, the manufacturer has developed a new option for its Super-jumbo called Cabin-Flex, with Qantas as launch customer.
Airlines warned over strikes
Airlines have been told they must compensate passengers for long flight delays caused by staff staging sudden 'wildcat' strikes. The ruling by the European Court of Justice could lead to carriers paying out tens of millions more compensation a year.
Gatwick to Heathrow in three minutes
Backed by Richard Branson, Virgin Hyperloop One is developing a project that could reduce actual transfer time between Heathrow and Gatwick to just 3min, a conference in London hosted by the Financial Times heard last week.
London City non-stop to Washington. And Kathmandu
Fresh from a celebratory visit to Biggin Hill, Bombardier’s highly-anticipated Global 7000 business jet was hailed by the manufacturer last week for now being able to boast an “outstanding” range of 7,700nmi (14,260km).
Luton transit on its way
The official start of works on the state-of-the-art £225m Luton Dart (Direct Air-Rail Transit), linking Luton Airport with the Parkway rail station, took place last week with a ground-breaking ceremony.
Plymouth Airport next stage
Campaigners seeking to safeguard a future role for Plymouth Airport are hoping to move to the next stage in May with the publication of a crucial report on the Plymouth Joint Local Plan.
Southwest engine probe
Investigators on Friday ordered emergency inspections within 20 days of nearly 700 aircraft engines similar to the one involved in a Southwest Airlines incident earlier last week in which a woman passenger died.
Top marks for ExecuJet
Celebration is in the air for business aviation specialist ExecuJet, which has become the first fixed base operator (FBO) in Australia to achieve the International Standard for Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH) Stage I accreditation for its installations at Sydney and Melbourne.
Wizz beefs up Luton
In a double celebration, Wizz Air saw the arrival last week of a fourth allocated aircraft to its Luton fleet and on the same day launched the only low-fare direct flight connecting the UK and Albania, from Luton to the capital Tirana.
Chief corporate officer Owain Jones said arrival of the new Airbus aircraft, one of eight to be deployed at the Luton base by the end of this summer, highlighted its continued investment in the UK market, offering passengers more opportunity to do business across Europe.
ON TOUR: Down South
Continuing his exploration of Western Australia, BTN editor Richard Cawthorne heads south toward a famous meeting point of two oceans
AND FINALLY: Dublin's daughter
A lot of things happen at airports but staff at one have just had a special reason to remember it with the return of one of their favourite passengers.
ABTA targets business travellers
Business travel buyers are being targeted for the first time with a dedicated online advertising campaign launched by ABTA – The Travel Association.
Double celebration for Delta
Forty years of service to the UK and more non-stop flights on the way next winter between the US and Europe are giving Delta Air Lines a double reason for celebration.
Eurowings long-haul takes off
Las Vegas, Cancun and Mauritius were all in the spotlight at Munich last week as Eurowings, which claims to be currently Europe’s fastest-growing airline, launched its low-cost long-haul programme. Fort Myers joins the list on 1 May.
Heathrow looks back
Beatlemania, the first Concorde, famous arrivals and memories of long-gone airlines are all featured in a special exhibition which opened last week focusing on the long history of the UK’ s busiest airport.
Marriott loyalty reshuffle
Three loyalty programmes covering 29 hotel brands worldwide with 6,500 properties in 127 countries and territories are being combined under a new initiative by the Marriott International group.
Principal open for business
Previewed in BTN last month (BTN 5 March), the Principal London opened its doors on schedule last week, following an extensive £85m restoration of the grande dame to its former glory and pay homage to its illustrious history.
Virgin's Azuma preview
Sunderland, Doncaster, Lincoln and Peterborough on the east coast rail network had a sneak preview of the future last week with Virgin Trains’ state-of-the-art Azuma making its inaugural visit as preparations to transform services gather pace.
VLM expands at Cologne
Cologne-Bonn Airport has confirmed another new carrier will join its roll call later this summer, when Belgian regional operator VLM Airlines begins two new routes to Rostock and Antwerp from the German gateway.
Yotel for Istanbul
One of the biggest airport hotels in the world is on course for Istanbul New Airport (INA) following an exclusive management contract deal between airport operator IGA and the London-based hospitality group Yotel.