24 SEPTEMBER 2018
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- COMMENT: What APD really means
- Accor seals Mövenpick deal
- Air France union backs Smith
- Airport drop-off fee 'unjust'
- APD report shock
- Atlanta goes biometric
- Aviation Club date for airBaltic
- Biggin light aviation plan
- Biofuel marches on
- Business Summit new look
- Cabins in focus at Apex
- Cathay links with Qantas
- China premium for Manchester
- Heathrow poll support
- Hong Kong super-train
- Qatar Air defiant after loss
- Royal Brunei on growth trail
- Ryanair training boost
- Stansted transfers go hi-tech
- Top jobs in easyJet reshuffle
- Women to the fore at Flybe
- ON TOUR: Gibraltar
- AND FINALLY: You've never had it so good!
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Stansted transfers go hi-tech
Transfers at Stansted are on the way to being simplified following the formation of a strategic partnership between the airport and travel technology specialist Kiwi.com in a “Virtual Interline” initiative.
COMMENT: What APD really means
Although last week’s report into Air Passenger Duty (APD) appears under the flag of Airlines UK, the association is not the only body to have a view. There are some heavyweight comments in there which you might hope, given we are now into a particularly frenzied political season, will make those in power sit up and take notice.
Accor seals Mövenpick deal
More than 80 hotels with a total of 20,000-plus rooms changed hands last week with the Paris-based Accor group officially acquiring Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for €482m to consolidate Accor’s presence in the upmarket sector.
Air France union backs Smith
The head of the main pilots’ union at Air France said last week he had confidence in the ability of the Air France-KLM group new CEO Ben Smith to solve a pay crisis that cost the former CEO his job.
Airport drop-off fee 'unjust'
Airport drop-off charges were embroiled in controversy at the weekend after a grammar school teacher who drove at a parking official at Manchester Airport was spared jail by a judge who said the fee was "unjust".
APD report shock
UK airports could be losing out on more than 60 new direct routes, including 15 long-haul connections outside London, because of current government policy on Air Passenger Duty (APD), a new report has found.
Biggin light aviation plan
A development partner for a new Light Aviation Centre (LAC) at Biggin Hill Airport is being sought so it can continue its role as a general aviation airport while growing its business aviation activity.
Cabins in focus at Apex
Latest cabin innovations by Airbus are among the attractions at this week’s Apex Expo, billed as the world’s largest event for in-flight entertainment, connectivity and passenger services. The four-day event opens today, in Boston, Massachusetts.
China premium for Manchester
Manchester Airport is helping the North of England to reap major rewards from its ever-stronger ties with China, driven by two years of direct flights between the city and Beijing, according to research released last week.
Heathrow poll support
Support among local communities for Heathrow’s expansion plans was reaffirmed in a new Populus poll released last week as the airport confirmed its second phase of consultation will start in the new year.
Qatar Air defiant after loss
A loss of QAR252m (about £53m) for the financial year ending 31 March was reported last week by Qatar Airways following what the airline is calling the “most challenging year” in its 20-year history.
Royal Brunei on growth trail
A new daily direct route between Bandar Seri Begawan and Heathrow to replace the existing stopover service via Dubai is being launched next month by Royal Brunei Airlines with a Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner.
Top jobs in easyJet reshuffle
Former Associated British Foods external affairs head Flic Howard-Allen has joined easyJet as group communications officer to replace former communications director Paul Moore, who has moved to ITN.
ON TOUR: Gibraltar
Returning from Spain, BTN editor Richard Cawthorne takes the opportunity to renew acquaintance with possibly the strangest of all British outposts.
AND FINALLY: You've never had it so good!
Tired of identical modern airports filled with steel and glass and clean, white spaces?
Atlanta goes biometric
Plans to launch facial recognition technology for international passengers at Atlanta Airport's Terminal F were announced by Delta Air Lines on Friday in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It will be the first biometric terminal in the US.
Aviation Club date for airBaltic
Ever-rising passenger numbers and the arrival of 14 Airbus A220s by the end of the year will give airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss plenty to discuss on his appearance as guest speaker at the Aviation Club in London on 8 November.
Biofuel marches on
United Airlines last week pledged to cut its emissions in half by 2050 as it became the first to operate a transatlantic flight powered by biofuel with a service from the airline's hub in San Francisco to Zurich.
Business Summit new look
Delegates to the 2018 Business Travel Summit at the Business Design Centre, London, on 17 October are being promised a time-saving new format to enable them to control sessions on innovation, disruption and corporate travel management.
Cathay links with Qantas
More options for passengers on 25 routes between Asia and Australia are now on offer after Cathay Pacific and Qantas last week signed a codeshare deal that among other things will see frequent flyers of both airlines earn more points.
Hong Kong super-train
Far East airlines were put under further competitive pressure yesterday, Sunday, as China's sprawling bullet train network was extended to Hong Kong, providing a direct connection to 44 mainland destinations.
Ryanair training boost
A major new training partnership to deliver a mentored pilot programme with the Cork-based international flight school Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) has been announced by Ryanair.
Women to the fore at Flybe
A programme designed to encourage women to join the aviation business has been launched by Flybe. Called ‘FlyShe’, the initiative is designed to inspire young girls and women to consider roles that are traditionally male-associated.