26 NOVEMBER 2018
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- COMMENT: Cyclists and the highway
- Addis Ababa – Moscow
- Additional A330s for Delta
- Air France halves A380 fleet
- Another good year for easyJet
- AOA’s Anderson steps down
- B777X all joined up
- Brand No 3 for Fusion
- Business Travel Show 2019
- Clampdown on cycle lanes
- Emirates joins Worldwide
- Flybmi looks to the future
- Helsinki plans 2-in-1 hotel
- Loganair adds routes
- More Embraers for American
- New chairman for London City Airport
- Newquay, Inverness in regional spotlight
- Shanghai's underground hotel
- United unveils Polaris layout
- Virgin & Flybe “Public Relations exercise”
- Wizz eyes Krakow and Budapest
- ON TOUR: The Vineyard at Stockcross
- AND FINALLY EXTRA
- AND FINALLY: Virgin Atlantic
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Helsinki plans 2-in-1 hotel
In a response to ever-increasing visitor numbers, two of Helsinki’s most historic buildings are being joined together next year to create what is being hailed as the city’s most exciting hotel development to date.
COMMENT: Cyclists and the highway
Business Travel News is not anti-cyclists. In fact they have an important role to play in society, keeping the user fit with an environmentally-friendly form of transport.
Addis Ababa – Moscow
Africa is to have a new link with Russia from next Saturday, 1 December, when the continent’s largest aviation group, Ethiopian Airlines, begins a three-a-week service to Moscow with the Boeing B787 Dreamliner.
Air France halves A380 fleet
Five of the 10-strong fleet of Airbus A380s at Air France are to be retired after a review ordered by Air France-KLM group CEO Benjamin Smith as part of his plans to streamline the airline. Smith took office on 30 September.
Another good year for easyJet
Good financial results for year to 30 September were reported last week by easyJet, with profit before tax up £60m over 2017 to £445m. Passenger numbers rose by 10.2% and revenue was up by 16.6% to nearly £5.9bn.
B777X all joined up
The final shape of the new Boeing B777X that will take to the skies next year has been revealed as the manufacturer last week brought together the major fuselage sections in a major production milestone known as the “final body join”.
Clampdown on cycle lanes
Drivers who park in cycle lanes could be fined under a proposal contained in a package of 50 road-safety measures from the government last week designed to promote the use of bikes in built-up areas.
Emirates joins Worldwide
EasyJet’s pace-setting connections service Worldwide by easyJet has gained a powerful new recruit in the shape of Emirates, joining a line-up including Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian plus Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot.
Loganair adds routes
Two new routes from Bournemouth airport to Guernsey and Jersey and midweek flights added to its recently-announced weekend Edinburgh – Guernsey service have been unveiled by Loganair for next summer.
Newquay, Inverness in regional spotlight
Regional connections into Heathrow were in focus last week with Newquay and Flybe plus Inverness and British Airways competing for attention.
United unveils Polaris layout
Images of the Polaris (business class) layout on United Airlines’ new Boeing B787-10 Dreamliners have been unveiled after the company received the first aircraft, with 14 more due for delivery over the next two years – an average of about one every seven weeks.
Virgin & Flybe “Public Relations exercise”
Debate over the future of Flybe continued at the weekend after Virgin Atlantic confirmed it was in talks over a possible takeover of the regional carrier, which has put itself up for sale (See BTN 18 November).
Wizz eyes Krakow and Budapest
Krakow and Budapest were in the limelight at Wizz Air last week as the carrier announced new plans for the UK market next year, including services between Poland and Doncaster.
ON TOUR: The Vineyard at Stockcross
BTN editor Richard Cawthorne samples a hotel whose dedication to wine is only part of the story
AND FINALLY EXTRA
For those with a little time on their hands we share a link with a “Fear of Flying” course and the comedian Michael Macintyre. And there is some fine singing too.
AND FINALLY: Virgin Atlantic
The return of Craig Kreeger – airline poet laureate
Additional A330s for Delta
Ten additional Airbus A330-900 widebodies have been ordered by Delta Air Lines in a move the carrier says is designed to support its international growth strategy “in the near to medium term”. The deal expands the A330neo order book from 25 to 35 aircraft.
AOA’s Anderson steps down
The UK Airport Operators Association (AOA) is seeking a new chairman after Ed Anderson said he is standing down at the end of his current term at the annual general meeting on 5 March next year, after 11 years.
Brand No 3 for Fusion
A third brand is being added next year to the portfolio of Vietnam’s Fusion Hotel Group, which specialises in upscale spa inclusive resorts and chic city hotels, with the opening of the first Fusion Originals hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Business Travel Show 2019
A futuristic theme and new features designed to enhance the visitor experience and prepare industry buyers for developments over the next three years are being planned by organisers of the 2019 Business Travel Show on 20-21 February.
Flybmi looks to the future
Plans for new uniforms for cabin and flight deck crew plus new in-flight entertainment and a loyalty programme are nearing completion at independent carrier flybmi with a scheduled launch date of January.
More Embraers for American
Rapid growth is continuing at American Airlines’ subsidiary Envoy Air, formerly known as American Eagle, with the carrier responding by nearly doubling its Embraer E175 fleet by adding 15 aircraft to an existing order of 25.
New chairman for London City Airport
The former chairman of High Speed 1 (HS1), Rob Holden, has been appointed the new chairman of London City Airport (LCY) with immediate effect as the facility continues its £500m development programme and heads for a record 4.7m passengers this year.
Shanghai's underground hotel
After almost 10 years under construction, Shanghai’s new “earthscraper” hotel, built vertically along the precipice of an underground water-filled quarry, was unveiled to the public last week.