14 OCTOBER 2019
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- COMMENT: Alex Cruz to open air travel industry debate
- Aerotel arrives at Heathrow
- Airportr Manchester baggage deal
- All-electric buses for Glasgow Airport
- American sets new MAX return date
- BA in new carbon pledge
- BBGA push for apprenticeships
- Business Traveller awards for Qatar Airways
- Busy summer ahead for Ryanair
- Edinburgh Market Street Hotel bows in
- ERA renews attack on EU261
- Financial rumbles at SAA
- Luton Council in airport expansion consultation
- NATS survey surprise
- New CEO named for Air New Zealand
- Orient Express hotels plan
- PrivateFly new city pairings
- Project Sunrise tests begin
- Qantas keeping up the momentum
- Stansted shopping bypass
- Travelodge UK powers on
- Vondelpark Park Plaza open
- ON TOUR: Castle Combe, motor sport and Bath – A conundrum
- OCTOBER ROAD TEST: KIA ProCeed 1.6 CRDi “GT Line”
- AND FINALLY: What is public relations?
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All-electric buses for Glasgow Airport
Glasgow has become the first UK airport to introduce zero-emission electric buses to its car park operation.
The three-strong fleet, built in Scotland by Alexander Dennis (ADL), will replace diesel vehicles that shuttle to and from the long-stay facility.
COMMENT: Alex Cruz to open air travel industry debate
The timing for AIRLINES 2050 could not be better, proceeded by the Queen’s Speech today with a possible mention of future safeguards covering a Thomas Cook-style fiasco. Transport secretary Grant Shapps is also a speaker on Thursday. The full listing is below, as is the programme.
Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade offers this COMMENT preview, zeroing in on the sustainability challenge facing airlines, one of the key themes of the gathering.
American sets new MAX return date
After several postponements, a new date for a return to service of the Boeing B737 MAX was set by American Airlines last week, saying it anticipated software updates to the aircraft would lead to re-certification this year and resumption of commercial flights in early 2020.
BA in new carbon pledge
Mandatory carbon offsetting on all UK domestic flights is being introduced by British Airways in partnership with the charity Pure Leapfrog from next year, mirroring a similar recent move by Air France.
Business Traveller awards for Qatar Airways
The 2019 Business Traveller Awards last week saw Qatar Airways taking an impressive four titles, being named Best Airline, as well as winning in the Best Long-Haul Airline, Best Business Class and Best Middle Eastern Airline categories.
Busy summer ahead for Ryanair
More than 500 routes throughout Europe have gone on sale with the launch of Ryanair’s UK summer 2020 schedule. Fourteen of the routes are new, including unusual destinations such as Cluj in Romania and Terceira in Portugal.
Financial rumbles at SAA
South Africa's public enterprises minister has told the country's parliament South African Airways and SA Express are not going concerns. His remarks came in a letter explaining delays in the carriers' submitting their annual reports.
Luton Council in airport expansion consultation
The proposed long-term expansion of Luton Airport is being opened up for discussion in a second public consultation this autumn, organised by Luton Council’s airport company, London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL). There is no involvement by the airport operator, whose contract runs to 2031.
NATS survey surprise
Price is the most important factor when choosing an airline – but on-board comfort and facilities are becoming ever more influential, according to a study of passenger attitudes by air traffic service provider NATS.
Project Sunrise tests begin
Qantas is set to take the next step towards non-stop London – Sydney and New York – Sydney service next Friday, 18 October, with the first of three ultra-long-haul test flights to gather data on inflight passenger and crew health and wellbeing.
Qantas keeping up the momentum
As well as preparing for Project Sunrise (see story this issue), Qantas is keeping busy on several other fronts, including consolidating its relationship with American Airlines and upgrading its Airbus A380 fleet.
Stansted shopping bypass
A new fast-track service and widening horizons to India made the headlines for Stansted last week with the airport boosting passenger service on the ground and Air India’s Boeing B787 Dreamliner on the way later this month.
ON TOUR: Castle Combe, motor sport and Bath – A conundrum
In terms of journalism, how do you link Castle Combe, one of the prettiest villages in England, a motor-racing circuit, and nearby Bath, ancient and once the pride of the Georgians? asks editor-in-chief Malcolm Ginsberg.
OCTOBER ROAD TEST: KIA ProCeed 1.6 CRDi “GT Line”
Kia continues to proliferate with new models. At the present count there are 12 distinct car types, many of which have spin-offs. Take for instance the Ceed family. Kia produces the Ceed, XCeed, Ceed Sportswagen, and the new (2019) ProCeed, the subject of this road test. We are told an SUV is on its way.
AND FINALLY: What is public relations?
Having spent many happy hours discussing the subject of public relations, we at BTN feel blessed at last to have received guidance.
Aerotel arrives at Heathrow
Plaza Premium Group has followed up on the arrival of one of its Aerotel round-the-clock hotels in Bejing’s New Daxing Airport (BTN last week), with an opening at Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals.
Airportr Manchester baggage deal
A new home baggage check-in and delivery service for passengers has been introduced by Manchester Airport in what it calls a landmark partnership with Airportr.
BBGA push for apprenticeships
A successful pathway to a world of future aviation opportunities lies in a revitalisation of apprenticeships, a newly released manifesto from the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) highlighted last week.
Edinburgh Market Street Hotel bows in
The first Design Hotels member in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh Market Street, has opened its doors next to the city’s Art Centre and a short walk from Royal Mile, Waverley Station, Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens.
ERA renews attack on EU261
The European directive EU261 setting out rules for compensation to passengers affected by cancellations and delays for more than 3hr is uncompetitive and unfair, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) said last week.
New CEO named for Air New Zealand
The New Zealand-born head of the American multinational retail corporation Walmart, Greg Foran, has been appointed the new CEO of Air New Zealand. He succeeds Christopher Luxon, who announced his resignation this summer (BTN 24 June).
Orient Express hotels plan
A portfolio of hotels under the Orient Express brand is being launched next year by Accor with the promise that staying in the properties will be like “a luxurious train ride back in time”.
PrivateFly new city pairings
A new and extended list of discounted, fixed-price private charter routes for the autumn and winter season has been issued by UK private charter platform PrivateFly, part of the Directional Aviation group.
Travelodge UK powers on
Six more hotels are being opened in the UK before Christmas by Travelodge in a £45m investment that includes Scotland’s first new-build Travelodge Plus property in Edinburgh.
Vondelpark Park Plaza open
International hospitality real estate company PPHE Hotel Group has opened its latest premium boutique property, Park Plaza Vondelpark, Amsterdam, following a £9m repositioning.