9 MARCH 2020
YOUR WORDS
Readers are invited to add their comments to any story. Click on the article to see and add.
BTN DISTRIBUTION
BTN also goes out by email every Sunday night at midnight (UK time). To view this edition click here.
- SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Karen Dee – chief executive, Airport Operators Association
- COVID-19: Airlines facing £87bn disaster
- 1,000 jobs to fill at Manchester Airport
- Air Astana greets latest A321LR
- Anderson keynote at airports Expo
- Another 20 CRJ-550s for United
- Award for Recaro Economy Class seat
- Bischof takes the helm at Eurowings
- Chauffeur service goes all-electric
- Flybe: Regionals rally round
- Flybe: The facts as published by Aviation Week
- Heathrow gets tough on night noise
- Leeds Bradford terminal bid
- London brings in 20mph speed limit
- Pre-order meals boost at airBaltic
- Qantas marks centenary in new safety video
- Row looms over EASA quit threat
- UK air traffic records tumble
- Widerøe to Southend
- Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
- Women in aviation on stage at Gatwick
- ON TOUR: Business Travel Show – a further roundup
- MARCH ROAD TEST: SKODA Kamiq SE 1.0 TSI 95PS manual
- AND FINALLY: Berlin Airport
The Business Travel News
PO Box 758
Edgware HA8 4QF
United Kingdom
info@btnews.co.uk
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Award for Recaro Economy Class seat
A breakthrough Economy Class long-haul seat, the CL3710, by the Germany-based company Recaro Aircraft Seating has won a Gold from the German Design Awards in the 'Excellent Product Design' category for its sleeping comfort features.
SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Karen Dee – chief executive, Airport Operators Association
THE BRITISH AVIATION INDUSTY ASSEMBLES AT THE GROSVENOR HOUSE
Karen Dee joined the Airport Operators Association (AOA) as chief executive on 1 March 2017. She has more than 20 years’ experience in policy development, communications and representation activities within the transport sector, incorporating roles in government, consultancy and trade associations including the Department for Transport and the Confederation of British Industry.
COVID-19: Airlines facing £87bn disaster
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, continued tightening its grip over the weekend, just days after IATA estimated the cost of the outbreak to the aviation industry this year at up to £87bn. The prediction came on the same day Flybe went into administration.
Anderson keynote at airports Expo
Fallout from the Flybe affair will be a major talking point at this year’s British-Irish Airports Expo with the opening keynote address as things stand at present due to be delivered by the man who was Flybe’s CEO, Mark Anderson.
Chauffeur service goes all-electric
The way ahead for chauffeur services was launched in London last week with an all-electric premium service called Havn. It uses a fleet of Jaguar I-PACE performance SUVs, with each ride tailored to the preferences of the passenger.
Flybe: Regionals rally round
Britain’s regional carriers rallied round last week to save UK air services in the aftermath of the Flybe collapse on Thursday, with Loganair, Eastern Airways, Blue Islands and Aurigny all announcing new or replacement services.
Flybe: The facts as published by Aviation Week
We suggest you click through to what is a fine diagrammatic profile that tells the sad story of Flybe better than any words.
Heathrow gets tough on night noise
Airlines that breach Heathrow noise rules will face higher charges this year after the airport announced last week it was targeting flights that arrive and depart within the Night Quota Period from 23:30 to 06:00.
London brings in 20mph speed limit
New 20mph speed limits were introduced on all Transport for London (TfL) roads in central London last week in what the organisation said was “a significant move to reduce road danger across the capital”.
Row looms over EASA quit threat
The aviation industry appeared to be on a collision course with the government at the weekend after transport secretary Grant Shapps said the UK was leaving the EU’s European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) at the end of the Brexit transition on 31 December.
Widerøe to Southend
Southend Airport has added another carrier to its line-up with Widerøe of Norway switching its three-a-week Kristiansand – Stansted service to a daily Kristiansand – Southend operation for the peak season from 29 March.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
Wizz Air has confirmed plans to launch an operation in Abu Dhabi with its first flights to begin during the second half of the year. The airline first unveiled plans for the offshoot at the end of last year (BTN 16 December 2019).
ON TOUR: Business Travel Show – a further roundup
Such is the size and complexity of the Business Travel Show, it really was impossible to produce more than a fleeting report last week on what was a most successful 48hr at Olympia London. The event also included, on the balcony, Travel Technology Europe.
MARCH ROAD TEST: SKODA Kamiq SE 1.0 TSI 95PS manual
The Skoda Kamiq shows what a long way car manufactures have come with small cars. Do you remember the tiny one litre BL Mini? Skoda's starter car is a quantum leap.
1,000 jobs to fill at Manchester Airport
More than 1,000 roles at Manchester Airport will be on offer and some 25 employers represented at the northern hub’s annual Jobs Fair at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket stadium this Thursday, 12 March, from 10:00 – 15:00.
Air Astana greets latest A321LR
New Airbus deliveries are powering a wide-ranging fleet modernisation for Air Astana as the airline looks to further route expansion including a new service between Almaty and Mumbai from 1 June.
Another 20 CRJ-550s for United
In a major vote of confidence in the Bombardier CRJ-500, GoJet Airlines, a regional carrier operating under the United Express banner, is to expand its fleet by another 20 of the single-aisle aircraft.
Bischof takes the helm at Eurowings
The second largest airline in the Lufthansa Group, Cologne-based Eurowings, has a new chief executive with the arrival of Jens Bischof, 54. He was previously chief executive of SunExpress.
Leeds Bradford terminal bid
More information has been released by Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) on its new plan for a state-of-the-art terminal which it says will deliver one of the UK’s most environmentally-efficient airport buildings (BTN 27 January).
Pre-order meals boost at airBaltic
Changes in inflight eating habits are causing airBaltic to refine the product after the number of passengers last year choosing to pre-order from a menu of more than 70 fresh meals increased by 49.5%, while the popularity of inflight meals grew by 19.8%.
Qantas marks centenary in new safety video
Flying boats from the 1940s, moustaches from the 1970s and mullets from the 1980s have returned to star in a new safety video from Qantas celebrating the Australian flag carrier’s 100 years of operation.
UK air traffic records tumble
Almost 2.6m flights were handled in UK airspace in 2019 and air traffic has grown by more than 13% over the past 10 years, making last year and the past decade the busiest ever for air traffic, the NATS organisation reported last week.
Women in aviation on stage at Gatwick
Industry-wide efforts at making aviation more gender balanced to coincide with International Women’s Day yesterday, 8 March, were under the spotlight at a diversity conference at Gatwick last week.