23 MARCH 2020
YOUR WORDS
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- COMMENT: From the chief executive of Airlines UK
- A letter from Hong Kong
- Foreign Office advice
- National Rail enquiries
- Aberdeen update
- Air Antwerp suspends timetable
- Air New Zealand departs London
- Airports – A complete update
- American Airlines operates cargo flights
- Bizjet fraternity rallies
- Boeing and SITA
- British Airways suspends London City Airport (and more!)
- Cruise passengers rescued
- Delay for Walsh
- EasyJet grounded
- Farnborough cancelled
- Loganair flight reductions
- Meggitt and ventilators
- Scillies – Penzance Helicopter launch
- Simon Calder on Thomas Cook
- West Atlantic and Swift Air stay flying
- ON TOUR: Travel cover unravels
- AND FINALLY: It had to happen
- TEST
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Scillies – Penzance Helicopter launch
After eight years, the UK’s only scheduled helicopter service, between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, started again last week.
COMMENT: From the chief executive of Airlines UK
The current challenges faced by the UK airline sector are truly unprecedented, and stark. Even just days ago, the idea that airlines across the globe would be cancelling thousands of flights and grounding aircraft on the current scale would have been unthinkable.
A letter from Hong Kong
Tony Tyler, the former director-general and chief executive of IATA and previously chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airways, recently returned to Hong Kong, where he is presently. He also has a home in the south of France. Here, he updates the position in Hong Kong for Business Travel News.
Foreign Office advice
If you are thinking of travelling abroad in the near future, and your travel operator is able to offer a service, BTN strongly recommends you visit the official Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for up-to-date advice.
Air New Zealand departs London
First established back in 1982, Air New Zealand (NZ) flew its final Heathrow – Los Angeles – Auckland service last Saturday (21 March).
Airports – A complete update
As a service to our readers, listed here are the websites of the leading UK and Irish airports.
Please pass on. A BTN mention would be apprecaited.
American Airlines operates cargo flights
American Airlines (AA) announced this week that it will be utilising grounded aircraft to move cargo between the United States and Europe.
British Airways suspends London City Airport (and more!)
BA subsidiary Cityflyer has announced it is suspending all services from London City Airport. Passengers have been offered flights from Heathrow and Gatwick, or can claim a refund.
Delay for Walsh
Willie Walsh, who had been due to leave his post as chief executive at International Airlines Group (IAG), is to stay for an unspecified period as the company continues to battle the coronavirus crisis.
EasyJet grounded
Following the country lockdowns, travel restrictions and changes to travel advice across its network, easyJet has announced the decision to ground the majority of its fleet of aircraft from Tuesday 24 March onwards.
West Atlantic and Swift Air stay flying
The UK’s and Europe’s largest specialised cargo airline group continues to fly and is being kept very busy. Operationally it is in a crisis mood.
ON TOUR: Travel cover unravels
Exposure to loss from cancelled flights and pre-booked hotels is adding to the woes of coronavirus. This insurance report was written by John Burke, who is a financial journalist as well as a travel writer.
AND FINALLY: It had to happen
AND IS STILL CURRENT. ssss
The Mousetrap is sadly closed!
Mama Mia too!
Aberdeen update
What is effectively Europe’s busiest heliport, Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), is being affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but not in the way of similar airports.
Air Antwerp suspends timetable
Codeshare flights with KLM operated by Air Antwerp (WP) are another casualty of COVID-19 with Air Antwerp's service from Antwerp to London City Airport now suspended.
Bizjet fraternity rallies
The last two to three weeks have seen a surge of interest in the private jet charter market Alison Chambers reports.
Boeing and SITA
SITA, the airline information technology company, is accelerating innovation in air traffic control (ATC) communications as part of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme, alongside key industry partners including NASA and long-standing airline customer, Etihad.
Cruise passengers rescued
Last Wednesday (18 March) 239 Cruise and Maritime (CMV) passengers were transferred at sea in a unique operation to get them home safely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Farnborough cancelled
The Farnborough International board of directors has announced the cancellation of the Farnborough International Airshow 2020 which was due to take place from 20-24 July.
Loganair flight reductions
With the aviation industry in meltdown due to COVIS-19, it is not only international airlines that are affected, but also those serving primarily domestic routes – including Scotland’s Loganair, which on Wednesday announced a dramatic reduction in its services.
Meggitt and ventilators
Aerospace industry FSO 100-listed major component supplier Meggitt has answered an NHS call for ventilator production assistance.
Simon Calder on Thomas Cook
Somehow finding the time to investigate what is a true scandal, The Independent’s travel guru Simon Calder has come up with some sensational facts concerning the repatriation of some 77,000 passengers who were not ATOL protected.