11 MAY 2020
- London City Airport
- The PM speaks on Covid-19
- ON THE SOAPBOX: The Cycle Lanes
- Changes at BTN
- Willie Walsh & Westminster
- Air France
- BA long-haul route planning and more
- Business Travel Association plea to government
- Changes at Southampton Airport
- Flybe fully grounded?
- Hotel news
- IAG first quarter results
- IATA no to social distancing
- Iberia helps the staff
- Innovators Challenge 2020 for the Air League
- New leader for CAA
- Norwegian staggers on
- Qatar plans ahead
- Ryanair at Stansted
- Travel industry at the Commons
- Virgin drops Gatwick and Australia waits
- Wizz Air
- World Routes and IATA Slots conferences
- ON TOUR: Or rather ‘Virtual Tour’
- MAY MOTORING
- AND FINALLY: The Forgotten
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Flybe fully grounded?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revoked Flybe's Operating Licence and Route Licences covering scheduled and charter operations. This has been challenged by the administrator Ernst & Young (EY).
IATA no to social distancing
BTN says check with your airlines regarding masks.
Virgin drops Gatwick and Australia waits
Gatwick Airport has lost Virgin Atlantic whilst Virgin Australia waits on its future.
London City Airport
A PDF version of Malcolm Ginsberg's authorised history of the airport is now available on-line.
Please click here. PDF . The book can be purchased from Crecy. ISBN 978-1-900438-07-0
The PM speaks on Covid-19
“It will soon be the time when we will quarantine people coming into the country by air.” The words of Boris Johnson Prime Minster speaking to the nation last night.
ON THE SOAPBOX: The Cycle Lanes
David Tarsh is a long-standing commentator/consultant on the airline industry, and also a cyclist. He is very much in favour of encouraging people to cycle but NOT building new bike lanes.
Willie Walsh & Westminster
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh appeared before the House of Commons Transport Committee 10:00 Monday morning for 90min. The hearing overran and Mr Walsh tried to curtail the interrogation, unsuccessfully. Parliament comes first although the usual niceties were exchanged at the conclusion
BA long-haul route planning and more
British Airways this week gradually filed planned long-haul operations for the month of June, as the carrier removed schedules and closing reservations on various routes. See also Willie Walsh & Westminster in this issue.
Ryanair at Stansted
Perhaps it is the action of Wizz at Luton (LTN), but Ryanair has come to life at Stansted, where facemasks, in common with sister airports Manchester and East Midlands, are now mandatory.
Travel industry at the Commons
The House of Commons Transport Committee was in action last week with a series of interviews involving some of the key people in the industry. More on Monday (11 May) with Willie Walsh.
Wizz Air
Over the coming weeks Luton Airport is to be reconnected by Wizz to Corfu, Heraklion, Rhodes, Zakynthos (Greece), Faro (Portugal) and Marrakesh (Morocco). See last week’s issue for other destinations already served.
World Routes and IATA Slots conferences
With all governments looking to ease restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic the travel and tourism industry is trying to plan ahead for economic recovery.
MAY MOTORING
With still no cars to review for May BTN looks at what was on offer in 2018. Not all readers purchase new cars, and whilst for the most part the 2020 models are much better, a previous user vehicle from earlier times can prove to be a bargain.
For 2019 cars go to APRIL MOTORING
AND FINALLY: The Forgotten
Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan’ is a frequent airline traveller, and probably Britain’s best known after dinner speaker with an MBE to his credit.
Air France
With Orly closed the French national airline plans to operate the following June programme out of Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Business Travel Association plea to government
The Business Travel Association (BTA) has come up with a five-step plan to get British business travelling again. It calls for key actions on areas from the timeframe to travel, to international co-operation and clarity, protecting travellers, safe services and competitive pricing.
Changes at Southampton Airport
AGS Airports Ltd, which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, has confirmed the appointment of Roger Hunt as interim managing director of Aberdeen International Airport.
Hotel news
It is the general policy of BTN not to report on hotel news more than six months ahead. Business travellers are for the most part not that forward thinking. However with a dearth news in the sector we have produced a short roundup.
IAG first quarter results
CEO Willie Walsh’s presentation of IAG’s first quarter results last Thursday (7 May) understandably made for grim reading.
Iberia helps the staff
IAG member airline Iberia is to check all staff returning from furlough, some 2,500 in May alone.
Innovators Challenge 2020 for the Air League
Not withstanding the current problems associated with air travel The Air League has launched its “Innovators Challenge” a competition for 17-26 year olds who have a passion for aviation and aerospace and a desire to overcome some of the long-term challenges facing the sector.
New leader for CAA
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a new chair for the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Norwegian staggers on
Shareholders of Norwegian Air Shuttle have voted in favour of its plan to convert debt to equity and relaunch operations with a smaller fleet and fewer destinations from 2021.
Qatar plans ahead
Doha-based Qatar Airways is to begin a phased approach to expanding its network in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world.