29 JUNE 2020
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- COMMENT: BA - What next?
- Quarantine advice
- Air France bids adieu A380
- Airbus A380 returns - for some
- Australian Virgin move
- British Airways long-haul
- Budget hotel for Kings Cross
- Canada here we come
- Cross Channel ferry links
- East Coast Main Line
- Eastern Airways
- EasyJet share issue
- Gatwick boost for Ryanair
- KLM and BA
- Luton Airport and easyJet
- More Travelodge
- Parliament look at e-scooters
- Qantas stands down staff
- Segway ending production
- Singapore “No First Class”
- Virgin Atlantic is back
- ON TOUR: The De Havilland Dash 7
- AND FINALLY: Government support for British Airways
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Cross Channel ferry links
Brittany Ferries has confirmed a limited return to scheduled passenger services this summer. In all, five ships will carry passengers when they resume from today (29 June).
COMMENT: BA - What next?
This publication is not keen on base airlines subcontracting, whether it be front desk, gate handling or telephone reservations. You cannot beat the enthusiasm and knowledge of front-line staff.
Quarantine advice
Whilst there has been no official government announcement it does seem very likely from 6 July, blanket restrictions on non-essential overseas travel will be relaxed in the UK.
Air France bids adieu A380
For Air France the Airbus A380 never arrived with a real splash, Lufthansa supplying the cabin staff when the aircraft was certificated with a media flight out of Toulouse and then a quiet introduction on selected routes including CDG to Heathrow for crew experience.
Airbus A380 returns - for some
The highly popular A380 aircraft will begin serving travellers on flights to Heathrow and Paris CDG starting from 15 July.
British Airways long-haul
Routes, the long-established aviation information and events company, and part of Informa Plc, has published a full update for British Airways long-haul route planning for the coming months.
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line (currently LNER who last week were awarded a three-year contract) is set to become Britain’s first mainline digital rail link with £350m of new investment to install state-of-the-art electronic signalling designed to cut journey times and slash delays.
Eastern Airways
London City (LCY) – Teesside (MME) will be introduced by Eastern Airways next Monday, with initially a daily service leaving MME 07:15 (arr 08:40) and LCY 09:15 (10:40).
EasyJet share issue
In line with what is the most disastrous half-year results in the company’s 25 year history easyJet came to the London Stock Exchange last week to raise up to £450m to boost its financial position.
KLM and BA
KLM Cityhoppers’s flagship route between Amsterdam Schiphol and London City Airport (LCY) returns 13 July.
More Travelodge
The UK budget hotel group reopened 11 properties last week in crucial UK locations to support key workers.
Singapore “No First Class”
The facility to book First Class has been withdrawn by Singapore Airlines (SQ) until the end of November.
Virgin Atlantic is back
The restart date of 20 July has been announced for Virgin Atlantic’s (VS) flights out of Heathrow.
ON TOUR: The De Havilland Dash 7
We live in strange times. London City Airport (LCY) is in a mortal struggle to stay alive. It will succeed.
AND FINALLY: Government support for British Airways
Desperate moves for desperate times.
Australian Virgin move
It looks like an American private equity company could soon be the owners of Virgin Australia (see BTN 8 June).
Budget hotel for Kings Cross
A new budget hotel has opened in Tavistock Place, London, a five-minute walk from Kings Cross Station with bed rates starting at an astonishing £16.20 (shared).
Canada here we come
Air Transat, the Canadian holiday airline, is to introduce flights on 23 July from Gatwick to Toronto (three times weekly), Manchester (twice weekly) and Glasgow (twice weekly).
Gatwick boost for Ryanair
Ryanair could soon have 15 Gatwick-based aircraft according to the Route Development Director, Niall O’Connor.
Luton Airport and easyJet
The date and time have been set for easyJet’s first post Covick-19 flight from Luton Airport.
Parliament look at e-scooters
The House of Commons – Transport Select Committee is to look into e-scooters.
Qantas stands down staff
Following the announcement last week that it has cancelled all international flights until late October (see BTN 22 June) Qantas Group is planning to reduce its pre-coronavirus workforce by at least 6,000 across all parts of the business as it seeks to save up to US$10bn over the next three years in the wake of the crisis.
Segway ending production
Much hyped when it was launched in 2001 the Segway self-balancing personal transport will cease production next month.