21 SEPTEMBER 2020
YOUR WORDS
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- The Foreign Office Travel Guidelines
- SOAPBOX SPECIAL: An Air Transport Perspective – Paul Kehoe CBE
- (Yet) another Aviation Minister
- Alex Cruz and the Select Committee
- ATR freighter takes flight
- British Airways – Heathrow joint statement
- Caribbean boost for Virgin Atlantic
- Environment and British Airways
- Fly Kosher with Emirates
- Gatwick cancelled by BA for the winter
- Heathrow – Some thoughts
- Irish Minister attacked
- Israel lockdown: Ben Gurion Airport remains open
- London City Airport restructures + more routes
- Luton declines, but less than most
- Slots waived
- Stobart Air for sale?
- Stockholm Bromma to close
- Teesside lands at Heathrow
- Thomas Cook is back
- UV security trays at Gatwick
- Wheeltug goes public
- ON TOUR: The Twin Otter Story – Part One – Until 1988
- AND FINALLY: Passwords
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ATR freighter takes flight
What is essentially the world’s first purpose-built turboprop regional freighter aircraft has flown.
Wheeltug goes public
IABG, the highly regarded German test house, has been chosen to conduct a test campaign for WheelTug’s innovative Boeing 737NG series self-drive electric-driven nose landing gear. Last week, with the assistance of Zoom, it very much went public at Memphis International Airport.
The Foreign Office Travel Guidelines
This is the up to date current list as issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
SOAPBOX SPECIAL: An Air Transport Perspective – Paul Kehoe CBE
Paul Kehoe CBE recently retired as Chief Executive of the Gulf Air Group based in Bahrain. During his career he has been CEO in charge of a number of UK airports including Birmingham, Bristol, Luton and Belfast International. As he explains he began in the RAF, his last tour as an ATC controller Brize Norton in 1987, then joining BAe, latterly as Airports Manager, which at that time included Liverpool, Bristol – Filton, Hawarden and Hatfield.
(Yet) another Aviation Minister
Robert Courts has replaced Kelly Tolhurst as Aviation Minister reporting to Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps.
British Airways – Heathrow joint statement
Not always the best of bedfellows, Alex Cruz of British Airways and John Holland-Kaye of Heathrow Airport have got together this morning (21 September) to issue the strongest condemnation yet of the British Government’s disastrous approach in not helping in any way the airline industry in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, and likewise the country’s international trade.
Caribbean boost for Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic currently flies the following routes from Heathrow:
Environment and British Airways
The Royal Aeronautical Society (Heathrow Branch) is sponsoring a lecture led by Jonathon Counsell, Group Head of Sustainability – IAG.
Gatwick cancelled by BA for the winter
All the following routes will operate from Heathrow, the frequencies based on the week starting 10 January.
Heathrow – Some thoughts
Your Editor-in-Chief passed through Heathrow T2, the Elizabeth Terminal, last Monday. Here is his judgement.
Israel lockdown: Ben Gurion Airport remains open
Ben Gurion International Airport, the main airport of Israel, will remain open during the country’s lockdown which started last Friday (18 September) and will continue for three weeks.
London City Airport restructures + more routes
It was no surprise that London City Airport (LCY) announced restructuring plans last week as Covid-19 continues to impact the aviation sector.
Luton declines, but less than most
Passenger numbers at Luton Airport (LTN) dropped 56% last month compared with August 2019, with 820,000 travelling through the facility compared to 1.7m last year.
Slots waived
In spite of procrastination by Wizz Air the European Commission has agreed to extend the waiver of "use it or lose it" slot rules in the European Union for the winter 2020/21 season in light of the ongoing lack of demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Teesside lands at Heathrow
In early July Eastern Airways, in partnership with local council-owned Teesside International Airport, launched flights to London City Airport.
ON TOUR: The Twin Otter Story – Part One – Until 1988
The de Havilland Canada Twin Otter DHC-6 has many claims to fame but one fact stands out. It has been in production longer than any other commercial aircraft in the history of aviation, having first flown on 20 May 1965, and with a break, still with us as the Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 writes Malcolm Ginsberg.
Alex Cruz and the Select Committee
The keenly awaited appearance of British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Alex Cruz before the House of Commons Transport Select Committee was highlighted by his instance that Air Passenger Duty (APD) should be removed.
Fly Kosher with Emirates
Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world's largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, has signed an MOU with CCL Holdings, founded by Ross Kriel, entering a partnership to set up a dedicated production facility for kosher food at EKFC's premises in the UAE. The new partnership will be called Kosher Arabia, and production is expected to begin by January 2021.
Irish Minister attacked
Whilst careful not to attach Michael O’Leary’s name to the press release Ryanair has issued its strongest statement yet in its condemnation of the Irish Government’s air travel policy.
Stobart Air for sale?
LSE listed Stobart Group has confirmed it is considering selling Dublin-based Stobart Air and is in talks with "a number" of interested parties.
Stockholm Bromma to close
The inner city Bromma Airport, Stockholm is likely to become the first airport casualty of Covid-19. It is not much more than five miles from Stockholm City Centre and was once a London City Airport destination.
Thomas Cook is back
The world’s oldest travel agency is back, now as an OTA (on-line travel agency) web outlet, but in many ways following the concept of the founder who in 1841 chartered a train from Leicester to Loughborough innovating the idea of group travel.
UV security trays at Gatwick
The UK’s first UV treatment of security trays has been installed at Gatwick to protect passengers and staff by reducing the spread of coronaviruses.