16 NOVEMBER 2020
- Holiday - Readers' thoughts wanted
- ON THE SOAPBOX: Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General, ACI World
- Aer Lingus franchise to Emerald Airlines?
- Alliances team up
- AOA Conference and Shapps
- BA catering jobs
- Blackburn Beverley
- Cargolux and the Aviation Club
- Etihad to become ‘midsize’
- Heathrow update
- Inmarsat watched by over three thousand - Globally
- John Strickland interviews jetBlue CEO Robin Hayes
- Loganair into Teesside
- London hotels stay open
- Luton Airport and November
- Night flight ban
- Norwegian problems
- OAG – Airline and Airport stats
- RAeS Brabazon Lecture 2020
- Rolls-Royce and sustainable aviation
- Ukraine International into Heathrow
- Virgin Hyperloop tested
- ON TOUR: Christmas Book Review
- AND FINALLY: Only the Irish
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Night flight ban
In what could be seen as a serious airport problem from a practical and economic point of view as Covid-19 impacts, a collection of 17 community and environmental groups have written to the Aviation Minister suggesting an eight-hour airport night flight ban be imposed on sleep and environmental grounds.
Virgin Hyperloop tested
Zero to 100mph in six seconds. That was the speed obtained by two volunteers, wearing casual street clothes at a 500m desert test track north of Las Vegas on Sunday 8 November, sitting in a Virgin Hyperloop capsule.
The Government’s list of travel corridors
www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-countries-and-territories-exempt-from-advice-against-all-but-essential-international-travel
The latest changes include the following added to the list: Bahrain, Cambodia, Chile, Iceland, Laos, Qatar, UAE and Turks and Caicos Islands plus Greece, except the islands of Corfu, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and Zakynthos.
A 'Must Watch' for all readers
"The Death of Business Class"
Perhaps a misnomer?
Holiday - Readers' thoughts wanted
These are strange times? Do readers open BTN in their offices, or on the way to work, or at home? When do we publish the first issue of the year? It can be Monday 4 January or the following Monday. Is BTN read the last few days before Christmas, not so normally, but what about this year? The team always has two weeks off over the holiday period. That is sacrosanct, but will there be any news to talk about on Monday 4 January. Or shall we have three weeks off? In any event the Christmas quiz will be on the BTN home page from the last publication of the year until midnight on Sunday of the first edition of 2021, whenever that may be.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General, ACI World
Government support for aviation will lay the foundation for global economic recovery
Luis Felipe joined ACI World as Director General in June 2020 bringing with him vast experience in commercial and technical aviation. For over a decade he was at IATA, leading fuel and airport campaigns with governments, oil companies, fuel service providers and airports for the Americas, Africa and the Middle East regions, based in Switzerland. He also served 12 years at Shell with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa and Europe, based in The Netherlands.
Aer Lingus franchise to Emerald Airlines?
Reports in the Irish media over the weekend confirm that Conor McCarthy’s Emerald Airlines has entered into exclusive negotiations with Aer Lingus to operate the Aer Lingus Regional services from 2023.
Alliances team up
In what must be a unique coalition, the three global airline groups, oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, have collectively supported the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) second-phase Council on Aviation Recovery Task Force report released on 10 November.
AOA Conference and Shapps
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recorded a Webinar speech which was described as “a damp squid”.
Etihad to become ‘midsize’
The UAE national airline, Etihad, has announced a new organisational structure “positioning the business to deliver on its mandate in the wake of Covid-19 and meet the challenges of the global downturn in aviation head on.”
Heathrow update
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO, again attacked the Government’s lack of support for the aviation sector when announcing the airport’s October results.
Inmarsat watched by over three thousand - Globally
Last week a global audience in excess of 3,500 from 90 countries tuned in to FlightPlan: Strategies for Recovery, hosted by satellite organisation Inmarsat and the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).
Rolls-Royce and sustainable aviation
As part of its ongoing decarbonisation strategy Rolls-Royce is to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time in engine ground tests on next-generation engine technology.
ON TOUR: Christmas Book Review
This is the time of year when we think of Christmas presents and BTN follows with a suggested list of reading. It has been pointed out that reading books is good for mental health well-being if you want to give early presents in this time of lockdown.
AND FINALLY: Only the Irish
You can buy an air ticket out of Dublin for as little as €9.99
BA catering jobs
Some 500 aviation workers facing a grim Christmas with redundancy looming up now have a better outlook for the future after consultation between the trade union UNITE and catering company Baxter Storey.
Cargolux and the Aviation Club
Richard Forson, President and CEO, Cargolux Airlines, proved to be an informative and entertaining speaker for an Aviation Club of the United Kingdom (virtual) lunch last week. At 50 minutes it proved to be the longest ever speech to the Club and one of the best.
London hotels stay open
Following the Government announcement that England will go into another lockdown for the month of November, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill will be remaining open for business travellers only.
Luton Airport and November
Luton Airport has published passenger figures for October, typical of other regional airports. It was down by 82% and predicts 95% for November.
Norwegian problems
Only in charge since the characteristic founder Bjørn Kjos stepped down in July 2019, Norwegian’s CEO Jacob Schram has warned the carrier is facing “a very uncertain future,” as the Government of Norway indicated that it will not provide further financial support to the low-cost carrier.
OAG – Airline and Airport stats
Luton-based aviation statistics company OAG has published what amounts to the most dismal ever figures regarding the air transport business. November looks awful.
RAeS Brabazon Lecture 2020
This year's (virtual) Brabazon Named Lecture will be presented by Sir Stephen Hillier, GCB, CBE, DFC, Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, on Thursday 19 November, 17:00 to 18:00. Sir Stephen, former Chief of the Air Staff, first held a Private Pilot’s Licence when he was 17.
Ukraine International into Heathrow
From 17 December 2020, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is to employ a strategy of splitting its London flights from Kiev to both the UK capital’s major airports, that is Gatwick and Heathrow.
