23 NOVEMBER 2020
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- COMMENT: The Green Economic Recovery
- From "The Times" Saturday
- BA and American Airlines launch tests
- BALPA and the EU
- Biggin Hill test centre
- CAA boss in Brabazon Lecture
- Crowne Plaza for Budapest
- EasyJet massive loss – Jet2 falters
- Flights to Korea
- Gatwick and screening
- Green number plates
- IATA this week - View the CEO live
- Invitation to a ship inauguration
- Lisbon Airport gets a Brain
- London Liverpool Street 5-star Hotel
- Lufthansa Group Economy
- MAX returns
- More Norwegian problems
- No refunds – says Southan
- SWISS and cargo flights
- Travel to the USA
- ON TOUR: York, Middlethorpe and Castle Howard
- AND FINALLY: We could not resist.
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London Liverpool Street 5-star Hotel
Getting ready for opening by Liverpool Street Station “in the spring” is the Pan Pacific London 5-star luxury hotel. At some point in time The Elizabeth Line, with fast services to Heathrow, will be a short walk away. (But not to London City Airport, six miles away by taxi!)
LONDON CITY AIRPORT
30 Years Serving the Capital
Click here for a FREE PDF Version
Reviews always welcome
The Government’s list of travel corridors. Make sure you are up to date. The changes are frequent
www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-countries-and-territories-exempt-from-advice-against-all-but-essential-international-travel
COMMENT: The Green Economic Recovery
The Prime Minister’s ten-point plan
Last Wednesday (18 November) the Government published what it called its “Ten-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.”
From "The Times" Saturday
Catalytic converter thefts from cars rise sixfold.
BA and American Airlines launch tests
American Airlines and British Airways have launched an optional coronavirus medical-based testing trial on select flights from cities in the United States to Heathrow Airport (LHR).
BALPA and the EU
The pilots' union BALPA is the latest to raise the question of the EU–UK air service agreement, even in a “no deal” scenario.
EasyJet massive loss – Jet2 falters
Budget airline easyJet lost £1.27bn in the financial year to the end of September – the first annual loss in its 25-year history.
Flights to Korea
Korean Air (KE) has announced plans to acquire rival airline Asiana (OZ). At the present time Seoul is served three times weekly from Heathrow by KE and weekly by OZ; BA has cancelled its services.
Green number plates
Following up an announcement (see BTN 22 June) the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed from December 70 registered electric vehicles will have conventional white and yellow plates on their front and rear, the plates featuring a green vertical flash on their left-hand side.
IATA this week - View the CEO live
What should have been the revised IATA AGM on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday this week (23/24/25 November) in Amsterdam is now a virtual conference which on the plus side will give much larger audience.
Lufthansa Group Economy
The Lufthansa family of airlines, which includes Lufthansa itself, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and SWISS, has finally succumbed to deploying “buy on board” for short- and medium-haul services, following the example set by British Airways and others.
MAX returns
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reinstated the Boeing 737 MAX’s operating licence. It was rescinded on 13 March 2019 after two fatal crashes.
More Norwegian problems
Following last week’s report (see BTN 16 November) that the Norwegian Government would not supply any financial support for the airline of that name, Norwegian Air Ireland has sought protection under Irish law. 140 aircraft are registered with that that subsidiary.
ON TOUR: York, Middlethorpe and Castle Howard
Regular readers will be aware that BTN over the last few months has concentrated on UK places to visit. We are being very practical. Overseas travel has been limited, mainly by the lack of government support for the airline industry during the Covid-19 crisis.
AND FINALLY: We could not resist.
The Brain Corporation may have come up with a sanitiser solution but the BBC invented a robot cleaner first.
Biggin Hill test centre
Biggin Hill Airport has opened a Covid-19 testing centre on site, available to all arriving and departing executive jet passengers.
CAA boss in Brabazon Lecture
New (since May 2020) Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Sir Stephen Hillier, the former head of the Royal Air Force, was in fine form for the annual Royal Aeronautical Society Brabazon Lecture last week.
Crowne Plaza for Budapest
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Gránit Pólus Group for the Hilton Budapest City to be re-branded to Crowne Plaza Budapest in 2021.
Gatwick and screening
Pre-departure and post-arrival Covid-19 screening will be available for Gatwick passengers, staff and local residents from next Monday (29 November) with results offered the next day.
Invitation to a ship inauguration
Whilst there are huge problems connected with Covid-19 the development of live video networking is a bonus.
Lisbon Airport gets a Brain
With Covid-19 offering unprecedented challenges for the air travel industry, Lisbon Airport, Portugal’s major gateway, has followed a number of major US airports in the use of a robot cleaner.
No refunds – says Southan
A new report authored by Jenny Southan, Editor and Founder of travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender, has revealed eight trends for the future of aviation in 2021 and beyond. The forecast was produced in association with Inmarsat Aviation and was presented by Southan at its FlightPlan virtual conference on 2 November.
SWISS and cargo flights
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis in March, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has operated more than 1,000 cargo-only flights, carried out by its airfreight division, Swiss WorldCargo.
Travel to the USA
With flying to the United States (and anywhere for that matter) restricted under the present Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice, the rules set in the United States might be academic. But it is worth knowing in advance if you aware what they are for when we start again.