30 NOVEMBER 2020
YOUR WORDS
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- A note by the Editor-in-Chief
- ON THE SOAPBOX: Tim Alderslade - Airlines UK
- Failed airlines – a list
- Aspire lounges plan to re-open
- Aviation Club 2020 finale – A VIP speaker
- Britain’s ‘Global Task Force’
- El Al, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Heathrow shops update
- IATA 2020: Day 1 – The Travel Passport
- IATA 2020: Day 2 – The economics
- IATA 2020: Day 3 – Slots
- IATA 2021: Walsh and Boston
- ICAO testing manual
- International Cruise Summit
- Isle of Man to Heathrow
- Shapps lifts travel ban
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel – an explanation
- Travel Pass by World Economic Forum
- Travel Passports – ACI fits in
- Travelodge stays Travelodge
- Virgin tests to Barbados
- Virtual Future Travel Experience
- ON TOUR: Moors National Park Centre, Whitby and Captain Cook
- AND FINALLY:
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El Al, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Shut down for most of the summer Israeli airline El Al has come back with a flourish.
Virgin tests to Barbados
The Collinson and Swissport pre-departure Covid-19 testing facility at Heathrow T2 is to be used on selected Barbados flights out of Heathrow from 9 December by Virgin Atlantic.
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
A note by the Editor-in-Chief
This has been a confusing week with regard to air travel and BTN has summarised as best as possible.
Announcements have been made by the UK Government; International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the UN civil aviation authority; International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing the airline trade; and Airport Council International (ACI), for the airports. And many lesser lights. All regarding the fight to combat Covid-19.
Two 'Travel Passports also. IATA & The World Economic Forum.
We already have a more or less standard international paper Common Passport (now dark blue for the UK) which dates from around 1980 (although they go back into history). The global electronic passport has to be the aim for 2021.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Tim Alderslade - Airlines UK
Tim Alderslade joined Airlines UK, the trade body for UK-registered airlines, as Chief Executive in May 2016 from the Airport Operators Association (AOA) where he was Public Affairs and PR Director. Previously he worked for two MPs and the Insight Consulting Group.
Failed airlines – a list
Since the beginning of the year there have been 30-plus failed airlines.
Aspire lounges plan to re-open
With the lifting of the second national lockdown in England and as airport passenger traffic builds up towards Christmas, Aspire plans to gradually reopen some of its UK lounges.
Aviation Club 2020 finale – A VIP speaker
International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, will deliver the final lunch speech of the year at the Aviation Club of the United Kingdom on Tuesday 15 December, not from the elegant surroundings of the Royal Automobile Club London, but seated in his Geneva offices.
Britain’s ‘Global Task Force’
The Government last week issued a weighty 38-page forward-looking document with 14 recommendations to ensure clear public health measures and finalise plans for rapid implementation of a “test to release” regime for international arrivals.
Heathrow shops update
The majority of retailers and food and beverage outlets that were open at Heathrow T2 & T5 before the UK lockdown will reopen on Wednesday (2 December).
ICAO testing manual
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has published a paper seen as a major step forward in promoting the recovery of the global air travel industry.
Shapps lifts travel ban
Holidaymakers in England will be free to travel abroad once the latest lockdown lifts at midnight on 2 December.
Travel Pass by World Economic Forum
Not to be confused with the IATA Travel Passport, see in this week’s BTN, The World Economic Forum and The Commons Project Foundation begin rolling out CommonPass in coming weeks on five airlines JetBlue, Lufthansa, SWISS, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, with initial destinations including Boston, New York, London, and Hong Kong, according to Thomas Crampton, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of The Commons Project Foundation.
Travel Passports – ACI fits in
Airports Council International (ACI) World has announced a partnership with Bureau Veritas, world leader in testing, inspection and certification, to propose to airports all around the world, a review package ensuring the proper implementation of appropriate health and safety measures.
ON TOUR: Moors National Park Centre, Whitby and Captain Cook
Post lockdown and Covid-19. Somewhere to visit.
IATA 2020: Day 1 – The Travel Passport
The first day’s highlight of International Air Transport Association's (IATA) virtual Annual General Meeting and Conference last Monday (23 November) was a presentation by Alan Murray Hayden, Head of Airport Passenger and Security, on what it termed “The Travel Pass” or might be better termed “The Digital Passport”, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders.
IATA 2020: Day 2 – The economics
Brian Pearce, Chief Economist at International Air Transport Association (IATA), was in a sombre mood when he delivered an address on airline economics during the second day of the airlines’ gathering.
IATA 2020: Day 3 – Slots
The 2020 International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Annual General Meeting and Conference wound up last Wednesday on the controversial subject of airport slots.
IATA 2021: Walsh and Boston
Next year will see a new leader at IATA, and a new host city/airline.
International Cruise Summit
With cruising currently frozen, and a major loss to airlines, this week’s International Cruise Summit is a vital gathering for all.
Isle of Man to Heathrow
Loganair, in partnership with the Isle of Man (IOM) Government, will commence daily services between the island and Heathrow, from 1 December using T2. The London City Airport flights will be withdrawn.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel – an explanation
Following the publication of the Prime Minister's ‘Ten-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’ in which Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) feature heavily, ICF – the global consulting company working across the whole aviation value chain – is running two international hour-long webinars on the subject.
Travelodge stays Travelodge
The UK’s large budget hotel group, Travelodge, has announced that due to the overwhelming support of its landlords for its company voluntary arrangement, it has retained a network of 578 hotels, accounting for more than 98% of its 2019 portfolio.
Virtual Future Travel Experience
Virgin Atlantic boss, Shai Weiss, is the latest to join a line-up of CEOs including Air France-KLM, Delta, Star Alliance, Alaska Airlines, IATA, Airbus, LAX, and Munich Airport for FTE-APEX Virtual Expo on the 8/9 December.