22 FEBRUARY 2021
YOUR WORDS
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- Dear Prime Minister
- Dear Prime Minister revised
- ON THE SOAPBOX: John Holland-Kaye – CEO Heathrow Airport
- STOP PRESS: Shai Weiss live
- Aerobility in the diary
- Air corridors are not the answer!
- Airbus deliveries 2020
- American domestic air travel
- BA and Dettol
- BBGA lines up speakers
- De Havilland Canada on the move?
- East Coast Main Line
- easyJet and Luton Airport
- Ford and McLaren
- Future Flight Challenge
- Heathrow innovation move
- Hilton at Heathrow
- Loganair marches on
- Luton Thameslink goes live
- Ryanair and the EU
- SkyTeam global testing
- UK business travel outlook
- United Airlines ‘Event’
- Waste and aviation fuel
- ON TOUR: Plan for the summer holiday
- AND FINALLY – FINALLY
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Airbus deliveries 2020
In spite of the enormous difficulties imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic Airbus managed to deliver 566 commercial aircraft last year. This compares to 863 in 2019, a drop of 34%.
De Havilland Canada on the move?
BTN reported on 1 February this year the likelihood that the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 might be coming to the end of its production life. This has been followed up by a statement from owner Longview Aviation Capital. Longview also owns Viking Aircraft, unique in reintroducing an out of production aircraft, the DHC Twin Otter.
Hilton at Heathrow
Situated on a walkway from Heathrow T4 the Heathrow Hilton has taken the opportunity during the lockdown for a £3m refurbishment which will make the most of its large open lobby and natural light, to create a nature-inspired experience.
Dear Prime Minister
Ahead of the PM's announcement later today (Monday 22 February) ABTA, in partnership with the Save Future Travel Coalition has written to Boris Johnson calling for the Government to collaborate with the industry on a roadmap to recovery and provide tailored financial support.
The ABTA letter (below) is one of many to the PM and we have selected here the words of the Save Our Summer Travel Action Group. Its strength is its 820 industry members. The British Prime Minister has also been inundated from abroad as well(and released by the writers to the media). The words of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Air corridors are not the answer are typical and carry weight.
Dear Prime Minister revised
Speaking in the House of Commons today the Prime Minister gave a mention to the beleaguered travel industry stating that the Travel Task Force would be reconstituted and will report back 12 April.
ON THE SOAPBOX: John Holland-Kaye – CEO Heathrow Airport
Over the last year Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye has been effectively the spokesman for the British air travel industry. He needs no introduction. With the prime minister about to explain his plans for the way forward, here Holland-Kaye makes a clear point. “The current regime, consisting of multiple tests and catch all quarantines is unsustainable, both for our sector and the businesses that depend on it.” Just to put it in perspective Heathrow moved 80.9m passengers in 2019 and 22.1m in 2020, a slump of 73%. In January just gone 677,356 people passed through the airport. Last year it was 6.1m.
STOP PRESS: Shai Weiss live
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic and the first Israeli to head an international airline, in conversation with former BBC business reporter, Nick Cosgrove. 12 noon live (GMT) Wednesday 24 February.
Air corridors are not the answer!
Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), has sent UK prime minister Boris Johnson a strong letter urging him to provide evidence of a clear exit strategy to save the besieged UK Travel & Tourism sector.
American domestic air travel
Flight Global reports that US airline executives have met with administration officials at the White House to lobby against a possible coronavirus testing requirement for all domestic air travellers.
BA and Dettol
The name ‘Dettol’ may be synonymous with childhood and protection for cuts and bruises but it is a serious hygiene tool and Britain’s biggest selling disinfectant.
easyJet and Luton Airport
Luton Airport, which has remained open throughout the pandemic, has seen the return of easyJet.
Loganair marches on
The Scottish carrier, which marks its 60th anniversary next year, has become the UK’s largest regional operator after taking over routes from Flybe and also BMI Regional which ceased flying in February 2019. Currently Loganair has a fleet of 42 aircraft.
Ryanair and the EU
The European Union’s (EU) second highest court last week rejected Ryanair’s legal challenge to state aid given to rival airlines during the pandemic. The Dublin-based airline said that it will appeal. “Now is the time for the European Commission to stop caving into national governments’ inefficient bailout policies and start protecting the single market, Europe’s greatest asset for future economic recovery,” it said in a statement.
UK business travel outlook
Interviewed by Chairman Karl Brünjes at a very well-attended Aviation Club Webinair last Wednesday, Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles made the point that in his view business travel – crucial for regional airlines – “isn’t going back the way it was!”
United Airlines ‘Event’
A United Airlines’ Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 777 departing the high altitude Denver Airport on Saturday afternoon (20 February) lost an engine and made a successful emergency landing at the same airport.
ON TOUR: Plan for the summer holiday
With the future still uncertain regarding overseas air travel Business Travel News looks at Britain’s regional coastlines with the help of the National Coastal Tourism Academy. There are some extraordinary outdoor places to see and explore.
Aerobility in the diary
It may seem a long way off but the aviation charity Aerobility is asking you to put Saturday 13 March at 18:00 (GMT) in your diary for a spectacular video event.
BBGA lines up speakers
With its Virtual Conference & AGM just a couple of weeks away (Thursday 4 March) the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has published the agenda for the full event.
East Coast Main Line
LNER Azuma at Kings Cross.
Ford and McLaren
Henry Ford died in 1947 and Bruce McLaren was killed at Goodwood on 2 June 1970 but their names live on. Both would have been proud of new announcements last week that carry their names.
The McLaren Artura. At home in Kensington. And the high Swiss passes.
Future Flight Challenge
Over 40 new innovative projects across the UK will receive a share of £33.5m in funding from the Future Flight Challenge, part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, delivered by UK Research and Innovation.
Heathrow innovation move
The UK’s Future Flight Challenge has a new supporter in Heathrow Airport who has successfully pitched two forward-thinking innovative ideas.
Luton Thameslink goes live
London rail users can now benefit from a fine new app that clicks to the individual stations and gives live train departure times.
SkyTeam global testing
The Testing Labs Locator, powered by TrustAssure, is for many SkyTeam member airlines the future for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, in the battle to check for Covid-19.
Waste and aviation fuel
Essar Oil (UK) has joined forces with Fulcrum BioEnergy facility which will convert non-recyclable household waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use by airlines operating at UK airports.