15 MARCH 2021
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- A STATEMENT by Business Travel News
- COMMENT: Is Caesar (the PM) about to be stabbed by Brutus (his constituents)?
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- MONDAY 29 MARCH
- Airport testing
- Another electric plane – powered by Rolls-Royce
- APD – Progress at last
- Border Force and Heathrow
- Bristol’s new services
- CAA chief talks to the Aviation Club
- Cruise ships return?
- Flybe – the final departure
- General Aviation update
- Londonderry air route boost
- Luton gets Wizz boost
- New Greek hotel
- Olivier Dassault
- Rolls-Royce goes eVTOL
- Ryanair launches Covid travel pass
- Safety in travel – DfT protocols
- Stansted celebrates 30 years
- Summer holidays by air
- ON TOUR: Amsterdam for the businessman
- AND FINALLY: Flying Cars
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Olivier Dassault
One of the richest men in France, Olivier Dassault, died in a helicopter accident on Sunday 7 March.
Rolls-Royce goes eVTOL
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled its flagship Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft.
LATEST TRAVEL COVID UPDATES FROM GOVERNMENT
Do check daily. The travel ban varies all the time. The Netherlands is now OK.
The roadmap in brief (England)
COMMENT: Is Caesar (the PM) about to be stabbed by Brutus (his constituents)?
Under the umbrella of “Back Heathrow”, Uxbridge residents have written to Boris Johnson as their member of parliament (Uxbridge and South Ruislip) regarding the critical situation of job losses at the airport.
MONDAY 29 MARCH
Is that the day Britain takes off?
Airport testing
Collinson, the UK’s largest airport testing provider, has been accredited to offer the mandatory Government testing for all incoming passengers.
APD – Progress at last
The air transport industry has welcomed a government statement that could reform domestic Air Passenger Duty (APD) following a report by Sir Peter Hendry, also chairman of Network Rail, on connectivity within the United Kingdom.
Border Force and Heathrow
The normally mild-mannered John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow, got somewhat hot under the collar when announcing Heathrow’s February traffic figures last week.
Bristol’s new services
Frankfurt and Teesside have been added to the Bristol Airport portfolio.
CAA chief talks to the Aviation Club
Using the classic words of Flight International magazine in its heyday Sir Stephen Hillier, the new chair of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), came across as a “total aviation man” at a webinar hosted by the Aviation Club of the United Kingdom last week.
Cruise ships return?
There is a wave of optimism as cruisers could be boarding ships again at UK ports from 17 May. These would be domestic cruises with deep-sea voyages still currently banned.
The news was announced by transport minister Robert Courts at a virtual meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group (APPMPG).
Flybe – the final departure
The Civil Aviation Authority wrote on 9 March to the joint administrators of Flybe, Ernst & Young LLP, stating that the operating licence for the airline should be revoked (in 14 days).
Ryanair launches Covid travel pass
A “Covid-19 Travel Wallet” has been launched by Ryanair loaded on to its boarding app.
ON TOUR: Amsterdam for the businessman
There are probably more direct flights from the United Kingdom to Amsterdam than any other continental city. Our Editor at Large Jeff Mills is fond of the city.
AND FINALLY: Flying Cars
BTN is pleased to report on the latest flying car project as they begin to become legal with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval. No test drive yet for the editor-in-chief and the views of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are not known.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Tony Tyler was director general of IATA and chief executive of Cathay Pacific.
Another electric plane – powered by Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce and airframer Tecnam are joining forces with Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia – to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market, ready for revenue service in 2026.
General Aviation update
The Department for Transport has issued some further guidelines regarding private flying (GA).
Londonderry air route boost
The City of Derry’s air route to London has been guaranteed for another two years with the announcement of a £4.3m funding arrangement from Westminster.
Luton gets Wizz boost
The Polish city of Poznan was the destination of a two-hour flight last Wednesday (10 March) from Luton of the first 239-seat Airbus A321neo to operate in the United Kingdom.
New Greek hotel
With the name of MarBella you would not expect a brand-new hotel to be in Greece, but it is.
Safety in travel – DfT protocols
The Department for Transport has issued a massive protocol which it calls “Safer aviation guidance for operators”.
Stansted celebrates 30 years
It was on Friday 15 March 1991 that HM The Queen officially opened Stansted Airport. Since that time nearly 460m passengers have passed through the Lord Foster-designed building and 3.95m flights.
Summer holidays by air
Here is the situation with some of the most popular countries. The EU has stressed that each Member State must decide for itself how the vaccination certificate will be used.