22 MARCH 2021
- COMMENT: The public response to air travel!
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- Summer holiday gloom
- Airports in the UK – dreadful figures
- American restarts from Europe
- BA travel pass
- Biggin Hill – The Landing
- Birmingham Airport and Covid-19
- Cruise start dates
- Electric Cars
- Etihad and the A380
- EU flight bilateral negotiations
- IATA postponed
- London outside dining
- MAX returns – OAG with the details
- Quiz time at Virgin Atlantic
- Royal Flight
- Scottish problems
- Thames river bus returns
- The Dilly – 5-star London hotel
- Vaccine Passports
- Virgin Atlantic programme
- ON TOUR: BBGA 'virtual' conference
- AND FINALLY: Brooklands on TV
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Cruise start dates
Cruise lines have been making announcements regarding a return into service following a positive statement by transport minister Robert Courts at a virtual meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group (APPMPG). This was previously reported by BTN (15 March) Cruise ships return?
Quiz time at Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic is to introduce the ultimate lockdown quiz next Thursday (25 March) at 19:00 (GMT) set to last one hour. It is hosted by a Virgin team.
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT THE CLOCKS IN THE UK GO FORWARD (GMT)
LATEST TRAVEL COVID UPDATES FROM GOVERNMENT
Do check daily. The travel ban varies all the time. The Netherlands is now OK. Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) and Mauritius removed from list Friday 19 March. Ethiopia, Oman, Qatar and Somalia added Friday 19 March.
The roadmap in brief
COMMENT: The public response to air travel!
A survey by Business Travel News yesterday (Sunday 21 March) indicates that the public for the most part is taking up the opportunity to fly regionally from next Monday (29 March) and not sticking to the guidelines suggested by the English Government, at least for the Easter break.
Summer holiday gloom
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, speaking on BBC TV over the weekend said that booking a trip abroad for this summer would be "premature”.
Airports in the UK – dreadful figures
The Airport Operators Association (AOA), in the form of chief executive Karen Dee, has come out with its strongest words yet, attacking the chancellor of the exchequer regarding his never-delivered promise for an aviation-specific support package.
American restarts from Europe
Dallas Fort Worth based American Airlines is making a big effort through the rest of the month and into April to resurrect US to Europe routes.
BA travel pass
Following Ryanair’s introduction of a ‘Covid Travel Wallet’, British Airways (BA) has come up with a similar trial scheme, but initially limited to India.
EU flight bilateral negotiations
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Department for Transport (DfT) senior negotiating team continue their ongoing dialogue with all 27 EU Member States on the new UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
IATA postponed
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the postponement of the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit. The event will be hosted by JetBlue Airways in Boston (USA) on 3-5 October.
MAX returns – OAG with the details
OAG, the Luton-based airline data analysis organisation has been following the trials and tribulations of the Boeing MAX since it was grounded in March 2019.
Scottish problems
The first minister of Scotland has published a set of lockdown rules that differ in some respect from those of England. There is no mention of non-domestic travel.
Virgin Atlantic programme
Sky News reports that Virgin Atlantic is holding discussions with creditors and shareholders about an additional £160m bailout package six months after it received a £1.2bn rescue deal.
ON TOUR: BBGA 'virtual' conference
“Resilience” was the buzz word at The British Business and General Aviation Association’s (BBGA) virtual conference on 4 March writes Alison Chambers.
AND FINALLY: Brooklands on TV
A brand new UKTV Original Series dedicated to Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey, is due to hit screens at 20:00 on Tuesday 30 March on Yesterday channel.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
This week's winner is Peter Smart of Laurencekirk, between Aberdeen and Dundee. He relates to UK travel rules. This week BTN carries a further story on the issue. Scottish problems.
Biggin Hill – The Landing
London’s Biggin Hill Airport has broken ground for its new on-site, 4-star boutique hotel, The Landing.
Birmingham Airport and Covid-19
As part of its on-going work to protect customers and employees from Covid-19, Birmingham Airport has launched a free of charge rapid testing service for all on-site employees to support the national drive to identify any positive cases of the virus in the workplace.
Electric Cars
BTN has had its fix of car electrification last week with test run of the brand new and impressive Mazda MX30 and a visit to a Gridserve Electric forecourt at Braintree, Essex, the first in the UK.
Etihad and the A380
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is unlikely to see the return of its once 10-strong Airbus A380 fleet.
London outside dining
There is a whole multitude of hotel re-openings in time for Monday 12 April, outdoor dining day, and Monday 17 May when full restaurant facilities are allowed.
Royal Flight
The RAF 32 (Royal) Squadron, better known as ‘The Royal Flight’, is likely to be wound up in 2022. The world’s oldest VIP flight dates back to 1936 when the Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII), always a keen aviation fan, used his own de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide.
Thames river bus returns
Amongst the many transport enterprises returning to some sort of normality from next Monday (29 March) is Uber Boat by Thames Clipper boat service.
The Dilly – 5-star London hotel
Due to open when the restrictions are lifted on 17 May is a classic hotel with a new name.
Vaccine Passports
The situation regarding the so-called Vaccine Passports remains very confusing.