12 APRIL 2021
YOUR WORDS
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- SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Chris Tarry
- Final departure of a “total aviation man”
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- Air Astana Meet & Greet
- Beaulieu goes electric
- Brooklyn Manchester
- Carton House – Dublin
- Caterham Cars sold
- Cornwall by train
- EasyJet’s Lundgren for Aviation Club
- Gatwick drop-off changes
- Global Travel Taskforce
- IATA world airline traffic figures
- JetBlue with no news
- London City update
- More cruise starts
- New UK unique coach operator
- OAG airline stats
- On-board entertainment
- Passport urgency
- Southampton Airport extension
- World Aviation Festival
- ON TOUR: Gridserve – electric vehicle charging
- APRIL ROAD TEST – Mazda MX-30
- AND FINALLY: Wet motoring week joke!
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LATEST TRAVEL COVID UPDATES FROM GOVERNMENT
DO CHECK DAILY. The travel ban varies all the time. Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and Philippines were added to the list last Friday 9 April.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
The travel industry’s response to the Global Travel Taskforce report is perhaps what you would expect with Willie Walsh of IATA leading the way. Read the outpourings.
OAG airline stats
According to OAG an eighth consecutive week of capacity growth to 63.2m seats worldwide, the highest point for over a year, is an indication of a slow but steady recovery in capacity in many markets around the world.
SOAPBOX SPECIAL: Chris Tarry
“A Blank sheet of paper entrants”
Our resident analyst Chris Tarry of CTAIRA, the specialist aviation consultancy, takes a look at what he calls “start-up entrants with no history, unencumbered by the need to manage change and in the current circumstances access to cheap capacity and an abundance of crews”. In his view the publication of the Aviation Taskforce report changes nothing. “It is a long way back!”
Air Astana Meet & Greet
With no longer a London air route Air Astana has made life easier for UK originating passengers by introducing a Meet & Greet service at Frankfurt. A similar operation is being established in Kazakhstan at Almaty and Nur-Sultan airports.
EasyJet’s Lundgren for Aviation Club
Thursday 29 April will find easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren guest of honour at the latest video lunch of the Aviation Club of the United Kingdom.
Global Travel Taskforce
Published several days earlier than predicted the report of the Global Travel Taskforce to the Department for Transport certainly did not have universal approval and was challenged by heavyweights in the industry.
IATA world airline traffic figures
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that passenger traffic fell in February 2021, both compared to pre-Covid levels (February 2019) and compared to the immediate month prior (January 2020).
JetBlue with no news
Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted – which will be first for jetBlue, if and when it introduces its much-heralded London services?
London City update
As Canary Wharf and the City of London itself struggles back to life, the same can be said for London City Airport.
On-board entertainment
“Seacations” all the rage.
Once it gets going, hopefully from mid-May, the cruise industry will be very competitive with up to 12 lines competing for British waters only trips.
Southampton Airport extension
Controversial plans to extend the runway at Southampton Airport have been agreed following a 19-hour debate at a full meeting of Eastleigh Borough Council.
World Aviation Festival
The World Aviation Festival (WAF) goes ahead next Monday (via Zoom) and lasts all week.
ON TOUR: Gridserve – electric vehicle charging
Today’s Business Travel News has a short review of the exciting Mazda MX-30 and plans a long trip with the Kia e-Niro in June. Both require electric charging. Editor-in-chief Malcolm Ginsberg lives in a flat, and just like millions of others he is considering his fuel options. In his case he thinks he has got them solved.
APRIL ROAD TEST – Mazda MX-30
The Mazda MX-30 is an exceptional trend-setting car but its chances of being remembered in the years to come are slim. Firstly it is fully electric and secondly only 350 are to be imported.
AND FINALLY: Wet motoring week joke!
My wife came home yesterday and said...
"Honey, the car won't start, but I know what the problem is."
Beaulieu goes electric
Sunday 23 May sees Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum, start its 2021 season with a brand new event called ‘Simply Electric’.
Brooklyn Manchester
Manchester’s newest luxury accommodation, Hotel Brooklyn, opened on 14 February 2020, only to close a few weeks later due to the pandemic. It must have set an unwelcome record for a hotel opening and closing.
Carton House – Dublin
One of Ireland’s great hotels, Carton House, is set to reopen shortly after an extensive two-year multi-million pound complete refurbishment.
Caterham Cars sold
Perhaps the longest running car distinctly recognisable from it first roll-out, the Caterham (ex-Lotus) Seven line has been acquired by Japan-headquartered automotive group VT Holdings from Air Asia and QPR owner Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, a Malaysian businessman.
Cornwall by train
And Bristol – South Wales too.
Longer trains and some additional train services are to be provided from today to help people returning to rail travel as part of the Government’s lockdown easing roadmap to do so safely and with confidence.
Gatwick drop-off changes
There will be a charge for vehicles using Gatwick’s South Terminal forecourt introduced from today Monday (12 April), following its introduction at the North terminal last month.
More cruise starts
Following BTN’s monthly cruise review Monday 5 April we learn that Celebrity, Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages have confirmed start-up dates for UK-based "seacations".
New UK unique coach operator
FlixBus, the world’s largest intercity coach travel provider, is launching domestic connections in the UK. The German company, established in 2013, does not own coaches or employ drivers. The business model is based on a collaboration with local small and medium-sized companies.
Passport urgency
Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) is anticipating a sharp surge in applications once travel restrictions are lifted, due to 3m applications that were not made last year.