21 JUNE 2021
YOUR WORDS
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- ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer
- Dear First Minister
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- ABTA – Travel Matters and Day of Action
- Air travel industry to the High Court?
- BA and The Sunday Times
- British Airways furloughs staff
- Caribbean report
- CityFlyer and easyJet at Belfast City
- Domestic cruise problems
- Flybe – the final curtain
- Heathrow R3 “not needed at the moment”
- Hotel opening in Sardinia
- King’s Cross completes
- London City adds flights and aircraft
- O’Leary speaks to Westminster
- Play starts the fun
- Ryanair takes first MAX
- Singapore returns to Manchester
- Slots deal for London
- Swissport restructures
- Teesside to Amsterdam
- Virgin aerial taxi
- Wizz for Jersey and recruiting
- ON TOUR: London Transport Museum Covent Garden
- AND FINALLY: Wales and Euro 2020
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LETTER OF THE WEEK
This week's Letter of the Week comes from Tony Tyler, a former Director of IATA, very supportive of Willie Walsh who now holds the post. See here to read IATA's Walsh slams 'Atlantic Charter'.
Slots deal for London
The London office of the professional services firm Mazars, acting as a monitoring trustee on behalf of the UK government Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has invited airlines to apply for slots for three London – US routes released by a partnership comprising American Airlines, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Finnair.
ON THE SOAPBOX SPECIAL: ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer
Mark Tanzer has been Chief Executive of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) since September 2005 working tirelessly during the pandemic to ensure that the travel industry’s voice is heard in these traumatic times.
Dear First Minister
An Open Letter to the First Minister from the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association.
ABTA – Travel Matters and Day of Action
This could be one of the most crucial weeks in the history of the British travel trade, not at all helped by Downing Street’s prevarication, and downright antagonism by the Scottish government.
BA and The Sunday Times
Yesterday (Sunday 20 June) The Sunday Times published (Magazine page 32) the most comprehensive interview of BA boss Sean Doyle since his appointment in October 2020. John Arlidge met him at T5.
The whole interview is 2,500 words and is easily summarised by Doyle early on “It’s been worse than 9/11, Sars and the global financial crisis combined.”
Arlidge’s last line says it all: “There will be only one thing on Doyle’s mind: how to get BA “back big and beautiful again”. He promises: “Today’s the start.”
British Airways furloughs staff
In a statement to PA Media, British Airways says that a large number of its staff have been put on furlough without giving specific numbers.
Caribbean report
Our regular reporter Alison Chambers returned from St Maarten via Paris CDG yesterday (Sunday 20 June) but got caught in a 2hr 30min queue at Heathrow T2 immigration after an otherwise smooth, yet busy flight and efficient transit.
CityFlyer and easyJet at Belfast City
British Airways has confirmed that its CityFlyer (BACF) subsidiary is to operate a number of Belfast City Airport routes this summer. These were left unsupported with the demise of Stobart Air who flew the routes as an Aer Lingus Regional franchise.
London City adds flights and aircraft
With British Airways Cityflyer (BACF) adding flights to a specific number of destinations London City Airport is beginning to come alive with the terminal open all day weekdays, Saturday morning and from 11:00 Sunday.
O’Leary speaks to Westminster
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was outspoken last week highlighting what he called a “premeditated breach of all the international aviation rules” by Belarus.
Ryanair takes first MAX
Boeing Commercial Airplanes has delivered the first of 180 737 MAX ordered by Ryanair in a 9hr non-stop journey from Seattle to Dublin.
Swissport restructures
In a significant move Warwick Brady, President & CEO, Swissport, has put into place a new commercial structure.
ON TOUR: London Transport Museum Covent Garden
Much as BTN wants to promote overseas travel sadly for this year our indecisive government has left the country traumatised. Do we. Don’t we (Stay in the UK).
AND FINALLY: Wales and Euro 2020
A reader was confused with the shirt colour of the Welsh football team v Turkey.
Air travel industry to the High Court?
A proposal first put forward by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Ryanair as a legal test for the Government's traffic-light decision-making, has garnered support from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. They are going to the High Court.
Domestic cruise problems
Queen Elizabeth to make the headlines?
The Department for Transport updated its guidance on domestic cruises during the coronavirus outbreak.
Flybe – the final curtain
Over the last 15 months the chances of Flybe actually operating again was like the weather. Sometimes hot, on other occasions very cold.
Heathrow R3 “not needed at the moment”
The words of Sir Howard Davies, whose Airports Commission recommended the airport expansion with its report published in 2015.
Hotel opening in Sardinia
Quite what the position is for Brits travelling to Italy over the peak summer months we just do not know. This has not stopped hotel openings.
King’s Cross completes
A multi-million pound improvement scheme designed to radically improve services for passengers at King’s Cross station has been completed reports Andrew Sharp.
Play starts the fun
The new Icelandic airline Play has published images of its first Airbus A321 Neo.
Singapore returns to Manchester
Just weeks after celebrating the 50th anniversary of flying from the UK, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced the return of its non-stop Manchester – Singapore route, beginning on 17 July.
Teesside to Amsterdam
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to resume its popular service from Teesside to Amsterdam Schiphol on Monday 28 June.
Virgin aerial taxi
A company with a name not to forget, Vertical Aerospace, has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to pioneer sustainable and zero emission short-haul air travel in the UK.
Wizz for Jersey and recruiting
Jersey is to be Wizz Air’s first ever UK destination when the British-registered company launches flights in July from Cardiff and Doncaster airports in July.