26 JULY 2021
BTN also goes out by email every Sunday night at midnight (UK time). To view this edition click here.
The Business Travel News
PO Box 758
Edgware HA8 4QF
United Kingdom
info@btnews.co.uk
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
# When BTN was first established back in the 1980s our title was Air & Business Travel News (ABTN) but as the main revenue earner for airlines developed coming into the 21st century we dropped the ‘Air’. Business travel grew and the front end of commercial aircraft evolved as the money maker for long-distance flying.
# After completing her second three-year term as Chair of Airlines UK Jane Middleton is to step down on 1 August, replaced by Lord (Patrick) McLoughlin, a figure well known in aviation circles and former Secretary of State for Transport between 2012 and 2016.
# British Airways has unveiled its new inflight digital ordering platform, giving customers travelling in Euro Traveller the option to order additional snacks and drinks mid-flight, directly to their seat.
Following the success of Hungarian airline Wizz Air, Blue Air (a Romanian airline) has taken steps for a listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Luton-based easyJet is ramping up August capacity but is remaining cautious as majority shareholder but non-board member Stelios Haji-Ioannou remains quiet.
The major UAE airline last week inaugurated first ever non-stop flight from Dubai to Southern Florida. The 15hr 30min sectors will operate four times weekly with a Boeing 777.
# International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh has waded in regarding the high cost of PCR testing which BTN highlighted last week.
# International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has consented to Qatar's request to establish its own Flight Information Region (FIR) thus ending the historical long-standing delegation of airspace management to Bahrain.
# Confusion still rages.
Assuming one is double vaccinated at last we can travel to (most) of Europe without the risk of quarantine when we return. BTN keeps up with the times and with this feature reverts to overseas holidays.
Inverness is the latest Aspire executive lounge expected to reopen with next Friday (30 July) the target date.
ABTA has announced the date for this year’s travel trade annual Convention, but nothing more, in a move to ensure it is in people’s diary.
Rather like rival Ryanair, Aer Lingus has now registered a UK offshoot with initially a single aircraft on the British register.
Tomorrow (Tuesday 27 July) will see the UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee publish a report on its views regarding the UK’s ambition to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Its name may be synonymous with Billy Bishop Toronto Airport but Porter Airlines is about to tackle Air Canada head on with its premium product.
Under development well before the current rush to reduce aircraft emissions in all aspects of aircraft operations WheelTug has now found a permanent manufacturing home.
Travel professionals from around the globe can now register for WTM London 2021, which will be held for the first time in an innovative hybrid format.