16 AUGUST 2021
- COMMENT: London to New York
- Letter of the Week
- Newcastle lounge opens
- PCR testing
- ABTA Travel Convention
- Airlines UK 2021 Conference
- Aviation Club returns
- BBGA networking
- Belfast to Glasgow
- Blue Air results
- Bristol to Frankfurt
- British Motor Show – Farnborough
- Business travel losses
- EasyJet and Bristol Airport
- Electric take-off
- Gatwick Airport half year results
- IATA Summit confirmed
- JetBlue arrives
- Lufthansa Group positive
- New RAeS Boss
- Norwegian Air UK summer 2022
- Virgin Atlantic new routes
- ON TOUR: Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
- AND FINALLY
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
Letter of the Week
David Starkie, a well known commentator on air travel matters, came up with some interesting facts.
COMMENT: London to New York
The numbers look tantalising. In 2019 around 3m people flew between the world’s most important financial centres.
PCR testing
A statement by The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has not gone down well with the travel industry. BTA CEO Clive Wratten called it “a small step”.
Belfast to Glasgow
A direct service to Glasgow has taken off from Belfast City Airport with British Airways.
Blue Air results
With aspirations to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (See BTN 26 July) Blue Air is keeping up its visibility.
Bristol to Frankfurt
With the opening of services from Bristol to Frankfurt last week virtually all the former Flybe routes have now been taken up.
British Motor Show – Farnborough
Farnborough, synonymous with British Aviation, will from Thursday (19 August) host the first ever British Motor Show which runs until Sunday (22 August). The timing is perfect with the loosening of the Covid rules, and for the family enough activities to hold an interest for all.
Business travel losses
A very depressing report was published last Friday (13 August) by the Business Travel Association (BTA) which vividly revealed the decline of business travel trips following Covid-19.
EasyJet and Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport and easyJet have announced a new collaboration to align on their important strategic goals around sustainability.
Gatwick Airport half year results
With just the North Terminal open, and main building not likely to be in operation until March 2022, the Gatwick Airport results for the first half of this year were in keeping with expectations, and dismal.
JetBlue arrives
The Aer Lingus lounge at Heathrow T2 provided the venue for the celebration of JetBlue’s Kennedy Airport New York first ever scheduled transatlantic flight last Thursday (12 August).
Lufthansa Group positive
Whilst hardly bullish Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, rather like his airline’s figures, was in an upturn mood in delivering the airline’s results for the second quarter.
Norwegian Air UK summer 2022
In something of a comeback Norwegian has released its ex-UK summer 2022 programme. It will connect the UK and Ireland to Scandinavia with 142 weekly flights. In total, across its European network, Norwegian will offer 259 routes from the Nordic area as a result of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements easing and consequently demand for flights increasing.
Newcastle lounge opens
Aspire has reopened its Newcastle Airport lounge today (Monday 16 August).
ABTA Travel Convention
Following the announcement that the 2021 ABTA Travel Convention will be in London, 13 October, the travel trade organisation has come up with more details.
Airlines UK 2021 Conference
The QE Centre in Westminster is the venue for the Airlines UK 2021 Conference, likely to be the first physical get-together of its type since its annual dinner at the Royal Institute of British Architects in January 2020.
Aviation Club returns
The Aviation Club of the United Kingdom is spearheading a return to normal with a first 2021 live event at its prestigious headquarters, The Royal Automobile Club in London’s Pall Mall.
BBGA networking
With things beginning to return to something like normal the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has taken the initiative to organise a (physical) networking evening.
Electric take-off
An important step towards hybrid electric retrofits for popular commuter aircraft models like the Twin Otter moved closer last week as Ampaire demonstrated its Electric EEL Its converted six- demonstrator in Scotland, Alison Chambers reports.
IATA Summit confirmed
The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, just by Boston Common in the heart of the city, has been confirmed as the venue for the 77th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS).
New RAeS Boss
David Edwards has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in place of Sir Brian Burridge who is stepping down.