13 SEPTEMBER 2021
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- COMMENT: Willie Walsh on 9/11 *
- Air industry in crisis plea! *
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- BA winter domestic routes
- CAA goes quiet
- Canadian borders *
- Coventry Airport
- EasyJet v Wizz
- European air travel figures for August
- Gatwick North
- Heathrow – A government statement
- Ireland’s Emerald certificated
- Italy deemed “on-side” *
- Lufthansa cabin upgrade
- NEC – Not entirely customer-friendly
- New London Tube opens *
- Petrol – an update
- Stuart Innes
- SunExpress UK expansion
- The Londoner
- Transport Committee enquiry *
- Travel test rip-off *
- ON TOUR: Salon Prive
- SEPTEMBER ROAD TEST: Kia Picanto
- MOTORING EXTRA: UK road trips
- AND FINALLY
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LETTER OF THE WEEK
Richard Wiggins of Preston with some possible names if BA were to brand any new offshoot at Gatwick.
Stuart Innes
The man who provided the main interface between Reg Ward of the LDDC (London Docklands Development Corporation) and the London City Airport developers Brymon Airways and John Mowlem and Company, has passed on.
Air industry in crisis plea! *
Airlines UK and AOA (Airport Operators Association), the two leading trade organisations dealing with air travel, have today published a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ahead of the Government’s Global Travel Taskforce’s final checkpoint review.
BA winter domestic routes
British Airways is extending into the winter season three of its newest domestic routes – Belfast City Airport to Exeter, Glasgow and Leeds.
EasyJet v Wizz
Wizz Air is understood to be the unnamed bidder last Thursday for easyJet, Britain’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers.
The offer was rejected unanimously by the Board and has been withdrawn.
European air travel figures for August
New research from ForwardKeys reveals that international flights to European destinations in July and August reached 39.9% of pre-pandemic levels.
Heathrow – A government statement
The Government will not be revisiting the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) on Heathrow expansion “at this time.”
Italy deemed “on-side” *
The new Italian airline ITA, due to fly on 15 October, will not be encumbered with the debts of Alitalia following a European Commission announcement that two loans granted to Alitalia by the Italian government, were illegal under State aid rules.
NEC – Not entirely customer-friendly
It is generally agreed that the major ingredient lacking during the various lockdowns and restrictions is the business/social get togethers commonly called ‘networking’.
New London Tube opens *
London’s first new Underground link since the lengthening of Jubilee Line last century opens on 20 September as the Tube extends to Battersea Power Station.
SunExpress UK expansion
The Turkish-German airline SunExpress is eyeing new routes to the UK and Ireland during the summer 2022 season as it seeks to expand its international footprint.
Travel test rip-off *
A report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to the Government on the cost of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has resulted on an outcry by the travel industry with support by Which?
ON TOUR: Salon Prive
Across five memorable days at Blenheim Palace, this year’s Salon Privé Week blended established favourites such as the Concours d’Elégance and the return of live-action with the ‘Hill Sprint’.
SEPTEMBER ROAD TEST: Kia Picanto
As small cars go the Kia Picanto has always been a favourite of Business Travel News writes Malcolm Ginsberg.
MOTORING EXTRA: UK road trips
With this edition of BTN featuring motoring, and with summer making a little comeback, TEMPCOVER has just released the Top 50 Road Trips in the UK!
CAA goes quiet
The government established the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) in November 2018, seen by many as yet another toothless quango lacking the expertise to deal with this important topic.
In a statement last week Aviation Minister Robert Courts said that it is to be wound up and taken into the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Canadian borders *
Canada has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers for non-essential travel.
Coventry Airport
Sky Harbour UK Ltd, a specialist aviation consultancy, supporting owner operators and business aircraft with both aircraft acquisitions and aircraft management, has lodged its formal objection to two planning applications with Warwick District Council and Coventry City Council.
Gatwick North
Whilst the South Terminal at Gatwick remains obstinately closed, and is likely to stay so until summer 2022, confidence is being shown by the airport with the opening of two new food outlets at Gatwick North.
Ireland’s Emerald certificated
After a successful demonstration flight and following the completion of rigorous inspections by the Irish Aviation Authority, Emerald Airlines has secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), officially becoming Ireland’s newest airline.
Lufthansa cabin upgrade
In conjunction with Airbus, Lufthansa is pushing ahead with a significant cabin upgrade on short- and medium-haul routes.
Petrol – an update
More than a quarter of drivers (27%) are yet to check whether their car is compatible with new E10 petrol which has this month arrived at forecourts, with a similar proportion (24%) unaware that the new fuel is being introduced to replace E5 as the standard grade of unleaded petrol, new RAC research has found.
The Londoner
Much anticipated, The Londoner hotel, Leicester Square, has finally opened.
This was first covered by Business Travel News in February 2020.
Transport Committee enquiry *
The House of Commons Select Transport Committee, chaired by Hugh Merriman, is to launch an enquiry to plot the aviation route to recovery.