15 NOVEMBER 2021
- FROM BTN'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF *
- COMMENT: Good morning, New York *
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- Air Alderney
- Airlines 2021
- BA in Gatwick takeover *
- British Airways and Virgin Atlantic simultaneously
- BTN Quiz 2021
- DfT Travel guidance
- Dubai Air show begins
- East Midlands Airport boost
- Flybe resurrected *
- Gatwick in slot row
- Hertz is back
- LATAM returns
- London City Airport hotel
- Qatar Airways and Formula One *
- Return of the Red Eye
- Ryanair to delist ? *
- Sustainable Aviation at Cop26
- Tourism minister at conference
- Vueling expansion
- Willie Walsh to Parliament *
- ON TOUR: London hotel goes East
- AND FINALLY: Doors to manual *
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
REMEMBERANCE SUNDAY has now passed but Jeff Mills fine piece has struck a chord.
BTN Quiz 2021
The very popular Business Travel News airline quiz will be published with the last edition of 2021 on Monday 13 December. Once again Rod Simpson of Air Britain has made the selection and tells BTN that he has dug deep into the archives in order to try to ensure no all-correct answers.
FROM BTN'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF *
An attack yesterday (14 November) by The Sunday Times against light aviation (General Aviation – GA) has been strongly rebutted, a Government source telling the Press Association that the claims were “utterly bogus and demonstrably false”.
COMMENT: Good morning, New York *
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association (BTA), was a guest of British Airways on BA001 to New York Kennedy last Monday 8 November.
Airlines 2021
Expected to be the largest gathering of the air transport industry since the start of the pandemic, Airlines 2021 takes place at the QE Centre Westminster next Monday (22 November).
BA in Gatwick takeover *
Thursday 9 December sees British Airways opening up an entirely new long-haul route from Gatwick Airport.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic simultaneously
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic celebrated the easing of US travel restrictions with a parallel take-off from Heathrow on Monday 8 November.
Flybe resurrected *
Dave Pflieger has been named CEO of the new Flybe. The UK’s largest regional airline at the time, Flybe filed for administration and ceased all operations just before the pandemic on 5 March 2020.
LATAM returns
São Paulo is again to be connected to Heathrow from Friday 3 December, four days per week, by LATAM the Brazilian airline.
Qatar Airways and Formula One *
Only announced in October the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix (GP), 21 November, has spurred a volley of interest by fans from all over the world and is being supported by Qatar Airways. The win by Lewis Hamilton yesterday (13 November) of the Brazilian GP has made the Doha race a key round in the 2021 drivers championship.
Ryanair to delist ? *
Michael O’Leary was as baffling as ever during an earnings call at which the airline’s quarterly results were announced.
Sustainable Aviation at Cop26
Last Wednesday (10 November) on what was termed ‘Transport Day’ Sustainable Aviation, the air travel industry group, hosted a panel event with the UK Government in the UK Pavilion at Cop26 on ‘Delivering Jet Zero’.
Tourism minister at conference
Nigel Huddleston, Tourism Minister, opened the Meetings Industry Association’s (MIA) Ignite conference last Thursday, saying that the Government was committed to working closely with the sector as the UK emerges from the pandemic.
Vueling expansion
IAG member Vueling is expanding rapidly at Paris Orly airport for 2022.
ON TOUR: London hotel goes East
Business Travel News first mentioned the new and exotic Pan Pacific hotel back in January 2020. Twenty dramatic months later it is finally open, a dramatic presence in the City of London’s heart. It’s been worth the wait.
AND FINALLY: Doors to manual *
In an era of acronyms (WFH=working from home) and novel business names this one has come up.
Air Alderney
A new Channel Island airline is expected to be launched in the next few weeks.
DfT Travel guidance
From next Monday (22 November), the Government will accept vaccines on the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL). The US also recognises the vaccines on this list.
Dubai Air show begins
The first major gathering of the aerospace community since the outbreak of the pandemic 2021 Dubai Air Show opened yesterday (Sunday 14 November) at Dubai World Central Airport.
East Midlands Airport boost
Perhaps best known as a cargo airport, and owned by Manchester Airport Group, East Midlands Airport (EMA) is to have a significant Ryanair presence next summer.
Gatwick in slot row
Wizz Air could be the big winner if Gatwick Airport succeeds in convincing Government that the ‘use it or lose it’ airport slot rules should now be re-introduced.
Hertz is back
Whilst Hertz Corporation filing for Chapter 11 protection in May 2020 has not affected its UK or worldwide vehicle hiring business its return on Nasdaq last week will be seen as a confidence builder for the future.
London City Airport hotel
Less than a six-minute walk from the London City Airport terminal (and even closer to the Executive Jet Centre) a new Marriot Courtyard Hotel has opened.
Return of the Red Eye
The lifting of the USA travel ban and revival of the early morning arrivals at Heathrow is being used with initiative by the travel industry.
Willie Walsh to Parliament *
In what may prove to be a most interesting session IATA Director General and former IAG Chairman, Willie Walsh, has been invited to answer questions before Westminster’s Transport Select Committee next Wednesday 17 November at 09:30.