17 JANUARY 2022
- COMMENT: First or standard class *
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- Air Partner launches JetCard
- Airbus 2021
- Austin Texas by Virgin Atlantic
- Aviation Club lunch
- BA’s new LCY routes *
- Cruise ships in the US *
- Electronic document system first
- Emerald and Aer Lingus
- French open up
- Hans Airways
- Inverness suspended by BA *
- London Congestion Charge changes *
- Norse nearly airborne
- Radisson Collection in Berlin
- Scotland for Virgin Hotels *
- Smart motorways – change of thinking *
- Southend easyJet return *
- Stansted parking *
- ON TOUR: Discover Qatar *
- The quiz winner
- AND FINALLY
© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
LETTER OF THE WEEK
With the winner of the 2021 quiz announced it seemed appropriate to highlight this letter which can be viewed at the end of the answers.
COMMENT: First or standard class *
The electric trains being re-deployed to the Luton Airport Express (which runs between London St Pancras and Corby) are being internally refurbished. Part of the work involves removal of the First Class accommodation: trains will in future be standard class only. This follows the lead of Stansted Express, which only provides standard class on its new trains.
Airbus 2021
With commercial aircraft assembly plants in Alabama, Hamburg, Montreal, Tianjin and Toulouse, Airbus delivered 611 aircraft to 88 customers in 2021.
Austin Texas by Virgin Atlantic
A four times a week service between Heathrow and the 4th largest city in Texas will launch on 25 May flown by Boeing 787-9 aircraft boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats.
BA’s new LCY routes *
British Airways is launching four new routes across Europe in time for the summer season.
Emerald and Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has confirmed that tickets are now on sale for a range of franchised services operated by Emerald Airlines with bases at Dublin and Belfast airports.
Hans Airways
First reported by BTN 30 August 2021 Hans Airways has brought in the New Year with a Letter of Intent for its first Airbus A330-200.
Inverness suspended by BA *
The daily air service to Scotland’s Highland capital Inverness from Heathrow has been suspended by British Airways.
Norse nearly airborne
Norse Atlantic, in many ways the successor to Norwegian’s long-haul routes, has been approved by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the operation of flights between Norway/The European Union and the United States. No mention in the official press release of flights from Gatwick.
Scotland for Virgin Hotels *
Virgin Hotels, with five active properties in the US at Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville and New Orleans, is planning its first overseas ventures with two opening in Scotland later this year.
Southend easyJet return *
EasyJet will resume services from Southend to Palma de Mallorca and Malaga for next summer.
Stansted parking *
Stansted Airport has installed Videalert CCTV enforcement cameras to eliminate the incidence of the dangerous tailgating as drivers attempt to leave the drop-off zones and short-term car parks without paying.
ON TOUR: Discover Qatar *
In last week’s issue BTN focussed very much on the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to be played in Qatar next November/December.
The quiz winner
Taking first place, and a trip for two on easyJet, is Phil Spicer, who lives at Harrow, near Heathrow.
AND FINALLY
With BTN highlighting the World Cup this is one we could not resist.
Air Partner launches JetCard
Cheaper by charter or scheduled? A new app helps with the decision.
Aviation Club lunch
The Aviation Club's first lunch of 2022 will be held at the RAC, Pall Mall, on Tuesday 8 February.
Cruise ships in the US *
Cruise ships operating in the US will no longer be required to follow mandatory Covid-19 guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) health agency as reported in last week’s BTN.
Electronic document system first
Korean Air has launched a full-scale digitization of travel documents by introducing an e-Document system (e-DOC), and claims to be the first airline in the world to implement such an approach.
French open up
Travellers from the UK vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer need a compelling reason to enter France or self-isolate when they arrive.
London Congestion Charge changes *
Following a ten-week consultation that saw nearly 10,000 responses, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed permanent changes that they claim will help prevent car use from rising above pre-pandemic levels.
Radisson Collection in Berlin
With the start of 2022 Radisson has announced the launch of its redesigned Radisson Collection flagship property at Berlin-Mitte in the heart of Germany’s capital.
Smart motorways – change of thinking *
Recommendations by the House of Commons Transport Committee has forced a change of thinking on all-lane running (smart) motorways.