27 JUNE 2022
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- COMMENT: The Willie & Akbar show
- Air League at House of Commons
- Airport slots
- BA summer strikes
- BBGA business aviation events
- British-Irish EXPO
- Business Travel Show
- Compensation and scams *
- Delays in the US
- Emirates to Tel Aviv
- Etihad Airways upgrades
- Farnborough *
- Heathrow Aeroflot slots
- LETTER OF THE WEEK:
- Lo Bue-Said Advantage Travel speaks out
- London City Airport scoops award
- Oman Air joins oneworld
- Qantas and mainland Europe *
- Ryanair smug
- South Africa
- Terminal 4 accessibility
- Wizz Air from Saudi
- ON TOUR: The World Cup 2022 Qatar
- AND FINALLY: PR at its best!
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© 2022 Business Travel News Ltd.
LETTER OF THE WEEK:
An interesting comment by Ian Berry on the ownership of BA & LHR is our LETTER OF THE WEEK.
COMMENT: The Willie & Akbar show
At very short notice Qatar Airways and its boss Akbar Al Baker saved the 2022 78th IATA AGM with a very different style of gathering at Doha last week.
Airport slots
The Department for Transport (DfT) has temporarily relaxed rules around airport slots to help airlines avoid last-minute cancellations due to staff shortages.
BA summer strikes
Heathrow airport faces a summer of strikes after hundreds of British Airways (BA) workers voted for industrial action.
Business Travel Show
Organised by Northstar, the New York based travel group, the long-established Business Travel Show (now renamed Business Travel Europe) takes place this coming Wednesday and Thursday 29-30 June at ExCeL London.
Delays in the US
BTN readers should be aware that the cancellation/ delay/ problems associated with European airports and airlines are also prevalent in the United States.
Emirates to Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the latest destination for Emirates, a direct result of the new rapport between Israel and many of the Arab states.
Etihad Airways upgrades
With Emirates and Qatar Airways introducing new ‘upfront’ accommodation, Etihad Airways is quickly following with the debut of the Airbus A350 Business Studio and for the future spacious private suites for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Heathrow Aeroflot slots
Airport Coordination Ltd (ACL) has now reallocated the Heathrow slots taken away from Aeroflot due to the Putin war.
Oman Air joins oneworld
In an event largely dominated by the host airline, Oman Air officially became a oneworld member designate at IATA Doha. At the same time it announced its return to Heathrow Terminal 4 where it has its own dedicated lounge.
Qantas and mainland Europe *
On 22 June, Qantas flew direct from Perth Airport (PER) in Western Australia to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Italy for the first time.
Ryanair smug
Not for the first time Ryanair has laid claim to being the best organised of Europe’s airlines.
Wizz Air from Saudi
September 2022 will see Wizz Air launching new routes from Dammam, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
ON TOUR: The World Cup 2022 Qatar
On Monday 21 November the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals begin in Qatar with England v Iran one of the opening-day matches.
AND FINALLY: PR at its best!
Your Editor-in-Chief arrived at the Marriott Marquis Doha last week only to find this waiting for him in his room at the hotel. What a wonderful surprise.
Air League at House of Commons
The setting could not be more magnificent for the Air League’s annual awards evening. The House of Commons terrace on a perfect summer’s sunset and a fly past, representing the Nation’s military rotary flying forces.
BBGA business aviation events
The British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA) has published dates for several future events.
British-Irish EXPO
Robert Courts MP, Aviation Minister, spent some time at the British-Irish Airports EXPO at ExCeL London last Thursday (23 June).
Compensation and scams *
The entire aviation industry has faced operational issues in the last three months since Covid travel restrictions for UK arrivals were eased.
Farnborough *
Opening in just three weeks’ time (Monday 18 July) the Farnborough International Airshow will bring together for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic all the disparate areas of the aerospace industry including commercial aviation, military, ground and back-office services, plus the most senior executives and their political counterparts.
Lo Bue-Said Advantage Travel speaks out
ON THE SOAPBOX contributor Lo Bue-Said of Advantage Travel has again spoken out and urged the industry to strengthen its government engagement and deliver "a clear narrative" on the overall value of the sector.
London City Airport scoops award
NATS digital tower is clearly the way forward.
South Africa
With Virgin Atlantic due to re-introduce flights from London to Cape Town from 5 November, South Africa has removed its final Covid-19 restrictions, marking "the return to life as we knew it before the pandemic", according to Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Tourism.
Terminal 4 accessibility
Heathrow Terminal 4 is now more or less back to normal business although prospective passengers should check with their air carrier to confirm which terminal for an individual flight.