1 AUGUST 2022
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Professor Chris Tarry
- LETTER OF THE WEEK
- All-electric from Premier Inn
- Are BA pilots to strike?
- Be prepared, Gatwick tells passengers *
- Dubai - Tel Aviv doubles
- EasyJet disruption cost
- Extra powers sought by CAA
- Heathrow ground handling *
- Hong Kong hotel for Fullerton
- Interline agreement
- JetBlue in deal to buy Spirit *
- Ministers meet police and Border Force
- More rail and tube strikes
- Order confirmed by easyJet
- Passengers squeezed in *
- Ritz-Carlton 'NoMad' Manhattan
- Seat upgrade for MAS
- Stansted lounge upgrade *
- Testing times in Canada
- Warning to airlines
- Where did the money go?
- AUGUST CRUISE NEWS: On Tour - Queen Victoria *
- AND FINALLY: Man overboard
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LETTER OF THE WEEK
NATIONAL AVIATION AUTHORITY
David Starkie makes a point about this group. But will we hear anyting more? Only time will tell.
Business Travel News this week is produced by Jeff Mills, our Editor-at-Large, and former Editor of Travel Weekly.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Professor Chris Tarry
“Concerns over the British outbound market”.
All-electric from Premier Inn
Premier Inn has started construction on what it is billing as its first ‘all-electric’ hotel.
Are BA pilots to strike?
Pilots’ union Balpa is reportedly preparing to threaten industrial action against British Airways after ballots secured pay rises for check-in and baggage staff.
Be prepared, Gatwick tells passengers *
Gatwick airport is urging passengers to prepare for security before reaching the screening area, as it struggles to cope with the ongoing queues during the summer period.
Dubai - Tel Aviv doubles
UAE-based carrier Emirates (EK) plans to add a second daily flight on its Dubai to Tel Aviv route starting 30 October.
EasyJet disruption cost
Luton-based easyJet has insisted that almost three-quarters of passengers affected by a raft of flight cancellations were moved with alternative departures within 24 hours.
Extra powers sought by CAA
The head of the Civil Aviation Authority has reinforced a plea for the regulator to be granted stronger powers to support consumers.
Heathrow ground handling *
In its quarterly trading update, Heathrow says that it had been raising its concerns over the lack of handlers for nine months because the number of people employed in ground handling fell sharply over the last two years, as airlines cut costs during the pandemic.
Interline agreement
Norse has partnered with easyJet, Norwegian and Spirit airlines to provide over 600 weekly connections across European and US hubs.
JetBlue in deal to buy Spirit *
JetBlue Airways has reached a $3.8bn deal to buy Spirit Airlines in a takeover that would create the fifth-largest airline in the US and remove a fast-growing budget carrier from the market.
Seat upgrade for MAS
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has introduced its first B737-800 NG aircraft featuring new seating in both Business Class and Economy.
Where did the money go?
The government doesn’t know whether almost £500m spent on traffic-light travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic worked, according to MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which also questioned whether the cost of the system was worth the disruption caused.
AUGUST CRUISE NEWS: On Tour - Queen Victoria *
It’s not all plain sailing for the cruise lines.
AND FINALLY: Man overboard
“Man overboard” screamed Cunard's Queen Victoria public address system last week.
This is a strange one the gathering on board thought.
We are in dock!
Hong Kong hotel for Fullerton
The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, best known for its property in Singapore, has opened its first hotel in Hong Kong and fourth worldwide.
Ministers meet police and Border Force
Ministers from several government departments have met senior police and Border Force officials in an attempt to tackle problems at ports and airports which have caused disruption to holidaymakers and hauliers.
More rail and tube strikes
Following last week’s rail strike (27 July), the RMT union has announced that London’s tube workers also plan to strike on 19 August, due to an ongoing dispute over pensions and jobs.
Order confirmed by easyJet
EasyJet has confirmed an order for 56 additional A320 neo Family aircraft, with deliveries due between FY 2026 and FY 2029
Passengers squeezed in *
The trend for aircraft manufacturers to squeeze in more economy seats into planes continues.
Ritz-Carlton 'NoMad' Manhattan
Marriott International has opened its long-anticipated Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad property in Manhattan.
Stansted lounge upgrade *
A major refurbishment of Stansted Airport’s international departure lounge has been completed for the big summer getaway, with an investment of £12m invested by the airport and its retail partners to improve the customer experience as it prepares to welcome more than five million passengers during July and August.
Testing times in Canada
Canada has resumed its mandatory arrival testing for air travellers fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Warning to airlines
The Competition and Markets Authority and the CAA have published an open letter to airlines, warning them about their obligations under consumer protection law.