Business Travel News: November 2019
Airlines/Airports.
British Airways Geneva Airport
British Airways has reopened its lounge at Geneva Airport. The lounge has been extended to offer more space, a lobby bar, separate seating area, banquette seating and power outlets. The lounge is open to customers travelling in Club Europe, Executive Club Gold, Silver cardholders, Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members.
British Airways showcases first 787-10 Dreamliner
Ahead of its first commercial service to Atlanta from Heathrow Airport in February 2020, the Boeing 787-10 will join the British Airways fleet in January 2020. The Dreamliner will offer four cabin classes, with eight seats in First Class, 48 in the new Club cabin, 35 seats in World Traveller Plus and 165 seats in World Traveller. BA’s improvements include lower cabin pressure, better humidity and greater fuel efficiency.
Air France to launch Business Class on domestic flights
Air France will launch business class on domestic flights in the first quarter of 2020, mirroring the premium cabin products. Passengers will enjoy deluxe snacks, champagne and wine, with lounge access and priority check-in before their flight.
Air Canada plans Airbus A220 debut
Air Canada has unveiled its first Canadian-made A220-300 aircraft, featuring revolutionary cabin architecture as well as lower emissions and a reduced noise footprint. The new aircraft will provide passengers with superior comfort in a 137-seat dual-class cabin layout and replace the flag carriers existing mainline fleet.
Air France’s Airbus A350 flies to Toronto
Air France’s Airbus A350, named “Toulouse” took off for the first time to Toronto, Canada. It will serve this destination daily throughout the winter season leaving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The aircraft provides a more spacious cabin in Business, Premium Economy and Economy class. Read more
Qantas non-stop research flight London to Sydney
In 19 hours and 19 minutes from Heathrow Airport, Qantas ‘first ultra-long-haul’ London to Sydney research flight safely reached. With 53 passengers on board, the flight operated on the brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is the second of three research flights to enhance the well-being of the crew and passengers. Read more
Lufthansa to carbon offset all European flights
From 2020 Lufthansa is to carbon offset all European flights for corporate flyers at no extra costs to corporations. The CO2 offsetting will be carried out through certified climate protection projects of the Swiss foundation ‘myclimate’, a non-profit organisation which Lufthansa group has been working with since 2007. Read more
American Airlines to launch New Zealand service
American Airlines has announced a new non-stop service from Los Angeles to Christchurch, New Zealand, after forming a joint venture with Qantas from October 2020. The service will operate three days a week on a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, with 20 Business Class seats and 28 seats in Premium Economy. Read more
Lufthansa to boost air-rail connectivity
Germany’s Lufthansa wants travellers to take the train to the airport, expanding the express rail options to and from Frankfurt. The change takes place mid-December and involves services from Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Ulm to Frankfurt airport increasing the rail links from 77 to 119.
Finnair to meet Lapland flight demand
Following the Thomas Cook collapse, Finnair has stepped up to meet the need for Lapland flights. Beginning 20 December 2019, three additional flights between Helsinki and Lapland will be operated daily by the Finnish airline to accommodate travellers.
British Airways opens new Johannesburg lounge
The newly renovated British Airway’s lounge at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport has reopened. It features a new office space with ample workstations and power outlets, a brasserie dining area offering enhanced menu options and a separate area for guests to relax in separate seating areas.
Iberia returns to Washington with flights to Madrid
Iberia is returning to Washington with a new flight from Madrid, becoming the eighth destination in for Iberia in the US. Flights will commence to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) from 1 May 2020. The aircraft will operate four-times-weekly on the Airbus A330-300 with 29 seats in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 242 in Economy Class. The new route enables Iberia to meet the needs of its corporate customers travelling between Spain and DC.
Japan Airlines to introduce smart check-in
Japan Airlines has announced plans at Tokyo’s Narita Airport to introduce self-service bag drop machines and facial recognition technology. The new concept aims to reduce stress at the airport and the time it takes to board the aircraft. The machines will be installed before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. Read more
United Airlines and Air New Zealand announce non-stop service to New Zealand
Launching in October 2020, Air New Zealand will operate the first non-stop flight between New York, Newark and Auckland, New Zealand. In partnership with United Airlines, the service will run three-times-weekly on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Read more
Virgin Atlantic adds extra San Francisco and Delhi
During the summer 2020 season, Virgin Atlantic has confirmed additional flights to Delhi and San Francisco. The additional Delhi flights will begin on 29 March 2020 and San Francisco will add an additional Friday service with the route departing twice daily from Heathrow Airport.
Japan Airlines adds Tokyo Narita-San Francisco flight
Japan Airlines will be expanding its international network by adding a non-stop service from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to San Francisco (SFO) starting 29 March 2020. JAL will offer one daily round trip flight on a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, providing a seamless connection for business and leisure travellers looking to travel through Asia. Read more
Virgin Atlantic plans joint venture with China Eastern
Virgin Atlantic has announced a joint venture with China Eastern and Air France KLM to provide customers with increased choice and connectivity across Europe and China, with flights from UK and China. The proposed joint venture also provides customers to take advantage of China’s Eastern domestic network, which includes 188 destinations across mainland China.
Qantas to cut carbon emission by 2050
The airline says it has set a 2020 goal to cap net carbon emissions, double the number of offset flights and invest $50 million over 10 years to help develop a sustainable aviation fuel industry and reach net-zero carbon emission by 2050. Read more
Cathay Pacific pairs with Black Sheep restaurant
Cathay Pacific is partnering with Hong Kong’s Black Sheep restaurant to introduce a new economy class menu for passengers travelling on long-haul routes from this November. This is the first time the airline has partnered with a restaurant group to create menus for passengers in economy class. Read more
Easy Jet to become first major net-zero carbon airline
Easy Jet becomes the first major airline to reduce every flight’s carbon emissions from the fuel used. This will be invested in projects that include planting trees or deforestation protection, ensuring this is a more sustainable way for Easy Jet passengers to travel. Everything will remain the same in terms of customer experience and will not affect the cost of travellers’ flights.
Singapore Airlines ‘farm-to-plane’ cuisine
Locally sourced meals for passengers flying on long-haul flights from Newark, New Jersey to Singapore with Singapore Airlines are on the menu. The carrier has partnered with AeroFarms – an indoor farming company, bringing fresh food onboard from Newark.
Air France adds extra flights to Madrid from Paris
Air France will operate 12 new flights from Paris-Orly to Madrid, Spain, starting on the 23 March 2020. The twice-daily flights will be operated by the Airbus A318 with a capacity of 131 seats, 10 business class and 116 in Economy Class. This is in addition to the six daily flights operated on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Turkish Airlines announced flights to Xian
Turkish Airlines will start new three-times-weekly flights to Xian at the end of 2019. This will be the fourth destination by the airline for mainland China. The launch of the Xian flight will also mark the 20th anniversary of the presence of the airline in the country, starting its first flight Beijing in 1999.
Qantas opens new Singapore first class lounge
Qantas’ new first-class lounge has opened in Singapore, giving Qantas first-class flyers a luxurious pre-flight break. The lounge has a live cooking area, a cocktail bar and 240 seats inside, reducing the overcrowdedness in the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge with a capacity of almost 600 passengers.
The ‘Greenliner’: Etihad introduces fuel-efficient Boeing 787
Etihad’s brand new 787 Greenliner has been revealed. Partnering with Boeing in an industry-leading strategic project, the one-of-a-kind aircraft will be used to test technology, products and initiatives designed to help reduce carbon emissions and build a future of sustainable air travel. The Greenliner takes to the skies in 2020. Read more
Cathay Pacific upgrades first and business class offerings
Cathy Pacific has partnered with UK brand Bamford, renowned for sustainable luxury products, to roll out a range of amenities, travel kits and plush bedding. The new offering will be available to First Class and Business Class passengers.
SAS operates A321LR on Copenhagen to Boston
SAS will launch the first of three A321LR aircraft on the Copenhagen (CPH) to Boston (BOS) route from 18 September 2020. The aircraft is configured with three classes, including 22 fully-flat Business class seats, 12 Premium Economy and 123 Economy seats. Every seat will either have a power socket or USB port and the aircraft will offer Wi-Fi connections throughout.
Birmingham Airport to become net-zero carbon by 2023
Birmingham Airport (UK) has announced its commitment aiming to become carbon neutral by 2023. Recognising that climate change is happening, the airport believes it must set a target ahead of UK’s target of 2050, to further reduce its carbon footprint, prioritise zero-carbon airport operations and minimise carbon offsets. Read more
Hotels
Radisson Hotel Group and Edwardian relaunch hotel
Manchester’s landmark hotel has relaunched as The Edwardian Manchester, A Radisson Collection Hotel, after a multi-million-pound renovation. The hotel is the third in the UK to join the Radisson collection, housed within the Free Trade Hall listed Grade II in the city. The 263-suite hotel offers a concept bar, restaurant and several meeting spaces.
Accor opens Melbourne’s new 5* hotel
Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, MGallery by Sofitel has recently opened as five-star hotel part of the Vicinity group. The new hotel will be an in-demand destination for domestic and international travellers and those attending corporate events, with more than 24 million people visiting Chadstone each year.
Accor to add nine hotels in the Philippines
Accor has the largest hotel pipeline in the Asia Pacific, having opened 128 hotels in the country last year. This year, a further nine hotels have been signed and will represent an additional 2,155 rooms, increasing the group’s total to 14 new hotels in the Philippines. Accor is on a rapid phase of expansion, especially across the Asia Pacific region in the luxury and lifestyle sector.
Hyatt launches 3 initiatives to reduce plastic
The hotel group has said all Hyatt brands worldwide will adopt three sustainability initiatives by June 2021 in effort to ‘reduce waste globally’. This includes introducing large format bathroom amenities replacing mini plastic bottles, reducing plastic water bottles with more water stations in public areas and using glass bottles and removing plastic straws.
Japan opens its doors to Park Hyatt Kyoto
Park Hyatt Kyoto opens its doors in Japan, with traditional architecture wrapped in modern luxury in the historic Higashiyama mountains. This is going to be the second Hyatt hotel to debut in 25 years. The hotel offers spacious meeting and event spaces in a traditional Japanese setting, offering state-of-the-art technology and coffee break.
Ground Transport.
TransPennine Express launches Nova fleet
TransPennine Express officially launched its new Nova train fleet during a ceremony at Liverpool Lime Street Station last week. Among the 44 new trains, Nova 1 services Liverpool to Newcastle, and Edinburgh to Manchester Airport and Newcastle, Nova 2 operates between Manchester and Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Preston, and Nova 3 travels between Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Scarborough and Middlesbrough.