A cracker of a year

WITH 2018 drawing to a close, British Airways is celebrating flying high in the last 12 months with additional investment for customers now totalling £6.5bn. Here’s a recap of what’s changed at British Airways over the last year. 

In 2018 the airline offered its most extensive choice of flights in more than a decade, with more than a dozen new routes, including Marrakech, Durban, Nashville and the Seychelles. More new routes have been announced for 2019, including Charleston, Pittsburgh and Osaka. 

Customers travelling light were able to take advantage of the airline’s new long-haul basic fare on routes to the US and around the world, with fares from £143. They can reduce this cost even further by using their Avios. 

For 2018 British Airways introduced 18 new fuel-efficient aircraft to its fleet of almost 300 planes – including its 30th 787, plus A320 and 21neos, and Embraer for BA CityFlyer. The airline’s 767 fleet was retired to make way for more new aircraft, arriving next year. 

Work continued at pace to refresh existing long-haul cabins – with all seats being equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems and direct access to power. 

During 2018, British Airways began installing its industry-leading streaming WiFi on long-haul aircraft – all short-haul aircraft will be fitted with the system by next summer. This exciting development allows customers to use their own devices to live stream TV programmes and movies. 

The airline’s website, BA.com, received a refresh and achieved record sales. There were enhancements for the hugely popular BA app, including adding Apple’s Siri voice service on the iPhone. A new reward app was also released to help British Airways’ Executive Club members discover new ways to collect and spend Avios – including selecting seats on flights, as well as spending on flights, car hire, hotels, excursions, etc. 

The airline is focused on providing customers with a seamless and efficient journey through the airport. Throughout the year it continued to pioneer facial recognition airport technology. British Airways was the first airline to install biometric technology at Heathrow – enabling it to board domestic (UK) flights in half the usual time. It also began using the same technology to speedily board aircraft in Orlando, Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

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Up in the air . . .

Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Fiji Airways have today announced the signing of a codeshare agreement that will provide more convenient connections for customers travelling to Fiji from 10 destinations in Asia and Europe through the Singapore hub. 

Under the agreement, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir customers can access Fiji Airways’ non-stop flights between Singapore and Nadi, including the airline’s third weekly seasonal service that was launched on 4 April 2018. 

Customers can also travel on codeshare flights between Nadi and three domestic destinations, including the Fijian capital Suva, Labasa, and Savusavu. In turn, Fiji Airways customers will be able to access Singapore Airlines and SilkAir-operated flights to destinations in, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

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Up in the air . . .

IN May 2018, Air France-KLM will bring Europe closer to Brazil with the launch of new flights from Paris – Charles de Gaulle (operated by Joon!) and Amsterdam-Schiphol (operated by KLM). The new services will operate twice a week from Paris on Fridays and Sundays, and three times a week from Amsterdam on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays. 

www.airfranceklm.com

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Sydney Airport wins Skytrax global airport award

SYDNEY Airport has been voted the top airport in the Australia/Pacific region by customers participating in one of the largest global customer satisfaction surveys. The airport was recognised at this week’s Skytrax World Airport Awards in Stockholm. Skytrax notes that its World Airport Awards assess customer service and facilities across 550 airports and are based on more than 13.7 million survey questionnaires completed by travellers of more than 100 nationalities.

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Perth first Australian city to be served by Singapore Airlines’ new 787-10s

PERTH will become the first Australian destination to be served by Singapore Airlines’ new Boeing 787-10 fleet , with flights expected to commence in May 2018, subject to regulatory approvals. 

Singapore Airlines currently operates four daily flights to Perth from their Singapore hub with a mix of Boeing 777-200 and Airbus A330 aircraft, with the 787-10 to replace one of these services. The 787-10s will feature Singapore Airlines’ new regional cabin products and will seat 337 customers in two classes, with 36 Business Class and 301 Economy Class seats.

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Now showing: Amazon Prime Video on board Eurostar

EUROSTAR, the high-speed rail service linking the UK and mainland Europe, will be unveiling a range of critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video content on board its fleet of e320 trains via the new app.

#Eurostar will be the first transport operator in Europe to feature Prime Video on board, free for all passengers to enjoy as they speed across the Channel.

Launching on Eurostar’s state-of-the-art fleet of e320 trains, travellers can view a range of Amazon’s top original drama, comedy and kids TV shows from Prime Video, simply by using their own device to connect to the free on-board wifi and the new app. The new programmes will add to Eurostar’s existing line-up of over 300 hours of TV shows and films.

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Travel by Panda Rail

WEST Japan Railway Company introduced its "Panda Kuroshio Smile Adventure Train" in August. This special train is "wrapped" in a panda design and operates as one of the "Kuroshio" express trains connecting Kyoto, Osaka and Shingu - site of the famous theme park "Wakayama Adventure World." The front of the train is covered by a panda face while there are various animals depicted on the sides as well. This train will run until November 2019 but you will have to be a little fortunate to see it; it operates daily but not always at the same time!

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Cebu Pacific invests in facilities for Persons with Reduced Mobility

THE Philippines’ largest carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), is set to roll-out Disabled Passenger Lifts (DPLs) in key airports in the Philippines. The DPLs which would allow Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) an easier and more comfortable boarding experience on Cebu Pacific flights.

CEB is the first airline to invest in its own DPLs, in line with its thrust to improve passenger experience. The use of the DPL is free of charge for Cebu Pacific passengers with reduced mobility. Aside from Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), these include pregnant and elderly passengers who may have difficulty climbing stairs to board their flights.

In 2016 alone, over 43,000 passengers availed of wheelchair assistance from the check-in counter. Of this number, more than 14,000 were wheeled from the check-in counter and carried to their seats in the aircraft.

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Grab a bargain with half a million discounted tickets on Virgin Trains

WHETHER you fancy a late summer break, an autumn staycation or are even thinking about exploring Christmas markets, look no further than Virgin Trains’ half price seat sale. Between Tuesday August 22 and Sunday August 28, you can bag huge discounts on selected advance tickets for travel between September 11 and December 20* to destinations along the east coast.

With half a million tickets up for grabs, there’s never been a better time to enjoy a trip to Britain’s vibrant east coast. From the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, to the bustling nightlife in Leeds, you can get to these and many more destinations along the route in style and comfort for half the usual price.

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Picture Credit: macspite 49767717@N00/1260864460 Penrith station with Virgin Pendolino via photopin.

More flights to US Virgin islands this Summer

UNITED Airlines will boost air capacity to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) this summer. In addition to daily flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, United Airlines will once again serve Washington Dulles International Airport with daily service to St. Thomas this summer, and extend its weekly Saturday service from Newark, N.J., to St. Thomas beyond the summer months, through September and October.

According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research (BER), stay-over visitor arrivals to the Territory in 2016 were up 4.3 percent compared with 2015. St. Croix registered a 6.5 percent increase and St. Thomas/St. John was up by 3.8 percent.

For the first two months of the year, stay-over arrivals were up by 4.5 percent over the same period last year, with St. Thomas/St. John reporting a 4.4 percent increase in arrivals while St. Croix was up by 5.3 percent.

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Gatwick to Oakland, San Francisco Bay with British Airways

MADE in Chelsea star Stephanie Pratt brings a Californian glow to Gatwick to celebrate British Airways’ new route to Oakland, San Francisco Bay. Stephanie, who went to college in San Francisco, stuns in a photoshoot to mark the airline's first route from Gatwick to California, and its fifth service from London to the 'golden state'. 

The route takes off from March 28 with flights launching from £210 each way based on a return fare.

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Picture Credit: britishairways_21686873976940

Up in the air . . .

AIR India has decided to reserve seats in an entire row, namely the third row, in Economy Class on its Domestic Flights for women passengers who wish to travel alone. These special seats, which can be availed by such women passengers, will come at no extra cost. 

A women passenger can request the seats at any of Air India’s booking offices in the city or at the airport and they can be taken up to 90 minutes before departure for Domestic flights.

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Up in the air . . .

EMIRATES has debuted the new Real Madrid decal on its iconic A380. Making its first touchdown at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport, the Emirates A380 has been emblazoned with the image of Real Madrid footballing giants.

The plane’s eye-catching customized decal features some of the club's world-class players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Marcelo. Visible from both sides of the plane, the bespoke decal covers an area of ​​more than 500m2 and shows the five players of the first team in action.

Besides Madrid, the Real Madrid A380 is expected to fly to a majority of Emirates A380 destinations worldwide, giving Real Madrid fans around the world a chance to snap a picture of the aircraft as it makes its way around the globe. This includes the US where the team will be travelling this summer.

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Non-Stop service Manila - Middle East

PHILIPPINE Airlines will mark a new and exciting milestone in its Middle East operations on March 26 this year. The flag carrier will have an 'all non-stop service' between #Manila and seven points in the Middle East.

Manila-Dubai flights will operate seven times weekly; Manila- Doha and Manila-Kuwait , four times weekly each; Manila-Jeddah and Manila-Abu Dhabi, thrice weekly each; Manila -Dammam, five-times-a-week; and Manila-Riyadh, seven-times-a-week.

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Major railway upgrades will mean weekend changes for passengers

NETWORK Rail and South West Trains are advising passengers to Check Before You Travel as major track upgrades at Waterloo as part of the Waterloo & South West Upgrade, and improvement works elsewhere on the network, will significantly reduce the number of trains running during two weekends in March.

Network Rail’s £600,000 investment to replace key sections of track at Waterloo, taking place over the weekends of 4 & 5 March and 18 & 19 March.

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Picture Credit: Network Rail

Virgin Trains half price seat sale

PLAN your next staycation and take advantage of discounted tickets in Virgin Trains’ New Year seat sale, starting on Monday January 9 and finishing on Friday January 13. 

Half price offers on four hundred thousand tickets will be available for travel between January 30 and March 31 2017* on both Standard and First Class tickets across the whole east coast route.

Half price tickets will be available to book from 10am on Monday, January 9 2017, only at virgintrainseastcoast.com/sale and trainline.com/SeatSale

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Picture Credit: 47843 Vulcan flickr.com/photos/57793461@N06/16980295552 via photopin

On the runway . . .

BIRMINGHAM Airport has been named the world’s most punctual airport in 2016 by air travel intelligence company OAG.

With over 100,000 scheduled flights from Birmingham Airport last year, the most punctual route was to Dublin, boasting an on-time score of over 95 per cent. The UK airport beat contenders from countries such as Japan, Brazil, America, Germany and Australia to claim the global crown.

On receiving the award, Birmingham Airport’s Chief Executive, Paul Kehoe, said, “To be crowned the world’s most punctual airport in 2016 is a tremendous prize, particularly in the busiest twelve months in our 77 year history.

“This achievement is a result of a team effort by the seven thousand employees and 140 companies operating at the airport - from the ground handlers to bus drivers, fuellers to caterers, and cleaners to office staff."

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