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Hello and welcome to the The Atlantic Update for Wednesday 4 July 2018, providing a weekly bulletin on developments on transatlantic travel between Europe and North America. The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday morning at 06:00 BST.
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You say deplane, I say disembark
Today is of course Independence Day in the United States, at a very challenging time for many constitutional norms in the country.
Judging by our Instagram feeds, many are spending it in Cape Cod, pictured above, where its always fun to fly around on Cape Air and its tiny Cessna 402 aircraft.
Primera Air Delays
Primera Air is almost three months into long-haul operations at London Stansted.
It is now flying to Newark, Boston and Toronto, with Washington Dulles to follow in August. However, it has not been an easy start. Primera Air has had to lease in aircraft to cover the late delivery of Airbus 321 aircraft. Flights to Newark have been covered by National Airlines Boeing 757 aircraft over the past ten days or so. However, this has resulted in delays with some departures delayed extensively into the early hours of the morning, resulting in a brutal early morning arrival in New York.
Long-haul operations aren’t easy for small airlines as its much harder to cover aircraft availability issues with such a small fleet and without the support of joint-venture and alliance partners. However, a reputation of operational reliability is vital for all airlines, particularly new market entrants.
Delta opens new Sky Club at Washington Reagan airport
Delta has opened a new Sky Club lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airport.
At 9,000 sq ft the lounge features a seating area overlooked by a cherry blossom inspired chandelier, a full service bar and dishes from chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley. Delta is due to open new Sky Clubs in Austin and Phoenix over the next 12 months. (Delta)
United opens new Polaris lounge at Houston
United has opened its latest Polaris lounge in Houston.
The Polaris lounge in Houston officially opened on Friday 29 June 2018. Like the existing Polaris lounges in Chicago, Newark and San Francisco, it features a staffed bar with a bespoke cocktail menu, a pre-flight dining area, a wide variety of seating, day beds and private shower suites. (United)
BA Miami and New York lounge changes
In case you missed our article last week, BA’s designated lounge in Miami is closed for five weeks for repairs. However, the American Airlines Flagship lounge will be available for BA passengers.
The Elemis travel spa and showers at New York JFK Terminal 7 are closed from refurbishment from Saturday 7 July 2018 to Monday 30 July 2018.
Also of note this week:
Delta unveils its first “refreshed” Boeing 777-200 with its Delta One business class suites. However, don’t expect to see this aircraft at Heathrow any time soon as Delta uses Airbus A330 and Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft at the airport. Delta uses a wide variety of aircraft in London, but not the Boeing 777. (Delta)
IAG’s low cost long-haul brand LEVEL has commenced long-haul operations at Paris Orly with its inaugural flights to Montreal and Guadeloupe. IAG has ambitions to expand LEVEL with three aircraft based at Paris Orly and four based at Barcelona in 2019. Further expansion is likely to be dependent on whether IAG acquires Norwegian.
If you’re in London this weekend look out for Delta and Virgin Atlantic in the annual Pride in London parade through Regent Street on Saturday afternoon. (Pride In London)
Miami faces an underwater future. (The New Yorker)
Can Andy Byford (formerly of London Underground) save the New York Subway? (The New Yorker)
Late Post Publication Updates:
[Reseved for updates during the day.]
The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday at 06:00 BST. If you have any comments, suggestions or tips then please drop us a line at mail [@] londonairtravel.com
