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Welcome to our Monday Briefing for the week beginning 11 March 2019.
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Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302
It would be remiss not to begin this week’s briefing without mentioning Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.
The incident in which 149 passengers and 8 crew members lost their lives is naturally uppermost in everyone’s minds. It is our editorial policy not to provide a running commentary on incidents such as this as it’s a subject well outside our competence. There’s already significant coverage elsewhere, much of it very speculative, which is deeply unhelpful to the families of the victims.
Official updates are available from Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines.
Willie’s Words For Rolls-Royce
IAG published its annual report last week.
Much of its contents are already known. However, IAG CEO Willie Walsh did have the following words for Rolls-Royce in respect of ongoing engine issues:
We faced many problems with the Trent 1000 engine in 2018, which meant a number of our aircraft were unavailable during the year. This was very
disappointing. It’s not the sort of performance you expect from a company like Rolls-Royce. We’re receiving compensation, but, to be honest, I’d prefer to have the engines functioning properly. It’s fundamental to our future relationship with Rolls-Royce that they respond positively to this issue in 2019, because the situation last year was completely unacceptable.
If that’s what’s being said in public…
Heathrow Third Runway Judicial Review
Last week we reported that judicial review proceedings brought by a number of local London councils, the Mayor of London and Greenpeace against the Government were about to be heard before the High Court.
It appears that the court case will now be heard this week. The hearing is expected to last for two weeks. It will be some afterwards before the court hands down its judgment. (Financial Times)
Air France cuts London Heathrow – Paris Charles de Gaulle
Last month, BA announced it is suspending London City – Paris Orly from 31 May 2019.
Air France also appears to be cutting frequencies on London Heathrow – Paris Charles de Gualle, with its schedule reduced by one flight to six times daily from Sunday 31 March 2019. Though, judging by queues for the Eurostar check-in at London St Pancras this weekend, many would have wished they had flown. The Heathrow slot appears to have been leased to Flybe to increase London Heathrow – Edinburgh to six times daily from Tuesday 23 April 2019.
In case you missed it:
American Airlines Dallas Fort Worth – London Heathrow reviewed. (London Air Travel)
BA adds new First Class menus and amenities from Sunday 31 March. (London Air Travel)
BA unveils its retrospective Landor livery. (London Air Travel)
The late Sir Colin Marshall on “Putting People First”. (London Air Travel)
Also of note this week:
The CEOs of easyJet, IAG, KLM, Lufthansa, and Ryanair are asked, in front of each other, with whom would they trade places. (Reuters)
The Department for Transport has confirmed that UK – EU flights will be protected in a “no deal” departure of the UK from the EU. (Department for Transport)
NATS is to begin a trial of satellite technology whereby position reports of aircraft flying over The Atlantic will be received every 5-8 seconds, instead of every 14 minutes. (NATS)
A day in the life of a trainee pilot. (SWISS)
Late Post Publication Updates
[Reserved for updates during the day.]
London City airport has unveiled its new brand identity. (London City Airport)
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