British Airways Logo (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways has suspended sales of flights on its London Heathrow – Abuja route from Wednesday 8 March to Tuesday 18 April 2017.
The reason for this is that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is to close for essential repairs to its runway which is reported to have pot holes.
The airline has yet to announce how passengers already booked to fly to Abuja during the closure will be accommodated. One option is to allow passengers to change the dates of flights to outside the closure period, or to allow passengers to fly to another destination in Africa (but any onward transport would be at the passenger’s own expense).
According to press reports, the Nigerian Government has instructed airlines to operate flights to an alternative airport in Kaduna (some 200km north of Abuja) with onward road transport provided to Abuja. However, airlines will need to be satisfied that security arrangements for their passengers and crews are sufficiently robust.
There’s more detail on the background to the closure of the runway in this article from the Financial Times (subscription required).
The affected BA flight numbers are BA083 and BA082.
Update: BA has subsequently decided to cancel all flights between London Heathrow and Abuja during the period of the runway closure.
Affected passengers have the option of a refund, rebooking on an alternative flight between London Heathrow and Abuja outside the runway closure (up to Friday 19 May 2017), or rebooking on an alternative flight to/from Accra or Nigeria within 7 days of the date of your original booking. However, if you choose the later option any additional costs such as ground transport or hotels will be at your own expense and will not be reimbursed by the airline.
Affected passengers should contact either BA or their travel agent.
British Airways is to suspend its twice daily London City – Madrid route permanently from Sunday 29 January 2017. The airline is to also not proceed with its planned seasonal London City – Alicante service this summer. This was planned to operate from Monday 26 June to Monday 4 September 2017.
No specific reasons have been given for the cancellation. However, it’s a reasonable assumption that poor commercial performance is the cause. BA has yet to announce which routes will operate in their replacement.
Affected passengers have the option of a refund or being accommodated on alternative BA flights to Madrid from London Heathrow (served by some 13 return flights a day) or Alicante from London Gatwick respectively (which operates up to twice daily at various times).
If you have not already been contacted you should contact either BA or your traval agent.
International Airlines Group – Aer Lingus, BA, Iberia, Vueling
International Airlines Group (“IAG”), the parent company of British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, has announced the names of four tech start-ups that will work with the group to develop new technology solutions for airlines and passengers.
This is all part of IAG’s tech accelerator Hangar 51 which it has developed with L Marks.
IAG received some 450 applications. 26 applicants were invited to attend a pitch day (video above) and the following four tech start-ups were selected:
British Airways partnership with Marks & Spencer “M&S On Board” (Image Credit: British Airways)
This Wednesday, 11 January 2017, marks a significant change to BA’s UK Domestic & EuroTraveller European short-haul flights to and from London Gatwick to London Heathrow.
The current offer of complimentary food and drink will be replaced by Buy-On-Board food and drink from Marks & Spencer. You can view the food menu and the drinks menu on the BA website.
Key points to note are:
Payment will only be accepted by credit card or Avios from your British Airways Executive Club account
Cash will not be accepted
To pay with Avios you will need to have the latest version of the BA app on your smartphone (it will show a barcode on the “My Account” screen of the app)
The world of air travel is never dull. For an industry in a near permanent state of revolution there is no shortage of new developments for passengers.
Here is a run through developments we can expect in 2017 in terms of routes, airlines, airports and in flight service.
British Airways Tailfin (Image Credit: Nick Morrish/British Airways)
The planned strike action by British Airways’ “Mixed Fleet” cabin crew at London Heathrow on Christmas Day & Boxing Day have been called off.
Unite, which represents the cabin crew, has called off the strikes following discussions with BA at ACAS. This is not the end of the dispute as a new offer tabled by the airline has to be presented to union members for approval.
However, the strikes are off and all flights will operate as scheduled.
If you have changed your bookings with BA because your flight was at risk of disruption your revised booking will still stand and you do not need to revert to your original booking.
Flybe has today announced it is to launch direct flights from London Heathrow to Aberdeen and Edinburgh from 26 March 2017.
The slots to operate these flights will be sourced from British Airways. As a condition of the purchase by its parent company, International Airlines Group, of bmi British Midland from Lufthansa in 2012, IAG is required to make slots available to eligible airlines for certain designated city pairs including London to Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The process is overseen by independent trustee.
British Airways Logo (Image Credit: British Airways)
In January 2017 there will be a significant re-organisation at London Gatwick. easyJet will consolidate all of its operations in London Gatwick’s North Terminal. In order to faciliate this move both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will swap terminals. BA will move the from North to South terminal, and Virgin Atlantic vice versa.
BA’s lounges in the North Terminal have long been closed due to construction work with passengers being required to use the No 1 lounges as an interim measure.
Details of what BA lounge arrangements there will be in the South Terminal for business and first class passengers and Silver and Gold Executive Club cardholders have long been anticipated.
BA has now confirmed some initial information, short of releasing final images of the lounge, for both check-in and lounge facilities.
Check-in and security
There will be dedicated premium check- in area in Zone A of the terminal for Club Europe, Club World, First Class and Silver & Gold Executive Cardholders. This will feature dedicated seating, power outlets and bespoke furnishing.
There will be a dedicated premium security facility on Level 3 of the South terminal.
Lounges
Capacity for 477 passengers, which BA say is 40% larger than the former North terminal lounge
A separate First Class lounge with upgraded seating, finishes and lighting. It is assumed that Gold cardholders will have access to this lounge as some recent BA lounge developments in Dubai and Singapore feature a “Concorde Bar” for passengers ticketed in First Class only
Floor to ceiling windows with views of the runway
A “beautifully curved” staircase overlooking the main lounge
Full kitchen facilities in both lounges giving an upgraded food & beverage offering. Details of menus are to confirmed
A ‘kidszone’ room for children
Shower facilities
We will post images of the lounges as soon as they are released.
Whilst the Terminal switch has taken place today, 25 January, the opening of the lounges has been delayed. In the interim, passengers travelling in Club Europe, Club World and Silver Executive Club card holders can use s temporary “Speedbird” lounge. Passengers travelling in First Class and Gold Executive Club cardholders can use the third party No 1 lounges.
Update 7 February 2017
It is understood that both of the lounges have now undergone a “soft” opening. However, not all facilities and amenities may be available at all times.
The new Club lounge is open from 05:15 until the last flight has departed. Passengers travelling in Club World on any long-haul flight and Club Europe to Jersey, and all British Airways Executive Club Silver cardholders travelling on long-haul flights or to Jersey are eligible to use the lounge.
The new First lounge is open from 07:00 until 20:00 and all passengers travelling in First Class and all British Airways Executive Club Gold cardholders are eligible to use the lounge. If there capacity constraints passengers will be invited to use the No 1 Club rooms.
All other passengers, e.g. those travelling in Club Europe to other than Jersey and on Business U.K. tickets and British Airways Executive Club Silver cardholders travelling on short-haul flights other than Jersey will be invited to use the temporary Speedbird lounge.
Update 20 February
It is understood that the new lounges are now fully open and operational and therefore the temporary lounge arrangements have been withdrawn.
Cathay Pacific A350-900 Business Class (Image courtesy of Cathay Pacific)
Cathay Pacific has today announced it will fly daily between London Gatwick and Hong Kong from Thursday 1 June 2017.
The route launched in September of this year on a four times weekly basis and clearly has been a success with an increase in frequency to daily.
The flight will continue be operated with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft in a three class (business, premium economy and economy) configuration. Cathay Pacific will also continue to fly between London Heathrow and Hong Kong five times daily.
Qantas Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner (Image courtesy of Qantas Airways)
Qantas Airways is to launch a new direct non-stop route from London Heathrow to Perth in Western Australia from March 2018.
This is the first scheduled non-stop direct link between Europe and Australia.
There have been non-stop flights between Europe and Australia in the past, but only as one-off charter flights with a significantly lighter weight.
At a distance of 14,498 kilometres and a fight time of approximately 17 hours, this will be one of the longest “ultra long haul” non-stop flights in the world. This is a time saving of 3-4 hours on one stop services.
Qantas has yet to announce the exact departure and arrival times of the flights and flights will not go on sale until April 2017. If Qantas is to use departure slots from its existing Heathrow portfolio a departure time of around either 12 midday or 10pm is likely.
