London Air Travel

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 30 May 2022

Welcome to London Air Travel’s weekly briefing on air travel around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 BST.

Her Majesty The Queen, British Airways Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Aircraft, 1986 (Image Credit: British Airways)

Welcome to London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing for the week beginning 30 May 2022.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee will be marked in the UK this week with an extended four day weekend of celebrations.

Although The Queen has stopped travelling overseas, during her 70 year reign the monarch has carried out a large number of state visits and international tours, and seen many airlines and aircraft in the process.

On 8 October 1951, then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke Of Edinburgh were the first members of the Royal Family to cross the Atlantic ocean by air. They flew on a BOAC Stratocruiser aircraft “Canopus” G-AKGK from London airport to Montreal. This was also the first royal tour to start at the airport.

A little over three months later, on 31 January 1952, Princess Elizabeth bid farewell to King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at London airport.

With Prince Philip, Princess Elizabeth boarded a BOAC Argonaut “Atalanta” G-ALHK aircraft for a world tour of Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The aircraft routed via RAF El Adem (Libya) for refuelling and a change of crew. The trip was cut short following the death of King George VI.

Princess Elizabeth returned a week later at 16:30 on 7 February 1952 from Entebbe via El Adem on the same BOAC aircraft as Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty The Queen, BOAC — Her Majesty The Queen, London Airport 7 February 1952 (Image Credit: Heathrow Airport)

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh departed London airport, again on a BOAC Stratocruiser aircraft “Canopus”, on 23 November 1953 for the first leg of their Commonwealth Tour. The Queen is pictured below arriving the next day in Bermuda.

Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, BOAC Stratocruiser, Bermuda, 24 November 1953. (Image Credit: British Airways)

Norse Atlantic Launches Gatwick – New York JFK

Norse Atlantic Airways will fly from Gatwick to New York JFK daily from 12 August 2022.

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Air to air picture of Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 aircraft livery. — Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 Aircraft (Image Credit: Norse Atlantic Airways)

A new Nordic based airline plans to revolutionise transatlantic travel.

Using next generation aircraft, it aims to introduce low cost long haul flights for all.

If this all sounds very familiar, that it’s because it is. Norse Atlantic plans to repeat the low cost long model adopted by Norwegian.

Aeroflot’s Heathrow Airport Slots Forfeited

Airlines will be able to apply for Aeroflot’s former Heathrow slots from the winter 2022 season onwards.

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Airfield, London Heathrow Airport (Image Credit: Heathrow)

On 19 May 2022, the UK government announced sanctions against three Russian airlines in respect of their airport slots.

Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines and Ural Airlines are all subject to asset freezes in the UK. They are prohibited from selling or leasing their UK airport slots. This follows previous measures prohibiting Russian aircraft from entering UK airspace.

Airport Coordination Ltd, the body responsible for allocating slots at Heathrow has today, 26 May 2022, published guidance on how this will work in practice.

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 23 May 2022

Welcome to London Air Travel’s weekly briefing on air travel around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 BST.

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Picture of the Elizabeth line platforms at London Paddington station. — The Elizabeth line, London Paddington (Image Credit: Transport for London)

Welcome to London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing for the week beginning 23 May 2022.

The Elizabeth Line Opens Tomorrow

A new era begins in London this week.

Short of any last minute delays, or a surprise early launch, the Elizabeth line officially opens tomorrow.

The Elizabeth line comprises an entirely new railway between Paddington and Abbey Wood and rebranded TfL Rail services between Reading / Heathrow & Paddington and Liverpool Street & Shenfield.

These will initially operate as three separate lines. Trains will operate every five minutes between Paddington and Abbey Wood between 06:30 and 23:00 Monday to Saturday. Services will not stop at Bond Street, which is yet to open.

BA Extends Gold Upgrade Vouchers To American Airlines

Gold Members of the BA Executive Club can now use Upgrade Vouchers on American Airlines operated flights.

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American Airlines Flagship Lounge, Miami, Views of the apron (Image Credit: London Air Travel)

Members of the BA Executive Club can now use Gold Upgrade vouchers on American Airlines operated flights.

A Gold Upgrade For Two voucher is issued to Gold members of the Executive Club when they earn 2,500 tier points.

Two Gold Upgrade For One vouchers are issued when a member earns 3,500 tier points.

These can be used to upgrade a complete itinerary to the next cabin, subject to availability.

It was only possible to do this on flights operated by BA and its franchise partners. Any flights in the booking operated by other airlines would not be upgraded.

This is now extended to transatlantic and US domestic flights operated by American Airlines, including regional flights operated by American Eagle. This is regardless of whether the flight is sold by AA, or sold by BA as a codeshare.

IAG Orders 50 Boeing 737 Aircraft

British Airways parent company International Airlines Group has ordered 50 737 aircraft from Boeing.

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British Airways parent company International Airlines Group has ordered 50 737 aircraft from Boeing.

IAG first signed a Letter of Intent to order up to 200 737 aircraft in June 2019.

The Airbus A320 series aircraft is the mainstay of the short haul operations of IAG airlines. There was a perceived need in IAG to introduce competition between Airbus and Boeing for short haul aircraft orders.

Whilst Airbus indicated it wanted to offer a rival bid, IAG has now converted its Letter of Intent to a firm order from Boeing.

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 16 May 2022

Welcome to London Air Travel’s weekly briefing on air travel around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 BST.

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London Heathrow Terminal 5 (Image Credit: Heathrow)

Welcome to London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing for the week beginning 16 May 2022.

Heathrow Passenger Charges Row

It was a year ago this week the UK government reopened international travel, albeit to a limited list of countries that did not require quarantine on return.

To mark the occasion the CEOs of BA and Heathrow Airport stood, as far as social distancing guidelines would allow, side by side before the cameras at Terminal 5 to herald the return of international travel.

12 months on, relations between Heathrow and its airlines are very different.

The Civil Aviation Authority is due to rule shortly on Heathrow’s passenger charges for its next five year control period, H7. The last control period expired on 31 December 2021. Before Christmas last year, the CAA allowed an interim increase from £19.36 to £30.19.

As Lufthansa was keen to point out in its annual results presentation this increase is, by some considerable margin, substantially higher than any other major European hub.

BA CEO Sean Doyle Makes Management Changes

BA CEO Sean Doyle has made a series of senior management changes at the airline.

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Sean Doyle, Chief Executive & Chairman, British Airways (Image Credit: British Airways)

At the start of the year, BA CEO Sean Doyle announced a series of senior management changes to spearhead the airline’s recovery from COVID-19.

As has been well publicised the start of BA’s busiest travel season since the pandemic has been difficult. The airline has been beset by staff shortages, congestion at Heathrow Terminal 5 and sporadic IT issues.

During the first quarter results presentation of its parent company IAG last week, Sean maintained that the airline’s operational performance is improving.

IAG alluded to further senior management changes at BA. A second set of senior management changes in the space of four months have been reported today by the Financial Times.

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 9 May 2022

Welcome to London Air Travel’s weekly briefing on air travel around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 BST.

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Welcome to London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing for the week beginning 9 May 2022.

American Airlines Marks 40 Years In London

American Airlines will shortly mark 40 years in London.

It was 40 years ago this week, on 13 May, that Braniff International filed for bankruptcy protection after suspending all flights the day before.

Founded in 1928, the heavily indebted airline expanded rapidly following the deregulation of the US aviation market in 1978. Braniff launched a daily service from Gatwick to Dallas / Fort Worth with its self styled “Big Orange” Boeing 747.

British Airways’ First Quarter Results

IAG and BA set out their plans to ensure operational resilience at London Heathrow over the summer travel season.

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Side view of British Airways Airbus A380 aircraft registration G-XLEL. — British Airways Airbus A380 Aircraft G-XLEL (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA’s parent company International Airlines Group released its financial results for the first quarter of the year today, Friday 6 May 2022.

The numbers contain few surprises. IAG reported a loss of €754 million and expects to return to profitability from this quarter.

At the start of the year, IAG and BA had been selling a positive vision of the future to both investors and the wider press.

As has been well publicised, this has not turned out to be the case. Congestion and staff shortages at Heathrow have resulted short notice cancellations and disruption to baggage handling. This cost BA €50 million in lost revenues and additional costs in the first quarter.

IAG and BA management set out some of the steps taken to address these issues: