Corporate Travel News - October 2023

Visa / Entry requirements

UK government will introduce Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme on 25 October
Similar to ESTAs in the US, non-visa national international travellers will require digital permission to travel. The scheme is being rolled out in phases, with Qatari nationals able to apply from 25 October if they have plans to travel to the UK on or after 15 November.

 

 

Passengers for Jamaica must now fill in an Online Passenger Declaration Form before travelling
The new form, known as an Electronic C5, is now mandatory for all travellers to Jamaica, with airlines encouraging customers to complete it before arriving in the country.

 

 

Venice to trial €5 entry fee for day trip visitors
On a 30-day trial basis, all visitors over 14 years old will be required to pay the fee in an effort to prevent “irreversible” damage caused by too much tourism. The fee will only apply to day visitors, not those staying overnight in hotels or Airbnb properties.

 

 

Russian and Georgian passengers transiting through the UK will now need to apply for transit visas
The UK government has announced it will require nationals of Georgia and Russia to acquire a transit visa if they plan to transit through the UK on or after 5 October 2023. Applicants should apply for the visa at least 48 hours before their departure to the UK. Exemptions apply for trips scheduled before 8 September 2023.

Airport updates

Heathrow issues reminder of new ULEZ charges
Heathrow Airport has warned drivers that it is now within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which charges drivers of non-compliant road vehicles £12.50 per day.

 

 

Amsterdam Schiphol airport confirms reduced capacity for 2024 summer season
Next summer, 12,400 fewer flights will be permitted compared to summer 2023 as the airport announces caps of 280,645 flights for the 2024 summer season and a total of 460,000 for the full operating year. 87 types of aircraft, including Boeing 707 and 737-200 have been banned due to noise restriction. There will also be fewer slots for private jets, reducing to 12,000 from 17,000.

Airline updates

United’s new technology will improve travel experiences for customers who use wheelchairs
A new digital tool launching on United’s website early next year will help customers see if an aircraft can accommodate different-sized wheelchairs and will refund the fare difference when a higher-fare flight is needed to accommodate a specific wheelchair size. Read more

 

 

Air Canada to boost services from Toronto to London and Manchester and add new route linking Montreal and Madrid
From April to October 2024 Departing from Toronto, the carrier will fly to London Heathrow four times per day between April and October 2024 and to Manchester six times a week between June and September. The carrier also announces it will operate the only year-round service between Montreal and Madrid, beginning in May 2024 Read more

 

 

Emirates achieves IEnvA Stage 1 certification, showing commitment to environmentally responsible practices
Emirates has achieved IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Stage One and the IEnvA Illegal Wildlife Trade module certifications. The industry-leading accreditation demonstrates Emirates’ longstanding environmental commitment to preserving wildlife and habitats. Read more

 

 

Delta to add Naples, Shannon, and Zurich to European flight schedule next year
Delta will connect Naples, Italy and the US with daily nonstop flights from JFK beginning 23 May 2024 as well as reinstating a nonstop service from JFK to Shannon, Ireland for the first time since 2019. Nonstop flights between Atlanta and Zurich will operate four times per week, beginning 31 May 2024. Read more

 

 

Emirates rolls out inflight meal pre-ordering service to European destinations
After receiving positive feedback from passengers on UK routes, Emirates has announced it will extend the service across routes to and from European cities including Warsaw, Venice, Rome, Bologna, and more, allowing more Business Class passengers to preselect their main course between 14 days and 24 hours in advance. Read more

 

 

JetBlue begins new daily service from Boston to Amsterdam
JetBlue has announced a new daily nonstop service from Boston to Amsterdam, following the success of its recently introduced service from New York’s JFK. The company says this new addition “benefits business and leisure customers who have suffered from high fares by legacy carriers for decades”. Read more

 

 

Etihad Airways adds Copenhagen and Dusseldorf to its route network
Etihad Airways launched its new three-times-weekly service to Dusseldorf, Germany on 28 September and began its four-times-weekly flights to Copenhagen, Denmark the following day on 29 September. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa offers 100% SAF flights for passengers attending the UN World Climate Conference in Dubai
Passengers departing from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium to attend COP28 in Dubai can take advantage of the carrier’s sustainable offer package, which includes a special fare that offsets 100% of flight-related CO2, a free rebooking option, and a weeklong bike rental voucher to be used across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Read more

 

 

SWISS will offer an expanded premium economy cabin on its new A350s
SWISS has confirmed that its Premium Economy Class will be larger than those on its existing long-haul aircraft, to match the growing demand for premium leisure air travel. The new aircraft will seat a total of 242 passengers, three in First Class, 45 in Business Class, 38 in Premium Economy and 156 in Economy. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa’s new short and medium-haul cabins will have more legroom, ergonomic seats, and holders for tablets and smartphones
From Spring 2025, Lufthansa will bring its passengers an upgraded, more premium cabin interior. The overhead compartments will be 40% larger and able to hold twice as many suitcases as the current bins, dedicated USB ports will be installed for each passenger, and all seats will have a special holder for tablets and smartphones to make it more comfortable to watch content on devices. The new seats will offer more legroom without compromising seat spacing due to the shape of the ergonomic backrests. Read more

 

British Airways partners with Alzheimer’s Society for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
The new three-year partnership will see vital funds raised for the life-changing services, research and campaigns that Alzheimer’s Society provides. The airline will also undergo bespoke customer service dementia training and take up the Dementia Friends initiative. Read more

 

 

SWISS expands ‘Green Fares’ to all domestic air services between Zurich and Geneva
The price of the ‘Green Fares’ includes a carbon offset component for the emissions generated by the customer’s air travel. As of now, they’re the only ticket option available for domestic air services between Zurich and Geneva, with SWISS aiming to be entirely net-carbon-neutral by 2050. Read more

 

 

SWISS to add new short and long-haul routes for Summer 2024
For its 2024 summer schedule, SWISS plans to add services to Košice, Slovakia and Cluj-Napoca, Romania to its European network as well as non-stop flights from Zurich to Washington DC and Toronto. Read more

 

 

Singapore Airlines to launch non-stop Brussels service next April
Starting from 5 April 2024, Singapore Airlines will launch four weekly non-stop flights between Singapore and Brussels. This new addition is the 13th European destination in the airline’s network. Read more

 

 

Kenya Airways to launch double-daily flights to LHR and introduce daily services to Amsterdam and Paris CDG
Kenya Airways has announced that from 29th October 2023, it will operate twice daily services between London Heathrow and Nairobi. It will also begin daily flights from Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle to Nairobi. Read more

Hotel updates

Village Hotels to roll out ultra-fast EV charging points at 33 hotel locations across the UK
Village Hotels has announced it will bring 380 public ultra-fast charging points at all Village Hotels nationwide. The charging hubs will provide ultra-fast EV charging with up to 350 kW to hotel guests and the public alike.

 

 

Travelodge opens new hotel in former ibis Wellingborough, Northampton
Travelodge has opened a 78-room hotel in the former ibis Wellingborough, reflagged as the Wellingborough Travelodge. The property features Travelodge’s new budget-luxe specifications, an on-site bar cage, and refurbished reception centre. Read more

 

 

New Hampton by Hilton opens in Rochdale
The new 146-room Hampton by Hilton Rochdale has opened next to the Rochdale Riverside shopping and leisure development, just under 12 miles from Manchester City Centre. It features a state-of-the-art fitness centre with Peloton bikes, plus a food and drinks offering in the lobby area. Read more

 

 

Travelodge opens fourth Ipswich hotel next to Ipswich Town Football Club
The new 100-room hotel is the first in Suffolk to feature Travelodge’s new premium look and feel hotel design, budget-luxe. Sustainability features include carpets made from recycled fishing nets, low-energy lighting, and aerated showers and taps. Travelodge also announced plans to double its presence across the county. Read more

 

 

RBH to operate The Grand Atlantic Hotel in Weston-Super-Mare
This marks the 11th property owned by the Fragrance Group and operated by RBH, continuing to expand their partnership further. The hotel is ideally located on the Weston-Super-Mare beachfront in North Somerset and features 72 bedrooms, panoramic views, a restaurant and bar, and event facilities. Read more

 

 

Meliá White House in London unveils new exclusive members area with premium rooms and lounge
Each evening, ‘The Level’ offers guests free-flowing complimentary beer, wine and cava as well as light bites and Spanish tapas. Guests staying in the premium rooms can also enjoy a turndown service each evening, bathrobes and slippers.

Ground updates

LNER to increase Sunday services and add thousands more seats between Yorkshire and London
From December 2023, LNER will introduce two additional services between Leeds and London King’s Cross and one extra service between Doncaster and London. Its eight current services will also be served by longer trains, adding more than 3,000 more seats. Read more

 

 

Avanti West Coast completes refurbishment of all 35 11-carriage trains inherited from Virgin Trains
Avanti West Coast has announced all 35 of the 20-year-old 11-carriage trains they inherited from the previous line operator, Virgin Trains have now been refurbished. They now feature improved lighting, more power sockets, more standard class seating, and new onboard shops. Read more

 

 

All Elizabeth Line stations and tunnelled sections will have mobile coverage by 2024
TfL has announced that Bond Street, Tottenham court Road, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street will be the first to get 4G and 5G coverage by the end of this year, with the rest of the line and stations following by spring 2024.

 

 

 

Avanti West Coast partners with charity to install bleed kits at all 16 of its managed stations
Avanti has partnered with The Daniel Bail Foundation, which aims to promote greater access to bleed kits in the West Midlands. The bleed kits will be installed on all trains and stations alongside the existing first aid provisions, which include defibrillators. Read more