Corporate Travel News - January 2024

Airline updates

United Airlines announces new route from San Francisco to Barcelona

Beginning 23 May 2024, United Airlines will add a new long-haul route to its international network: San Francisco to Barcelona. The flights will operate daily on a Boeing 777-200ER, featuring 50 Polaris business class lie-flats, 24 Premium Plus recliners, 46 Economy Plus seats and 156 standard economy seats.

 

 

Air Canada’s mobile app now allows customers to track their baggage and mobility aids while in Canada

Air Canada customers can now make use of a new feature which allows them to track the progress of their baggage and mobility aid in real-time throughout their journey. This is currently available to customers travelling within Canada but will be rolled out to the US next year, with select international locations to follow. Read more

 

 

Emirates’ Düsseldorf Airport lounge reopens after seven-week refurbishment

The exclusive Emirates’ Lounge has reopened with the capacity to accommodate 115 guests. The refurbishments include new leather seating, furniture, carpets, lighting, and kitchen equipment. The lounge is open daily and offers a wide selection of hot and cold dishes, a free bar service, and private shower rooms. Lounge access is included for all Emirates First Class and Business Class passengers as well as Skywards members with Platinum or Gold status travelling in Economy Class. Read more

 

Air Canada announces new air-to-rail booking options for customers travelling in Europe

Air Canada is making it easier for its passengers to connect at European airports, now offering the option to book onward rail trips throughout France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria at the same time as they purchase their tickets. Read more

 

 

Delta will eliminate nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastics each year with new paper cups

After spending years prototyping and testing paper cups that meet strict environmental regulations whilst being able to withstand hot, cold and alcoholic drinks. Introducing the paper cups will eliminate the equivalent weight of 1,300 pickup trucks worth of single-use plastics, bringing Delta another step closer to its 2025 plastic reduction goal. Read more

 

Virgin Atlantic launches first line of premium lifestyle products in collaboration with British designers

Available exclusively from the airline, the line launched on 5^th December with sustainable clothing and vegan leather travel essentials such as passport covers, luggage tags, tote bags, and even a modern take on a ‘Fly Virgin Atlantic’ sweatshirt worn by Princess Diana in the 1980s. Read more

 

 

Qatar Airways expands network with Hamburg and Venice services

Qatar Airways will reinstate flights to Venice, Italy from 12 June 2024, departing daily from Doha. Services from Doha to Hamburg will operate seven days per week from 01 July 2024. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa Group trials Green Fares expansion on selected long-haul routes

From 30 November, Lufthansa Group’s Green Fares will be available on 12 selected long-haul routes, including Frankfurt-Bengaluru, Munich-Seoul, Brussels-Kinshasa, Zurich-Los Angeles, London-Hong Kong and Paris-Bangkok. Green Fares include full offsetting of individual, flight-related CO2 emissions. Read more

 

 

Austrian Airlines takes delivery of 5th A320neo, offering customers a new cabin concept and reduced carbon emissions

The new aircraft will take its first passengers to their destinations in just a few weeks and depending on the route, could save up to 3,700 tons of CO2 per year compared to its predecessor model as it consumes up to 20% less fuel. The A320neo has a capacity of 180 seats and has slimmer side walls, allowing passengers more personal space, and the hand baggage capacity is also 60% larger. Read more

 

Lufthansa Group relaunches official travel agent information platform, “eXperts”

Lufthansa Group aims to improve its marketing communication with its travel partners and B2B customers across the world with the newly relaunched website where users can inform themselves about the products and services offered by Lufthansa Group. It is currently available in the Middle East and Turkey and will be rolled out across further regions throughout 2024.

 

SWISS to expand short-haul network for summer 2024 schedule

SWISS is expanding its existing winter service between Zurich and Bremen to operate throughout the summer period. Cluj-Napoca and Košice will also join the network, and additional frequencies will be added between Zurich and several existing destinations including Alicante, Madrid, Naples, Venice and Vilnius. The carrier will also introduce a new service from Geneva to Oslo and add new summer services from Geneva to Copenhagen and Stockholm. Read more

 

Lufthansa Group signs 40,000-tonne carbon-removal credit contract with Airbus

Lufthansa Group joins Airbus’ carbon-removal initiative, using an innovative process to filter CO2 from the atmosphere and permanently store it. Lufthansa Group has signed a contract for the pre-purchase of verified and durable carbon-removal credits of 40,000 tonnes of CO2. Read more

 

 

British Airways partners with SigncodeUK to improve accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers

SigncodeUK ensures equal access to information, products and services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The partnership will bring new signed video content featuring helpful travel information to customers, both before travel and whilst onboard. Read more

 

 

Air France-KLM invests USD 4.7 million in SAF, working towards its 2030 10% SAF incorporation target

By investing USD 4.7 million in SAF producer DG Fuels, Air France-KLM will support the completion of necessary development work for DG Fuels’ first sustainable aviation fuel plant. Air France-KLM has also acquired a new option to purchase up to 75,000 tons of SAF from DG Fuels annually, with deliveries expected as early as 2029. Read more

 

 

British Airways aims to restore ‘On Business’ corporate loyalty programme in early 2024

In a December 2023 email, British Airways confirmed “Our teams are continuing to work with our third-party provider to restore online access to the platform, and we’re pleased to let you know that they’ve made great progress and are on track for launch early next year”.

 

 

ITA announces new direct service between Rome Fiumicino and Riyadh

From 5 May 2024, ITA will operate four flights per week between Rome and Riyadh. The frequency of this service will increase to 5 times per week from 5^th June.

 

 

 

British Airways reveals plans for flights from Edinburgh to San Sebastian, Spain and Olbia, Sardinia

Next summer, British Airways will offer twice weekly flights to San Sebastian in Spain (on Tuesdays and Saturdays) as well as a weekly service to Olbia in Sardinia (on Saturdays). Both routes will utilise a 98-seat Embraer 190 aircraft with Club Europe and Euro Traveller cabins.

 

 

ITA Airways launches “Instant Upgrade” for customers to upgrade to a higher flight class

ITA Airways customers who have already purchased an Economy or Premium Economy ticket can upgrade to a higher flight class (Business or Premium Economy). The service is available online to customers up to 72 hours before the flight departs or on the day of departure at the check-in counter. Read more

Hotel updates

Leonardo Hotels opens first Irish property under NYX brand in Dublin

NYX Hotel Dublin is situated at Portobello Harbour in south Dublin, overlooking the Grand Canal. Each of the 175 rooms are furnished with a mini-fridge, Nespresso machine, White Company toiletries and a 50-inch TV with Chromecast. The hotel also features a ground-floor lobby, restaurant, bar, and fitness centre.

 

 

Hilton announces rapid expansion in Türkiye, with 11 new hotels planned across the country

Hilton’s total development pipeline in Türkiye of 34 hotels features 11 new hotels, including a newly developed Hilton Istanbul Airport set to open in summer 2025 – amenities include 770 square metres of meeting room space, including a 45 square metre boardroom. Read more

 

 

Leonardo Hotels enters the France for the first time with the Leonardo Boutique Paris Opéra, with plans for another 4 hotels in Paris and Marseille

Featuring 59 rooms and suites with high-quality furnishings, the new hotel has all the charm of a 19th century city palace, situated in a quiet side street in the heart of the capital. The Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est train stations are just two kilometres away and cultural hotspots like the Opéra Garnier and the Louvre are within easy reach. Read more

 

Hilton to debut Canopy by Hilton brand in Tanzania, with Canopy by Hilton Zanzibar The Burj

Planned to open in 2027, Canopy by Hilton Zanzibar The Burj will feature 162 guest rooms and suites, various bespoke dining options, a fitness centre, spa, and outdoor pool. The hotel will be located in the heart of Fumba Town and developed using engineered timber to help reduce the carbon footprint and waste, compared to conventional construction techniques. Read more

 

Meliá to open flagship Gran Meliá property in Milan, Palazzo Cordusio

Situated within the one of Milan’s most iconic squares, the new luxury hotel is inside the historic Palazzo Venezia. The property was renovated with efforts to conserve as much of the original building as possible, restoring the grand staircase and marble floors and walls. There are 84 rooms and suites and some have private balconies with views of Piazza Cordusio, via Orefici, via dei Mercanti and the Duomo. Four restaurant concepts are introduced in this new hotel, as well as an intimate wellness area with a gym and full view of the Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti. Read more

Ground updates

LNER invests in microalgae to capture carbon at railway stations

Microalgae bioreactors can be up to 400 times more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide than trees, by area and density. The project will test whether the bioreactors can be scaled up to capture carbon even more efficiently, making use of disused land adjacent to the railway at Berwick-upon-Tweed station. Read more

 

 

Avanti West Coast introduces wayfinding tech to help visually impaired customers navigate stations independently

Avanti West Coast has partnered GoodMaps to launch an accessible wayfinding tool, the tool offers step-by-step guidance with precise directions to specific areas of interest within the station, such as the ticket office, taxi rank, platform, or food and drink options. It is now available to use at Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, and Rugby stations, joining Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street, London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, and Milton Keynes Central – which were already available in the app. Read more

 

LNER to integrate British Sign Language (BSL) on departure screens

Doncaster Railway Station will be the first to display BSL videos on screens across the station, to communicate customer information on service departure times, train operators, destinations, calling points, and platform numbers. The new feature will be rolled out across LNER’s network if the trial is a success. Read more