Corporate Travel News - February 2024

Airport updates

Dedicated electric vehicle (EV) charging station opens near London Gatwick’s South Terminal

A new electric vehicle charging station has opened on the ring road near London Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal. The 30 high- and low-power EV chargers are available 24-hours per day via contactless payment, with the fastest chargers able to add up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.

 

 

Record-breaking number of passengers pass through UK’s largest airports last month

Heathrow welcomed its highest ever December monthly traffic, reaching 6.69 million passengers. Manchester and London Stansted (the UK’s third and fourth largest airport) both reported more than two million passengers, the first time Manchester has hit this milestone.

 

 

Construction work on Vienna airport’s Terminal 3 expansion will start this month

The extension was originally planned for completion in 2023 but it was delayed by the pandemic, it is now scheduled to be unveiled in 2027. The project will add an additional 70,000 square metres of space, including lounge and waiting areas, more bus gates, and extra shops and restaurants. The works will also allow for convenient transfer connections between F, G, and D gates and centralised security checks.

Visa updates

Türkiye extends visa-free entry to UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia nationals

Visitors to Türkiye from UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia can now spend 90 out of 180 days without a visa.

Airline updates

Air Canada adopts the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme to improve its service for customers with non-visible disabilities

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognised programme that uses the sunflower symbol to identify customers with non-visible disabilities. By wearing the Sunflower lanyard, passengers can indicate to airline staff that they may need additional assistance, have specific needs, or require more time while travelling. Read more

 

Emirates responds to 40% demand increase for vegan meals with ‘Vegan vault’ of 300 vegan recipes

Last year, the airline served more than 450,000 plant-based meals onboard, a 40% increase from the 280,000 served in 2022. To cater for the growing demand, Emirates will introduce dishes including a textured pumpkin frittata, tofu tikka masala, and a chickpea kale stew. Read more

 

 

Delta to expand fleet with 20 more Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft

Delta has announced it will add 20 new Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft as part of its strategy to refresh and streamline its fleet while improving fuel efficiency and providing a world-class in-flight experience. The new aircraft are over 20% more fuel efficient than retiring planes. Read more

 

 

Emirates to upgrade Boeing 777-300ER to a three-class A380 on its Vienna service

From 21 February to 30 March 2024 Emirates flights EK127 and EK128 between Dubai and Vienna will be operated by a three-class A380, offering greater capacity and more options. This change will make Emirates the only airline to serve Vienna Airport with the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa Group adds internet access to 150 more short and medium-haul aircraft

Lufthansa Group continues its rollout of broadband internet across all 150 of its aircraft in the Airbus A220/320 family, operated by Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines are currently offering their passengers unlimited free messaging on aircraft with existing internet access. Read more

 

 

British Airways will temporarily close its Heathrow T5 First Wing security area to install new CT scanners

From Tuesday 9th January, the First Wing security area will temporarily close to install new scanners that eliminate stop travellers having to take liquids and large electrical items out of their bags during checks. The scanners are crucial for eventually lifting the 100ml limit on liquids. The First Wing check-in desks are still open for eligible customers, who will then be redirected to the South Fast Track Security area.

 

SWISS to equip short-haul fleet with broadband internet access this year

Already available on its long-haul fleet, SWISS plans to equip its entire short-haul aircraft fleet with internet access from Winter 2024/2025. This includes 59 Airbus A220 and A320-family aircraft. Travellers will enjoy free internet access for chat and messaging services plus unlimited text and picture messaging.

 

 

British Airways returns to London Stansted for Summer 2024

For the first time since before the pandemic, British Airways will service passengers from London Stansted, complementing existing services from London City. Services to Florence, Nice, and Ibiza will operate from 18th May 2024 with two cabin options: Club Europe (business class) and Euro Traveller (economy). Read more

 

 

KLM to operate new service between Southampton and Amsterdam Schiphol this summer

Starting from 31st March 2024, the new service will depart from Amsterdam Schiphol at 19:00 to arrive into Southampton at 19:10 every day except Saturday. The return flight will depart at 19:40 to arrive in Amsterdam at 21:50.

 

 

British Airways announces pilot scheme for financing carbon removals in partnership with CuR8, UNDO and Standard Chartered

British Airways launches the pilot alongside CUR8, a company working to build the global market for carbon removals, UNDO, a world-leading carbon dioxide removal project developer, and Standard Chartered. It aims to ‘create a blueprint to enable ambitious carbon removal suppliers to scale with more available capital in the form of debt financing, secured on future client demand via advanced purchase agreements’. It’s hoped that this will help suppliers avoid relying on bespoke financing structures. Read more

 

Gulf Air adds seasonal route to AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Beginning 3 February, Gulf Air will operate a twice weekly service onboard an A320 neo aircraft until 6 March. The service will then resume between 10 – 27 April.

 

 

ITA Airways announces new routes to Riyadh and Jeddah onboard A321neo aircraft

Departing from Rome Fiumicino airport, ITA Airways will begin its new services to Riyadh on 5th May 2024 and Jeddah from the 1st of August 2024.

 

 

 

Cathay Pacific will resume its seasonal service to Barcelona this summer

Cathay Pacific Airways will operate a three-times per week service between Hong Kong and Barcelona from the 17th June to 26th October. The service will depart from Hong Kong every Monday, Wednesday and Friday onboard a three-class Airbus A350-900, seating 38 in business class, 28 in premium economy and 214 in economy.

Hotel updates

Leonardo Hotels enters Germany’s Stuttgart region with The Leonardo Esslingen

Located in southern Germany, the hotel opened on the 10th of January 2024 with 150 guest rooms, a 325 square metre conference area and a fitness room and spa. Business travellers will also benefit from the hotel’s direct access to the Neckar Forum conference and events centre, which has a meeting capacity of 1,000+ people.

 

 

Travelodge begins 2024 with 4 new openings across London and Colchester

Offering more options to business and leisure travellers, Travelodge has announced that its new London Oval, Colchester Northern Gateway, London Beckenham, and London Bermondsey hotels will all open doors to guests in Q1 of 2024. Read more

 

 

Hilton reveals the name of its new extended stay apartment brand: LivSmart Studios

LivSmart Studios is designed to accommodate an underserved segment of guests travelling for 20 nights or more, with spacious studio apartment-style rooms features fully-equipped kitchens and multi-purpose furniture. Guests can enjoy outdoor patios with grills, communal firepits and comfortable seating to make them feel at home, plus fitness and laundry areas. Read more

 

Travelodge exchanges contract to acquire 66 Travelodge branded hotels from its biggest landlord

The 66 newly acquired hotels cover a broad geography across England, including properties in London, Birmingham, Bath, Leeds, Liverpool, and several roadside locations. Read more

 

 

Hilton launches new global platform to simplify travel management for small- and medium-sized businesses

Hilton for Business offers a comprehensive set of tools to enhance the business travel booking and management experience and provide Hilton Honours benefits to business customers and their employees around the world. Read more

 

 

Meliá Hotels International signs 28th hotel, set to open in central Cadiz, Andalusia

The 5-star luxury hotel features 40 rooms, a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Alameda, an exclusive rooftop pool with sea views, fully-equipped gym, and a dedicated wellness space. Read more

 

 

Hilton opens Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay with 283 rooms and suites, and 50 luxury apartments

The 44-storey hotel aims to bring “Manhattan flair to Qatar’s capital”. The Waldorf Astoria Spa spans four floors, there are seven restaurants to choose from, and each guest staying at the hotel is assigned a Personal Concierge to attend to them throughout their stay. For events, there are two ballrooms (capacity for 500 guests each), two boardrooms, and three multi-functional meeting rooms. Read more

Ground updates

LNER launches new Simpler Fares pilot scheme, aiming to make choosing a ticket clearer and easier

The pilot will include journeys between London King’s Cross and Newcastle, London and Berwick-upon-Tweed and London and Edinburgh. Complicated ticket types will be removed and replaced with three straightforward options. Journeys will also be priced more closely to demand. From 5 February, Off Peak and Super Off-Peak fares will be removed. Read more

 

 

LNER to improve mobile connectivity on the East Coast Main Line in partnership with Network Rail and Mobile Network Operators

With the joint project reaching a key milestone, the infrastructure improvements will mean customers will be able to keep calls connected and meetings online as they approach and leave London King’s Cross Station on the East Coast Main Line. Read more