Corporate Travel News - August 2023

Airport updates

Amsterdam Schiphol expands pre-booked security slot initiative to non-Schengen passengers
Customers travelling to non-Schengen destinations will now be able to reserve time slots up to three days before they depart, free of charge. The initiative launched earlier this year and was previously only accessible to passengers on Schengen routes.

 

London Stansted Airport reveals plans for a terminal extension

If the plans are approved, a three-bay extension will be added to the rear of the terminal building for a more spacious departure lounge, more shops, bars and restaurants, improved check-in equipment, increased baggage system capacity and a larger security hall with space for new scanners.

Edinburgh Airport unveils £1.6 million pick-up and drop-off zone upgrade and price change
The refurbishment includes a new one-way system, digital signage, and new walkways, crossings and lighting – costs will increase from £4 to £5. The alternative free pick-up and drop-off area will stay open, which allows vehicles up to 30 minutes free of charge.

 

Helsinki airport removes 100ml limit for hand luggage

Passengers departing from Helsinki Airport will now be able to take up to two litres of fluids through security. Helsinki Airport joins a number of European airports that have removed the 100ml rule, including Amsterdam Schiphol and London City.

Airline updates

United to add Braille signage to its mainline aircraft to help passengers with visual disabilities

United will add Braille markings for individual rows, seat numbers, and inside and outside the lavatories. Around 12 aircraft have already been retrofitted and it’s hoped the entire mainline fleet will be outfitted with new tactile signage by the end of 2026. Read more

 

Air Canada relocates operations to Dubai International’s flagship Terminal 3

The move is expected to drastically improve the connecting experience for customers transiting in Dubai between the Americas on Air Canada and the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Africa on Emirates. Read more

Wireless charging soon to be available on all of United’s first-class seat armrests

United’s new domestic first-class seats will be fitted with wireless charging stations amongst a host of other new features including, vegan leather upholstery, 13-inch seatback screens, Bluetooth connectivity and privacy screens. Passengers can expect to see the new seats this summer, with the rollout expected to be completed by late 2026. Read more

Emirates business class passengers can now pre-order inflight meals on London-Dubai services

Business class passengers will now have the option to pre-select their main hot meal up to 14 days in advance of their flight, with access to a choice of special meals. The initiative is available on all flights between Dubai and London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted. Read more

 

Virgin Atlantic to make history with world’s first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic

Set to take off on 28 November 2023, the 100% SAF flight will travel from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Virgin Atlantic already operates one of the most fuel and carbon-efficient fleets across the Atlantic, with this milestone flight building on the airline’s 15-year track record for leading on SAF. Read more

 

Emirates unveils new exclusive dedicated lounge space in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport

Premium travellers can find the new space in Terminal 1, as renovations continue in Terminal 2. The 155-seat private lounge features an indoor and outdoor space to enjoy a wide selection of food and beverages, from Croque-monsieur and crepes to salmon tikka and butter chicken. Read more

Emirates launches on-demand regional charter service

The Phenom 100 twin-engine aircraft seats up to four passengers and can fly to GCC destinations within and beyond the Emirates network, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE. Read more

 

JetBlue begins daily service linking New York and Paris

Paris joins JetBlue’s network with a new nonstop service between John F. Kennedy International and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, marking the airline’s second transatlantic destination. The airline also reveals a new service to Amsterdam beginning this Summer. Read more

Lufthansa’s new flight trajectory technology will help save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions

The innovative technology will transmit flight trajectory information in real-time to improve European airspace management and avoid unnecessary detours for improved sustainability. The rollout of this technology will begin in 2024 and will be installed across aircraft and ATC ground systems in the EU by 2028. Read more

 

SWISS announces temporarily free customer luggage transfers from home or hotel to the airport

SWISS has partnered with a luggage delivery service to offer passengers free luggage collection and transfer to either Geneva or Zurich airport. The service will be offered at no cost until the end of August 2023.

Lufthansa to bolster schedule for Oktoberfest and launch new routes

11 special services will operate between Stansted and Munich from 15 September to 1 October, in line with the city’s Oktoberfest celebrations. New routes will also launch from London Heathrow to Salzburg, Austria and Friedrichshafen, Germany between 16 December 2023 and 30 March 2024.

 

Air France to launch daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi

Beginning 29 October 2023, a daily service will depart from Paris at 9:15pm and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 6:45am the following day. It will then take off from Abu Dhabi at 8:45am to land back in Paris at 1:15pm. The carrier also announces it will also add flights to Beirut, Dubai, Cairo and Tel Aviv.

Air France unveils new summer menus for first- and business-class passengers

Passengers in first and business class on long-haul flights from Paris between July and October this year will be offered eight new dishes. Two of the sixteen new meals introduced include prawns, risoni pasta with squid ink and crunchy vegetables, and braised veal shank, sage sauce and potato gratin with porcini mushrooms. Read more

 

ITA’s Executive Volare Program members now have free access to 2 VIP areas at Rome Fiumicino airport

Executive Volare Program members now have free access to the VIP Room at ITA’s Piazza di Spagna lounge and new Hangar lunge at Rome Fiumicino airport. These exclusive spaces are perfect for holding meetings or enjoying some privacy while you wait for your flight. Read more

Cathay Pacific launches additional flight on Hong Kong-Manchester route for September 2023

Cathay Pacific adds more choice for passengers travelling between the two cities with an extra weekly flight from Hong Kong to Manchester. Flights will operate on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the month.

 

ITA Airways launches new nonstop service linking Rome and San Francisco

The new intercontinental flight will operate with 5 weekly roundtrip flights during the summer between 2 Aug to 30 September but will drop to 3 times a week in October, operating on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Read more

Malaysia Airlines trials complimentary Wi-Fi for business passengers

Platinum members, business suite and business class passengers can now access free Wi-Fi between 1 July and 31 December. Connectivity is available on 20 aircraft with a data cap of 100 mbps and up to 512 kbps bandwidth.

Hotel updates

Hilton opens doors to new Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone, the circuit’s only trackside hotel

Featuring 360-degree views of the racetrack and beyond from the rooftop bar, 197 rooms, and easy access to local attractions like the Silverstone Museum or Bicester Village, the venue makes a fantastic option for team-building events, incentive trips and more. Read more

Meliá Hotels & Resorts signs new hotel in Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava

An existing property will be renovated and adapted to the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand, with the opening scheduled for Q2 2024. The hotel will feature 200 rooms, two outdoor swimming pools, a wellness area with a spa and a gym, as well as outdoor event hosting options in the hotel gardens – making it a great option for the MICE segment. Read more

 

Hilton unveils its first DoubleTree hotel in Oman

Comprising 122 1-3 bedroom suites with mountain views, DoubleTree by Hilton Muscat Qurum is located in Muscat’s upscale district Qurum, minutes away from Qurum Beach, Qurum Park, City Centre Qurum Mall and the Muscat Expressway. Read more

Millennium Hotels to develop new residences in Dubai, expected to open in 2025

Millennium Hotels and Resorts has signed a new agreement to develop The Biltmore Sufouh Residences in Dubai. The 44-floor property will feature 408 1–3-bedroom residences, coastal views, an Olympic size pool, health club, gym, tennis courts, and a Zen Garden.

 

Hilton will restore a Victorian building for its Tapestry Collection brand debut in Northern Ireland

Expected to open in 2025, The Marcus Hotel Portrush, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will be the only internationally branded hotel in the seaside town of Portrush. The property will feature 83 rooms, a café, restaurant, and bar. Nearby amenities include Belfast, the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, and the Giant’s Causeway. Read more

 

Dalata opens new Maldron Hotel Finsbury Park, London

The 4-star hotel is opposite Finsbury Park underground station, near Camden and King’s Cross Station. It features a contemporary interior design, 191 rooms, an open-plan restaurant, and a fitness suite. Dalata also announces its new Maldron Hotel Shoreditch, scheduled to open in early 2024. Read more

Ground updates

LNER enhances stations with digital retailing and the UK’s first Family Lounge at London King’s Cross

LNER announces it will continue to move away from traditional retailing and instead enrich its digital retailing experiences. Team members with mobile devices will be deployed across stations to assist customers with buying tickets and information. As well as opening its first Family Lounge at King’s Cross, other waiting rooms have been refurbished and accessibility investments are planned. Read more

 

Avis Budget opens third Glasgow location and introduces new QuickPass online check in

Avis Budget continues its UK expansion by adding a branch at Glasgow Central train station. Customers who collect a vehicle at the country’s busiest rail station can use the new Avis QuickPass digital service to check in before their arrival. Their rental agreements pre-prepared, vehicle assigned and keys ready for collection before they even arrive at the counter.

LNER offers free travel to holidaymakers fleeing Greek wildfires

Following the wildfires on Rhodes and Corfu, LNER is offering free standard travel on any LNER service on the East Coast route to anyone whose return flight to the UK lands them at a different airport to their home location or must travel on a different day. The service will operate between 25 July and 7 August 2023. Read more

 

Avanti West Coast extends low cost Superfare ticket trial

Avanti West Coast has added ten more destinations in the Northwest of England to its new range of fares. Superfare tickets let customers book a journey for a specific date and choose from morning, afternoon, or evening slots at a lower cost. The exact time of travel is then selected by the intercity operator with around 24 hours’ notice. Read more