Corporate Travel News - February 2025

 

 

Entry requirements

UK Government temporarily reverses ETA fee mandate for passengers transiting through the UK

After receiving feedback from the aviation industry, the government has announced a temporary exemption from needing an ETA for passengers who transit airside and do not go through UK border control. An end date for the temporary exemption is yet to be announced and will be kept under review. Passengers who pass through the UK by crossing the UK border will still need to obtain an ETA, if required for their nationality.

 

Airports

London Stansted’s new barrier-less set down area is now live

London Stansted Airport’s new barrier-free Express Set Down (ESD) area is now open. Vehicles that enter the area are recorded by Automatic Number Plate Recognition and must not be left unattended at any time. Drivers can then leave the area without making payment and are instead required to pay online or by phone, by midnight the next day.

 

 

Vilnius Airport’s new departure terminal to open on 4th February

Now in the final phase of testing, a total of 1,000 volunteers took part in a simulation to test the airport’s operation. The new terminal will be the airport’s second and will increase its capacity two-fold from 1,200 to 2,400 passengers per hour. Its technical upgrades include two 3D baggage scanners and the deployment of AI to identify various items and substances within passenger luggage.

 

Airline updates

Emirates restarts services to Beirut and Baghdad

Emirates has announced it will reinstate daily services to Beirut, Lebanon and Baghdad, Iraq from 1 February onboard Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with three travel classes. Additionally, the airline will scale up its services from 1 April, laying on a second daily flight to Beirut. Read more

 

 

JetBlue announces new routes from Boston Logan International Airport, including Madrid and Edinburgh

JetBlue has announced that from 22nd May 2025, it will service Madrid, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland with one daily flight each throughout the summer schedule. Read more

 

 

Qatar Airways will return to Malta this summer

From 2 July 2025, Qatar Airways will operate four weekly flights from Doha to Malta every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The resumption of this service increases Qatar Airways’ European network to almost 50 destinations. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa will rollout free messaging to all long-haul flights this summer

From this summer onwards, passengers in all travel classes on Lufthansa’s intercontinental flights will be able to send and receive an unlimited number of messages, including photos. Read more

 

 

Qatar Airways reinstates flights to Damascus, Syria

Qatar Airways has once again begun operating services to Damascus, reconnecting the region and providing seamless access to the carrier’s extensive global network. Read more

 

 

Etihad Airways announces addition of third daily flight to Milan

From 1 November Etihad Airways will introduce a third service to Milan Malpesa from Abu Dhabi operated on A321LR aircraft, in response to increasing customer demand. In total, the three combined daily services will offer a total of 12,600 seats each week between the two cities. Read more

 

 

Air France takes delivery of new Airbus A220

Air France’s 41st Airbus A220, named ‘Bergerac’, is assigned to short and medium-haul routes. By 2030, the proportion of latest-generation aircraft in the group’s fleet will reach 80%, compared with 5% in 2019 and 26% in 2024. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa Group acquires stake in ITA Airways

Italian carrier ITA Airways has become the fifth network airline to join the German aviation group, with Lufthansa Group acquiring a 41% stake.

 

 

 

Hotel updates

Leonardo Hotels takes over former Crowne Plaza Berlin – Potsdamer Platz

During a fully-operational transitionary period the hotel will initially be named Hotel Berlin Potsdamer Platz by Leonardo Hotels whilst renovations take place but from Spring, it will be renamed The Posthouse Berlin. Located in the heart of Berlin, the hotel will feature 256 rooms and suites, a gym area with a sauna, a restaurant, bar, and eight conference rooms. Read more

 

Village Hotel Club acquires former Crowne Plaza site in Reading

Village Hotel Club has acquired the Caversham Bridge site with plans for a multi-million-pound investment and extensive renovation. Future guests can look forward to experiencing ‘everything under one roof’, including stylish bedrooms, meetings and events space, a pub & grill, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, and more. Read more

 

 

Travelodge to build its first hotel in Banbury, Oxfordshire

Construction is already underway and the 87-room hotel is set to open for the beginning of 2026. It will be centrally located in Banbury town centre nearby Banbury Railway Station, Castle Quay Shopping Centre and the town’s shops, restaurants, and attractions. Travelodge also announces plans to open a further five hotels across the Oxfordshire region in locations including Abingdon, Carterton, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and Wantage.

 

Accor signs three new hotels in Austria

Accor’s expands its Austrian footprint with three new hotels , including the market debuts of Accor’s TRIBE and the Handwritten Collection brands. Hotel Rauthauspark Vienna will join in early 2026 with 105 rooms in Vienna’s cultural district, a 160-room TRIBE hotel will open in 2027 near St. Stephen’s Cathedral on Kärntnerstraße, and finally in spring 2028 Salzburg’s former Hotel Europa will reopen as a Novotel. Read more

 

Hilton Garden Inn Athens Syggrou Avenue opens, marking brand debut in Greece

Offering an elevated guest experience for both business and leisure travellers, the hotel features 129 elegantly designed rooms and suites equipped with spacious work areas, comfortable beds and the latest in-room technology. Read more

 

 

Hilton signs four new hotels in Lyon, France

The four new signings add a total of 655 rooms to Hilton’s portfolio, including the launch of its Spark by Hilton premium economy brand in France, Lyon’s second DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Spark by Hilton Lyon Ouest and Spark by Hilton Lyon Park Saone are scheduled to open towards the end of this year and Spark by Hilton Lyon Eurexpo will join the portfolio next summer. DoubleTree by Hilton Lyon Plage is set to open doors to guests in 2028. Read more

 

Millennium Hotels’ new Studio M Muscat set to open in Oman

Designed with modern travellers in mind, the hotel offers a vibrant atmosphere and smart amenities. Located nearby the City Centre Mall, Al Mouj Marina and key business hubs, the newly opened property is a great option for business travellers.

 

 

Ground updates

LNER plans to more than triple connections between Bradford and London King’s Cross

From 19th May 2025, LNER will operate a total of seven services in each direction between Monday and Saturday. The new southbound services will depart Bradford at 11:17, 13:17, 15:16, 17:16 and 19:15. The timetable enhancements will also introduce earlier departures from London King’s Cross, with the earliest departing at 07:03 and arriving in Bradford before 10:00. Read more

 

Eurostar’s SmartCheck lane will become an additional priority lane from 13th February

Eurostar announces incoming changes at London St Pancras to prepare for the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (ESS). New ePassport gates and extra passport control boots will be added, and passengers will no longer be able to use SmartCheck when travelling from the station.

 

 

Meetings & Events

Radisson Blue Hotel & Convention Centre Riyadh Minhal opens in Saudi Arabia

Designed for modern business travellers, the hotel features 310 rooms and 84 executive rooms and suites, a business class lounge to work in, and a rooftop swimming pool. For events, the convention centre boasts 14 state-of-the-art meeting rooms (2,450 square metres) with a capacity of up to 2,334 attendees. It’s strategic location nearby King Salman Park, the Ministry of Defence, and walking distance from the metro station adds additional appeal for business travellers and event planners. Read more