Please forward this message on to your colleagues as appropriate.
Our phone system is being upgraded this evening at 6pm (our normal clsoing time). The upgrade will take two hours and during this time should you call our office, perhaps to make a note of our emergency out of hours telephone number, you will not hear the usual recorded message.
Therefore, and as a reminder, our out of hours telephone number is +44 (0) 20 3130 9767.
Please forward on to your colleagues as appropriate. The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation is reporting significant flights delays at Heathrow Airport today due to strong winds.
Please ensure that you, or your colleagues, check in online and allow extra time at the airport this afternoon. The current delays are expected to last until around 4pm this afternoon.
All three of Singapore Airlines’ services from London Heathrow to Singapore are now operated solely by Airbus A380 aircraft; previously one of the three daily services was operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
From this October, Singapore Airlines will also add an additional fourth daily rotation between London & Singapore. The new service will be gradually phased in starting from Friday 14th September, before becoming a daily service during week commencing 21st October.
Business Rewards is a loyalty program open to companies whose employees travel around the world with Emirates.
Customers can enrol online and subsequently earn Business Rewards Miles, which can then be redeemed for flights or upgrades. Individual Skywards frequent flyer members will continue to earn and collect the same number of Skywards Miles as they always have.
The 15th August 2012 will see South African Airways’ (SAA) last service from London to Cape Town. SAA has blamed its decision (to withdraw the service) on increased competition by both, direct and indirect airlines, reduced demand, increases in the UK’s Air Passenger Duty and the introduction of a £52 visa fee for South Africans travelling to the UK.
Virgin Atlantic has launched a new four times weekly service to Vancouver from London Heathrow. Services operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays in both directions.
Please note that construction work inside the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), may result in longer walks, or passengers being bussed to/from their aircraft.
The work is scheduled to take approximately 6 months, lasting until the end of November. Because of this many airlines are advising passengers to allow at least 75 minutes for check in, if they have hold luggage, and 60 minutes for those with hand luggage only. This is to allow extra time to clear security and reach the departure gate a minimum of 40 minutes prior to departure.
As widely predicted, American Airlines will adopt a dense ten across layout (3-4-3) for the economy cabin of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which enter service this December.
At present American’s existing fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft are configured 2-5-2, by comparison British Airways fleet of 777’s are configured 3-3-3.
The aircraft with the new economy class layout will enter service between Dallas and Sao Paulo, and is also planned to operate from Dallas to London on December 30th, followed by New York JFK to Heathrow on February 14th 2013.
The move to the new ten across lay out has been made to reduce operating costs so that American can keep its fares as low as possible.
Two new hotels have recently opened their doors in central London. Firstly, the 5* Bulgari Hotel & Residences, is situated at 171 Knightsbridge.
Secondly, the ME London is located on the Strand, at the southern tip of Covent Garden. With its very central location, the hotel is only a short walk to Fleet Street and EC4, the River Thames, Waterloo Bridge and the theatre district.
British Airways has just announced the details of its latest premium leisure sale, which incorporates travel in First Class, Club World & Club Europe, for this summer.
The selling period is quite short though, it starts today and ends on Thursday 14th June. Dates for travel are : 21st July – 2nd September 2012. For long-haul flights from London Gatwick there is a longer travel period – 21st June – 15th May2013.
Prices have been aggressively discounted, in part due to this summer’s Olympic Games. For example, London New York return for £679 & Los Angeles for just £1,029, both plus airport taxes.
Please note that the Russian Embassy in London will be closed on the following dates in early January 2012.
The dates are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 9th January. Please be mindful of the date you submit your application, as the standard turnaround time is six working days, however, there is also a next day service too.
Other notable embassy closures are: Angola – the embassy is now closed and won’t re-open until 9th Jan and China (the Visa Application Service Centre) : 24-27th Dec.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas from all at Global Travel Management.
The US Embassy in Riyadh yesterday released an emergency message to its citizens. Following this statement the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) also updated its Safety and Security message.
The US Embassy in Riyadh has advised that it has received information that a terrorist group in the kingdom may be planning to abduct westerners in Riyadh. It has, therefore, advised all US citizens to exercise prudence and enhanced security awareness at all times.
The FCO’s latest update also advises British citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places, as there remains a high threat from terrorism in the KSA.
