Dave

British Airways’ Club Suite rollout

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British Airways is extending the roll out of its newest business class seat, Club Suite, as it continues to retrofit the seat across its Boeing 777 fleet, with the deployment expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The airline already has retrofitted a number of its Boeing 777 aircraft with the latest seat and will be working with Collins Aerospace to ensure the rest of the airline’s 777 aircraft are fitted with the new cabin.

The sophisticated Club Suite was initially fitted out in July 2019 on the first A350 and since then has been installed on the Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

The seat offers

  • direct-aisle access
  • a suite door for greater privacy
  • luxurious flat-bed seats
  • a 1-2-1 configuration
  • 40% more storage
  • a vanity unit and mirror
  • WiFi
  • 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens
  • high definition, gate-to-gate programming
  • PC/USB power

As part of the airline’s commitment to the North Atlantic, all British Airways flights to New York JFK will be operated by aircraft that have the airline’s Club Suite product.

Sajida Ismail, Head of Inflight Product at British Airways, said:

When we launched our Club Suite product, it was a huge hit with our customers who loved the privacy the new seat offers. We are focused on the roll out of this product and other cabin enhancements to ensure we deliver on our commitment to provide the very best British quality, style and comfort for our customers.

Trevor Skelly, General Manager Integration Engineering for Collins Aerospace, said:

The upgraded Club World cabin raises British Airways’ already high standards and provides commonality across their fleet of aircraft. Our Integration Engineering team has worked closely with British Airways designers for several years to bring the latest in business class comfort, style and privacy from concept to reality.

As part of the upgrade, the airline’s Club Kitchen is also getting a makeover with new Club chillers and built-in storage for snacks, drinks and other refreshments, allowing customers in Club World to help themselves to refreshments at their leisure.

British Airways is continuing with the roll out of its newest business class seat, Club Suite, as it continues to retrofit the seat across its Boeing 777 fleet, with the roll out expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defence industry. Manufacturing of the new suite seat is being completed at the company’s facility in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland.

The latest generation of the First cabin including the introduction of the First suite door will also continue to be rolled out across the airline’s B777-300 aircraft. The First suites were meticulously designed based on British Airways customers’ feedback, the cabin puts comfort at the heart of the experience and makes the very best use of the generous space designed for just a few customers at a time.  The First suite includes a fixed 23-inch high definition inflight entertainment screen that can be controlled with an integrated handset.

Dave

Gatwick harnesses AI to improve passenger flow

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London’s Gatwick Airport is to utilise artificial intelligence to make journeys through the airport quicker and easier.

Gatwick has selected Veovo’s Passenger Predictability solution to optimise security operations and improve passenger flow. The partnership will allow the airport to handle increasing passenger numbers and build ‘a more sustainable, passenger-centred travel experience’.

Veovo’s AI-powered technology gives Gatwick real-time awareness of people’s movement and experiences in the North and South terminal security areas. This insight guides the airport to plan layout and lane openings, predict bottlenecks and make informed decisions on the go.

This flexibility allows the airport to integrate and protect its existing stereo vision camera investments with new IoT sensors and data sources, thereby enhancing its understanding of customer behaviour across the airport.

Bronwen Jones, Development Director, Gatwick Airport, said,

Veovo’s cloud solution will help to make our business more resilient by allowing us to accurately measure passenger flow so that we can respond quickly and efficiently to any changes. The new technology will not only lead to smoother journeys for our passengers by increasing automation and optimising our processes, but it is also future-proofed, scalable and, by being cloud-hosted off-site, supports our commitment to sustainability by reducing our energy footprint.

Veovo claim their cloud software platform bundles analytics and ‘rich visualisations’ to ‘deliver historical, live and predicted insights into passenger density and flow by flight’. It provides metrics such as actual and forecasted waiting times, occupancy, and passenger throughput. This allows airports and their partners to prevent congestion, minimise wait times and comply with service-level agreements.

James Williamson, Veovo CEO, said,

We are delighted that the airport has chosen Veovo technology to help make the security checkpoint experience as efficient and smooth as possible. Harnessing all available data, together with behavioural science, will enable the airport to learn from the past, predict the future, and make more informed decisions. We are confident that it will present a unique opportunity for the airport to optimise processes and improve people flow.

London Gatwick joins a host of other major airports, including Manchester, Newark and Amsterdam Schiphol, that have adopted the queue and flow management solution. It enables the airports accurately to plan operations, provide situational awareness and make intelligent decisions in real-time to balance performance, customer experience and efficiency.

Dave

Boeing to Debut 777X at 2021 Dubai Airshow

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Boeing will showcase its portfolio of commercial, defence and services products at the 2021 Dubai Airshow this month, including the international debut of its newest fuel-efficient widebody jet, the Boeing 777X.

During the event, a Boeing 777-9 flight-test aeroplane will fly in the airshow’s flying program and appear in the static display. Building on the best of the 777 and 787 families, the 777-9 will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, delivering 10% better fuel use, emissions and operating costs than its competition, Boeing claims.

The Boeing 777X will be unveiled at the Dubai Air Show

The company’s static display will also feature the 2021 Boeing ecoDemonstrator, an Alaska Airlines 737-9 that is flight testing around 20 technologies to reduce fuel use, emissions and noise and further improve safety.

In addition, Etihad Airways will display a 787-10 Dreamliner that showcases the airline’s collaboration with Boeing to advance sustainable aviation.

Etihad’s programme researches and tests innovative technologies, products and practices on its fleet of 787s and within its operations to reduce carbon emissions further.

Also on display, flydubai – the region’s largest 737 operator – will feature a 737 MAX 9 that reduces fuel use and CO2 by 14% compared to its predecessors.

Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa said,

Boeing is excited to participate fully in the Dubai Airshow, the first global airshow in almost two years, and to be able to engage directly with customers, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders from the region and beyond. The show is a perfect opportunity to come together and remind the world of the importance of our industry and discuss technology and innovations that are critical to advance a more sustainable aerospace industry over the long term.


Visitors to Boeing Exhibit #1200 can experience a 360-degree theatre and learn more about the company’s capabilities through the lifecycle of several products.

Dave

Travel industry leaders explain how they plan to meet their carbon targets

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This month, world leaders are gathering in Glasgow to determine policies and commitments to reduce global warming, reverse climate change and ameliorate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Leading the way in these efforts are some of the world’s leading airlines and travel suppliers, including Global Travel Management.  

We asked a number of airlines and travel companies to tell us how they intend to meet their emission targets.  And we asked them to do so in a very brief video clip.  Below, you can see each of the responses.  

First was British Airways who intend to meet their self-imposed target of net zero emissions by 2050 thanks to fuel efficient aircraft, carbon offsetting and sustainable aviation fuel. 

Lufthansa Group aims to cut its CO2 emissions by 50% by the end of this decade as a step to becoming net zero by 2050.  Kevin Young explains how passengers can select the way their preferred method of delivering these targets. 

United Airlines aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 by using sustainable aviation fuel, carbon sequestration and the use of new aeroplanes, including electric aircraft.  

Emirates intends to drive down CO2 emissions by the use of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, as well as the use of more efficient logistical and operational techniques, such as the use of ground-supplied power where possible. 

Air Canada highlights aircraft and engine efficiency as the most important factor in driving down greenhouse gas emissions.

And it’s not just airlines that are driving down carbon emissions in the travel sector.  Travel data supplier Travelogix is on track to becoming net zero as soon as 2025, including the exclusive use of green, renewable energy across global data centres.  

We plant trees to offset carbon dioxide
Global Travel Management’s Carbon Offset Programme enables businesses to offset the carbon cost of their business travel by sponsoring reforestation efforts.
You can find out more about the GTM Carbon Offset Programme, above.


Dave

Dubai International Airport launches Duty Free ordering

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Dubai International has made food ordering and duty-free shopping even easier, with the launch of DXB&More. 

Passengers at the world’s busiest international airport can make the most of their time before catching a flight by getting comfortable and reaching for their mobile and having the best of the airport retail and restaurant offering delivered directly.

DXB&more is a mobile food, beverage and retail ordering service that provides a smooth, convenient alternative to shopping, dining in or waiting for an order to go, without the need to download an app.

The creation of DXB&more was in direct response to the evolving needs of the busy traveller, providing a convenient alternative to shopping and dining before a flight.

Eugene Barry, EVP Commercial at Dubai Airports said 

At Dubai Airports, we are focused on improving our guests’ experience across all physical and digital touchpoints through DXB. Clearly, the events of the past 18 months have accelerated key consumer trends and raised customer expectations around choice and convenience.

Our objective is to create and test new ways of communicating with travellers before, during and after their journey with us, and raise awareness of the full range of shopping, dining, and hospitality experiences across our airport by integrating all of these channels on a single platform, while speaking directly to the consumer. It is also a way of supporting our important commercial partners and optimising opportunities jointly, by broadening the very definition of commercial boundaries and reshaping our partnerships. 

Passengers can order food from the airport’s eateries as well as perfumes, beauty products and electronics and more from Duty Free

The airport claims to have ambitions for the growth of DXB&more which will see the platform “develop into an all-encompassing digital DXB experience, bringing together digital entertainment partners, more shopping and live experiences to guests already in the airport and those who are due to travel”.

Dave

Austrian Airways expands its Premium Economy product

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From Spring 2022, more passengers will be able to fly in Austrian Airways’ Premium Economy class.  

Premium Economy is being rolled out across the airline’s entire Boeing 767 fleet.  

Sales Director Michael Trestl said 

As an Austrian airline, we have ‘Premium’ in our hearts. With the expansion of the Premium Economy Class, we want to offer even more passengers greater travel comfort on long-haul routes. This travel class appeals to all those who want a bit more comfort and service on long-haul trips and still want to travel in a price-conscious manner. This means that the travel experience can be individually designed for each passenger and the feel-good factor on board is increasingly optimised. 

The travel class introduced in 2018 will be expanded to include the domestic airline’s Boeing 767 fleet from its current 18 seats to 30 seats per aircraft.  The conversion of the Austrian fleet will be carried out in the first quarter of 2022. 

With the summer flight schedule 2022, the three B767 planes, which primarily serve destinations in North America, will fly in the new cabin configuration. 

With the summer flight schedule 2022, the three B767 planes, which primarily serve destinations in North America, will fly in the new cabin configuration. 

The heart of Premium Economy class is a seat specially made for the Lufthansa Group, which offers passengers more legroom and comfort on their journey compared to Economy Class. In addition, passengers in this travel class can check in two pieces of luggage, each weighing up to 23 kilograms, free of charge and enjoy a culinary pampering program with a three- to four-course menu on board.

Dave

Discounted fares on flights within Europe and to the rest of the world

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Corporate customers of some of Europe’s leading airlines can earn discounts on air fares booked between until the end of this year. 

The Lufthansa Group has launched discounted fares valid for corporate customers who are signed up to the PartnerPlusBenefit Programme. 

Every corporate customer signed up to the PartnerPlusBeneft Programme receives a 3% discount on air fares within Europe; or a 3%-5% discount on air fares when travelling to Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, North America or South America. 

You can sign up to PartnerPlusBenefit here and, if you join today, you will receive up to 1,500 BenefitPoints when you register.

The discounts are automatically applied by Global Travel Management for any corporate signed up to the PartnerPlusBenefits Programme and include fares booked directly with the Global Travel Management online booking tool.  

Economy LIGHT and Business SAVER fares are excluded from this offer.  The discount is valid on Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS flights for travel until 31 December 2021. 

Dave

British Airways adds former red list countries to its network

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Following the welcome news that a significant number of countries have been removed from the UK Government’s red list, British Airways is resuming services and increasing frequencies to a number of destinations.

British Airways is set to ramp up services to popular winter sun destination South Africa, with double daily services to Johannesburg expected by mid-December. The airline will also restart services to Cape Town, offering three flights a week in November, before moving to a double daily service in December.

The airline’s services to Mexico City will also be increasing to five services a week from November 6, and Cancun flights will resume from October 22 and operate daily.

Elsewhere popular South American destinations Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are set to return in time for Christmas.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said:

It finally feels like we are seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel. Britain will benefit from this significant reduction in red list countries, and now it’s time to turn our attention to eradicating testing for fully vaccinated travellers to ensure we don’t lose our place on the global stage.

Once we have a firm date for the reopening of US borders in November, we look forward to reconnecting our two countries, reigniting transatlantic businesses and reuniting families who have been separated for the best part of two years. We are ready, and we look forward to operating our first flights and welcoming back our customers.

The news of frequency increases and additions to its flight schedule, follows an announcement from British Airways yesterday that is planning on operating its biggest schedule since March 2020. Despite no firm date from government on US borders reopening, the airline is planning to increase flights to the US from early November and will even be bringing back its much loved A380 to operate some of these services.

Customers booking with British Airways can do so with absolute confidence, thanks to the airline’s flexible booking policy. Customers are able to exchange their booking for a voucher or move their dates without incurring a change fee if their plans change.

Dave

Lufthansa invests in first industrially-produced carbon-neutral, electricity-based kerosene

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Lufthansa Group is a partner and pilot customer of the world’s first production plant for power-to-liquid aviation fuels.

Until now, Lufthansa Group airlines have used biogenic sustainable aviation fuels: kerosene produced from agricultural waste or used cooking oils.

But the world’s first industrial plant that produces CO2-neutral electricity-based kerosene was officially opened this week in Werlte/Emsland. It is operated by the climate protection organisation atmosfair and produces synthetic fuel for aircraft from water, CO2 and renewable electricity. The Lufthansa Group is a partner in the pioneering project and is one of the first customers to purchase this sustainable, electricity-based kerosene. In this way, the company is making an important contribution to establishing PtL (‘power to liquid’) production and promoting the market development of the first available CO2-neutral synthetic kerosene.

Christina Foerster, Member of the Executive Board Deutsche Lufthansa AG said,

Lufthansa’s airlines have been focusing on the research and use of sustainable aviation fuels for many years. We are currently the largest customer in Europe.

Synthetic fuels from renewable energies are the kerosene of the future. They enable CO2-neutral aviation. With its partnership with atmosfair, the Lufthansa Group takes the lead again and provides a boost to the production of PtL.

Dorothea von Boxberg,
CEO of Lufthansa Cargo

The Lufthansa Group will purchase at least 25,000 litres of PtL fuel annually over the next five years and make it available to customers. To use the first quantities, the logistics providers Kuehne+Nagel and Lufthansa Cargo have agreed on an exclusive partnership to purchase the fuel.

Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo AG said,

We see the key to a sustainable reduction of our emissions in flight operations in the research and use of synthetic, sustainable aviation fuels.

The fact that we are now pioneering power-to-liquid technology together with Kuehne+Nagel makes us particularly proud and shows once again that we are actively tackling our climate protection challenges

Global Travel Management runs a Carbon Offset Programme, through which the carbon cost of travel, including flights and hotels, can be offset by planting trees in ambitious reforestation project. Find out about the Carbon Offset Programme, here.

Dave

Winners of zero emission flight aviation competition announced

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced the winners of the latest competition focused on making zero emission flights a reality.

Winning projects include wireless charging for electric planes, swappable battery packs to keep flight turnover times to a minimum and state-of-the-art fuelling tanks to safely and efficiently refuel flights of the future.

The fifteen successful projects have been awarded a share of over £700,000 to help bring forward innovative research and technology, which can support UK airports in handling new types of electric and hydrogen aircraft.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

As the world reopens from the pandemic, it is essential that we are investing in greener aviation as part of our transport decarbonisation agenda.

Funding these revolutionary projects will help to slash carbon, create jobs and get us closer to our goal of operating zero emission flights.

The funding forms part of the government’s commitment in the Prime Minister’s Ten point plan for a green industrial revolution, with a commitment of £3 million funding to research into airport infrastructure for zero emission flights this year.

Aviation Minister Robert Courts said:

As an island nation, aviation is essential for our future growth and plans to build back better and greener from the pandemic.

With COP26 around the corner, we’re ramping up our efforts even further by funding the technology that unlocks the flights of the future.

Earlier this year, the UK government set out its ambition to become world-leaders in sustainable aviation fuel production, launching the £15 million Green Fuel, Green Skies competition and publishing a consultation proposing to mandate sustainable aviation fuel use in the UK from 2025.

Val Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia, said:

We are delighted to have been successful with the zero emission flight infrastructure project and to have the opportunity to show just how these projects are critical to the future of zero emission aviation.

In the future, we believe there will be a hydrogen-electric engine in every aircraft as this is the only viable way to deliver truly zero emission aircraft and to comprehensively tackle the industry’s growing climate impact. When we deliver our first hydrogen-electric powertrains into service in 2024, operators need to be able to fuel their aircraft with low carbon hydrogen, and today’s announcement is a big step towards that.

Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Connected Places Catapult, said:

Connected Places Catapult is delighted to welcome these 15 innovative projects onto the TRIG: zero emission flight programme. The progress being made in this sector to enable sustainable air travel is exciting and an important step for the UK’s successful transition to net zero.

This funding is the latest in a string of initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from flying and consolidating the UK’s position as leaders in green aviation.

The winning projects are:

Cranfield University

  •  Low carbon energy demand scenarios for aviation (LOCESA)
  •  Wireless opportunity charging of electric aircraft
  •  Hydrogen Safety in Aviation: an immersive XR training scenario for airport personnel

University of Warwick

  • Creation of Full Airport Energy Model to Simulate/Understand Infrastructure Impacts of Electric and Hydrogen Aircraft and Support Vehicles on Airports – A Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) Case Study with Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
  • Evaluation of safety zones and mitigation measures for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure at airports

Protium Green Solutions Limited

  • Developing a digital twin for the fast refuelling process and procedure for gaseous hydrogen aircraft

Hive Composites Limited

  • Next-Generation Thermoplastic Composite Pipe for Hydrogen Distribution in Airports

Stratospheric Platforms Ltd

  • Development of a safety zonal tool for the operation of liquid hydrogen powered aircraft at airfields

EGB Engineering Consultants Ltd

  • Modelling of Electricity and Green Hydrogen Scenarios to meet future Airport Demand (MEHSAD)

ZeroAvia Limited

  • Liquid Hydrogen Airport Refuelling Ecosystem (LHARE)

University of Strathclyde

  • Solutions Pathway Evaluation Toolkit for Airside Infrastructure to Power Zero Emissions Flight

Ultima Forma Ltd

  • Flexible electroformed twin-walled hydrogen fuel hoses

Ampaire Ltd

  • Modelling demand of electric aviation and airport infrastructure

School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast

  •  UltraCompHy: Ultra-lightweight composite pressure vessels for safe and cost-effective hydrogen storage

CD02 Ltd

  • SafeBatt: Swappable aircraft battery packs for safe ground handling and charging