Paul

UK Weather Warning 28 October.

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Southern and central areas of the UK have had a storm warning issued for Monday 28th October.

Currently the forecast is for strong hurricane strength winds and heavy rain which have the obvious potential to disrupt travel generally. Therefore, if you are due to fly to, or from, the UK on Monday PLEASE ensure that you check-in online; as this will confirm that your email and mobile/cell phone details are logged with your airline, who can then send out further updates if necessary.

At present no airline is permitting voluntary changes (due to the anticipated weather conditions), so should you wish to change your airline ticket this will need to be done in accordance with current fare rules.

Paul

Network update – new routes on sale.

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Following the recent purchase of Flybe’s slots at London Gatwick, easyJet has strengthened its route network with the addition of new routes to Paris CDG, Jersey & Newcastle.

The new services will start from the beginning of the summer schedule (30 March 2014) and flights are on sale now.

Paul

Attention All BA On Business Customers!

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If your company has a British Airways On Business account, you are eligible for private discounted air fares when flying with BA to most long-haul destinations.

Discounts apply in all cabins from First to World Traveller and range from 5 to 35%. These fares are not for sale on BA.com, or via many travel agents, but they are with Global Travel Management!

Furthermore, and with immediate effect, these private discounted fares are now also eligible for an upgrade, to First from Club World. Book prior to 12 November 2013 in bookings classes R, D & C, and get upgraded in one direction to First. This offer is valid for travel until 22 September 2014.

Should your company not have an On Business account, please contact Paul Baker on 01483 227369 for further information.

Paul

Important changes to the security process for Air France & KLM passengers.

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Eff immediately, passengers flying with Air France & KLM, from London Heathrow airport, will now use the new Positive Boarding technology in Terminal 4.

After check-in, and upon entering security, passengers will be required to scan the barcode on their boarding pass at an automatic gate. The system will then verify your ticket and open to allow you through security.

Please note, however, that there is a minimum clearance time for entering the system, namely 20 minutes for Business Class passengers and 30 minutes for economy class passengers.

Make sure you allow enough time on the M25!

Dave

France: Air traffic controllers will strike on 10 October

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Eurocontrol reported on 8 October that all five French air traffic control unions are expected to strike at some point on 10 October beginning at 4 am GMT.

Conditions will change throughout the day as staffing levels change, and different airports and air routes will be affected in different capacities.

Both arrivals and departures will likely be impacted by the strike, so any flights into or out of airports in France could be impacted.

Travellers should check with their travel providers or airlines for delays and cancellations. Impact is expected.

The planned strike of air traffic controllers across all of Europe was cancelled. As of press time, only those in France are planning industrial action.

Paul

BA starts new Chengdu service.

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Yesterday British Airways began operating a new service to Chengdu in Sichuan province in Southwest China. The city has a population of over 14m inhabitants and is BA’s fourth destination in China after Beijing, Hong Kong & Shanghai.

The service took off from London Heathrow and landed in Chengdu this morning. The nose cone of the aircraft had been painted to look like a panda – how twee!

Dave

Delays at Heathrow for BA travellers

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A baggage system problem has caused delays to British Airways passengers at Heathrow Airport.
Travellers were earlier unable to check in baggage at Terminal five (T5) due to a computer problem. The airport says the problem has been resolved, but some passengers face long queues and delays. BBC reporter Keith Doyle said there was a queue of about “500 people waiting to rebook flights”.
Simon Frusher, who was flying to New York, said: “There are now thousands of people with missed flights, as planes went on time.
“Huge queues now for rebooking… unsure as yet what flight we can get.”
An airport spokesperson said: “Our teams have now restored all check-in services and we have additional staff in the terminal to help passengers.”
Passengers were unable to check in baggage. The airport said passengers who wished to take hand luggage on board were unaffected, but others were prevented from checking in and unable to travel.
Mr Doyle said a separate area had been set aside for rebooking flights at T5, which operates British Airways flights.
A BA spokesman apologised for the inconvenience and said “all of our flights continue to operate as normal”.
The problems started at around 09:00 BST and were resolved by 11:30.

Paul

British Airways – First A380 Enters Service.

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British Airways’ first A380 flew its first official longhaul service today with its inaugural flight to Los Angeles.

Five A380 services a week will now operate between London Heathrow and Los Angeles, increasing to a double daily service from 10 April 2014.

From 22 October, daily A380 services will start between London Heathrow and Hong Kong. Johannesburg is the third A380 destination, with services planned to start from 12 February 2014.

British Airways took delivery of its second A380 over the past weekend, with a third due next month.

Paul

Chinese Embassy Closure.

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The Chinese Embassy in London will be closed from Tuesday 1st October to Thursday 3rd October inclusive. Please bear this in mind if you are soon to apply for a visa.

Paul

Mumbai Runway Closure.

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Flights in and out of Mumbai airport could be delayed this winter, as the airport’s main runway will be shut for eight hours a day, except Sundays, for eight months starting from 28th October 2013.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said that the runway will be shut from 9am to 5pm for construction of two new rapid exit taxiways at the airport. Although the second runway will be available for operations, it is not equipped to handle low visibility operations.

The closure of the main runway will result in aircraft taking longer routes while taxiing towards the runway for take off.