The investiture of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander as King of the Netherlands takes place on Tuesday 30 April in Amsterdam. The city centre will be exceptionally busy, particularly around the Royal Palace on Dam Square. Expect delays and disruption to transport.
Lufthansa German Airlines is reporting that a strike launched by staff at Milan Malpensa Airport today (19th April) could result in flight disruptions this afternoon.
The strike at Milan’s largest airport is expected to run from 12 pm through 4 pm local time. We (Global Travel Management) strongly recommend, as always, that passengers check in online to receive the very latest information on their flights.
The German services union Verdi has called for a one-day walkout by Lufthansa staff at German airports on Monday 22nd April in an escalating pay dispute.
“Verdi has called on Lufthansa employees to stage full-day warning strikes at German airports on April 22 after management failed to come up with a negotiable pay offer in the third round of pay talks on April 17,” the union said in a statement. Verdi is calling for a 5.2-percent pay increase for 33,000 Lufthansa ground staff, plus employees of the subsidiaries Lufthansa-Systems, Lufthansa Service Group (LSG), Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo, as well as those cabin crew members who are Verdi members.
The union complained that the offer tabled by management represented an increase 0.4-0.6 percent over a period of 12 months. “For employees that is a sharp reduction in real pay and in no way acceptable,” said Verdi boar d member Christine Behle.
The airports affected will be Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Hannover, Duesseldorf, Cologne and Norderstedt. Walkouts are planned for Berlin from 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) and in the morning in Nuremberg.
Lufthansa was forced to cancel more than 670 European flights last month owing to similar warning strikes.
British Airways is once again offering its customers the opportunity to upgrade from Club World to First.
To get the best from this offer book your ticket before Tuesday 7th May and you will be able to purchase your Club World fare at a lower price than for the remainder of the offer period.
This upgrade promotion is valid for sale until 4th July 2013 and for travel until 31st August 2013 (outbound) and 8th September 2013 (inbound). This upgrade is also valid on American Airlines services to the USA & Mexico.
British Airways’ first Airbus A380 aircraft has exited the hangar in Hamburg newly painted in BA livery and looks amazing.
Twenty four workers applied 2,300 litres of paint across 3,500 sqms of surface. The aircraft’s interior has also been fully fitted and is now enroute to Toulouse for final checks ahead of its July delivery.
The aircraft will operate from London to Los Angeles and Hong Kong in October and November respectively and will feature 469 seats across four cabins.
Can’t wait!
With immediate effect US Airways has switched its London Gatwick Charlotte service to Heathrow Airport.
Charlotte NC is US Airways’ largest hub airport and the switch supplements its existing London Heathrow to Philadelphia service. The Charlotte service is operated using an Airbus A330 aircraft with two cabins on board. Envoy, US Airways’ international Business Class, features a seat which converts in to a fully flat bed.
Flight US731 departs Heathrow daily at 1005am arrival 1410, with the return service departing Charlotte at 1905 arrival Heathrow the following morning at 0805.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is launching a new service concept on its European network, replacing the existing Economy and Business Class cabins/services, with two brand new alternatives: SAS Go and SAS Plus.
SAS Go is aimed more at the leisure market, with fares including one hold bag, plus tea and coffee served on board and the option of mobile check-in. While SAS Plus includes, two checked bags at no extra charge, SAS Fast Track, lounge access plus meals and drinks onboard.
SAS Go and SAS Plus will be introduced in June. Passengers who are currently booked in Business Class will be automatically be rebooked into SAS Plus.
So no change there then!
Jubilee Line tube drivers have voted to go on strike on April 2nd, the first day back at work for many after the Easter break.
A 24 hour walk-out is also planned for May 2nd.
From April 30th 2013 easyJet is aiming to operate an online only check-in process.
Today approximately 75% of easyJet’s customers check-in online and print their boarding pass prior to arriving at the airport. However, a significant number of customers still arrive at the airport without a boarding pass.
This new iniative aims to drive the aforementioned figure to 100%. Therefore, and from 30th April, easyJet will be removing the traditional check-in desks and replacing them with Bag Drop desks instead.
If you are due to fly with easyJet on 30th April…forewarned is forearmed!
Unfortunately there is now going to be yet more industrial action taken tomorrow (Thursday 21st March), this time by Lufthansa employees in Germany.
This will affect the following airports : Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg & Munich. The strike action will commence at 0500 and finish at midday (local time).
Lufthansa has said that it will cancel most of its domestic and short-haul European operations, but long-haul flights are expected to operate on time.
We (GTM) are currently working to identify and assist any of our customers’ whose flights are affected.
