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British Airways transatlantic sale

The British Airways sale has started and Global Travel Management customers can take advantage of big discounts on BA flights across the Atlantic.

From today – 12 July – you can enjoy discounts of up to 20% or more in Business Class cabins to selected destinations in North America from London.

The discounts apply to flights between 19 July and 30 August 2023 and must be booked by 25 July.

Destinations include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, Mexico City, Montreal, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Jose and Washington.

British Airways offers enhanced comfort, privacy and personalised service to help you reach your destination relaxed and refreshed.

Are you ready to explore new cities and new adventures? Or do you just want to pick up a great flight at an even better price? Call your GTM Account Manager for details.


Norse Atlantic Airways introduces flights from Gatwick to Los Angeles and San Francisco

Norse Atlantic Airways, the pioneering low-cost long-haul airline, has announced the launch of its services to Los Angeles and San Francisco from London Gatwick.

The new direct routes mark the fifth and sixth destinations to the US from Norse Atlantic’s London base, solidifying its position as the largest long haul operator to the US from London Gatwick.

Bjørn Tore Larsen: proud to offer an affordable and convenient way to explore these two iconic cities

Travellers now have affordable and convenient options to explore the vibrant cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco from the United Kingdom.

With fares starting from £460 return, including taxes and fees, passengers can embark on their West Coast adventures without breaking the bank.

Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO Norse Atlantic Airways said,

Los Angeles and San Francisco have now become the fifth and sixth destinations to the US from our London base.

With the addition of these two destinations Norse Atlantic is now the largest long haul operator to the US from London Gatwick.

We are proud to offer an affordable and convenient way to explore these two iconic cities and experience the renowned sights and cultural landmarks that make each destination unique.

From the picturesque beauty of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the bustling streets of Fisherman’s Wharf to the magic of Hollywood and the famous Santa Monica Beach, these two destinations have something for everyone.

Flights to Los Angeles from London Gatwick operate daily, with departure at 10:35 and arrival at 14:10 on the same day. Return flights from Los Angeles depart at 14:25 and arrive at 11:00 the following day. Economy fares start from £460 return, including all taxes and fees.

For travellers heading to San Francisco, flights from London Gatwick operate three times a week. Departure is at 10:10, with arrival at 13:25 on the same day. Return flights from San Francisco depart at 15:25 and arrive at 09:50 the following day. Economy fares start from £455 return, including all taxes and fees.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Norse Atlantic exclusively operates the Dreamliner

Norse Atlantic exclusively operates modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for passengers.

Each seat is equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment, allowing travellers to relax and unwind during their journey. In addition, Norse Atlantic offers two cabin choices: Economy and Norse Premium. The Norse Premium cabin boasts an industry-leading 43″ seat pitch and 12″ recline, ensuring passengers arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to explore.

Passengers can select from a range of fare options, including Light, Classic, and Flextra, which cater to their individual travel preferences and needs. Light fares represent Norse’s value option, while Flextra fares offer additional benefits such as increased baggage allowance, two meal services, an enhanced airport and onboard experience, and greater ticket flexibility.

With the launch of these new routes, Norse Atlantic Airways continues to redefine long-haul travel by providing UK-based business travellers with affordable and convenient connections to key US destinations. Whether it’s for business or leisure, the airline offers an enticing gateway to the bustling cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Book your tickets today and embark on a memorable journey with Norse Atlantic Airways.

Norse Atlantic Airways is a pioneering low-cost long-haul airline based in London Gatwick. With a focus on providing affordable and convenient travel options, Norse Atlantic operates modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable journey for passengers. The airline offers two cabin choices, Economy and Norse Premium, and a range of fare options to cater to travellers’ preferences.


Virgin Atlantic celebrates the Platinum Jubilee with treats at 38,000 feet

Virgin Atlantic is marking the momentous occasion that is The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend.

Customers flying to the US and Caribbean over the bank holiday weekend will be treated to extra special delicacies to celebrate Her Majesty’s historic 70-year reign.

Those travelling in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy class will be greeted with a milk chocolate crown lolly wrapped and tied with a festive red ribbon.

Virgin Atlantic is celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Premium and Upper Class customers will be offered a delicious Platinum Jubilee Mile High Tea, including a duo of finger sandwiches and a selection of mini patisseries.

The delectable cakes will be a Victoria sponge financier, a chocolate and tonka macaron, and a delicious vanilla and strawberry Battenberg with Virgin Atlantic purple-coloured marzipan.

A quintessentially English cocktail will accompany the bespoke Mile High Tea, using Hambledon English Sparkling Wine and Fever-Tree sweet British Rhubarb and Raspberry tonic.

The personalised beverage will also be available in the Virgin Atlantic London Heathrow Clubhouse, which will be wonderfully decorated to commemorate the occasion. 

Pratt Standard’s Earl Grey Vanilla Syrup, available only seasonally, is inspired by the London Fog

The celebrations are also stretching to the United States, with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses across America also honouring the Platinum Jubilee.

Customers stopping by in San Francisco, JFK and Washington DC Clubhouses will have the chance to try out a special ‘Earl Grey Jubi-Tea’ cocktail, created with the Pratt Standard Cocktail Company’s Earl Grey Vanilla Syrup.

Pratt Standard are a woman-owned business based in Washington DC that prides itself on responsibly sourced ingredients and quality, perfectly aligning with the Virgin Atlantic five-star experience. 

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer & Operating Officer, Virgin Atlantic said:

We’re delighted to take part in the celebrations for the momentous occasion that is The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend. The Jubilee weekend marks a significant moment in history and we look forward to celebrating this memorable moment with our customers.

At Virgin Atlantic, creating personalised experiences and magical moments for our customers is what we do best, from the moment they arrive at the airport to when they land at their destination. From enhancing our already delicious inflight

United kicks off largest transatlantic expansion in its history

United Airlines has kicked off the launch of its largest transatlantic expansion in its history, in anticipation of a strong recovery in European travel.

Patrick Quayle: We have long anticipated a strong demand recovery

In total, United will launch or resume 30 transatlantic flights from mid-April to early June. This includes adding new nonstop flights to five destinations no other North American airline serves including Amman, Jordan; Bergen, Norway; Azores, Portugal; Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands.

The airline is also launching five new nonstop flights to some of Europe’s most popular business and tourist hubs including London, Milan, Zurich, Munich and Nice. United is also resuming fourteen Atlantic routes the airline has historically served and adding frequencies in six others.

United’s transatlantic route network will be more than 25% larger than it was in 2019.

With this expansion, United will serve more transatlantic destinations than every other U.S. carrier combined and will be the largest airline across the Atlantic for the first time in history.

Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliances at United said,

We have long anticipated a strong demand recovery, evidenced by our large, strategic expansion in Europe, and with these new flights, we’re proud to offer our customers more options and access than ever before. United continues to leverage its leading global network in new and exciting ways to help our customers make meaningful memories and experience new cultures around the world.

In light of the increased demand for European travel, United is also launching new services to some of Europe’s most iconic cities, including:

  • New daily flights between Boston and London Heathrow, which began on 14 April, and is United’s only trans-oceanic point-to-point flight from Boston. This flight complements United’s nonstop service to London Heathrow from all seven of United’s hubs.
  • New daily flights between Denver and Munich, which began April 23 and joins existing service from Denver to Frankfurt and London. United is the only U.S. airline to offer transatlantic service from Denver.
  • New daily flights between Chicago and Zurich, which began April 23. United now offers more nonstop service between Switzerland and the U.S. than any other U.S. airline, and is the only U.S. airline with nonstop service to Geneva.
  • New daily flights between New York/Newark and Nice, beginning April 29. United will offer more premium seats to Nice than any other U.S. carrier.
  • New daily flights between Chicago and Milan, beginning May 6, joining existing seasonal flights between Chicago and Rome. United will be the only airline to offer nonstop service between Chicago and Milan, adding to its existing service between New York/Newark and Milan.

In addition to these new flights, United is increasing service to popular European travel destinations, including:

  • Second daily flights between New York/Newark and Dublin, which began 23 April.
  • Second daily flights between Denver and London Heathrow, beginning 7 May.
  • Second daily flight between New York/Newark and Frankfurt, beginning 26 May.
  • Second flight between New York/Newark and Rome five times weekly, beginning 27 May.
  • Adding a third daily flight between San Francisco and London Heathrow and increasing service between New York/Newark and London Heathrow to seven daily flights, beginning 28 May. With this additional service, United will offer 22 daily nonstop flights from the U.S. to London Heathrow.

To help generate excitement about these new routes, earlier this month United launched two unique out of home campaigns, including digital billboards in downtown Boston to highlight the airline’s new Boston-London Heathrow service. United also teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue for a series of window displays featuring fashion inspired by United’s five unique transatlantic routes.

In addition to these European routes, United is also growing its presence in Africa as part of this transatlantic expansion. On 8 May, United will increase its service to offer daily flights between Washington/Dulles and Accra, Ghana. The airline will also extend its existing seasonal service to Cape Town to year-round, with nonstop flights from New York/Newark resuming 5 June, subject to government approval.

United is Back at JFK

United Airlines has announced it will be returning service to New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport next year.

The airline will resume flights from JFK, after a gap of five years, on 1 February, 2021 with a non-stop service to the west coast. The new service will operate out of Terminal 7.

From February, United will serve both JFK to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and JFK to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with two round-trips for each city.

The flights will utilise the reconfigured Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on the routes offering customers an extended premium cabin featuring 16 additional United Business class seats – providing all-aisle-access seating – bringing the total premium cabin seat count to 46.

Scott Kirby: “United Airlines is back at JFK”

The aircraft will also feature 22 United Premium Plus seats, 47 Economy Plus seats and 52 Economy seats.

United claims to offer the most premium seats between the New York City area and Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. Tickets are now available for purchase on United.com.

Scott Kirby, United Airlines’ CEO said,

I have been waiting a long time to say this – United Airlines is back at JFK.

Come early next year, we will be serving all three major New York City area airports with a best-in-class product to provide our customers unmatched transcontinental service from New York City and the west coast.

United’s premium cabin will feature flat-bed seats on all flights similar to the current Newark-Los Angeles and Newark-San Francisco offerings, providing a consistent and comprehensive NYC-west coast product.

Additionally, United’s wide-body service can participate in the robust cargo market between JFK and the west coast.

If you need to fly out of JFK, contact your GTM Account Manager.

British Airways trials automated cocktail maker

British Airways is exclusively trialling an automated cocktail maker in its San Francisco and Newark lounges. Cocktails are dispensed in under 45 seconds, adding a new dimension to the food and drink available for customers.

Available until March 2020, British Airways’ First and Club World customers travelling from San Francisco and Newark will be able to choose from a selection of 30 cocktails and customisable drinks from the robotic device. This includes locally-inspired cocktails that British Airways has created – Silicon Galley and Echo-Whisky-Romeo.

The machine has been created by mix-master Barsys using Artificial Intelligence.  As British Airways is the first UK airline to trial the technology, it gives the airline’s customers a first chance to try this autonomous machine.

Customers simply order their drink by clicking one button on the app, then place a glass on the conveyer belt and let the AI do the work.

Ricardo Vidal, British Airways’ Head of Innovation, said

We are always looking at innovative ways to enhance our customers’ journey on the ground and in the air. Barsys offers a new cocktail experience and what better way to trial this technology than in San Francisco, in our newly refurbished lounge, and Newark, two of the most cosmopolitan and tech-savvy metropolitan regions in the US.

Akshet Tewari, Barsys CEO and Founder, said

We are so excited to partner with British Airways as we have always felt that an airport lounge was the perfect place to create a unique and fun cocktail experience. We recognise that Barsys will never replace a good bartender but can free them up to make more complicated drinks and interact with customers.