Tag: british (Page 1 of 10)

Abu Dhabi returns to British Airways route map

October 20, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Friday, October 20, 2023 – British Airways, part of the International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (London: ICAG) will launch daily flights to Abu Dhabi next year, following a four-year hiatus. Available to book from today, the route will begin operating on 20 April 2024, serving the UAE’s capital on a year-round basis from London Heathrow Airport.

Famous for its towering architecture, rich culture, desert landscapes, magnificent beaches and world-class attractions, this Middle Eastern metropolis is enjoyed by those looking for an eclectic mix of culture, relaxation and adventure.

The new flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft in summer 2024 and will boost connectivity to the UAE as it joins flights to neighbouring Dubai, which operate up to three-times daily from Heathrow.

To celebrate the launch, British Airways is offering return fares from £449 in World Traveller (economy) and £1,999 in Club World (business class), available to book before 12 November 2023. Executive Club Members will be able to purchase Reward Seats from £100 + 50,000 Avios.

Saab opens new radar production site in Fareham, Hampshire, England

September 9, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Saab (SAAB-B.ST) UK’s Sensor Systems business operates from Saab’s site in Fareham, with a team also located in Farnborough. The skilled staff in Fareham primarily produce and integrate the new Deployment Set, a configuration of the Giraffe 1X highly mobile, compact, rapidly deployed, software-based, 3D AESA radar. This increases Saab’s production capacity for its Giraffe 1X Deployment Set and the first units are already in production at the Fareham site.

Saab UK’s Sensor Systems business will also act as a Centre of Excellence developing follow-on UK Intellectual Property in the radar domain. It will also grow to maintain existing radars in-service with the UK Ministry of Defence, such as Giraffe 1X and Giraffe AMB air defence radars and artillery locating MAMBA (Arthur) radars.

Saab UK’s Fareham site has been growing with the announcement in February 2023 of the expansion of its Underwater Systems business of Seaeye autonomous and remotely operated vehicles. Across the UK, Saab has eight principal sites which focus on software engineering, underwater robotics, training services, radars and more.

Saab UK’s presence has been growing at pace, with employee numbers quadrupling through consolidation, acquisition and organic growth, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation.

The whole site in Fareham benefits 400 jobs at Saab, in established and future roles across various business activities.

American Airlines announces commercial redevelopment of Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport

July 12, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL), in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, today announced a $125 million commercial redevelopment program for Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The project will feature a new Great Hall and is expected to bring more than 60 new shopping and restaurant offerings to the terminal. With an emphasis on locally owned and diverse businesses that will create economic opportunities for the community, the new program will showcase New York’s world-renowned culinary scene and establish a unique sense of place for travelers.

Following the recent completion of a $400 million expansion of Terminal 8, the commercial redevelopment will further enhance the customer experience at the terminal with a complete redesign and expansion of the concessions program, including dining, retail, duty-free shopping, performance space and new digitally enabled experiences for American’s customers.

Terminal 8 has also become a world-renowned gateway for American’s oneworld partners. Within the past year, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airlines relocated operations and Qantas returned service to Terminal 8.

American selected JFK T8 Innovation Partners, a joint venture led by URW, to lead the redevelopment. URW is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets across Europe and the U.S. Also joining the T8 Partners team, with a 30 percent equity stake, is Phoenix Infrastructure Group, a minority-owned, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)-certified investment firm focused on critical infrastructure projects; and Holt Construction, one of New York’s premier construction management firms with experience in more than 100 aviation projects at airports across the country, including the expansion of Terminal 8, where Holt exceeded its 30 percent Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation goal.

Porter Airlines expands in British Columbia with service between Victoria and Toronto Pearson

July 10, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

TORONTO – Porter Airlines is adding Victoria to its network, with flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Victoria International Airport (YYJ). Victoria is the second city in British Columbia that Porter serves with the new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The E195-E2 has the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip among its class, and is the quietest single-aisle jet flying today. The two-by-two configuration means no middle seats on any Porter flight.

Service begins on September 20, 2023, with one daily roundtrip flight. Connecting flights with Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s will also be available. Introductory roundtrip fares start at $476.

Route	Departure	Arrival
Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) to Victoria (YYJ)	10:55 a.m.	1:04 p.m.
Victoria (YYJ) to Toronto-Pearson (YYZ)	2:00 p.m.	9:31 p.m.

Porter’s distinct service includes complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, free premium snacks, and free, fast WiFi, with full access to web surfing or favourite streaming platforms, available to all travellers. Fresh, healthy meals, pre-mixed cocktails and additional snack options are also available on the new route.

Sustainability is at the heart of the menu design, with a priority on reducing and eventually eliminating single-use plastics onboard, providing biodegradable cups and cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging.

Porter continues to expand its presence in Western Canada, now serving Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.

Flights and Porter Escapes vacation packages are now available for booking at www.flyporter.com and with travel agents.

National Jet Express Takes Off From New Brisbane Base

July 8, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

National Jet Express (NJE), a Rex Group company, has today firmed up its bold ambition to expand its footprint in the Queensland charter and mining market. NJE today took passengers to the skies for the first time in Queensland, with flight NC344 departing Brisbane at 0700 local time for Moranbah. This comes after NJE was successful in winning a contract to provide air services for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).

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Australia Back on Tourist Map as International Visitors Return

February 21, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

Qantas flights from eight overseas destinations are touching down in Australia today, bringing the first international tourists in almost two years and an eagerly anticipated boost for the country’s tourism industry.

The Qantas Group will fly more than 14,000 passengers into Australia this week as quarantine and border barriers for international tourists come down.

QF12 from Los Angeles was the first to land at 6.20am and flights from other international destinations including Vancouver, Singapore and London will arrive into Sydney throughout the day. Jetstar’s first unrestricted international flight JQ18 will touch down in Melbourne from Phuket at 10.05am and QF70 from Delhi to Melbourne will arrive at 1.35pm.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said bookings had been strong since the Australian Government announced the country was opening to international visitors, and today’s arrivals will be the first of many.

Qantas restarted its international network for Australian citizens and visa holders on 1 November 2021, with a number of routes coming online since then. Sydney to Dallas recommenced flying on 16 February, and flights to other destinations are scheduled to relaunch in coming weeks including:

Melbourne to Honolulu (Jetstar) – From 1 March
Sydney to Honolulu (Jetstar) – From 3 March
Melbourne to Denpasar (Jetstar) – From 14 March
Sydney to Denpasar (Jetstar) – From 15 March
Brisbane to Singapore – From 27 March
Sydney to Manila – From 27 March
Sydney to Denpasar – From 28 March
Darwin to Dili – From 30 March
Brisbane to Los Angeles – From 1 April

Windstar Cruises Names Karl Gulotta Corporate Executive Chef

December 16, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Windstar-New-Exec-Chef Download

Alaska Airlines is the 14th member of the oneworld alliance.

Alaska Airlines Expands oneworld Partnership with New West Coast International Flights

December 13, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

SEATTLE, December 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Ready to start planning that long-awaited, much-deserved vacation or trip to Europe and destinations beyond? Alaska Airlines and our fellow oneworld member airlines – including American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia – are ready to take you there this summer with new nonstop international flights from our West Coast hubs and airports.

British Airways announced today it will begin nonstop service from Portland to London Heathrow five days a week starting on June 3, 2022. The flight becomes the sixth British Airways service to London from a key Alaska market on the West Coast joining Los Angeles; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Seattle.

Finnair announced last week its new nonstop flight between Seattle and Helsinki that’s scheduled for service three days a week beginning June 1. Finnair’s nonstop to Seattle joins its existing service to the Finnish capital from Los Angeles. Finnair will also increase its Los Angeles-Stockholm service to four nonstop flights a week beginning May 1.

By summer 2022, Alaska’s oneworld partners will offer more than 100 nonstop flights every week from the West Coast to Europe including nonstop service to London, Madrid, Barcelona, Stockholm and Helsinki. Once in Europe, journeys can continue throughout the Continent and other parts of the world with convenient connections through our partners’ hubs.

oneworld flights between the U.S. West Coast and Europe for summer 2022:

Hitachi and Alstom Win Order to Build and Maintain High Speed Two Trains in Britain

December 10, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Alstom (OTC: ALSMY) and Hitachi Rail have today confirmed that the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed (HAH-S) 50/50 joint venture has signed contracts with High Speed Two (HS2) to design, build, and maintain the next generation of very high speed trains for HS2 Phase 1 as part of the £1.97 billion contract, including an initial 12-year train maintenance contract.

The UK’s two leading train manufacturers will deliver Europe’s fastest operational train, capable of operating at maximum speeds of 225mph (360 km/h), significantly reducing journey times for passengers. The fleet will be 100% electric, and be one of the world’s most energy efficient very high speed trains due to the lower train mass per passenger, aerodynamic design, regenerative power and latest energy efficient traction technology.

In a major boost to grow and rebalance the economy, the HAH-S joint venture will manufacture the 54 trains at newly enhanced facilities in County Durham, Derby and Crewe. The award to the British-based firms will protect and create thousands of green jobs and add £157 million GVA to the UK economy for every year of the train building phase.

The new 200m-long, 8-car trains are set to run in Phase 1 of the project between London and Birmingham, and on the existing network, and will dramatically increase capacity and connectivity between towns and cities across the country including Stoke, Crewe, Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle, Motherwell and Glasgow. They will have a major impact in reducing carbon emissions from transport by encouraging people away from fossil fuelled cars and planes, and onto rail.

Embraer Displays Most Efficient Single Aisle Commercial Jet at Selangor Aviation Show

November 26, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Making its appearance at the first edition of the Selangor Aviation Show is Embraer’s E195-E2, the world’s most efficient and sustainable single-aisle jet. Showcasing a stunning “TechLion” livery that covers the entire aircraft’s fuselage, the E195-E2’s appearance at the Selangor Aviation Show comes after the aircraft’s presence at the Dubai Air Show earlier in the month. Featuring Embraer’s two by two passenger seating, the commercial jet sits up to 146 passengers.

In its 2021 market outlook, Embraer foresees a demand of 60 new commercial aircraft under 150 seats in Malaysia over the next 10 years. Driving this demand is the opportunity for aircraft under 150 seats to complement larger aircraft prevalent in the country and enhance the viability of establishing new routes or increasing the frequency of existing routes. This includes the boosting of direct connectivity within Peninsula Malaysia, as well as connectivity between cities in Peninsula Malaysia to East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).

With a range of 2600nm (~5.5 hours of flight time), the E195-E2 is the largest of the three aircraft in the E-Jets E2 family. It entered into service at the end of 2019 following type certification from three major world regulatory authorities – the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration), EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and ANAC (the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency). It is currently operated by KLM, which has 53 Embraer E-Jets in its fleet, Azul which operates 55 E-Jets and flies to more than 100 destinations in Brazil, as well as airlines in Switzerland, Spain, Belarus and Nigeria.

Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial jets that seat up to 150 passengers. The commercial aircraft manufactured by Embraer are being operated by airlines in more than 130 airlines across over 70 countries, including airlines in the US (all the major carriers), British Airways, KLM, Japan Airlines and airlines in China.

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