BA updates its inflight entertainment offerings....

The UK's leading legacy carrier, British Airways has greatly enhanced its in-flight entertainment offering, by doubling the content available for customers to watch. The airline now offers a wide range of brand-new content on board, including boxsets, movies, podcasts, children’s programmes and more.

British Airways expects more than one million customers* to watch content on its long-haul flights this month, with 75+ complete boxsets and 20 classic franchises now available on board for August. Those ready to embark on a movie marathon can choose from more than 50 new releases including Paint, Love Again and The Covenant, as well as a range of exclusive content for British Airways through its Paramount+ partnership, such as Rabbit Hole: The Algorithms of Control, The Flatshare and Grease: Rise of The Pink Ladies. Movie boxsets include the complete Harry Potter series, Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible, allowing customers to binge-watch much-loved blockbuster content from the comfort of their seat.

The airline now has more than 70 complete boxsets and 20 franchises available on its flights across every cabin, offering more choice for customers when they travel

Music lovers can also settle in and listen to more than 770 pieces of audio, including the popular NewlyWeds podcast, starring Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo. For customers who prefer some light-hearted comedy, the airline has a range of British Original content, including highlights from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022, such as The Fringe, Fame and Me and Just for Laughs.

British Airways doubles its inflight entertainment programme.

The UK's leading legacy carrier, British Airways has greatly enhanced its in-flight entertainment offering, by doubling the content available for customers to watch. The airline now offers a wide range of brand-new content on board, including boxsets, movies, podcasts, children’s programmes and more.

British Airways expects more than one million customers* to watch content on its long-haul flights this month, with 75+ complete boxsets and 20 classic franchises now available on board for August. Those ready to embark on a movie marathon can choose from more than 50 new releases including Paint, Love Again and The Covenant, as well as a range of exclusive content for British Airways through its Paramount+ partnership, such as Rabbit Hole: The Algorithms of Control, The Flatshare and Grease: Rise of The Pink Ladies. Movie boxsets include the complete Harry Potter series, Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible, allowing customers to binge-watch much-loved blockbuster content from the comfort of their seat.

The airline now has more than 70 complete boxsets and 20 franchises available on its flights across every cabin, offering more choice for customers when they travel

Music lovers can also settle in and listen to more than 770 pieces of audio, including the popular NewlyWeds podcast, starring Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo. For customers who prefer some light-hearted comedy, the airline has a range of British Original content, including highlights from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022, such as The Fringe, Fame and Me and Just for Laughs.

Wildfires in Rhodes prompt evacuation flights for troubled tourists

The horrendous wildfires on the Greek islands have left scores and scores of tourists needing to be evacuated from the affected areas, with Rhodes being particularly badly hit.

Some of the leading UK holiday airlines are adding extra services to the islands to bring people home early. 

Jet2 has cancelled all flights and holidays going to Rhodes for at least seven days. The company is operating five empty aircraft to the island over the next few hours to bring people back. 

Tui has cancelled all its flights to the island until Wednesday, however, it advises that customers currently in Rhodes will only be able to return on their intended flights home

easyJet has said it intends to operate two rescue flights today, with another tomorrow in addition to its normal nine scheduled flights between Rhodes and the UK

British Airways said its flights to Rhodes were running as normal, but passengers are able to postpone and / or change their flights free of charge. 

Thomas Cook has axed some holidays to affected areas and offered a refund to those customers. Customers with packages booked this week to other areas of Rhodes will be offered the option to either continue with plans or cancel and get a refund. 

Ryanair is operating flights as per normal schedule, yet is monitoring the situation carefully.

Corfu is beginning an evacuation, with almost 2500 people moved to safety overnight and more will be moved today according to local firefighters. 

Local news agency ANA-MPA has reported that parts of the island of Evia have also been or are in the process of being evacuated. Residents in Livadi, Potami, Pernaraki and Platanisto - have been told to evacuate for precautionary measures and move towards the area of Karystos.

British Airways launches new "British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy" to train the aviators of tomorrow.....

Private training costs for aspiring pilots can cost around £100,000

The UK's leading carrier, British Airways this week confirmed it was launching a brand-new pilot cadet programme that will fund training for up to 60 aspiring pilots each year.

The British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy will see the incredible cost barrier of training to become an airline pilot, which can be as much as £100,000, removed, making the profession much more accessible. Successful candidates will be offered a place at an approved flight training school and, upon passing the course, a position as a British Airways pilot, helping the airline to ensure it has the right levels of future flying talent for years to come.

British Airways’ new Speedbird Pilot Academy will fund up to 60 places per year at an approved flight training school, with those who pass the course offered a job as a British Airways pilot

With initial training that can cost tens of thousands of pounds, the price of becoming a pilot has made the profession prohibitive for many. This cost will now be funded by British Airways – with a multi-million-pound investment from the airline into its next generation of pilots – making it a genuine career path for all aspiring pilots.

The airline remains committed to further increasing diversity in the aviation industry and is determined to increase awareness, visibility, and applications to this new cadet programme to people from all backgrounds – not just those who can afford the initial training costs.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “The Speedbird Pilot Academy will make the ambition of becoming a British Airways pilot a reality for people who’d previously written the option off because of the cost barrier.

“Our aim is to attract the very best talent out there for our future generation of pilots. Whether someone is just leaving school or embarking on a second career they never thought possible, we’re levelling the playing field by removing the initial training cost barrier to make a flying career more accessible to a wider range of people and giving everyone an equal chance.

“We fly to more than 200 destinations around the world on a range of aircraft types, providing pilots with an abundance of opportunities and making a career as a British Airways pilot extremely rewarding. This first-in-a-generation initiative will allow anyone to make it a reality.”

British Airways is trialling a new digital wayfinding tool to help customers navigate through London Heathrow.

British Airways is trialling a new digital wayfinding tool to help customers navigate through London Heathrow. The new technology offers maps of both London Heathrow Terminal 5 and Terminal 3, helping customers who are travelling through the airline’s London hub to locate their departure gate and points of interest including shops, lounges and restaurants. The new wayfinding tool allows customers to navigate the airport more confidently, saving time and reducing the chance of missing their flight.

The tool provides clear directions and information on the airport layout, allowing customers to have a more seamless experience through London Heathrow. Through an interactive map, customers can click on areas of interest including shops and gain information about the location, opening times, and a description on items that can be purchased. The tool also allows bathrooms, seating areas and information points to be easily located.

Customers who are connecting between flights, can also input the details of their inbound and connecting flights and are then given step-by-step instructions along with an animated map on how to get from the arrival gate through flight connections to their connecting flight departure gate.

The trial which began in June is available to all customers who are travelling through London Heathrow, and can access the tool through QR codes on digital screens in London Heathrow or by visiting wayfinding.maps.ba.com. As part of the trial, links to wayfinding have also been sent to all customers travelling into London Heathrow and connecting from destinations including New York JFK, Dubai, Mexico City, Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth and Houston.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “We always want to make travelling through the airport as easy as possible for our customers, so we’re really excited to be trialling a new wayfinding tool this summer. The interactive map is simple to use, allowing our customers to easily locate their departure gates and discover nearby restaurants and shops for some last-minute duty-free shopping, and for those customers who are eligible, our lounges. Of course, our fantastic colleagues will still be on hand to help as well.”

British Airways making changes to how customers can collect Avios .......

British Airways has announced that the way customers collect Avios will be updated from 18 October 2023, including the ability to collect Avios on ancillary purchases for the first time.

The way British Airways Executive Club Members collect Avios is transforming from 18 October 2023, offering Members a transparent, consistent and simplified way to collect Avios

Under the new collection model, Members can earn up to nine Avios per £1 spent, depending on their Tier status

From the same date, additional enhancements will allow Members to collect Avios on ancillary purchases, such as upgrades and pre-paid seat selection

It means that customers will soon be able to collect Avios when purchasing additional items such as upgrades, pre-paid seat selection and excess baggage, either in advance or at the airport. The amount of Avios collected per flight will be based on the amount paid rather than distance travelled, in a more consistent and clearer approach.

Members booking flights from 18 October 2023 will collect the following Avios depending on their Tier status:

Blue members will receive 6 Avios per qualifying* £1 spent

Bronze members will receive 7 Avios per qualifying £1 spent

Silver members will receive 8 Avios per qualifying £1 spent

Gold members will receive 9 Avios per qualifying £1 spent

This new model will also apply to flights marketed by Iberia**.

British Airways has opened its exclusive Whispering Angel rosé bar for customers travelling through its lounge at the B gates at London Heathrow Terminal 5

British Airways’ highly anticipated Whispering Angel bar, located in the airline’s lounge in Terminal 5 at the B gates, has opened in time for the peak summer season.

British Airways is the first airline to have a bespoke Whispering Angel bar, allowing customers to enjoy a chilled glass of the infamous rosé that originates in the Provence vineyards of Château d’Esclans before their flight.

The opening of the exclusive bar marks the first phase of British Airways’ continued refresh of this lounge over the summer months, which will include new and reupholstered furniture across the lounge, as well as a new layout.

Across the rest of the airline’s Club (Business Class) lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick, eligible British Airways customers can enjoy The Pale rosé, which is produced by the same winemakers as Whispering Angel. Whispering Angel is currently available in British Airways’ Concorde, First and Club lounges.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “We are really excited to open the doors on our new original Whispering Angel bar, just in time for the start of the summer season. What’s more, the opening coincides with the exciting news that customers now have the option to pre-order Whispering Angel across all short-haul flights, to take the experience with them, from the ground to the skies.”

The Château d'Esclans team said: “We are ecstatic to finally be able to share our beautiful Whispering Angel bar with British Airways’ customers, and bring a touch of glamour to Heathrow as the world’s most glamorous rosé. We look forward to travellers being able to enjoy a delicious glass of Whispering Angel before they fly, in a space that really embodies the effortlessly chic nature of our brand.”

Elsewhere, the airline has introduced a rosé in its First cabin with Whispering Angel’s big brother, Rock Angel, now available for customers* and boasting more structure than its younger sibling. Customers travelling on short-haul flights can also get a taste of Château d’Esclans’ creations, as Whispering Angel’s Provence rosé is now available to pre-purchase through the airline’s newly branded High Life Café** (previously Speedbird Café), giving customers the option to taste a hint of summer whether they are travelling to Europe or further afield.

The Whispering Angel partnership adds to an expansive premium drinks offering, following British Airways’ appointment of a full time Master of Wine, one of only 415 in the world and believed to be the only one appointed by an airline. In elevation of the onboard wine offerings to customers, in March 2023 British Airways introduced four new English Sparkling Wines served on board. Each wine is available on a quarterly rotation, changing every three months to customers travelling in Club World, including the current Champagne resident Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Silver Top Non-Vintage Champagne, and now an exclusive English Sparkling Wine option.

Château d’Esclans’ Whispering Angel boasts a delicate Provençal pink hue, spoiling customers with sun-kissed creamy flavours of peach and raspberries, with refreshing citrus undertones and a smooth, dry finish.

British Airways is offering summer treats on board, including ice cream and seasonal menus

The UK's leading legacy carrier,  British Airways is introducing holiday treats for its customers to enjoy this summer, including refreshing ice cream, pre-take-off bubbles in World Traveller Plus, seasonal menus and brand-new inflight entertainment as part of its ongoing commitment to customers.

The airline is offering complimentary ice cream on daytime flights departing London Heathrow and London Gatwick before 5pm UK time, partnering with fellow British brand, Jude’s. The treats are produced less than 60 miles from Heathrow in Hampshire, and will be available for customers to enjoy over the coming months when travelling in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy)*.

British Airways is also re-introducing sparkling wine in its World Traveller Plus cabin from mid-July as part of its pre-take-off drink offering. Those travelling in Club World (business class) can savour a unique glass of British bubbles during their flight with the Balfour Rosé de Noirs, made only from red grapes. This lighter rosé English Sparkling wine is an exclusive blend for British Airways, making it the perfect tipple ahead of summer travels.

The airline is also introducing a rosé blend for the first time in its First cabin. Whispering Angel’s big brother, Rock Angel is making an appearance on board, with more structure and oaky flavours than its younger sibling. Customers travelling on short-haul flights can also get a taste of Château d’Esclans’ creations, as Whispering Angel’s Provence rosé is now available to pre-purchase through the airline’s newly branded High Life Café** (previously Speedbird Café), giving customers the option to taste a hint of summer whether they are travelling to Europe or further afield.

London Heathrow and British Airways work together to help protect Hillingdon's wildlife with London Wildlife Trust

British Airways and Heathrow have announced a new partnership with London Wildlife Trust to help protect local wildlife and ensure Hillingdon residents are able to enjoy the abundance of wildlife that surrounds them.

New conservation and outreach project funded by British Airways and Heathrow will protect and enhance five nature reserves and two country parks in west London  

The investment is London Wildlife Trust’s largest corporate partnership to date and will fund ‘Connecting with Nature in Hillingdon’, a project which aims to deliver improvements to vital natural habitats

British Airways and Heathrow are jointly investing in the project, called ‘Connecting with Nature in Hillingdon’, which will help protect and enhance seven nature reserves and country parks in the Hillingdon area. They include Minet Country Park, Cranford Country Park, Huckerby’s Meadows, Yeading Brook Meadows, Ten Acre Wood, Gutteridge Woods, and Ickenham Marsh.

The project will also create volunteering opportunities in the community and build on the great work Hillingdon Council and the Trust are doing to ensure all corners of the community can access and enjoy the green spaces in their local area.

Hillingdon has many natural gems where residents and visitors can discover the likes of kingfishers and kestrels along the green lifeline of the Yeading Brook and Crane River.

Conservation work will be delivered with the expertise of London Wildlife Trust and include cattle grazing, path and fence maintenance, habitat restoration and new planting, as well as wildlife surveying.

To monitor progress, a ranger will be recruited to work closely with volunteers to look after the sites, and recruitment for these opportunities will open shortly. Regular events including guided walks and outdoor learning will also be organised, to help reconnect residents.

British Airways subsidiary BA Euroflyer to start Fuerteventura service.

BA Euroflyer will add Fuerteventura to its route network from London Gatwick with the effect of 2nd November 2023.  This will be the fourth Canary Island route from the British Airways subsidiary, joining  Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.   

The flights will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays during the winter season on a mix of A320 and A321 aircraft. A third flight will be introduced on Wednesdays from 28 February 2024.

Fuerteventura is the second largest Canary Island, known for its beautiful beaches, rugged coastline, and vast natural landscapes. It is a popular year-round destination for water sports enthusiasts, with conditions lending themselves to activities including surfing, sailing, and windsurfing.

Tom Stoddart, BA Euroflyer’s CEO, said: “Adding Fuerteventura means we now fly to the four largest Canary Islands, which are great options for families, couples and friends alike. Fuerteventura enjoys warm weather year-round, so it is a great option for those looking for winter sunshine without travelling further afield.”

Flights also include a Club Europe (business class) option, including pre-flight lounge access, more personal space, a full meal with drinks from the bar, and additional baggage allowance.

Fuerteventura is the seventh new service to be added to BA Euroflyer’s route network this year. The airline recently announced new summer flights to Montpellier, Corfu, Mykonos and Salzburg in addition to new winter services to Sharm El Sheikh and Innsbruck.

Based at London Gatwick Airport, BA Euroflyer is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways. Across summer and winter schedules, it offers nearly 40 short-haul destinations to popular leisure destinations.

British Airways to open a pink Whispering Angel rosé bar......

British Airways has released plans for an exclusive Whispering Angel rosé bar located in the British Airways lounge near the B gates at London Heathrow Terminal 5 (Terminal 5B). BA will also be refreshing this lounge over the coming months

Whispering Angel bespoke lounge bar will exclusively offer Caves d’Esclans’ Whispering Angel rosé and will be located in the airline’s lounge at Terminal 5 B at London Heathrow - often referred to as one of Heathrow’s best-kept secrets.

The bar, coloured pale pink to emulate the light tones of the rosé served and is expected to open this summer which will coincide with a refresh of the airline’s B gates lounge which will include new and reupholstered furniture, as well as a refreshed layout.

Across the rest of BA's business class lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick, eligible British Airways’ customers can enjoy The Pale rosé, which is produced by the same winemakers as Whispering Angel. Whispering Angel is currently available in British Airways’ First and Club business class lounges.

Château d’Esclans’ Whispering Angel boasts a delicate Provençal pink hue, spoiling customer with sun-kissed creamy flavours of peach and raspberries, with refreshing citrus undertones and a smooth, dry finish.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “Our customers are already telling us how much they enjoy the Whispering Angel rosé we are serving in our lounges, so we are thrilled to be opening an exclusive Whispering Angel bar. We truly believe this will be a massive hit with customers and we are excited that its introduction will coincide with a newly refurbished lounge in the satellite at London Heathrow Terminal 5 B gates.”

British Airways flies to Cincinnati

British Airways has launched a new route between London Heathrow and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) with the inaugural flight taking place on June 5th, 2023. 

The Ohio city becomes the 27th American destination served by British Airways and will help to open up a new vibrant region of the U.S. for UK travellers.  The service between Cincinnati and London operates five times weekly during the summer season which will reduce to four times a week during the winter period. The flights will be flown by various aircraft in the British Airway fleet including the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. 

The central Cincinnati metropolitan area – straddling the Ohio River – is spread across southwestern Ohio, northern Kentucky and extends into portions of southeastern Indiana. There are more than 11 million people within a 120-mile radius of Cincinnati’s airport, which BA hopes will utilize the route to connect via Heathrow to its vast short and medium-haul route network as well as those seeking to visit the UK.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways Director of Networks and Alliances said:  "When we look at the Cincinnati region we see a vibrant part of the U.S. with a great mix of business and leisure travellers who have long asked for more international service and global connectivity, which is what made it so attractive to us and why we’re confident this new route will be a success. Our incredibly positive and welcoming conversations with the airport team, the business development community and tourism partners – combined with all the region has to offer visitors from outside the U.S. – were a clear sign that Cincinnati was the right place to expand our flying in America."

Candace McGraw, Chief Executive Officer, CVG Airport, said: "We are thrilled this day has come when CVG has non-stop service to and from London Heathrow. This flight offers tremendous growth opportunities for business travel, economic development, and tourism between the UK and our region. We are grateful to our partners in Ohio and Kentucky who have supported this flight that will benefit travellers for years to come. I offer a personal thanks to our new friends at British Airways for this opportunity."

Cincinnati, or Cincy as its affectionately abbreviated to, is the place where Midwest friendliness is said to meet with Southern charm. A destination that has a vibrant urban setting opening up to many green spaces and waterways. A fine art scene as well as a rich culture and top-quality food.  

Speaking of food, the Cincinnati region is famous for its Chili where it is done slightly differently. In place of chunks of meat and sizeable beans, you’ll get savoury soupiness and creative accoutrements like spaghetti or hot dogs. In place of an overtly tomato-based sauce, in Cincy you’ll taste hints of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and or even chocolate. 

According to Visit Cincy  some of the best places to sample chilli include:

Blue Ash Chili

9525 Kenwood Rd, Suite 5  or 11711 Princeton Pike

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Avenue

Gold Star Chili chain of stores.

Various locations.  Also offers a nice veggie menu that is made in small batches using a plant-based BEYOND MEAT product and is gluten-free.

Lucky Dog OTR

1210 Main St.

Fast food place that offers a lot of hot dog / coney-based meals and nice double deckers which are well-filled sandwiches. 

Skyline Chili chain of stores

Various locations.  Fast food for a quick bite that is tasty and reasonably cheap. 

Fine dining in the area....

20 Brix

101 Main St. Milford

This is a popular wine bar and restaurant in historic downtown Milford has a quality menu and a big wine list. The signature crab cake and pan-roasted salmon are said to be must trys!

Boca

114 E. 6th St.,

This is said to be a reimagined dining experience where timeless technique & modern decadence come together to delight your culinary curiosity. It may seem a little expensive at first, but the quality is first-class and has a European feel.  

Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar

519 Main St.,Covington.

A friendly bistro that embraces local and sustainable farming methods that populate its menu.  Try the saffron risotto which includes asparagus, peas, mushrooms and parmesan which will tickle the tastebuds or share a board for something a little lighter. It may look small,  but it has an upstairs as well!  Top quality wine list and if you are hungover or tired out, then why not try the alcohol-free 'Painkiller' cocktail

 

Russian hackers target airlines in latest cyber attack.

Russian hackers could release the details of thousands of people employed by airlines British Airways and Aer Lingus, along with retail giant Boots and broadcaster BBC.  According to reports the cyber attack on Zellis, a payroll processing payroll company may have included personal data such as bank account numbers, names, addresses and national insurance numbers. 

The National Cyber Security Centre confirmed it was “working to fully understand the UK impact” of the hack which could stretch to hundreds of thousands of people. So far British Airways, Aer Lingus, Boots and BBC have confirmed they are affected by the breach. 

IAG airline, British Airways sent an urgent email to staff on Monday to advise them of the incident which could affect all 34,000 employees. The "cyber security incident which has led to the disclosure of personal information about colleagues paid through British Airways’ payroll in the UK and Ireland." the company said. 

The Irish carrier and also part of IAG, Aer Lingus, said details of current and former employees, including their national insurance numbers, had been stolen in the data breach, although a spokesperson assured: "no financial or bank details relating to Aer Lingus current or former employees were compromised in this incident."

According to the Telegraph the hackers hit Zellis through a backdoor system called MOVEit which is often used to move files. At this stage, the current attack is said to affect eight company customers of Zellis, yet the other four firms have not been disclosed.

Zellis issued the following statement "We can confirm that a small number of our customers have been impacted by this global issue and we are actively working to support them. All Zellis-owned software is unaffected and there are no associated incidents or compromises to any other part of our IT estate.

“Once we became aware of this incident we took immediate action, disconnecting the server that utilises MOVEit software and engaging an expert external security incident response team to assist with forensic analysis and ongoing monitoring. We have also notified the ICO, DPC, and the NCSC in both the UK and Ireland."

British Airways returns to Beijing.....

After a gap of more than three years, British Airways has returned to Beijing.

Yesterday British Airways completed its first flight passenger from London to Beijing since January 2020, when the route was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The resumption of services after a three-year gap reclaims the mantle of being the only British carrier operating a direct service between Beijing and the UK.

BA says the flights will operate four times a week between Beijing and London, departing Daxing Airport on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

British Airways and joint business partner China Southern both operate from Daxing, giving customers greater connectivity between the UK and China, with easier transfers, a wider choice of onward flights and enhanced benefits. Frequent flyer benefits through the joint business, include greater opportunities to collect points, the ability to book through both airlines’ websites or apps, enhanced lounge access and access to high-quality Chinese and British products and services in the air and on the ground.

To celebrate the long-awaited moment, Louise Street, British Airways’ Director of Worldwide Airports welcomed the inaugural flight, greeting customers and crew as they disembarked. Louise Street, said: “The restart of one of our most important routes after more than three years is a long-awaited moment for all of us at British Airways. Following the successful resumption of flights between Shanghai and London in April, we’re excited to be back in Beijing too, reuniting families and friends and facilitating international student and business travel once again. We are looking forward to working hand-in-hand with our joint business partner China Southern, to provide wider transit options and various benefits to our customers in China and the UK.”

Customers travelling between the two cities can enjoy the airline’s newly designed Club Suite (business class) cabin, with direct aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Boasting 40 per cent more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi, enviable 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens, high-definition gate-to-gate programming and PC / USB power, luxurious new furnishings including a plush new pillow and a warm quilt from The White Company, new amenity kits and an enhanced service and an improved dining experience.

In October 2019, British Airways was the first international flag carrier to move operations across to the newly opened, Daxing Airport, designed by British architect, the late Zaha Hadid. Customers flying into Daxing can benefit from a high-speed rail link into the city, and enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, including a newly re-designed lounge for those eligible.

IAG Cargo’s first freight between London and Cincinnati set to take off

IAG Cargo launches new route between London and Cincinnati – a first for the business

 The service will be operated by a British Airways Boeing 787-8 aircraft

 

IAG Cargo, has just announced it will be starting a new direct service between London-Heathrow and Cincinnati, Ohio for the first time in its history. 

From today, 5th June 2023, IAG Cargo customers will be able to export and import vital goods between London-Heathrow and Cincinnati, Ohio five days week during the summer months, and four times a week during the winder period. The route will be essential for the movement of e-commerce, a key source of revenue for the U.S generating $272.6 billion of revenue in the first quarter of 2023.

IAG Cargo's network, which spans six continents, wants to close the gap between North America and Europe by offering services between Cincinnati and London, two significant e-commerce centres.

Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo said: “The transatlantic corridor is one of the world’s most important trade lanes, and a vital part of our network and so we’re pleased to support our customers with a new route to Cincinnati. With this direct route from one of our key hubs, London, customers can benefit from our wider network that spans across six continents to transport the regions high in demand imports and exports.”

This new route supports IAG Cargo’s increased schedule into the United States, where the company now serves 27 US destinations. Popular items shipped across this trade lane have included high volumes of automotive parts from Southeast Asia, transferred via Europe, into the United States, as well as sporting equipment, food and drink and e-commerce items like home office equipment.

IAG Cargo's network, which spans six continents, wants to close the gap between North America and Europe by offering services between Cincinnati and London, two significant e-commerce centres.

The cargo division of the International Airlines Group (IAG) only recently opened a new cargo centre at London Heathrow that represents a major investment in boosting cargo services.  

Air101: Jenny Critchley joins IAG Cargo as Chief Transformation Officer

Air101: IAG Cargo boosts Latin America and Caribbean capacity for Summer season

British Airways has launched flights between London Heathrow and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen

British Airways has launched flights between London Heathrow and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen has become the latest destination to join British Airways’ network, with the inaugural flight touching down on the Anatolian side of Istanbul on Thursday 1 June 2023.

The new route between London Heathrow (LHR) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) will operate four times per week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays on a mix of A320 and A321 aircraft.

Increasing connectivities from Istanbul

Sabiha Gökçen Airport has become a hub adding three more destinations this June to its extensive network. These include London Heathrow (LHR), Rhodes (RHO) and Mytilene (MJT), Greece.

Sabiha Gökçen serves 154 destinations located across 51 countries via flights operated by 45 airlines. The first four months of 2023 saw the City Airport handle almost 14 million passenger movements.

To celebrate the airport’s namesake, the world’s first female fighter pilot, Ms Sabiha Gökçen herself, British Airways opted for an all-female flight crew, with Captain Jessica Telford and First Officer Kerry Bennett operating the inaugural flight.

British Airways’ Head of Corporate Sales in Europe, Elisabeth Ruff said: “As we continue our investment programme into new products, services, and technology, we’re excited to open up even greater connectivity between two of the world’s leading cities, Istanbul and London.”

Berk Albayrak, CEO, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, said: “British Airways has become the 45th airline to operate to Sabiha Gökçen and now our passengers can benefit from its extensive global route network. British Airways serves 200 destinations in more than 65 countries and with their large fleet and renowned services, the addition of this route will undoubtedly further enhance the travel experience of our guests.”

British Airways customers have access to one of the world’s most extensive flight networks, both domestically and internationally, offering flights to and from central airports at convenient times and through its sustainability programme, BA Better World, the airline is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

British Airways to be a key sponsor of American Express BST Festival

British Airways has partnered with American Express for the BST Festival, taking place in London in June and July.  

British Airways’ sponsorship deal will see the airline take brand ownership of The Rainbow Stage at the festival. The partnership will also see the creation of a new two-storey bar with a premium area, complete with a 360° photo opportunity that will transport fans to a travel destination of their choice.

Widening access to American Express presents BST Festival, British Airways will also present the cinema screenings at Open House, which will be free and accessible  to the public in the weeks between the concerts. Film fans will have the opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy the airline’s hospitality, as British Airways cabin crew keep them refreshed with essentials and snacks.

These activations will be created with LS Events, the production company responsible for American Express presents BST Festival, ensuring that they will be integrated organically within the wider event set up.

BA woes continue for another day...

It has been another day of mass disruption for thousands of British Airways passengers as the airline cancels 175 flights.

Following a massive IT issue on Thursday caused over 80 flights to be cancelled and led to many crews and aircraft in the wrong places to operate following flights. According to the airline,  most of the flights axed are domestic and European services, although there have been some issues reported of passengers being unable to check in via the carrier's app and website.

Today, around 175 flights have been cancelled and scores of others delayed and whilst the airline believes the situation is resolved, we expect some disruption will still occur tomorrow and even into Sunday. 

BA said: "While the vast majority of our flights continue to operate today, we have cancelled some of our short-haul flights from Heathrow due to the knock-on effect of a technical issue that we experienced yesterday."

The airline said it had picked to cancel flights to destinations where it had or there were more alternative flight arrangements. 

"We’ve apologised to customers whose flights have been affected and offered them the option to rebook to an alternative flight with us or another carrier, or request a refund."

New look British Airways uniform roll out has started.

                                                    British Airways has started the roll out of its brand-new uniform, with more than 5,000 colleagues working in the airline’s engineering, maintenance and airport operations teams across the world wearing the new garments this week. 

The uniform, designed by British, Ghanaian Saville Row fashion designer and master tailor, Ozwald Boateng OBE, will be worn by more than 30,000 of the airline’s colleagues in total, later this year. The next stage of the rollout will include British Airways’ cabin crew, pilots and customer-facing colleagues in September this year.

More than 128,000 garment items have been ordered by British Airways’ operational ground colleagues, with the new wardrobe offering more choices than ever before. The entire operational collection offers more than 20 unique garments, including a brand-new quilted jacket with a contemporary design featuring a bespoke airwave print. This unique airwave print is a consistent feature across garments in the collection. The jacket has a fleece lining and is showerproof, ensuring colleagues are kept warm and dry. Garments have also been designed with practicality in mind, including additional pockets for tools, detachable tool belts and gloves with touchscreen technology.

The entire collection was developed in collaboration with the airline’s colleagues over five years, with more than 1,500 colleagues across the airline volunteering their time to help shape the look and feel. Colleagues took part in more than 50 workshops from design workshops to prototype feedback and garment trials to help create the iconic British designs.

Premier digital finance firm Privat 3 Money announces British Airways campaign

Luxury HNW-focused fintech, Privat 3 Money (P3), has today announced a strategic marketing campaign with British Airways, one of the world's most iconic airlines.

Launching this summer, P3 will promote its innovative financial services on the digital screens within the airlines Gold, Concorde First Class and Arrivals lounges at Heathrow Airport. The brand will feature in BA's HighLife magazine and also launch its first video advert which will be shown as part of the airlines in-flight entertainment journey.

Founded in 2020, Privat 3 Money has revolutionised the premier digital finance industry, providing a truly digital alternative to traditional financial institutions. The firm has reimagined access to deposits, payments, foreign exchange and trading for the digital age, enabling financial transactions from anywhere in the world via smartphone whilst maintaining the personal customer service offering synonymous with traditional private finance.

Their unique understanding of client requirements has made them the banking alternative of choice for HNW individuals, and the partnership with British Airways is a further extension of the firm's global outlook and approach, enabling P3 to reach global citizens across the world.

Speaking about the announcement, P3's Founder & CEO Reda Bedjaoui expressed his excitement, saying: "We are thrilled to work with British Airways, a world-renowned airline with a shared commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences.

Our campaign will enable us to reach high-net-worth individuals both here in the UK, and those travelling on some of the airlines busiest routes and represents an exciting opportunity for Privat 3 Money to showcase our innovative financial services to a global audience.

We look forward to working together to deliver world-class service client experiences that reflect our shared values of excellence, innovation and customer-centricity."