Darlek at London Heathrow Airport....

British Airways customers were surprised to find a special out-of-this-world guest, a Dalek while travelling through Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on Friday.

Much to the surprise of those waiting in the Arrivals hall to meet loved ones, one of Doctor Who’s fearsome foes was seen keeping a watchful eye over British Airways’ arriving customers. The Dalek also mysteriously appeared in Departures where confused customers spotted one of the planet’s best-known villains checking in for a flight to Skaro, an extra-terrestrial destination that isn’t normally on British Airways’ route network.

The unscheduled arrival of the Dalek in British Airways’ home at Heathrow Terminal 5 marked the new partnership between British Airways and BBC Studios to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, which includes the launch of a dedicated Doctor Who inflight entertainment channel, available for all the airline’s customers travelling on long-haul flights from November 1. The new channel features 13 acclaimed episodes of the longest running science fiction television series in the world.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with the BBC’s Doctor Who to create a dedicated channel on our inflight entertainment system, another fantastic British Original partnership that we know our customers will love. This year alone we have doubled the amount of content available on our in-flight entertainment, and we are committed to continue to bring the best, out of this world, entertainment to the skies.” 

Sarah Bold, Head of Marketing, Scripted at BBC Studios, said: “Doctor Who has been inspiring and entertaining audiences globally for an incredible 60 years and we couldn’t miss this opportunity to bring two iconic British brands together in style to celebrate. Travellers and subscribers will be able to enjoy a curated collection of content and the tie in will reach millions of people throughout the partnership.”

The new Doctor Who inflight entertainment channel on board British Airways’ flights, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary, includes 13 different episodes from series 1-13. Alongside this, customers can enjoy up to *80+ box sets such as And Just Like that Season 2, plus 15+ classic franchises, including Back to the Future and The Matrix, and over *700 pieces of audio, including BBC Proms 2023 Classics and UK true-crime podcast They Walk Among Us. In November, customers can enjoy new release movies such as Scrapper, a British Comedy/Drama, The Haunted Mansion or Meg 2: The Trench.

Doctor Who returns from November 25th on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ for the rest of the world, with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary.

The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period in 2023. Ncuti Gatwa also features in British Airways’ latest safety video.

Doctor Who is one of the longest running action-adventure television series in the world spanning 60 years and winning over 100 awards. This quintessentially British show has a huge global following, with 9.6m fans across social platforms/channels and 100m video views on YouTube in the last year alone. It has been honoured by Guinness World Records as the longest running science-fiction series in the world. Doctor Who has a proven track-record in consumer products and live entertainment with over four and a half million Sonic Screwdrivers sold in the past eleven years, over 13 million action figures sold since 2005, over 19 million DVDs sold globally and over one million tickets sold for live events.

British Airways has completed the final phase of its Heathrow Terminal 6 lounge refresh

British Airways has completed the final phase of its lounge refresh, located at London Heathrow Terminal 5’s B gates, with a range of improvements for customers to enjoy ahead of their flight.

The airline has introduced new features in its T5B lounge for its premium customers*, including a live food preparation area with brand-new seasonal menu options. Customers can watch their meals being garnished with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

British Airways has completed the final phase of its lounge refresh at London Heathrow Terminal 5B, introducing a new servery area, deli station, updated furniture and a quiet zone

Customers who wish to help themselves to food can select from a range of hot and cold dishes that are available in the airline’s redesigned deli area. The new deli station offers more choice than ever before, including a range of breakfast treats, sandwiches and light bites.

Elsewhere in the lounge, the airline introduced new bespoke furniture, flooring and soft furnishings, to bring an elevated look and feel to the lounge. The airline has also introduced a quiet zone for those who wish to relax pre-flight.

The completion of the airline’s lounge refresh follows the unveiling of British Airways' exclusive Whispering Angel bar earlier in the summer. The airline’s customers travelling through its lounge can enjoy a chilled glass of the famous rose ahead of their trip.

British Airways also recently refreshed its First and Club (business class) lounges at London Heathrow Terminal 3. The Club lounge now features a new bar with new furniture and in the airline's First lounge customers will find an exclusive Concorde Bar and dining area.

The airline has also installed a brand-new bar in its First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. Customers will be able to order a range of premium drinks from bubbles to mocktails, all selected by the airline’s Master of Wine.

British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “We know that the airport experience is an important part of the journey for our customers, especially our premium customers, and we’re always listening to their feedback.

British Airways has also installed a brand-new bar in its First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5, to elevate the premium experience for customers

"We want to ensure we offer something for everyone using our lounges, whether that’s providing an area for those who wish to relax, catch up on work or somewhere for our customers to enjoy our British Original-inspired dishes. We hope these changes go a long way in making a difference to our customers’ experience before their flight.”

On board, British Airways has introduced brand-new snack boxes to all its long-haul flights for customers travelling in World Traveller (economy) and World Traveller Plus (premium economy). This includes a selection of sweet and savoury treats for customers to choose from, such as chocolates, biscuits and popcorn. The tuck box will be passed through the cabin by the airline’s cabin crew colleagues and offered to customers as a mid-flight snack, offering more choice on board.

The airline recently announced improvements across its other lounges, with new furniture added to its Concorde Room and Arrivals lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. Day beds will also be coming to its Concorde Room later this year. Elsewhere, British Airways is implementing new touches to its Edinburgh lounge in the coming months, as well as a brand-new bar and an enhanced menu offering in its Seattle lounge next year.

Most recently, the airline announced that it has created the ultimate martini in its Concorde Room, in partnership with mixologist Mr Lyan and designed by engineering experts, Bremont and CALLUM.

 

Two of the UK's major airports confirm that they have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac)

The two busiest UK airports, London's Heathrow and Gatwick have both confirmed they have the porous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) which is at the centre of the school building controversy.

A spokesperson for Gatwick confirmed the airport carries out regular inspections on the Raac concrete at the airport and the last one was completed in June which did not present any concerns.  "We have a register of locations containing Raac on the airport campus, which are closely monitored through a regular comprehensive structural inspection regime."

London Heathrow said it was "assessing our estate and will continue to mitigate the risk where this material is found". Some areas of Terminal 3 have Racc and the airport's management had already put in mitigation measures to make it safe. The airport confirmed it had the means to keep it safe until "permanent solutions" were able to be introduced. A spokesperson added, "Passenger and colleague safety will always be our first priority, and we will continue to update stakeholders across the sector as our plans for permanent solutions progress."

Two London airports in the worst European flight hubs for delays this month

• Two in five (41%) of London Gatwick outgoing flights are delayed and nearly 1 in 3 (28%) of planes from London Heathrow have arrived late. 
• Almost half (49%) of flights from Frankfurt were delayed - the highest figures across the whole of Europe.
• Travel expert shares tips for navigating and keeping stress low during this turbulent summer holiday season.

London Gatwick has seen the second-highest number of delays across the whole of Europe, with over two in five outgoing flights arriving late (41%) at the beginning of August, according to data analysed by flights comparison site, FlightsFinder.

The capital also took another seat on the delays list with London Heathrow being the sixth worst on the continent as a result of almost 1 in 3 (28%) of its outward planes being held up. 

Taking the top spot overall though is Frankfurt International Airport, with a whopping half (49%) of flights delayed. 

39% of flights were delayed at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy CDG, positioning it in third place, closely followed by Paris Orly in fourth place with 38% delayed and Istanbul Airport in fifth with 33%.

Making up the eight European airports experiencing the most delays at the start of this month are Vienna Int'l and Pôle Caraïbes (PTP), both with 26% of flights delayed.

European airports aren’t the only ones tackling difficulties at the moment though. An average of 30,000 global flights are delayed every single day Forbes reveals - a staggering number considering that this is almost a third of the estimated 100,000 flights each day worldwide.

In fact, flight delays have soared to a 10-year high in 2023 according to Flight Aware. 

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone to expand at the end of August to include Heathrow Airport

From 29th August this year, London's controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone - ULEZ, is expanding to cover almost all of Greater London, which means it will then also include the UK's number one airport, Heathrow.  

According to Transport for London (TfL), commanded by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the massive expansion is aimed at reducing air pollution in London and according to a spokesperson for the Labour Mayor, dealing with "issues such as the high number of deaths - up to 4,000 a year - linked to toxic air in London every year."

From 29th August vehicles entering the airport must meet certain emissions standards in order to avoid paying a daily charge.  The daily charge for non-compliant vehicles is £12.50 for most vehicles, including cars, vans, and motorcycles when driven in the new zone.  You won't be charged the daily ULEZ rate if your car is just parked at the airport, only when it is driven in, out or around the zone.

The charge will be in addition to any other fees or charges associated with entering the airport, such as the drop-off/pick up £5 flat fee or car parking charges.  Don't think you can get away with it by using Meet & Greet or Valet Parking with a non-compliant vehicle, you'll still be charged, plus if you have selected a different exit terminal to your entry terminal, you will be liable for payment of a ULEZ charge to transfer your vehicle to another terminal.

In recent days Sadiq Khan's deputy and a scientist the mayor's office helps to fund have been accused of working together in a coordinated way to try and criticise, attack and question any research that questions the effectiveness of ULEZ.

TfL and the mayor had previously been accused of misleading the public regarding the results of a 10-week consultation period which saw the younger sectors of the population of London targeted in an effort to garner more support for the expansion of the zone. Plus, according to some reports, 58,000  consultation responses were discarded, one can only surmise that might be because they didn't match Khan's narrative on the issue.   

According to Ross Lydall in the Evening Standard, between 2017 and 2022, some  56 settlement agreements, or silencing deals were signed with former staff costing taxpayers £1,068,757. Of these, the paper says, 41 staff worked directly or indirectly for Sadiq Khan. 

At this moment, it is unclear if the large number of non-compliant lorries and airport vehicles working air-side at the airport will have to pay the daily charge and airlines can breathe a sigh of relief, ULEZ only applies to vehicles driven on the roads,  not flying above them.

NATS to deploy new back-up control tower at Heathrow

Plans for a brand-new contingency control tower at Heathrow have been agreed, with NATS contracted to deliver the installation and transition of the new operations room.

Work on the new Virtual Contingency Facility (VCF), which is due to be operational in 2025, has already commenced. It replaces the existing back up ‘tower’ and represents a major investment by Heathrow, providing added resilience to the airport operation and protection to the nation’s aviation infrastructure.

The original VCF – based in an undisclosed location off the airport – was a world first in 2009. A windowless recreation of the main control tower, it has meant the airport could operate at around 70% of full capacity should it ever be required.

The new state-of-the-art facility will be based at the airport and will initially match its predecessor’s operational capacity, however, NATS and Heathrow are working together to seek to increase the capability of the VCF to enable it to operate at 100% during a second phase of the project. Live images from ultra-high-definition cameras would provide controllers with views allowing them to work as normal and keeping the airport fully operational.

Kelly Stone, Head of Airport Operations, Heathrow said: “Ensuring Heathrow’s operations are resilient when responding to disruption is a priority for the business and sits at the heart of Heathrow’s vision, aspiring to deliver the very best airport service in the world. Investing in a state-of-the-art Virtual Contingency Facility with NATS provides us with confidence that passenger journeys will still go ahead even if our business-as-usual operating plans are disrupted.”

While the original VCF has never been used in the event of an incident, the NATS control tower team does have regular exercises designed to simulate closing down the operation in the main tower and transferring to the contingency facility, with the aim being able to do so within a few hours of it being required.

Pete Glass, NATS General Manager for Air Traffic Services at Heathrow, added: “The air traffic control operation is vital to the safe and efficient running of the airport and given how important Heathrow is, not just to the UK but to global aviation, it’s right that it has an industry-leading level of operational resilience. In the anticipated second phase we have a chance to deploy some of the latest technologies to ensure that remains the case, just as we did with the original Virtual Contingency Facility 14 years ago.”

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.

AIPUT completes and lets net Zero Heathrow warehouse to EFL Global

The letting at AIPUT’s Blackthorne Point campus demonstrates the health of the occupier market around Heathrow, a vital logistics gateway to serve London and the South East

 AIPUT (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has this week announced that it has let the newly completed ‘Black Arrow’ warehouse at its Blackthorne Point logistics campus, part of the Poyle Trading Estate to the west of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (T5).  The site is the first UK logistics base for international freight forwarder, EFL Global, who are in growth mode.  This transaction reinforces the health of the occupier market and the strong international appetite for high-quality modern warehouse space around Heathrow and West London.  

The new warehouse building will be operationally net zero and incorporates a range of environmental initiatives including roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and other Low and Zero Carbon technologies, which together will deliver a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions over building regulation requirements. Black Arrow is projected to achieve a minimum of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A+’ ratings and has been constructed in accordance with AIPUT’s Pathway to Net Zero strategy, which seeks to decarbonise the fund’s operations and its logistics portfolio by 2040. 

The UK's worst ranked airports for cancellations.....

UK’s airports ranked on performance ahead of summer holidays

220m passed through UK airports in 2022

Glasgow cancelled the most flights with 1,500 in 2022

Belfast & Stansted were reliable with only 0.8% & 0.7% of flights cancelled

The latest research by tax specialists, RIFT, reveals that while Heathrow may be the UK’s busiest major airport, Brits heading abroad this summer are best to avoid Glasgow Airport, as it ranks as the worst when it comes to the proportion of flights being cancelled.

RIFT analysed the number of annual flights and cancellations at each of the UK’s 10 busiest airports to see which provides the most efficient service to passengers. 

Last year (2022), a combined total of 221.8 million passengers passed through the UK’s 10 busiest airports. 

28%, or 61.6 million, of these people travelled through Heathrow, making it the busiest airport in the nation. 

Gatwick handled 32.8 million passengers (15%), while Manchester and Stansted (10.5%) each served an estimated 23.3 million passengers (11%).

However, when it comes to the possibility of flight cancellations throwing a spanner in the works for UK holidaymakers, it’s Glasgow Airport that is most likely to kick off your holiday on a sour note. 

In 2022 2.5% of all flights from Glasgow were cancelled and while this might not seem like many, it equates to almost 1,500 cancellations. 

Heathrow does rank second when it comes to the frequency of cancelled flights. Of the 367,000 flights that were due to take off last year, Heathrow saw a cancellation rate of 1.7% or 6,391 flights.

Gatwick (3,472) and Edinburgh (1,363) also rank high with 1.6% of flights taken off the board.

Meanwhile, Birmingham airport handled almost 69,000 flights in 2022 and managed a cancellation rate of just 0.6%, equivalent to less than 400 flights. 

Stansted (0.7%) and Belfast International (0.8%) were also impressively reliable. 

Check the tables online here RIFT Holiday cancellations and passports 

What to do if your flight is cancelled

If your flight is cancelled, you have a legal right to either a full refund or a replacement flight to your intended destination. 

If you are halfway through a journey and the cancelled flight is, for example, a connecting flight, you also have the right to a free flight back to the airport you originally departed from. 

If a cancellation delays your journey for more than two hours, and occurs less than 14 days before the scheduled flight time, you are also entitled to compensation to cover your costs, such as food or accommodation when required. 

Compensation ranges between £100-£500 depending on how many miles the cancelled flight was going to take you and how many hours late your eventual arrival was. 

Be passport prepared

While cancelled flights are a common cause of holiday frustration and disappointment, it’s more common for holidays to be disrupted by passport issues. 

If your passport is out of date, it needs renewing before you can travel. The timeline for receiving a new passport is around 12-29 days after submitting your application. But His Majesty’s Passport Office recommends you allow for a waiting time of 10 weeks. 

What’s really important to know is that even if your passport is within its expiry date, it still might not be valid depending on your destination of choice. 

Some countries, such as the US, simply require your passport to be in-date for the duration of your trip, but many popular destinations require you to have at least three months left on your passport, including Spain, Greece, Italy, and France.

Anyone who isn’t aware of this can be in for a nasty surprise when they get to the airport and cancelled flights will be the least of your worries. 

Be prepared and make sure you check the rules specific to your destination well ahead of travelling. 

Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, commented: “Given how many flights leave UK airports every day, it’s fair to say that the industry is highly efficient and reliable with cancellations kept at a minimum. 

In fact, if your holiday is going to get scuppered at the airport, it’s far more likely to be a passenger error than an airline error. Forgotten passports and out of date passports are always going to be leading contributors to ruined holidays. 

You’ve got to double check your passport well before you travel. And don’t forget, when a flight is cancelled by the airline, there’s a good chance of getting your money back. But if it’s your own fault that you can’t travel as planned, you’re not going to get any compensation whatsoever.”

Loganair celebrates a month of London Heathrow operations

It is just a little over a month since Scotland's airline - which is actually one of the best UK regional carriers, launched its flights to and from London Heathrow,

The services from key regional airports, which are so often underserved by the airline industry are a significant upgrade in connectivity across the British Isles and can provide a lifeline for the business community as well as leisure passengers.

Since starting the services and the celebrations at Dundee Airport, Loganair has carried over 15,000 people from regional destinations to London's premier hub airport, many for the very first time.  This is a key ingredient in connecting the whole of the UK as well as enhancing Heathrow's attractiveness as a global hub. 

In recent times, there has also been a major enhancement to Heathrow's own connectivity to the city of London and beyond. The Elizabeth Line has made travel from west to east easier than ever, with a single train from Terminal 2 to Paddington, Oxford Street, Canary Wharf and right through to Shenfield in Essex. More than 150 million journeys have been taken across the Elizabeth line in its first year since opening on 24 May 2022, with around 600,000 journeys taking place on weekdays. Plus there is also the Heathrow Express, taking just  15 minutes to Paddington station.

Fly from the City of Derry, Isle of Man, Dundee, Sumburgh and Kirkwall to London Heathrow with Loganair. 

Flight Tickets to London | Loganair

Heathrow launches consultation on updated Noise Action Plan

Heathrow launches consultation on proposals for the 2024-2028 Noise Action Plan

Plan aims to deliver quieter nights and flights for local residents

Heathrow’s local residents are invited to have their say during the six-week consultation

 

Heathrow has launched a public consultation on new proposals for its next Noise Action Plan which will aim to deliver quieter nights and quieter flights for local residents.  

Heathrow is a great asset to the local area, providing high-quality jobs, business opportunities and outreach within the community. The airport also recognises and works to mitigate some of the negative impacts its operation can have on those who live closest, as part of our role as being a responsible neighbour.

Getting local resident feedback on the new proposals in our latest Noise Action Plan will help us deliver a plan that works best for our communities.  

The new plan will be introduced in 2024 and will run until 2028. It is designed to focus on measures to improve the wellbeing of communities, by increasing actions to help reduce the impact of noise. Included are proposals that will help reduce sleep disturbance from night flights, like the Quiet Night Charter and better management of night-time ground noise.  

Heathrow security officers target leisure travellers with strike days designed to ruin summer

The Unite Union representing security officers are the UK's busiest airport London Heathrow, has chosen to attack mostly leisure travellers in a mammoth series of strike days. 

The union says this is a "major escalation" in its pay battle with the airport and will see more than 2000 officers strike for 31 days between 24th June and 27th August. With all days set to target mostly leisure travellers, disrupting weekends at the start of school summer holidays.

The strike action by staff, who have already rejected a 10.1% pay rise also coincides with the Eid festival on 28th, 29th and 30th June as well as the usually busy August bank holiday weekend - 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th August. Rather than affecting business, the union seems to have targeted days that will affect leisure travellers and families going on holiday, many of whom will not have been offered such a high pay rise this year. 

The dates of the strikes are:

24, 25, June

28, 29 and 30 June

14, 15, 16, July

21, 22, 23, 24, July

28, 29, 30, 31 July

4, 5, 6 , 7 August

11, 12, 13, 14, August

18, 19, 20 August

24, 25, 26, 27 August.

These strikes are likely to cause mass disruption and hundreds of cancelled flights affecting many thousands of travellers directly as well as many more indirectly. The walkout will also affect the safe operation of the airport leaving Heathrow open to attack. 

The airport has said it will do all it can to minimise disruption during the strike action, a spokesperson told the media  "Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.

The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite's strikes. There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues if only Unite would allow them to have a say".

British Airways is understood to be in the planning stages of axing more than 100 flights over the strike days and at this time it is unclear if any other airlines will cancel flights. 

The strikes are coming at a difficult time for the airport, which has already reported losses of nearly £140 million during just the first three months of the year, with expected losses to be more than £500 million by the end of the year. 

Passengers affected by disruption and cancellations because of a strike by security officers will not be entitled to compensation from the airline they were due to travel on because such events are described as extraordinary circumstances. 

"These strikes are dangerous and cause more anger and aggression towards other staff who work at the airport." one Heathrow worker told us in an email. "Unite has specifically targeted weekends so it can cause havoc to ordinary people because it believes it has their support. They've been designed to ruin summer for those with the least in their pockets"

John Holland-Kaye to leave London Heathrow Airport

After nine years the CEO of London's Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye is stepping down, the airport confirmed today.  His last day at the helm of the UK's busiest airport has yet to be confirmed, but will be this year the board has said.

The Chair of Heathrow Airport, Lord Deighton said:  “John has been an extraordinary leader of Heathrow. During the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with shareholders, Ministers, airlines and other stakeholders to ensure the country can be proud of its 'front door'. The Board would like to put on record our gratitude to John for his dedication and commitment to Heathrow throughout his tenure as CEO.”

The hunt for a replacement has now been started, but in order to ensure a smooth handover, John Holland-Kaye will remain as CEO until his successor starts in post.

In a statement, the airport's board said it 'would like to thank John for his exceptional leadership since 2014, building a strong management team, developing a consumer-focused culture, improving cost efficiency and putting Heathrow at the forefront of global aviation’s decarbonisation. The transformation of the airport during John’s time as CEO has been recognised as Heathrow won a number of significant awards including: Sunday Times top 30 employer; one of the top 10 airports in the world (voted by passengers); and edie’s Sustainable Business of the Year Award.

Three of the most significant successes of John’s tenure were the development of the plan for Heathrow expansion that secured overwhelming Parliamentary approval, successfully navigating the business through the COVID-19 crisis and the recovery in demand, and his leadership in putting aviation firmly on course for net zero by 2050.'

Heathrow boss stepping down.....

After nine years the CEO of London's Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye is stepping down, the airport confirmed today.  His last day at the helm of the UK's busiest airport has yet to be confirmed, but will be this year the board has said.

The Chair of Heathrow Airport, Lord Deighton said:  “John has been an extraordinary leader of Heathrow. During the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with shareholders, Ministers, airlines and other stakeholders to ensure the country can be proud of its 'front door'. The Board would like to put on record our gratitude to John for his dedication and commitment to Heathrow throughout his tenure as CEO.”

The hunt for a replacement has now been started, but in order to ensure a smooth handover, John Holland-Kaye will remain as CEO until his successor starts in post.

In a statement, the airport's board said it 'would like to thank John for his exceptional leadership since 2014, building a strong management team, developing a consumer-focused culture, improving cost efficiency and putting Heathrow at the forefront of global aviation’s decarbonisation. The transformation of the airport during John’s time as CEO has been recognised as Heathrow won a number of significant awards including: Sunday Times top 30 employer; one of the top 10 airports in the world (voted by passengers); and edie’s Sustainable Business of the Year Award.

Three of the most significant successes of John’s tenure were the development of the plan for Heathrow expansion that secured overwhelming Parliamentary approval, successfully navigating the business through the COVID-19 crisis and the recovery in demand, and his leadership in putting aviation firmly on course for net zero by 2050.'

Aer Lingus shifts London - Knock service from Gatwick to Heathrow

Aer Lingus has announced a shift away from London Gatwick to London Heathrow for its Ireland West Airport Knock service, which aims to support connectivity for the West and boost the local economy and tourism. The change takes effect from 26th March 2023 and will operate daily. Customers already booked on this route to/from Gatwick will be automatically rebooked on a same-day flight.*

The majority of visitors to Ireland are from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%), and this new route aims to boost direct and connecting inbound tourism to the West.[1] Aer Lingus aims to take advantage of the growing trend of screen tourism, which Tourism Ireland has identified as a key opportunity for 2023, with films like the Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the West of Ireland to a global audience.[2] Ireland West Airport is also a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, with nine of the fifteen signature discovery points located within a 60-80 minute drive from the airport.

The announcement reinforces Aer Lingus’s commitment to Ireland West Airport Knock, as the airport continues to rebound after Covid, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% last year, reaching 89% of the record-breaking year of 2019[3].

Aer Lingus expects that the convenience of London Heathrow’s location will drive additional point-to-point demand and increased connecting traffic.  Reid Moody Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus said: "With a direct service to one of Europe’s busiest airports, customers from the West will now be able to easily connect from Heathrow to destinations right across the globe. The service will also drive inbound tourism at a time when interest in visiting the West of Ireland is very high, with the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the beauty of the West of Ireland to millions of people globally.”

Welcoming the news, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, of Ireland West Airport commented:   "This is a major development for the West and Northwest regions as it opens up key onward connectivity, through one of Europe’s biggest hubs, to over 80 destinations worldwide. The hub status of Heathrow for businesses to connect with the global marketplace is a potential game changer for this region, and from a tourism perspective, the service will deliver a significant increase in tourism visits from all corners of the globe. I have no doubt the service will get huge support from the business community and leisure travellers both here and abroad and we thank Aer Lingus for this strong vote of confidence in the airport and West of Ireland region.”

[1] https://www.tourismireland.com/docs/default-source/visitor-facts-and-figures/visitor-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=d5913554_1

[2] https://www.tourismireland.com/news-and-press-releases/press-releases/article/tourism-ireland-launches-2023-marketing-plans

[3] https://www.irelandwestairport.com/news/ireland-west-airport-reports-strong-performance-in-2022-as-722k-passengers-use-the-airport

More than 80 flights cancelled at Heathrow....

Scores of flights have been cancelled or delayed at London Heathrow this morning due to the freezing fog that has enveloped the UK's busiest international airport.

The airport's largest carrier, British Airways, has cancelled around 80 of its own flights this morning the largest carrier at the UK's busiest airport, has axed around 80 flights and 'apologised to customers whose flights have been affected" and said it was "doing everything we can to get them on their way as quickly as possible".

The Meteorological office has indicated that the warning for fog will last until 11:00 at the earliest and could continue to affect operations later in the day.

A spokesperson for the airport said "While there may be minor changes to schedules as a result of the weather, we want to reassure passengers that our colleagues are working in close collaboration with our airline and air traffic control partners to get them safely away on their journeys as quickly as possible," 

A number of flights that were due to arrive at Heathrow over the course of last night and this morning have also been delayed because of the conditions at the airport, some as much as 12 hours. 

London Gatwick has not experienced the same level is weather related disruption with most flights arriving or departing on time. 

JetBlue to add extra daytime flight from JFK to LHR

Additional Heathrow Slots Allow JetBlue to Offer Customers a More Diverse Schedule of Flying Between the U.S. and the U.K.

New York's hometown airline, JetBlue has launched a programme to enhance its transatlantic operations to London with a new daytime flight option.

Starting March 25, 2023, the carrier is going to be offering a new morning departure from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).  This will give travellers the all-new option to arrive in the United Kingdom the same day they depart the United States. 

The new flight is a direct result of JetBlue obtaining an additional pair of slots at Heathrow, further enhancing the carrier's presence at the U.K.’s busiest airport.

JetBlue is currently the only U.S. carrier to serve both Gatwick and Heathrow, offering customers on both sides of the Atlantic greater choice and convenience. JetBlue’s multi-airport approach in London, with diversified flying at two of the U.K.’s busiest airports, has already allowed the airline to grow a meaningful customer base of loyal transatlantic fliers and build valuable relationships with key teams at both airports.

JetBlue flights between the U.S. and London feature premium Mint suites and the airline’s award-winning core seats. JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach (a), on-demand entertainment on every seatback, free and fast Fly-Fi broadband internet (b), complimentary snacks and soft drinks, and great customer service. JetBlue’s entrance into the transatlantic has introduced a new era of customer-focused, low-fare travel for leisure and business travellers.

Customers in both core and Mint can stay connected throughout the flight, with JetBlue being the only airline to offer all travellers unlimited, free high-speed wi-fi on flights between the U.S. and the U.K. Additionally, customers have access to a curated selection of seatback entertainment, allowing customers to have a multiple screen experience onboard – just like they do at home.

JetBlue's transatlantic services to London enhanced......

Additional Heathrow Slots Allow JetBlue to Offer Customers a More Diverse Schedule of Flying Between the U.S. and the U.K.

New York's hometown airline, JetBlue has launched a programme to enhance its transatlantic operations to London with a new daytime flight option.

Starting March 25, 2023, the carrier is going to be offering a new morning departure from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).  This will give travellers the all-new option to arrive in the United Kingdom the same day they depart the United States. 

The new flight is a direct result of JetBlue obtaining an additional pair of slots at Heathrow, further enhancing the carrier's presence at the U.K.’s busiest airport.

JetBlue is currently the only U.S. carrier to serve both Gatwick and Heathrow, offering customers on both sides of the Atlantic greater choice and convenience. JetBlue’s multi-airport approach in London, with diversified flying at two of the U.K.’s busiest airports, has already allowed the airline to grow a meaningful customer base of loyal transatlantic fliers and build valuable relationships with key teams at both airports.

JetBlue flights between the U.S. and London feature premium Mint suites and the airline’s award-winning core seats. JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach (a), on-demand entertainment on every seatback, free and fast Fly-Fi broadband internet (b), complimentary snacks and soft drinks, and great customer service. JetBlue’s entrance into the transatlantic has introduced a new era of customer-focused, low-fare travel for leisure and business travellers.

Customers in both core and Mint can stay connected throughout the flight, with JetBlue being the only airline to offer all travellers unlimited, free high-speed wi-fi on flights between the U.S. and the U.K. Additionally, customers have access to a curated selection of seatback entertainment, allowing customers to have a multiple screen experience onboard – just like they do at home.