British Airways has confirmed that it will soon be offering its first class service on four of its Caribbean routes from London Gatwick.
The airline’s premium cabin, complete with a 60% wider seat, private wardrobes and personal electronic blinds, will be available on flights on Boeing 777-200 aircrafts to Barbados, Bermuda, St Lucia and Port of Spain in Trinidad from July 30.
The food and drink options on offer in BA’s World Traveller Plus premium economy cabin on long-haul flights from Gatwick have also been improved and Colm Lacy, BA’s head of commercial at the airport, is delighted with the changes.
“These are significant steps forward for our premium customers at Gatwick,” he said.
“The introduction of the new First cabin means our customers can enjoy the very best travel experience British Airways has to offer.”
Passengers in World Traveller Plus premium economy also get a welcome drink prior to take-off and a selection of two entrees from the Club World menu as well as bigger seats with adjustable headrests, lumbar support and leg rests.
Flights operate between Gatwick and Piarco Airport in Port of Spain, LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda, Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown and Hewanorra Airport in St Lucia on most days.
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Travellers yearning for a taste of the exotic this summer could find their dream holiday within reach, according to Caribbean tour operators.
Airlines keen to boost demand for flights to the region, together with hoteliers ready to lower off-peak rates, means that prices over the next few weeks could fall to remarkably low levels. Virgin and British Airways are just two of the airlines that have been running special promotions, and many of the package deals include airport transfers once you arrive at your destination.
“We’re seeing particularly good deals through all operators to the Caribbean over the next six weeks,” said Paula Whitehead, managing director at Elite Island Resorts.
“As European destinations hit peak prices during July and August, the Caribbean can be terrific value at this time, with prices significantly lower than they are in the British winter months.”
She added: “Many resorts – including St James’s Club and The Verandah in Antigua – are doing more to attract families this summer, with child-friendly menus, storytelling workshops, cookery classes and bigger children’s clubs.”
Examples of offers already available include a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the four-star Almond Beach Club & Spa in Barbados, departing from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic, for £995; and a similar deal at the four-star Smugglers Cove in St Lucia at the end of August for £899. Both offers are available from Hayes & Jarvis.
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British Airways services have restarted between London Heathrow and Northern Ireland after a gap of more than a decade.
The carrier took over the route after recently acquiring its competitor BMI.
The International Airline Group (IAG), which owns BA, now has increased control over Heathrow landing slots due to the deal.
Businesses in Northern Ireland, along with globe trotters, are regular users of the George Best Belfast City Airport to Heathrow route.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said: “I am delighted today to see the British Airways colours back in Belfast.
“I publicly committed to serving Belfast if we acquired additional runway slots at Heathrow and the acquisition of BMI has given us the perfect opportunity to make that happen.”
Mr Walsh said BA saw just how important the London Heathrow to Northern Ireland link was to the economy in the country.
“Belfast is now part of our global network so this is good news for the economy,” Mr Walsh added.
“It will provide much needed access to key global markets, supporting more inward investment and jobs.”
The schedule’s summer service will remain at six daily return flights, but BA will increase the regularity of flights from October in its winter schedule, adding one more service each day.
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British Airways has announced a new service connecting Gatwick Airport with Las Vegas from October 29.
Flights will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and depart Gatwick Airport at 11.30am. The return flight will leave McCarran Airport at 3.55pm.
British Airways said the flights will be operated by a three-cabin Boeing 777, which will include a Club World cabin with flat beds.
Return fares start from £722 for a World Traveller ticket, rising to £1,100 for a World Traveller Plus ticket and £3,550 for a Club World premium ticket.
The new service means that British Airways will operate a total of 10 flights a week to Las Vegas from Heathrow and Gatwick Airport.
Colm Lacy, British Airways’ head of commercial at Gatwick, said: “Las Vegas has proved to be an incredibly popular year-round destination from Heathrow so we are delighted to now be able to offer the route from Gatwick as well.
“This is the kind of destination our leisure customers at Gatwick are looking for and it will complement our existing USA and long-haul leisure network.”
Las Vegas is likely to become a popular new route at Gatwick Airport, as new figures show that 3.5 million people visited the city in March, an increase of 100,000 people compared to the same month last year.
Copyright Press Association 2012
British Airways has started flights on a new route from Heathrow Airport to the Italian city of Bologna.
The new daily service left Heathrow for the first time at 9.30am on April 29, and will depart for northern Italy at that time throughout the year.
It is hoped the route will help ease the burden on Gatwick Airport, which currently has 20 Bologna-bound British Airways’ flights per day.
Situated in the Emilia-Romagna region of the country, Bologna is one of the most picturesque cities in northern Italy.
Holidaymakers can sample coffee shops, bars, or even some authentic Bolognese sauce at one of the restaurants on the Piazza Maggiore, which is one of the largest squares in the old part of the city.
The Piazza Maggiore and the surrounding area is inspired by the Renaissance period, with its legacy in plain sight at Palazzo D’Accursio situated nearby.
Just around the corner is the iconic town hall, which boasts a large collection of art produced by a variety of famous Italian painters.
If you prefer the countryside, then why not venture slightly outside town to the medieval town of Dozza.
The small cobbled streets and brightly decorated buildings make the sleepy town of Dozza the perfect option for a day trip.
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An environmentally friendly Boeing jet has been given the once over by representatives from airlines that have placed an order for their own models.
The “green” 787 Dreamliner has been shown off at Heathrow Airport, with Thomson Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic sending reps in to check out the plane before they add them to the fleets.
The new craft will be added by the airlines over the coming months, meaning that holidaymakers can worry less about the environmental impact of their flights. However, there are still many things to arrange before jetting off, and sorting out airport transfers in advance is one less thing to fret over.
The Heathrow visit was the first UK stop on a global tour for the new Boeing plane, which began carrying passengers late last year. It will also make appearances at Gatwick and Manchester.
Both Thomson and British Airways take delivery of the new planes next year, meaning holidaymakers flying via the airlines can look forward to a green journey.
Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways, said: “As the UK’s third largest airline, it is a major coup for Thomson Airways to be the first UK airline to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
“We will be flying the aircraft in our summer 2013 programme from four UK airports – giving holidaymakers from across the country the chance to travel on this amazing new aircraft.”
An airline has become the first to operate direct flights from Hong Kong to Gatwick Airport near London.
Hong Kong Airlines flew its first plane on March 7 and will run daily flights to and from the administrative region of China.
Passengers on the route are flown during the night on a 116-seater plane, which includes 34 flat-bed seats and 82 business-class seats.
The new service can also be linked to Stansted Airport for connecting flights elsewhere, by catching the London to Stansted bus.
Although Hong Kong Airlines is the only company to fly direct to Gatwick, five other companies operate flights direct from Hong Kong to nearby Heathrow Airport in west London, providing some indirect competition.
Six flights are run every day from Heathrow to Hong Kong by Qantas, five by Air New Zealand, four by Cathay Pacific, two by British Airways and one by Virgin Atlantic.
Qantas however will be stopping its Hong Kong-Heathrow flights there at the end of March.
Hong Kong Airlines spokesman Gerard Clarke said: “We have gained a reputation for outstanding service over the past five years and we look forward to extending this to our new flagship route, connecting two global business capitals of the world.
“The concept for the all club-class aircraft will provide passengers with a private jet-style ambience and an exceptional crew-to-guest ratio.
“And we are confident that we have the right knowledge and experience to make a success of the new all-club-class daily service.”
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Travellers heading to Mumbai will once again be able to travel on Virgin Atlantic after the airline announced it was restarting its service to the Indian city.
Sir Richard Branson’s carrier will begin flights from Heathrow Airport to Mumbai from October 28, three years after suspending its service due to falling interest and ever increasing competition from rival airlines.
However, demand has flourished in the intervening years to make the destination Heathrow’s 12th busiest route, seeing as many as one million people head to the commercial and entertainment centre every year. Air India and British Airways already serve the Heathrow to Mumbai route.
The Airbus A330 aircraft will fly daily along the route for Virgin, and the new move is expected to create around 100 jobs both in India and the UK.
“We are proud to be flying to Mumbai again, linking this wonderful city to our key destinations of London, New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago,” said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway.
“India’s phenomenal growth continues to drive travel to the UK and the USA and we know our passengers are going to love the connections the new flight offers.”
Those flying on the aircraft will be able to enjoy Panasonic’s latest in-flight entertainment system, which includes easy-to-use touchscreen technology and over 300 hours of content.
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A survey has revealed that Britons tend to err on the side of caution and pack more than they need when going on holiday.
British Airways discovered that a whopping nine in 10 holidaymakers do not use up to 30% of items they take on holiday, while 40% take three or more pairs of shoes.
A fifth of people take 10 or more pairs of underwear, while an eighth take three or more towels away with them on a one-week holiday.
Scottish people and those from the east of England are more likely to pack too many things and therefore have to dig deep in their pockets to pay excess baggage surcharges.
If you do have a lot of baggage, airport transfers can be a quick and stress-free way to get between airports.
The survey went on to reveal that many Britons pack foods in their suitcases to take with them on holiday. Popular items include tomatoes, sardines, peanut butter, Super Noodles, Marmite and potato peelers.
Fancy dress items, such as angel wings and nun’s outfits, were also popular items to take abroad.
Abigail Comber, BA’s head of brands and marketing, said: “We don’t really want to have to choose between books, toiletries or tea-bags, or to dress kids in half their holiday clothes just to avoid excess baggage fees. Something as basic as checking what your baggage limit is on your chosen airline will help.”
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The British Airways Galleries Lounge at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is to be jointly run by British Airways and American Airlines.
The aim of the move is to further strengthen the joint business relationship between the two carriers.
This development means the lounge will be the second to be run by American and British Airways. The first one, the Denver Admirals Club, opened in November last year.
With the PHL lounge, which is situated at Terminal A-West, American Airlines Admirals Club customers will have a lounge within the security checkpoint. This is a big enhancement for American Airlines passengers who will be departing from Philadelphia.
The lounge co-location, which lies next to the A-East security entrance on the second level at the airport, is another instance of the two airlines’ shared efforts to provide passengers with a more seamless and enhanced travel experience as a result of the joint business agreement, said Nancy Knipp, American’s president – Admirals Club.
She said that moving into the lounge brought their guests closer to American’s gates, and offered state-of-the-art amenities and relaxing lounge experience which they have come to expect and enjoy in the Admirals Clubs.
American Airlines and British Airways premium-service representatives will together staff the jointly operated lounge at Philadelphia International.
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