The Business Travel Magazine December/January 2018/19

THE REVIEW
I N T H E A I R
IN BRIEF
GTMC UPDATE
FlyArystan plans
Kazakhstan’s national
carrier Air Astana has
unveiled plans to launch a
low-cost airline in 2019.
Called FlyArystan, it will
take off in the first half of
the year and use Airbus
A320 aircraft on largely
domestic routes. It expects
to add regional and
international routes ‘in the
mid-term’. Fares will be
around half of what Air
Astana offers today.
Finnair revamp pledge
Finnair is promising a new
premium economy cabin
on long-haul flights. The
product will not take to the
skies until the end of 2020,
with details released in
due course.
Etihad lounge tie-up
Etihad Airways has
partnered with No1
Lounges to launch a
contemporary airport
lounge brand called ‘The
House’. The project will
begin at London Heathrow
where the current Etihad
Airways lounge will be
rebranded.
Emirates takes AI path
Emirates is close to
launching the world’s first
“biometric path” which
will deliver a “truly
seamless airport journey”
at its hub in Dubai
International Airport.
Utilising the latest
biometric technology
– including facial and iris
recognition – Emirates
passengers will soon be
able to check-in for
their flight, complete
immigration formalities,
enter the Emirates lounge
and board their flights
“simply by strolling
through the airport”.
BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS OPENED THE
DOORS TO ITS NEW-LOOK FIRST LOUNGE AT
NEW YORK JFK'S TERMINAL 7. IT IS THE
AIRLINE’S FIRST LONG-HAUL LOUNGE TO
SHOWCASE THE NEW DESIGN DIRECTION
Gatwick adds capacity
with ‘standby’ option
GATWICK Airport has unveiled plans to increase capacity by
utilising its existing standby runway. Under the airport’s
planning agreements it can only be used when the main
runway is closed for maintenance or emergencies. However,
the 40-year deal will come to an end in 2019 meaning the
runway could be used for departing flights alongside the
main runway by 2020.
Local campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise
and Emissions (CAGNE) has opposed the move, although the
airport says its will not result in more noise.
Gatwick also intends to use technology to increase the
capacity of the main runway, as well as safeguarding land
earmarked for a new runway, claiming it is "in the national
interest", despite not having any current plans to build.
Adrian Parkes
Chief Executive, GTMC
As I write my last column of
2018, I can reflect positively
on our achievements this
year, but also recognise
ongoing challenges for our
industry on the horizon.
The most obvious one is
Brexit. However, despite the
uncertainty across so many
industries, we are confident
our members are ready to
advise, manage and deliver
the travel requirements of UK
Plc, whatever the outcome.
The Autumn Budget
revealed measures we
welcome, with the announcement
to extend the use of
E-gates to visitors from the
US, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and Japan, and the
APD short-haul rate freeze.
We share the wider
disappointment with the
increase of long-haul APD
rates and feel the government
is overlooking the
importance of air travel as a
driving force of economic
growth at a time when we
should be trading globally
and encouraging airlines to
add new routes and capacity.
We will continue to campaign
hard. Our parliamentary
dinner brought together 11
MPs and over 40 TMC
representatives for a lively
debate, not only around
Brexit, APD and Heathrow,
but also infrastructure and
regional connectivity dev-
elopments for the sector.
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