Business Traveller: June 2007 stories

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8 June stories:

Virgin Trains trials first biodiesel passenger train
Virgin Trains has today launched Europe's first biodiesel passenger train in an effort to cut down on carbon emissions
Full story...

Marriott increases international focus
Marriott International is continuing its aggressive expansion outside the United States. Between April 1 and July 2, Marriott is opening 100 hotels, worth $1.2 billion
Full story...

Heathrow T4 to become a Skyteam hub
The Air France/KLM-led Skyteam alliance has reached an agreement with Heathrow airport to switch all flights to Terminal 4 from spring 2008. At present, the Skyteam members' flights are split between Terminals 2, 3 and 4
Full story...

SAA to restructure
South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will eliminate routes, ground planes and cut staff in a bid to regain profitability
Full story...

Emirates to serve Toronto from October. It will also introduce the world's first water limousine airport transfer this July
Emirates will launch its first service to Canada starting on October 29. The long-awaited route will be operated non-stop three times a week between Dubai and Toronto using a three class B777-300ER
Full story...

Virgin plans business class only airline
Virgin Atlantic has announced it intends to establish a business class carrier aimed at serving New York and other US cities. Services would start within the next 18 months. Initially they would depart mainland European cities like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris and Zurich
Full story...

 

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15 June 2007 stories

Air France and Emirates announce A380 plans
Following on from Singapore Airlines comes news from Air France and Emirates regarding their Airbus A380 super-jumbos. The French flag-carrier says it will be the first European carrier to place the A380 in service during Spring 2009
Full story...

Bermuda gains second carrier from London
Zoom Airlines has broken a 40-year BA monopoly by launching a twice-weekly London-Bermuda route last Friday. Not since 1967 – when Cunard Eagle Airways and BOAC (the predecessor to BA) were plying the route - have London-based travellers to the British overseas territory had a choice of airlines to fly with
Full story...

New rating system for serviced apartments
Serviced apartments in the UK can now be graded under a star-rating system, the first standards programme for the industry. Visit Britain and Quality in Tourism (QIT) along with the Association of Serviced Apartments (ASAP) have launched the grading system to "legitimise" the sector
Full story...

Tried and tested: The International Arrivals Lounge, Gatwick Airport
Business Traveller visits the newly opened arrivals lounge at Gatwick's North Terminal, available to incoming BA, Delta and Emirates passengers
Full story...

Swiss announces new routes to Delhi and Shanghai while Etihad says it will fly to Singapore from September
Swiss is expanding its long distance flights again. It had been thought the carrier's network from Zurich would be frozen following the takeover by Lufthansa who offers a comprehensive network from nearby hubs in Munich and Frankfurt
Full story...

New five-star hotel for Amsterdam
Readers looking for competitively priced five-star accommodation in Amsterdam should check out the new Grand Hotel Amrath. The property, which opened on June 8, has launch rates between now and the end of November
Full story...

 

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21 June 2007 stories

Qatar and Emirates unveil Airbus orders at Paris Air Show
Middle Eastern carriers Qatar and Emirates are continuing their rapid expansion plans with new orders for both the Airbus A380 super-jumbo and A350 aircraft
Full story...

New flights to Israel from November 1
Travellers to Israel from the UK have more options from November 1. Starting three times weekly, thomsonfly.com will be flying from both London Luton and Manchester to Tel Aviv
Full story...

Premier Travel Inn announces re-brand, and targets India expansion
Budget hotel chain Premier Travel Inn is to drop the "Travel" from its name at a cost of £22m, and has announced plans for 80 properties in India over the next ten years
Full story...

Warwick International Hotels rolls out "fashion" rooms in Brussels
Brussels-bound travellers now have a fashionable alternative to their normal corporate hotel room. Warwick International Hotels' Royal Windsor Grand Place, located close to the Grand Place in the centre of the city, has just launched the last two of its 12 "Fashion rooms"
Full story...

Express by Holiday Inn opens second Belfast property
Budget hotel chain Express by Holiday Inn will open its second hotel in the Belfast region next week. The Antrim property is located ten minutes from Belfast International Airport and 20 miles from the city centre
Full story...

Emirates adopts fully flat seating in business class
Emirates will follow the likes of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways and introduce proper flat bed seating in business class. At the same time the Dubai-based carrier will upgrade its first class suites and add extra legroom in economy class
Full story...

 

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28 June 2007 stories

UK's first "capsule" hotel opens at Gatwick Airport
This week sees the opening of the first Yotel, offering low-cost cabin-style accommodation at Gatwick's South Terminal.
Full story...

Last minute Club World deals with BA, and half price fares to the Caribbean with Bmi
BA Executive Club members have until Saturday at 8pm to book last minute deals in Club World. Members booking online will also benefit from a further £50 reduction from these promotional fares and 10 per cent reduction on the price of hotel and car hire.
Full story...

Rezidor opens first property in Spain
Rapidly-growing hotel group Rezidor has opened its first Spanish property, the Radisson SAS El Marques Resort and Spa, in Mijas.
Full story...

New mobile phone train ticketing scheme
UK railway passengers who book tickets through The Trainline will soon be able to opt for a paperless version.
Full story...

Avis gets greener with Toyota Prius
Avis has introduced the hybrid Toyota Prius to its UK fleet in another move towards offering environmentally friendly rental cars.
Full story...

Hotel du Vin offers respite for smokers on July 1
With the smoking ban only a few days away, five Hotel du Vin properties will offer shelter for smokers put out in the cold.
Full story...

 

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