Tag Archives: British Airways

British Airways has announced it is replacing its chief executive Alex Cruz as the airline navigates “the worst crisis” facing its industry. Cruz, who has been with BA since 2016, will be immediately replaced by Aer Lingus boss Sean Doyle. Cruz will stay on as non-executive chairman for a transition period before Doyle takes on the role.

Vistara and British Airways have signed a codeshare agreement, further deepening their already existing interline partnership. Under the agreement, British Airways will add its ‘BA’ designator code to approximately 60 Vistara-operated flights each day covering 13 Indian cities, including eight new virtual British Airways destinations, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Goa, Kolkata, Kochi, and Pune. Additionally, the BA code will also be put on Vistara flights between Mumbai and Amritsar, and Chennai and Kolkata. Sales under the codeshare agreement are open on all channels and major GDS systems for flights starting September 27, 2018. Commenting on this milestone partnership, Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, Vistara said, “We are delighted to extend our existing interline and through check-in partnership with British Airways to a codeshare agreement. This partnership reaffirms our commitment to taking India’s finest airline brand beyond Indian borders, and it gives us the opportunity of welcoming travellers from around the world to experience the ‘new feeling of flying’ in India with Vistara. We share a lot in common with British Airways, key among which is our focus on delighting customers. We are confident that our respective customers will truly enjoy the reciprocal benefits of this collaboration.” Rishi Kapoor, Head of Alliances, British Airways said, “We have been flying to India for more than 90 years, so it is incredibly exciting for us to be able announce this partnership with such a well-respected carrier.”  

British Airways has announced the introduction of the new direct route between London and Durban to a global audience attending Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban. This long awaited decision was announced by Sihle Zikalala, MEC–Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, KwaZulu Natal, to delegates at the event. The new route adds to the airline’s existing twice-daily flights between Johannesburg and London, and daily flights between Cape Town and London. “This new route adds to our growing number of international flights‚ connecting us to key destinations such as the Gulf region‚ the Middle East‚ the Indian subcontinent‚ Australia as well as Beijing‚ Shanghai‚ Tokyo and Seoul through the hub in Abu Dhabi. The trade opportunities presented by this direct flight between Durban and London is set to add huge value to our economy‚” Zikalala said. The route is a huge leap forward for the tourism sector, propelling foreign direct investment, improving business potential and ensuring the economic empowerment of South Africans.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has announced a multi-year distribution agreement with British Airways (BA) and Iberia Airlines (IB), enabling CWT customers to avoid the airlines’ proposed surcharge on bookings created within participating global distribution systems (GDS) that agree to these terms with IAG. The agreement, effective November 1, 2017, applies to CWT business travel and leisure clients. CWT continues to work with all key parties to provide further surcharge-free BA and IB content for its customers. “This agreement further strengthens our long-standing partnership with BA and IB and highlights our mutual commitment to the concept of new distribution capabilities (NDC) to drive improved product differentiation. While we believe GDSs provide the best technology platform available for CWT to enable best-in-market user experience and operating efficiency, we will continue to monitor and assess new technologies and capabilities,” said Brian Mogler, Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Management, CWT.” Ian Luck, Head of Distribution at British Airways, said, “We are delighted with this new agreement which will bring both immediate and longer-term benefits. We are particularly pleased with the strong undertaking CWT has made to work collaboratively with us, GDSs and other technology partners in delivering NDC content and other benefits to our customers.” In May 2017 International Airlines Group (parent company of BA and IB) announced it would add a US$10 ‘distribution technology charge’ on each airline fare component of a booking, effective November 1, 2017.

British Airways has introduced its most technologically advanced aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Mumbai-London route. Mumbai is the second route after Delhi to benefit from the airline’s latest aircraft. Commenting on this Robert Williams, Head of Sales- Asia Pacific and Middle East, British Airways, said, “Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the latest aircraft in our fleet which is slightly different to 787-8 aircraft. The 787-9 is 20 feet longer and incorporates our first class cabin with just 8 seats. Together with our World Traveller economy class, World Traveller Plus premium economy, Club World business class and the exciting new First class product we have all four cabins on the new aircraft flying people overnight from Mumbai into London. The 787 is fast becoming the principle aircraft of the British Airways fleet for the next generation.” A total of 42 787s are destined to join British Airways, becoming the mainstay of the airline’s fleet. Currently, British Airways has 12 A380 aircraft which have joined the fleet recently. Starting from 2018 British Airways will be making changes to its short haul flights in UK or flights flying into Europe from London. The airline also looks forward to welcome the A320, A321 and  A350 aircraft soon.

AirPortr, a London based travel technology start-up, in partnership with British Airways, has launched AirPortr + Bag Check-In, a ‘game-changing’ new service for airline customers, which allows them to check in their luggage from anywhere in London. AirPortr + Bag Check-In allows those travelling with British Airways to travel straight through the airport completely luggage free until they reach baggage reclaim at their destination airport. AirPortr will deliver any size or weight item of luggage to London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City Airport with bags checked in from a London address. Prices start from £30 for the first bag from Central London and £10 for each additional bag. The new service can help reduce travel costs and travel times by enabling travellers to use public transport bag free.

British Airways has launched a Trade Graduate Programme that aims to recognise, motivate and reward travel agents for their commitment to the airline. The Trade Graduate Programme will equip the airline’s trade partners with the product knowledge and network information with respect to British Airways. The trade partners enrolled under the programme will be encouraged to complete nine incentivised training modules as part of the programme. Participants will get 15 days to complete each module. Moran Birger, British Airways’ regional general manager, South Asia said, “We, at British Airways value the relationship we share with our trusted travel trade partners as they play an instrumental role in providing excellent service to our customers in India. We have invested heavily in facilities including a call centre that provides round the clock assistance in order to build a long standing association with our trade partners. The Trade Graduate Programme is an extension of our efforts in supporting our partners in their endeavour to serve our customers better.” To make this exercise twice as much fun and beneficial for its valuable participants, British Airways is giving away exciting prizes in the form of Amazon and Croma shopping vouchers. With five winners per module, this programme is offering 45 travel trade partners the opportunity to win shopping vouchers. Additionally, participants who complete four, seven and all nine modules also get a chance to win shopping gift vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000. The first module is on World Traveller Plus, British Airways’ premium economy product and will be available till 30th September. New modules will be available every fortnight and participants will be notified through the Speedbird Club Newsletter. Names of lucky winners …

Travelport Rich Content and Branding has added over 100 airlines since the start of 2015, taking the count to a total of 150, as of March 15. In the past few weeks, Travelport has announced that carriers such as British Airways, Iberia, SAS and JetBlue have all joined the roster of airlines around the globe using Rich Content and Branding including Fares Families. The travel commerce platform has also added the capability for airlines to make tailored or personalised offers to both individual travel agencies and/or the corporations that a Travel Management Company services. Derek Sharp, Travelport’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Air Commerce, commented, “We’re delighted to be celebrating such a major milestone in the evolution of Travelport’s airline merchandising technology where we now lead the industry by a considerable margin.”