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AIR & BUSINESS TRAVEL NEWS

A WEEKLY NEWS REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY
PO Box 1315, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 1PU, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1707 665454
All enquiries: info (AT) abtn (DOT) co.uk

In conjunction with The Times business travel on line
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/businesstravel

21 AUGUST 2006

Air & Business Travel News is delighted to announce its purchase by
Centaur Media Plc, the specialist business publishing and events
company. ABTN dates from as long ago as 1965, and as a fortnightly
trade tabloid size newspaper was acquired by Malcolm Ginsberg in 1993,
changing to its present electronic format in1998.

Graham Sherren, chairman and chief executive of Centaur, said: "ABTN
will compliment our highly successful Business Travel and Travel
Technology shows and become the first publication in our Travel
Community.?

?Centaur?s strategy is to build on its strength in the markets in
which it already operates, as well as looking for other communities
where it can apply its knowledge and expertise. This latest
acquisition reflects the successful continuation of that strategy.?

Malcolm Ginsberg said: "I have known the team at Centaur since they
launched the Business Travel Show in 1995. Now with its transfer from
Olympia to Earls Court looming up in February I look forward to
working with Centaur to take ABTN to the next stage of its
development.?

Centaur is one of the UK?s leading business-to-business publishers
including Marketing Week, New Media Age (NMA), Design Week, Creative
Review, The Lawyer, Finance Week, Money Marketing and The Engineer. It
also has a major exhibitions division that runs around 24 shows a year
in various market sectors. http://www.centaur.co.uk

A REMINDER to regulars who have not taken a few minutes to complete
the ABTN readership survey. Please do so. It?s for our internal use
only and for your benefit too. Don?t forget we are offering a case of
Champagne to the winner of the draw and we have extended the closing
date until next Friday. http://www.abtn.co.uk/survey

BREAKING NEWS is the serious possibility of a check-in and baggage
handlers strike at Stansted next weekend, including the Monday Bank
Holiday. The GMB Union have called a walk out by their 500 members
working for Swissport, noting that it had submitted a pay claim in
April, including calls for a premium rate for Sunday working in
addition to a "substantial" pay review. The action will start at 0500
on Saturday 26 August, until 0800 the next day, and again from 0500 on
August Bank Holiday Monday until 0800 the following day. The workers
provide ground-handling services, check-in and baggage handling for
about 80% of the passengers who use Stansted, said the Union. Ryanair,
easyJet and a number of holiday charter airlines will be affected by
the action. Joint talks took place yesterday, (Sunday) described by
the union as ?disappointing and frustrating? and will continue on
Monday. http://www.gmb.org.uk

AIR BERLIN ? expansion
BEIRUT AIRPORT ? update
BOEING ? the world?s ugliest airplane
BRITISH AIRWAYS ? healthy change
CONNEXION ? unconnected
EAR PAIN ? future relief in the air
EURAIL GROUP ? one rail source
EUROSTAR ? busy
FLYGLOBESPAN ? even more flying
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE? new bizjet arrives
HAND BAGGAGE ? the rules
JETBLUE AIRLINES ? triangular routes
LAPTOP LANE ? at airports
MEXICO ? new way in
MOBILE PHONES ? on ?planes
MONARCH AIRLINES ? new Boeings
NORTHWEST AIRLINES ? problems ahead
SILVERJET ? moving forward
THY TURKISH AIRLINES ? alliance bound
UNITED AIRLINES ? more for China

ON TOUR: Kildare ? Host of the 2006 Ryder Cup
INCIDENTALLY: Outch

COMMENT: No Security Breach ? The Repercussions

In what must be the most considered response to the ongoing security
crisis at some of Britain?s airports, notably Heathrow, Mike
Carrivick, chief executive of BAR UK (Board of Airline
Representatives) has emphasised that a similar situation cannot, and
must not, be entertained again. ?Airport security measures will be
challenged in the future, and the airports must be capable of facing
them?. Whilst many will say that this is obvious Carrivick, 30 years
in the airline industry, is a diplomat and recognises that any
problems cannot be resolved overnight and that it will take all
parties to ensure that future security is of top quality, financially
prudent and as unobtrusive as possible. It is no good putting the
blame on all and sundry. The trouble is being caused by uncivilised
misfits only too pleased to get others to carry out their foul work,
and not workers at Heathrow under extreme pressures.

Carrick?s comments must be compared with the outburst of a foreign
airline boss, not a member of BAR UK, nor IATA, who believes that the
British government ought to be sued. Has he one eye on his stock
market performance? Should bombers get on to his aircraft he will
blame British government for that too. BA?s CEO has also been
criticised in some quarters for an equally strong words in the Michael
O?Leary style. With its marketing and pr senior men on gardening leave
Willie Walsh lacked serious experienced advice. However a public
shouting match can bring problems to the surface. ?All publicity is
good publicity,? says O?Leary. Blaming the airports for the problem is
difficult to justify but one presumes that the reaction to the highest
state of alert was on paper. Or did nobody foresee it. To its great
credit easyJet scored on the media front by actually trying to do
something to alleviate the problem. It is actively attempting to speed
up the luggage situation by encouraging passengers to travel with a
single piece of baggage. Any additional bags will be charged at £5 (if
paid on-line, and £10 if paid at the airport at the time of
departure). The total weight limit will remain at 20kg, regardless of
the number of bags checked-in. The new rules start from 1 September.

Mike Carrivick says that airlines and airports must move in a
constructive way forward and complimented in particular Manchester,
who he said engaged with the airlines in an extremely positive and
productive manner. Transec (the DfT?s Transport Security and
Contingencies Directorate) came in for praise too keeping BAR UK
member airlines informed of events on a regular basis.

In the light of the last seven days, airlines, and their passengers,
are particularly concerned that the airports just could not cope.
Whilst BAA did erect a covered area outside T4, proper weather
protection on arrival needs to be included in any new terminal design
and made a requirement for existing buildings. Baggage systems need a
complete rethink in terms of capacity and their ability to handle from
the smallest to the biggest of items. And a quick fix is required to
ensure that there is a pool of additional trained staff available at
short notice to handle search and security duties.
http://www.bar-uk.org
___________________________________________________________________

AIR BERLIN has acquired 100% of dba, the former British Airways
offshoot. Whilst still to be approved by the German cartel office the
route networks of the two carriers complement each other very well.
Air Berlin says that it can integrate dba's domestic routes into its
European network without any problems. The dba slots at Munich and
Düsseldorf are also very useful. dba is to continue to operate as an
independent company under the umbrella of Air Berlin. Martin Gauss and
Peter Wojahn will remain as managing directors. However, in future the
company will be marketed as Air Berlin ("powered by dba"). The flight
schedules for the coming winter months will be harmonised where
possible. A joint summer schedule will be in operation from 1 April
2007. In the last financial year 2005/2006 dba, with its 29 aircraft,
carried 4.3m passengers whilst Air Berlin counted 13.5m and operated
58 aircraft. In a separate announcement Air Berlin confirmed that its
UK and Ireland country manager is to be Titus Johnson, joining from
Sabre where he was airline sales and account director EMEA. Previously
Titus was UK regional manager for VLM Airlines.
http://www.airberlin.com

BEIRUT AIRPORT is likely to open to civilian traffic today (Monday).
In the meantime BMED, who operate a British Airways franchise from
Heathrow, last Thursday flew in a team from Save the Children and
vital aid supplies from the Lebanese Welfare Community Aid
organisation, together with a group of helpers led by BMED?s chairman,
Lord Hesketh. First to arrive was Middle East Airlines with urgently
needed supplies from Amman ? half an hour later, a Royal Jordanian
?plane also landed at the airport. http://www.beirutairport.gov.lb

BOEING has rolled out the first of three modified 747s specially
designed to haul large assemblies for the 787 Dreamliner to Everett.
If all goes according to plan, the first two freighters will enter
service next year. The rear fuselage swings open, allowing more cargo
space than any other aircraft, according to Boeing. It can hold three
times the volume handled by the existing 747-400 freighter, thanks to
a cargo deck that bulges up behind the cockpit. The whole thing looks
like nothing on earth, a sort pregnant Jumbo and is much larger than
the Airbus Beluga. What the new aircraft needs is an even better
quality name. Any submissions from readers will be passed on to
Boeing. Please see the ABTN website for view. http://www.boeing.com

BRITISH AIRWAYS has sold its travel clinic business to MASTA (Medical
Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) following the decision to
close the Piccadilly travel shop (and all the travel shops throughout
the country). Travellers in central London requiring one to one
advice, inoculations, including Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A, will
find the nearest MASTA clinic at 52 Margaret Street, just north of
Oxford Circus. There are over 30 MASTA clinics around the country and
the organisation has been appointed British Airways Preferred Partner
for travel health services. http://www.masta-travel-health.com
http://www.ba.com

CONNEXION, Boeing?s technically successful high-speed broadband
communications system, is to be phased out. Boeing says that the
market has not materialised in the way it expected, meaning that it
can?t see a profit at the end of the day. The high-speed wireless
internet system is currently offered on more than 180 routes daily
worldwide by a number of airlines including Air China, ANA, Asiana, El
Al, Etihad, Singapore and SAS. Lufthansa, another operator, is clearly
miffed, reports indicating that the service has been well received by
customers, with as many as 40 people using the service at one time on
long haul flights. The client airlines are thought to be looking at
alternative suppliers. http://www.connexionbyboeing.com

EAR PAIN is the most common medical problem when flying a survey
commissioned by Deafness Research UK has discovered. 34.3% of those
scrutinised have experienced ear pain during a flight. The second most
common condition is swollen feet or ankles (18.8%) and 14.9% have
experienced stress, anxiety or "air rage" during a flight. Only 28.6%
of people have never experienced a medical problem while flying. The
charity, chaired by Lord Ashley the former MP, is launching a new
series of tips to help flyers overcome ear pain or discomfort. A
leaflet, called In-flight Ear Health, is now available and gives
practical tips on preventing ear discomfort including guidance for
hearing aid users and parents of children with glue ear. It will be
interesting to see with the introduction of the Boeing 787, and
further on Airbus A350 xwb with their cabin altitudes more tuned to
what we expect at sea level, whether this makes any difference to
airborne ailments. http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

EURAIL GROUP is to take on the management of the Inter Rail pass
products from 1 April 2007. Eurail was founded in 1959 to encourage
non-Europeans to travel by train in Europe and has since developed
offering rail passes for both young and adult travellers. Inter Rail,
in comparison, was created in 1972 for young people up to 21 years
only for travelling in 2nd class for one month of unlimited travel and
now covers 34 countries including Turkey and Morocco. There is no
longer an age limit but the basic concept has not changed. The Eurail
Group comprises 27 railways and shipping lines, as well as several
bonus partners. http://www.eurail.com

EUROSTAR has seen a 27% increase in traveller numbers since the
introduction of tougher airport security restrictions across Europe,
carrying an extra 28,000 travellers over the first four days (10-13
August) of air travel disruption. Despite the unexpected surge in
demand for its services between London, Paris and Brussels, Eurostar's
punctuality averaged 94% over the four days, enabling thousands of
travellers to avoid long hold-ups at airports. Eurostar has also seen
significant numbers of travellers using Eurostar as part of longer
rail journeys between the UK and mainland Europe, making onward
connections in France and Belgium via other high-speed operators. The
Netherlands, Germany and the south of France have proved particularly
popular onward destinations. http://www.eurostar.com

FLYGLOBESPAN seems to have got the Transatlantic and long haul bug in
a big way. After successfully introducing daily Boeing 767 flights
from Glasgow International to Orlando for this summer, and announcing
Toronto services for the winter from Belfast, Cardiff, Gatwick,
Manchester and Stansted, the airline now says it will operate Glasgow
? Boston next summer. It is also committed to Liverpool ? Newark New
York at the same time and has previously confirmed Manchester ? Cape
Town. Glasgow to Barbados and Las Vegas will have limited services.
Both two and three-class aircraft are used on the services.
http://www.flyglobespan.com

HAND BAGGAGE is all the talk at the present time and surprisingly the
luggage manufacturers (and their PR people) have been very slow off
the mark in promoting their products that meet the new specifications.
Most regular travellers (and not regular too) are going to have to
have a look at their normal carry-on case and decide if it is legal.
Otherwise it?s down to the shops. The cabin bag must be no bigger than
45cm wide x 35cm long x 16cm deep/high (17.7" wide × 13.7" long × 6.2"
deep/high), including wheels, handles, side pockets ? equivalent to a
small laptop bag or rucksack. We?ve heard from the representatives of
Fiorelli who are promoting Maisie range featuring a detachable
shoulder strap, back and front zip pockets not to mention various
interior pockets (45 x 30 x 15). Lambretta has a selection of satchel
bags for men that fit comfortably round the shoulder with an
adjustable strap and come in muted colours including chocolate, black
and khaki (40 x 30 x 10). JanSport provide the 'Paris' bag which
features one large main compartment with an organizer under the flap
to stash all of your travel goodies and a pocket on the back panel for
your mobile phone and mp3 player. Available in brown, plum, grey and
blue (38 x 25 x 15). http://fiorelli.co.uk
http://www.lambrettaclothing.co.uk http://www.backpackstore.co.uk

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE seems to have got its timing right with the
entry-into-service ceremony last week of the newest addition to its
fleet ? the mid-size G150 business jet. With a choice of three cabin
configurations, the aircraft accommodates six to nine passengers. At a
long-range cruise speed of Mach .75, the G150 can fly four passengers
non-stop up to 2,950 nautical miles ? longer than any other aircraft
in its class. It easily connects cities such as New York to Los
Angeles, London to Moscow, or Rio de Janeiro to Santiago. However it
cannot presently get in and out of London City Airport. The G150 is
designed and built in collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries,
the completed airframes flown to Gulfstream?s Dallas facility for the
final phase of manufacturing. http://www.gulfstream.com

JETBLUE AIRWAYS has launched up to six daily non-stop flights between
New York/John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington
DC/Dulles International Airport breaking into a market dominated by
the US generic carriers. Services will be operated by JetBlue's
Embraer 190 fleet, featuring 100 leather seats, generous legroom, 36
channels of onboard TV and more than 100 of satellite radio. The new
services complete the JetBlue New York ? Boston ? Washington triangle.
http://www.jetblue.com

LAPTOP LANE has been acquired by the US-based Regus Group, the world's
largest provider of outsourced workplaces, which sees it as a new
expansion, an "office on the go" solution for business travellers.
Laptop Lane airport business centres offer fully equipped, private
offices with PC workstations, internet access, phones with long
distance and conference-call capabilities, printing, copying, faxing,
and package shipping. Each Laptop Lane location also has a retail
outlet that sells a variety of business and travel-related
accessories. Laptop Lane operates 14 business centres and retail
outlets at eight airport locations across the United States, including
Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Seattle, Dallas-Fort Worth, Salt Lake City,
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Oakland, and Philadelphia.
http://www.regus.com http://www.wayport.com/laptoplane

MEXICO, whose entry from Europe has been traditionally via the always
crowded Miami gateway, is to have a major alternative means of access.
Delta Air Lines this winter will add 16 new routes from its west coast
gateway at LAX to accommodate soaring demand in one of the country?s
largest travel markets for Hispanic customers. The expansion will
include new non-stop flights to nine Mexican destinations, two Central
American destinations and corresponding connecting service to five
destinations in the United States where many Hispanic customers prefer
to travel. http://www.delta.com

MOBILE PHONES on ships are not a problem and several cruise companies
are now offering (expensive satellite) connections through passengers?
own mobile phone. Brittany Ferries have now taken the same route (at
competitive prices) to allow customers to make and receive calls as
they cross the Channel to France. This was planned before the current
air travel crisis. Brittany Ferries is the largest operator on the
western channel, with five routes to France and one to Spain and the
most modern fleet on the Channel. Also on the mobile technology front
the South East of England has launched a major campaign to advance
wi-fi technology and drive commercial success throughout the region
through a more widespread availability of wireless broadband. The
Broadband East Sussex Partnership, one of nine sub-regional broadband
partnerships in the South East, is the first to complete a network of
hotspots that ensures that visitors to and residents of the region
will never be more than a ten minute drive or five mile radius of a
high speed wireless broadband connection.
http://www.brittanyferries.co.uk http://www.hotspotssoutheast.co.uk

MONARCH AIRLINES, the long established Luton-based carrier, now
predominately a scheduled airline, has taken the Boeing route for its
future aircraft requirements. Currently operating a mixed long haul
fleet of Airbus A300, A330-200 and Boeing 767, the airline has opted
for the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with a firm order for six and option
for a further four. First deliveries will start in 2010. To date,
including Monarch, 32 customers have logged 420 orders and commitments
for the new wide body, due to make its maiden flight next year.
http://www.flymonarch.com

NORTHWEST AIRLINES could be in serious trouble from 25 August. Already
trading in bankruptcy, a US judge has confirmed that he lacked the
power to block a threatened strike by flight attendants who oppose a
new contract designed to reduce costs. Members of the flight
attendants' union have twice rejected agreements negotiated by union
leaders. After the second rejection, Northwest, acting on another
court authority unilaterally imposed new terms. Travellers to Detroit
and Minneapolis from Gatwick should be aware of possible disruptions.
NWA is still the fifth largest US carrier, and is also a member of
Skyteam. Not withstanding these problems the airline has applied for
Detroit ? Shanghai route rights and plans to start a daily Boeing 747
service next March. http://www.nwa.com

SILVERJET, the soon to be launched Luton-based all-business class
airline, has confirmed a Letter of Intent to secure two ex-ThomsonFly
(formerly Britannia Airways) Boeing 767-200 aircraft. Delivery is
scheduled for no later than 31 March 2007 and 31 October 2007
respectively. The airline is also in advanced negotiations for a
further three similar aircraft, the first due by the end of October
this year. Sicma Aeroseat has been contracted to supply its award
winning new 75? flat beds for each of its aircraft. Laurence Hunt,
chief executive, says that the airline plans to start operations in
December 2006 flying daily from Luton?s private jet terminal to Newark
New York. http://www.flysilverjet.com

THY TURKISH AIRLINES is likely to be the next major carrier to join
Star Alliance. The airline has told the local press that there are
ongoing talks with Star and that full membership is expected by 2008.
No formal announcement has been made. Swiss and South African Airlines
were the latest airlines to join Star whilst China's Shanghai Airlines
has signalled its intentions to become a member shortly. Currently
Star Alliance comprises 18 airline members.
http://www.turkishairlines.com http://www.staralliance.com

UNITED AIRLINES has applied for daily non-stop service between
Washington DC and Beijing which is not presently served, the best
connections being in the range of 16.5 hour travel time. If approved,
the service will begin in March 2007 and cut three hours from the
flight time. United plans to operate a combined passenger and cargo
service on the route using Boeing 747 aircraft configured with 14
First Suite seats, 73 business and 260 economy, including 88 Economy
Plus seats. The Asia-Pacific region is also important to United's
cargo division; its business there accounts for approximately 40% of
the division's total revenue. http://www.united.com

FORTHCOMING EVENTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO READERS:

ACI World Annual General Assembly & Exhibition
and ACI Africa Regional Conference,
Cape Town, South Africa, 7-10 November 2006
http://www.aciworld.aero

___________________________________________________________________

ON TOUR: Kildare ? Host of the 2006 Ryder Cup

Paul Norris, our regular On Tour contributor, and keen traveller,
takes a look at the venue for a sporting event where the antics of the
so called WAGS in Germany will be completely upstaged by the lady
wives of the US Ryder Cup team. One wonders what the seed merchant
from St Albans would have thought of his golfing challenge if he were
alive today.

This time next month you won?t be able to move in Ireland?s County
Kildare for Pringle jumpers, chequered trousers and those funny visor
things golfers wear.

The famed region, most noted for its horse-racing and The Curragh
racecourse, plays host to the 36th Ryder Cup ? the biennial pitch and
putt fest between Europe and the US. It?s the first time the most
exciting event in golf has come to Ireland and the Irish can?t wait to
be the focus of the world. Thousands of fans will cross the Irish Sea
by sea and air to make their way west of Dublin to the K Club at
Straffan, an Arnold Palmer-designed course. And many Americans will
cheer on Tiger Woods and company as they attempt to stop the Europeans
winning for the third time running.

But when you are not studying the fairways, greens and bunkers (sorry,
sandtraps for our American readers), what is there to do around the K
Club. It is situated in the east of the county at the end of the main
motorway from Dublin and within easy reach of the rest of the region,
including The Curragh racecourse, which hosts special Ryder Cup
meeting, Kildare Town, historic Naas and many other quintessential
Irish villages and places.

County Kildare takes its name from St Brigid?s monastery beneath an
oak tree; Cill Dara, the church of the oak tree. As an inland county,
Kildare's landscape shares many of its features with its neighbours,
but it has the advantage of the Wicklow mountain range to the east,
with the foothills spreading westwards to meet the Curragh of Kildare.

Three great rivers run through the county, the Liffey which flows
northwards from the Wicklow Mountains to enter the sea at Dublin, the
Barrow which forms the border of the county with Laois, and the
legendary Boyne, which gave its name to the famous 1690 battle.

Kildare Town dates from the 5th century, when it was the site of the
original ?Church of the Oak' and monastery founded by St Brigid. This
became one of the three most important Christian foundations in Celtic
Ireland. At nearby Dun Ailinne lived the King of Leinster. It is said
the King offered Brigid as much land as her cloak would cover. When
she spread her garment it miraculously stretched out to embrace the
entire Curragh. St Patrick made several visits to the town of Naas,
where he established himself on the green of the Dun and there the
first church was built. St David's Church now occupies the site and
the ancient baptismal font preserved there is from early Christian
times.

Other places worth visiting include Maynooth, the castle town of Athy;
which is close to The Curragh of horse racing fame, and, of course,
local Straffan. All towns have general amenities, traditional pubs and
the ubiquitous gift shops. And for the golfers who can?t join Colin
Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson at the K Club, there are more than 20
courses around the county that may accept a green fee and let you
perfect that swing. Kildare is a picturesque Irish county and perfect
for tasting rural life and a quiet pint, before returning to the golf.

But if Kildare is perhaps too quiet for you, then head back to Dublin
and all the delights that Temple Bar etc can offer. Kildare has one
other great virtue. It?s just 30 miles from the capital.
http://www.kclub.ie http://kildare.ie/Tourism
http://www.rydercup.com/2006 http://www.tourismireland.com

INCIDENTALLY: Outch

From a BAA press release of last week.

?Liquids will be removed from the passenger!?

A sort of bloodless coup.
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