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United Kingdom aviation news

EasyJet eyes ‘massive opportunities’ in Europe: CEO McCall

Europe’s airline sector is on course for further consolidation, while the region offers “massive opportunities” for growth, according to Carolyn McCall, chief executive of British budget airline EasyJet. “I definitely think there will be consolidation in Europe,” McCall said in a recent interview held in EasyJet’s headquarters at Luton airport, north of Londo...

Supersonic queen of the skies: Amazing pictures inside the first Concorde to land in the US

Prototype flew 642 hours over three years between 1973 and 1975, and test flights helped prove commercial viability It is one of two but the other was destroyed, and this is now being restored after decade on tarmac in Orly, France  Inside now being painstakingly restored by Delta Museum, near Paris, with help of British donors but won't fly again Pictures show hundreds of dials...

Bristol airport warns local economy could lose £843m

Bristol has become the latest airport to clash with the Government over aviation policy. Britain’s ninth busiest airport warned that its local economy could lose £843million if Wales wins the right to set a lower rate of passenger duty for passengers travelling from Cardiff Airport. Air Passenger Duty is a levy set by the Government. If Wales is given autonomy over the rate, Bris...

Why do girls think they can't be airplane pilots?

On boarding a BA flight to Finland in December, my four-year-old daughter was invited into the cockpit to look around. Thrilled, as she loves to fly, Antonia marvelled at the flashing buttons and levers, astounded and more than a bit suspicious that there was no actual steering wheel. And yet, when I asked her recently if she’d like to be a pilot when she grows up, she sniffed: “I&r...

Massive jump in Edinburgh Airport's international passengers

The number of people passing through Edinburgh Airport increased last month, with a "massive" jump in the number of international passengers. Latest figures showed 700,142 people used the airport in January, up 11.4% on the same month last year. The 342,540 international passengers recorded was a 21.7% annual increase, the greatest monthly rise since January 2008. Meanwhile, Gla...

Centreline Air Charter adds Falcon 2000LXS to its fleet and gains worldwide AOC

Centreline Air Charter (CAC) is continuing its period of growth with the addition of a Dassault Falcon 2000LXS to its fleet. The company has also gained an EASA approved worldwide Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC) which enables CAC to operate long haul services to an almost unlimited range of destinations. Centreline Air Charter, part of the full service business aviation company, Bristol Fl...

First AGUSTAWESTLAND AW169 for the UK market lands at its base

Delivery of the first of six AW169 helicopters ordered by leading EMS-service operator Specialist Aviation Services Over 150 AW169 helicopters ordered by almost 60 customers in over 20 countries around the world, including framework contracts and options The AW169 is the only new generation helicopter in its weight class in more than 30 years Finmeccanica, through its Helicopter D...

British Airways to Take on Ryanair at Stansted With Party-Friendly Flights

British Airways will start offering holiday flights from London Stansted airport, giving it a fourth base serving the U.K. capital and putting it in direct competition with Ryanair Holdings Plc. BA’s CityFlyer arm will operate from Stansted to Faro in Portugal and Malaga, Palma and Ibiza in Spain at weekends from May 28 — routes that are all offered by Ryanair. The services wil...

Victor becomes GTMC’s first private jet partner

Victor, the online business jet charter company, has signed an agreement with the UK’s GTMC which represents travel management companies (TMCs). It will become the association’s first private jet partner. Victor provides end-to-end booking and flight management via web, tablet and smartphone. As a partner Victor gains exclusive access to the GTMC’s aviation strategy gr...

If we choose growth at Gatwick over inertia at Heathrow, 2016 can be year Britain finally solves its airport challenge

For the first time, and after decades of delays and dead ends, there is now a deliverable alternative to the UK’s air capacity question. If we choose growth at Gatwick over inertia at Heathrow, 2016 can be the year Britain finally solves one of its longest running policy challenges. The Government delayed its decision on expansion in December last year, showing once again that Heathrow...

Shareholders oppose easyJet founder over dividend

Shareholders in easyJet have rejected calls by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the carrier’s founder, for the budget airline to boost its dividend, just days before HE plans to stage a protest over its pay-out policy. Sir Stelios, whose family owns almost 34pc of easyJet and so receives the lion’s share of its dividends, has urged the airline to lift its pay-out from 40pc of post-tax prof...

Executive travel: British Airways gives competition a run for its money with Dreamliner First cabin

When British Airways launched its “First” cabin on the Dreamliner last year, the larger open suites and new TV screens didn’t seem enough to steal passengers from rival airlines on the London Heath­row-Abu Dhabi route. Etihad, for example, offers nine first class “Apartments” and the Residence with its three rooms including bathroom and double bed. However, a r...