Why Gatwick Airport’s new chief has Heathrow lined up in his sights October 10, 2010 SOME people need to have a lot on their plates if they are to thrive – and Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s newish boss, is clearly one of these. The 39-year-old took up his post last December when the airport was bought by US investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for £1.5bn from Ferrovial-owned airports operator BAA, which [...]
INSURERS STRAP IN FOR BLUNT’S MILE-HIGH RECORD-BREAKING GIG June 30, 2010 EVER wanted to watch James Blunt sing his heart out – live – at 42,000 feet? No, neither have we, but let’s not diminish Royal Sun Alliance’s (RSA) achievement in breaking the Guinness World Record for the world’s highest altitude live music show. The insurance group has kicked off its 300th anniversary celebrations with gusto [...]
Ryanair expands its destinations November 25, 2009 Ryanair said yesterday it will buy two new aircraft, open 13 new routes, bringing its total to 34, and deliver 2m passengers per annum at Trapani, Sicily. The move will sustain 2,000 local jobs, Ryanair said. Between two and three flights will go to Billund, Bratislava, Cagliari, Eindhoven, Genoa, Gothenburg, Ibiza and Karlsruhe, among others.
MARKETING July 15, 2010 Q. I am starting a business and I need to think about marketing but I don’t know where to start. Can you offer me some advice? A.This is a common problem. Most people will have heard of marketing, but they don’t know quite what it is. Mark Brewerton, the managing director of Total Marketing Solutions, [...]
BA to face fresh walk out threats May 6, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) could face more disruptions to its services as cabin crew finish voting today on whether or not to reject a peace offering from the airline and launch another strike action. Unite, the union representing the crew, had earlier urged staff not to accept the deal proposed by BA on the grounds that [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS May 17, 2010 HARDY Execution Noble maintains a “buy” recommendation for Hardy given the current rating and high quality underwriting on its portfolio in the past. Execution said the group expects premium volume in 2010 to increase to £300m with further growth expected in 2011 as expansion continues through access to new geographies. IBERIA Royal Bank of Scotland [...]
Ryanair defies the downturn while BA’s passengers slump December 3, 2009 BRITISH Airways (BA) said yesterday the number of passengers flying with the airline had fallen yet again last month, as holiday-goers and business travellers continue to opt for budget travel. The number of passengers carried fell 3.4 per cent to 2.3m, the airline said, while passenger capacity fell 6.2 per cent through the reduction in [...]
Medici palace that became Europe’s most splendid hotel May 23, 2010 FOR a couple of London girls, fresh off a Ryanair flight and a battle with striking trains and lengthy bus queues, entering the Four Seasons Florence struck us dumb. We’d walked into a world of Italian royalty, papal splendour and elegance of a type you just can’t find outside of the country of Dante, Leonardo, [...]
VOLCANO CHAOS | AIRLINE UPDATES April 18, 2010 RYANAIR Ryanair has cancelled all Northern European flights until 1pm on Wednesday. It will continue to operate domestic flights throughout Southern Europe. easyJet.com All flights to and from Northern Europe, including the UK, are cancelled this morning until 1pm. easyJet will continue to operate a limited number of flights in Southern Europe. BRITISH AIRWAYS Flights [...]
Ryanair’s passenger figures soar as travellers ditchBA for budget rivals November 3, 2009 BUDGET airline Ryanair carried 6.16m passengers in October, 15 per cent more than a year ago, while the average flight was just as full, it said yesterday. Its load factor – an indication of how full its planes are – was unchanged from a year ago at 85 per cent. Carriers around the world have [...]