AIR & BUSINESS TRAVEL NEWS 30/01/06
Jim Mason
A WEEKLY NEWS REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY
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In conjunction with The Times business travel on line
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/businesstravel
30 JANUARY 2006
BREAKING NEWS is the low key opening of Madrid airport T4, Spain’s
equivalent of Heathrow T5, set for the weekend just past, has been
delayed for a week. First in was supposed to be Virgin Express, the
Belgian budget carrier, part of SN Brussels and a code share partner
of Iberia. However the move has been postponed seven days and Virgin
Express will join Iberia and its Oneworld partners in officially
arriving next Sunday. The ultra modern latest technology structure
covers an area of nearly half a million square metres which will
provide a total of 174 check-in desks and 38 boarding stations. Under
the new arrangement Star Alliance will be located in Terminal 1 and
SkyTeam in Terminal 2. (see also ON TOUR below)
AIR TURQUOISE – newcomer at Luton
AMERICAN – courts
ATLANTIC AIRLINES – a new line in aircraft
BIRMINGHAM – more flights to the Gulf region and onwards
BOEING – predictions
DOHA – another entry into the market
EXETER AIRPORT – up for sale, again
FLYEBE – getting ready for new ‘planes
FRANKFURT – new hotel
IBERIA – new flights from Heathrow
IRAN – New York?
ISRAEL – government agrees competition
JETBLUE – out into the Atlantic
OAG – interesting new stats
RYANAIR – catching up with others
SAS – strike problems
SKYLOFT – a Boeing innovation
STANSTED – fighting it out to the US
STARWOOD CAPITAL – new hotel brand
UNITED STATES – still popular
ON TOUR: Madrid’s New Airport Terminal is Ready
INCIDENTALLY: Eric Morecambe International
COMMENT: The London Business Travel Show has come a long way since the
first exhibition at the Design Centre in Islington in 1995. Now at
Olympia it has over the years become the annual meeting place for
those supplying the business travel product in all its forms. And the
purchaser. By the purchaser we mean the travel organiser, whether a
specialist company, the in-house department/person, or the individual.
The Business Travel Show has stimulated the whole industry and
produced various offsprings perhaps the most interesting, and now in
its tenth interpretation, the Barclaycard Business Travel Survey.
Conducted in October 2005 amongst a nationwide sample of 565,000
Barclaycard Business commercial cardholders, this year’s survey
questioned 2,500 respondents (CEOs, company directors, managers and
executives), about all aspects of business travel from airlines and
hotels to online bookings.
Some interesting facts have emerged. With long haul travel increasing,
the number of flights taken per business traveller will increase by
12% from 7.6 flights per year in 2005/6 to 8.5 flights in 2015. Low
cost air travel is predicted to be near saturation point and will
therefore level off, with 74% of business travellers expected to use
these services in 2015, no change from 2005/6. Conversely, the number
of business travellers regularly using trains is predicted to decrease
from 34% in 2005/6 to 25% in 2015. However, there may well be growth
opportunities for long distance rail travel providers.
Nearly half (45%) of business travellers say they are travelling for
business more in 2005/6 than they were in 2004/5. In contrast, actual
miles travelled per month have decreased from 642 in 2004/5 to 608.5
in 2005/6. The main reason given for the increase in business travel
is business expansion, both overseas (33%) and in the UK (18%). Of
those who say they are travelling less, 25% put this down to
technology reducing the need.
Trade in the UK is already becoming more global, affected not only by
new countries such as Poland joining the EU but also by the opening up
of economies such as China. The top three business destinations over
the last 12 months were: UK and Ireland (75%), Western Europe (56%)
and US and Canada (23%). However, Asia Pacific (10%), Eastern Europe
(10%), China (7%) and Africa (4%) were also cited.
The typical male business traveller is aged between 41 and 65 and is
married with children. He has a managerial position in a company with
a turnover in excess of £5m but less than £20m. He will travel for
business 2.5 days per week, is away on business for 4.3 nights a month
and will cover 662 miles each week. The typical female business
traveller is married, younger in age (31-40 years) and is less likely
to have children than her male counterpart. She travels for business
2.2 days per week, is away on business for 3.8 nights a month and will
cover 335 miles each week.
The survey concluded that video conferencing is expected to be used by
50% of workers by 2015, compared to 26% currently.
Over 200 companies have taken space at the show including British
Airways, who do not go to World Travel Market, at one end of the
scale, to budget airlines typified by Air Berlin, FlyBe, VLM and Scot
Airways. Air New Zealand will show its new flat bed, but don’t be
confused into thinking that you are on a Virgin Atlantic stand (they
are not at the show). It is virtually the same pod style accommodation
from the same supplier. Air China and new Gulf area carrier Etihad
will be promoting their products too but business travellers more and
more are finding airport transit hard work. One way around the problem
is the use of a executive aircraft. Club328 will supply you with the
aircraft and Los Angeles based Air Royale the specialist service. The
major car rental companies will also be seen at Olympia, each one
improving its service as the years go by. Eurostar and Virgin Trains
will have stands. Jumeirah, at the top end, Millenium/Copthorne in the
middle range, and Premier Travel Inn, a budget operator, are amongst
those that take in the whole spectrum of hotel accommodation. Travel
management companies are at Olympia in strength.
If you find walking around the stands tiring you can always take a
rest by taking in a seminar or master class. The problem is that you
might find yourself just as exhausted. Yes the lectures and
discussions are stimulating but they are also taxing on the brain.
Plan your day. Fit in show and talks. You will find it more than
worthwhile. http://www.businesstravelshow.com
PS. ABTN is always being asked the best way to Olympia, not the most
accessible of places. The train runs direct from Gatwick and Watford
and from Heathrow take the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith and either
walk, take a taxi or catch a bus. Olympia does have an Underground
station but High Street Kensington is probably the best for the tube,
with once again a choice of walking, taxi or bus.
___________________________________________________________________
AIR TURQUOISE, virtually unknown in the UK before its mention in ABTN
last November, will commence daily flights from Luton to Rheims, in
the heart of the French Champagne region, on Tuesday 28 March 2006.
Operating an ATR 42 turboprop, flight time is just 1 hour 20 minutes.
Rheims Champagne Airport is conveniently situated three miles north of
the city, 90 minutes east of Paris by road and one hour from
Disneyland. Launched in June 2005, Air Turquoise has already carried
over 20,000 passengers on its network from Rheims, which currently
includes daily flights to Nice, Bordeaux and Marseilles with Toulouse
added from 4 April. http://www.airturquoise.com
AMERICAN Department of Commerce has issued figures that show 3.3m
inbound visitors to the US (excluding Canada and Mexico) for October
last, an increase of 6% over October 2004. Arrivals were also up 8%
for the first ten months of 2005 compared to 2004. Regular visitors
have also noticed a significant improvement in the courtesy shown by
customs and immigration people at the major gateways, more typical
American than hitherto. Whether staffing has increased or not is
unknown but the procedures seem to have also speeded up, both good
signs for even more traffic in 2006. The UK with 3.6m to October,
still leads as the major truly international market for US tourism,
closely followed by Japan, with the rest of Europe (and the world) far
behind. New York is the most popular gateway, followed by Miami and
then Los Angeles. http://www.doc.gov
ATLANTIC AIRLINES, a long established British owned specialised
freight carrier based at Coventry Airport, has introduced the BAe
ATP-F aircraft, the first two of which will be containerised examples
and used to support contracts within the European overnight Express
industry. A third aircraft is currently being converted and is planned
to be made available on an ad hoc charter basis to the cargo charter
market. "With its 8.2-tonne capacity the ATP fits in perfectly with
our long term plans", said Atlantic managing director Russell Ladkin.
"Our 15-tonne capacity Electra fleet remains unbeatable in its class
competing head on with the similar capacity, although higher cost
Boeing 737-300. At the larger end of the market our pair of 27-tonne
TU 204 have proved solid and reliable and we have reacted to a number
of our existing clients who required the flexible capacity of a
smaller freighter that could integrate with their current systems and
at a more economically attractive cost base than was previously
available." Mr Ladkin said that plans called for five ATP in operation
during 2006 and a nine aircraft fleet towards the end of 2007. Another
new customer for the ubiquitous cargo aircraft is First Flight
Couriers of India, who will be taking three aircraft later in 2006.
India’s largest courier company is to start domestic freighter
operations. http://www.atlanticairlines.co.uk
BIRMINGHAM is to be linked non-stop to Doha from 26 March with Qatar
Airways offering a four times per week service. Doha, capital of the
Gulf area state of Qatar, is a major hub for much of the Middle East
and for many destinations on the Indian subcontinent. Announcing the
new route the airline’s chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said,
“All our operations covering Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester are
performing extremely well. Birmingham is a natural progression for us,
the UK a major market.” He also confirmed that the Manchester flights
would go from four to five from 11 February and daily at the beginning
of the summer season 26 March. Airbus A330 aircraft, in a two-class
configuration as used for Manchester, will also service Birmingham.
http://www.qatarairways.com
BOEING’S vice president marketing Randy Basler, was in London last
week (and also making an appearance at the Air Finance Journal
conference in Dublin) giving his annual market overview, easily the
most comprehensive yet. One thing with both Boeing and Airbus is that
they make Ryanair seem an “honest John” when it comes to statistics,
both companies somewhat economical with the truth when highlighting
typically aircraft capacity. How many passengers does an Airbus A340
hold? 323 according to the Boeing paperwork which does not say which
model, whilst the more or less competing 777 has 365 seats but in its
-300 version. At the end of the day the seat layout/economics are
tailored for the particular airline. In any event Boeing are firm on
their prediction of 300 very large aircraft over the next 20 years,
whilst Airbus say the figure is 1,250. Boeing is pushing hard its
passenger version of the 747-8 freighter and whilst the stretched
aircraft is smaller in terms of optimum seat capacity (450 against
555) against the A380, the Seattle company claims 28% lower fuel
consumption per trip, commonality with existing aircraft fleets and an
ability to fit into a great many more airports pointing out that by
2010 only 60 around the world will be able to accept the A380. What
they do not say is only 60 around the world would probably want to
accept the A380 (see also Skyloft story below). http://www.boeing.com
DOHA is the latest destination for bmi in what is a unique
partnership. In the past it has usually been the British airline that
has supplied the equipment, typically Virgin Atlantic and Air India.
Qatar Airways is to provide bmi with both aircraft and cabin crew in a
new two-class daily operation out of Heathrow. Under the arrangement
bmi will add as a code-share Qatar Airways existing twice-daily
services, effectively giving three departures for the British airline.
bmi, whose Mumbai services go daily from 20 April, launched its first
flights to the Middle East last September with three times weekly
services to the Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh. The success of the route
led to the recent announcement of services to Jeddah, which also start
in April. British Airways flights to Doha now go via Bahrain.
http://www.qatarairways.com http://www.flybmi.com
EXETER AIRPORT is again to be offered to the market by its owner Devon
County Council. Twelve months ago the airport was put up for sale, the
top-scoring bidder South West Airports Ltd (SWAL), who also has an
interest in Bristol Airport. However a spanner in the works was the
Office of Fair Trading who referred the potential airport sale to the
UK Competition Commission. The two airports are 65 miles apart. Exeter
Airport, the home base for FlyBe enjoyed a 36% rise in passenger
numbers in 2005, up from 618,201 to 842,461. Potential bidders under a
new package are likely to include CAFCO, a joint venture company who
recently purchased Coventry Airport from TUI.
http://www.exeter-airport.co.uk
FLYBE, lead carrier for the Embraer-195, has confirmed an October
introduction for the aircraft. The first two ‘planes will be based at
Birmingham, followed a month later by one for Exeter and by year end
an aircraft based at Southampton. The Embraer-195 has 118 seats as
opposed to 112 on the BAe 146-300 that it replaces. The modern twin
should prove to be far more economical to operate than the no longer
produced former Hatfield product. However JetBlue is reporting
problems with the introduction of the similar EMB 190 although these
should be resolved by the time that the aircraft is introduced at the
start of the winter season. FlyBe should have 14 of the Brazilian
aircraft in service by the end of 2007. http://www.flybe.com
FRANKFURT’S new Rocco Forte Hotel, the Villa Kennedy, will open 1
March. Rather like its contemporary, Brown’s Hotel in London’s
Mayfair, the new Forte property is built around an existing hotel, the
Villa Speyer, which was originally constructed in 1904. Unusual for a
city hotel, it is nestled amongst extensive gardens, providing a
unique retreat from the bustle of the city yet still within easy reach
of the main business and leisure areas. Villa Kennedy has 163 rooms,
including 26 suites, designed by London-based Martin Brudnizki and his
team in a minimalist deluxe style. The lobby area of each guestroom
has timber floors and full-length mirrored walls. All rooms feature
state-of-the-art technology, including flat-screen televisions and
dedicated workstations. A highlight of the hotel is the spa area,
which is split over three levels and comprises a 15-metre indoor pool
with raised relaxation area, sauna, Turkish steam room, yoga studio,
gym and eight treatment rooms. Business clients will benefit from
seven meeting rooms, five of which inter-connect, for groups of 6 to
40 people. There is also a 330-square metre (450 people) ballroom with
its own entrance and a grand lobby. Work is pressing ahead with a
further two Rocco Forte hotels in Germany, Hotel de Rome in Berlin
(opening September 2006) and a yet to be named Munich property
(opening Spring 2007). http://www.roccofortehotels.com
IBERIA is to introduce a daily return flight between Heathrow and La
Coruña the most northwesterly airport in Spain on Wednesday (1
February). A two-class A320 Airbus is to be used departing London
1135, and the two-hour flight arriving at Alvedro Airport in La Coruña
at 1430. The return service leaves the Spanish city at 1540. La Coruña
is one of Spain’s most historical cities, the port a gateway both to
the Atlantic and to Northern Europe. http://www.iberia.com
IRAN wants flights to New York, according to a Reuters news agency
report quoting state television. "We sent a letter to the relevant
American officials (on Wednesday), announcing Iran's willingness to
resume direct flights," Nourollah Rezai-Niaraki, head of Iran's Civil
Aviation Organization, told viewers. The request comes as the US and
its EU allies are pressing for the Islamic Republic to be reported to
the UN Security Council where it could face possible sanctions for its
nuclear programme. Iran has not flown to the US since the days of the
Shah, when it also had route licences to JFK out of London. Tehran is
currently served non-stop by both Iran Air and British Airways from
Heathrow. http://www.iranair.com
ISRAEL is to allow Israir, mainly known for domestic services using
ATR 42 aircraft, to compete with the recently privatised El Al on
flights between Tel Aviv and New York. With two US airlines planned to
be on the route for the summer of 2006 the Israeli government has
bowed to pressure for a local competitor to be authorised in
competition with El Al, although that carrier claims a "gross breach
of the commitment" given by the government when the former state
airline was privatised. Israir, whose fleet includes both Boeing 757
and 767 aircraft has had experience in operating into JFK with a
charter mandate. http://www.israirairline.com
JETBLUE has applied to operate twice-daily JFK – Bermuda flights from
May. It is not likely to be good news for American, which already
operates two daily round trips between JFK and Bermuda and often puts
a 767-300ER on the service. Spirit Airlines is another who sees the
lucrative route to Bermuda as a potential money spinner with a request
for a Detroit – LaGuardia – Bermuda service, competing with US
Airways' existing year-round LaGuardia – Bermuda operation.
Continental also fly twice daily from Newark. The 20 square miles
self-governing British dependency is clearly a very popular
destination from New York. http://www.jetblue.com
OAG has published some interesting figures which puts into perspective
the worldwide growth of the airline industry. In 2005, using
information gleaned from its massive data bank, there was a 3% and 5%
increase in frequency and capacity for the world’s airlines. This
represents an additional 920,000+ flights and just under 146m
respectively. Leading the way in the volume of additional flights in
2005 was Continental Airlines with a growth of just over 63,000. SAS
(primarily due to the acquisition of Braathens), along with Hainan
Airlines, TAM Brazilian Airlines and Southwest Airlines, were the
carriers that planned the highest number of additional services in
2005 after Continental. Four of the top ten airlines with the highest
number of additional seats in 2005 were budget carriers. In addition
to Ryanair, Southwest and easyJet, Jetstar Airways also joined this
elite group. Inevitably there were some notable losses in the
industry. United Airlines is the largest North American carrier with
the highest reduction in the number of planned additional seats for
2006. http://www.oag.com
RYANAIR is to charge passengers for luggage, £5 if not on the original
booking where the cost is £2.50. Within 24 hours of the announcement
FlyBe came up with a similar, but cheaper, charging system, £4 and £2.
Ryanair is also following the trend with an internet-based check-in
system and its baggage allowance up to the industry standard
comprising 10kgs carry-on and 20kgs checked-in luggage. However smart
(and experienced) customers have been known not to bring all their
cabin baggage up to the check-in, and therefore not making the 10kg
limit. Ryanair’s press release also spoke of a 9% reduction on fares
but, since they don’t publish fares as such, this is impossible to
verify. However some of the news media did report it. The idea to
charge for baggage is a clever innovation in helping to keep basic
fares down but it might backfire with more cabin luggage.
http://www.ryanair.com http://www.flybe.com
SAS and its affiliated airlines suffered massive flight losses and
disruptions in a three-day period last week following a walkout by
Copenhagen-based pilots and sympathetic ‘sick leave’ by aircrew based
in Norway. The row had erupted following disagreement between airline
and pilot union over future contracts. The matter has been resolved,
for the time being, by a preliminary court ruling which said the
strike violated collective agreements ordering the pilots to return to
work immediately. http://www.flysas.com
SKYLOFT is the name of the new concept integrated into the Boeing
747-8 intercontinental, Seattle’s latest effort to keep the jumbo jet
production line going. With the stretched aircraft and its 30
additional main deck seat capability, the manufacturer is offering
airlines a chance to extend the upper deck back towards the tail, a
concept called Skyloft, providing individual berths to create private
rest areas for passengers on long haul flights for up to 40 bunks. An
airline can choose if the requirement is for passenger accommodation,
lounges, overhead galley, crew rest areas, business centre or a
combination. Boeing currently has 62 unfulfilled orders for the 747
including 18 for the 747-8 freighter. Production last year was about
one per month. 1,366 747s of all models have been delivered to date.
http://www.boeing.com
STANSTED’S mini North Atlantic business class war continues to warm up
with Maxjet introducing a four times per week service to Washington on
Friday 17 March and Eos launching Club 48 (48 club seats don’t forget)
with amongst its many benefits up to $800 credit on any airline. The
products are in fact entirely different, Maxjet a comfortable 2 + 2 +
2 ride across the Atlantic, exceptional legroom and first generation
(nearly) flat seats. A maximum of 102 can be carried. Eos is more of
an enlarged single aisle executive jet with the latest in pod seating,
47 others at the most, and the use of what is probably the best lounge
at JFK, that of Emirates in T4. Maxjet is coming in with an
introductory £599 return fare to Washington and Eos has a restricted
offer of £950 each way. At Heathrow the airlines have been watching
events at the Essex airport and whilst the numbers involved are
relatively insignificant, they are diluting the market. Booking well
ahead BA now comes in at just under £2,000, Virgin Atlantic at £2,350
and the US airlines around £1,800, all return in the named business
class. http://www.maxjet.com http://www.eosairlines.com
STARWOOD CAPITAL, although closely associated, not to be confused with
the Starwood international hotel group whose product names includes St
Regis, Sheraton and now Le Meridian, is to launch a new international
luxury brand called the Crillon through its Societe du Louvre
affiliate. The company plans to develop European-style Crillon hotels
and serviced residences in major destinations throughout the world.
Flagship property will be the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, located on
Place de la Concorde and one of only six Palace hotels (six-star) in
that city. Housed in a historic building commissioned in 1758 by Louis
XV, the 147-room de Crillon is considered a true Paris institution and
has been a favourite of luminaries, including heads of state and
celebrities, since it opened as a hotel in 1909. Starwood Capital
expects that the Crillon Paris will undergo continuing upgrades in the
near future. A US company based in Greenwich (Conneticut), it plans to
develop Crillon hotels on its own and to partner with other developers
targeting city properties worldwide. It says it is working on several
of these cities with potential partners.
http://www.starwoodcapital.com
UNITED STATES federal court in San Francisco has ruled against a civil
liberties activist pursuing a court case against Southwest Airlines
and United Airlines for not allowing him on their aircraft when he
refused to show some form of firm identification. He had argued that
airlines requiring passengers to show ID was unconstitutional. On a
more positive note Southwest have now introduced what it calls
“wireless” check-in. With “hot spots” becoming more and more the norm
checking in on one’s laptop was clearly the next step forward.
http://www.southwest.com
FORTHCOMING EVENTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO READERS:
In conjunction with the Business Travel Show, the Travel Technology
Show also takes place at Olympia later this week (31 January – 1
February). But be warned, the exhibition is only open on Tuesday and
Wednesday, unlike its sister trade fair which continues on the
Thursday. http://www.traveltechnologyshow.com
___________________________________________________________________
ON TOUR: Madrid’s New Airport Terminal is Ready
King Juan Carlos of Spain is due to officially open Madrid Airport’s
spectacular Terminal 4 next Saturday 4 February. Overnight Iberia and
its oneworld partners, including British Airways, will close their
existing Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 facilities and transfer to the
exciting E6bn project led by Heathrow T5 designer the Richard Rodgers
Partnership in association with the Spanish architect Antonio Lamela.
It is an amazing project, part of an Olympic dream that will not take
place. But, to the surprise of some, it is happening.
Speaking on behalf of oneworld managing partner John McCulloch said:
“Madrid’s magnificent Terminal 4 provides us with fantastic ground
facilities to match at the alliance’s main gateway between Europe and
Latin America – a world-class airport building which will transform
the airport experience for passengers travelling with our airlines to
and from the Spanish capital. It is the main hub for carriers to South
America and in the other direction serves as the connecting point for
every major city in Europe. It is the alliance’s biggest and most
significant co-location move yet. In passenger terms it is the
culmination of our efforts to ensure that flying with a oneworld
airline is seamless in benefits”.
Iberia serves seven UK airports from Madrid and 18 Latin America
destinations. (all countries except Paraguay, Bolivia, El Salvador and
Nicaragua), all with three class Airbus A340 aircraft which are now
being fitted with business class lie-flat seats. Five of the
alliance’s other partners also used Madrid Airport – American
Airlines, British Airways, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus – along with
members elect Malév and Royal Jordanian.
Currently, these airlines operate from two separate terminals at the
city’s Barajas Airport. Between them, they carried more than 26m
passengers to and from Madrid last year, and currently operate a total
of 650 arriving and departing flights a day to more than 100
destinations in 42 countries worldwide from the airport.
Terminal 4 comprises two buildings – the main terminal and its south
satellite, either side of one the airports four runways. The two
facilities are connected by an underground high-speed people mover,
departing every three minutes (two minutes at peak times) and taking
less than four minutes to complete the journey. The main terminal
building will be used by domestic and European “Schengen” country
flights, while Iberia long haul services, British Airways, American
Airlines, LAN, Malév and Royal Jordanian will operate from the
satellite. However all check-in and baggage collection, together with
security controls, will be in the main terminal building, even for
flights operating to or from the satellite.
The new facility has three executive lounges, one in the main building
and two in the satellite, the two largest each accommodating up to 360
passengers. Spanish in style the facilities include a wine bar, Wi FI
and pc facilities including peripherals (scanner, fax, printer etc),
showers, meeting rooms and a smoking area. The man lounge is called
"Dalí" and the largest one in the satellite, "Velázquez" after the
renowned 17 century painter, said to be Spain’s greatest, whilst the
smallest offering is called "Goya", perhaps an indication of the
pecking order of the artists.
Outside, the road approaches to the main terminal building provide 12
lanes – six each for departures and arrivals. Three lanes are
dedicated to taxis, two to buses and one for private vehicles. There
is a massive car park with space for 9,000 vehicles. The Madrid Metro
is currently being extended to the new terminal, which will have its
own station, due to complete during the second half of this year.
Until then, passengers using the Metro will need to connect by coach
at the existing terminals.
With two new runways also opening at Madrid Barajas at the same time
as Terminal 4, the airport will be able to increase its aircraft
movements from 78 to 120 an hour and almost double its passenger
capacity, to 70m passengers a year. http://www.aena.es
INCIDENTALLY: Eric Morecambe International
It seems that Luton International Airport has upset the news desk at
the Belfast Telegraph for some reason. Now that the Provence has
returned to normality there is not enough news to keep all the hacks
busy and clearly someone has had problems on the easyJet Belfast
route. It is true that in the past the airport became a national joke
in an advertising campaign for Cinzano.
A well-tanned macho Mediterranean type asks of actress Lorraine Chase:
"Were you wafted here from paradise?"
"Nah mate," she responds in an accent that is more Chingford than
Cheltenham. "Luton Airport."
The whole campaign was bad news for Luton which did not pick up in
passenger numbers until Stelios Haji-Ioannou took an interest.
The airport’s splendid new departure area has obviously not gained the
confidence of the Northern Ireland types more used to the tin shack
that was previously Belfast City. “Now that Luton has chosen to return
to the status of a national joke, it should follow Liverpool's
example, and name itself after a sadly missed national treasure. With
no world-class musical figures hailing from the area, the obvious
choice is the man who put Luton on the map. Welcome to Eric Morecambe
International, an airport run by comedians”. That’s the Belfast
Telegraph’s view.
Up the Hatters!