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Brexit uncertainty, but LHR is doing well

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Despite Brexit uncertainty, Heathrow remains a bright light for the UK, with the role we play in keeping people and products moving evident. Our new domestic connections will be pivotal in linking more regions and nations to global opportunities, benefiting all corners of this great country and we look forward to announcing many more of these as part of the expansion programme,”  Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said

  • Heathrow’s passenger numbers continued to climb in March, with over 6.5 million passengers travelling through the UK’s only hub airport, ringing in the 29th consecutive month of record growth for the airport. Notable spikes in the previous month were St Patricks and Mother’s Day, attitudes towards travel remain strong despite ongoing uncertainty around Brexit’.
  • Africa performed especially well over the past month, increasing by 6.2% compared to the same time last year. Domestic connections also saw a slight uplift (+0.2%) with British Airways launching its 2nd service to Inverness and Flybe growing their loads by more than a fifth (23%) with an inaugural flight to Cornwall on March 31.
  • More than 149,000 metric tonnes of cargo travelled through the UK’s biggest port by value, further demonstrating the importance of Heathrow in a post Brexit world.
  • Both Latin America and Africa saw remarkable double digit growth with the former up 23% on 2018 due to additional services to Brazil and increased volumes to Mexico. Freight to and from Africa grew by 11%, thanks to Virgin’s growth on routes to the continent.
  • Two of Heathrow’s Terminals made it into the top five globally, with Terminal 5 taking top spot. In addition, Heathrow was voted amongst the world’s top 10 airports overall and won “Best airport in Western Europe” and “World’s Best Airport Shopping”.
  • In March, Heathrow launched the airport’s new Innovation Prize to fund ideas and solutions addressing aviation environmental impact. The prize is sponsored by Heathrow’s new Centre of Excellence for Sustainability, which connects experts and offers Heathrow as a living laboratory to test and develop ideas that encourage sustainable aviation.
  • The expansion project reached another significant milestone, as the names and locations of the 18 shortlisted sites in the running to become offsite construction centres for Britain’s new runway were revealed. Shortlisted sites will now pitch to airport bosses for their chance to become one of the final four construction centres, to be announced early next year.
  • Heathrow announced the launch of their 10th domestic route. The route is operated by Flybe and links the hub airport to Cornwall in Newquay for the first time since 1997.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:

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Four Seasons Hotel Madrid welcomes new General Manager

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In advance of the highly anticipated opening of the first Four Seasons hotel in Spain, Christoph Schmidinger has been appointed opening General Manager to oversee the new luxury hotel set to open in late 2019. Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Madrid will be located in the heart of the historical city center, converting several spectacular heritage buildings into a 200-room hotel and 22 Private Residences.

Schmidinger started his Four Seasons career 25 years ago, and after a series of international assignments in Singapore, Chicago, Atlanta, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, he assumed leadership at the landmark Four Seasons Hotel New York in Midtown Manhattan, overseeing several other properties as Regional Vice President. His ascent in the company continued when he was appointed General Manager and Regional Vice President to the company’s flagship property in Asia, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, where he has been since 2014.

Under his leadership, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, home to the first Cantonese restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars, set the global record for the most Michelin stars at a single hotel. The Hotel has also been widely regarded as one of the finest luxury hotels in China, and around the globe.

“Christoph is an incredibly experienced and talented hotelier, and we are very lucky to have had him lead some of our most notable properties around the world,” said Simon Casson, President, Hotel Operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “His experience and expertise are what make him the perfect candidate for our new hotel in Madrid, a project that is incredibly important to Four Seasons growth as it will mark our entry into Spain in a thriving international city, and a key destination for luxury travelers.”

“I am very proud to be part of such a significant milestone in our company’s history, and to lead the team as we introduce the Four Seasons brand to Spain with this exquisite hotel,” said Schmidinger. “This project is exceptional in every way, from its location to the destination, the product and our partners at OHL Desarrollos and Mohari Hospitality, and I cannot wait to welcome guests to see for themselves and to experience this great city in a new way together with Four Seasons.”

Truly an international individual, Schmidinger has travelled extensively, starting at a young age with his family, and speaks four languages. Combining his love for travel and hospitality, he studied at the Certificate of Hotel and Tourism Administration Academy in Salzburg, Austria before holding managerial positions at renowned hotels around the world, and then joining Four Seasons.

Casson continues, “Christoph is already hard at work preparing for the upcoming opening of Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Madrid, and I have no doubt that he is the ideal leader to introduce the Four Seasons culture, brand, and people to this great city, positioning yet another iconic Four Seasons property for great success.”

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American Airlines: New cabin, larger overhead luggage bins

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American Airlines is starting scheduled flights with the first of its 100 new Airbus A321neo aircraft on order. These aircraft come equipped with an all-new cabin interior designed for enhanced passenger comfort and convenience, including larger Airspace XL overhead luggage bins that increase carry-on bag capacity.

American is the launch customer for the Airspace XL bins, which provide approximately 40 percent more overhead storage space for passengers on board the 196-seat aircraft. In addition to equipping its new A321neos with the XL bins, American also plans to retrofit its entire in-service fleet of earlier A321 models – more than 200 aircraft – with the cabin features included on the new A321neos.

Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus’ Vice President of Cabin Marketing said: “We are very pleased that American Airlines’ first A321neos with the Airspace XL bins are now entering service. We constantly work with airline customers to improve our aircraft cabins, and American in particular played an instrumental role with us in developing our biggest and best overhead bins to date.”

The Airspace XL bins accommodate larger luggage – up 24” x 16” x 10” – allowing standard roll-on bags to be loaded on their sides instead of being inserted flat. This creates room for up to four bags in each bin instead of the current three. The larger bins will significantly reduce the number of passenger bags checked at the gate, and sent to the cargo hold.

American‘s selected cabin layout allows the airline greater flexibility in seating arrangements and use of cabin space. The two class cabin will gain an additional row of first-class seats, bringing the total to 20. Outfitting the A321neo with a free wireless inflight-entertainment (IFE) system allows passengers to select a wide-range of options from their own devices. LED mood lighting will enhance the cabin environment.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and ETOPS certified for lengthy over water flights, the A321neo will allow American to carry larger loads on its longer, more densely travelled routes such as Los Angeles and Phoenix to Orlando, or West Coast hubs to Hawaii.

 

The A321neo is the largest member of the A320 Family, seating up to 240 passengers, depending on cabin configuration. Incorporating the latest engines, aerodynamic advances, and cabin innovations, the A321neo offers a reduction in fuel consumption of at least 15 percent per seat from day

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New Executive Chef at Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa Malaysia

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Guests dining at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa’s signature Eat Well menu, as well as its array of local and international cuisine, are in for a healthier, heightened culinary experience with the appointment of Glen Roberts as the 5-star resort’s Executive Chef.

Glen’s primary emphasis will be on overseeing and enhancing the Eat Well program at The Westin Langkawi, which provides guests with nutritious dishes sourced responsibly and created thoughtfully. The program, offered at Westin Hotels & Resorts worldwide, focuses on accommodating individual dietary preferences and needs without compromising on flavour, taste or satisfaction.

“The Eat Well program is a unique initiative based on the belief that feeling good starts with the right nourishment,” said Glen. “It’s an honour to be part of a stellar team that operates on a wellness-first philosophy, and I’m eager to acquire local insights and exchange knowledge on how best to provide guests a thoughtful, nutritious yet appealing culinary experience.”

Alongside his team from The Westin Langkawi, the widely-travelled food connoisseur will also be in charge of elevating culinary offerings at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), the island’s leading and largest centre of its kind.

Glen arrives in Langkawi after a stint at the 5-star Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai, where he was part of the pre-opening team. Prior to his spell in the United Arab Emirates, he spent two years, from 2016, as the Executive Chef at the Shangri-La in Surabaya. His culinary adventures, however, began almost 5,000 kilometres and 40 years ago in Australia.

He began his love affair with food in Australia in the mid-1980s before honing his culinary skills in London and New Zealand. Glen returned to Brisbane and progressed to become second in charge to the Executive Chef of the Hyatt Regency Coolum in Queensland, overseeing 10 food outlets and multi-banquet facilities. He later moved to the Park Hyatt in Canberra, where his tenure as Senior Executive Sous Chef saw him attending to HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during their visit there in 2002.

Seeking new horizons, Glen was part of the team that launched the Grand Hyatt Dubai. He then set his sights on the Sheraton Grand Laguna Phuket in Thailand, where he celebrated his first stint as Executive Chef in 2003. Two years later, he found himself in East Malaysia at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. Whilst there one of the many highlights was to be the key driver behind the production of the “Taste of Borneo” cookbook, which focused on the preparation of 5-star cuisine using local products from Sabah.

In 2010, Glen was an integral part of the team behind the successful renovation and reopening of the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore. He continued to spearhead the resort until 2013, when he moved to the Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa as their Executive Chef.

Longing to once again step back into Southeast Asia, he made his way to Thailand’s InterContinental Hua Hin Resort in 2015. Glen was involved in developing and opening the resort’s Roof Top bar and BluPort Wing, which features 40 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, meeting rooms and ballroom.

“Food is my passion, and I’ve also missed this lovely region,” laughs Glen. “By combining the two, I hope to tantalize guests at The Westin Langkawi with some of the healthiest, tastiest cuisine in Southeast Asia while maintaining our international-class standards of service, quality and hospitality.”

Centrally located on 104 acres of lush, Langkawi tropical gardens bordered by the Andaman Sea, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa comprises 221 spacious, fully-appointed rooms and suites. The resort also features 20 ultra-luxury Ocean View Pool villas complete with personal pools as well as the award-winning Heavenly Spa by Westin, the only Heavenly Spa in Malaysia.

For more information on The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, visit

www.westinlangkawi.com or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

 

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All Nippon Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus A380 Superjumbo

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Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken delivery of its first A380 at a special ceremony in Toulouse, becoming the 15th operator of the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The delivery ceremony was attended by ANA HOLDINGS President and CEO Shinya Katanozaka and hosted by Airbus CEO Tom Enders.

ANA has ordered three A380s and will operate the aircraft on the popular route between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu from May 24. Each ANA A380 will feature a special livery depicting the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, also known as the Honu. The livery on the first aircraft is painted in blue, while the second will be green and the third orange.

ANA’s A380 is configured in a premium layout seating 520 passengers. The upper deck features eight suites in First Class, 56 Business Class seats that convert to fully flat beds and 73 Premium Economy seats. Economy Class is located on the main deck, where ANA offers a spacious layout seating 383 passengers, including 60 Couch Seats. The aircraft features ANA’s very latest in-flight entertainment systems, as well as full connectivity in all classes.

“We will commit all three of our Airbus A380 to the Tokyo Honolulu route with the goal of introducing a new level of luxury service to our passengers flying ANA on the number one resort route for Japanese travelers,” said Shinya Katanozaka, President and CEO of ANA HOLDINGS INC.

“We believe the A380 will become a game changer for ANA and will enable us to increase our market share by doubling the number of seats connecting Honolulu and Tokyo by 2020,” he added. “The FLYING HONU is designed to offer unprecedented comfort and convenience and a world of new possibilities to ANA passengers, something that would not have been possible without the combined efforts of the Airbus and Rolls-Royce teams working closely with the dedicated professionals at ANA.”

“Airbus is proud to deliver this beautiful aircraft to ANA,” said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. “Offering unrivalled levels of passenger comfort, the A380 will enable ANA to increase its capacity on the busy route to Hawaii with maximum efficiency. We are confident that the aircraft will be highly successful in service with ANA and are committed to providing full support to the airline all along the way.”

The A380 offers airlines the most efficient option to meet demand on the world’s most heavily travelled routes. It is also firmly established as the aircraft of choice by passengers worldwide, offering more personal space in all classes, a super-quiet cabin and smooth ride. Around 250 million passengers have already flown on the aircraft.

Following today’s delivery to ANA, there are currently 232 A380s in service with 15 airlines worldwide, flying on 120 routes across the globe.

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Canada’s government officials announce support for victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

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Today, the Honorable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Honorable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement announcing Canada’s support to victim identification efforts following the tragic aircraft accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines Flight.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, we wish to extend our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in this tragic accident.  Our thoughts continue to go out to each of the Canadian families, friends and communities affected by this awful accident.

The situation on the ground is fluid and may continue to evolve rapidly. Canada will remain ready to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts.

To this end, the Government of Canada, through the Government Operations Centre and Global Affairs Canada, is in constant contact with international and local officials to coordinate Canada’s contribution to these efforts, in support of Interpol’s call for assistance. At present, the RCMP has provided a team of three specialized personnel to assist with providing disaster victim identification support.

Four additional Canadian officials have been dispatched to Ethiopia to provide added capacity and expertise as well as support to affected families. Officials from the Embassy and from Global Affairs Canada’s Standing Rapid Deployment Team have been coordinating with local authorities in Addis Ababa. Officials have been supporting family members of Canadian victims who have travelled to Ethiopia, including by sharing updates on the situation, providing information about local contacts and services, and accompanying families to the site of the tragedy.

Canadian officials will continue to work closely with Ethiopian Airlines and local authorities on the gathering and sharing of information in real time with the families, including on questions relating to repatriation.

Friends and relatives in Canada who are in need of assistance should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1-613-996-8885 or email sos@international.gc.ca.

On behalf of all Canadians, we are grateful to all nations who have heeded the international call for assistance, and commend the Canadians who will solemnly perform their duties in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.”

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