Category Archives: British Airways

British Airways launches “Green List” flights, wants the USA added to the Green List

British Airways has made this announcement:

British Airways’ first flight to a green list country was its BA492 service to Gibraltar which departed this morning at 07:10am
The airline is operating 70 departures on May 17, including six services to ‘green list’ countries
Following the first ‘green list’ flight to Gibraltar British Airways hosted a joint press conference with Heathrow, featuring both companies’ CEOs, live-streamed on LinkedIn

This morning (May 17) British Airways’ BA492 flight from London Heathrow to Gibraltar took off at 07:10 am, the airline’s first flight to a ‘green list’ destination.

The airline is operating a number of flights throughout the day (May 17) to other destinations on the UK’s ‘green list’. These include a flight to Lisbon, three flights to Faro and one flight to Funchal in Madeira. The airline has suspended flights to Tel Aviv.

On May 17 in 2019, the airline operated hundreds of flights, compared to just 70 departures* that it plans to operate today, highlighting the devastating impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the airline industry.

This morning British Airways and Heathrow Airport Limited hosted a virtual conference from British Airways’ home at Terminal 5 with its CEOs, Sean Doyle and John Holland-Kaye.

Speaking during the conference, Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and CEO, said: “Today, the first day of a return to international travel, is a special day for many people, because for so long now families have been separated, business has suffered, and we know that our customers haven’t been able to take the breaks abroad that they’ve wanted. After more than a year of limited flying, we’re pleased to be back in the skies – albeit with a very small number of flights.”

The airline has introduced changes to the flying experience to help ensure a frictionless experience, including trials of travel apps to upload documentation and a virtual queuing system, as well as the introduction of pre-flight food ordering for Euro traveller customers and delivery of menu items in the lounges to seats by QR code.

British Airways also recently launched its new advertising campaign, putting its people and its customers at the centre of the story about its return to the skies. Over the coming months those flying with the airline will receive a special welcome back with personalized boarding announcements, cards and chocolates.

Customers traveling with British Airways can do so with peace of mind, as the airline has introduced a range of safety measures to make the travel experience simple and safe during and after the pandemic. Customers can visit the airline’s Covid-19 hub page to find out more information on all of the safety measures in place.

British Airways has consistently championed testing as way to re-open travel safely and has ensured its customers have access to a wide range of discounted Covid-19 pre-departure, return to the UK and arrivals testing options. The airline has a dedicated webpage on ba.com where customers can find the right test to meet the entry requirements for their destination.

Top Copyright Photo: British Airways also wants the United States added to the Green List so it can get its long-range fleet flying. British Airways Boeing 777-300 ER G-STBN (msn 66583) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 951759.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

British Airways trials first 25-second COVID-19 test

British Airways made this announcement:

Photo: Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid Covid-19 test

British Airways is the first airline in the world to conduct a trial of an ultra-rapid Covid-19 antigen test that display results within 25 seconds
Highly intelligent saliva test can detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2, including variants
Trial will initially be conducted by inviting flight and cabin crew members to take the test, with the airline comparing the results against their standard test results
The cloud-based digital test, using nano-technology, has CE Mark and UK MHRA approval and is currently also going through U.S FDA approval

British Airways is the first airline in the world to conduct a trial with medical tech company Canary Global, to assess how its Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid Covid-19 test, which displays a result within 25 seconds, can play a role in opening up travel.

The airline will be inviting flight and cabin crew to take the Pelican Covid-19 test and will compare the performance of the result against existing tests that they are already taking. Recently approved for use in Europe and UK, the test is currently going through U.S. FDA approval and the airline is the first in the world to trial the new technology. Subject to successful evaluation the airline hopes to be able to offer the test technology on applicable routes where tests have to meet the stated specificity and sensitivity standards.

The test is a non-invasive saliva ultra-rapid digital antigen test that delivers 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2. Users simply take a sample of their saliva into a disposable sensor unit, shake and insert it into a re-usable digital reader which is connected to a blue-tooth enabled device like a smartphone, and then wait for the results that appear through a mobile app. The test which probes for both the S and N SARS-Cov-2 protein is optimized to detect variants that have originated across the globe.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “As we start to see the opening up of travel we remain committed to exploring easy and affordable testing solutions to help our customers travel again, whether it’s for business, to reunite with family and friends or take a much-needed break abroad. We think this new ultra-rapid test is a game changer so we are delighted to work with the team at Canary to begin initial trials with our flight and cabin crew, before exploring what role it could play as a customer testing option.”

Raj Reddy, Canary’s CEO and inventor of the technology said: “Combining the power of nanosensor and digital detection technology, the Pelican CV19 test is the first ultra-rapid test that can return a PCR-like accuracy of 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity. We developed the test with the travel industry in mind where speed, accuracy and ease of use are paramount. We are very excited to partner with BA as pioneer and industry leader to trial this test; and we hope the Pelican test can soon be used as a standard test for travellers and crew around the world.”

Canary Global is in discussions with other travel, hospitality and events organisers around the world to help them safely open up with the Pelican ultra-rapid Covid-19 test. The test could also help to safely open up other business and schools. Canary is currently ramping up its production to meet the global demand.

British Airways has consistently championed testing as a way to re-open travel safely, and has ensured its customers have access to a wide range of discounted Covid-19 pre-departure, return to the UK and arrivals testing options. The airline has a dedicated webpage where customers can find the right test to meet the entry requirements for their destination ba.com/Covid19-tests.

To offer customers further reassurance before travel the airline is trialling travel health app, VeriFLY. The digital health travel app, which can be downloaded to a mobile device, is designed to check customers meet the entry requirements of their destination by providing digital health document verification and confirming eligibility, before they depart for the airport. The airline is working to integrate VeriFLY into its systems with customers travelling to New York, Miami or San Francisco, able to check-in online if they are using the travel app.

British Airways’ customers also travelling to Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, can now also upload their negative Covid-19 test result and other documentation directly into ba.com for verification before travel.

British Airways trials digital queuing technology

British Airways has made this announcement:

British Airways will be trialling new intelligent queuing technology from Qmatic, that will enable customers to virtually queue at check-in by pre-booking their slot time in advance of arriving at the airport.

The technology, that is optional for customers, will be trialled by British Airways for three months on selected flights departing from Heathrow Terminal 5. Customers will be sent an email before travel inviting them to book their personal check in time.

When it is time for a customer to check-in, the Qmatic system will notify them that it is their turn, allowing them to then simply go to the dedicated desk and the airline’s customer service team will be able to assist. Customers who have not booked a check-in slot through Qmatic, can proceed as normal, or have the option to join a virtual queue when they arrive at the airport by scanning a QR code.

British Airways will be the first airline to trial Qmatic, which is currently used extensively in public sector, retail, healthcare and financial organisations around the world, including BP Service Stations, the Tate Modern and the Post Office in the UK, to help manage the flow of customers.

Declan Pollard, British Airways’ Head of Heathrow Customer Experience, said “In this new Covid-19 era we know that customers have been travelling less frequently than they normally would, and in most cases not at all. We understand many people will feel unfamiliar with the airport journey, so we are committed to exploring how technology can simplify that experience for them.

This technology means that our customers can plan their departure knowing that they have a personalised check-in time. We think this technology, coupled with digital travel apps, will help efficiently manage the flow of customers in the airport at any one time and give our customers reassurance.”

Mark Brackley, Managing Director of Jade Solutions, the exclusive supplier of Qmatic in the UK, added “The intelligent queuing solution will provide British Airways’ customers with the ability to add themselves to a virtual queue and see their position change in real-time, all from their phone. We are excited to be working with British Airways to trial this technology.”

Elsewhere, British Airways is also trialling digital travel apps to ensure customers meet the entry requirements for their destination before arriving at the airport. The airline’s customers can currently use VeriFLY on all flights to the US, Canada and France as well as on all inbound flights and the airline has been assisting in the development of IATA’s travel pass.

British Airways will continue to explore how it integrates other technologies, such as VeriFLY, into its systems to further streamline the customer experience.

British Airways adds flights to holiday destinations

British Airways made this announcement:

Following the announcement that Britons are likely to be able to get a summer holiday this year after all, British Airways has added new services to holiday destinations for June and July onwards, saying the new services are in response to overwhelming interest from its customers.

The 26 additional weekly frequencies will include destinations across Greece, the Canary Islands and Turkey to popular holiday hot spots including Corfu, Kos, Paphos, Rhodes, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Bodrum.

Photo: Rhodes, Greece. British Airways.

The newly established flights to Greece and the Canary Islands will be available to book from Tuesday, May 11, 2021 for travel between June 21, 2021 and September 5, 2021 over the peak summer period. Bodrum in Turkey will also be available to fly to from July 18, 2021.

British Airways is currently flying to 27 short-haul destinations, including 112 holiday hotspots for the peak of the summer period.

Additional Summer 2021 Frequencies added:

Heathrow – Lanzarote (ACE) +1pw, frequency growth from 5pw to 6pw
Heathrow – Bodrum (BJV) +2pw, frequency growth from 1pw to 3pw
Heathrow – Corfu (CFU) +3pw, frequency growth from 14pw to 17pw
Heathrow – Chania (CHQ) +3pw, frequency growth from 6pw to 9pw
Heathrow – Kefalonia (EFL) +2pw, frequency growth from 3pw to 5pw
Heathrow – Heraklion (HER) +1pw, frequency growth from 9pw to 10pw
Heathrow – Kos (KGS) + 2pw, frequency growth from 4pw to 6pw
Heathrow – Kalamata (KLX) +2pw, frequency growth from 3pw to 5pw
Heathrow – Paphos (PFO) +1pw, frequency growth from 7pw to 8pw
Heathrow – Preveza (PVK) +2pw, frequency growth from 4pw to 6pw
Heathrow – Rhodes (RHO) +2pw, frequency growth from 5pw to 7pw
Heathrow – Thessaloniki (SKG) +3pw, frequency growth from 9pw to 12pw
Heathrow – Tenerife (TFS) + 2pw, frequency growth from 13pw to 15pw

IAG reports a first quarter operating loss of €1,068 million

The UK revises its “Green List” for English travelers, airlines likely to step-up flights to these safe zones

The United Kingdom has revised its “Green List” for residents of England. The announcement was made from Downing Street by Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps.

The following 12 destinations on the list are where tourists from England can freely travel to without needing to quarantine on arrival.

Travel from the United Kingdom has been tightly restricted during the most severe months of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

These destinations are likely to see an uptick in travel starting on May 17 from England.

Australia

Brunei

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Gibraltar

Iceland

Israel

New Zealand

Portugal

Saint Helena, Tristan de Cunha and Ascension Island

Singapore

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Some destinations remain difficult to travel to. Most of Europe remain off the list for now. UK airlines will likely adjust their schedules accordingly.

British Airways has been pushing for this list:

Our Chief Executive and Chairman Sean Doyle has written in The Sun on Sunday this morning about why travel to low-risk countries must be allowed to resume soonhttps://t.co/0Be40MkjGR

— British Airways (@British_Airways) April 25, 2021

British Airways launches a new ad campaign

British Airways has made this announcement:

After one of the worst years in aviation history, British Airways has launched a new advertising campaign, putting its people and customers at the centre of the story about its return to the skies.

“You make us fly”, which is the first TV advert since “A love letter to Britain” to mark airline’s centenary in 2019, was shared first with its colleagues and then on the airline’s social media channels. The 60 second ad will air for the first time on TV on Friday May 7 around Gogglebox, followed by Premier League football matches and F1 being shown live on Sky Sports over the weekend.

The campaign features the airline’s own people, all of whom volunteered to feature in the advert that has been designed to have an uplifting feeling and remind customers that they are at the heart of British Airways. The ad showcases the airline’s staff proudly making their way back to work with a very British sense of urgency, to do what they love most, caring for customers.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “There is a sense of huge anticipation from colleagues across the airline who are preparing to return to work after a very difficult year. The story illustrates the pride that our people tell me they’re feeling at the thought of seeing our planes in the sky once again and having the opportunity to welcome and serve our customers, to reunite them with their friends and relatives. The excitement is palpable.”

Helen Wetton, British Airways’ 777 Captain and the first colleague to feature in the advert, said: “I am tremendously proud to have been involved in creating this advert with British Airways. I played my own role as a female Captain who springs out of bed and races to get to work. I am so excited to get back to doing what I love and flying our customers around the world again, when the time is right.”

Jules Chalkley, Ogilvy UK’s Chief Executive Creative Director said: “The creative platform was inspired by the very people who make British Airways a world class brand; the pilots, the cabin crew, the engineers, the ground team – everyone.

Our creative tells the world: ‘You Make Us Fly’. When you talk to the British Airways team, this love for their passengers is their first thought, the reason they get out of bed in the morning. The whole platform is a celebration of that passion as we see British Airways colleagues getting back to doing what they do best and the thing they love so much; looking after people. It also brings a surge of excitement and sense of possibility on the cusp of a hugely important time for us all.”

The music that plays throughout the advert is Flower Duet from Delibes’ opera Lakme, which first featured in British Airways’ advertising over 40 years ago and is still proudly used as the airline’s boarding music.

A behind the scenes video of the advert being filmed featuring interviews with the airline’s staff can also be viewed here:

British Airways has introduced a number of measures at the airport and on board to look after the safety and wellbeing of its customers and crew. These include social distancing measures, the wearing of face masks and hand sanitizer stations. Prior to travel customers will also receive details of how they can prepare for their next flight.

The airline is cleaning all key surfaces including seats, screens, seat buckles and tray tables after every flight and each aircraft is completely cleaned from nose to tail every day. The air on all British Airways flights is fully recycled once every two to three minutes through HEPA filters, which remove microscopic bacteria and virus clusters with over 99.9% efficiency, equivalent to hospital operating theatre standards.

Customers booking with British Airways can do so with absolute confidence, thanks to the airline’s flexible booking policy. Customers are able to exchange their booking for a voucher or move their dates without incurring a change fee if their plans change. British Airways Holidays’ customers also have access to a range of additional flexible booking options, as part of the company’s Customer Promise, including securing a holiday with a deposit from just £60pp.

British Airways to airlift 27 tons of medical aid to India

British Airways issued this statement:

British Airways, supported by its sister company IAG Cargo, is flying 27 tons of medical aid to Delhi this evening, Wednesday May 5, 2021
1,349 items of aid will depart on an aircraft specially chartered by British Airways and supported by volunteers from the airline to ensure life-saving supplies reach the country urgently
British Airways Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle says the airline has offered the free support as it “stands with its friends in India as the country endures one of the worst crises it has ever known”

As the humanitarian crisis in India worsens, British Airways has announced it will fly a Boeing 777-200 aircraft loaded with emergency aid to Delhi this evening to support the Indian government as the country continues to battle rising Coronavirus cases with dwindling oxygen supplies.

The airline commissioned a special project team to organize the flight, which is due to leave on Wednesday May 5 at 5pm (BA257F), landing in Delhi at 5.45am (local time) on Thursday May 6. The aircraft is being loaded with more than a thousand items from the High Commission of India and charities including Khalsa Aid International and the largest Hindu Temple outside of India, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Neasden, London. The load includes hundreds of urgent life-saving oxygen cylinders and shipments of oxygen concentrators, respirators and blood oxygen saturation monitors. British Airways is also donating care packages for families in need.

While IAG Cargo and British Airways have maintained a vital air link between London and India throughout the pandemic, sending aid on scheduled flights, this air lift is a special charter, fully funded by the two companies.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chief Executive and CEO, said: “The British Airways family has been deeply affected by the terrible scenes in India of the deepening humanitarian crisis that has impacted the lives of many of our people. We are fortunate to be in a position to help transport aid and I am so proud of the volunteers from across the airline and IAG Cargo who have stepped up to make this happen. We continue to stand with our friends in India as the country endures one of the worst crises it has ever known.”

British Airways works in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is organising the UK’s humanitarian response. Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said: “The DEC brings together 14 leading UK aid charities to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, with the fantastic support of partners in the corporate sector, including British Airways. We are hugely grateful to British Airways for springing into action to support our emergency appeals, enabling us to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to people in India and elsewhere across the world when disaster strikes.”

Captain Minesh Patel, a member of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple, has been instrumental in helping to organize the flight and is commanding the relief service. He said: “It seemed natural to connect British Airways with the wealth of aid and relief material amassed by BAPS in the UK to enable the medical supplies to reach the organization’s volunteers in India who can provide relief, medical and social aid to the victims in the worst affected regions.”

The airline’s people have also raised several thousand pounds for the DEC’s appeal through internal online donations.

Top Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 777-236 ER G-VIIE (msn 27487) LHR (SPA). Image: 936781.

British Airways aircraft slide show (Boeing):

British Airways adds four new short-haul destinations to its network

British Airways has today announced four new short-haul routes to Wroclaw (WRO) and Gdansk (GDN) in Poland, Riga (RIX) in Latvia and Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) in Romania.

The routes add breadth to the airline’s schedule and will operate from the beginning of July, running throughout summer. All flights will be served from Heathrow, with Wroclaw operating twice a week, and Gdansk, Riga and Cluj-Napoca operating three times a week.

https://twitter.com/British_Airways/status/1386988978008698881?s=20

All flights will be operated by British Airways’ short-haul Airbus fleet.

Wroclaw is known for its beautiful architecture and array of stunning bridges and islands that cross the Odra River. Gdansk, on the Baltic Sea, offers fine museums, a dominating church building and a beautiful old city. Riga, the largest of all three Baltic capital cities, houses a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is known for its Art Nouveau style buildings. Cluj-Napoca, or simply Cluj, is Romania’s second largest city and often described as a cultural hub. British Airways last operated flights to Riga in 2007, and flew briefly to Gdansk between 1999 and the early-2000s. The airline has never served the other two airports.

Alongside today’s new routes, British Airways will also launch a new summer service to Perugia on June 28, 2021. This was due to start in 2020 but was delayed due to the impact of the pandemic.

British Airways has introduced a range of safety measures and partnerships to make the travel experience simple, safe and enjoyable during and after the pandemic. These include partnerships with cleaning brand Dettol, testing providers Randox and Qured, and mobile travel health app VeriFly.

Route	Dates operating	Days of week	Flight number	Outbound timings	Inbound timings	Return from
Wroclaw, Poland, WRO	1 Jul – 26 Sep	Thurs, Sun	BA5223	0735-1045	1135-1245	£83
Gdansk, Poland, GDN	2 Jul – 26 Sep	Wed, Fri, Sun	BA5323	1600-1910	2000-2115	£85
Riga, Latvia, RIX	2 Jul – 26 Sep	Wed, Fri, Sun	BA3801	1500-1940	2030-2115	£94
Cluj-Napoca, Romania, CLJ	2 Jul – 26 Sep	Wed, Fri, Sun	BA5367	0700-1150	1240-1340	£95

Top Copyright Photo: British Airways Airbus A320-232 WL G-EUYP (msn 5784) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 943606.

British Airways aircraft slide show (Airbus):

British Airways launches London City flights to Jersey and Gibraltar

Cable car close to the top of Gibraltar rock. Cable car is a comfortable way to get to Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park in Gibraltar.

British Airways has today announced the launch of two new routes to Jersey and Gibraltar from London City Airport.

Operating initially over the summer period, the routes will launch on 25 June, 2021. Two flights a week will operate to Jersey and Gibraltar – on Mondays and Fridays – offering important air links for business travelers, holiday makers and those visiting friends and relatives as regulations ease, as well as for cargo.

Both flights will be operated by BA CityFlyer’s Embraer E190 aircraft. British Airways will continue to operate its services to Jersey and Gibraltar alongside these new London City services.

British Airways has introduced a range of safety measures and partnerships to make the travel experience simple and enjoyable during and after the pandemic. These include partnerships with testing provider Qured, and mobile travel health app VeriFly.

*Based on a return

Route

Flight

Route direction

Schedule

Frequency

LCY/JER

BA3283

BA3284

LCY-JER

JER-LCY

0945/1050**