British Airways and its sister company IAG Cargo partner with Air bp, NATS, HAL and Indian ground handlers to support the humanitarian relief effort spearheaded by charities including Oxfam, Khalsa Aid, LPSUK and Christian Aid
Boeing 777-200 cargo aircraft full of critical care equipment, PPE and oxygen concentrators
10 days needed to plan, load and fly plane full of vital equipment
A British Airways relief flight has touched down in India for the second time in two weeks as the crisis continues to grip India.ย The cargo only flight (BA257F) departed London at 5pm on Friday, May 21 and landed in Delhi at 5.45am (local time) this morning.
The total weight of the medical aidย was 18 tonnes, made up of five thousand pieces.ย Amongst the medical equipment were hundreds of oxygen concentrators fromย charities including Oxfam, Khalsa Aid, Christian Aid and LPSUK.ย Fuel partner, Air bp supported the flight and British Airwaysย has ensured the flight is carbon offset.
British Airways and IAG Cargo haveย continued to keepย vital air links open between London and Indiaย throughout the pandemic,ย sendingย aidย on scheduled flights,ย but this is a special charter that has been funded by British Airways, Air bp, NATS, HAL and Indian ground handlers.ย Over the last 10 days, British Airways has been coordinating with charities and aviation partners both in the UK and India to plan the meticulous load of this aircraft.
The results of aย joint testing trialย conducted by American Airlines, British Airways and theย oneworld Alliance shows that a comprehensive Covid-19 testing program can help re-open international travel, safely. This is underpinned by analysis from researchers at the University of Oxford, who studied data on how passengers evaluate risk and comply with Covid-19 rules.
The study by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII),ย ‘Trust, Testing and Travel, Technology Use, Traveller Knowledge and Compliance with COVID-19 Health Rulesโ, analysed aggregated survey data from almost 600 travelers who took part in the voluntary testing trial on select flights from the U.S. to London Heathrow (LHR), between November 2020 and March 2021. The trial offered three complimentary COVID-19 tests, taken throughout the transatlantic journey.
Customers participating in the trial, conducted in two phases, took an initial PCR test at 72 hours prior to departure; a second test (LAMP) upon arrival at London Heathrow (LHR); and a third test (PCR) taken three to five days after arrival in the UK.
In the trialโs first phase, just 1% of travelers who took a test within 72 hours of their departure tested positive and, as a result of the test, they did not travel. None of the travelers who took a test upon arrival at LHR tested positive. Of the travelers who took the third test after arriving in the UK, just 0.4%, of travelers tested positive.
The analysis by researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute suggests that the testing trial results were โbroadly consistentโ with earlier testing trial programmes in the aviation industry.
Importantly, 99.7% of travelers said they were happy to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements as an alternative to quarantine after international travel and are prepared to pay for affordable testing.
Almost 70% of travelers said they would travel if required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure. The same number said they would be willing to take a COVID-19 test before departure as well as after arrival. More than 70% of travelers said they would be likely to travel if required to take a test at the airport before departure, and about 75% of travelers are willing to be tested at the airport upon arrival at their destination.
Asked what they would be prepared to pay, nearly 80% of travelers said they would pay for COVID-19 testing, with the majority prepared to pay US$ 50 (ยฃ35) or less for each test. Only 15% of travelers are prepared to pay more than US$ 100 (ยฃ70) for COVID-19 testing.
Findings of the Oxford study will be shared with governments and stakeholders, in an important addition to the growing body of knowledge that shows how comprehensive COVID-19 testing can provide governments the confidence they need to lift entry restrictions and allow travel to safely resume.
Prof Philip Howard, Professor of Internet Studies at Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, said: โAs many countries make progress on vaccinating their citizens the debate over reopening travel safely is becoming increasingly important. Iโm pleased our team has been able to make a contribution to this discussion through this detailed analysis of passenger sentiment and behaviour.โ
In a joint statement on the Oxford findings, American Airlines, British Airways andย oneworld said: โThe Oxford study further reinforces that customers are willing to undergo COVID-19 testing as an alternative to quarantine. The trial findings underline the important role that testing can play in the safe reopening of international travel, including hugely significant routes between the U.S. and UK. The affordability of testing is crucial for travelers, and we stand ready to partner with governments and the private sector to offer affordable testing options for our customers who would like or need to travel again.โ
To support customersโ health and wellbeing pre-flight, British Airways has launched a new โForty Winksโ nap lounge, which opened on May 17
Complimentary and self-service via the โYour Menuโ lounge app – customers do not need to pre-book
The โForty Winksโ lounges will also feature in the Concorde Room at London Heathrow Terminalย 5 and New Yorkโs JFK Terminalย 7 when global travel restrictions ease
British Airways has this week unveiled its latest lounge enhancement, the new โForty Winksโ nap lounge, featuring power nap sleep pods.
The new pods are currently available in British Airwaysโ First Lounge at London Heathrow. The airline will then be adding these sleep pods to its Concorde Room at London Heathrow Terminalย 5 and New Yorkโs JFK Terminalย 7 when global travel restrictions ease and those lounges open.
Introduced in partnership with Restworks, the โForty Winksโ lounge allows customers in need of some pre-flight shuteye the chance to power nap in a dedicated EnergyPod.
The EnergyPod is the worldโs first chair designed exclusively for power napping. With its unique combination of gravity neutral positioning and privacy visor, the EnergyPod is the premiere nap pod for short rest in the workplace. By providing nap pods for rest in its First and Concorde lounges, British Airways is supporting customer wellbeing and helping beat jetlag while on the move.
The Heathrow First Class โForty Winksโ lounge is complimentary and operates on a self-service basis so customers do not need to pre-book. There are seven pods available and customers can use the โYour Menuโ lounge app to check if a pod is available in real time. This information will also be available on a screen outside the Forty Winks entrance. As part of the airlineโs ongoing commitment to keep customers and colleagues safe, Dettol hand sanitiser stations will be positioned in the nap lounges, and Dettol antibacterial wipes will be used to keep the pod surfaces clean after each use.
Customers can set the timer on the EnergyPod to the desired duration or use the one-touch start button for a perfect pre-programmed 20-minute nap. The EnergyPod reclines to elevate the feet and promote relaxation. The adjustable privacy visor can be swiveled into place to block out distractions. Complimentary audio content for use while in the lounge and traveling can be downloaded via the Restworks Mobile app.
When open,ย Concorde Room customers will be able book an EnergyPod via dedicated hosts, request a time they would like to be woken and choose a hot beverage to enjoy after their rest. Water and hot towels will be provided to add to the refreshing awakening experience.
Tom Stevens, British Airwaysโ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said:ย โWe canโt wait to welcome our customers back after a very difficult year, and weโre always looking for new ideas to support our customersโ health and wellbeing pre-flight.
โIn late 2019 we carried out a survey of over 100,000 lounge guests asking what they would like to see featured in our lounges. Sleep pods were right at the top of their list. Our โForty Winksโ nap lounges will offer a dedicated rejuvenation space for customers as they return to the skies, all self-serviced via the โYour Menuโ lounge app. Beating jetlag and catching a snooze on the go has never been easier!โ
Christopher Lindholst, Restworksโ Global Managing Director, said: โBeing able to rest while travelling is an important way to stay healthy and energised, and what better way to use your dwell time than to catch up on some sleep. ย We are excited British Airways is making this important investment in customer wellbeing.โ
Currently the First lounge is open to all lounge-eligible customers, giving those who are travelling in Club World a chance to try the innovative new sleep pods.
British Airwaysโ 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 โgreen listโ countries
Following the first โgreen listโ flight to Gibraltar British Airways hosted a joint press conference with Heathrow, featuring both companiesโ CEOs, live-streamed on LinkedIn
This morning (May 17) British Airwaysโ BA492 flight from London Heathrow to Gibraltar took off at 07:10 am, the airlineโs first flight to a โgreen listโ destination.
The airline is operating a number of flights throughout the day (May 17) to other destinations on the UKโs โgreen listโ. 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 Airwaysโ 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:ย โToday, 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 havenโt been able to take the breaks abroad that theyโve wanted. After more than a year of limited flying, weโre pleased to be back in the skies โ albeit with a very small number of flights.โ
The airline has introduced changes to the flying experience to help ensure a frictionless experience, including trials ofย travel appsย to upload documentation and aย virtual queuing system, as well as the introduction ofย pre-flight food orderingย for Euro traveller customers and delivery of menu items in the lounges to seats by QR code.
British Airways also recently launched itsย 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 airlineโs Covid-19 hub pageย 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 aย dedicated webpageย 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 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 FDAย 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. ย 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 Airwaysโ Chairman and CEO, said: โAs we ย 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 itโs 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.โ
Raj Reddy, Canaryโs CEO and inventor of the technology said: โCombining 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.โ
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 destinationย 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 Airwaysโ 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 intoย ba.comย for verification before travel.
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 airlineโs 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, ย to help manage the flow of customers.
Declan Pollard, British Airwaysโ Head of Heathrow Customer Experience, said โIn 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.โ
Mark Brackley, Managing Director of Jade Solutions, the exclusive supplier of Qmatic in the UK, added โThe intelligent queuing solution will provide British Airwaysโ 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.โ
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 airlineโs 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 IATAโs travel pass.
British Airwaysโ 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 intoย ba.comย for verification before travel.
British Airways will continue to explore how it integrates other technologies, such as VeriFLY, into its systems to further streamline the customer experience.
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 โ Lanzarote (ACE) +1pw, frequency growth from 5pw to 6pw
Heathrow โ Bodrum (BJV) +2pw, frequency growth from 1pw to 3pw
Heathrow โ Corfu (CFU) +3pw, frequency growth from 14pw to 17pw
Heathrow โ Chania (CHQ) +3pw, frequency growth from 6pw to 9pw
Heathrow โ Kefalonia (EFL) +2pw, frequency growth from 3pw to 5pw
Heathrow โ Heraklion (HER) +1pw, frequency growth from 9pw to 10pw
Heathrow โ Kos (KGS) + 2pw, frequency growth from 4pw to 6pw
Heathrow โ Kalamata (KLX) +2pw, frequency growth from 3pw to 5pw
Heathrow โ Paphos (PFO) +1pw, frequency growth from 7pw to 8pw
Heathrow โ Preveza (PVK) +2pw, frequency growth from 4pw to 6pw
Heathrow โ Rhodes (RHO) +2pw, frequency growth from 5pw to 7pw
Heathrow โ Thessaloniki (SKG) +3pw, frequency growth from 9pw to 12pw
Heathrow โ Tenerife (TFS) + 2pw, frequency growth from 13pw to 15pw
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
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.
โYou make us flyโ, which is the first TV advert since โA love letter to Britainโ to mark airlineโs centenary in 2019, was shared first with its colleagues and then on the airlineโs 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 airlineโs 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 airlineโs 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 Airwaysโ 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 theyโre 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.โ
Helen Wetton, British Airwaysโ 777 Captain and the first colleague to feature in the advert, said: โI 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.โ
Jules Chalkley, Ogilvy UKโs Chief Executive Creative Director said: โThe 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 โ everyone.
Our creative tells the world: โYou Make Us Flyโ. 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.โ
The music that plays throughout the advert is Flower Duet from Delibesโ opera Lakme, which first featured in British Airwaysโ advertising over 40 years ago and is still proudly used as the airlineโs boarding music.
A behind the scenes video of the advert being filmed featuring interviews with the airlineโs 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,ย equivalent toย hospitalย operating theatreย standards.
Customers booking with British Airways can do so with absolute confidence, thanks to the airlineโs flexible bookingย 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 Holidaysโ customers also have access to a range of additional flexible booking options, as part of the companyโs Customer Promise, including securing a holiday with a deposit from just ยฃ60pp.
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