British Airways
IAG Subsidiary Level France to Shut Down
Low-cost carrier Level Europe will reportedly cease operations as British Airways’ parent International Airlines Group tries to stem losses amidst the plummet in air travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
The move comes less than one month after Austrian low-cost carrier Level Europe, another IAG subsidiary, shut down and filed for insolvency.
Previously known as OpenSkies, the airline was founded in 2008 after British Airways purchased the then two-year-old French airline, L’Avion. The …
British Airways to Sell Corporate Art Collection in Bid to Stay Afloat
British Airways said it will sell its corporate art collection, estimated to be worth millions, in an effort to stay in business.
The airline has an extensive collection of art by mostly British artists, including works by Damien Hirst and Peter Doig. One work by Doig is worth well over £1 million ($1.26 million). Many of the works have been on display in its airport lounges for decades. BA has reportedly …
British Airways to Extend Executive Club Status by One Year
British Airways announced it that its Executive Club frequent-flyer program would extend elite status to members for an additional 12 months, citing the decline in travel amidst the coronavirus.
“We’re adding 12 months extra onto your Executive Club membership – so you have more time to enjoy your benefits, whenever you’re ready to fly,“ the airline said.
The BA Executive Club will also lower by 25% the threshold required to attain elite …
Virgin Atlantic to Temporarily Suspend All Flights
After cutting back to just three routes last month amidst plummeting demand, Virgin Atlantic Airways announced it plans to suspend all passenger flights for a minimum of one week later this month.
Virgin “has made the decision to move most of its current scheduled services to cargo-only services from 20 April until 26 April,” it said in a statement to FBT.
The British carrier will continue to operate its three routes – …
British Airways Expected to Furlough 36,000 Workers
British Airways is expected to announce that it will temporarily lay off 36,000 employees, although the timing of the announcement is not certain.
The news comes after the airline cancelled all flights from London Gatwick on Tuesday and, earlier, London City Airport.
The airline is reportedly negotiating the move with Unite, the British and Irish trade union that represents many of its employees. The two sides are said to be close to …
Coronavirus Update: Senator Tests Positive, German Chancellor Self-Isolates, Airlines Ask for $29 Billion Bailout
IN BRIEF
As the pandemic worsened in Italy and Spain, New York State reported some 15,000 cases of the coronavirus, nearly 5% of the global total.
Residents of five states that represent almost 25% of the country’s population, namely California, Connecticut, Illinois New Jersey, and New York, some 82 million people in total, are being asked to stay home as much as possible. Non-essential businesses have been told to keep all employees …
Adieu Terminal City: The Future JFK is Coming Soon
Now that the plans to redevelop John F. Kennedy International Airport as a more interconnected airport have been somewhat finalized, it’s important to look back at the airport’s first redevelopment in the 1950s as Terminal City.
While the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which assumed control of the airport in 1947, originally envisioned one large 55-gate terminal. Larger airlines were against the idea as it would not allow …
