Sector Focus
Business Travel
Sponsored by: Chiltern Railways
Free Wi-Fi now available to all Chiltern Railways passengers
By Lucy Evans Marketing Manager
Chiltern Railways has reached another Wi-Fi milestone and customers across the entire network now have access to free on-train Wi-Fi. The facility is available on an additional 1,400 services following the installation of Wi-Fi onto trains used by commuters. Back in 2011 Chiltern
Railways was one of the first train operators to provide free passenger Wi-Fi on long distance trains. Now, thanks to support from the Department for Transport, the ability to access the internet has been expanded to cover the commuter fleet including trains from stations in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the London area. This upgrade is just one of
the recent or planned Wi-Fi projects to be delivered. In July 2016 the company launched an integrated station and train Wi-Fi proposition, enabling customers to get online on arrival at the station and be seamlessly connected on board as they travel. During 2017 the company
expects to commence a project with mobile network operator EE to eliminate black spots across the Chiltern network, even allowing customers to talk in tunnels. Dave Penney, Managing
Director of Chiltern Railways said: “We’re delighted to now offer free Wi-Fi to our customers on all of our trains. We know how important it is to our passengers to be able to get things done whilst on the move. “An additional 1,400 services
will have the facility, providing more opportunity for customers to make their time on the train more productive.”
54 CHAMBERLINK June 2017
New routes: Monarch flight crew with Marjan Schoeke (fourth from left) and Birmingham Airport’s Justine Howl (fourth from right)
New routes for Monarch
Monarch has launched new routes from Birmingham Airport to Porto in Portugal and Stockholm in Sweden. It is the only airline to fly to the Swedish capital from Birmingham, while
Porto becomes the fourth destination in Portugal, joining Faro, Lisbon and Madeira on the
network.The airline will fly to both destinations three times a week. Flights to Stockholm will depart on a Thursday, Friday and Sunday and to Porto on a Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Monarch’s head of network development Marjan Schoeke said: “As well
as these two new city break routes, Monarch will be launching four more new destinations from Birmingham for summer 2017. Flights and holidays to Valencia, Split, Rhodes and Naples begin in June.” Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe said: “Monarch has a
fantastic selection of popular routes from Birmingham Airport and we are certain these new additions will be excellent news for our passengers.”
Carrier expands options
Take-off: Louise Arscott, regional manager for Thomas Cook, and William Pearson, aviation director at Birmingham Airport, with the crew
Thomas Cook is launching exclusive flights from Birmingham Airport to Comiso in Sicily and the Greek island of Lesbos as part of its summer programme. The summer 2017 programme features flights from £35
one-way to Comiso and from £49 one-way to Lesbos. A new Sentido, the Acacia Marina, also opens this
week in Sicily with seven-night packages starting from £486 per person, based on two people sharing. There are also new flights starting to Naples (£39) and
Malta (£49) and the immensely popular James Martin meals are relaunched with a summer menu featuring slow-braised balsamic beef and roast chicken breast.
Aviation director for Thomas Cook, James Burrows,
said: “This is a really exciting year for us at Birmingham, with exciting new routes for both independent travellers and package holiday customers. Together with Birmingham International Airport, we’re going to more and more great holiday destinations to give our customers the choice they deserve.” William Pearson, aviation director of Birmingham
Airport, said: “Thomas Cook is an established airline that offers something for all passengers, from flight only to all-inclusive holidays and we welcome its decision to expand from Birmingham.”
Airport wins top award
Birmingham Airport has received a top accolade from senior airline executives for its marketing activity over the last 12 months. The airport has received the
Routes Europe 2017 Marketing Award in the four-20 million passenger category. The awards, voted by a
panel of senior airline executives, are an annual event and highly regarded in the aviation industry. The ceremony, held in
Belfast, saw the Midlands’ largest airport beat stiff competition from Warsaw Chopin, Budapest, Cologne Bonn, Marseille Provence and Larnaca airports in its category. Chief executive Paul Kehoe
said: “I’m delighted for the team on receiving this accolade which has recognised our airline marketing campaigns as well as business development and sales activities over the last year.”
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