Sector Focus
Business Travel Sector Focus The latest news from the sectors that matter to business
Jet2 reveals summer schedule
Package holiday specialists
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are expanding their operations at Birmingham Airport, introduced ten new destinations for this summer. The number of Jet2 planes
based at Birmingham is also being expanded, to 14. In total, Jet2 will have 2.2 million seats on sale in Birmingham this summer, an increase of 32 per cent. The new destinations will be
to Skiathos, Preveza, Kefalonia, Santorini, Murcia, Barcelona, Lisbon, Budapest, Nice and Innsbruck. Four of these destinations are in Greece. Steve Heapy, CEO of
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This hugely expanded programme has come in response to the continued demand for our award- winning flights and holidays from customers in Birmingham and across the West Midlands. “Over half a million extra
seats, four additional aircraft, and ten brand new destinations represents significant growth at Birmingham Airport, and we are delighted to be offering holidaymakers so much choice and flexibility. “With so much to choose
from, alongside all the benefits that make customers choose us time and time again, we are looking forward to an exciting summer filling our aircraft with happy holidaymakers.” Birmingham Airport aviation
director Tom Screen said: “Over half a million extra seats for summer 2020 from Birmingham Airport to popular sunshine destinations with
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays is fabulous news for our customers.” • June will see the launch of direct flights between Birmingham and Athens, which will be operated by Aegean Airlines. The twice- weekly service will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The service will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft with 174 seats.
82 CHAMBERLINK February 2020
Airport leads the way with ultra-low emission bus fleet
Birmingham Airport has launched a fully electric bus fleet, becoming the first airport in England to implement the ultra-low emission buses. The vehicles have replaced a
fleet of diesel buses. The new fleet is made up of six Volvo 7900e single deck electric buses, which provide an 80 per cent lower energy consumption than the equivalent-sized diesel vehicle. The buses were bought with an
£1.8m contribution from the airport and a grant of £1.4m from the Department for Transport, under its ‘Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme’. The introduction of the electric
fleet is part of Birmingham’s commitment to become a net zero carbon airport by the year 2033 – well ahead of the UK’s 2050 target. To ensure the bus operation is
available 24/7, each bus will be recharged while in service using the ‘OppCharge’ fast charging system. This uses a pole mounted
pantograph, which drops down onto the roof of the vehicles at the charging station.
Charging of each vehicle takes
just six minutes. Nick Barton, chief executive of
Birmingham Airport said: “I’m extremely proud to say we are the first airport in England to implement a fully electric landside bus service. “The buses are not only a big
win for us in terms of the reduction in emissions, but they will also contribute to providing an
improved passenger experience. Over the next 15 years we are investing significantly to improve our facilities and service for customers, while reducing our carbon footprint.” Nick Page, managing director of
Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, said: “This is the first project of its type for the UK with Volvo supplying a turnkey solution delivering the infrastructure and civils in addition to the vehicles.”
Flying the flag for Vienna link
Going green: One of the new electric buses at Birmingham Airport
Tom Screen and Birmingham Airport aviation development manager Jonathan Ford, with the Austrian Airlines crew The winter schedule operates on
Austrian Airlines has become the latest operator to fly in and out of Birmingham. The airline – part of Lufthansa –
has begun flying direct scheduled services to the Austrian capital of Vienna. The new service improves the
choice of connections for passengers travelling to Asia, particularly those looking for services to Beijing and Tokyo, as well as many of Europe’s capital cities.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. From the summer, this will increase to a daily schedule. The flights will depart from
Vienna at 11:05, arriving at Birmingham Airport at 12:30. The return flight departs from Birmingham at 13:15, arriving at Vienna at 16:35. Tom Screen, aviation director at Birmingham Airport, said: “We look forward to welcoming yet another
Star Alliance carrier to Birmingham Airport which will provide more choice to onward destinations across Asia and Eastern Europe.” Andreas Otto, Austrian Airlines’
chief commercial officer, said: “We are very pleased about the launch of our Birmingham-Vienna route. Passengers will benefit from a closer connection to our hub.” Austrian Airlines’ parent Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance group.
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