DISABILITY
Virgin Atlantic launches IFE for blind passengers
VIRGIN ATLANTIC IS INTRODUCING a new in-flight entertainment service adapted to cater for visually impaired travellers.
The service will be available through specially adapted
iPads and will be installed across Virgin Atlantic’s entire fleet. The system, which features audio descriptions, large type and consistent layout and controls, has been designed by Bluebox Aviation Systems and tested by representatives from Guide Dogs for the Blind. It has been designed to deal with a range of visual impairments including blindness, partial vision and sensitivity to brightness. John Welsman, policy business partner for travel and transport at Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: “As someone with sight loss who flies quite often, I think it’ll be wonderful to access entertainment and information on Virgin planes without needing to ask for help. “Not having to
call for cabin crew, or disturb fellow passengers around me who might be sleeping, will be great.”
TAXIS
Uber licence suspended in York
CITY OF YORK COUNCIL HAS REFUSED to renew ride- hailing app Uber’s licence to operate in York.
The Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee of the council cited 296 complaints it had received regarding hackney carriage and private hire vehicles since December 2016. Of them, 155 were about Uber. Uber was first granted a licence by the council in December 2015. It was renewed for a further 12 months in 2016. At that time,
SERVICED APARTMENTS
SILVERDOOR AND CITYBASE FORM HABICUS GROUP
SERVICED APARTMENT PROVIDERS Silverdoor and Citybase Apartments have announced the formation of a new parent company, Habicus Group. The creation of the new company follows Silverdoor’s 2016 acquisition of Citybase Apartments and its Central London Apartments and Orbital Partnership brands. Habicus has now launched new brand identities for all subsidiaries. Silverdoor Apartments will
remain exclusively corporate focused, while the central London brand will reposition itself as a portfolio of luxury properties and Citybase will offer greater online availability, according to Habicus Group.
16 BBT January/February 2018
The technology suite Orbital Platforms has also received an overhaul and apartment provider membership will be by invitation only. Member properties can book apartments for clients in locations they wouldn’t be able to fill themselves.
Habicus is also launching a new self-booking tool for Silverdoor’s corporate clients, enabling buyers to manage their serviced apartment requirements online and receive insights through management information. Habicus says the platform will allow travel managers to incorporate serviced apartments into their programmes.
AIRPORTS
Change of ownership for Bournemouth airport
MANCHESTER AIRPORTS GROUP (MAG) has sold Bournemouth airport to Rigby Group for an undisclosed sum. Bournemouth now
forms part of Rigby’s airport management division, Regional & City Airports (RCA), which has already acquired three regional UK airports: Norwich, Exeter and Coventry. Bournemouth airport is currently a base for Ryanair and tour operator TUI with flights to 22 destinations in Europe. RCA plans to grow passenger numbers. Meanwhile, MAG, which will continue to own Manchester, Stansted
and East Midlands airports, recorded a 9.1 per cent increase in passengers to 34.9 million for the six months to 30 September compared with the same period in 2016. Stansted saw the biggest rise in passenger numbers with a 9.8 per cent increase to 14.6 million, while Manchester’s passenger traffic rose 9.2 per cent to 16.6 million. East Midlands’ passenger traffic went up by 3.2 per cent to 3.2 million. MAG’s overall revenue increased by 12.9 per cent year-on-year to £544.6 million for the six-month period. Operating profit was also up by 9.9 per cent to £159.9 million.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
the committee agreed the renewal was only granted “due to the level of public interest” in the service. The committee expressed
concerns over a loophole by which Uber could continue to operate in York using out-of- town drivers, which would give the council less control over who was operating in the city. Uber said it intends to appeal the ban and it continues to operate in York until the appeal is heard. Meanwhile, a ban on Uber in Sheffield has been lifted.
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