Travel Industry News, Views and Opinions

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Brian and team, who work for a digital marketing agency run this Digital Crosstalk blog.
Occasionally we might blog about companies and people we work with but for the most part we'll simply be blogging about stories and events which we find interesting.

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3rd
FEB

New Pay-as-you visit lounge serves Ryanair’s Stanstead service

Posted by Brian | Filed under air, hotels

: Image via Wikipedia

Ryanair’s new business lounge at Stanstead Airport will operate on a pay-as-you-visit basis. No.1 Lounges has announced the opening of a new No. 1 Lounge in the airport, which is situated in satellite three opposite Ryanair’s departure gates. Use of the lounge will set users back £17.50 per visit, although it will offer all the benefits of a VIP lounge including free wi-fi, bar, food court and newspapers and magazines.

It’s the second No.1 Lounge to open at the airport – the first was opened in September last year in satellite one. However, due to its location it wasn’t suitable for Ryanair passengers.

No.1 lounges can be booked online, in advance, for just £17.50 from www.No1Lounges.com

Tags: airport, no.1 lounge, Ryanair, stanstead airport

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2nd
FEB

Emirates named official Ryder Cup airline

Posted by Brian | Filed under air, blogging

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Emirates, the international carrier of the United Arab Emirates has been named the Official Airline of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

The match, to be played at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales will see Colin Montgomerie’s Europe team take on Corey Pavin’s United States team over three days in October.

Montgomerie, who has played in five winning Ryder Cup Teams, sealed the partnership with Gary Chapman – President Emirates Group Services and Dnata – at a press conference at Emirates Golf Club.

Emirates will also be an Official Partner to the European team in 2012 when they travel to Medinah Country Club in Illinois, USA.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, is also looking forward to the tournament and said:

“The Ryder Cup is the pinnacle event in team golf so it is tremendous to be supporting Colin and his players as the Official Airline in 2010 and as an Official Partner of the European Team in 2012.

“As an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, 2010 was always going to be a memorable year for Emirates. It is now going to be even more special with the Ryder Cup marking the crowning moment in our long and successful association with golf.”

Tags: Celtic Manor Resort, Colin Montgomerie, Corey Pavin, FIFA World Cup, Ryder Cup, sport, United Arab Emirates, United State

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1st
FEB

‘No Scan, No Fly’ rules come into force today

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

Under new rules some passengers at Manchester and Heathrow airports will have to undergo compulsory full body scanners before being allowed to board their flight.

Those who decline the scan will be refused clearance to fly under the new security rules brought through in the wake of the failed Christmas day bombing.

Concerns have been raised regarding the potential breach of passengers’ rights to privacy and as yet only a small proportion of passengers would have to undergo the scans said Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

Manchester Airport has been using full-body scanners since October in its Terminal 2 building, with plans to introduce them into Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 before the end of the month. Strict privacy procedures are in place and security staff are not allowed to view passengers naked, while the scanners cannot store or capture images and security staff cannot recognise people in the scanner.

The government has also overturned a ruling which prevented under-18s from being vetted through the scanner.

Tags: airport, airport security, full body scanners

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29th
JAN

Airport terror alert substance ‘not harmful’

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

A suspect white powder which sparked an airport terror alert at Manchester Airport has been identified as dried cow’s blood.

The substance had caused the evacuation of the airport’s Terminal Three building after being discovered in the luggage of a BMI passenger at the airline’s check-in desk on last Saturday. Passengers faced a delay of six hours while tests were carried out.

However, the substance was identified as Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) which is used in lab tests and medical research. BSA is a harmless protein made from the blood of cows, with the only risk coming where cattle is diseased.

With the UK terror alert level being raised recently, Manchester Airport bosses believe they were right to order an evacuation of the terminal following the discovery, where the passenger – who was flying to London – was found with 19 screw-top canisters containing 20kg of the BSA substance in his bag.

Were they right? Let us know in the comments.