THE TRAVEL NEWS IN BRIEF - Everything you need to know

Airport stats

BA CityFlyer upgrades

Berlin Air Show

EasyJet and 2026

Edinburgh to Washington

Gatwick Airport expansion

Glasgow Airport development

Global to fly

Hotel Gabrielli Venice reopens

How to pack for air travel

Hoxton in Edinburgh

Jet2.com summer programme

Luton Airport expansion gets go ahead

New York helicopters

Riyadh Air – No start date

Security bonus for Gatwick

Shorts to be broken up

Silverstone and helicopters

Southampton to Paris

Southend for summer 2025

Winter and Virgin Atlantic


Airport stats

Whilst some airports are very quick to publish the previous monthly passenger statistics within days of a new month’s start (MAG in particular), with some it is less so. You can now visit the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website and take a look at the full numbers for 2024 and at the same time review two months back to see the trend.  February 2024 was published on 17 April 2025, this being a typical disclosure.

Looking at the February figures it seems that the growth trend from 2024, around 10% for most of the major airports, continues. 

www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2024

BA CityFlyer upgrades

#####CityFlyer, the autonomous London City Airport (LCY) operation, has completed the upgrading of its fleet of 20 Embraer 190 aircraft.

Carrying 106 passengers in a 2+2 configuration, and with no middle seat, it is quick to board and equally so to disembark.  The first 11 rows now offer a best in class 33-inch pitch, whist the balance of the aircraft is the industry standard 29-inch.  The overhead bins are generous for what is a small aircraft, accommodating carry-on luggage up to 55 x 35 x 25 cms (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 inches).

Passengers in both the Business and Economy are offered a full courtesy bar.

It is snacks for those at the back, and a tasty light meal in the four-row Business Class.

Wi-fi is not available on the often short flights but a ledge has been incorporated in the seat back making it easy to follow an auto recorded news item, or a film on passengers’ devices.  No airbridges at London City, but touchdown to airside and the DLR is usually less than ten minutes.  

On a recent day trip to Glasgow airbridges were used at the Scottish airport, with the return flight fully booked.  Three cabin crew are now the norm.

BA Mainline has the largest European network at Heathrow but CityFlyer is not far behind with the new summer programme taking in a number of holiday destinations.

Here is the full LCY CityFlyer list:

•    Amsterdam (22+ flights per week)

•    Barcelona (4+ flights per week)

•    Belfast City (13+ flights per week)

•    Bergerac (5 flights per week in June, July and August only)

•    Berlin (22+ flights per week)

•    Dublin (21+ flights per week)

•    Edinburgh (30+ flights per week)

•    Faro (4+ flights per week)

•    Florence (14+ flights per week)

•    Frankfurt (10+ flights per week)

•    Glasgow (22+ flights per week)

•    Ibiza (11+ flights per week)

•    Malaga (7+ flights per week)

•    Nice (9+ flights per week)

•    Palma de Mallorca (4+ flights per week)

•    Rotterdam (17+ flights per week)

•    San Sebastian (2 per week)

•    Skiathos (3 flights per week in June, July and August only)

•    Split (2 flights per week in June, July and August only)

•    Thessaloniki (2 flights per week in June, July and August only)

•    Zurich (15+ flights per week)

www.britishairways.com/content/flights/from-london-city

Berlin Air Show



EasyJet and 2026

Travel News Update, as its name suggests, likes to look ahead.  EasyJet has gone one better by opening up bookings for spring of next year, that is up to Sunday 14 June 2026.  The grand total, starting from 23 March, is 138,000 flights, including 9,000 from Luton alone.

Tour operator easyJet holidays is also offering thousands of package holidays for spring 2026 to over 100 beach and city destinations across Europe and North Africa.  All packages include flights and hotel, with a generous 23kg luggage and transfers on all beach getaways.

www.easyjet.com


Edinburgh to Washington

United Airlines is extending its seasonal service between Edinburgh and Washington DC to almost year-round.

Already flying daily during the summer season until 25 October, the airline’s nonstop capital-to-capital flights will continue into the winter season on a five-times weekly basis, operating from 26 October 2025 until 5 January 2026 and resuming 20 February 2026. From 29 March 2026, the service will revert to a daily operation.  

United’s extended operation between Edinburgh and Washington DC builds on existing daily year-round flights from Edinburgh to New York/Newark, doubling from once to twice daily during the peak summer season, as well as a daily seasonal service between Edinburgh and Chicago O’Hare.

United is the only airline with year-round service from Edinburgh to the USA and offers more seats and flights from Scotland to the USA than any other airline.

The airport has also announced that Hainan Airlines will extend its Edinburgh to Beijing route to a year-round service. This is Scotland’s only direct link to China and currently operates March to October.

www.edinburghairport.com

www.united.com


Gatwick Airport expansion

Gatwick’s response to Secretary of State’s “minded to grant consent” letter incorporates feedback on key conditions related to noise and public transport. 

Heidi Alexander MP, current Secretary of State for Transport, is expected to make the final decision on Gatwick’s expansion plans by 27 October.

Gatwick has accepted a requirement for 54% of passengers to travel to the airport by public transport before bringing the Northern Runway into operation.  However, in a strong statement it reiterated the need for third parties, including the Department for Transport, to support delivery of the necessary conditions and improvements required to meet this target. This would include, for example, reinstating the full Gatwick Express train service.

There is a penalty. If the 54% transport mode share is not met then use of the Northern Runway would be delayed until £350m of road improvements have been completed.  Assuming that the runway would by then be completed how you monitor this split remains a mystery that would have to be resolved by the civil servants.

www.gatwickairport.com


Glasgow Airport development

AviAlliance plans to invest £350m ($465m) over the next five years to upgrade its three AGS – Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.

The investment marks the largest capital programme since AGS was formed in 2014 and follows AviAlliance’s £1.53bn acquisition of the airport group from Ferrovial and Macquarie in January. The funds will support terminal upgrades, airfield infrastructure improvements and energy efficiency initiatives across all three airports.

Glasgow Airport will undergo a transformation of its main terminal, expanding floor space to accommodate more airline gates and enhance retail and dining options. Aberdeen Airport will see airfield infrastructure enhancements, while Southampton Airport's terminal will be redeveloped.

Glasgow is the largest airport in the AGS portfolio, handling approximately 8m passengers in 2024. Aberdeen follows with 2.3m, while England's Southampton Airport served around 850,000 passengers during the year.

www.agsairports.co.uk


Global to fly

The British start-up airline planning a transatlantic network, Global Airlines, has started selling tickets for its inaugural flight from Glasgow International Airport to New York/JFK. Take off is set for 11:00 on 15 May.

The aircraft will remain on the ground in New York for four days, returning to Scotland on 19 May.  On 21 May it will make another four-day trip to New York, this time from Manchester.  The reason for the stopover is to use a single crew, allowing for flight rules.

The Airbus A380 was previously owned by China Southern Airlines and fitted with 428 Economy, 70 Business and eight First Class seats.  Although it is owned by Global Airlines, it is operated by Hi Fly Malta, a subsidiary of the Portuguese aviation firm Hi Fly.

Tickets for what is technically a charter flight are being sold through a Slough-based travel solutions company, Travelopedia.

A “Global Traveller” (Economy) return ticket costs £778. Business Class is £3,700, whilst the First Class is priced at £7,127.

www.globalairlines.com

https://travelpedia.uk


Hotel Gabrielli Venice reopens

After an ambitious conservative restoration project the 5-star Hotel Gabrielli, Venice, will reopen 9 July.  Sited on the lagoon, and just a few steps from St Mark’s Square it offers breathtaking views of San Giorgio Maggiore Island and the St Mark’s Lagoon.

It is still owned by the Perkhofer family, who have been its custodians since 1856 and are now into their fifth generation.  Hotel Gabrielli is managed by Starhotels, as part of its prestigious Collezione brand.

To ensure a more exclusive experience, the hotel’s room and suite count has been reduced from 105 to just 66. The crown jewel is the sumptuous Presidential Suite, one of the largest on the island, boasting a private rooftop altana terrace with unparalleled panoramic views over the city and lagoon.

At the hotel’s heart lies a secret 600sq m garden, restored to its original beauty through meticulous research on historical plant species: this project has preserved indigenous flora, including two majestic centuries-old olive trees, creating a serene oasis amid Venice’s vibrant energy.

https://hotel-gabrielli-venice.hotel-ds.com

https://collezione.starhotels.com


How to pack for air travel

With summer holiday planning now in full swing across the UK families are facing the perennial challenge of packing efficiently. Rising airline baggage fees and the physical strain of managing multiple overstuffed suitcases can turn the start of a family getaway into an unnecessarily stressful experience.

“Most families pack far more than they'll ever use”, explains travel expert Andy Halliday from Lexrope, a UK-based company specialising in outdoor camping gear and accessories. “There's a much simpler approach that can cut your luggage in half”.

TNU suggests that readers take a look at these guidelines and see if they actually work.  Submit a COMMENT at the end of “The Travel News in Brief” and we will publish the most interesting suggestions. Your name will not be used unless requested.

https://lexrope.com

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GHIQ9TKebnr8AwzMaCRXuMCY1ZcK_-s76nBdqCRxyjw


Hoxton in Edinburgh

June will see a new hotel opening in Edinburgh’s historic area of Haymarket. The design-driven, community-focused Hoxton will comprise of 11 townhouses set across both sides of the street.

The property hotel will feature 214 rooms including three self-contained homes (coming later in the summer), a spacious lobby offering cosy corners and vaulted ceilings in equal measure, an intimate cinema, a ballroom events space, plus The Apartment a meeting and events concept, and all-day Italian restaurant Patatino.

This somewhat unique hotel concept will cater to all manner of travellers.

The accommodation come in nine categories, including Snug, Single and Bunk rooms plus the Hoxton classics: Cosy, Roomy and Biggy. Also available are three self-contained three-bed, three-bath homes, ideal for those looking for a longer stay.

Founded in London’s Shoreditch (also locally called Hoxton) in 2006, the group now has four London properties and is franchised in a number of European cities in the United States.

https://thehoxton.com


Jet2.com summer programme

A first-time arrival at Luton Airport is Leeds Bradford-based Jet2.com  And with some special goodies too.

The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline has introduced 17 sunny destinations across Europe, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean for summer 2025 from the Hertfordshire airport.

And the special good news is the arrival on all its flights of tasty new offerings including scones with cream and jam, hot drinks from Costa Coffee and nine new soft drinks from Coca-Cola, as well as treats such as a Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff chocolate bar.

Adding to its choice of snack boxes, Jet2.com is launching a new Afternoon Tea box, allowing customers to indulge in a sultana scone, Bonne Maman strawberry jam, afternoon tea cream, and a clotted cream shortbread finger biscuit in the sky.

www.jet2.com


Luton Airport expansion gets go ahead

Officially called London Luton Airport (3-letter code LTN) the single runway operation 31 miles north of Marble Arch, has received government permission to expand, enabling a nearly doubling of its annual capacity to 32 million passengers.

No lengthening of the 2133m runway was noted.  The largest aircraft currently using the airport is the 220-seater Airbus A321 neo.

The announcement comes less than a week after Vauxhall’s van-making factory in Luton was closed by parent company Stellantis, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk.  Within days a statement confirmed that the Australian property business Goodman has acquired the 56 acre site to provide flexible industrial, storage and distribution uses.

Both Luton Rising, the Luton Council company which owns the airport, and the operator London Luton Airport Operations Ltd welcomed the expansion decision. Universal Studious is to build a theme park at Bedford, 20 miles to the north, set to open in 2031.

www.london-luton.co.uk





New York helicopters

In spite of the horrific crash of a Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter in New York’s Hudson River on 10 April, killing all six on board, the very popular tourist flights continue, flown by companies other than New York Helicopter Charter Inc.

Since 2005, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing flights have fallen into the Hudson and East rivers as a result of mechanical failures, pilot errors or collisions, killing 20 people.  Your Editor-in-Chief has several times taken a ride along the Hudson, as far as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Very much still operating is HeliNY, established in 1994, who offer 200 tours weekly, seven days a week at several locations throughout the year.  Current charge for the shortest 12- to 15-minute ride, taking in the highlights of Manhattan from The Statue of Liberty to Central Parkis, is $215 per seat.

https://heliny.com/new-york-city-helicopter-tours


Riyadh Air – No start date

Whilst the new Saudi Arabian airline tantalisingly shows off the first of its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft an actual start date has not been announced, nor the inaugural destination out of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The aircraft will be configured with 290 seats across Economy, Premium Economy, Business and Business Elite classes.

The airline recently obtained its Air Operator Certificate, and intends to announce its initial network and first flight date “in the coming months”.

Plans for the Kingdom’s second flag carrier (joining Saudia) were first announced in 2023, with the airline reportedly targeting 100 destinations by 2030. Aside from Boeing 787 aircraft the airline will also operate a fleet of 60 A320neos.

Last year Riyadh Air unveiled a strategic agreement with Virgin Atlantic, paving the way for interline and codeshare connectivity and leveraging Virgin’s recently launched flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital.

www.riyadhair.com


Security bonus for Gatwick

Passengers at Gatwick Airport no longer need to remove electrical items or put liquids in plastic bags at security. An extensive programme to install state-of-the-art technology in all 19 security lanes has transformed the process.

The cutting-edge technology enhances the security accuracy for airport security staff with 3D technology.

The installation of new computed tomography (CT) scanners, part of a government initiative and provided by Smiths Detection, simplify and streamline the security process while maintaining the highest safety standards.  The new technology is not only more efficient but also more sustainable with no more requirement to use plastic bags.

www.gatwickairport.com 


Shorts to be broken up
    
Not for the first time, what was once Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast is to be broken up.  Airbus is to take control of the majority of Spirit AeroSystems, owned by Boeing, responsible for A220 parts plus A320 and A350 components.  It is Northern Ireland’s largest industrial employer with up to 3,500 staff.

Established in 1936 as an offshoot of the Rochester manufacturer of flying boats, what is now George Best Belfast City Airport became part of the enterprise.  Famous planes produced include the Sunderland and Belfast freighter plus assembly of the Embraer Tucano for the RAF.

The future for the plant remains uncertain in the long term.  Besides Airbus, Spirit AeroSystems supplies components for Bombardier and Rolls-Royce.  Boeing plans to sell off the balance of the business.  

www.spiritaero.com


Silverstone and helicopters

Thinking of using a helicopter for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone 3-6 July?

The Editor-in-Chief once flew into the circuit in the back of Graham Hill’s Piper Aztec when there was a 550-yard landing strip, long gone.

Leading private air charter specialist, Air Charter Service (ACS), has become the official private charter company.

The partnership aims initially to bring the heliport experience at Silverstone in line with what customers travelling by helicopter have come to expect. The heliport during the Grand Prix will move over 6,000 passengers, on over 1,500 flights.  The new partnership will see a bespoke heli terminal offering over 8,500 sq ft of space, featuring the helipad’s proprietary passenger system and with ACS flight representatives providing hospitality.

Please enjoy the video that accompanies the announcement.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMRV4jTPfE

www.aircharter.co.uk/silverstone-helicopter-charter


Southampton to Paris

EasyJet has launched its eighth route from the south coast airport, a twice weekly Monday and Friday all-year-round service to Paris Orly.  Fares start from £20.99.

The Luton-based airline also flies to Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow and Palma de Mallorca.

The easyJet route expansion is seen as a benefit of the Southampton Airport runway lengthening, completed in August 2023, which was fiercely opposed by a small local high profile opposition group.

www.southamptonairport.com

www.easyjet.com


Southend for summer 2025

With the return of easyJet basing three aircraft at the east London airport Southend is set to have its busiest year since the record 2019 when it moved just over two million passengers.  

For this summer there are services to Alicante, Amsterdam, Antalya, Enfidha, Faro, Gran Canaria, Málaga, Malta, Marrakesh, Palma de Mallorca, Paris – Charles de Gaulle and Tenerife-South.  There are seasonal services to Almería, Barcelona (resumes 26 October), Dalaman, Geneva, Lanzarote (resumes 27 October), Pisa, Reus and Salzburg (begins 6 December).

The airport has its own station served from London’s Liverpool Street, with a major connection at Stratford.

Southend Airport is owned by The Carlyle Group Inc, an American multinational private equity company together with Cyrrus Capital Partners.

https://londonsouthendairport.com


Shorts to be broken up
    
Not for the first time, what was once Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast is to be broken up.  Airbus is to take control of the majority of Spirit AeroSystems, owned by Boeing, responsible for A220 parts plus A320 and A350 components.  It is Northern Ireland’s largest industrial employer with up to 3,500 staff.

Established in 1936 as an offshoot of the Rochester manufacturer of flying boats, what is now George Best Belfast City Airport became part of the enterprise.  Famous planes produced include the Sunderland and Belfast freighter plus assembly of the Embraer Tucano for the RAF.

The future for the plant remains uncertain in the long term.  Besides Airbus, Spirit AeroSystems supplies components for Bombardier and Rolls-Royce.  Boeing plans to sell off the balance of the business.  

www.spiritaero.com


Winter and Virgin Atlantic

It is some way off but Virgin Atlantic is to offer a daily service between London and Seoul (capital South Korea) from 29 March 2026.  

The Heathrow-based carrier is in an expansion mood having reintroduced another daily flight, this time to Toronto, on 30 March, following routes to Dubai and the Maldives, as well as growth in India with five daily services to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The end of April saw a new destination, Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia).

A fleet replacement programme is under way and by 2028 it will comprise 19 A330-900s, 12 A350-1000s, and 14 787-9s, making 45 in total. The airline is part of the Delta Airlines Group.

On a negative note, if you fancy a warm weather trip to St Lucia this winter only British Airways will operate the 9hr flight from Heathrow.  Virgin Atlantic has dropped its service planned for the season.

www.virginatlantic.com

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