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British Airways and American Airlines are further enhancing the newly renovated Terminal 8 at JFK airport with the unveiling of the first of its kind, Bridge Bar.  Featuring a variety of non-alcoholic and spirited cocktails, including Aviation American Gin and Betty Buzz, the premium bar will be part of the Greenwich LoungeTM experience, within the joint premium Lounges offered by the two airline partners.
The new Bridge Bar is designed to celebrate the love of flying and offers customers a place to relax pre-flight, while enjoying delicious cocktails and mocktails. The cocktail menu features a variety of alcohol and non-alcoholic cocktails, including Aviation American Gin which infuses a blend of botanicals and is fronted by actor Ryan Reynolds; and Betty Buzz, a range of non-alcoholic sparkling mixers founded by actress Blake Lively.
Betty Buzz prides itself on using clean ingredients like real juice and no artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners. Menu creations include drinks featuring one of five Betty Buzz flavors such as the tasty ‘Blushing Betty’ and the sparkling ‘Adventure Awaits’. Customers can also enjoy a range of non-alcoholic or spirited Aviation American Gin cocktail creations at their leisure.
Betty Buzz Founder Blake Lively said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the entire British Airways and American Airlines crew, as we celebrate the opening of this beautiful new lounge.”
Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “Following our recent investment in our new JFK lounges – Chelsea and Soho – we are excited to unveil a new experience in the Greenwich LoungeTM. With Betty Buzz and Aviation American Gin, we have created the perfect space for customers to relax pre-flight, offering a varied and delicious cocktail selection and flavours to suit every taste.”ADVERTISEMENTThe guest journey through the Greenwich LoungeTM experience culminates in the Bridge Bar’s open space that transports select customers to the Golden Age of Travel. The space has been created to offer a rich and sophisticated take on mid-century modern design with a classic 1960’s feel.
“We understand travelers are looking for a customized travel experience that starts on the ground and our joint premium lounges with British Airways give our customers the opportunity to do so,” said Kim Cisek, Vice President of Customer Experience at American Airlines. “The opening of the Bridge Bar and Tasting Room is the latest piece of our premium lounge experience at JFK.”
The Greenwich LoungeTM experience is part of the American Airlines and British Airways joint premium Lounges at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 8. The lounge now also features the new Tasting Room, formerly known as the Flagship® First Dining space.  It features a soft refresh featuring a high-end tap room, making visitors feel like they are inside a beer tavern. Brooklyn Brewery, the Brooklyn-based leading global independent craft brewer and a pioneer of the American craft beer revolution is the first brand featured in the space. Customers can relax and sip on an array of Brooklyn Brewery products, including beers on draft, and beer flights ahead of their travels. A lighter fare menu is also available to enjoy with their beer pairings including Beer Braised Bratwurst, French Onion Grilled Cheese, and a Beer Float dessert.The Greenwich LoungeTM experience is accessible to British Airways Club customers, American Airlines customers traveling on Flagship® Business and AAdvantage® members with AAdvantage Platinum® status who are traveling on Flagship® Long Haul International itineraries, and oneworld Sapphire and oneworld Business Class customers.

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easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has put its winter 2024 schedule on sale meaning millions of seats across 138,000 easyJet flights between 1 December 2023 and 23 March 2024 including over 70,000 flights to and from the UK, are now available so customers have the opportunity to book early and get the best fares for next winter.
With flights to 125 destinations to choose from across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East from 21 UK airports, customers have an unrivalled choice when looking to book their next winter getaway, whether its enjoying Christmas markets, hitting the slopes, or chasing the winter sun.
Flights for next winter are now available to book at easyJet.com and via the mobile app, including:
London Gatwick to Innsbruck from £32.99* and to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura from £38.998London Luton to Geneva and Innsbruck from £32.99*Bristol to Geneva and Innsbruck from £26.99* and to Gran Canaria from £35.99*Manchester to Geneva from £29.99* and to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura from £35.99*Liverpool to Geneva from £26.99* and to Lanzarote from £29.99*Belfast to Geneva from £26.99*, and to Tenerife and Lanzarote from £32.99*
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, commented:ADVERTISEMENT“We’re delighted to be putting our flights for winter 2024 on sale today so customers can book early and enjoy great value fares on flights across our unrivalled network across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, providing even more choice to book a festive Christmas trip, a ski getaway or winter sun break. With fares available from just £26.99* and with a host of destinations to choose from like Innsbruck, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, now is a great time to book with easyJet and we look forward to taking even more of our customers away in 2024.”
Today also sees thousands more package holidays for winter 2024 available to book through easyJet holidays. Whilst the tour operator previously had exclusive early access to winter 2024 flights, the release means even more destinations and flight options will be available for holidaymakers heading to Europe’s best loved beach and city destinations. These include the package holiday provider’s bestselling winter destinations, which customers can’t get enough of, including Iceland, Lanzarote and Disneyland Paris.
All easyJet holidays packages are covered by its industry-leading Protection Promise. On top of that, there’s 23kg of luggage per person on all holidays and transfers included on all beach holidays.
Book a winter 2024 beach holiday or city break with easyJet holidays (www.easyjet.com/en/holidays tel: 0330 365 5005):
easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 4* Xperience St.George Homestay in Sharm el Sheikh on an All Inclusive basis for £528 per person including 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from Bristol on 6 December 2023.easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 4* Puerto Palace in Tenerife on a Half Board basis for £460 per person including 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from Belfast on 20 March 2024.easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 5* Kenzi Club Agdal Medina in Marrakech an All Inclusive basis for £456 per person including 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from London Luton on 7 December 2023.easyJet holidays offers three nights at 4* Best Western Plus Amstelveen in Amsterdam on a Bed & Breakfast basis for £252 per person including 23kg of luggage per person and flights from Liverpool on 4 December 2023.easyJet holidays offers three nights at 5* Eurostars Torre Sevilla in Seville on a Bed & Breakfast basis for £351 per person including 23kg of luggage per person and flights from London Gatwick on 10 December 2023.
Holidaymakers looking for inspiration can use easyJet’s Low Fare Finder on easyJet.com to search for the lowest fares on easyJet’s entire network, all in one place, allowing them to plan their next holiday at a bargain price.
easyJet serves 21 UK airports, offering 482 routes to 125 destinations from the UK across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. To discover more about easyJet’s UK network and to book, visit easyJet.com
To book or discover more about easyJet’s UK network, visit easyJet.com.

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The KLM Group, Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI are joining forces to take summary proceedings against the Dutch government in a bid to keep the Netherlands connected to the rest of the world via Schiphol Airport.The airlines are challenging the government’s unilateral decision to significantly cut flight movements at Schiphol, confident they can reduce noise levels and CO2 emissions while maintaining a network of destinations for the millions of passengers and tonnes of cargo they carry annually to and from Schiphol.
Schiphol Airport makes a significant contribution to the Dutch economy, providing more than a hundred thousand jobs, both directly and indirectly. Millions of people across the Netherlands use the airport every year for business trips, vacations, family visits or studies, while the airport’s international network makes it attractive to foreign companies looking to establish themselves in the Netherlands.
The airlines maintain that the Dutch government’s unilateral and sudden decision to reduce Schiphol’s capacity from 500,000 to 460,000 flight annual movements (with the ultimate goal of reducing flight movements to 440,000 by 2024) is incomprehensible. The airlines have already made multi-billion euros investments to meet near- and long-term goals in line with their own decarbonization trajectories as well as government policies, while the government’s justification hinges on operational restrictions with no consideration of alternative workable solutions to effect noise reduction.
In addition to negatively impacting the Dutch economy, the capacity reduction would significantly reduce travel options and connectivity for consumers. The airlines maintain that, along with violating national, European and international legislation, the decision is unnecessary, damaging and lacks proper substantiation, given the airline industry is already achieving significant results in relation to reducing CO2 emissions and lowering noise levels.
For these reasons, KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Martinair, Transavia – all part of Air France-KLM Group – as well as Corendon, Delta Air Lines, easyJet and TUI are urging the courts to safeguard the future capacity of Schiphol Airport.ADVERTISEMENTThe KLM Group, which accounts for close to 60% of traffic at Schiphol, initiated this legal action in line with parent company Air France-KLM Group’s position on the matter. In addition, industry association BARIN has indicated its full support for this initiative. This initiative is also fully supported by industry associations Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) because the capacity reduction at Schiphol has major implications for the EU’s single aviation market. In a further move, industry association IATA and a number of airlines will also be going to court to initiate proceedings against the Dutch government.
KLM PRESIDENT & CEO MARJAN RINTEL SAID:“We are embracing the targets set for reducing noise levels and CO2 emissions, investing billions in fleet renewal and SAF procurement that will ultimately supersede these targets while maintaining our network that serves 170 destinations worldwide. This is good news for the millions of people who fly from the Netherlands with KLM every year whether for business or leisure and for the cargo industry. As the government appears not to hear our call, unfortunately we find ourselves compelled to take legal action.”
DELTA AIR LINES’ EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT EXTERNAL AFFAIRS PETER CARTER SAID:“Delta is committed to ambitious sustainability targets and wants to work collaboratively to meet these goals. We firmly believe that it is possible and, indeed, necessary to properly balance sustainability priorities with economic and wider societal interests. We strongly object to capacity reductions at Schiphol Airport and remain actively focused on investing in our fleet renewal and modernization program as the most effective way forward to mitigate noise and environmental concerns.”
GENERAL MANAGER TUI NETHERLANDS ARJAN KERS SAID:“The proposed measures will negatively limit Dutch travelers’ options. That is why TUI wholeheartedly supports this action. The measures are contrary to (European) regulations and government policies that have been in place for years and do not reward the efforts that have been and are being made by airlines to reduce noise and emissions.”
CEO CORENDON STEVEN VAN DER HEIJDEN SAID:“Emphatic focus on rapid fleet renewal will reduce noise levels and emissions in the short term far more effectively than imposing limits on capacity, which will only serve to put pressure on network connections and holiday flights, driving passengers across the border.”
CEO TRANSAVIA MARCEL DE NOOIJER SAID:“Transavia finds itself compelled to join the summary proceedings against the reduction of capacity at Schiphol to 460,000 flight movements. As a company, we have made an important decision to investment billions in a cleaner, more fuel-efficient and quieter fleet, so that we can continue to offer our passengers a pleasant trip to beautiful destinations. Reducing the number of flights does not provide a solution and will not have the desired effect for local residents and the environment.”
EASYJET COUNTRY MANAGER WILLIAM VET SAID:“By choosing to pursue an arbitrary flight cap the Dutch government totally disregards both the efforts made by the industry to decarbonise as well as the socio-economic benefits of aviation, significantly reducing connectivity. easyJet is taking important steps towards the decarbonisation of our operations, having recently published our roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which includes a combination of operational efficiencies, fleet renewal, and other elements like airspace modernisation.”

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British Airways Executive Club Members now have more choice than ever when it comes to using their Avios, with the new option to redeem them towards the cost of a British Airways Holidays booking.Customers choosing a flight and hotel and/or car package with British Airways Holidays, can now use Avios towards the total price of a holiday when making their booking. After selecting their preferred package, customers will be able to pick one of up to nine different Avios payment options at check out, allowing them to choose the amount of cash and Avios they wish to spend, with the cash amount starting from as little as £1, subject to holding a qualifying Avios balance. Examples include:
Return flights and two nights’ accommodation in Barcelona from £1 + 67,650 Avios for two people sharing (50p + 33,825 per person)**Return flights and three nights’ accommodation in New York from £1 + 246,275 Avios for two people sharing (50p + 123,188 Avios per person)**Alternatively, customers can secure their holiday with a deposit just using Avios, paying any remaining balance with cash in as many or few instalments as they like, provided the balance is paid off in full four or five* weeks before travel for short haul trips or seven weeks for long-haul.
British Airways Executive Club Members will also continue to earn Double Tier points with British Airways Holidays. To qualify they need to book flights and hotel, or flights and car hire, for five nights or more and travel before 31 December 2023. This includes solo travellers and any holidays already booked.
There are a number of ways for customers to collect Avios to spend on holidays, including spending on the British Airways American Express Credit Card, travelling with Uber, converting Nectar points and shopping on the British Airways Avios eStore. With more than 1,500 outlets to select from, savvy shoppers can earn Avios from any purchase that they make when visiting www.shopping.ba.com.
Claire Bentley, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays, said: “Now more than ever we want to give as many options as possible when it comes to booking that much needed holiday, so we are really excited to offer our Executive Club Members the ability to spend Avios on a package with British Airways Holidays.ADVERTISEMENT“When people book with us, they can do so knowing that we take their holiday seriously. As well as a wide range of holidays to suit all travellers and budgets, we have a dedicated helpline available to customers at any point during their holiday, so they can switch off and relax knowing that they are in safe hands.”
In addition to packages with British Airways Holidays, British Airways Executive Club Members can use Avios to pay, or part pay for flights, as well as seat selection, upgrades and on board food and drink.
Elsewhere, after much feedback from customers, British Airways recently rolled out its Reward Flight Saver to 100 per cent of its network. This proposition allows customers to purchase a Reward Seat at a low flat fee, plus a fixed Avios amount. Members can travel to and from Europe from as little as £1 plus 18,500 Avios, or to a long-haul destination, such as New York, from £100 plus 50,000 Avios.

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interCaribbean Airways is pleased to announce all new nonstop services from St Kitts to Barbados. These flights will connect with services to Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Georgetown, Guyana.Service from the Barbados Grantly Adams International Airport is scheduled to commence on Sunday, 12 March 2023. An Embraer-120 aircraft with a seating capacity of 30 seats will service St. Kitts from Barbados three times weekly on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
We are incredibly proud as interCaribbean Airways integrates St. Kitts in its current itinerary. As demand for travel increases, St. Kitts continues to build a strong reputation as a must-see destination. interCaribbean’s partnership significantly strengthens connectivity between our neighboring Caribbean brothers and sisters. We continue to stay committed to advancing airlift to the island said Minister of Tourism, Marsha T. Henderson.
St. Kitts Tourism Authority continues to prioritize the increase of stayover visitation to the destination. With the successful launch of our “Venture Deeper” campaign, we are moving in the right direction. We are delighted to welcome new airlift to St. Kitts, especially at this critical time when regional connectivity has been limited. interCaribbean’s service allows the destination to capitalize on the regional market as the destination can now implement key marketing strategies to make the Caribbean region our second largest market once again stated Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Ellison “Tommy” Thompson.
Chairman, Mr. Lyndon Gardiner, stated “Launching this new route during regional recovery demonstrates our commitment to facilitating intra-regional connectivity. We are pleased to extend region travel options by adding the beautiful destination of St. Kitts and Nevis to our network.

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Qatar Airways re-opened its luxurious Premium Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), complementing the airline’s triple daily flights, available for Premium passengers and eligible oneworld alliance partners.The Premium Lounge features all of the facilities and qualities of the airline’s premium product, including both The Brasserie and The Global Deli, prayer rooms, business centre, shower facilities, Wi-Fi and zoned seating for more than 200 guests. Far-reaching views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower, contribute to a warm and relaxing atmosphere.
Commenting on the airline’s latest Premium Lounge re-opening, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, stated: “This milestone illustrates our focus on continuous product enhancements. The re-opening of the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, marks our fifth global lounge within our growing network. This further demonstrates our commitment to providing unparalleled services to our customers, especially in France.”
At more than 1,000 square metres, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle offers Qatar Airways First and Business Class passengers a sophisticated, modern and spacious environment in which to relax and commence their five star journey experience.
Catering to exceptional premium culinary standard, the lounge is equipped with a full kitchen for freshly-prepared à la carte orders, in addition to an existing buffet spread, offering an international menu from across the globe.Qatar Airways Paris Premium Lounge launched its operations in 2017 to serve the growing capacity of passengers travelling with the airline from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Today, Qatar Airways operates 18 weekly flights to Paris, offering passengers with the ultimate connectivity to Skytrax’ World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport

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Last week, Finnair announced it was joining the growing list of airlines discontinuing their in-flight and pre-order retail sales. This includes cosmetics, gifts, and accessories. The airline cited low customer demand and the need to reduce overall take-off weight as the main reasons for its decision.According to InterLnkd – which enables travel companies to earn a new and free revenue stream from fashion, beauty and retail products – airlines should not have to compromise on ancillary revenue opportunities.
CEO Barry Klipp said: “The news from Finnair shows in-flight and pre-order ‘collect onboard’ retail is slowly becoming a relic of a bygone era, as airlines struggle to reconcile the costly and complex logistics with their drive to improve fuel efficiency and streamline their ancillary strategies.
“The reality that many airlines overlook, however, is that putting an end to traditional in-flight retail doesn’t mean saying goodbye to ancillary revenues from fashion, beauty and retail products. In fact, airlines can now capitalise on the lucrative holiday retail market at no cost – as long as they know exactly what their travellers need and want.
“The average person spends £270 on fashion, beauty and retail products for their upcoming holiday, mostly through online purchases from their favourite brands. Rather than stocking and selling a limited selection of products with on-board or airport collection, airlines should seek to earn revenue by offering customers the items they actually need and want for the holidays they have booked.
“In a world of unlimited choice and next-day delivery, choosing from a handful of brands and only getting them on departure day doesn’t sound as attractive anymore. This is why we’ve developed an ancillary revenue solution that helps airlines curate the most relevant products for a customer’s booking, from over 1000 major brands across fashion, beauty and retail – enabling them to a revenue stream from the items they would purchase anyway.ADVERTISEMENT“The key to this zero-risk approach is simple: using personalisation to stimulate demand. While traditional pre-order and in-flight retail may not have been sustainable for the likes of Finnair, offering customers the right products at the right time is much more effective in delivering the motivation to purchase.”

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The Emirates Group has renewed its agreement with Dubai Municipality for the management of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), in its continuous commitment to preserving wildlife and protecting natural habitats.As custodian of the reserve for over 20 years, the Emirates Group is charged with its full operations and funding of its efforts to nurture the fragile ecosystem of the UAE, in addition to research and education programs.
With Dubai’s rapid pace of development and urbanisation over the past two decades, the DDCR was borne out of the Dubai Government’s commitment to preserving the emirate’s unique desert habitat and biodiversity. The reserve is the UAE’s first national park, spanning an area of 225 square kilometres which is roughly 5% of the total land area of Dubai.
Signing the agreement on behalf of Emirates Group, Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Executive Vice President – Facilities, Projects Management & Group Procurement & Supply Chain said: “At the core of Emirates’ Group strategic goals is our commitment to sustainability and protecting the precious environment that we operate in. Since the establishment of DDCR in 2002, the Emirates Group has supported this important initiative by operating the reserve and managing its vast facilities on behalf of the Government of Dubai. The UAE has declared 2023 the Year of Sustainability, and we are proud to continue playing a role in achieving the nation’s sustainability goals.”

Commenting on the renewed management agreement, Engineer Alya Abdulrahim Alharmoudi, Acting CEO – Environment, Health & Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, added: “Our collaboration with Emirates Airline to preserve and manage the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Al Maha) demonstrates the significant role of public-private partnerships in promoting the sustainable development of natural reserves. It also reflects the Municipality’s commitment to efficiently coordinate with all its partners in order to further boost the economy. This agreement plays a vital role in preserving the diversity of environmental and natural reserves, as well as strengthening wildlife conservation, which is essential for the development of tourism and environmental sectors in the Emirate of Dubai as well as the UAE. At Dubai Municipality, we are committed to fostering sustainability in the natural and desert reserves by carrying out research operational plans and studies. This will contribute to conserving their ecological diversities in a sustainable manner and highlight their relevance as significant tourist attractions for wildlife and desert safaris.”ADVERTISEMENTThe Emirates Group has invested more than AED 28 million in the reserve since its establishment in 2002, to fund and support the conservation of the natural desert landscape and its indigenous fauna and flora. The protected inland desert habitat is currently home to over 560 different species of plants and trees, birds, mammals, reptiles and arthropods – more than double the original 150 indigenous species which thrived in the area prior to DDCR’s efforts. The reserve’s effective management strategies have helped promote the natural processes that lead to rewilding of the desert habitat and its rehabilitation.
By protecting Dubai’s valuable desert ecosystems, Emirates has also made it possible for the DDCR to provide an authentic desert experience for visitors through carefully managed and monitored tours. Funding from the Emirates Group and limited tour operations at the DDCR also enables the reserve to conduct scientific research, collect data, and develop new technologies necessary for its management, in addition to rolling out education programs designed to enrich the visitor experience.

The sustainable tourism offering allows visitors from around the world to experience spectacular dune drives, desert safaris and traditional Arabian experiences while gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the desert’s natural habitat, heritage and wildlife, and the importance of conservation. A new Desert Visitor Centre is currently being developed to further enhance the educational experience for guests of the reserve.
The DDCR operates under the supervision of the Dubai Conservation Board (DCB) which is chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Since the inception of the DDCR, the reserve has been immensely successful in growing the population of sand gazelles, Arabian gazelles and the Arabian onyx, from 230 initially to over 1,300 today. A further 171 Arabian Oryx have been relocated to other protected areas in the UAE. Also amongst its other milestone achievements are the re-introduction of 2,800 Houbara, or Macqueen’s Bustard, which roam freely within the safe environment of the reserve. In excess of 31,000 native trees flourish in the vast area, which include the Ghaf tree, native to the desert and known for its ability to survive its extreme climate conditions without irrigation.

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