Businesses in Wales are going green to help save the environment when it comes to organising their business travel, according to recent research. In an effort to reduce their impact on the environment they’re encouraging their employees to use their bicycles, share cars and even use their own two feet to get around. (more…)

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Flybe, one of the largest Regional Airlines claims to have invested over 2 million in the last year in an attempt to attract more business travellers.  They have opened 8 new executive lounges over the past year, with the latest being at Newcastle airport.  These lounges, for their economy plus customers provide free wifi as well as refreshments.

They are also working on their check in process, expanding the options available to their passengers.  You can already check in online, or at one of many self service kiosks at the airport.  They are also planning on introducing mobile phone check in facilities shortly.

Flybe say that they will not be as affected by the soaring costs of fuel as some other airlines, as they use aircraft that are a lot more fuel efficient than most other airlines.  Their main plane, the Bombardier Q400, costs about half of what a Boeing 737 costs to run, but is as quick.

With price increase everywhere, this could be a good time for business travellers to start looking at Flybe for their flights.

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British Airways and the Spanish airline Iberia are currently holding talks about a possible merger.  The brands would be kept separate, but both airlines would become part of the same group, allowing them to cut costs.  Interestingly, British Airways currently owns 13.2% of Iberia, while Iberia own 2.99% of British Airways.

If the merger did go ahead, it is expected that BA would concentrate on the Middle and Far East, while Iberia would look more towards South America and Africa.  Virgin Atlantic have voiced some concerns, the main ones being that this would mean less competition and therefore less choice for consumers, and that the two combined airlines would control about half of all take off and landing slots at Heathrow.

Obviously with fuel prices the way they are at the moment, it is unlikely that any savings made if the merger did go ahead would be passed onto us: the business travellers, but you never know!

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With Ryanair announcing today an 85% dip in profits, is this the bad news that business travelers have (not) been waiting for?

It is a worrying sign say some business analysts.  Lots of companies had decided to move even their most prestigious business travelers on budget airlines following price increases from larger companies such as BA, but with smaller companies seemingly looking to increase their own prices to stay in profit, it could be a closed avenue.

Isn’t it time for telepresence, guys?

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UK business is retaining its ‘stiff upper lip’ in the face of a faltering economy. According to research from the Institute of Travel Management, who canvassed 175 different British businesses, UK companies are ploughing on with their business travel plans.

Most companies in the UK who responded to the survey said they would limit non-essential travel plans, but wouldn’t place a ban on business travel altogether. 20% of those canvassed said they had considered a total ban, but stated that even if they were to introduce the ban, it would only be a short-term solution. (more…)

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Virgin Trains decision to cut the number of trains running from Nuneaton to London during off-peak hours could be taken to a Judicial Review.  Nuneaton and Bedworth council met on Wednesday to discuss the proposed timetable changes and whether they are going to take action against Virgin Trains and contest the proposed reduction in train service during off-peak hours.  If unchallenged, the timetable will change in December.

Virgin Trains claim that these changes are part of an initiative to provide a faster more frequent service to major cities within their network.

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EasyJet have announced that they are going to be cutting back on their planned fleet increase, due to high fuel costs and a decrease in demand for flights.

EasyJet, who is Europe’s second largest no-frills airline, has halved it’s expansion plans and is also going to reduce its capacity by 12% at Stansted, one of EasyJet’s largest bases. They have also not ruled out a capacity freeze next year after they receive a delivery of 18 Airbus A319 planes. They also have the ability to scale back their capacity from where it currently is if required.

Ryanair have also halted their aggressive expansion plans, and have removed 12 planes from Stansted, and closed 7 European Bases. They are reducing their fleet by about 10% for the winter.

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All across the UK, business travelers are scaling back their usual traveling to and from meetings and potential clients in a bid to save money following several price hikes.

With air travel from cities such as Leeds to London totally out of the question, even train fairs are being looked at in great detail now before they are signed off.

Some small businesses that service the business travel sector have already decided to pack their bags and move to other revenue streams following negative comments from business-travel airlines, who themselves face a torrid few years at least.

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The Institute of Travel Management is supporting a new initiative to have a Business Travel Week in the UK from next year. The notion has been thought by Centaur, and the week will also involve the 15th annual Business Travel Show, which is on February 10th –12th. (more…)

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I have just seen a blog post over at bimbl talking about the future of business travel in the UK.

They say:

As travel around the UK for business people will change towards a more rail-based journey over the next 5 years, wont it be needed for business centres to be very close to train stations?

Will this be the case? Business centres at train stations in some kind of express format? Good idea!

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