Business Traveller

ALL EYES WERE on the UK last month - twice, in fact. First for the coronation of King Charles III, and then again for the Eurovision Song Contest, which was hosted by Liverpool on behalf of the Ukraine. The two events were about as opposite as you can get. One a solemn display of ancient tradition with lashings of formal pomp and ceremony, the other an exuberant, chaotic celebration of music and nonconformity: think middle-aged punk rockers singing anti-war songs in their underpants (thank you, Croatia). One thing they did have in common was the ability to bring people together, with millions tuning in around the world to watch both spectacles. They also contributed a huge stimulus to the British economy, with an estimated billionpound boost for the hospitality industry as travellers…

JAMES BATCHELOR Freelance motoring journalist and presenter James Batchelor cut his teeth on Car Dealer Magazine and later joined Britain's best-selling weekly car news title, Auto Express, also fronting the YouTube channel of its sister title Carbuyer. On page 56, he tells us why 2023 is the year to switch to electric vehicles. JOSEPH PHELAN Joe is a freelance journalist based in London. He has previously written for the BBC, National Geographic, The Observer, British Airways' High Life and Scientific American, covering everything from football in Greenland to Iceland's outdoor bathing culture. On page 28 he charts Dubai's sustainable goals for the years ahead. ANITHYA BALACHANDRAN Anithya is the Assistant Editor of Business Traveller India. Apart from being a journalist full-time, her other passions include exploring hidden gems across her city and the world. On…

AIR NEW ZEALAND HAS ANNOUNCED plans to debut its innovative Skynest bunkbeds on ultra-long-haul routes to New York and Chicago from September 2024. The six-pod Skynest sleep zone will be positioned between economy and premium economy, with each pod oftering a fully-flat bed, full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, as well as a separate reading light, USB port, ventilation oudet, and “lighting designed for rest”. Customers travelling in economy cabins will be able to book one four-hour session per passenger on their reservation, subject to availability, and bedding will be changed between each session, with a 30-minute transition time built in to allow for this. Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty said that the carrier was “still working through the exact details of how the booking process will work, and…

RADISSON HOTEL GROUP has announced plans for the first property under its prizeotei brand in the UK and Ireland region. The 145-room prizeotel Dublin will be located on James Street in the city's Liberties district, and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025. Features will include a restaurant and bar in the ground floor lobby area, and rooms "decorated in a mix of urban style and relaxed ambience" Radisson describes prizeotel as "a value engineered, high-design-focused brand for tech-savvy, connected midscale lifestyle travellers in vibrant, urban locations offering convertible, flexible spaces" In its most recent press release Radisson said that "additional openings and signings in exciting European destinations will be announced soon with a particular focus on the UK and Ireland."…

RYANAIR HAS PLACED AN ORDER for up to 300 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, worth up to US$40 billion at list prices. The deal comprises 150 firm orders and a further 150 options, with delivery scheduled between 2027 and 2033. The carrier said it would increase traffic by 80 per cent to 300 million per annum by March 2034. Half of the deliveries will replace the airline's older 737 NG aircraft, with the 737 MAX 10s being configured with 228 seats - 21 per cent more than the aircraft they are replacing. Ryanair took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 200 'Gamechanger' aircraft in June 2021, and the group has taken delivery of around half of the 210 aircraft ordered, with the remainder set to enter service by 2025.…

MANCHESTER AIRPORT HAS UNVEILED plans for the final phase of its £1.3 billion Transformation Programme, which was first announced in 2015. Terminal 2 will offer 27 new shops and restaurants when works are completed in 2025, including a champagne bar, brasserie and food market with an extended departure lounge, while a new shopping zone known as The Avenue will feature store fronts opening out onto airfield views. The first phase of the project, comprising an extension to Terminal 2, was completed in July 2021. The second and final phase involves the remodelling and upgrade of the original Terminal 2 building, including a new security hall with 3D scanners, a second pier with additional boarding gates, and a new dual taxiway system designed to improve airfield efficiency. Once completed, more than 80 per cent…