Business Travel News - issue 18

What's the most important thing to consider when you're flying???

For many people, the fare is most important.?For others, the timetable and scheduling of flights, so that you can maximise the efficiency of your trip.?Some need to ensure their arrival airport is as close to their destination as possible.?And many people are happy to take a flight as long as it gives them the best return on their frequent flyer membership.??

But, surely, there's one thing we all take for granted when we're flying???

Every time we step onboard an aircraft, we hope, with a high degree of confidence, that our flight will end up in the right country.??

So, when passengers on a recent Ryanair?flight to Faro ended up in Malaga?they weren't best pleased.?The Irish airline's flight to Portugal was diverted to Spain, thanks to problems caused by a strike by French air traffic control.??

Some low-cost airlines have a reputation of flying passengers to airports that aren't in the immediate vicinity of the destination city centre.?But I think passengers really should expect their airline to take them to the right country.??

Further afield, passengers travelling from Sydney have another reason to look forward to the experience, thanks to SkyTeam reopening a redesigned lounge.??

The sustainable, luxury, space has been put together for SkyTeam's Elite Plus, First and Business Class passengers.?

It offers a "fresh, airy space", reupholstered furniture and an à la carte menu designed by in-house chefs, using locally-sourced, produce, including sustainable fish.??

Aussie reds, whites and sparkling wines are available as well as barista coffees, soft drinks and water.??

You can read about the new-look lounge here.?But, even if you're not travelling through the Aussie city in the near future, it's good to see that airlines and airline alliances are reinvesting in the best experience - on the ground and in the air - for passengers returning to business travel.??

Closer to home, our neighbours in France have invested heavily in a new culinary experience for passengers in Paris.??

Ducasse Paris - the culinary house named after proprietor, the legendary Alain Ducassse - has collaborated with 法航 to produce a range of meals available at terminal 2E.?

And chefs? Fran?ois Adamski and Chloé Charles have created menus available in terminal 2F.??

The least you can expect when flying with Air France is that the catering offer will be extensive and mouth-watering.?As usual, they're exceeding expectations.?