As well as celebrating British Airways’ centenary, this month we are also toasting wins at the esteemed Skytrax 2019 World Airline Awards, including Best Airline Staff in Europe. Plus, there are new amenities in World Traveller Plus, we take a glimpse into the future of aviation at BA’s Flight of the Future exhibition, and chef Tom Kerridge reveals his on-board centenary menu

New investment in World Traveller Plus

New amenity kits which use material from recycled plastic bottles, have been introduced on flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick as part of a second phase of investment into the premium economy cabins. The kits (pictured below) contain all the essential items travellers could possibly need, including an eyeshade, soft socks, a pen, a toothbrush and toothpaste and lip balm from the Scaramouche & Fandango range. Additional comfort will be provided from a stylish new quilt and cushion. The announcement follows British-inspired improvements made earlier this year to the World Traveller Plus menu, as part of the ongoing £6.5bn investment into the customer experience. To find out more, click here

Award wins for British Airways staff

Customers have voted British Airways staff as the best in Europe at the Skytrax 2019 World Airline Awards. The prestigious award recognises not only the airline’s staff for their friendliness and efficiency, but the service delivered by airport and on-board customer service teams. The airline also won awards for Most Improved Airline in Europe, Best Airline Staff in the United Kingdom and Best Cabin Crew in the United Kingdom. Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, said: “Customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re delighted that the hard work and dedication of our colleagues has been recognised with this award.” To see the A-Z of winners, click here

Flying into the future

British Airways has collaborated with the Royal College of Art for a first-of-its-kind exhibition, BA 2119: Flight of the Future, which looks ahead to the next 100 years of flying (pictured below). Curated as part of the celebrations for the airline’s centenary, the exhibition will run August 1–26 at the Saatchi Gallery, London, and also offers an immersive, virtual reality experience, named Fly, which traces humankind’s relationship with flight. Aiming to push the boundaries of imagination and explore how future generations will circumnavigate the globe, the exhibition will include work by students of the Royal College of Art who have imagined the future of flight in both digital and physical form. To find out more and book a ticket for Fly, click here

New First lounge in San Francisco

British Airways has unveiled its new lounge at San Francisco airport (pictures below) following the recent opening of its First and Club lounge in New York JFK’s Terminal 7. Floor to ceiling windows typify the new lounge’s contemporary aesthetic, allowing light to flood in and offer views across the runway. A granite feature bar forms the centre piece of the lounge for customers awaiting their flight, along with printing facilities, a deli bar, and a boutique dining room with menus inspired by some of the world’s top chefs. To see a 360 degree video of the new lounge, click here 

Tom Kerridge’s centenary menu

Esteemed British chef and culinary champion on BA's list of 100 Great Britons, Tom Kerridge has lent his exceptional talents to a one-off, British-inspired menu, available on board all long-haul flights during August. Among the specially created dishes on offer are starters of salmon tartar and asparagus with egg yolk dressing, a main course of braised pearl barley with wild garlic and smoked chicken, and a decadent chocolate and Amaretto tart for dessert. To find out more, watch the video below.

Frequency of flights to Scotland increased

British Airways has revealed that it will increase its winter schedule between Scotland and London's Heathrow airport by almost 200 flights a week from October 2019 to March 2020. The five per cent increase on services from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen to Heathrow follows the announcement that BA will also operate double daily services on the Inverness to Heathrow route from October 2019. To book your flights on the updated service, click here

For the very latest British Airways news, click here

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This article has been tagged BA, Travel Tips