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Branson & Dubai Royals in Talks to Buy Gatwick Airport

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, is in talks to acquire London's Gatwick Airport, the second largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. Gatwick's owner BAA Ltd., which also owns Heathrow, plans to sell the airport, valued at about $5.4 billion, due to antitrust regulations, Bloomberg reports.

The Virgin Group encompasses several companies including Virgin Atlantic airlines and Virgin Mobile. The adventurous Branson's personal fortune is estimated at $2.8 billion. He plans to form a consortium to bid for the airport, which handled 35 million passengers in 2007.

His partners on the potential deal are said to include Dubai's Royal Family, the London Telegraph reports. Obviously competitors would be worried that Branson and Virgin might gain an unfair advantage by controlling the airport, which is the sixth largest in Europe.


Tags: Airlines, Airports, Dubai, Gatwick, London, Richard Branson, RichardBranson, Virgin airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Group, VirginAirlines, VirginAtlantic, VirginGroup

Travel Like A Celebrity (i.e. Better than First Class)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings


For millions of travelers every year who fly coach it's hard to walk past the spacious first class seats and through the little curtain to the cramped rows in the rear, but what do those first class passengers look up to? Those traveling better than first class, of course.

Many airlines offer "extra special" treatment to celebrities and other big names, and although the services vary from airline to airline some things are consistent across the board: little to no waiting in airport lines, extreme efforts to protect privacy, and extra security. Plus, of course, VIP lounges and premium food/drink. Not a celebrity? You can buy the services yourself and feel like one for only about $100.

Most of the airlines who offer special upgrades don't advertise their services, and many don't even post them on websites and flyers. Airport Assistance Worldwide, though, is one that isn't so secretive. On their website you can check out services and even make a reservation. Happy travels!

Source

Tags: air, air travel, airline, airline travel, airlines, AirlineTravel, airport, airport assistance worldwide, AirportAssistanceWorldwide, airports, AirTravel, travel, traveling, VIP

YOtel, A New Place To Sleep At The Airport

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —


The YO! group famous for brands like YO! Sushi is planning expanding into the hotel biz with a new concept called YOtel. The first two YOtels will be at the Heathrow and Gatwick aiports. A central London hotel is also planned for 2007. The YOtels have small cubicle-like rooms called cabins that have rotating beds, pull down desks, flat screen TVs , monsoon showers and wi-fi access. There is also a selection of downloadable movies and music and an eat in "grazing menu." Best of all, at the airports the cabins can be booked in four hour blocks for delayed or transferring passengers. The YOtel has internal windows which means that YOtels can be placed in airports, rail hubs and even underground. Given the delays at airports lately these seem like they would be a great success with those traveling long distances.

[via PSFK]

Source

Tags: airports, cabins, hotels, yotel



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