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Welcome to The BTA Podcast.  In these podcasts we will endeavour to share our thoughts, concerns, optimism and build those all-important human connections with our Partners, Members and Guests.

Episode Overview:

Clive Wratten and Andrew Clarke covered a busy period for business travel.

Air traffic control: Andrew's own trip was hit by Gulf airspace and volcanic disruption, but the main focus was NATS' latest UK failure — the third in three years. Both criticised NATS' muted response and the government's "inquiry, lessons learned" approach, noting airlines bear the cost while NATS faces none.

Heathrow charges: BTA continues backing "Heathrow Reimagined," having written to the CAA and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander over cost mechanisms that could pass development costs to travellers.

Hotel levy: Clive discussed it live on Radio 5 — reports suggest no cap on rates and a percentage rather than flat fee. Hosts rejected the "tourist tax" framing, calling it a tax on business and growth, warning it risks pricing UK cities out of major events.

Budget submission: Ahead of the October budget, BTA's asks include no further APD rises, regrading premium economy tax, and firm rail investment (HS2/Euston), coordinated with GBTA.

Upcoming events: BTA Autumn Conference in Alicante (~2 weeks, ~190 attendees, Andrew moderating) and the London Mobility Conference (next Tuesday, alongside the People Awards).

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created by The BTA and edited & distributed by BusinessTravel360.  For more information about The BTA visit TheBTA.org.uk

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Linking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members.  We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members.  You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.com

Your Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash Shravah

Stories covered on this podcast episode include:

• 262 former pilots sued Ryanair and others for classifying them as self-employed contractors when they should have been employees.
• Google reveals it is testing end-to-end agentic AI hotel booking process flows.
• The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered inspections of 471 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after identifying a potential structural issue. 
• The airline API platform Kyte releases access to the airline Volotea, and as a result it also becomes available to agents via AirGateway.
• Air China completes the first international flight with a Chinese COMAC C919, on a routing from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• Extra Stories

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

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Welcome to the What’s Up in Business Travel  podcast for Week 34 of 2026.  This weekly podcast is great for those who need to know what’s happening in the world of business travel - in under 15 minutes.

On this week's podcast, we cover the following stories:

• Google bids $10 million for Spirit data
• Baggage mishandling drops sharply
• Business trip costs jump 35%
• Global airline capacity grows despite regional disruption
• U.S. hotel outlook gets another upgrade
• ETIAS delayed again with no firm launch date
• United changes agency seat requests
• Derek Jeter invests in college-town hospitality
• Korean Air and Asiana approve merger
• Etihad and Starlux expand loyalty partnership
• Delta expands AI assistant to all SkyMiles members
• Clear launches corporate travel memberships
• American operates first U.S. commercial eSAF flight
• Air Canada unbundles premium fares
• Navan connects directly to Singapore Airlines NDC
• SAP Concur links meetings with Groupize
• Amex GBT brings AI into managed travel

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

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Welcome to The BTA Podcast.  In these podcasts we will endeavour to share our thoughts, concerns, optimism and build those all-important human connections with our Partners, Members and Guests.

Episode Overview:

In this episode of The BTA Pulse, hosts Clive Wrattan and Andrew Clarke record together in person for a change — fresh from a full day planning next month's Autumn Conference in Benidorm.

Andrew, on moderating duty this year, previews a stacked agenda including Steve Richards on post-recess politics, Andy Burnham's return to the Commons, and a rare session on the TMC commercial model from the BTA's own board directors.

Elsewhere, the pair reflect on a busy podcast run — including upcoming episodes with Cvent on AI in events and Fly Victor on private jets — before turning to the Commonwealth Games' first-ever combined Para and able-bodied format, and what its accommodation and logistics challenges mean ahead of the BTA's Mobility Conference on 15 September in London.

They close by looking to a busy September, with government back from recess and the industry gearing up post-summer.

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created by The BTA and edited & distributed by BusinessTravel360.  For more information about The BTA visit TheBTA.org.uk

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The NoJetStress Podcast is a traveler wellbeing podcast for frequent business travelers covering health and peak performance on the road as well as to help business travelers maintain optimal health and avoid burnout no matter how much they travel.  Christopher Babayode, a Corporate Travel Wellness Expert shares his insights on Traveler Wellness.

In this podcast, Chris discusses:

• The 48-Hour Pre-Flight Protocol – Why your travel strategy must start two days before boarding, not at the airport.
• Place of Most Leverage (PoML) in action – Turning PoML from a concept into a concrete pre-flight routine.
• T‑48h: Biological baseline – Hydration front-loading, micro-shift sleep, and strategic nutrition to reduce fatigue before you fly.
• T‑24h: Tactical execution – Go Bag finalisation, cortisol management, and targeted light exposure to protect your final night’s sleep.
• Why it matters – Safeguarding executive function so you land ready to negotiate, lead, and decide—not battle jet lag and stress.
• Next steps – If there’s demand, a one-page checklist/tool will be created; comment “T minus 48 hours and counting” on the LinkedIn post to signal interest.

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created by Christopher Babayode and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  For more information about NoJetStress, visit us at NoJetStress.com and check out the P.H.A.R.E Well Audit Checklist.

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Linking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members.  We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members.  You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.com

Your Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash Shravah

Stories covered on this podcast episode include:

• The trip management solution provider Engine acquires the TMC Options Travel. 
• Expedia acquires the Berlin based AI travel planning startup solution Layla AI Travel Agent.
• The most recent Amadeus earnings results show that air bookings dropped by 7.6% during the second quarter of this year.
• The Vietnamese airline Bamboo Airways ceases operations.
• Air India Limited appoints former Ethiopian Airlines executive Tewolde Gebremariam as their new CEO.
• Apollo Global Management, Inc. wins the easyJet bidding war with their $7.7 Billion offer.

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

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Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the What’s Up in Business Travel  podcast for Week 32 of 2026.  This weekly podcast is great for those who need to know what’s happening in the world of business travel - in under 15 minutes.

On this week's podcast, we cover the following stories:

• Global business travel tops $1.7 trillion
• On-time performance slips across North America
• Bleisure demand continues to grow
• FAA orders inspections of Boeing 737 MAX fleet
• Southwest ships its own jet fuel
• WestJet strike comes to an end
• Southwest accelerates corporate travel strategy
• Frontier gains after Spirit exit
• Apollo seals EasyJet takeover
• Gray Dawes expands in North America
• Engine acquires Options Travel
•  Southwest expands international partnerships
• JetBlue unveils BlueFirst
• Perk simplifies visa applications
• American Airlines expands digital travel tools
• Allegiant adds first-class cabins

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Linking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members.  We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members.  You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.com

Your Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash Shravah

Stories covered on this podcast episode include:

• It's reported that some Swiss International Air Lines cabin crew are refusing to include the mandatory mention of the Lufthansa Group ownership in their cabin announcements.
• Two Iberia and Air Europa planes narrowly avoided a mid-air collision over the Atlantic Ocean after their Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) activated while the aircraft were flying toward each other at the same altitude.
• JetBlue spends $58.5m on ex Spirit Airlines slots at New York's LaGuardia airport.
• Saadia Zahidi from the World Economic Forum will become the next Director General at International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Emirates rejects the first 10 Boeing 777X aircraft from its order of 270 jets, citing extensive design changes and years of programme delays. 
• Austrian Airlines flight got delayed after crew discovered a man managed to enter the aircraft whilst it was parked overnight at Košice airport in Slovakia.
• Following other US airlines, United Airlines also introduces a ban on humanoid and animal-like robots on their aircraft. 
• Emirates face a lot of backlash after keeping 373 passengers for 10 hours on an A380 aircraft whilst being stuck on the ground at an incorrect Chinese airport after a diversion.
• Both Lufthansa and Air France-KLM submit bids for a stake in TAP Air Portugal.
• A power bank catches fire in an overhead compartment on a China Eastern Airlines airbus whilst it was taxiing to the terminal.
• Both Navan and Vibe announce launches of Model Context Protocol servers that enable functionality through users' preferred AI environments.
• BCD Travel invests in Amgine with a specific focus on group booking flow automation.
• Ethiopian Airlines reports $4.5 BILLION in revenue in 6 months, a 14% rise from the previous period.

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

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Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The BTA Podcast.  In these podcasts we will endeavour to share our thoughts, concerns, optimism and build those all-important human connections with our Partners, Members and Guests.

Episode Overview:

Clive & Andrew dig into a busy few weeks for the Business Travel Association, starting with the APPG's visitor levy report and the BTA's pushback that business travel isn't a discretionary spend, alongside continued calls for a flat fixed fee and a consistent national framework. With the Budget submission window now open, Clive outlines the three priorities on the table: hotel levy, APD and rail investment.

Elsewhere, a working group on ADMs is delivery real progress between airlines and TMCs, with content parity talks following next week. There's also fresh momentum on the APJC front with IATA and the new rail working group forming around European rail and Eurotunnel expansion.

Looking ahead, the accessibility working party joins the Mobility Conference on 15 September at the London Transport Museum, tackling wheelchair-accessible vehicle supply and the shift to EVs.

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created by The BTA and edited & distributed by BusinessTravel360.  For more information about The BTA visit TheBTA.org.uk

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Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the What’s Up in Business Travel  podcast for Week 30 of 2026.  This weekly podcast is great for those who need to know what’s happening in the world of business travel - in under 15 minutes.

On this week's podcast, we cover the following stories:

• Airlines trim 2026 earnings outlook
• JD Power: Hotel satisfaction rises
• FAA boosts Boeing
• American airports shift away from TSA
• The battle for EasyJet intensifies
• EU strengthens passenger rights
• Congress advances aviation security bills
• United Airlines must face lawsuit over 'window seats'
• JetBlue wins Spirit slots
• Omio acquires Rail Europe
• Amex partners with Accor
• Lyft expands taxi partnership
• Hyatt and Air Canada unite loyalty programs
• Southwest adds Air Premia
• Spotnana introduces AI travel agents
• BCD launches AI analytics platform
• Amadeus expands AI advertising platform

You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.com

This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!

Support the show