- Mr Plane Guy
- Nov 9
- 7 min read
This Week's Plane News
09 November 2025
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Plane GEEK
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced lattes at the airport). Thanks for your support! Note: I’m also not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
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Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your weekly fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks from the skies. Let's start this week PLANE strong!
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This week's Plane Poll, what type of traveller are you?
The BIG question!
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Plane News Weekly: Black Friday Flight Frenzy
Black Friday lands on November 28, followed by Cyber Monday (Dec 1) and Travel Tuesday (Dec 2) three of the biggest deal days of the year for savvy travellers. Expect flight sales, hotel flash offers and plenty of luggage, tech and travel-essential bargains on Amazon.
Plane Tip: My Amazon Storefront is already stocked with the best early Black Friday travel deals, from noise-cancelling headphones and cabin-size suitcases to travel adapters up to 40% off.
Plane News Weekly: U.S. Shutdown Causes Flight Chaos, Here’s What Travellers Should Know
Pack your patience! The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has already caused over 1,000 flight cancellations and 5,000 delays at major airports like JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta. The FAA warns cuts are at 4% now, rising to 10% from 14 Nov, causing widespread delays/cancellations and yes, it’s starting to affect some transatlantic flights from Europe too.
Mr Plane Guy’s Tips:
Check your flight status regularly using your airline app or FlightRadar24.
Claim what you’re owed: Delayed over 3 hours? Try AirHelp (use code AHTPO9 for 9% off AirHelp+).
Recharge & relax: Pack a portable charger, water bottle, and use my Priority Pass 30% off deal for lounge access if you’re stuck waiting.
👉 Read the full update here: Flights Cancelled Due to the U.S. Government Shutdown, What It Means for European Travellers
Boarding Announcements, New Routes & Airline Updates
British Airways Signs Major Deal with Starlink for Free Wi-Fi on Every Flight
British Airways has announced a new partnership with Starlink, bringing free high-speed Wi-Fi to all customers in every cabin from 2026. Powered by SpaceX’s low-orbit satellites, the service will let passengers stream, work and stay connected from gate-to-gate, even over oceans.
The upgrade is part of BA’s ongoing £7 billion transformation, following new lounges in Miami and Dubai, improved punctuality, and dozens of new aircraft. CEO Sean Doyle called it a “game-changer” that delivers “Wi-Fi that feels like home, even at 38,000 feet.”
Plane Tip: Don’t waste those gate-wait minutes Audible for Travel turns every layover into a first-class story time, and right now you can start listening for just 99p. Get the trial here.
In other plane news, China Eastern Airlines is set to make aviation history this December with the world’s longest direct passenger flight, linking Shanghai (PVG) to Buenos Aires (EZE) via Auckland (AKL) a record-breaking 12,200-mile journey connecting Asia and South America.
British Airways Drops Four European Routes
British Airways is trimming its short-haul network, cutting four European routes at the end of the winter 2025/26 schedule three from Heathrow and one from London City Airport.
The routes affected are:
Heathrow – Cologne
Heathrow – Riga
Heathrow – Stuttgart
London City – Frankfurt
The final flights will operate on 28 March 2026. The move marks a notable pullback in BA’s German operations, leaving Eurowings as the only carrier flying from Heathrow to Cologne and Stuttgart.
Business travellers will also lose the London City–Frankfurt link, though Lufthansa (Air Dolomiti) will continue operating the route.
BA’s partnership with airBaltic means passengers can still book flights to Riga on ba.com, earning Avios and Tier Points on the codeshare.
If you’re planning a festive trip before these routes disappear, check out my guides to Cologne’s Christmas Markets and Riga’s Christmas Markets both are perfect for a winter weekend escape.
Pre-Flight, Lounge & Airport Experiences
Aspire Lounges Take Home Triple Wins at the World Luxury Awards ✈️
Big news from the world of airport hospitality Aspire Executive Lounges (by Swissport) has scooped three major titles at the World Luxury Awards 2025, recognising the best in global travel experiences.
🏆 Newcastle International Airport — Best International Airport Lounge (UK)
🏆 Air Canada Café, Toronto Billy Bishop — Best Domestic Lounge (Canada)
🏆 Aspire Lounge, Perth Airport T1 International — Best International Airport Lounge (Australia)
The Newcastle lounge stood out for its three-tier design concept Aspire, Luxe by Aspire, and Suite by Aspire, blending hotel-level dining with flexible comfort for every traveller type.
👏 Huge congratulations to Aspire’s global teams for bringing a touch of 5-star luxury to pre-flight life around the world.
Plane Tip: Flying soon? Compare Aspire and Priority Pass lounges before you book get 30% off Priority Pass membership here.
Priority Pass with 30% off is the easiest way to access airport lounges without worrying about availability or paying full price.
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for exclusive flight deals, loyalty tips, and aviation updates every Sunday. Sign up here.
Frequent Flyer Briefing, Loyalty Offers & Points
Land 2000 Virgin Points in 2 minutes!
Loyalty programs continue to offer significant benefits for frequent travellers. You can earn 2,000 Virgin Flying Club points via the refer-a-friend program, a quick and easy way to boost your balance.
Sign up with my affiliate link and get a 2,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus! (Very limited time offer be quick!)
Avios Tip of the Week: Fill Up & Fly Further!
Get 625 Avios when you make your first fuel payment in the Esso App, it’s Plane easy points.
If you’re topping up your tank soon, here’s a Plane-good reason to make a pit stop at Esso.New users who download the Esso App, link their Nectar account, and pay for fuel through the app will earn 1,000 bonus Nectar points on their first fill, that’s 625 Avios in your account just for trying it.
There’s no minimum spend, so even if you just add a quick £10 of fuel, you’ll still come out ahead.
To recap:
⛽ Download the Esso App
Add your Nectar card and payment details
Earn 1,000 Nectar points (625 Avios) on your first fill-up
Remember, 400 Nectar = 250 Avios, and your points can be transferred instantly via nectar.com/avios or your BA Club account.
Plane Tip: Esso is often overlooked for Avios collectors, but these easy one-off bonuses add up fast, especially if you’re already stacking points from your Barclaycard Avios or Amex Gold.
Once you’ve got the Avios, find seats before they vanish with Reward Flight Finder or grab Jack’s Flight Club for £1 and bag ridiculous flight deals when cash beats points.
Takeoff, Travel Deals & Flight Opportunities
Flight Deal of the Week
*From London Stansted 30 Nov-03 Dec, click on the link to check out many other dates
👉 See the latest cheap flight offers here and sign up for Jack’s Flight Club Premium for £1 you’ll also enter a £500 flight voucher giveaway this month.
Also with Christmas Market season fast approaching, now is the time to plan festive European trips check out my Christmas Market guides. Full details of Christmas Market dates for 2025, amazing deals, reviews and guides.
Plane Talk, Insider Insight & Reader Engagement
Have a lounge or route you’d like reviewed? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram, your question might feature in next week’s edition! Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes travel updates and real-time airline news from my journeys.
I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals, and loyalty tips with a plane honest perspective and loyalty tips each week.
I test lounges, try new routes, and offer practical travel hacks so you can fly smarter, save money, and make the most of your points.
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Plane News This Week, 09 November 2025.
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