The biggest business travel news stories of 2016 - part one

Business Traveller takes a look back at some of the biggest stories making the headlines during 2016. Part one: January – June

• Lufthansa’s A320neos to offer less legroom than Ryanair
• Air France retires final B747 jumbo
• Intercontinental Hotels Group opens 5,000th hotel 
• Fire at The Ritz, Paris ahead of reopening
• First look: Lufthansa’s A320neo reviewed
• In the forum: premium economy – I don’t get it

• British Airways to launch flights to Tehran
• Emirates to add sixth daily Heathrow-Dubai service
• New aircraft deliveries for British Airways
• British Airways unveils new lounges at Dubai International
• London City airport sold for £2bn
• In the forum: appalling passenger behaviour

• First look: Emirates new business class seat
• Kenya Airways sells Heathrow slot to Oman Air
• Virgin Trains unveils new Azuma trains
• First look: Singapore Airlines A350-900
• British Airways to launch Gatwick-Cape Town flights
• In the forum: Malaysia Airlines to reactivate B747 for London route

• Ryanair to trial interlining this summer
• Berlin airport unlikely to open before 2019
• Lufthansa, Swiss and SIA join forces
• British Airways rebrands short-haul economy fares
• Emirates orders more two-class superjumbos
• In the forum: British Airways first flight to St Helena

• Alex Cruz denies he will “Ryanairise” British Airways
• British Airways to fly direct to Doha and Muscat
• Willie Walsh on in-flight wifi
• Air India to restart London-New York route
• British Airways launches Santiago, Chile service
• In the forum: Open cockpit door on Aegean Airlines flight

• United unveils new business class seat
• Easyjet takes delivery of first 186-seat A320
• Saudia unveils new first class seat
• KLM unveils orange aircraft
• United to increase flights from Heathrow to San Francisco and LA
• In the forum: British Airways chain of command on board