Just as a bit of fun during the holiday season, ABTN ran its annual quiz. And congratulations to winner Daniel Bertman, a third year university student studying International Relations at the University of Lincoln. Daniel answered an extremely credible 19 out of 20 questions right and only missed out on the clean sweep by a few miles per hour in his train speed answer. ABTN will now root around its cellars for a suitable prize.
Readers can now see all the answers below:
1. Which UK airline started to Dubai in March this year?
Answer: Virgin Atlantic
2. Which UK regional airport says it could accommodate Boeing 737-300s after test flights provoked residents” ire?
Answer: Lydd
3. Which luxury hotel group opened its 50th property in China this year?
Answer: Shangri-La
4. Which US airline opted for an unusual pushback facility in April?
Answer: Delta Airlines
4. Which big name in the football world did not show at a national tourist board do in London in October, but at which Mohamed Al Fayed did turn up?
Answer: Jose Mourinho
5. Which UK carrier acquired BMED this year?
Answer: Bmi
6. Which Wyndham Hotel Group brand opened its first property in Belgium in 2007?
Answer: Ramada
7. Which flag carrier decided against a takeover bid for Iberia with the parting shot: ”The consensus and friendly terms that we considered essential for this project are no longer in place.”
Answer: British Airways
8. Which airport train operator unveiled technology allowing its passengers to use wi-fi through all of its tunnels?
Answer: Heathrow Express
9. Which European airline decided to withdraw its entire Q400 fleet this year?
Answer: SAS
10. At which two UK airport terminals are rooms available for a period of four hours?
Answer: Gatwick and Heathrow - Yotel
11. Which airline recently started through check-in, making it the first low-cost carrier to allow passengers to connect with partner airline flights?
Answer: Flybe
12. In which Asian country is Marriott International opening a 215-room hotel next year?
Answer: Kazakhstan
13. Which carrier retired its final Boeing 737 after 24 years of service?
Answer: Air France
14. Which brand new rail station has a statue of Sir John Betjeman ” and why?
Answer: St Pancras ” Betjeman was a champion of the project
15. What is the name for the new, pan-European rail concept?
Answer: Railteam
16. Which US plant delivered its 3,000th widebody aircraft this year?
Answer: Boeing, Everett
17. What record speed did a Eurostar train achieve between Brussels and London in September?
Answer: 186mph
18. ”Well over ”1m of public money is being wasted on the charade of public administration.” Which robust rail union leader said this?
Answer: Bob Crow
19. Which French airline will operate what new transatlantic route from Heathrow next year?
Answer: Air France-Los Angeles
(Question 15 was scrapped as Virgin is not launching a business class only airline, so the total number of questions is 19)