TravelPlus publishes the TravelPlus Guide to Italy “Rediscover the Grand Tour in association with Baglioni Hotels and Alitalia.  The Guide features the key regions and destinations visited by the fashionable young aristocrats a few centuries ago on the Grand Tour. These are Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Veneto, Abruzzo, Puglia, Sicily and Piemonte.

What was the Grand Tour?

If you had been a nobleman in the 18th century, you would have completed your education with a period of European travel. This so-called Grand Tour could last from a few months to 8 years, thus only the very wealthy, with time and means to travel could participate.

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

4/30/2010 2:19:13 PM UTC    Comments 

A new rail ticketing website – www.MyTrainTicket.co.uk – has been launched today promising a shake-up in the market rail tickets sold online, currently dominated by thetrainline.com. Passengers using the new site will be able to collect one Airmile for every £10 they spend on train tickets.

MyTrainTicket.co.uk offers corporate travel bookers a significantly-improved online booking experience. It enables bookers to quickly find the right balance between price, ticket flexibility, journey time and on-train facilities such as WiFi and catering. While price will always be important, passengers, particularly in the corporate travel market, place a great deal of importance on these aspects of the journey too – something that is often ignored by other online retailers.

MyTrainTicket.co.uk simplifies the ticket buying experience with ‘one-click’ access to the best fares by price as well as by route, showing all available Advance, Off Peak and Anytime fares on one page. And, to remove a particular passenger irritation, the website shows clearly where two singles are cheaper than a return.

Robin Wells, Executive Chairman, said: “We know the corporate travel market in particular appreciates the value of competition and believe our innovative partnership with Airmiles will encourage more people to book online and use rail for their UK journeys. The rail ticket market is worth an estimated £6 billion, yet currently less than 15% of rail tickets are purchased online; there is huge potential to replicate the transformation achieved in online ticketing for airlines, where more than 50% of tickets are purchased online.

“Passengers buying rail tickets in advance through MyTrainTicket.co.uk can save businesses up to 80% compared to buying at the station on the day of travel. We want to encourage more people and more businesses – particularly SMEs – to use the train rather than the car, and to book in advance online. Our significantly improved booking experience is better than anything which already exists and will help grow the market.”

Other MyTrainTicket.co.uk innovations include the ability to add a Plusbus ticket – giving unlimited bus and tram travel within the urban area of your destination – for over 275 towns and cities across the country. Business and leisure passengers can now reduce their carbon footprint further, and save money, by not having to jump in a taxi for the ‘final mile’.

www.MyTrainTicket.co.uk.

4/20/2010 3:58:34 PM UTC    Comments 

 
To mark the launch of its 2011 sailings and mini brochures MSC Cruises is offering passengers the chance to cruise for just £1*! When one adult books a 2011 Mediterranean cruise paying full brochure price, the second passenger pays just £1. Offer based on two sharing a cabin and bookings must be made between 14 April and 10 May 2010. Children cruise for free with MSC, (paying port taxes, flights and transfers only).

More than 280 departures, 35 itineraries and 60 ports of call/destinations are available on 11 ships, on all year around Mediterranean sailings, for three, four, eight, 10 and 11 night cruises. Terms and conditions apply.

Prices start from £299 for three nights and £799 for seven and 11 nights (cruise only) for the first passenger and the second passenger pays only £1. Flights are excluded from the ‘sail for £1’ deal but can be booked through MSC Cruises’ flight centre, with departures from Barcelona, Genoa, Venice, Livorno and Naples from £230 per person.

Passengers can book extras to enhance their cruise experience, such as hotels, excursions and Spa packages. Whatsmore, MSC Cruises now offer an all inclusive beverage package offering even more value for money.

MSC Cruises operate 11 beautifully designed vessels with state of the art facilities, stunning interiors and cutting edge hardware. The fleet comprises three ship classes, each unique in size and capacity and designed to appeal to different passenger types.

For families and couples wanting the ultimate experience, flagships MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida are perfectly equipped, offering children’s facilities, a huge choice of pools, entertainment facilities and bars and restaurants to be enjoyed. Entertainment includes games arcades, 4D cinema and F1 simulator. 

The Musica Class is slightly smaller in comparison to MSC’s flagships, but still offers a huge range of similar amenities in a more compact and cosy environment. For those wishing to try out MSC Cruises latest offering, MSC Magnifica has just been launched in March this year.

For a more intimate cruise experience the Lirica Class is a collection of smaller ships, their size making them great for first time cruisers and passengers wanting a more intimate space onboard. Thanks to its size, the Lirica Class also visits smaller ports which the larger ships cannot access.    

*Terms and conditions: Passengers must book between 14 April and 10 May 2010 to take advantage of this exclusive offer. Offer only applicable to new bookings and subject to availability. The ‘sail for £1’ promotion cannot be combined with any other offer and is based on double occupancy on 2011 departure cruises. If a single passenger books, MSC Cruises will apply single supplement rates. If the second passenger does not participate (check in) for the cruise, an additional charge will be made to the single passenger at the time of embarkation. Offer is based on CRUISE ONLY rate. Flights are available upon request and are subject to availability. Offer based on Meditterian cruises only. MSC Yacht Club and all other destinations are excluded from this offer.

 
www.msccruises.co.uk

4/16/2010 9:38:12 AM UTC    Comments 

Hundreds of services to and from British airports have been affected by ash from an Icelandic volcano, with more flights expected to be affected later today.

Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle airports are all closed and hundreds of flights have been cancelled at other airports.

Liverpool, Manchester, Stansted, Newcastle, Birmingham, Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow are all affected. A Heathrow Airport spokesman said 150 flights, both arrivals and departures, had been cancelled and more flights were expected to be affected as the cloud of ash moved south.

Source: Daily Mail Online (Last updated at 7:19 AM on 15th April 2010)

To read the full report: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266038/Iceland-volcano-erupts-second-time-month-forcing-new-evacuation-tourists.html#ixzz0l9EnGzBY

4/15/2010 6:36:27 AM UTC    Comments 

Following advice from the Met Office, the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) has introduced restrictions to UK airspace this morning as a result of volcanic ash drifting across the United Kingdom from Iceland.

These measures currently affect Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports which are closed but may also affect other parts of the UK later today.

Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours.

4/15/2010 6:28:33 AM UTC    Comments 

History was made at London Luton Airport this week when the airport welcomed its first ever Boeing 777-200 type aircraft operating as a scheduled service.

Due to unprecedented demand, the twin engine aircraft was operated by Israel based carrier EL AL Israeli Airlines on their daily Tel Aviv service. This increased the daily seating capacity by nearly 50%.

EL AL Israeli Airlines has been operating from London Luton for nearly a year and has already carried over 75,000 passengers on the Tel Aviv / London Luton route.

Uri Danor, CEO UK & Northern Europe, EL AL Israeli Airlines, said, “EL AL is proud to be the first schedule carrier to operate the B777-200 into London Luton, especially when so many of our passengers want to get home for the holidays.”

He added, “We are sure that it will also attract more business passengers to London Luton in the future”

Simon Harley, Airline Manager, London Luton Airport, said, “We are pleased to welcome our first ever scheduled Boeing 777-200 aircraft and are delighted EL AL Israeli Airlines made this historic day happen.’

3/25/2010 5:00:53 PM UTC    Comments 

On Sunday, 28 March TAM Airlines will move its daily Boeing 777-300ER services between London and São Paulo to London Heathrow Terminal 1 from Terminal 4. The move is part of TAM’s full integration into the Star Alliance. 

“The move to Terminal 1 is an important step in improving the overall travel experience of our passengers and for TAM to maximise the benefits of becoming a full member of the Star Alliance,” says Paulo Castelo Branco, TAM’s Commercial and Planning Vice-President. “London Heathrow is one of the world most important international hubs. The move to Terminal 1 will allow TAM, in partnership with our Star Alliance colleagues, to offer more convenient connections to more destinations over London than ever before. The facilities at Terminal 1 will also help and benefit our customers who are starting or ending their trip in London. The UK-Brazil route is a very important one for TAM, and we are proud to have been serving Heathrow since October 2006.” 

Passengers flying on TAM from Terminal 1 can look forward to a substantial improvement in their travel experience from Heathrow, as compared to Terminal 4. The move to Terminal 1 will also facilitate connections with TAM’s new Star Alliance partners who operate from both Terminal 1 and 3. Star Alliance is the largest alliance operating out of the core Central Area at Heathrow.

3/24/2010 4:26:11 PM UTC    Comments 

KLM bids a fond farewell to its Fokker 50 fleet this month signalling the end of the propeller era for the Dutch carrier. Its final Fokker 50 aircraft will take to the skies for its final commercial flight on March 27th after 25 years of flying with KLM.

The Fokker 50 was built in the Netherlands at the Fokker Factory, taking to the air for the very first time on 28th December 1985. KLM cityhopper (KLC) flew its inaugural Fokker 50 flight on 23 July 1990 and ordered a total of ten aircraft to join its fleet.

At the time former KLM CEO A.J. Leyer spoke of his contentment at the continuation of the Fokker and KLC partnership saying, “We have acquired this aircraft because it is best suited to our main goal - to transport business people by air.”

KLC had a total of fifteen Fokker 50s in service between 1990 and 2010, but the Cityhopper fleet is now set to consist entirely of jet aircraft — namely the Fokker 70, the Fokker 100 and, the newest addition, the EMBRAER 190. KLM cityhoppoer will take receipt of its final Embraer 190 in March 2010, marking the completion of the carrier’s fleet renewal and fleet adjustment program. The move to jet aircraft also strengthens the airline’s commitment to the environment and its position as a leading fuel efficient carrier amongst comparable European airlines.

3/24/2010 4:22:28 PM UTC    Comments 

London Luton Airport announce the expansion of Blue Air with additional flights to Romania offering more choice for passengers.

Commencing 28 March 2010, the Romanian based airline will further expand the London Luton Airport route network into Romania with daily flights to Bucharest, 4 weekly flights to Sibiu and 3 weekly flights to Bacau.

Flights are on sale now and can be booked at www.blueair-web.com.

Simon Harley, Airline Manager, London Luton Airport, said, “We are delighted to announce further expansion with Blue Air at the Airport.  Low fares flying continues to make business and leisure travel increasingly accessible to millions of Europeans and the launch of these new services provide yet more choice for our passengers.’

3/18/2010 3:00:23 PM UTC    Comments 

To celebrate the launch of its new service between Abu Dhabi and Paris, from 3 May 2010, Air France has announced its introductory fares for passengers looking to travel to France and onward flights to Europe as well as North and South America.

Economy fares to Europe will start from AED 1,390 and from AED 1,490 to North and South American destinations (subject to conditions); offers are available for passengers purchasing tickets before 5 April 2010, for any travel between 3 May and 15 July 2010.

Pierre de Saint-Albin, Air France KLM General Manager for the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, said:“To mark the new connection to the UAE with the Air France KLM network, we are pleased to offer our clients in the UAE these competitive introductory offers. We have also been encouraged by the close and growing relationship with Abu Dhabi Airports Company which has resulted in our flight schedules being particularly well adapted to offering our customers fast connections via our Paris - Charles de Gaulle hub, to more than 244 Air France KLM destinations.”

The new route means that, from 3 May 2010, the Air France KLM group will offer up to 10 weekly, non-stop flights out of Abu Dhabi International Airport, to their respective hubs of Paris – Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam.

www.airfrance.ae

3/15/2010 4:55:29 PM UTC    Comments 

SAS’s seat sale opens on March 12 - for discounts on SAS flights from London Heathrow and UK regional airports to Scandinavia and beyond, bookings must be made between 12-22 March 2010 and passengers must travel between 15 April - 13 June or 09 - 31 August 2010.

Flights from LHR to the key Scandinavian cities of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Stavanger, Gothenburg and Bergen all start from just £59.

www.flysas.co.uk

3/12/2010 5:39:21 PM UTC    Comments 

Lufthansa is boosting services from Edinburgh this summer with the introduction of a new service to Düsseldorf and the reinstatement of a second daily service to Frankfurt.

The new six times a week service (daily except Saturday) to Düsseldorf will start on 26th April offering up to 70 seats in a two class configuration. Meanwhile, Lufthansa has also confirmed the reintroduction of the teatime service from Edinburgh to Frankfurt. 

Announcing the boost to the Edinburgh services, Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa General Manager UK and Ireland, said “This reaffirms Lufthansa’s commitment to our customers in Scotland and our belief that the recent economic issues that have particularly affected business travel are starting to subside.  

“Lufthansa continues to offer a range of highly competitive fares for both business and leisure travellers. We will be offering one way fares to Düsseldorf from just £49 as well as highly competitive Business Class fares starting at £399 inclusive of all taxes and charges, a generous hold and hand baggage allowance and on board food and drink.

3/9/2010 10:22:17 PM UTC    Comments 

Running to Wednesday 24 March, Malaysia Airlines is offering fares to Malaysia and other South East Asian destinations (Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Kuching, Bangkok, Phuket or Denpasar, Bali from just £499. This fare applies for travel to South East Asia from 1 October to 30 November 2010 and 15 – 31 January 2011.

Or book discounted flights to Australia and New Zealand, fly to Perth, Sydney or Auckland from just £629. This price applies for travel from 15 October to 30 November 2010.

Business class fares have also been slashed in the sale. Fly to Kuala Lumpur from just £2,100 and Penang, Kota Kinabalu Langkawi, Kuching and other South East Asian destinations from £2,200. Business class flights to Perth, Sydney or Auckland start from just £2,750. These fares apply for travel on selected dates between 5 April to 2010 and 31 December 2010.

www.malaysiaairlines.com.

3/8/2010 12:19:07 PM UTC    Comments 

From 28 March 2010 the Aegean Airlines schedule out of London Heathrow will change. The mid-day flight will be moved forward to 11.50am (from 12.45), arriving in Athens at 17.35.

New timings as of 28 March 2010:
London Heathrow – Athens  
1150 – 1735     
2035 – 0215 (+1)

Athens – London Heathrow
0850 – 1050
1720 – 1920   

All flights from and to London are operated by Aegean’s new A320/321 aircraft fleet the new mid-day departure allows passengers to connect to many of Aegean’s Greek destinations, including Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia, Mykonos and Santorini to name but a few.

Lead-in price to Athens starts at just £81 one way, inclusive all taxes and charges.

www.aegeanair.com

3/8/2010 12:18:31 PM UTC    Comments 

Continental Airlines has announced that beginning March 17, 2010, it will offer customers the option of purchasing, at check in, premium seat assignments for unreserved economy-class seats that feature extra legroom. OnePass Elite frequent flyer members and their traveling companions will be able to continue to assign themselves seats with extra legroom in economy class without charge.

“Our customers want more choices,” said Jim Compton, Continental’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.  “Seats with additional legroom are higher-value seats, and we want to offer them to customers who recognize that value.”

Customers will be able to purchase these seats on-line or at the airport kiosk during the normal check-in period, beginning at 24 hours prior to departure of the first flight in an itinerary.  Pricing for the premium seats will vary depending on a number of factors, including the length of the flight and market.

www.continental.com.

3/3/2010 5:30:53 PM UTC    Comments 

Wednesday, 3 March 2010: Late on Tuesday (2 March) the Chilean aviation authorities opened Santiago International Airport (Arturo Merino Benitez - SCL) to a limited number of commercial flights.

TAM’s first flight out of Chile since Saturday’s earthquake left Santiago Airport for São Paulo, Brazil at 21.00 on Tuesday while at 01.00 on Wednesday a flight left São Paulo for the Chilean capital. TAM is currently using an Airbus A330 on the route with a capacity for 223 passengers, 67 seats more than the A320 normally used on the route.

Once TAM Airlines is given permission it will be putting on extra flights and larger aircraft - including Boeing 777s and 767s and the Airbus 330 - to clear the backlog in the shortest possible period of time for passengers wanting to fly to-and-from Santiago and Brazil.

All passengers affected by the airport closure in Santiago and holding TAM Airlines’ tickets (TAM 957 / PZ692) on flights JJ, PZ and JJ* (code share routes operated by LAN), may change their tickets for alternative dates of travel up to 30th March 2010 without incurring any penalties for refunds or revalidation, subject to availability in the cabin of the original reservation.

In the UK passengers effected by the change in TAM’s flights and schedules to Santiago can get more information by calling 020 8897 0005.

3/3/2010 1:55:10 PM UTC    Comments 

AirAsia today launches its “Big Sale” promotion offering flights from London to Malaysia and beyond. The booking period for this offer is 3rd -7th of March 2010, and the travel period is 1st November 2010 -13th of February 2011.

The deals start with a one way fare from London Stansted to Kuala Lumpur from only £189

The sale is part of a major Asia-wide promotion including all of AirAsia’s destinations from the airline’s nine hubs (Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya and Bandung).

3/3/2010 12:22:14 PM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic, has announced that it will be launching flights between Heathrow and Accra, the capital of Ghana, from 24 May 2010.  They plan to operate three services a week, subject to government approval, using an Airbus A340-300 aircraft with 240 seats onboard -34 Upper Class, 35 Premium Economy and 171 Economy. 

Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, commented: “We are delighted that we are able to launch services to this fast growing and vibrant capital city with its historic links to Britain, thriving economy and growing oil and gas industry.  Virgin Atlantic’s new services will bring much needed competition onto this route, breaking BA’s virtual monopoly. Nearly 200,000 people fly between London and Accra each year and our new services will give them more choice and better value for money.

Ghana is a beacon for economic success in West Africa, and with Africa showing greater economic resilience and growth than other global regions, we are thrilled that this will be our fifth route in Africa.  We look forward to offering the best possible service to travellers between Ghana, the UK and the United States.”

www.virginatlantic.com

3/3/2010 12:21:00 PM UTC    Comments 

Marking a pioneering milestone in the history of aviation, Oman Air became the first airline in the world to offer both mobile and broadband internet on board its flights. Offering in-flight connectivity is part of Oman Air’s ongoing drive to continuously enhance their customer travel experience and offer them innovative services commensurate with the latest technological developments.

Incorporating a cutting-edge most advanced technology that gives the instant convenience of connecting to the internet and mobile phone from their seat, barring the take off and landing time, passengers can use their mobile phones.
 
When using their mobile phones on board, the services will be of a roaming nature, as on a foreign network. Users must then dial the full international numbers. Onboard communications will be charged by the home mobile service provider at international roaming rates, as is the case when one uses their mobile phone abroad.

The rates for the mobile and Internet connectivity are fixed as follows: Passenger price plan for Internet on laptops (Wi-Fi), would be (pilot pricing) $29.95 for 26 MB per flight. Additional usage would be at $ 0.006 per KB, for the webmail (only body copy) would be at $ 9.95 and for the attachments it would be $.006 (per flight). For the Webchat the rate would be $ 4.95 for unlimited. (per flight)

3/3/2010 12:20:18 PM UTC    Comments 

JAL faced massive debts when it collapsed in January
Japan Airlines (JAL), which entered bankruptcy protection last month, has announced a massive increase in loses.

The airline said it lost 177.9bn yen ($1.99bn, £1.3bn) in the last nine months of 2009 - up from a loss of 1.9bn yen a year earlier.

JAL is continuing to operate flights while it undergoes major restructuring under court supervision.

Source: BBC - Read full story  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8538347.stm 

2/26/2010 11:36:27 AM UTC    Comments 

Iberia today posted its results in 2009, one of the most difficult years in the airline's history, when the world economic crisis and stiff competition led to a steep decline in operating income. After 13 consecutive profitable years, Iberia reported a net loss of 273 million euros in 2009.

Throughout the year Iberia adapted its supply of flight services to the changes in the different markets, cutting seat supply overall by 6 per cent, which brought an overall passenger load factor of 79.8 per cent, similar to that of 2008, and one of the highest achieved by any European network carrier last year.

As of December 31, 2009, the Iberia Group has net assets of 1,551 million euros, down 0.8 per cent for the year. The impact of the net loss of 273 million euros in 2009 was offset by better hedging operations valuation and the rise in value of British Airways shares. Iberia's available balance came to 1,974 million euros, 377 million less than a year earlier.

2/25/2010 11:55:41 AM UTC    Comments 

Continental Airlines has announced the expansion of its mobile boarding pass service to London’s Heathrow Airport, becoming the first carrier to offer paperless boarding passes on nonstop flights from the United Kingdom to the U.S.

The service allows customers to receive boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs) and eliminates the need for paper boarding passes.

“We are pleased to add Heathrow to the growing list of airports we serve with mobile boarding passes,” said Martin Hand, Continental’s vice president of reservations and eCommerce. “Customers have told us this is the type of product improvement they want, and we will continue to expand the self-service technology to more of our domestic and international destinations.”

In addition to boarding passes, Continental provides access to enhanced flight information through mobile devices.  Customers may view onboard amenities and standby lists, as well as track the status of their flights.

2/25/2010 11:54:51 AM UTC    Comments 

US Airways is open to merging with another U.S. carrier, its chief financial officer told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that the domestic airline industry has too many major players.

Speaking at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit in New York, Derek Kerr said US Airways is not in merger talks with another carrier because "it takes two to tango."

US Airways, the fifth largest U.S. airline, is not interested in merging with a foreign airline, Kerr said, because that would not cut capacity in the domestic market.

"I don't think that will make a difference," he told Reuters. "Domestic is where there is too much fragmentation and there are too many airlines."

US Airways is no stranger to mergers: it was acquired by America West in 2005 and it tried, and failed, to buy Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) in 2007 through a hostile bid.

"It's five major carriers. It's too fragmented," Kerr told the Reuters Summit of the U.S. airline industry. "You have too many hubs, all chasing the same passengers trying to connect through the country. We believe that it needs to be consolidated."

The full text of the story is on Reuters.com at: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61M5OG20100223

Source: Reuters 

2/24/2010 10:21:42 AM UTC    Comments 

India’s airline, Kingfisher Airlines, is lining up to join oneworld® after signing a memorandum of understanding as its first step towards full membership of the airline alliance, subject to Indian regulatory approval.

The agreement was concluded at a meeting between Kingfisher Airlines’ Chairman Vijay Mallya and Chief Executives from oneworld’s 11 existing member airlines, which include some of the best and biggest names in the industry.

A target date for Kingfisher Airlines to join the alliance will be confirmed once this approval is gained. The process to bring any airline on board normally takes around 18 months to complete, so Kingfisher Airlines could be expected to start flying as part of oneworld during 2011.

Kingfisher Airlines’ addition to oneworld will link India’s most extensive domestic network with oneworld’s global network, as the only alliance with airlines based on every continent. It will add 58 cities to the oneworld map – all of them in India. This will expand oneworld’s network to 800 destinations in almost 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of 2,350 aircraft operating some 9,000 flights a day, carrying some 340 million passengers a year.

Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive Vijay Mallya said: “Kingfisher Airlines is proud to be lining up to join the world’s leading quality global airline alliance. Becoming part of oneworld would be one of our most significant steps so far - and is right in line with our vision to become one of the world’s top airlines. It will enable us to offer our guests a truly global network served by partners who include some of the best known and most admired airlines in the world, with frequent flyer benefits extended throughout this network. It will also strengthen us financially, through revenues from passengers transferring to our network from our oneworld partners and the cost reduction opportunities the alliance offers.”

2/23/2010 12:27:48 PM UTC    Comments 

The main shareholders of AEGEAN AIRLINES and OLYMPIC AIR have reached an agreement regarding the merger of their respective activities, resulting in the formation of a new company that will be listed on the Athens Exchange. OLYMPIC HANDLING and OLYMPIC ENGINEERING will become 100% subsidiaries of the new company.

The company that will be formed as a result from the merger will carry the name and logos of OLYMPIC AIR, following the necessary transition and adjustment period, during which the name and logos of AEGEAN will be used in parallel as well.

The agreement is subject to the approval of the European Competition Commission, which is the relevant competent authority given the size and particular terms of the transaction. Until then, the exact process mechanics and associated timetable will be articulated. According to the terms of the agreement, the main shareholder of AEGEAN (Vassilakis Group) and the sole shareholder of OLYMPIC AIR (Marfin Investment Group) will have an equal shareholding in the combined entity.

Commenting on the abovementioned agreement, the Chairman of Aegean Mr. Th. Vassilakis made the following statement: “Since the first day of Aegean’s operations, we have been pursuing our vision for innovative, high quality services, through significant investments. The relative size of our competitors within the European Union necessitates the joining of the two main Greek airlines, to achieve increased autonomy in serving the needs of our country’s tourism, increase route options for consumers, ensure the long-term development and viability of the two airlines and protect the levels of employment in the sector.”

2/23/2010 12:27:04 PM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air, will launch Falcon Gold, a new premium cabin travel experience offering the very best elements of Gulf Air’s First Class for the price of a traditional Business Class fare.

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr. Samer Majali said: “The launch of Falcon Gold forms part of our new strategic direction to create a consistent and enhanced travel experience across our entire wide and narrow body fleet.  More importantly, it heralds a new era in travel with Gulf Air.  In what is our 60th Anniversary year, we are creating an airline for the next 60 years and beyond - an airline that offers excellence in quality and service as well as excellent value.   With the introduction of Falcon Gold everyone wins.  Our traditional Business Class customers receive a superior, more consistent product and our esteemed First Class passengers continue to enjoy all the elements of the service to which they have become accustomed, at better value.”

Falcon Gold fares will be on a par with traditional Gulf Air Business Class fares with a simple choice of pricing options linked directly to the flexibility of the ticket.

2/19/2010 9:24:24 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways announced it would increase capacity by close to 60 per cent on its Manchester services from June, upgrading its current two-class A330-200 aircraft to a two-class B777-300.

Etihad currently operates seven return services per week between Manchester and Abu Dhabi, with onward connections to Etihad’s global network, including  destinations Sydney, Melbourne, Bangkok, Cape Town and Islamabad. The capacity increase will mean an additional 2,100 seats per week on the route.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer, said: “Our services to Manchester have been performing very strongly, with load factors of close to 80 per cent in 2009. The business and investment ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger and the introduction of the B777 furthers our commitment to this important route.

Etihad Airways has rescheduled flights to and from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to ensure better flight connections with Etihad destinations in Western Europe and North America.

2/18/2010 9:46:17 AM UTC    Comments 

Kingfisher Airlines, has announced that it will commence flying on the London – New Delhi route from March 28, 2010. These flights will be daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to New Delhi.
 
Tickets for travel on the inaugural flight and for subsequent flights are now available for sale to guests intending to travel to New Delhi from London and from New Delhi into London.

Kingfisher Airlines’ flight IT 002 will take off from London at 9.05 pm and arrive the next day at 10.20 am in New Delhi, local time. From New Delhi, flight IT 001 will take off at 1.20 pm and arrive at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 at 6.10 pm, local time.

The flights on the London - New Delhi sector will be operated using a brand new Airbus A330-200, configured in two classes, Kingfisher First and Kingfisher Class, the spacious full-length wide-bodied twin aisle cabin of the A330-200 has gone to great lengths to make flying feel a more natural and pleasurable experience.

2/18/2010 9:44:59 AM UTC    Comments 

The Alitalia Group presented its three-year development plan for service at the Milan airports that calls for the consolidation of Alitalia’s premium service from Linate, a new intercontinental route from the Malpensa airport and the launch of a new business model for Air One flights, with important objectives of passenger growth and destinations within 2012.

From Malpensa, the Alitalia Group will offer a thoroughly renewed product, tailored both to the business and leisure passenger, according to a dual brand and customer hub model, with the possibility for the customer to create, within the same airport, the ideal combination of flights, fares and connections.
Alitalia Group’s new offering for the Milan basin will be operational starting 28 March, the first day of the summer season 2010 and the day of the inauguration of the new Smart Carrier Air One flights from the Malpensa hub to 14 destinations in Italy and the Mediterranean basin.

At the Malpensa airport, the Alitalia Group is the leader in intercontinental service, offering 9 direct flights, 5 of which operated directly and 4 operated in codesharing with its SkyTeam partners and Etihad.

With the summer season 2010, the new direct Alitalia Malpensa-Miami flight will be inaugurated, the only one that provides direct service between the two destinations.

For its intercontinental flights, Alitalia will station its two new Airbus A330 in Malpensa. Delivery of the planes is planned for June 2010. These two new aircraft will be the top of the line, also thanks to a completely remodeled Magnifica class cabin, with the latest generation fold-flat seats.
The offer is completed by 4 international destinations, 2 of which new - Palma and Ibiza – and 10 domestic destinations, 5 of which new - Brindisi, Lamezia Terme, Trapani, Olbia and Alghero. Lastly, service between Malpensa and Fiumicino will be increased.

2/15/2010 9:46:06 AM UTC    Comments 

On the 22nd February, Air Europa will officially launch the new London Gatwick to Lima service, via Madrid. 

The programme of three weekly departures to the Peruvian capital follows the successful introduction of the summer and winter schedules, as well as twice daily flights from London Gatwick to Madrid in March 2009.

“Following a positive 2009, we are happy to have established this exciting new route from London to Lima, via Madrid” says Colin Stewart, UK General Manager, Air Europa.

Prices start from £555.30 per person, return.
 
www.aireuropa.com
 

2/11/2010 3:11:20 PM UTC    Comments 

Delta responds to Japan Airlines announcement regarding Alliance Partnership

"Delta is well positioned as the No. 1 carrier between the U.S. and Asia. Customers can continue to count on Delta for unmatched access to Japan, with nonstop service between 10 U.S. destinations and Tokyo. With recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in our product, Delta remains committed to providing a leading option for travel across the Pacific. Delta's competitive Pacific presence, along with our trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France/KLM and leading position in global markets, will continue to allow Delta and our SkyTeam partners to meet demand worldwide."

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

2/9/2010 11:02:57 AM UTC    Comments 

Today Japan Airlines announced the decision to strengthen its partnership with American Airlines. The carriers, both members of the oneworld alliance, will jointly apply to the U.S Department of Transportation and the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan for the approval of antitrust immunity on transpacific routes.

Upon receiving the approval from the relevant authorities, JAL and AA intend to enter a joint business venture which will enhance their scope of cooperation on the routes between the United States and Japan, through adjustments to their respective networks, flight schedules, and other business activities, allowing both carriers to better complement each other to develop and offer competitive products and quality service to their customers.

The JAL Group Chief Operating Officer and President, Mr. Masaru Onishi said on this occasion: "We have analyzed this issue in great detail, and we are excited at the prospects in terms of the convenience and benefits for our customers. We also firmly believe that the advantages of this development with American Airlines can strongly support JAL at a time when we are striving towards the revival of our business, which we are determined to achieve. We certainly look forward to a deeper, more mutually-beneficial relationship with our long-time partner."

As JAL undergoes the process of reorganization, it will seize the opportunity presented by this partnership to strengthen its network and further improve its offerings. From hence forth, in addition to the joint business agreement with AA, JAL will also fortify its relationships with other partners in the oneworld alliance, so as to provide customers a comprehensive range of products and services, and become once again, the airline of customer's choice.

2/9/2010 10:56:45 AM UTC    Comments 

Air Berlin, is offering additional flights at the special promotional rate of £29 per person one-way* in a flash sale on the 9th and 10th February 2010. Flash sale fares are valid for travel on selected flights to Germany from Stansted to Düsseldorf, Hanover, Munster, Nuremberg and Paderborn between April and June 2010.

*Prices include taxes, fuel surcharge, allocated seating, a 20kg baggage allowance, complimentary sandwich and soft drinks, newspapers & magazines and miles from the frequent flyer programme Top Bonus. Children’s discount available on some fares.

Flights can be booked www.airberlin.com
 

2/8/2010 11:31:25 AM UTC    Comments 

This week saw passengers on Virgin Trains able to relax and enjoy their journey even more with the option of free luxury hand massages on board.  In partnership with lastminute.com teams of qualified beauty specialists walked the aisles on selected London to Manchester and Manchester to London trains offering those travelling a treat.

To further emphasise to passengers that travelling by train is a far easier and less stressful mode of transport than by air or car, the free hand massages lasted 2-3 minutes apiece. Lastminute.com used the opportunity to promote its spa break packages and distribute money-off vouchers. 

Says Jim Rowe, Senior Communications Manager, “We trialled this luxury treatment free of charge for customers and we hope it improved their overall experience of travelling by train. Quicker journey times, no traffic, free Wifi and now beauty treatments on board – what better way to make a journey! Over 100 people benefitted from the service and we will now review whether to introduce this across our network as a permanent offer.”

2/5/2010 9:32:01 AM UTC    Comments 

With the addition of a new First Class cabin TAM now offers a choice of three classes on its daily Boeing 777-300ER services between London Heathrow and São Paulo Guarulhos.

Reflecting the increase in premium business traffic between the UK and Brazil, TAM Airlines has introduced a new First Class cabin on its daily services between London Heathrow and São Paulo Guarulhos. Introduced on 5 February, the new cabin compliments the airline’s existing business and economy class services.

TAM’s exclusive new First Class cabin on the daily Boeing 777-300ER service between the UK and Brazil offers just four flat sleeper seat units that have been designed for the passenger’s maximum privacy and comfort. The aircraft offers a further 56 seats in business and 302 in economy, and flight times in both directions are designed to maximise convenience and connecting services at both ends of the route.

As well as the personalised service TAM is known for across all its cabins, passengers in First Class can choose their own amenity items from a selection carried on board. The amenities consist of natural products from the Greek range of Korres, as well as pyjamas, slippers and eyeshades.

On board entertainment includes individual 23-inch screens offering 24 video channels that are programmed monthly with the latest film releases, as well as classics from the archives, TV programmes, and documentaries. There are 11 music channels catering to every taste, and a further choice of a 50 CD library to enjoy. The flight can be followed on an on screen map, and cameras on the fuselage allow passengers to view what is in front and below the Boeing 777 from take off to landing.

As well as the electronic entertainment system, passengers in TAM’s First Class cabin have a selection of Brazilian and international magazines and newspapers to read, and those passengers who wish to work have a special reading light and power points for laptops.

2/5/2010 9:31:20 AM UTC    Comments 

Body-scanning equipment has been introduced at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 as part of a UK Government move to further strengthen security at airports. The technology will better enable the detection of concealed items while allowing passengers to remain fully clothed.  The introduction of this technology is mandated by the Department for Transport.

Ian Hutcheson, BAA Security Director said: “The security and safety of our passengers and staff is BAA's first priority.  The introduction of full-body scanners and other technology is one significant step towards a more robust defence against the changing and unpredictable threat posed by terrorists. However it is important that, as a country, we make better use of the intelligence available to industry and Government and continue to promote the close assessment of passengers’ behaviour.  Only by doing so will we build a robust security system that is dynamic enough to respond quickly and effectively to the emerging threat.”

Passengers may be required to undergo the additional screening, having passed through the standard security search process.  The Department for Transport requires that all passengers selected for screening must do so and images of passengers are destroyed after being viewed by specially-trained security officers based elsewhere in the airport.  The process takes around seven seconds.

BAA undertook the first ever trial of body-scanning technology in 1991. 

2/2/2010 2:18:25 PM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air, has launched Web Check-in and advanced seat selection from London Heathrow as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the travel experience of its passengers. 

Passengers flying from London Heathrow can now check in online at gulfair.com by selecting the “Check-in” tab on the homepage between 24 hours and 90 minutes before the scheduled departure of their flight.  They can also choose the seat of their choice using the new online interactive seat map.  The Web Check-in service also allows customers to check in additional passengers travelling with them on the same flight, making those hectic and, often stressful, family or group airport check-in processes a thing of the past. 

Christina Vidos, Commercial Manager UK and Ireland said: “We are very excited to be bringing this new service to our passengers travelling from our new home at London Heathrow Terminal Four.  As we strive to offer our customers a fast, efficient and hassle free travel experience, our Web Check-in service promises to reduce the valuable time our passengers need to spend at the airport.  By checking-in online and printing off their boarding pass before arriving at the airport, passengers travelling with no baggage can proceed directly to the boarding gate through airport security.  For passengers with baggage to check-in, dedicated ‘Web Check-in Baggage drop’ counters are available at the airport.   We are also delighted to be adding to our ‘family friendly airline’ status with our service that allows one passenger to check in fellow travelling companions online all at the same time.” 

2/1/2010 3:54:51 PM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic, has launched a Upper Class seat sale to many of its destinations.  The fares are available to cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco,  Los Angeles, Delhi,  Shanghai, Tokyo, Dubai, Johannesburg. The fares will be available until 09 February 2010 for travel on selected dates up to September 2010.

Upper Class ticket includes dedicated check in at all airports, invitation to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, Revivals Lounge at Heathrow, priority boarding at all airports, the Upper Class Suite onboard an onboard bar, Freedom menu and award winning inflight entertainment.

www.virginatlantic.com

1/29/2010 10:31:01 AM UTC    Comments 

Continental Airlines announced today that it will increase its schedule of flights between London/Heathrow and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, during 2010.  The airline will add a fourth daily service to the route in March and a fifth daily service in October, bringing the total number of Continental daily departures from Heathrow to seven, including its twice-daily service to Houston.

In addition, Continental announced that effective June 2, 2010 all aircraft scheduled for its flights departing Heathrow will feature new, flat bed seats in BusinessFirst, its business-class cabin.

“Heathrow-New York is a flagship route for Continental.  As the leading airline in the New York market, we are excited about introducing these schedule and product improvements for our London-New York travellers,” said Jeff Smisek, the airline’s Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer.  “All our London-New York customers will benefit from more flight options, while those travelling in BusinessFirst – whether to New York or Houston -- will be assured of a flat bed seat whenever they choose to fly with us.”

In addition to its Heathrow services, Continental operates non-stop services to New York from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, as well as Dublin and Shannon, serving more cities in the U.K. and Ireland than any other trans-Atlantic airline.  In addition, Continental and Virgin Atlantic Airways codeshare on several Virgin Atlantic-operated flights from London/Heathrow and London/Gatwick. 

www.continental.com/uk.

1/29/2010 10:09:27 AM UTC    Comments 

Aegean is expanding its services in neighboring countries adding to its network two new destinations. From January 1, 2010 Aegean will begin daily non-stop flights to Tel Aviv and Belgrade. The flight departure and arrival times are ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The flight schedule has been designed to allow for excellent connections with AEGEAN’s domestic destinations.

The flights to Tel Aviv will be operated by brand new Airbus A320, in dual class configuration. Business class passengers will be able to enjoy improved seat comfort, a choice of meals, as well espresso or cappuccino.

Starting from January 1, AEGEAN will begin flights between Athens and Belgrade.  There will be seven flights a week, carried out by the four- engine 112 seater AVRO RJ 100 aircraft.

www.aegeanair.com

1/28/2010 8:20:18 AM UTC    Comments 

Heathrow Express, is offering two for one travel between Thursday 11 February and Tuesday 16 February 2010 as a Valentine's special offer for return journeys.

When purchasing Express Class return tickets online between now and 16 February 2010, customers will receive their second journey free, saving them £32.00.

The offer is ideal for customers looking to snap up a great deal for the Valentine's weekend. Whether passengers are planning a romantic weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day, or just travelling somewhere with friends, they can save money with our exclusive 2 for 1 offer.

To take advantage of this great promotion visit heathrowexpress.com and type in the following promotional code: HXLOVE. Terms and conditions apply

1/26/2010 12:48:06 PM UTC    Comments 

Air New Zealand will transform international air travel later this year when it introduces revolutionary, Kiwi designed lie-flat economy and ground breaking premium economy seats, together with enhanced comforts for those wanting the ultimate in luxurious Business Premier travel.

The airline today revealed its prototype designs in a full-scale Boeing 777-300 cabin inside its design innovation centre in Auckland’s CBD. Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says when the airline takes delivery of its first new Boeing 777-300 ER in November this year it will redefine the long haul travel experience and set a benchmark for competitors to follow.

“For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone.  The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion – just keep your clothes on thanks!” The ‘Skycouch’, a specially designed row of three seats, has been engineered to create a lie-flat, flexible space all the way to the seat-back in front, providing a place for the kids to play, or the holy grail of economy travel – a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep.

Twenty-two sets of Skycouch seats will be available, being the first 11 window rows in the Economy Class cabin. For two adults travelling, purchasing the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Full airfare details will be announced when it goes on sale from late April.

Air New Zealand’s Premium Economy cabin has also had a dramatic makeover.

1/26/2010 12:30:13 PM UTC    Comments 

Air France will gradually be introducing from 30 January 2010 onwards on its short-haul flights, a brand new seat on its Airbus A319, A320 and A321 fleets operating on the domestic network.

Air France’s new short-haul seat, designed jointly by Air France and Recaro, which received an award for innovation at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, provides additional comfort and more space with:

• 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) more legroom,

• An enhanced seatback with a natural 15° recline,

• A more streamlined and comfortable foam seat.

This new seat is also more environmentally friendly, since environmental aspects were taken into account at the start of the design stage.

‘Following investment on the long-haul network with the new Premium Voyageur cabin class, Air France is now investing on the domestic network to provide passengers with a more comfortable seat that is also environmentally friendly’, said  Patrick Roux, head of marketing at Air France-KLM.

1/20/2010 1:13:31 PM UTC    Comments 

From 28th March 2010, China Airlines will launch the first non-stop flights to Taipei from London Heathrow, Terminal 4. The new service will operate three times a week and will offer 30 business class seats and 246 seats in economy class. Previously, UK passengers have had to travel via Amsterdam in order to fly to Taiwan with China Airlines.
 
Flights to Taiwan will depart from London Heathrow Terminal 4 at 21:15 on Tuesdays and Sundays, arriving at Tayoyuan International Airport at 18:15 the following day. Thursday services will depart slightly later at 22:05 and will arrive in Taiwan at 19:05 the following day.
 
Return flights from London Heathrow to Taipei start from £585 in low season, including taxes.
 
www.china-airlines.com

1/19/2010 1:42:51 PM UTC    Comments 

Kingfisher Airlines, revampes King Club, the airlines frequent flyer programme and the launch of King Platinum, a brand new and exclusive tier of membership for King Club.

Commenting on this unique initiative Ms. Anshu Sarin, General Manager, King Club said, "King Club is India’s most rewarding frequent flyer programme and we wanted to take this experience to the next level by upgrading the features and introducing King Platinum, the pinnacle of King Club. With this new addition to the King Club program, Platinum members can now avail many first-of-their-kind benefits. The card is designed to compliment discerning lifestyle and needs of highly successful individuals who will settle for nothing but the best in every sphere of their lives. The King Platinum card provides members with personalized recognition and privileges befitting their exclusive status.”

The new King Club has exclusive features like the innovative Daily Status Review system which ensures that one enjoys quick and flexible tier upgrades, Fast Track Earning, Family Club, Air Boutique ONLINE the premium online reward shop that allows the member to redeem their King Miles for attractive rewards.

The new King Platinum tier has been loaded with exclusive features like:
• 5 upgrade vouchers
• 35% tier bonus miles
• Unlimited lounge access for member and two additional lounge vouchers for their companions
• Lounge vouchers which can be used by family members
• A complimentary King Gold card for their companion
• Waivers on select administrative charges
• Exclusive Lifestyle privileges
• A dedicated Concierge desk for member assistance and more

Kingfisher Airlines has blazed a trail of innovations and introduced a range of market-firsts that have completely redefined the whole experience of flying. By elevating its customers to a level of being ‘guests’ and not just passengers, Kingfisher Airlines has endeared itself to consumers.

1/19/2010 11:57:11 AM UTC    Comments 

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the airline now offered A380 services on four routes – two from Melbourne and two from Sydney. “We are pleased that as we continue to grow our A380 fleet and offering, customer demand for the aircraft and feedback on the Qantas A380 experience remains extremely strong,” Mr Joyce said.

“Qantas operated its inaugural A380 flight to London from Sydney in January 2009 and this week we have made the A380 option available to our Victoria customers.” The recent arrival of our fifth and sixth A380s has made this possible.

Qantas will operate one to two services a week between Melbourne and London via Singapore (QF9 on Mondays/Sundays and the return QF10 on Fridays/Saturdays). Regular twice-weekly flights will commence on 29 March 2010.

Qantas operates 14 services each week between Melbourne and London – up to two on the A380 and the remaining 12 on the Boeing 747-400.

1/19/2010 11:56:17 AM UTC    Comments 

bmi, British Midland International, will be launching a new route between London Heathrow and Vienna from March 28 2010, with fares available to book from today (18 January 2010).  The route will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft in conjunction with Austrian Airlines, also part of Star Alliance, to offer five flights a day, seven days a week.

The new route announcement comes as bmi relaunches its UK & Ireland product as the airline continues its programme of developments across its network. 

Return fares with bmi from London Heathrow to Vienna start from just £99 return including taxes,

www.flybmi.com.

1/18/2010 12:09:13 PM UTC    Comments 

Boeing has completed initial airworthiness testing on the 787 Dreamliner. This milestone will enable more crew members to take part in flights and will allow more airplanes to join the flight test program.

“This is an important step forward,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are very pleased with the results we have achieved so far. The airplane has been performing as we expected.”

Since the first flight in mid-December, the program has conducted 15 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) and a speed of Mach 0.65. Nearly 60 hours of flying have been completed. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run, as well as an extensive check-out of the airplane’s systems. Six different pilots have been behind the controls of the 787.

In the weeks ahead, the team will continue to expand the flight envelope at which the 787 will operate to reach an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,192 meters) and a speed of Mach 0.85. Subsequent testing will push the airplane beyond expected operational conditions. 

“The pilots have told me the results we are seeing in flight match their expectations and the simulations we’ve run. That’s a real tribute to Boeing’s expertise and the international team that helped develop and build the airplane,” said Fancher.

Flight testing will continue in the months ahead. First delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

1/18/2010 10:35:20 AM UTC    Comments 

Many UK businesses have turned to executive helicopters to get them around the gridlocked UK road network as this unprecedented winter weather takes its toll.

PremiAir, executive helicopter charter operator is actually reporting an upturn in operations as executives needing to get on with their normal business recognise the unique value of helicopters and their ability to get them quickly around the UK, even when major and regional airports are disrupted.

1/15/2010 5:13:01 PM UTC    Comments 

Air New Zealand's New Year Sale fares are now available and prices to New Zealand start from £675 per person (fully inclusive of all pre-payable taxes) for a return flight from London Heathrow to Auckland in Pacific Economy (valid for travel between 16 April - 20 June 2010).  Alternatively, Los Angeles, a return economy flight starts from just £384 including taxes (valid for travel between 12 January - 30 June or 22 August - 30 November 2010).

Scott Carr, Air New Zealand's General Manager UK and Europe, comments: "We know that as well as feeling the pinch after Christmas, many people are also wanting to escape the weather we've been having.  With temperatures in Los Angeles around 25 degrees and New Zealand experiencing one of the best summers in a decade we suggest people get on one of our flights out of here!  Both locations offer a great holiday experience, whether it's the glitz of LA or the serenity of New Zealand and will definitely lift any post Christmas blues". 

www.airnewzealand.co.uk

1/15/2010 4:47:20 PM UTC    Comments 

Air France will commence services to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from 3 May 2010.  The new 5 times weekly schedule marks the return of Air France services to Abu Dhabi after a nine year break.

The new service will be flown by a 208-seater Airbus A330-200 and will offer passengers a choice of business class (Affaires), premium economy (Premium Voyageur) and economy (Voyageur) seating. Lead in fares from the UK begins from £366 return including all taxes and from Ireland start from €676 return including all taxes.  Flights are available to book now for travel from 3 May 2010. 

www.airfrance.co.uk

1/12/2010 3:15:59 PM UTC    Comments 

As Iraq is increasingly opening up to civil aviation, demand for flights to the country is growing. Lufthansa is therefore examining the possibility of launching several new services to Iraq and is currently planning to serve the capital, Baghdad, and the city of Erbil in Northern Iraq via Frankfurt and Munich.

Lufthansa aims to launch the new services in the summer of 2010, once it has obtained the necessary traffic rights. Further infrastructure requirements are also being examined. With the resumption of flights to Iraq, Lufthansa is pursuing its policy of expanding its route network in the Middle East, which it presently serves with 88 flights per week to 14 destinations in eleven countries.

The exact flight times and fares will be announced at a later date as soon as booking for the new routes opens.

1/12/2010 3:15:16 PM UTC    Comments 

From April 29th 2010 Star1 Airlines is increasing the number of flights it operates each between London Stansted and Vilnius. By adding an additional flight Thursdays the route from London Stansted to Vilnius will now be operated six times per week with no flight on Saturdays.

"The route between London and Vilnius is now well established with a strong base of regular passengers from both the business community and London-based Lithuanians."  said Jurate Rupsiene, Manager Communication.

www.star1.aero

1/12/2010 3:11:43 PM UTC    Comments 

From 2 – 18 January 2010 Malaysia Airlines is holding a sale to mark the new decade. The airline is offering all-inclusive fares to the whole of South East Asia from £519 return and Australasia from £639 return, for travel from 15 April to 31 May 2010. 

There will also be special fares available for travel to Malaysia and South East Asia from £559, from 15 January to 26 March, 4 to 14 April, 1 to 30 June and 1 September to 30 November 2010.

Malaysia Airlines is also offering a special fare to Australia and New Zealand from £689 return. This fare will be available for travel from London to Perth from 1 February and to the rest of Australia and New Zealand from 15 March to 14 April, 1 to 30 June and 1 September to 30 November 2010. All special fares are available to purchase from 2 to 18 January 2010.

www.malaysiaairlines.com.

1/5/2010 4:34:06 PM UTC    Comments 

Starting June 2010, Iceland Express will fly twice a week from Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport to Winnipeg International Airport, in Manitoba, Canada. This is in addition to new London Gatwick to New York, London Gatwick to Akureyri and Birmingham to Reykjavik services, all due to launch in June 2010.

Flights from London Gatwick to Winnipeg start at £467 return including taxes and the first flight will depart on 12 June.

Iceland Express also re-launched its operation from London Stansted in November 2009.

1/5/2010 12:27:12 PM UTC    Comments 

Customers booking between 5 -18 January 2010 can take advantage of  savings on flights to a range of destinations from UK airports. Flights are valid for travel until 15 June 2010

Beirut from...

Manchester via London Heathrow from just £379 return
London Heathrow from just £385 return
Glasgow via London Heathrow from just £405 return

Moscow from...

Manchester via London Heathrow from just £199 return
London Heathrow from just £215 return
Edinburgh via London Heathrow from just £259 return

Riyadh from...

London Heathrow from just £379 return
Manchester via London Heathrow from just £379 return
Edinburgh via London Heathrow from just £379 return
Glasgow via London Heathrow from just £379 return

Customers can also take advantage of the new international lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow.  The lounge is open to bmi Business Class, bmi Gold and Silver Diamond Club members and Star Alliance Gold members

Business Class customers also have the option of a complimentary Chauffeur Drive service, to and from the airport.

www.flybmi.com. 

1/5/2010 11:43:27 AM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic, today announced that it is offering a range of New Year sale fares to a number of worldwide destinations for Economy and Premium Economy travellers. Return fares in both Economy and Premium Economy class are available for sale until 26 January 2010 for selected destinations and departure dates 

All fares are inclusive of taxes, fees and surcharges and start from as follows:

New York - Economy £299, Premium £542   
Boston - Economy £309, Premium £552
Las Vegas - Economy £459, Premium £863
Dubai - Economy £324, Premium £599   
Johannesburg - Economy £599, Premium £1,077

www.virginatlantic.com    

1/4/2010 3:49:16 PM UTC    Comments 

Award winning Brazilian chef, Helena Rizzo, is the new gastronomic consultant for the airline

TAM Airlines has launched a series of new menus for its international services, a selection of dishes which have been devised for the carrier by the highly acclaimed Brazilian chef, Helena Rizzo. Rizzo is responsible for the award winning São Paulo restaurant and city hot spot, Mani. A recent review of Mani in the Financial Times said that Rizzo’s cooking is both “delightful and clever.”

The chef’s new dishes are characterized by lightness, inspired on tea flavours and aromas, and are available on TAM’s international services as of 10 January 2010.

"TAM’s commitment to service quality is one of the supporting columns of our company’s operation,” explains Manoela Amaro, Marketing Director for the airline. “We want to continuously offer our clients the very best. The annual review and renewal of our international flight menus is part of such a commitment."

There are approximately 500 different options between entrées, main courses and desserts that are offered by TAM in its’ First Class, Business and Economy cabins on international flights. All the new options have been developed with a softness and delicate touch of herb and flower aromas mixed with flavours inspired from around the globe. "We will offer our customers a new gastronomic experience," promises Amaro.

In First Class, filet mignon rosbeef with poached pear and yogi tee-aromatized olive oil, lamb ribs with rosemary au jus and artichoke and tomato caponnata, chicken fillet stuffed with Earl Grey tea and mushrooms with jasmine rice and pak choi, are among the options available. For dessert, there is apple pie with farofa doce (a sweet peanut concoction crumbled into a fine powder), aromatized with rooitea and topped with cinnamon fudge.

For the passenger in Business Class the choices include shrimp with yogurt dressing and yin zhen sprouts, brie cheese and leek ravioli with marinara sauce, sesame crispy chicken fillet with curry sauce and coconut milk and marsala tea and jasmine rice. For dessert, one of the options is an Earl Grey tea panna cotta and lemon with raspberry icing.

In Economy Class the options could include a mix of green vegetables served with carrots and anise, meat casserole au roti sauce with mashed potatoes and sauté vegetables, or chicken drumstick with curry sauce and coconut milk and marsala tea served with white rice and peas, along with balm-mint panna cotta with a raspberry sauce.

Tea on board
Teas are not restricted to the dishes served on board. TAM has hired Carla Saueressig – the top tea-blending specialist in Brazil – to develop a special blend for its on-board service.

Saueressig has created a red-coloured drink, a colour symbolizing life and the warmth of TAM, in which fruity flavours from tropical Brazil and herbs from Amazon come together with a floral tone and a sweet vanilla base, just like the good things in life. "It conveys cosiness, comfort and the pleasure of flying with TAM", says Amaro.

2010 TAM Wine List
As well as re-launching its menus, TAM has also updated the selection of wines it serves on its international flights. The new list is the responsibility of Arthur Azevedo, CEO of the Brazilian Association of Sommeliers in São Paulo, who in addition is also the editor of Wine Style magazine and a consultant of the Artwine site.

To harmonize with the new dishes on the airline’s international menu, the sommelier has sourced wines from different countries and continents.

In First Class the Drappier La Grande Sendrée champagne, from vineyards that are more than 70 years old, is a popular choice. Among the wines, the white Luís Pato Vinhas Velhas from Bairrada, Portugal; and Boutari Moschofilero OPAP Mantínia, from Peloponnese, Greece deserve a special mention; as do the red wines such as L'Etoile de Bergey from the French region of Pessac-Léognan, in Bordeaux, produced by the Garcin-Cathiard family in limited quantities; the Spanish wine, Abadia Retuerta Cuvée Palomar, from Sardon del Duero; Cuvée Palomar, another wine integrating the elite of Spanish wines; and the I Balzini Black Label, from Tuscany, Italy.

For Business Class the Drappier Carte d'Or champagne has been selected, which is produced in the small and charming town of Urville; the white wines include Weingut Brundlmayer Grüner Veltliner, from Austria, and Selbach Oster Bereich Bernkastel Selbach Riesling QbA, from Mosel, Germany; while the red wines feature Fayat-Thunevin, from the French region of Lalande de Pomerol, in Bordeaux; and Ysios Reserva, from Rioja, Spain.

Economy class, selections include the Argentinean wines Grafigna Malbec, from San Juan, and Etchart Torrontés, from Salta.

12/16/2009 9:50:09 AM UTC    Comments 

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, unveils its brand new Economy Comfort zone product at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The new product offers passengers a greater range of seating comfort in Economy Class including up to 10 cm of extra legroom and twice the recline of a standard seat. Economy Comfort passengers will also be able to disembark first, because the zone is in the front section of the Economy Class cabin. The service and meals in Economy Comfort are the same as those in Economy Class. Every day, KLM will have more than 1,500 Economy Comfort seats available.

The nominal cost for an Economy Comfort seat will range from EUR 80 to EUR 150 for a one-way trip, depending on the distance covered. Flying Blue Platinum members and passengers flying on a fully flexible Economy Class ticket can reserve Economy Comfort seats free of charge. Flying Blue Gold members will get a 50% discount and Flying Blue Silver members will get a 25% discount. With Economy Comfort, KLM extends its range of seating comfort options and this new alternative reflects KLM’s pledge to fulfil the changing needs of its customers, one of which was the call for more comfort options in Economy Class.

Once passengers have booked a standard economy ticket, they can reserve an Economy Comfort seat via the ‘Manage My Booking’ tab on www.klm.com from 90 days before departure.

12/7/2009 8:02:59 PM UTC    Comments 

Germanwings, one of Europe’s low cost airlines, is offering reduced tickets on their website starting from just €9,99* including taxes and fees. The offer is valid for flights up to 27th March 2010 – but travel must be booked by this Sunday – 6th December.

Germanwings offers direct flights from London Stansted, Edinburgh and Manchester to a variety of destinations in Germany.  

* For UK residents a £5.00 credit card booking fee applies.

www.germanwings.com

12/4/2009 3:16:24 PM UTC    Comments 

Passengers flying from London Heathrow airport can check-in and print their boarding passes at Paddington train station in London before taking the Heathrow Express train to the airport.

The Customer Check- in services, launched by Heathrow Express, consist of three easy to use check-in kiosks with touch screens located next to the Heathrow Express ticket office. Iberia passengers can print their boarding passes and view their flight information before leaving for the airport. Flight Information Display Screens have also been installed next to the ticket office and half way down platforms 6 an 7 of the Paddington train station. On them, passengers will be able to find information about the day's flights, airlines operating them, the terminals from where the flights are leaving and departure times.

Iberia is one of the four airlines that offer its customers the possibility of using these check-in facilities at Paddington train station. The Spanish airline started offering this service in May 2002, when it first installed auto check-in kiosks in nine Spanish airports. Nowadays, Iberia passengers can use these facilities in 66 of the 111 airports where the airline flies to, including London Heathrow airport and Dublin.

Iberia offers thirteen flights a day between London Heathrow and Madrid Barajas airports, five of them under a code-sharing agreement with British Airways. From Madrid, passengers flying from the United Kingdom can continue their trip to another 36 destinations in Spain, Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, 17 Latin American cities, four U.S destinations, as well as 10 cities in Africa and the Middle East of Iberia's network.

12/4/2009 3:15:32 PM UTC    Comments 

American Express and The Mileage Company, British Airways’ rewards subsidiary, today announced the launch of the new British Airways American Express Corporate Card Plus. The Card has been designed to enable UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to achieve savings on their everyday business spending at a company and employee level. 

This card gives SMEs the opportunity to earn bonus On Business Points on their Card expenditure.  On Business is the British Airways reward programme for SMEs that enables businesses to get more out of their travel budget.  On Business Points can be redeemed for British Airways flights, flight upgrades and hotel accommodation.

Mimi Kung, Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Card, American Express explained: “Through this card we hope to give SMEs access to travel savings that have typically been the preserve of larger companies. Furthermore, through the Card’s Expense Management Tool, SME business leaders will gain greater insight and visibility of their corporate expenses. 

www.americanexpress.co.uk/bacorpcard.

11/27/2009 5:23:25 PM UTC    Comments 

bmi, has today announced a restructuring programme that will see it suspend a number of routes as a result of unprecedented market conditions.

The route suspensions are as follows:

• London Heathrow-Tel Aviv.  Last flight ex Heathrow 9 January 2010, last flight ex Tel Aviv 10 January 2010.
• London Heathrow-Kiev.  Last flights 10 January 2010.
• London Heathrow-Aleppo.  Last flight ex Heathrow 9 January 2010, last flight ex Aleppo 10 January 2010.
• London Heathrow-Amsterdam.  Last flights 27 March 2010
• London Heathrow-Brussels. Last flights 9 January 2010. 

From April 2010 bmi will end its lease agreement on two Airbus 330 aircraft which will mean that its London Heathrow to Cairo route will be operated using an Airbus 321. 

Routes are being suspended to improve the profitability of bmi which is now 100% owned by Lufthansa who are committed to helping bmi restructure the airline to return it to profitability. Going forward, the airline will focus on routes serving oil, energy and emerging markets with a particular focus on Business Class customers and those visiting friends and relatives. The airline will maintain its current UK and Ireland network providing frequency for business travellers and feeder connections for its own network and that of Star Alliance.

Dominic Paul, bmi’s Managing Director, said: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience the route suspensions cause our customers and travel agents and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us on these routes for their loyalty and business. Agents holding bmi bookings on affected routes need to ticket by 1 December to be eligible for reprotection. Agents will be contacted from 2 December with reprotection options”

11/25/2009 2:19:41 PM UTC    Comments 

MSC Cruises is kick starting Christmas again this year by offering passengers the chance to cruise for just £1*! When one adult books a 2010 cruise paying full brochure price, the second passenger will pay just £1. Offer based on two sharing and bookings must be made between 28 November and 14 December 2009. 

More than 300 departures and 30 itineraries are available, from January to December 2010, for three, seven, and eight and 11 night cruises. Terms and conditions apply.

The MSC fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. Flights are excluded from the ‘sail for £1’ deal but can be booked through MSC Cruises’ flight center, with departures from Barcelona, Genoa, Venice, Livorno and regional flights departing from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Passengers wishing to book a Mediterranean cruise can enjoy MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC Magnifica which will join the MSC fleet in March 2010.

MSC Cruises currently has a fleet of 10 ships in operation, each offering the finest in Italian design, comfort and luxury. Dining is always a special occasion onboard an MSC cruise, where a seven-course menu with a different Italian speciality each night can be enjoyed.

Prices start from £750 (cruise only) for the first passenger and the second passenger pays only £1. Flights are available for all departures to the Mediterranean from £210 per person.

www.msccruises.co.uk

11/25/2009 10:41:25 AM UTC    Comments 

Finnair uses Terminal 5 in Stockholm's Arlanda Airport. Other oneworld airlines flying to Stockholm - British Airways, Iberia and Malev - have also moved to the more modern, more spacious terminal. The new terminal offers shorter distances and better services than the old Terminal 2.

After the change, the oneworld companies will have a joint ticket office and a number of self-service check-in kiosks in the terminal. Passengers can also check in at check-in desks 33-44.

All departing passengers will receive an automatic SMS reminder about the terminal change for a couple of weeks around the date of the move. Finnair is actively sending important flight and service information to mobile numbers listed in passengers’ flight reservation details.

"The Baggage Drop desk is open all day and the security control will have more service points. There is also a separate, priority lane for Business Class passengers and Finnair Plus, Platinum, Gold and Silver and oneworld top-tier customers on the right side of the desk. The terminal has more shops and restaurants as well as a wider range of products than the old terminal," says Tomi Hänninen, Finnair's UK Sales Director.

Departing and arriving flights use Terminal 5's F wing that is located on the right side of the terminal, gates F26-F39. The oneworld airlines' new bright Executive lounge facility is also located on the right side of the beginning of the same wing.

Using the Arlanda Express train, the journey to the airport takes 20 minutes and passengers can check in, if they wish, via check-in kiosks at Stockholm Railway Station whilst waiting for the train.

Finnair is the Fast Airline from Europe to Asia; offering some of the best transit and flight times to 9 cities in China, Japan, India, South Korea and Thailand. Finnair fly twice daily from Manchester airport and four times daily from Heathrow in the UK via Helsinki to the Far East.

11/25/2009 10:40:36 AM UTC    Comments 

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has launched a brand new three-class service this week on its flagship London Heathrow to Muscat route. The service is offered aboard new A330-300 aircraft and features new First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins, together with state of the art in-flight entertainment and delicious new menus.
 
Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hill, launched the new service saying: “Oman Air’s new three-class service between London and Muscat delivers everything the discerning traveller could want. Our daily, non-stop direct flights from Heathrow offer a smooth and hassle-free journey and our stunning new aircraft offer more space, comfort and luxury than ever before.
 
“With lie-flat seats, direct aisle access and a la carte dining for every passenger in First Class and Business Class, together with surprisingly comfortable and spacious Economy Class seats, we now offer an unmatched level of quality for all passengers.
 
“In addition, our leading-edge in-flight entertainment system, including audio-video on demand and six channels of live TV, wonderful new menus in every class and superb hospitality offered by our specially-trained cabin crew - attired in new, Balenciaga-designed uniforms - underline our commitment to ensuring that every one of our passengers reaches their destination relaxed, refreshed and ready to go.”
 
The seats in each class of the new service have been designed to the highest specifications by EADS Sogerma. The First Class Mini Suite offers the longest lie-flat bed available on any commercial airliner and is set within a massive 87-inch pitch. Furthermore, with a 25.5-inch wide seat, and eight point massage system built in, stowage for hand luggage, dedicated space to hang a coat and a huge 23-inch video monitor, Oman Air’s First Class Mini Suite is in a class of its own.
 
With just six seats within the first class cabin, together with a luxurious lounge area, the passenger experience is akin to flying in an exclusive private jet.
 
The Business Class cabin offers 20 lie-flat seats, each within a pitch of 82 inches and fitted in a four-abreast, one-two-one configuration. A wide seat, ample stowage space, a privacy screen and a sizeable 17-inch monitor ensure that Oman Air’s Business Class seat outshines most other airlines’ first class offering.
 
Oman Air’s new Economy Class cabin offers 204 seats in a two-four-two configuration, each within a pitch of 34 inches. However, the innovative slimline design of the seats maximises the available space and provides a degree of legroom more often associated with a 36-inch, premium economy pitch. Each seat has adjustable head and leg rests, together with a 10.4-inch seatback mounted in-flight entertainment screen.
 
Economy Class flights from London to Muscat return are currently £393, including taxes, with return Business Class fares currently offered at £1,332, including taxes. First Class flights between London Heathrow and Muscat are on sale now from £4,983, including taxes, for a return ticket.
 
www.omanair.aero.

11/24/2009 11:50:07 AM UTC    Comments 

Scandinavian Airlines’, Winter Seat Sale has just kicked off with discounts on SAS flights from London Heathrow to Scandinavia for 2010 getaways. 

 
Flights to Oslo down by £20 – the perfect Christmas gift! - Give your family the gift of a New Year break to Oslo, Norway and take advantage of SAS one-way fares to Oslo for just £59 – a truly original present which will excite all the family.  Explore this culturally rich city and visit its great museums, galleries and parks.  Hit the massive January shopping sales or fly in March and experience one of Europe's largest ski events at Holmenkollen (12-14 March).   For a truly cultural tour, head to the Kristiansund Opera Festival (4 – 20 February) in central Norway and enjoy the opera and ballet, art exhibitions and other arts events on offer.
 
Fly to Finland with SAS and pay only £67 one-way - Take advantage of the flight sale and visit Helsinki, an exciting and dynamic place for a chic city break.  While you’re there, hop on a boat from the Market Square to the island fortress of Suomenlinn or wear a furry parka and enjoy a drink at Arctic Icebar – Helsinki’s coolest nightclub where literally everything is carved out of ice.   For some colourful entertainment, soak up the atmosphere and take part in the Lantern Festival (1 March) to celebrate spring and the arrival of light with a variety of entertainment and a unique blend of Chinese and Finnish cuisine.     

Snap up SAS flights to Denmark for only £59 one-way - Copenhagen, Denmark is one of Scandinavia’s coolest, most cosmopolitan cities, yet one that is popular with families, couples and friends alike.   If you’re a water baby – stay in Copenhagen Living - Denmark’s first floating hotel or treat your loved one to a romantic valentine’s weekend in the stylish, but cosy Avenue Hotel, amongst the cities blend of historical and modern sites and architecture.

To take advantage of this Winter Seat Sale, bookings must be made between 19-30 November 2009 and passengers must travel between 5 January 2010 – 15 March 2010.

www.flysas.co.uk

11/24/2009 11:44:39 AM UTC    Comments 

Nigeria’s largest commercial airline, is to launch non-stop flights between London Heathrow and Abuja beginning on Thursday, 26 November 2009. The new London, Heathrow to Abuja services will operate five times per week.

The route will be serviced by a brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, ideally suited for flying medium haul routes and making short turnarounds at airports, allowing Arik Air to continue to provide a convenient and punctual service. The aircraft, which is one of the quietest and most environmentally friendly aircraft operating in the world today, offers 20 Business Class seats and 126 Economy Class seats, all with personal audio and video entertainment including a choice of short programs and a selection of Hollywood and Nollywood movie favourites.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, CEO of Arik Air International, said: “For nearly a year now, we have been operating daily flights from London Heathrow to Lagos, providing passengers with a world class service that was previously not available. We know from the feedback we receive that the London to Abuja route is similarly underserviced and are delighted to be launching a regular service in preparation for the busy holiday period.

“Arik Air’s extensive domestic network from Abuja means that we can now can offer passengers travelling to and from cities in Nigeria’s northern regions a convenient London connection that no other airline can match. In addition, this new London, Heathrow – Abuja service will enable Nigerian government officials to choose a Nigerian airline to London for the first time.”

11/20/2009 1:56:26 PM UTC    Comments 

Singapore Airlines will launch twice-daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo Haneda airport in October next year, complementing the current twice-daily Tokyo Narita services, one of which continues on to Los Angeles.

The Airline has been awarded the permit for 14 weekly flights to Tokyo Haneda by Singapore’s Air Traffic Rights Committee. Narita has been the main international airport serving Tokyo since 1978, but new international services will be permitted to and from Haneda after a fourth runway there opens for operations next year.

Flights to both airports will provide SIA’s customers with a choice of airport in Tokyo to suit their preference and convenience. Narita offers good connectivity with other international flights and accessibility by rail and road to other cities and prefectures outside the Tokyo metro area. On the other hand, Haneda has more domestic flight connections and is nearer Tokyo’s business districts.

11/12/2009 12:10:08 PM UTC    Comments 

Alitalia has moved from London Heathrow Terminal 2 to the newly redesigned Terminal 4 to join its SkyTeam partners benefiting from new and enhanced facilities, shared with the other SkyTeam members 

Alitalia customers can take advantage of a premium check-in area with an exclusive waiting lounge, fast track security lanes and state-of-the-art VIP lounge. An airside customer assistance desk will also be introduced shortly.

From London Heathrow Alitalia operates up to 10 daily direct flights to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate; once in Italy passengers can connect to a wide range of Italian, European and worldwide destinations.

11/12/2009 12:09:38 PM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, will increase its Abu Dhabi-Frankfurt services from 10 to 13 per week from 12 December, increasing to a double daily from 28 March 2010.

Etihad’s flights to Frankfurt, which were launched in June 2005, are among the most popular of its European services, providing high volumes of traffic into Abu Dhabi as well as transit traffic to destinations like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Frankfurt has been one of Etihad’s most successful destinations because it retains strong volumes of business and leisure passengers throughout the year. “Abu Dhabi’s geographical location makes it ideal as a gateway for air travellers from Germany to connect to Australia, the Far East and throughout the Middle East easily and quickly.”

The new flight schedule ensures that passengers flying out of Frankfurt will be able to choose from more than 80 connecting flights out of Abu Dhabi with transit times of less than four hours, including Bangkok, Sydney, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kathmandu and Beijing.

11/12/2009 12:05:54 PM UTC    Comments 

TAP Portugal was awarded the World’s Leading Airline to South America at the Grand Final Gala ceremony of this years World Travel Awards, held on November 8th, the eve of the year’s World Travel Market in London.

“We are delighted and very honoured that TAP is a winner of the WTA. It means a great deal and comes as a fantastic incentive to all of us at TAP. This award recognizes the work we have consistently developed in recent years to promote and reinforce our service to South America, especially to Brazil, where TAP stands out as the international leading airline in operation, with daily direct flights connecting Europe to eight different gateways”, said Luiz Mór, Executive Board Member of TAP Portugal.

11/12/2009 12:05:16 PM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain has now moved to its new home at London Heathrow Terminal 4. The move from T3 to the newly refurbished T4 will offer Gulf Air customers a more enjoyable airport experience with increased levels of comfort and convenience. 

Gulf Air’s new check-in area, featuring dedicated counters for First and Business Class passengers, was officially opened by senior Gulf Air Head Office representative Mr Osama Altajer and Mr Chris Butler, BAA Operations Director T4, together with Gulf Air’s General Manager UK and Ireland Mrs Christina Vidos and UK Airport Manager Mrs Nazneen Elhersh. 

Gulf Air General Manager UK and Ireland Christina Vidos said: “We are delighted to welcome our passengers to our new home at Terminal Four.  Thanks to a multi-million pound investment by BAA we can now offer our customers an even better flying experience from the moment they set foot in the concourse to arriving at their final destination.”

In keeping with the airline’s renowned Arabian hospitality, passengers checking-in at the new Terminal were given a warm welcome by staff and a celebratory gift.  At the gate, passengers were served Arabic coffee and dates, a traditional Arabic ritual to welcome and honour guests. 

Gulf Air check-in counters are now located in Zone E of Terminal 4.   First and Business Class passengers and Gold and Silver members of Gulf Air’s Frequent flyer programme will have access to the state-of-the-art Sky Team lounge.  Sky Team’s premium lounge is located opposite Gate 10 at T4 and provides passengers with a place to work, relax and dine with complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, a selection of hot and cold menus, and a wellness centre.

10/29/2009 4:44:48 PM UTC    Comments 

Alzheimer’s Society is pleased to announce that easyJet and its passengers have raised over £420,000 to help the charity fight dementia.

The funds were raised from in-flight collections of passenger’s left over currency between July – September 2009. easyJet chose Alzheimer’s Society as its charity of the year after a vote by 7,000 members of staff from across Europe.  It will continue to collect funds for Alzheimer’s Society in 2010 and has pledged to raise £1million in total for the charity.

Lynda Bellingham, Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador and Loose Women presenter who launched the collections, says: ‘I am delighted that easyJet and their passengers have raised over £420,000.  This will help people live well with dementia today and fund research to find a cure for tomorrow.  I know the impact that dementia has on the whole family, having cared for my mum when she was ill.  Alzheimer’s Society relies upon the generosity of organisations like easyJet, their staff and passengers, to continue to provide information, education, support and care to families when they need it most.’ 

Andy Harrison, Chief Executive of easyJet, says: ‘We are thrilled to have raised over £420,000 for Alzheimer’s Society; I would like to express my gratitude to all our cabin crew for their support in raising these funds and thank all those passengers who generously donated money, particularly in these times of economic uncertainty.  There are over five million people with dementia in Europe making it a truly important cause for our staff and passengers.  We look forward to continuing to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society in 2010 and reaching our target of £1million!’

10/29/2009 4:42:40 PM UTC    Comments 

The CEOs of the Star Alliance member carriers welcomed the alliance’s 25th member: Continental Airlines. Continental’s joining Star Alliance will further enhance the alliance’s three main customer benefits: global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless travel. Continental’s membership follows last year’s announcement of a strategic partnership between Continental and United Airlines.

“Bringing Continental Airlines into Star Alliance has been a truly unique experience. This is the first time an airline has moved directly from one alliance to another,” said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance. “Our travelers can now begin to appreciate the advantages Continental brings to the Star Alliance network, while Continental’s customers now enjoy enhanced alliance benefits.”

“Continental’s transition to Star Alliance is one of the most important strategic moves we have accomplished in my career at Continental,” said Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner.  “Our membership in Star Alliance positions us to deliver a broader network to our customers, and to achieve better business results and a stronger future for my co-workers, our customers and communities as a result of the benefits from participating in the world’s largest airline alliance.”

“Continental’s joining makes the Star Alliance network even more extensive, offering our customers the broadest global access and greatest choice of service,” said Glenn Tilton, chairman and CEO of United Airlines. “We welcome our partner, Continental, which brings tremendous value to our customers, our employees and the communities we serve.”

10/27/2009 11:19:06 PM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, is to resume flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka, starting in January 2010. The airline will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. 

The resumption of flights follows the recent end to the civil conflict in Sri Lanka and the boost that this is likely to provide to the tourism sector and to the wider economy as a whole. July and August 2009 already witnessed a 30 per cent increase in visitors to the island compared to the same period last year, and the Sri Lankan government is now targeting 2.5 million visitors a year by 2016.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Sri Lanka is an established market with a strong local traffic base. We expect the resumption of Etihad flights to be welcomed by the considerable Sri Lankan expatriate community living in the UAE and those living across the Middle East region who will be able to connect quickly and easily back home via Abu Dhabi. “Colombo will be our first new route launch of 2010, and bring to 58 the number of destinations available across our expanding global network.”

Etihad will operate a two-class Airbus A320 to Colombo, configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 seats in business class and 120 in economy class.

10/20/2009 11:58:54 AM UTC    Comments 

Lufthansa is further boosting its services to Africa and increasing the number of flights it operates to Nigeria from 10 to 14 per week with the introduction of the winter timetable on 25 October 2009.

UK passengers will be able to connect daily through Frankfurt for the six hour non-stop flight to the Nigerian capital Abuja, which is located in the centre of Nigeria. Lufthansa is also resuming services to Port Harcourt, and will operate onward flights from Abuja to the Nigerian port city four times a week. The other three flights a week will continue from Abuja to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.

Although Lufthansa is reducing the number of flights for the winter, in view of weaker demand, the airline has already confirmed the re-introduction of a seasonal service between Inverness, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and Düsseldorf next summer and a new service from Munich to Tashkent from 28 March 2010. The three times a week service to the Uzbek capital will be operated by the Swiss carrier, PrivatAir using a Boeing 737-800, seating 24 passengers in Business Class and 84 in Economy Class providing the first direct connection from Lufthansa’s Munich hub to Central Asia.

“Our passengers are staying loyal to us because we are maintaining existing connections and not radically revising our route network”, says Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa General Manager UK & Ireland. “We are optimising the network so we can retain connection quality for our customers as well as keeping a presence in all traffic regions and only cancelling flight connections when alternatives are available to our passengers.”

“Lufthansa is continuing to develop new, strategically important growth markets. Among its principal targets are West and Central Africa where we have doubled services from 11 to 21 flights weekly compared to last year.”

10/20/2009 11:58:08 AM UTC    Comments 

Jet Airways, has moved to a new home at London’s Heathrow Airport from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4, offering enhanced facilities and comfort for passengers. To celebrate the move, the check-in area was given a distinctly Indian flavour with staff in traditional dress and Indian sweets served by Jet Airways cabin crew. The new check-in area was officially opened on the 14th October by Raja Segran, Senior Vice President, Europe for Jet Airways, who commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer passengers an even more comfortable journey from the moment they arrive at the Terminal. Jet Airways strives to achieve the highest standards and our move to Terminal 4 reflects our ongoing efforts to surpass the expectations of our passengers.”

The move is part of a multi-million pound investment by BAA at the Terminal. The departures concourse has been newly refurbished and now offers a larger check-in area, with high ceilings and brighter lighting, making it easier and quicker for passengers to check in. Jet Airways’ check-in counters are now located in Zone C, with desks 1-6 in operation for the morning departure and desks 1-11 in use for the evening flights.

Première (business) and first class passengers will have access to Etihad's newly opened lounge in Terminal 4 which is located opposite gate 10. The new premium lounge is stylishly designed and furnished with the best of luxuries, including a well stocked bar, playroom, and seating space for 120 guests.

www.jetairways.com

10/15/2009 9:57:45 PM UTC    Comments 

American Airlines AAdvantage® members booking a return flight to the US will benefit from a new promotion offering them a free companion ticket for future travel.

To qualify for the companion ticket, AAdvantage® members simply need to register online prior to travel at www.aa.com/offers using the code ‘US2UK’ and, from 9 October, book and fly one qualifying return flight to the continental US travelling on American Airlines. All First, Business and select Economy Class fares from the UK to the US are eligible to receive a free companion ticket for future travel to the continental US, Caribbean, Central or Southern America. Qualifying tickets must be booked and travel completed by 29 January 2010, with customers also required to subscribe to at least one American Airlines email product by and until the same date in order to receive the companion ticket and booking details.

While the offer is exclusive to American Airlines AAdvantage® members, any UK resident who is not yet a member can enrol for free online at www.aa.com/enroll to benefit. 

www.aa.com/offers.

10/13/2009 10:38:24 PM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, welcomes a brand new A320 aircraft into its fleet.  The arrival of the new aircraft marks the start of the airline’s re-fleeting programme.   From now until April 2010, Gulf Air will receive one A320 aircraft per month and an additional two A320s in December 2010, completing the delivery of its first batch of A320 aircraft on order.

L-R : Mr. Adel Kanoo (Gulf Air Board Member), Mr. Ahmed Nemat (Assistant Undersecretary Aviation Services), Mr. Talal Al Zain (Chairman Gulf Air Board) & Mr. Samer Majali (CEO Gulf Air).

Talal Al Zain, Chairman, Gulf Air said: “This is a proud moment for Gulf Air as we take another step forward in our mission to deliver a national airline that we can all be proud of and a dynamic and focussed business that supports the national economy.  By investing in our fleet now, we are securing the future of Gulf Air.  With a modern, more efficient fleet we can lower our costs and at the same time deliver a better service to our customers.”  

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Samer Majali said: “These are exciting times for Gulf Air.  The start of our fleet renewal is another milestone for us and is extremely timely as we continue to shape our new strategic direction. 

He continued: “This new A320 aircraft together with the nine others that will follow between now and the end of 2010 will be used to replace our older narrow body aircraft which are less fuel efficient and becoming more expensive to maintain.   They will also be used to grow our Middle East network on important strategic and high yielding routes such as our expansion into Iraq.”  

“We chose the A320 due to the innovations and performance advances Airbus has made which makes this aircraft more operationally efficient and reliable whilst at the same time achieving the highest levels in comfort for our customers.  Its environmental performance was also a consideration, which is the best among all single aisle aircraft.”

The arrival of the new aircraft is an important milestone for the airline and the Kingdom of Bahrain as it works towards becoming an efficient and sustainable business that effectively serves the demands and aspirations of the people and economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

10/12/2009 2:28:23 PM UTC    Comments 

Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest airline and bmi, a member of Star Alliance, have signed a commercial co-operation agreement including the code-share operation of the Athens/London route offering significant benefits to both companies’ customers.

Commencing οn 25 October 2009 and coinciding with the move of Aegean’s operation to London Heathrow, the code share will allow Aegean Airlines to offer 6 new connections via transfer in London: Manchester, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. The partnership will also allow bmi to offer 4 new onward connections via transfer in Athens: Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania and Rhodes.

Continuously striving to meet its customers high expectations, AEGEAN keeps pursuing the enhancement of its network along with the upgrade of its product as top priorities. The cooperation with bmi, which reinforces the travel options made available to customers between Greece and United Kingdom, is another step in this direction.  With this cooperation Aegean Airlines has expanded its network in United Kingdom offering additional flights to Manchester, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast and to Ireland/Dublin and at the same time offering multiple choices to its passengers.

“We’re very happy with this important new partnership, which will allows us to extend our network, reaching 6 destinations in United Kingdom and Ireland  and benefit from the experience and the professional know how of bmi. Our passengers will welcome the onward connections to Manchester, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin” said Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO at Aegean Airlines.

10/9/2009 4:23:51 PM UTC    Comments 

AirAsia, the low-cost, long-haul airline, which launched services to the UK earlier this year, has announced that it will soon be flying to Paris following permission granted by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, for the airline to land at Orly Airport in southern Paris.

AirAsia already flies daily between Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and London, and Paris will be the airline's latest move to expand operations in Europe. The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, is said to have played an instrumental role in persuading the French Government to grant the airline permission to fly to the country's capital city.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony said, “The breakthrough in Paris will greatly enhance our reach in the continent and further strengthen the position of Kuala Lumpur as Asia’s major aviation hub and the gateway to Asia."

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

10/8/2009 12:48:31 PM UTC    Comments 

After extensive renovations, Japan Airlines (JAL) will reopen its lounge in the departure hall of Frankfurt International Airport on October 26, 2009.

The new lounge comprises both the First Class Lounge and the executive class Sakura Lounge, located at a conveniently short, 2-minute walk from the departure gates. The revamped area is now twice the size of the original Sakura lounge and reflecting the attention paid to feedback from customers, such amenities as shower rooms, free wired LAN connections and PC power outlets have been incorporated into the refurbished lounge in addition to the comprehensive business center and lounge facilities. Modelled after the concept of the lounge in JAL's main international hub - Narita International Airport in Tokyo, eligible passengers can look forward to a spacious and well-equipped lounge with a good ambience to relax in before their flight.      

JAL connects Tokyo to Frankfurt with a once-daily scheduled flight that is fitted with four cabin classes - first, executive, the airline's award-winning latest premium economy, and economy. Using Frankfurt as a gateway, JAL also serves Budapest and Helsinki with codeshare flights operated by fellow oneworld alliance partners Malév-Hungarian Airlines and Finnair respectively.

10/8/2009 9:48:20 AM UTC    Comments 

KLM is celebrating its 90th anniversary today. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October 1919 and is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name.

This month, the official anniversary month, sees KLM host a European “Tour of Inspiration” visiting 29 European cities in 45 days including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. The tour has been designed to celebrate and showcase KLM’s products and services including the recently launched “Economy Comfort” seating zone.

KLM’s 90th anniversary celebrations first launched on 1 January 2009 with a celebration flight of a Boeing 737-800 over Holland which was painted in KLM’s old livery especially for the occasion.

Earlier this year, to mark the milestone anniversary, the world famous Keukenhof gardens presented KLM with its very own Tulip, the KLM Tulipa, whilst this week, Dutch fashion designer Mart Visser, also revealed a brand new ladies uniform for the carrier’s 11,000 plus cabin and ground crew members, including female pilots serving KLM and KLM Cityhopper ex UK.

Speaking about the short term future of the aviation industry at a symposium at the National Aerospace Laboratory, KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman, discusses the airline’s continued development and application of sustainable fuels. “We are working hard in this area and hope to be able to redouble our efforts as soon as the economic crisis allows.”

Not foreseeing a great change to aircraft over the next 20 years he adds, “After that, we will see a whole new generation of aircraft and will perhaps bid farewell to the familiar winged tube with engines. What the new model will look like exactly, I have no idea, but the change will happen.”

10/7/2009 2:01:52 PM UTC    Comments 

Three new A320s have now joined the Alitalia fleet,named “Torquato Tasso”, “Niccolò Machiavelli” and “Giovanni Pascoli”, the three new aircraft will be mainly used on the Milan-Rome-Milan route.

The number of new A320 Airbus in the fleet now rises to 35. The three A320s join the six which arrived in March and the 26 already in the fleet, having joined the fleet in the past two years. A further five A320s will be delivered by the end of the year, making the Alitalia fleet one of the most modern in Europe.

The fleet renewal plan will see the arrival of a further 55 A320 Airbus for short and medium haul and 12 A330 Airbus for long haul by 2013. The new Airbus A320s, featuring the green “Environmentally Friendly” company logo, meet the most advanced international standards; they are equipped with the latest technology and the most efficient engines, with reduced noise and improved fuel consumption.

The new Alitalia Airbus fleet is top of the range also in terms of comfort and design. All the “slim” leather seats are equipped with individual LCD screens offering personalized on-board entertainment; they have also been ergonomically designed to maximise comfort and increase the space between passengers.
Always aiming at improving its service, Alitalia is also replacing all the seats on the existing 48 Airbus aircraft already in the fleet with new ones, matching the new Airbus A320 seats. Already by spring 2010, 80% of the short and medium haul aircraft will be equipped with the latest and most comfortable seats.

10/5/2009 4:50:30 PM UTC    Comments 

SWISS is set to increase its network out of northern England with the addition of two weekly direct flights from Manchester to Geneva from 20 December 2009. The new scheduled route, now bookable on swiss.com/uk from just £77 return including all taxes and free transportation of snowsport equipment, takes SWISS’s number of weekly flights out of Manchester to 26.

The new direct route to Geneva will be operated by an Avro RJ100 and is set to operate until 11 April 2010. Flights operate on Saturdays and Sundays as follows:

Saturdays
OUT: LX367 (from 26 December) leaving Manchester at 17.15 and arriving in Geneva at 20.15
BACK: LX366 (from 26 December) leaving Geneva at 15.35 and arriving in Manchester at 16.40

Sundays
OUT: LX361 (from 20 December) leaving Manchester 10.00 and arriving in Geneva 13.00
BACK: LX360 (from 20 December) leaving Geneva at 08.15 and arriving in Manchester at 09.20
 

As well as offering a direct connection to the city of Geneva itself and all its winter offerings, the new service will afford travellers access to a range of acclaimed ski resorts in the nearby area such as Les Gets, Morzine, Megeve, Chatel, Avoriaz, Chamonix, Villars and Verbier.

Gregor Koncilja, country manager UK and Ireland at SWISS, said, “We are delighted to be reintroducing connection between the UK and Switzerland, which was so popular last season. It demonstrates our commitment to both tourism in the Lake Geneva area and to our customers in northern England, north Wales and Scotland.

“We will also be offering a business class service for those who wish to travel out of Manchester in style and enjoy the benefits of our elegant business class lounge in Geneva.”

www.swiss.com/uk

10/5/2009 9:29:57 AM UTC    Comments 

Alitalia held the Grand Opening of its “Le Navi” VIP lounge located at Rome Fiumicino Terminal C today; the lounge has been completely renovated to welcome Freccia Alata Club members, Magnifica and Business passengers, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, travelling towards extra-Schengen destinations.

The refurbishment is part of a plan to redesign all the airport lounges for Alitalia’s frequent travellers; this project has already seen the complete refurbishment of the Alfieri lounge at Turin airport, of the Bellini at Catania airport, of the Bramante and Canova at Rome Fiumicino airport and of the Parini and Manzoni at Milan Linate airport. By the end of the year, two further international lounges – Borromini and Giotto – will be refurbished at Rome Fiumicino; the renovation of even more lounges will continue next year.

The Le Navi lounge, located at Terminal C, is on two levels and occupies an area of approximately 300sqm. Amongst the amenities offered to the clients are: comfortable leather armchairs, showers, national and international newspapers. Customers will receive personalized service and can use the check-in facilities in the lounge. Clients can take advantage of an exclusive work area offering comfortable seating or relax enjoying refreshments and drinks from the bar.

The overall ambience is elegant and bright, with a colour palette that makes the most of cream and light nuances. A feature plate glass window overlooks the runways at Fiumicino airport.

10/2/2009 7:14:32 PM UTC    Comments 

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Denpasar Ngura Rai Airport Bali effective 6 December. The service with be operated three times weekly. This marks the resumption of Amsterdam-Bali service, which was last operated on 15 October 1997.

The flight to Denpasar, with an intermediate landing in Singapore, will be operated with a Boeing 777-300. The aircraft can carry up to 425 passengers; 35 in World Business Class and 390 in Economy Class. Flight KL835 will depart from Amsterdam at 21:00 on Tuesdays, Fridays and

Sundays, arriving in Denpasar the following day at 20:10. The return flight, KL836, will depart from Denpasar at 21:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 08:00.

Bali is a popular destination among European holidaymakers, this is the main reason why KLM has resumed its service. Together with the daily service to Jakarta, KLM will operate a total of 10 weekly flights to Indonesia as of 6 December.  Reservations can be made as of 3 October.

10/2/2009 11:24:02 AM UTC    Comments 

Even small amounts of points bring pleasure when Finnair Plus frequent flyer customers make ticket purchases. Finnair Plus members can acquire, for any of Finnair scheduled flights, Any Seat award tickets, which are sold by combining Plus points and cash. Finnair is the first in Europe to provide the service.

“We want to offer our frequent flyers the opportunity to utilise even small amounts of points in acquiring a flight award. A particularly fine aspect of the Any Seat award is that frequent flyers can specify for themselves precisely the proportions of money and points they wish to use. The price scale is similar to that in the Plus Shops, namely customers specify the proportions of money and points that suit them best,” explains Finnair's Mikko Tuomainen, Director responsible for Finnair Plus.

Any Seat flights accumulate Plus points according to their booking class. Bookings are made via the internet booking engine after log-in. Any Seat awards apply only to Finnair scheduled flights and seats can be purchased for a one-way or return flights.

In addition to Any Seat flights, frequent flyers are also being offered two other Finnair Plus flight products: the traditional Classic flight award, which is redeemed completely with points, as well the Points + Cash offer, which is a fixed combination of points and cash and can be used only on separately specified flights.

Finnair is the Fast Airline from Europe to Asia; offering some of the best transit and flight times to 9 cities in China, Japan, India, South Korea and Thailand. Finnair fly twice daily from Manchester airport and four times daily from Heathrow in the UK via Helsinki to the Far East

10/2/2009 10:55:05 AM UTC    Comments 

According to the American Express Global Business Travel Forecast released today, pent up trip demand coupled with supply base changes are likely to cause rates to slightly increase in most travel categories by the end of 2010. Business class airfares in particular are expected to increase in line with reduced capacity and on-going business demand for international travel. The Forecast was produced by eXpert insights, the newly created research practice of American Express Business Travel’s Global Advisory Services.

“As the world begins to show signs of emerging from the recession, businesses are adapting to a fundamental shift in thinking focused on proving the value of travel and every employee connection,” said Hervé Sedky, vice president and general manager, American Express Business Travel.  “Heading into 2010, companies will need to consider the impact of these changes in mindset, particularly as projected rate increases in key travel categories gain momentum.”

Global Business Travel Forecast

A prolonged period of weak demand in the travel industry depressed prices across travel categories in 2009, most notably in hotel, which as an industry can not reduce capacity as well as airlines and car rental companies. Following this weakened demand in 2009, American Express Business Travel expects a pent up need for travel and meetings to be unleashed in early 2010. Fuel prices, along with sustained signs of a restarting economy, could also generate slight up-ticks in travel category prices worldwide, particularly in Asia Pacific next year.

“Considering airfare, hotel, and ground transportation, we expect the average domestic trip to increase 1.2 percent, or $13 USD, to a total of approximately $1,080 USD,” continued Sedky. “An increase of 2.4 percent, or approximately $67 USD, is expected for international trips to bring the average cost to $2,818. However, as unbundled and ancillary fees continue to add to the cost of trips, businesses should expect to add up to an estimated 15% to the total trip cost for air, hotel, and ground transport elements alone.”

“The 2010 Forecast clearly underscores that the complexity of managing business travel and understanding the underlying dynamics of the industry and supply base only becomes more challenging as economic conditions change and business opportunity is global,” said Christa Degnan Manning, director, eXpert insights research for American Express Business Travel Global Advisory Services. “Over the next year we will be monitoring the market closely with pricing benchmarks identifying cost-savings best practices, and supplying on-going market analysis to support companies in paying the optimal price for travel based on market conditions and desired business outcomes. A return on investment approach in travel is more important now than ever before as the economic situation changes worldwide.”

www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel

9/30/2009 9:40:30 PM UTC    Comments 

BAA Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd yesterday brought down the curtain on one of Heathrow’s oldest landmarks, as he started the demolition of the QueensBuilding to make way for the airport’s new Terminal 2. Terminal 2 will cost £1 billion, and once completed will be the home of Star Alliance at Heathrow

Sir Nigel Rudd said: “The QueensBuilding has long sat at the heart of Heathrow, but the past must make way for the future, as we prepare to construct a new home for the Star Alliance member airlines serving Heathrow. “We are proud to be rebuilding Heathrow and investing in what is undoubtedly one of the UK’s most important assets. In a few years time, Heathrow will be largely new, and passengers and airlines will be using bright, modern and practical facilities which allow us to deliver higher standards of service.”
 
Lee Hock Lye, Vice President Product and Services, Star Alliance said: “Today marks a significant step forward in our endeavour to have a home under one roof for all our member carriers at Heathrow, which will finally allow us to operate from one of the worlds largest aviation hubs on at least an equal footing with others.”
 
The new Terminal 2 will provide higher standards of facilities and customer service, and will be one of the world’s most sustainable airport buildings. For the first time, all 25* Star Alliance airlines at Heathrow will be operating in one terminal, reducing the need for transfers across the airport and a number of features will improve Heathrow’s environmental performance. Overall the Star Alliance member carriers offer 190 daily flights to 72 destinations in 41 countries for Heathrow.
 
Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the terminal with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting, without generating uncomfortable levels of heat. Solar-panels on the roof will further reduce energy consumption and a new energy centre partially fuelled by renewable resources will provide heating and cooling.
 
Terminal 1 meanwhile has been completely modernised so that Star Alliance member airlines and their passengers can enjoy the best possible airport experience. A £60 million investment has seen all areas completely refurbished in order to create a spacious, more contemporary terminal. Examples include among others, the Star Alliance branded Zone K check-in area used by five member carriers or the Star Alliance First and Business Class Lounge. Until the opening of the new Terminal 2, the Star Alliance member carriers will be operating from Terminal 1 and 3.
 
The QueensBuilding was designed by architect Frederick Gibberd, who had been commissioned by the Ministry of Transport in 1950 to create designs for what was then Britain’s newest civil airport. Originally called the EasternApexBuilding, it was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1953 and re-named in her honour.
 
The building provided space for airport and airline offices; briefing rooms, a meteorological office and facilities for the airport’s press corps. On its roof were gardens and a viewing platform, which in 1956 became one of London’s most visited attractions. At one stage, it attracted more visitors than WindsorCastle, Madam Tussauds and the Tower of London.
 
Gibberd’s designs for the then new £22 million central terminal also included an air traffic control tower and the EuropaBuilding which was eventually re-named ‘Terminal 2’. The current Terminal 2 will close at the end of 2009 so that it can also be demolished.
 

9/30/2009 12:27:36 PM UTC    Comments 

The inaugural Singapore Airlines A380 service to Melbourne, took off from Singapore Changi Airport last night and touched down at Melbourne Airport early this morning.

Melbourne is the second Australian city and sixth city in Singapore Airlines’ network to receive the A380. Singapore Airlines currently operates 21 weekly flights between Singapore and Melbourne, including the daily A380 service.

“The A380 continues to be extremely popular with our customers, as we see very positive booking response for our scheduled A380 services between Singapore and Melbourne. Since the start of its operation in October 2007, the A380 has carried more than 1.8 million customers on more than 4600 commercial flights. Our A380 customers tremendously enjoy the quiet cabin ambience, our innovative inflight products and gracious service delivered by our cabin crew. On routes with multiple daily frequencies operated with different aircraft, many of our customers will specifically choose the service that is operated by this clean and green superjumbo,” said Mr. Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President, Marketing and the Regions.

The A380 features the exclusive Singapore Airlines Suites. A private sanctuary in the sky, each Suite comes with sliding doors and adjustable roller-blinds, and a luxurious leather seat upholstered by Italy’s Poltrona Frau. Come bedtime, a full-sized bed with plush pillows and duvet is deployed for the customer by the cabin crew.

At 86 centimetres (34 inches), the Singapore Airlines Business Class seat is the widest in its class. Fully adjustable by an intuitive control panel, the seat can be adjusted to suit any seating or lounging positions. The seatback folds down easily to form a comfortable, full-flat bed. The intelligent design allows customers to lounge in bed to watch movies or TV programmes, read or dine as they would in the comfort of their own homes.

9/30/2009 9:46:11 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, has today moved into its new home at Heathrow Terminal Four where it operates three daily flights to Abu Dhabi and onward to over 55 destinations around the world.

To celebrate the move Dannii Minogue, X-Factor judge, welcomed the first passengers to use the new Etihad dedicated check-in facilities that will enhance the level of service they receive at the airport. Dannii chatted with passengers in Etihad’s new premium lounge that features individual treatment rooms where therapists from Six Senses Spa offer passengers facials, and foot and leg massages.  Etihad passengers can now relax in style in the lounge and enjoy a range of other luxurious services and facilities including five-star dining facilities with a selection of foods from around the world, all cooked in an open kitchen.
 
The new lounge, conveniently located opposite the gates most commonly used by Etihad Airways for flight departures, has a modern timber panelled business centre that provides individual workstations with Wifi and privacy for those with laptops. Other features include a prayer room, a relaxing seating area with Poltrona Frau leather chairs and bathroom and shower facilities. The lounge can be used by Etihad first and business class customers and Etihad Guest Gold and Silver card holders. 
 
Etihad Airways’ move to Terminal Four is part of a multi-million pound investment by Heathrow  that will see new shops and facilities and an increased level of comfort for passengers using the terminal.
 
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer, said: “The new Etihad check-in facilities and lounge are among the best available at Heathrow. Passengers will now receive world-class service from the moment they enter the terminal through to their flight with Etihad to over 55 destinations around the world.  Etihad is committed to delivering the best airline experience in the world and we look forward to welcoming our customers to Terminal Four.”
 
www.etihadairways.com

9/30/2009 9:12:57 AM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air will commence services from London to Najaf and Erbil in Iraq from 26 October, via its Bahrain hub. 

The airline will operate a daily service to Najaf, in southern Iraq, using an A320 aircraft.  It will operate a three times per week service to Erbil, in Northern Iraq, on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursday, which will also become a daily service in due course.  Both services have excellent connections in Bahrain with just a 45 minute transfer to Erbil and 120 minutes to Najaf. 

The launch of the Najaf and Erbil schedules from follows the successful start of flights to Iraq’s capital Baghdad on 1 September and builds upon the airline’s experience and knowledge of operating to Iraq over many years.  Gulf Air aims to become the market leader to Iraq operating regular services to three key cities within the country.

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr Samer Majali said: “On the back of the successful launch of our services to Baghdad I am delighted that Najaf and Erbil will be following close behind.  This is a great achievement for Gulf Air as we look to the future and start to target niche routes.

9/29/2009 1:27:56 PM UTC    Comments 

Iceland Express will fly out four times a week from Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport to New York City’s Newark International Airport. 

With flights from London Gatwick to Reykjavik starting at £69 one-way including taxes, British travellers will be able to fly onwards to the bright lights and big city of New York at a fraction of the cost.

“Iceland Express continues to grow for our UK customers, from our recent introduction of Akureyri as a second Icelandic destination point, to now offering a low cost alternative to traditional flights to New York,” says Matthias Imsland, Iceland Express CEO.

“This is an extremely exciting development for us. In the past, a flight to New York via Iceland was one of the cheapest ways to visit the Big Apple. By bringing back this option to the UK market, we hope to entice more consumers to choose Iceland Express, whether they want to discover the glacial beauty and vibrant culture of Iceland, or take a low-cost trip to New York.” 

Iceland Express has recently re-launched its operation from London Stansted and will be commencing flights from Birminham International Airport to Reykjavik and London Gatwick to Akureyri in summer 2010.

www.icelandexpress.com

9/29/2009 1:09:29 PM UTC    Comments 

Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest airline company, and Pegasus Airlines, Turkey’s largest privately-owned airline, have started working together. As of today, selected flights of both airlines will be listed on www.airberlin.com and www.flypgs.com, and the websites will be linked. As such, travellers will benefit from a more extensive flight offer. Using Air Berlin’s Internet portal, travellers will be able to book 17 additional connections from Germany to Turkey as well as 26 routes within Turkey. A client who decides to book one of these flights will be redirected to www.flypgs.com. In the same manner, selected Air Berlin flights within Germany and Europe as well as long-haul flights can be booked via the Pegasus Airlines website.

The cross-linking of the two websites will provide both airlines with new opportunities for growth in important markets. Joachim Hunold, CEO Air Berlin: “We are pleased with the first stage of our cooperation with Pegasus Airlines. The cross-linking of the online portals will enable Air Berlin to increase its presence in the Turkish market. In return, Pegasus Airlines will benefit from having greater access to the German market.”  Ali Sabanci, Chairman of Pegasus Airlines: “We are a perfect match. Pegasus Airlines and Air Berlin have a very strong presence in Turkey and Germany and both have changed the way our guests fly in our respective domestic markets. This cooperation is only the beginning to serving our customers better.”

9/29/2009 1:07:35 PM UTC    Comments 

Following CityJet’s take over of VLM Airlines earlier this year, London’s business airline has begun rebranding and repainting the entire VLM fleet of Fokker 50s in the CityJet livery.

The first two Fokker 50 aircraft boasting the new CityJet livery are now in operation at London City Airport, the airline’s hub.  The colour scheme was developed by a joint team of VLM Airlines and CityJet, using the design elements developed by Brand Image, the French international Brand design agency of parent company, Air France KLM.

Geoffrey O’Byrne White, CEO of CityJet stated: “Our passengers travelling via London City Airport will now be presented with just one brand name and one consistent and recognisable colour scheme, ensuring complete clarity regarding CityJet’s ex-UK offering. Since the VLM Airlines brand name will disappear after 16 years,  the first aircraft to be repainted will be named the ‘Spirit of VLM'.”

9/28/2009 1:22:54 PM UTC    Comments 

New direct flights to Rotterdam from London Gatwick go on sale this week with transavia.com, the Netherland’s largest low-fare airline.  The brand new route will operate from 2 November and flights will cost from £46 one-way, including taxes and charges.

With up to twice daily flights (twice daily on weekdays and once daily at the weekends) to the Dutch city of Rotterdam, transavia.com’s new schedule will replace the existing route from London Luton airport.  Flights will depart at convenient times for both business and leisure travellers, departing London Gatwick at 07.55 and 20.50 each day, and from Rotterdam at 7.20 and 20.15 daily.

Willem Hondius, managing director, commercial at transavia.com comments, “transavia.com is delighted to be moving to London Gatwick Airport, which is where the airline’s first non-charter operations first began 23 years ago.  It is a great way to continue the success of the London Luton route, bringing more British visitors direct to Rotterdam, a fantastic city in itself but also just a short distance from Amsterdam and the Hague.”

www.transavia.com 
 

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9/24/2009 9:58:13 AM UTC    Comments 

Cathay Pacific announces its six-day September seat sale - with fares to Hong Kong, Australia and Fiji, available to book from 25th to 30th September2009.

Hong Kong from £349 rtn
Perth from £579 rtn
Melbourne from £589 rtn
Sydney from £599 rtn
Fiji from £779 rtn (this fare available to book by telephone only)

Fares are inclusive of all taxes and charges and are valid for travel departures between 1st May to 10th June 2010. Terms and conditions apply.

www.cathaypacific.com

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9/24/2009 9:52:50 AM UTC    Comments 

Malaysia Airlines has launched low economy fares to Kuala Lumpur and other Asian, Australia and New Zealand cities with prices starting from just £399.

Fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where East truly meets West. With eclectic modern architecture and impressive colonial style buildings, the city’s air is perfumed with the intoxicating aroma of sizzling satays and floral incense. A ‘must-see’ are the landmark Petronas Towers - a shining design classic and until recently the tallest buildings in the world. Return fares from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur start from just £399.

Malaysia Airlines is also releasing low fares from London to Denpasar-Bali from £489, Phuket from £499, Perth from £649, Sydney from £679 and Auckland from £669.
 
Bookings must be made between 19 September and 5 October 2009. Travel is for selected dates 10 October 2009 - 31 May 2010. Economy fares are inclusive of all fees and taxes valid at the time of production, subject to availability at time of booking. Terms and Conditions apply.

Business class flights with Malaysia Airlines are also on sale from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur from £2,355, Bali from £2,345, Auckland from £2,635, Perth from £2,655 and Sydney from £2,665. Business class fares are available for booking until 31 October 2009 and travel until 31 December 2009.

www.malaysiaairlines.com.

9/22/2009 10:14:37 AM UTC    Comments 

Mexico's airline Mexicana, will become part of the oneworld® alliance. From November 10, 2009, Mexicana will officially start offering oneworld's full range of services and benefits from then, with its subsidiaries MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink to join oneworld as affiliate members at the same time.

Members of the MexicanaGO frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem mileage awards on all oneworld partners, who include - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas and Royal Jordanian and almost 20 affiliated airlines. Russia's leading domestic carrier S7 Airlines is also on track to join the group in 2010.

MexicanaGO Conquer and Explore cardholders will have oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status respectively and can expect new membership cards bearing the oneworld logo soon, gaining them access to some 550 airport lounges worldwide offered by the alliance's airlines from November 10.

The networks of Mexicana, MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink - covering 67 destinations and 14 countries in Central, North and South America and Europe, including 37 points in Mexico - will also be covered by oneworld's full and extensive range of alliance fares and sales products from then. For oneworld, adding Mexicana will expand the alliance's network in Mexico and Central America.

9/21/2009 2:32:59 PM UTC    Comments 

American Airlines announce a new service for passengers travelling between Manchester and New York (JFK). The new non-stop daily summer seasonal service is scheduled to begin operation on May 16th until September 30, 2010.

The new flight will complement American Airlines’ existing year-round non-stop service from Manchester to Chicago, which operates up to seven times a week. In addition to services from the north of England, American also has a large operation from London’s Heathrow with direct services to Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Raleigh/Durham, Boston, Miami, New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD).

“These new routes further demonstrate American’s commitment to the UK market and build upon our Manchester operation,” said Craig Kreeger, American’s Senior Vice President – International. “This will be our second scheduled service between Manchester and the USA and complements our Manchester – Chicago service which has been in operation for more than 20 years. We believe this new service to New York will prove equally popular providing a great connection not only to one of the world’s most exciting cities but also to the many destinations we serve from JFK.”

www.aa.com.

9/17/2009 11:31:42 PM UTC    Comments 

From December 2009, passengers travelling in Economy Class on all intercontinental flights operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines can choose seats offering greater comfort. The new Economy Comfort zone offers up to ten centimetres more legroom and back supports that can recline twice as far. What’s more, Economy Comfort passengers can also disembark quicker after landing because their seating zone is located at the front of Economy Class.

KLM will be offering the new Economy Comfort zone in response to customer demands for greater comfort and more choice in Economy Class on intercontinental flights. The Economy Comfort zone supplements the preferred seats already available at an additional charge. This development forms part of KLM’s long-term programme entitled ‘The Customer Journey’, which focuses on renewing its brand position and awarding top priority to customer demands.

KLM’s entire intercontinental fleet will be equipped with the new zone. The first aircraft have already been converted. The remaining aircraft will follow in the months ahead, enabling all passengers to choose for the Economy Comfort zone on intercontinental flights from December.

Depending on the distances involved, the price of the new zone will amount to between €80 and €150 for a single leg of the journey. Flying Blue Platinum members and passengers travelling on a full-flex Economy Class ticket can book Economy Comfort seats without a surcharge. Flying Blue Gold members will be offered a 50% discount and Flying Blue Silver members 25%. The service in Economy Comfort will be the same as that in Economy Class.

Economy Comfort seats can be booked from the end of November at www.klm.com

9/17/2009 10:56:18 AM UTC    Comments 

Portugal’s national carrier TAP Portugal could possibly be hit by operational disruptions as the union representing the airline’s pilots called for industrial action.  A strike is tentatively scheduled for 24th & 25th September 2009 should current negotiations not yield positive results.

This would cause severe disruptions, severe delays and/or flight cancellations to its customers and airline operations across the system.  Please note flights operated by TAP´s subsidiary airline Portugalia (PGA) are not affected at this time.

TAP Portugal, in its efforts to minimize inconvenience to travellers during this period, strongly advises its customers to travel on alternative dates.  Therefore TAP customers with existing and ticketed bookings that wish to change to alternative dates may do so, free of charge, subject to availability on alternative flights.

TAP senior management is doing all possible to avoid the strike by working closely with the trade union authorities and strongly believe that the issues between the two parties can be resolved without the need for a strike.

For the latest information and further assistance please check with your travel service provider or call TAP on 0845 601 0932.

9/15/2009 3:17:02 PM UTC    Comments 

Air Malta has launched a range of special offers to offer visitors the chance to enjoy a blast of autumn and winter sunshine for less.
 
Autumn Days…
Book by 30th September and visitors can travel to Malta during the month of October for just £99 return – a £17 return fare plus taxes and charges. The offer is valid for selected departures from London Heathrow and Gatwick.
 
Escape the Winter Chill…
Those seeking an escape from the onset of Britain’s winter chill can also enjoy the fantastic £99 return fare on bookings made by 14 October for travel between 5 November and 16 December 2009. The offer is valid on selected departures from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester.
 
Start 2010 in style…
Travel from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham from just £99 return between 8th January and 23 March 2010, for bookings made before 9th November 2009.
 
Air Malta offers double daily flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, a daily service from Manchester and three flights a week from Birmingham to Malta as well as four flights a week from Gatwick to Catania in Sicily. 
 
www.airmalta.com

9/14/2009 9:23:39 AM UTC    Comments 

Kingfisher Airlines, today announced that it will commence daily non-stop flights from Mumbai to Hong Kong from September 15, 2009.  Kingfisher Airlines also announced the commencement of a second route with daily non-stop flights from Mumbai to Singapore starting from September 16, 2009. The flights on both these routes will be operated using the brand new Airbus A330-200s, widely billed as the best A330s ever built for any airline.

The launch of these two new international routes marks the first time that Kingfisher Airlines is adding destinations from South East Asia to its international route network.

9/10/2009 1:25:05 PM UTC    Comments 

From 25 November 2009, Virgin Atlantic will be introducing a “piece system” across its network for all tickets booked after that date.

The changes are easy for passengers to remember:

• Economy 1 – passengers can check-in 1 bag weighing up to 23 kilos
• Premium Economy 2 – passengers can check-in 2 bags each weighing up to 23 kilos
• Upper Class 3 – passengers can check-in up to 3 bags each weighing up to 23 kilos

Virgin Atlantic is also continuing to offer a sporting bag allowances, enabling all passengers to check-in one additional bag weighing up to 23 kilos that contains sporting equipment, such as a golf bag, scuba diving equipment, or ski equipment. Virgin Atlantic is the only UK long-haul airline enabling passengers to check-in surfboards.

In addition, Flying Club Gold Card holders are entitled to take one additional bag on top of their free allowance, in any cabin. If travelling in Upper Class, this means Gold Card passengers can check-in up to four bags. 

Passengers wanting to check-in extra bags will pay for each piece, with each extra bag costing £32/US$48 if paid for online. Higher charges will apply at airport check-in.

www.virginatlantic.com

9/10/2009 10:26:19 AM UTC    Comments 

This month, Oman Air begins to unroll its programme of new European routes and exciting new onboard product. It is launching three key new European routes and introducing brand new Economy, Business and First Class cabins to its non-stop daily London Heathrow/Muscat route.
 
The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman will debut its Muscat to Frankfurt route, with four return flights a week, from September. Three return flights a week between Muscat and Munich will commence in October.
 
Four return flights a week between Muscat and Paris, Charles De Gaulle will also be introduced from October.  In addition, October will see Oman Air launch routes to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
 
The new Economy, Business and First Class cabins will follow, fitted to brand new Airbus A330 aircraft flying between Muscat and London.
 
Economy Class seats will be larger and more comfortable than their predecessors and will feature individual 10-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens.
 
Business Class seats will offer 180-degree, lie-flat beds and 17-inch IFE screens, and will be fitted in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring every passenger has aisle access. These superb seats will surpass many other airlines’ First Class products.
 
Oman Air’s new First Class product has yet to be unveiled, but will offer immense comfort, space and privacy. All three cabins will offer full connectivity and will be wi-fi-enabled.
 
Return flights from London Heathrow to Muscat currently start at just £388.20 per person, including taxes, for Economy Class, and £1,972.20 per person, including taxes, for Business Class. First Class fares have yet to be announced.

9/9/2009 5:48:37 AM UTC    Comments 

Great savings in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class on long haul, short haul and domestic bmi routes for sale 9 – 30 September 2009
Heathrow to Cairo, Damascus or Tel Aviv from just £249 return including taxes

bmi, has today launched a worldwide seat sale on flights to destinations across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Customers booking before 30 September 2009 can take advantage of fares to a range of destinations across bmi’s worldwide network. Flights are valid for travel until 25 March 2010 and are available to book now at flybmi.com. 

Long Haul offers include:

Heathrow to Cairo from just £249 return (from £850 in Business class)
Heathrow to Tel Aviv from just £254 return (from £469 in Premium class and from £693 in Business class)
Heathrow to Beirut from £379 return* (from £999 in Business class) 

Short Haul and Domestic fares include:

Heathrow to Brussels from £41 one way
Heathrow to Amsterdam from £42 one way
Heathrow to Edinburgh and Glasgow from £35 one way (from £147 in Business class)
Heathrow to Belfast City from £38 one way (from £147 in Business class)
 

Parents with children aged between two and eleven pay just 75% of the sale cost of an adult flight while those with children under the age of two who require a seat pay just 10% of the adult sale fare.**

www.flybmi.com

9/8/2009 3:35:14 PM UTC    Comments 

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) is offering its UK customers a complimentary 24 hr Copenhagen City Card when travelling on a return trip with SAS to the Danish capital during September and October. With child fares 25 per cent off the value of an adult fare, there has never been a better time to escape to Copenhagen with the family. 

The successful scheme was first launched earlier this year, giving customers a key to discover the city. The Copenhagen Card, which is valid for 24 hours and worth £27, gives holiday makers:

• Free airport transfers on the Copenhagen Metro;
• Free travel on Greater Copenhagen’s public transport system;
• Free admission to 62 museums and attractions;
• Free admission to Tivoli Gardens;
• Discounts of up to 20 per cent at participating restaurants, shops and car rental agencies.
• Comprehensive guide in English including maps

One-way Economy fares to Copenhagen from Heathrow with SAS start from just £65, from London City from £78, Birmingham from £85, Manchester from £65 and Aberdeen from £85 including taxes.

www flysas.co.uk

9/8/2009 3:34:35 PM UTC    Comments 

Buy a return flight to New Zealand and bag a bargain flight to Australia for £54. Air New Zealand is offering its passengers the opportunity to visit both New Zealand and Australia from just £779 with its special September sale fare.

From now until 5th October 2009, passengers who buy a return economy class flight to New Zealand from £725 can then bag a bargain flight to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns or the Gold Coast from just £54. 

Scott Carr, Air New Zealand's General Manager UK and Europe, comments: "Autumn is a great time for tourists to head to New Zealand. It's one of the best times to see the stunning landscape in all its autumnal glory. We are aware that times are tough and customers are shopping around for the best deals - we hope this value-for-money deal will not only inspire people to visit New Zealand but the rest of Australasia as well".

To book, visit http://www.airnewzealand.co.uk/bookings/web_specials/specials/sale-offer-to-newzealand-and-australia.htm

9/7/2009 2:30:00 PM UTC    Comments 

South African Airways offers a special fare to Johannesburg or Cape Town between 2nd September and 15th December 2009 or 11th January 2010 and 31st May 2010 from £564*.

Bookings can be done online until 25th September 2009 via www.flysaa.com

*price per person for a return flight from London to Johannesburg/Cape Town in Economy Class including taxes, charges and fuel surcharges (as of 28th August 2009) subject to change

9/4/2009 8:31:02 AM UTC    Comments 

easyJet is to reduce its flying programme at Luton by 20% and close its East Midlands base. The airline says it will move the capacity to more profitable airports and expects that most of the aircraft will be redeployed to continental European bases.

easyJet said in a statement that its plans to reduce flights at Luton are a results of the airport’s “failure to recognise the commercial realities of the recession”.

Airport costs at Luton, according to easyJet, have risen by 25% over the past three years, which makes the base no longer competitive for the carrier.

easyJet’s base at East Midlands has remained stagnant with three aircraft for many years and the company has now chosen to use thee planes on higher priority markets.

EasyJet made clear in its statement that the situation at Luton and East Midlands has been exacerbated by the rise in Airport Passenger Duty. APD in its current form, the airline says, is particularly damaging to regional airports that do not benefit from transfer passengers for whom APD is not applicable.

www.easyjet.com

9/4/2009 8:30:14 AM UTC    Comments 

Flybe, is giving customers and their families the opportunity to affordably jet off to some of its most popular destinations between October 1st and March 27th, 2010 with a ‘Just Pay Taxes & Charges’ seat sale for booking from tomorrow through to midnight on September 9th.

The limited time ‘Just Pay Taxes & Charges’ deal is open to those booking online at www.flybe.com to selected destinations that include Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Belfast City, London Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and the Isle of Man, from just £21.99 one way including taxes and airport charges.

The seat sale is perfect for those looking to bag themselves bargain flights for travel within the UK or further afield in Europe. Whether it’s a long weekend in the cosmopolitan cities of London, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle or Belfast; or a visit to Europe’s premier tourist hotspots such as Paris and Amsterdam, Flybe’s ‘Just Pay Taxes & Charges’ has something for everybody to enjoy.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “Now that people are back to work after a well deserved summer holiday, thoughts are turning to the next break away – and even to those for next year. Our ‘Just Pay Taxes & Charges’ sale is another perfect opportunity for travellers to bag a bargain flight to an attractive selection of British and European destinations.

www.flybe.com

9/2/2009 3:00:18 PM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, is to open a new premium lounge at London Heathrow airport as part of the airline’s flights moving from Terminal Three to Terminal Four on 30 September 2009.

First and business class customers and Etihad Guest Gold and Silver card holders will have access to the new lounge, conveniently located opposite the gates most commonly used by Etihad Airways for flight departures.

The lounge gives passengers an opportunity to relax in style and enjoy a range of services and facilities. These include individual treatment rooms where therapists from Six Senses Spa will offer facials, foot and leg massages. Customers can also enjoy five-star dining facilities in the lounge with a selection of foods from around the world, all cooked in an open kitchen.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “We are proud that we will soon be offering one of the best customer lounges available at London Heathrow. “Our new premium lounge at the airport represents a major investment and demonstrates the airline’s continuing commitment to deliver world-class premium products and services to its first and business class customers on the ground as well as in the air.” 

9/2/2009 6:10:04 AM UTC    Comments 

Delta Air Lines has launched its new full-flat seat that will become the standard in its BusinessElite® class on international flights served with Boeing 767-400 aircraft. Featuring 77-82 inch, 180-degree full-flat beds in a one-two-one configuration, the new seat gives every BusinessElite customer direct aisle access as well as a choice of single seats for added privacy.  The seat is now available on all flights between London’s Heathrow Airport and Atlanta, New York JFK and Detroit, and will be introduced on flights between Heathrow and Minneapolis by September 2009.

“Delta’s frequent business travelers tell us that the comfort of a flat bed seat with direct aisle access is a must-have on flights to and from London, and passenger feedback has been very positive,” said Armin Venencie, Delta’s sales director, UK & Ireland.  “The design of Delta’s new seats optimizes each passenger’s space, giving them privacy to work or relax in order to arrive at their destination ready for a day’s business.” 

Delta’s new seats feature:

Delta’s full-size pillows, quilted duvet comforters and new dinnerware.
Delta’s on-demand digital entertainment, with hours of music, videos, TV programming and games shown on a 50 percent larger screen.
PC power and USB port for charging small electronics.
Oversized consoles for every passenger, perfect for personal work space.
Personal reading light.
Shoe storage.
Ergonomic lumbar support. 

International customers flying in economy class on Delta’s B767-400 will also enjoy Delta on Demand digital entertainment, as well as printed menus and complimentary beer and wine.

8/26/2009 10:10:49 AM UTC    Comments 

AirAsia offers flights to Abu Dhabi from its hub in Kuala Lumpur from under £20.

AirAsia X, the low-cost long-haul airline which launched services to the UK earlier this year, has announced it will launch its first route to the Middle East. The airline will run five weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi from 23rd November in a move that will boost its fast growing international network.

AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani said: “This is the first step in our long term plans to expand into the Middle East, where we see a great opportunity in an untapped low-cost market. Our low fares will help to stimulate the tourism sectors in both regions with KL acting as the gateway for further travel in South East Asia."

8/19/2009 10:59:41 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways air travellers now have greater access to the American market, following regulatory approval for a new codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and American Airlines. The new codeshare agreement comes into effect this week and coincides with the launch by Etihad Airways of flights to Chicago on September 2, 2009.

The codeshare agreement extends further the two airlines’ global networks by providing easy access between Abu Dhabi and key cities in the United States including Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.

The American Airlines domestic routes within the US covered by the new codeshare arrangement will initially include flights between New York and Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as flights between Chicago and Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.

The transatlantic services include American Airlines flights between: Paris and Boston, Chicago, Miami; Dublin and Chicago; Frankfurt and Dallas/Fort Worth; Manchester and Chicago; and Milan and New York.

Customers transferring between the two carriers will be able to purchase a single ticket for their journey and enjoy the convenience of being able to check in their luggage to their ultimate destination.

8/19/2009 10:59:04 AM UTC    Comments 

Continental Airlines has announced that it plans to join Star Alliance on Oct. 27, 2009.  As previously announced, Continental will end its participation in SkyTeam after its last scheduled flight on Oct. 24, 2009.

Continental’s transition from SkyTeam to Star Alliance is a strategic change, originally announced in June 2008, that will enhance travel options and competition.  Continental’s network will have a distinct fit in Star Alliance, with Continental’s New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport playing a particularly important role for Star Alliance travelers.
 
Continental's OnePass members do not need to make any changes to their OnePass accounts and will continue to utilize their mileage as normal. Mileage balances will not be affected by the transition.

Through Oct. 24, 2009, OnePass members can continue to earn and redeem miles and make reward reservations on SkyTeam partners.

When the transition to Star Alliance occurs on Oct. 27, 2009, OnePass members will begin earning base miles and Elite Qualification Miles/Points and be able to redeem miles on Star Alliance airlines.

8/17/2009 10:33:59 AM UTC    Comments 

Botswana’s outstanding tourism destinations of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park are now even more accessible with the expansion of the Air Botswana fleet and route network. The national carrier has bought two new 68-seat ATR72-500 turbopropeller aircraft, enabling it to open up new routes and increase frequencies.

Visitors arriving in Johannesburg from all over the world transfer smoothly to Air Botswana services for their direct onward flight to Maun, on the edge of the greatest inland delta on earth, or to Kasane, gateway to Chobe, one of the most prolific wildlife areas in Africa.

These services, operating daily between Johannesburg and Maun and three times a week between Johannesburg and Kasane, give passengers the convenience of direct travel to their destinations without having to route through Gaborone.

The two Air Botswana direct services are particularly significant for the important tourism sector, which is Botswana’s second largest revenue earner after mining.

Air Botswana also operates between Maun and Kasane, providing a convenient and popular link between these premier destinations.

8/17/2009 10:02:25 AM UTC    Comments 

Following the launch of the London Gatwick to Reykjavik route, Iceland Express is making another addition to their UK schedule.

The low-fare airline has set its sights further north and is commencing a new service between Birmingham International Airport and Keflavik International Airport, Reykjavik.

 “Launching this new route is an exciting development for Iceland Express,” says Matthias Imsland, Iceland Express CEO.“We are seeing high consumer demand for travel to Reykjavik and are confident our amended schedule will be a success. 

The new route is due to kick-off during the peak summer months in 2010 and will initially run once-a-week, every Sunday, for around 13 weeks.

www.icelandexpress.com

8/14/2009 2:54:25 PM UTC    Comments 

To celebrate the launch of the new Melbourne route, Qatar Airways is offering special introductory fares for bookings made before 7 September 2009. Economy class flights start from just £599 per passenger and business class flights start from £2099 per passenger.

Bookings must be made before 7 September and are valid for travel between 6 December 2009 – 30 June 2010, excluding outbound flights during the Christmas period (11-23 December), departing from London Heathrow or Manchester. Prices include taxes.

www.qatarairways.com

8/13/2009 3:18:45 PM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air will commence services from London Heathrow to Baghdad via its hub in Bahrain on 31 August 2009.   The new service will provide the best outbound connection to the Iraqi capital available from the UK with under two and half hours connection time in Bahrain, half the transit time of the main competitor airline flying to Baghdad from LHR.

Gulf Air Chief Commercial Officer Mr Willy Boulter says: “There are currently no direct services from the UK to Baghdad and so we have ensured that our service provides excellent connectivity for our customers flying from London Heathrow via our hub in Bahrain.  We believe there will be significant demand for our services to Iraq from the UK and Europe and we strongly believe we have an opportunity to become the market leader in our operations there.   We also hope to tap into the US market with our codeshare partner American Airlines.”

He continues:  “With the addition of Najaf and Erbil to the network at the end of September and the potential for us to open two more destinations in Iraq in coming months, we want to become the No. 1 carrier to Iraq.  There is a great business potential out there as Iraq’s economy bounces back in the coming months and years.”

Gulf Air return economy fares from London to Baghdad start from £910.20 including all taxes and charges (terms and conditions apply)

www.gulfair.com

8/12/2009 5:29:06 AM UTC    Comments 

Time for cruising!  National Cruise Week is just around the corner (20 – 27 September 2009) and with range of deals on offer there has never been a better time to sail away.  Visit the home of cruising www.discover-cruises.co.uk during National Cruise Week for exclusive cruise deals and value added incentives and take advantage of what promises to be a great week for one of the most popular holiday choices today.

A record one and a half million Brits took a cruise last year with trends showing that more people are now choosing to sail from a UK port.  National Cruise Week is in its second year, and as well as fantastic offers and deals from the Discover Cruises members, National Cruise Week will see the release of the latest trends in cruise travel and celebrate travel by sea.   

Up to ten new cruises ships are set to launch this year with another 29 on order through to 2012. These include ships dedicated to the UK such as P&O Cruises’ Azura, Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse, all of which launch in 2010.

 “William Gibbons, Director of the Passenger Shipping Association commented:

“Following a very successful year in 2008, we are delighted to be announcing the second National Cruise Week  – an initiative that aims to bring cruising to even more travellers and showcase what a holiday at sea has to offer. Cruising boasts a world of opportunity and with a record number of Brits embracing cruising last year, we are pleased to report that in spite of the recession, the exceptional value of cruise holidays means they are still immensely popular. National Cruise Week celebrates that success and welcomes new-to-cruise passengers to get on board.”

www.discover-cruises.co.uk

8/12/2009 5:28:22 AM UTC    Comments 

AirAsia, the low-cost, long-haul airline which began services to the UK in March, has launched its 'Sale of the Year' offering passengers a return fare to its hub in Kuala Lumpur for £241 (inc taxes).

For those early birds seeking a bargain holiday for next year, AirAsia has slashed prices on all of its international and domestic routes - meaning Brits can fly on to exotic destinations such as Langkawi for £5, Penang for £2 and even Australia for only £29.

The airline, which recently announced it has removed admin and fuel surcharges on all of its fares, is also offering hundreds of reduced rates on hotels via goholiday.airasia.com.
 
The booking period is for a limited time only between 12th-16th August for travel between 11 January 2010 - 31 July 2010.

 Seats can be booked at www.airasia.com

8/11/2009 9:04:33 AM UTC    Comments 

The £1 billion Terminal 2 will become the new home for Star Alliance airlines and will provide an estimated 20 million passengers every year with a spacious and modern airport facility.

Mike Brown, Heathrow Airport’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “These exciting plans will be a reality for millions of Heathrow’s passengers, making every passenger journey a better one and underlining Heathrow’s pre-eminent position at the heart of international travel and the global economy.

“The new Terminal 2 is part of a major programme of work already underway. Passengers travelling through Heathrow will be using new and extensively refurbished facilities which provide us with an excellent platform from which we can provide a better service to our customers than ever before.”

The development of Heathrow’s Terminal 2 is part of a £4.8 billion investment across the airport, which will provide travellers using the UK’s hub airport with new facilities and better service.  The investment is provided at no cost to the taxpayer.

Passengers departing Terminal 2 will find 11,300m2 of floor space, accommodating self-service check-in machines, fast-bag drops, traditional check-in desks and 15 security search lanes.

In a two-level departure lounge, ten-metre high windows will provide excellent views of Heathrow’s airfield and the nine new aircraft parking stands, a third of which are configured to accommodate a new generation of aircraft such as the A380.

Terminal 2 will produce 40 per cent less carbon than the buildings it is replacing. Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the building with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting without generating uncomfortable levels of heat in the building.  Solar-gathering panels on the roof will further reduce the dependency on energy supplies. Additionally a new energy centre, partially fuelled by renewable resources, will provide heating and cooling for the building.

To minimise disruption to passengers, construction is taking place in two phases. The first stage will see the creation of a terminal building with 185,000m2 of floor space on the site of the existing Terminal 2 and Queen’s Building, both buildings are being demolished later this year. Construction on the first phase is due for completion in 2013. 

Phase two is scheduled to run consecutively and will extend the new Terminal 2 into the existing Terminal 1 site. This phase, which also includes the construction of a second satellite building, is set to increase the capacity of Terminal 2  to 30 million passengers a year. Terminal 1 will close when phase two is complete in 2019, however it will remain open throughout construction.

Terminal 2 is one element of a £2.2bn investment on the eastern part of the airport. A satellite pier for the new terminal has been under construction since 2008. It is set to provide Heathrow with 16 additional stands and will be connected via an underground link to the main terminal building. 

Steven Morgan, BAA Capital Director: “This is an exciting project, for the engineers and builders, and for our airlines and passengers.  The challenges are not to be underestimated. We are constructing a significant new building in the middle of one of the world’s busiest airports and ensuring the operating airport is not affected is an absolute priority.”

8/10/2009 9:57:03 AM UTC    Comments 

AEGEAN will  begin two daily non-stop flights to London’s Heathrow airport. The flight departure and arrival times are ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The flight schedule has been designed to allow for excellent connections with AEGEAN’s domestic destinations.

The flights to London’s Heathrow will be operated with brand new Airbus A321, in dual class configuration offering a full meal and an in-flight entertainment system with six music channels and a movie to all passengers without extra charges. Business class passengers will be able to enjoy improved seat comfort, a choice of meals, as well espresso or cappuccino.

After AEGEAN completes its process of integration and joins Star Alliance, which is expected by June 2010, the company’s goal at Heathrow is to develop partnerships with Star Alliance members such as United, US Airways, Air Canada, and Continental which fly into Heathrow, in order to offer AEGEAN’s passengers improved access to final destinations in North America. 

www.aegeanair.com

8/9/2009 11:10:49 AM UTC    Comments 

bmi, has changed its schedule on flights between Manchester and London for its winter timetable. The revised schedule will offer more convenient flight times for customers making onward connections with bmi at Heathrow to key destinations within the Middle East, such as Beirut and Tel Aviv or with Star Alliance partners to the Far East.  From October, customers can choose from seven daily flights including the new mid-morning service from Manchester to Heathrow, departing 10.50, arriving in the capital at midday.

bmi’s Managing Director, Peter Spencer said:  “The new schedule between Manchester and Heathrow demonstrates our commitment to providing a more seamless service for our customers. The rotation changes connect perfectly with our flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv at Heathrow making travel with bmi to the Middle East from Manchester smoother and quicker, while the schedule works well with our Star Alliance partners and their onward connections to the Far East. ”

8/7/2009 11:04:25 AM UTC    Comments 

Book between the 6 - 20 August and jet off to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia from just £250 return

Etihad Airways, is now offering great deals on a range of Coral Economy flights from London Heathrow to some of the airline’s top destinations, with travel until March 2010.

Travel 1 September – 31 March

• Abu Dhabi / Dubai - from £250
• Bangkok - from £390
• Johannesburg - from £420
• Kuala Lumpur - from £429

All fares are based on return travel from London Heathrow with taxes and charges included. Book between the 6 and 20 August to take advantage of these great deals.

www.etihadairways.com

8/6/2009 5:51:21 AM UTC    Comments 

easyJet has marked flying a record one million passengers out of Gatwick airport during July by rewarding the millionth passenger with free flights for a year.
 
James Wood from St John’s Wood, London, was surprised at check-in as he booked onto an easyJet flight to the popular Spanish resort of Malaga with girlfriend, Klara Levring.  easyJet general manager, Paul Simmons, was on hand to congratulate the couple with a special boarding card entitling James to free flights up until July 2010.
 
James comments: “We have been looking forward to our first holiday together in Malaga and becoming this month’s millionth passenger has got the holiday off to a fantastic start.
 
“With free easyJet flights for a year we’re already planning which countries to visit next and want to tick as many destinations as possible off our wish list! My brothers also live abroad, so it will be great to pay them a few more visits over the coming months.”
 
Paul Simmons, general manager for easyJet, adds: “We’re proud of flying one million passengers out of Gatwick in July for the first time and what better way to celebrate than rewarding our millionth passenger.
 
“James is now busy picking from more than 70 destinations to make the most of his jet-set lifestyle for the next 12 months.  We’d like to pass on our congratulations from everyone at easyJet.”

easyJet customers are also being given the opportunity to become the millionth passenger to fly out during August and win free flights for a year with the launch of the low-fares airline’s very own ‘Who Wants To Live The Million‘air’ Jet Set Lifestyle’ game on 3rd August. To play and stand a chance of winning visit www.easyjetmillionatgatwick.com

8/6/2009 5:50:02 AM UTC    Comments 

Depart 16 September 2009 for a relaxing 6 night Western Caribbean cruise on board Carnival Destiny from just £959 per person

Extend the summer and indulge the senses with a short cruise along the stunning blue waters of Florida before visiting Cozumel, Mexico, home of the world famous Palancar Reef. On shore, kick back on a sun-drenched beach or enjoy a number of seaside activities in this Mexican paradise. On board, relax and refresh with Spa Carnival with a trip to the steam room and sauna or indulge in the ultimate relaxation with a full-body massage.

Ideal for those looking for a quick getaway to rejuvenate, Carnival Destiny offers nearly 500 balcony staterooms and suites – the most of any ship operating a year-round short-cruise programme – providing an unprecedented variety in accommodation choices. Carnival Destiny offers a host of resort-style facilities and features including 18 lounges and bars, a 1,400-seat theatre featuring lavish musical productions, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, a jogging track, an Internet café and ship-wide Wi-Fi access.

www.cruisethomascook.com
 

8/4/2009 1:33:47 PM UTC    Comments 

The trend for the first six months has highlighted revenues of 1.276 billion €, 10 million passengers carried and an average load factor of 59%, in line with expectations. These results have been achieved notwithstanding a negative global market situation, which has reported a decrease of 30% in the first five months of 2009 vs. 2008, with a 40% loss for business travel (IATA data).

Also increasing is the market share, measured on the sales made by the trade. Alitalia has reached 50% on the Italian domestic market (sales made in Italy for national and international destinations) and 20% on the international market (sales made abroad towards Italian destinations), with a 7% increase compared to January 2009 and vs. the combined Alitalia and Air One results in 2008.

The progress made on the advancement of the partnership with Air France / KLM is positive, both under the industrial synergies profile and the integration of networks, through the implementation of new codeshare agreements on international and intercontinental routes.

The fleet renewal plan will see, by the end of 2013, the introduction of 75 new Airbus aircraft for short-medium haul (6 of which have already been delivered in 2009) and for long-haul; this will significantly improve the quality of the service and a reduction of the impact on the environment.

“The results for the first six months – Chairman of Alitalia Roberto Colaninno stated – although slightly lower than forecast, are actually better than expected, considering the actual critical scenario which has affected the aviation sector on a global scale.”

8/4/2009 9:43:54 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways has enjoyed its busiest month ever with more than 616,000 passengers flying onboard the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s flights during July, a nine per cent increase on passenger numbers for July 2008.

The highlight of the month was Friday 31 July when a record 21,640 passengers, with a load factor of 90.3 per cent, flew with Etihad making it the airline’s busiest day in its five year history. The last week of July saw an average of more than 20,500 passengers fly aboard its planes each day.

The month of July saw Etihad’s 900 weekly flights – a 20 per cent increase on the number of weekly flights operated in July 2008 – fly at an average of 88 per cent full across first, business and economy cabins.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “The record-breaking passenger numbers we have experienced in July demonstrate that, despite the current economic challenges, Etihad continues to attract high volumes of traffic across all three cabins on our global network of more than 50 destinations. “Whilst we expected July to be busy we are delighted to have beaten our previous records, especially during the final week of the month when we carried more than 20,500 passengers each day. We now look forward to building upon this for the remainder of the summer holiday period and into the Holy Month of Ramadan.”

8/4/2009 8:58:30 AM UTC    Comments 

As UK businesses attempt to cut travel budgets in the wake of the recession, AirAsia X has looked to attract business customers by today announcing a £350 fare for its Premium seats from London to Kuala Lumpur.

The long-haul, low-cost extension of AirAsia, allows them to reach South East Asian destinations in business style comfort for a fraction of the price they would normally pay.

Kuala Lumpur is increasingly seen as Asia's main business hub, offering tax incentives to organisations looking to situate themselves in the city. Over the years, the Malaysian government has put in place a series of policies and incentives to make trade and investment easy and reliable for foreign investors, attracting global players like Motorola, Dell, Hewlett Packard, General Electric and Intel.  In addition, most of Kuala Lumpur’s citizens use the English Language when doing business.

The offer which runs this week sees £350 Premium seats available on London Stansted-KL flights from this month right through to May 2010.

The AirAsia network also links low fare into key Asian business hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

www.airasia.com

8/3/2009 7:33:18 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, announced that its London Heathrow operations will move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 on Wednesday 30 September 2009.

Check in facilities and ground handling staff for its three daily flights EY012 departing 09.10, EY020 departing 14.40 and EY018 departing 21.20 will be located at Terminal 4.

The transfer of flights will see enhanced facilities for Etihad’s passengers at Terminal 4, which include a new premium lounge as well as improved check-in areas, including a designated check-in zone for its premium customers.

www.etihadairways.com

7/30/2009 2:02:32 PM UTC    Comments 

On Wednesday 5th August, Blue1 and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will transfer all their operations to Terminal 1 at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, as Star Alliance moves under one roof in Helsinki. Completely renovating its facilities, Terminal 1 will provide easier and more efficient travel for Blue1 and SAS passengers.

Blue1 and SAS operate approximately 50 daily flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to more than 20 domestic and international destinations, all of which will be relocated to Terminal 1. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is Blue1’s main hub and the busiest airport in Finland.

A total of 12 airlines will be relocated to Terminal 1 including Austrian Airlines, LOT, Lufthansa and TAP Portugal as well as future member Brussels Airlines. 

The remodelling of Terminal 1 will benefit travellers, as the compact-sized terminal will mean all facilities and functions will be nearby. Transferring to connecting flights will be easier and likewise luggage handling will be made more efficient, with all the Star Alliance members under the same roof. Most renovations will be finished by 5th August, whilst all the services and operations will be ready during late autumn.

A new feature at Terminal 1 will be the completely remodelled SAS Business Lounge, for both domestic and international flights, which will be relocated to the gate area at Terminal 1 in October. Another new feature will be a separate Fast Track security check for Blue1 and SAS business passengers, to be launched in the autumn. The Blue1/SAS service desk will also be relocated from the connecting aisle between the terminals to the basement of Terminal 1, to be closer to passengers.

Using the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport as its main hub is an important step for Blue1 in relocating its flights, as well as the flights of its main partners to Terminal 1. Johanna Jäkälä, Director Product Concepts & Service Delivery, responsible for the Blue1 terminal change, comments, “When Terminal 1 has been completely refurbished in the autumn, with all its facilities and functions, our passenger service will be on a completely new level”.

www.flysas.co.uk

7/30/2009 2:01:19 PM UTC    Comments 

Following this week’s summer forecast blooper from the Met Office, low fares airline easyJet is helping Brits looking to escape the rain with cut price flights from just £10.99 including tax.

Paul Simmons, easyJet UK general manager says: “Since hopes for a BBQ summer in the UK were dashed this week we’ve experienced a surge in visitors to our website as people are desperate for some guaranteed sunshine. “As a result, we’ve launched an end of season sale which means you can jet off to sunnier climes for less than the cost of a takeaway meal.

“The recent heavy rain has already led a huge number of visitors seeking the best bargains to easyJet.com – the most popular recent bookings including Barcelona, Nice, Malaga, Palma and Paris.”

The ‘end of summer sale’ begins on Friday (31 July), and will take £10 off over half a million seats. That means some domestic flights are on sale from just £2.99 and international fares from £10.99 (single inc taxes).

Discounts are available on UK domestic and international flights travelling between 1st of September and 30th November giving the British public the opportunity to enjoy the sun or explore a new city for less.

Among the deals on offer are single fares from Inverness to Bristol priced at £2.99, Jersey to Liverpool from £5.99, and Inverness to Gatwick for just £6.99. International flights start at £10.99 including taxes with lowest priced routes including Bristol to Milan, Gatwick to Gibraltar and Bristol to Milan.

7/30/2009 2:00:39 PM UTC    Comments 

Lufthansa has posted an operating profit of eight million euros for the first six months of 2009. The Group has therefore not been able to match the good results of the previous years during the current business year. The causes for the decline in earnings lie in the economy-related weaker demand and the altered travel behaviour of the passengers. Business travellers in particular, have increasingly been buying tickets in the cheaper booking classes, leading to a significant slide in average yields during the first half of the year. “Lufthansa has made provisions and is holding its course against the competition in highly challenging conditions. This is a strong performance by all of the employees in the Group; however, we still cannot be satisfied with this result”, commented Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Chief Financial Officer Stephan Gemkow, speaking at the presentation of the first-half results.

“Lufthansa is a strong company and Lufthansa and SWISS belong to the best airlines in the world. We are fully determined to remain the best – also in a time of crisis and in significantly changing competition. We are acting now in order to ensure success”, stressed Stephan Gemkow. He went on to add that the Group was continuing to operate in a challenging environment that could also lead to expect a significant decline in revenue for the full year 2009. Despite these challenging conditions and the burdening effect of the new airlines on the result of the Group, its activities had continued to target an operating profit for the current business year. Gemkow however pointed out that achieving this target would require the timely implementation of the planned additional measures to safeguard earnings and would be accompanied by major risks, particularly in the form of the further development of demand and fuel prices. 

www.lufthansa.com/investor-relations.

7/30/2009 7:58:53 AM UTC    Comments 

Thanks to Malév’s new commercial strategy, the airline’s passenger traffic once again began to rise from April. Despite the reduction in turnover characteristic of the industry in the current economic recession, Malév registered growth of 8% in its traffic in the second quarter of 2009. The Hungarian carrier is one of only a few European airlines capable of increasing passenger numbers. 

At the beginning of this year Malév established its commercial strategy on new foundations, focusing on the airline’s key markets, promotions aimed at new passenger segments, exploiting the network model and boosting market share as well as load factor.

“Our new proactive commercial policy has proved effective even in the middle of the economic downturn. In April, Malév was able to turn around the trend in falling turnover generally typical of European network airlines and it has upped its passenger numbers. This growth did not stop in May or during the summer, meaning that in the months of April, May and June there was an average increase of 8% in the number of Malév passengers against the previous year. In the first three weeks of July the level of traffic growth was 7%. We are also happy that we managed to increase our market share in Hungary with 3.2% in the second quarter of the year. Reservation data also show an upward trend in the coming months.” – said Karim Makhlouf Chief Commercial Officer at a press conference in Budapest. 

Malév is particularly concentrating on those markets of crucial importance from the point of view of passenger numbers and revenue, in other words, those destinations that until now have generated the most customers and greatest revenue for the carrier. The most important routes are primarily West and North European cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels and Frankfurt. Besides these, the Athens, Bucharest and Tel Aviv services also bear considerable significance. Malév is devoting significant attention to these markets besides Hungary and it has amplified its marketing and sales activities here.

Malév has increased its market share in Hungary with 3.2% to 43.4%, which is primarily a result of the increase of the traffic between Budapest and Western Europe, as well as between destinations in Northern or Western Europe and Eastern Europe or the Middle East.

7/30/2009 7:58:12 AM UTC    Comments 

Following BA’s announcement this week that it will no longer offer meals on short-haul flights, bmi, today reconfirmed its commitment to offer food on all domestic and European routes.

bmi’s Managing Director, Peter Spencer, commented: "It’s interesting to see that BA has decided that removing inflight catering should be part of its ongoing cost cutting programme.  At bmi, as a contrast, we will continue to offer our customers a choice of catering plus outstanding value fares and the best customer service in the industry.  Every airline has to operate cost effectively but we don’t believe stripping away customer benefits is the right strategy.” 

“bmi continues to be a major force in domestic flying and as the second largest airline flying out of Heathrow we offer a value for money service in contrast to BA’s cost cutting and the low-cost carrier alternatives.”

The importance of bmi’s dining offering was also underlined in June this year when the airline opened the doors to its new international lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow where a range of delicious food is available including steaming hot soup from a stunning custom-made black Aga. 

www.flybmi.com

7/29/2009 10:02:29 PM UTC    Comments 

SAS offers a great 25% child discount (for children aged 2-11) between the UK and Scandinavia. What’s more, all passengers booking a return flight from London Heathrow to Stockholm between 1 August and 30 September also qualify for a free five day Stockholm archipelago Island Hopper card, worth £29. 
 
Heathrow to Stockholm: Adult return fares from £133, child return fares from £119*

Heathrow to Copenhagen: Adult return fares from £124, child return fares from £113 *

Heathrow to Oslo:  Adult return fares from £167 child return fares from £144*

* Prices are inclusive of taxes and charges, are available during August, but are subject to availability.

www.flysas.co.uk

7/28/2009 10:50:14 PM UTC    Comments 

Qatar Airways has announced a significant increase in the number of flights to key European capital cities as part of its aggressive expansion programme to improve frequencies and offer passengers greater choice.

Following the recent decision to add three flights on the Doha–Paris route to make it a DOUBLE DAILY operation from October, Qatar Airways is adding capacity to Madrid, Athens and Stockholm – representing a near 40 per cent increase in frequency across the four cities.

The Spanish capital Madrid will see an increase in the number of flights from the current four-a-week to DAILY, effective December 2, which marks the fourth anniversary of Qatar Airways’ launch on the route. Qatar Airways is the only airline flying between the Gulf region and Spain.

The Athens route, launched in June 2005, is currently being served daily. Capacity is to rise over a five-month period beginning in October, with an eventual increase to DOUBLE DAILY services from March 2010.

Stockholm will see its first frequency increase since flights to the Swedish capital were launched in November 2007.
 
Also beginning October 25, the start of the Northern Winter schedules, the Paris route will see capacity rise from 11 to 14 flights a week offering passengers the option of a double daily service for the first time.

Each of the European cities offers passengers with excellent connections via Doha to a wide network of business and leisure cities across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and the Far East. With new routes being launched to Amritsar, Goa and Melbourne over the next five months, the additional European capacity will offer even more connecting opportunities.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the additional frequencies demonstrated the airline’s commitment to offer passengers greater choice. “We are constantly looking at ways to offer our passengers improved levels of service, more choice and more connections across our global network,” he said.

www.qatarairways.com

7/27/2009 3:25:09 PM UTC    Comments 

Book before 3 August and jet off to the Middle East, Asia and Australia from just £249 return

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, is now offering several sensational summer deals on a range of economy, business and first class flights from London Heathrow to some of the airline’s top destinations.

Scorching Summer Deals:

Coral Economy
Abu Dhabi / Dubai from £249
Mumbai from £269
Delhi from £285
Bangkok from £359
Kuala Lumpur from £369

Pearl Business
Abu Dhabi /Dubai from £1049
Sydney from £2559
Diamond First from £2149
Sydney / Melbourne from £3849

All fares are based on return travel from London Heathrow with taxes and charges included. For economy flights, book before 5 August with travel between 1 September and 30 November. Booking for business and first class flights ends on 3 August with travel between the 1 and 30 September.
 
www.etihadairways.com 

7/27/2009 11:04:30 AM UTC    Comments 

Air Europa offers agents an alternative way for holidaymakers to reach Palma de Mallorca.

The beautiful island of Majorca attracts holidaymakers from around the world with its mix of picturesque beaches, vibrant nightlife, family-friendly hotels and cultural delights. 

Air Europa offers an alternative and affordable way to travel to the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca. Daily flights from London Gatwick take passengers to Madrid, then onto Palma de Mallorca after a short connection time. 

Air Europa is Spain’s second largest airline and whether passengers stop for a few days in Madrid or travel straight through to Palma de Mallorca, they’ll feel the Spanish influence from the moment they take their seats. 

The lead in fare for London Gatwick to Palma de Mallorca (via Madrid) is £41 return excluding taxes.

www.aireuropa.com

7/27/2009 11:02:26 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will begin services from its Abu Dhabi home-base to the South African city of Cape Town on 30 September 2009.

The new Cape Town flights will operate via Etihad’s current daily, Airbus A330, service to South Africa’s commercial capital Johannesburg.

It will be Etihad’s second destination in South Africa and its fifth on the African continent, joining Khartoum, Cairo and Casablanca.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Etihad Airways is committed to expanding its flight network across the world and we are delighted to add flights to Cape Town to our schedule from September. In the coming 12 months demand for flights to South Africa will grow immensely, especially with the 2010 FIFA World Cup next summer.

Etihad started flights to Johannesburg in December 2005 and it has since then established itself as one of the airline’s most successful destinations.

It is expected that the new Cape Town service will be welcomed by the South African expatriate community living in the UAE which now stands at approximately 40,000 people.

Many more South African nationals live across the Middle East region and also will be able to connect quickly and easily back home via Abu Dhabi.

It is also anticipated that many leisure travellers will fly to Cape Town with Etihad’s new service. 

7/23/2009 8:02:13 AM UTC    Comments 

Children flying with Alitalia only pay airport taxes and charges

This special promotion at £0 fare applies to all children tickets issued until 10 August 2009, for travel until 28 March 2010

Offer conditions:
• Offer is valid for a maximum of two children (2-11 years) or one infant (0-2 years) and one child (2-11 years) travelling with one
adult
• Offer is valid on one way and return tickets
• Offer is valid for travel between London and Italy and between Italy and the following destinations: Algiers, Athens, Barcelona,
Cairo, Casablanca, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Malta, Munich, Skopje, Tirana, Tripoli, Tunis, Valencia and Warsaw
• Offer is applicable to all public fares, except for business class and promotion

£13 off every ticket purchased on Alitalia.co.uk

Escape to Italy and enjoy the glorious sunshine for less, saving £13 on every ticket purchased on Alitalia.co.uk

All you have to do is to insert the code UKSUMMER09 in the e-coupon field during the booking process.

All offer conditions can be found on Alitalia.co.uk:
• Offer applies to tickets purchased between 22 July and 31 August 2009 for travel until 31 October 2009
• To receive £13 discount, the code UKSUMMER09 has to be inserted in the “e-coupon” field during the booking process

www.Alitalia.co.uk

7/23/2009 7:56:32 AM UTC    Comments 

KLM Flying Blue members have the option of buying extra Flying Blue Award Miles. The Extra Miles can be used as a gift for friends, or to top up a shortage of Miles when booking a dream trip. The Award Miles can be purchased online in multiples of 2,000 up to a maximum of 40,000 Miles per calendar year.

Herbert Verschuren, Director Flying Blue: “The opportunity for our participants to now buy Extra Miles represents a great expansion of the Flying Blue loyalty programme. As a result, we can offer even better service and greater flexibility. The topping-up service is especially valued. Because topping up takes place in ‘real time’, customers can obtain the right number of Miles for the booking.”

The Extra Miles retain their validity providing the FB member takes a paid flight with KLM, Air France or one of our partner airlines every 20 months. The Miles purchased are seen as Award Miles and therefore do not count towards determining the membership level (Ivory, Silver, Gold or Platinum).

7/23/2009 7:46:52 AM UTC    Comments 

Thousands of UK motorists have car accidents while abroad and driving on unfamiliar roads. This can cost travellers thousands of pounds to bring their vehicles home and can also result in serious injury or worse. Europ Assistance, a leading UK travel insurance and motor assistance company, has issued this stark warning and highlights accident hot spots, as many start the great summer getaway.

“Turkey, Latvia and Portugal are the most dangerous European countries in which to drive*. Motorists need to take care in these hot spots,” says Paul Everett, Director of Sales and Marketing, Europ Assistance, UK. “We have also put together some basic but essential tips to help drivers abroad.”

The company is offering customers a handy guide to continental motoring online at www.europ-assistance.co.uk.

Europ Assistance advises motorists to make sure they are covered for continental motoring in addition to their UK cover.  If their standard UK policy does not allow for journeys abroad, they should extend their cover to ensure that it includes breakdown whilst in Europe.  Customers should also consider whether they are covered for their journey to and from the ferry port.  If for any reason they are unable to take their vehicle abroad, they can benefit from a hire car for the duration of the holiday. Many companies also offer a combined breakdown and travel insurance package.

* Geneva’s International Road Federation Survey, source: Moto Europa

7/22/2009 4:19:10 AM UTC    Comments 

Qatar Airways has upgraded Qmiles.com, its Privilege Club website for frequent flyer members to offer increased benefits for the airline’s most loyal customers.

Members can now instantly redeem their accrued Qmiles through simply booking and issuing their award tickets online at Qmiles.com.

The enhancement allows Privilege Club members to check the availability of award seats for the month of the requested date of travel and for upcoming months. This makes the redemption process faster and more transparent for the customer and offers more options to decide when to travel and redeem Qmiles.

The site allows customers not only to book, but also to pay taxes online and to receive an e-ticket, which can easily be printed at home or in the office. 

The new facility offers Privilege Club members who have accrued sufficient Qmiles to redeem an award ticket and to combine different cabin classes of their journey. For instance, on a flight from London to Singapore, the customer can choose to fly in First Class from London to Doha, and connect onwards from Qatar Airways’ hub in Economy Class to its final destination of Singapore.

Furthermore, if members do not have sufficient Qmiles for their desired award ticket, the new booking engine will offer them the opportunity to purchase additional ones.

With the enhanced Privilege Club website, Qatar Airways has yet again taken a major step towards increasing passengers’ travel experience making it not only rewarding, but also hassle-free and more convenient as award tickets can now be booked and paid online from the comfort of one’s home or office.

But there are even more benefits for Privilege Club members, as they can now choose to redeem their awards tickets using Qmiles plus Cash. This allows members to redeem their award tickets using part Qmiles and part Cash option.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the airline had won tremendous amount of support over the years from the Privilege Club loyalty programme.

“The upgraded Privilege Club website positions us among the leading airline loyalty programmes in the Middle East with the high value it offers members and the breadth of product choices,” he said.

Qatar Airways’ Frequent Flyer Programme regularly runs promotions as a thank you to Privilege Club members and has established itself as one of the most generous loyalty schemes in the world. Privilege Club members earn Qmiles every time they fly Qatar Airways or when they use any of the services of programme partners, including co-branded credit cards, hotels and partner airlines.

7/20/2009 4:41:35 PM UTC    Comments 

Avis Rent A Car  has scoured the UK as part of its Best of British (BOB) campaign to bring you its guide to great days out, helping to keep the children entertained during the long school summer holidays. 

With temperatures set to soar this summer, put down those Wii remotes and pack some suncream - Avis has some great deals on car rental with selected locations offering cars from just £15 a day to help you get out and about. 

From rock-pooling in Dorset to daring the dungeons in Edinburgh, there’s something for every family, easy to reach by car and to suit all budgets:

Best for outdoor adventure

For a family fit for adventure, head to Dorset’s Moors Valley Country Park and explore its tree-lined trails on foot or by bicycle. Or for those wanting more of a challenge, why not sign up for a tree-top adventure? Get yourself harnessed and prepare for rope bridges, Tarzan swings, scramble nets and ladders - the Go Ape challenge will really put you through your paces.

Best for battle-troopers

Bring battleships to life by heading down to The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent.  Explore three warships – the Victorian sloop Gannet, World War-II destroyer Cavalier and the Cold-War submarine, Ocelot, before discovering The Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s historic collection of 17 lifesaving vessels.

Best for rock-pooling

Best for rook-pooling, Devon’s Shoalstone beach is a family favourite.  This shingle rock beach is a minefield of rock-pools, home to secretive sea creatures seeking sanctuary until the next tide.  During the summer months, it is manned by lifeguards, so swimming in the 25 metre sea water swimming pool is safe with care.

Best for car buffs

If you have a budding Jeremy Clarkson in the family then you should head down to Beaulieu in  Hampshire for the day.  Its world-famous National Motor Museum showcases over 250 vehicles taking you through the motoring ages. Between the James Bond experience, veteran bus ride and go-karting there’s something for the whole family to enjoy!

Best for re-living fairytales

The Beatrix Potter Trail set within the idyllic Lake District is truly breathtaking.  Explore the scenes where our childhood favourites Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkins’ tales unravelled.  Between the lakes and the trees, prepare yourself for a trip full of adventure and fresh air.

Best for getting ahead at school

It may sound like homework, but a trip to Hampton Court Palace will not only help you get to the top of your class but you’ll be in danger of having one of the best days of your holidays too!  Try to memorise all of Henry’s wives whilst attempting to conquer the maze created in 1702! Don’t miss the vast Tudor kitchens; here 800 meals were produced twice a day, so no more complaints from Mum please.

www.avis.co.uk

7/20/2009 10:31:05 AM UTC    Comments 

Grab a flight with Germanwings and discover Cologne or Stuttgart at a bargain price for a limited time only.

Book between Thursday 16th July at 11.30am until Sunday 19th July at 23:59pm and take advantage of 500,000 low cost tickets.

Travel between 26th July 2009 and 27th March 2010 to take advantage of some of the fantastic cultural events that take place in these historical cities, including “Bierbörse”, the travelling beer festival that comes to Cologne for three days in August.

The festival, which derives from the German folk-festival but with a focus on beer, attracts more than 1000 beers from 75 countries, thus making it a dream come true for the most discerning beer pundit.

Cologne is Germany's oldest city and its innumerable cultural and historical treasures are just waiting to be discovered. Home to the legendary “kölsch” blonde beer, the city is vibrant yet uncomplicated. Cologne has many beer halls, world-renowned art galleries and a chocolate factory, offering something for everyone.

www.germanwings.com

7/17/2009 9:15:06 AM UTC    Comments 

Book before 21 July and escape to the Middle East, Asia, South Africa and Australia from just £248 return. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is offering bargain bank holiday deals from London Heathrow to some of the airline’s top destinations.

Etihad summer holiday bargains:

• Dubai from £248
  
• Johannesburg from £389
  
• Bangkok from £384
  
• Melbourne from £664

All fares based on return travel from London Heathrow airport and include taxes and charges. Book before 21 July for travel from 1 August to 30 November 2009*.

www.etihadairways.com

7/17/2009 9:10:55 AM UTC    Comments 

The cost of using a debit or credit card to book flights with some airlines has gone up by over 600 per cent in 18 months*, according to new research from Which? Holiday.

Ryanair charges 614 per cent more than it did 18 months ago for debit card transactions**, increasing fees from 70p to £5 per person each way, while using a credit card has gone from £2 to £5 per person each way.

It now costs 471 per cent more to use a debit card*** to pay for a flight with Wizz compared to 18 months ago.  In February 2007 the fee levied for using a debit card was 70p per person each way, but the airline now charges £4 per person each way.

Thomas Cook UK now charges £10 per booking for using a debit card and First Choice customers pay £2.50, when 18 months ago neither airline levied a charge.

Which? Holiday found that it’s not all bad news for consumers, however.  18 months ago,  bmiBaby levied a one per cent charge for paying with a debit card, but now there’s no charge.  Virgin Atlantic has changed its policy to charge 1.3 per cent of the total booking for credit card payments, instead of £3 per person.  On a booking costing £300 for two adults this amounts to a saving of over £2.  BA doesn’t charge for using a debit card to pay for flights.

Some airlines also have a policy of not charging a fee for using a Visa Electron card****.

Lorna Cowan, editor or Which? Holiday, says: “We understand that there is a charge to airlines for taking payment for flights with debit or credit cards and that this cost will be passed on to consumers.  But how can some of these airlines justify charging over 600 per cent more than they did 18 months ago?

“The amount charged by the airlines should be reflective of the costs incurred by them.  This does not appear to be the case with current charges, and we are concerned that airlines may be using them as a way of boosting profits.”

Notes
* Figure based on a fictional total flight price of £300 for two adults, and using data from October 2007 and May 2009.
** Excluding Visa Electron
*** Solo and Maestro charge £2 per person each way
**** Easyjet, First Choice, Flybe, Jet2, Monarch, Ryanair and Thomson Airways do not charge for using Visa Electron.

7/17/2009 8:13:05 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, has opened its new premium lounge in Frankfurt, Germany, its first one outside the UAE.

Conveniently located opposite the gates most commonly used by Etihad for the departure of its flights, the 275 square metre lounge can cater for up to 50 premium passengers in a world-class setting.

The luxurious lounge opens three hours prior to the departure of Etihad Airways flights, giving passengers an ideal opportunity to relax in style and soak up a whole range of services and facilities.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “This is a significant milestone in Etihad’s development and we are proud to be opening up this new lounge in Frankfurt which demonstrates another step forward in our commitment to deliver products and services which are of the highest possible standards.

“Our new facility offers a luxurious lounge area in a truly superb environment that will provide Etihad’s premium customers with a range of entertainment options if they want them, or plenty of other ways to simply sit back and enjoy some relaxation prior to boarding their flight.”

Customers are offered five-star dining facilities in the lounge with a selection of foods from around the world all provided in the ‘live’ kitchen.

Etihad Airways provides a complimentary limousine service for its first and business class passengers flying into and out of Frankfurt airport.

The launch of the premium lounge in Frankfurt follows the successful opening earlier this year of Etihad’s new passenger facilities and premium lounges at Terminal 3.
 
www.etihadairways.com

7/16/2009 8:12:58 AM UTC    Comments 

One year on since the world's airlines began to curb their seat capacity in the face of global economic pressures, the cutbacks are starting to stabilise with just over 315 million seats on offer this month, a drop of just one percent over July 2008 levels, reports OAG, 

David Beckerman, vice president OAG Market Intelligence, said, "Airline capacity is often cited as a barometer of economic confidence.
Carriers adjust their fleet and services in anticipation of market demand for air travel, which is vulnerable to corporate cost management and to disposable income of leisure travellers at times of financial uncertainty. 

"The OAG figures, which amalgamate the planned operations for airlines worldwide, show a clear and very welcome upward trend from the dramatic declines we have seen in recent months.  We can only wait and see if this outlook bears financial fruit in actual passenger numbers and airline load factors."

The world's airlines have scheduled a total of 2.55 million flights for July 2009, down by 3% compared with the same month last year, with a drop in capacity of 3.3 million fewer seats on offer to travelers around the globe. Last month, the year-on-year global frequency and capacity figures were down by 4% and 2% respectively. 

7/15/2009 4:25:37 PM UTC    Comments 

Blue1, A Finnish member airline of the SAS Group is offering passengers excellent deals on flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki this summer; fares start at £59 one-way including taxes if booked between 17-20 July 2009.

Helsinki is a modern European city of culture that is famous especially for its design and high technology as well as the famous midnight sun during the summer months. The city’s music and fashion offerings have also put Finland’s capital on the world map.

Helsinki is the perfect get away this summer, this brilliant flight deal coincides with the Helsinki Festival (August 24 – September 9).  This is the most diverse event in the Finnish cultural calendar and this year it celebrates its 40th anniversary.  It’s an ensemble of international music, art, dance, drama and films.  This year’s headline acts include classical music legend Pierre Boulez with InterContemporain, while Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson duet together and there is a flamenco inspired version of the classic, Pippi Longstocking, for the kids.

Flights need to be booked between 17 -20 July 2009 for travel between 1 August - 30 September 2009 to take advantage of this great offer.

To book with SAS visit www.flysas.co.uk

7/15/2009 4:20:13 PM UTC    Comments 

Building a third runway at Heathrow would add £30 billion to the UK economy, according to a new study published today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The report, entitled Economic Impacts of Hub Airports, forecasts that building a third runway at the airport would deliver between £8.6bn and £12.8bn in increased productivity, and approximately £20bn in wider economic benefits, such as higher levels of employment. Some 60% of this benefit is predicted to be outside London and the South East.

The research, which was conducted by leading economics and transport consultancy Colin Buchanan on behalf of the BCC, reveals that each year the building of a third runway is delayed the country loses between £900m and £1.1bn.

By reducing delays and increasing the frequency of flights, a third runway would save business passengers time and increase their productivity. Passengers would also benefit from flights to new destinations, removing the need to wait for transfers at airports outside the UK.

The wider economic benefits include direct and indirect increases in employment and gains to London as an international business location adding to its ability to recruit highly skilled people from around the world.

The £20bn of wider economic benefits over 60 years would be in addition to the £3.8bn forecast to arise from the High Speed 1 rail line (the Eurostar line) and the £10bn estimated for high speed rail (High Speed 2) from London to the North of England.

The study highlights the extent to which Heathrow’s shortage of capacity is leading it to fall behind Continental competitors, such as Schiphol and Frankfurt. Over the last 20 years, Heathrow has fallen from being the leading airport in Europe by destinations served to fifth place.

Meanwhile, the number of UK regional cities it serves has fallen from 21 to six, with the result that UK passengers are now effectively subsidising hubs in Continental Europe. The airport has also been left behind by its rivals in serving the growing BRIC economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The report notes that a key benefit of a hub airport is that it can sustain a large network of routes with far lower levels of traffic than would be needed to support a point to point network of similar size. Heathrow’s transfer passengers mean that UK residents and businesses have access to more direct destinations, more frequent flights and lower fares.

Commenting David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“This comprehensive study clearly outlines the economic benefits of expanding Heathrow – an important part of the debate which too few people fully understand.  Connectivity is vital to the UK economy as businesses seek to develop new global opportunities that will allow them to generate wealth and jobs. Without additional capacity at our major hub airport, we will continue to fall behind our Continental competitors.  The age old phrase ‘time is money’ is apt as we look for solutions going forward. We must invest now to safeguard our economic future or we risk wasting £30 billion fumbling around for an alternative.”
                         
Commenting Richard Lambert, Director General, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said:

“We support the creation of a third runway at Heathrow, which will increase capacity, and is important for the long-term future of the UK economy. We therefore welcome this contribution to the debate, which sets out the economic benefits for the country.”

Commenting Brendan Barber, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress (TUC) said:

“This is an important report. By making clear the business benefits of airport expansion it backs up the TUC’s view that, within very strict environmental limits that are rigorously scrutinised and enforced, it can help safeguard jobs and the UK economy. Doing nothing is not an option. Without a third runway, the UK will fall further behind our competitors, losing jobs to the bigger and more robust hub airports elsewhere in Europe.”

Commenting Tony Woodley, General Secretary, Unite the Union said:

“My members welcome this report.  An expanded Heathrow operating within very strict environmental limits is vital if we are to safeguard jobs in the UK and ensure we continue to compete and trade with the rest of the world – particularly the new emerging market of Brazil, China, India and Russia.  Today we stand at a crossroads where we can take the difficult decision and expand Heathrow and compete or not expand and begin the slow decline of steadily losing destinations served by Heathrow and the jobs that are associated with them. This reports clearly flags up the cost of not expanding Heathrow and estimates it to be about £1bn per year. To recover from the biggest banking crisis since the 1930s we can ill afford not to expand Heathrow.”

Commenting Miles Templeman, Director General, Institute of Directors (IoD) said:

“Based in an island trading nation, UK businesses understand that a world class hub airport, with connections to all parts of the globe (not just holiday destinations) is vital for our future prosperity.  Heathrow expansion is an emotive issue, but it is important that the pros and cons – including its environmental impact - are discussed properly and rationally.  This report makes an interesting and valuable contribution to that debate.  The figures speak for themselves.  The key question for me is can we afford the cost of £1bn per year of not building a third runway at Heathrow?”  

7/13/2009 7:15:36 PM UTC    Comments 

Eurostar is starting its weekly direct service on Saturday 11 July to Avignon, in the heart of the Provence region of southern France.  It will be the eight successive year Eurostar will be running the service which takes less than six hours from London St Pancras International (and less than five and a half hours from Ashford International). Tickets are available from £99 return in standard class and £249 in Leisure Select.

The direct service will run every Saturday from London St Pancras International and Ashford International from 11 July to 5 September 2009.

Avignon Centre Station is the city station and is distinct from Avignon TGV station, which is on the TGV Med high-speed line. A shuttle bus operates between the two stations, which runs about every 20 minutes and takes approximately 10 minutes. Cost is approximately 3 euros for a single journey.

Tickets for the Avignon direct summer service and for connecting services all year round are available from

www.eurostar.com

7/10/2009 12:23:13 PM UTC    Comments 

Dubai’s reputation as a pioneering destination is based on its ability to distinguish itself through constant innovation and its multitude of unique, world-class experiences. And, this autumn the emirate’s world-renown will further be consolidated with its latest ground-breaking project: the Dubai Metro. Set to open on 9 September 2009, this will be the longest fully automated rail transport system in the world.

Dubai is a destination of world-firsts and this latest development will be no exception. Developed under the direction of the Dubai Rail and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Metro will cater for increasing demands on the emirate. Global visitors reached an all-time high of 7.5 million in 2008 and it remains one of the world’s most popular destinations.

Ian Scott, director UK and Ireland for the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), commented that: “Dubai Metro will mark a significant step for this city as it continues to develop as a world-class destination. The Metro will increase circulation and access to some of the top visitor destinations and places of interest that Dubai has to offer as well as offering residents an efficient and affordable means to commute through the city. This is another exciting development for Dubai and will help to provide necessary infrastructure as the number of visitors continues to increase to this growing destination.”

Dubai Metro will be operated and maintained by Serco, the company behind the Docklands Light Railway in London and the Copenhagen Metro in Denmark and is predicted to carry 1.2 million passengers on an average day. At present two main lines are planned with the Red line opening this September and the Green line opening at the beginning of 2010. The Red line will run along the famous Sheikh Zayed Road on an elevated track, adding yet more interest to the urban landscape of Dubai. Further lines are also planned although the opening dates for these are yet to be confirmed. RTA officials are currently in negotiation with international and local companies over naming rights for some of the 43 stations along the two lines. This form of corporate branding would be a first of its kind and would help to further strengthen links between Dubai and the international business world.

www.dubaimetro.eu

7/9/2009 3:21:13 PM UTC    Comments 

Book before 17 July and escape to the Middle East, Asia, South Africa and Australia from just £248 return

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is offering bargain bank holiday deals from London Heathrow to some of the airline’s top destinations.

Etihad summer holiday bargains:

• Dubai - from £248
• Johannesburg - from £389
• Bangkok from - £384
• Melbourne from - £664 

All fares based on return travel from London Heathrow airport and include taxes and charges. Book before 17 July for travel from 1 August to 30 November 2009*. For further information, or to book, visit www.etihadairways.com

7/9/2009 10:23:09 AM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and American Airlines have announced details of a proposed new codeshare agreement which, if it receives regulatory approval from the US government, will pave the way for closer commercial cooperation between the two airlines.

The codeshare agreement will extend further the two airlines’ global networks by providing easy access between Abu Dhabi and key cities in the United States including Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston which have previously been unavailable to Etihad customers.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive, said: “The United States represents a key market for Etihad and one in which we are keen to grow further, both through the addition of new routes of our own, such as Chicago, and through close cooperation with other well-established airlines such as American Airlines.

“American Airlines is one of world’s largest and most respected airlines, and we see this codeshare agreement very much as the start of a deepening strategic relationship which both airlines are committed to developing further in the future.”

7/9/2009 7:25:56 AM UTC    Comments 

Ireland and Brazil find themselves a little bit closer together since 7 July thanks to an expanded codeshare agreement between TAM and bmi that includes Dublin. Through the agreement customers of TAM and bmi in Brazil and Ireland now enjoy simplified flight reservation procedures, convenient connections with just one ticket and the ability to check baggage through to the final destination.

The bilateral agreement allows for bmi and TAM, Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airline, to expand services for customers travelling between Brazil, the United Kingdom and Ireland, resulting in more destination options and convenient connections to-and-from the largest cities in all the countries.

In this first phase of the agreement TAM's customers are able to fly from São Paulo (Brazil) to London Heathrow Airport aboard a Boeing 777-300ER to connect with bmi flights in Heathrow going on to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast and Dublin.

bmi customers, including those in Ireland, are now able to take direct flights from Dublin or Belfast to London Heathrow to connect with TAM’s service to São Paulo (Brazil) where there are connecting flights to the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Salvador and Fortaleza.

In the second phase the partnership will be expanded to include more bmi routes that will allow TAM to offer its customers more connections over London to Europe. bmi customers, including those in Ireland, will also benefit from the addition of TAM destinations in other South American countries including Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Lima (Peru).

TAM recently (19 June) added a second daily service between São Paulo and Montevideo.

7/8/2009 3:14:50 PM UTC    Comments 

In a new initiative aimed at making the experience of travelling to Tel Aviv easier, EL AL has teamed up with Heathrow Express and First Capital Connect to offer their passengers the option of booking train tickets to Heathrow and London Luton respectively.

EL AL has negotiated special prices for passengers which relates to around 10% discount off the normal fares. For example a single fare on Heathrow Express is £14.85 and from any London Thameslink station to Luton Airport Parkway £10.50. Tickets can be booked and printed off via the EL AL web site

Uri Danor, EL AL CEO UK and Ireland said: “We are very happy to have the opportunity to work with Heathrow Express and First Capital Connect and to be able to offer our passengers on either route a good product and a competitive price for them to get to and from Heathrow and London Luton”.

www.elal.co.uk

7/6/2009 11:36:22 AM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic has launched a summer sale on flights to worldwide destinations. The airline has introduced some of the lowest ever fares in Economy and Premium Economy to the US, including New York for £259, Boston for £299 or Las Vegas for £313.

For passengers looking for deals to the Caribbean for the summer, the airline is offering £359 for return flights to Antigua as well as other exotic locations such as Dubai for only £299 and Delhi for £299.

All summer sale fares include taxes and charges and are available for sale until 14 July 2009.  Here are details of some of the best fares available:

•  New York  for £497 (Premium Economy)
•  Miami from £309
•  Chicago for only £289
•  Orlando from £309
•  Boston for £517 (Premium Economy)
•  Nairobi for £359
•  Hong Kong from £310
•  Delhi for £549 (Premium Economy)

www.virginatlantic.com

7/6/2009 11:26:57 AM UTC    Comments 

Business and leisure travellers are set benefit from new convenient air services to Aberdeen and Southampton as Eastern Airways launches its first ever scheduled flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The Humberside-based UK regional airline is introducing three flights each weekday to Aberdeen and also three each weekday to Southampton from Liverpool.

As well as the new Liverpool flights, the airline’s Aberdeen to Southampton services increasing from two to five flights each weekday.  A new early morning 7am departure is also being introduced from Southampton to Newcastle on the same day.

Eastern Airways’ high frequency Liverpool schedules and timings are primarily aimed at business travellers heading to and from Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales.  All of its passengers have access to fast track security channels at Liverpool, Aberdeen and Southampton, which help to avoid queues at security search.

“It’s fantastic to introduce Liverpool as a new departure point on our network,“ said Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer.  “Our new services to Aberdeen and Southampton will provide the region’s travellers with convenient day return flights from their local airport, saving them valuable time.  “When developing routes we look at cities where there are traditionally strong industry links and Liverpool and its surrounding region certainly has that.”

Eastern Airways operates over 800 flights a week from 17 airports including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands, Humberside, Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Oslo (Norway) Southampton, Stavanger (Norway), Stornoway and Wick.

7/6/2009 9:11:08 AM UTC    Comments 

Malaysia Airlines is offering flights to over 25 long-haul destinations, from just £399 return. Book between 4th – 13th July 2009 and you can fly to Malaysia and South East Asia from just £399 per person and to Australia and New Zealand from only £599 return.

The great value prices offer an affordable way to visit 26 of the UK’s most popular long-haul destinations - choose from the beautiful beaches of Bali, Penang or Langkawi; have an unforgettable city break in Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur; or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, the Orangutan sanctuary in Borneo or a cruise of the limestone cliffs of Vietnam’s Halong Bay.

The offer is available between 4th – 13th July and even better, is valid for travel between 15th August – 9th December 2009 and 15th January – 31st March 2010, which means you can swap the British winter for some much-needed sunshine.

Prices quoted above are inclusive of all fees and taxes, subject to availability at the time of booking. The special fares apply to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kutching, Bangkok, Cebu, Jakarta, Denpasar - Bali, Phuket, Hanoi, Yogyakarta, Medan, Manila, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Siam Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Surabaya, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Terms and Conditions apply. 

www.malaysiaairlines.com.

7/4/2009 8:45:30 AM UTC    Comments 

bmi, launch's a pre-flight Lounge Dining service for Business Class customers flying on bmi’s evening flights to Moscow and Tel Aviv from 1 July 2009.  Customers heading to Tel Aviv or Moscow can enjoy three-course meals in the new bmi international lounge – bmi Number One Heathrow before they fly, meaning that they can then relax or sleep on the flight without being disturbed for meals.  Once on board, customers can also choose a lighter meal or a nightcap from bmi’s new Night-Time Supper menu.

The move comes as bmi continues to improve services and benefits for those travelling for in Business Class whether for business or pleasure. Earlier this month, bmi opened its flagship international lounge bmi Number One Heathrow which offers a quintessentially British environment in which to work, relax, dine and refresh.  

Lounge Dining will be available daily to all customers using the international lounge from 8.30pm and is ideal for customers who are taking the night-time flights to Tel Aviv and Moscow, or connecting via London Heathrow.   Customers taking advantage of the pre-flight dining can start with steaming hot soup served fresh from bmi’s bespoke AGA.  Followed by macaroni cheese, salads, dressed with Mark Hix salad dressings, created by the reknowned English chef, or hot salt beef bagels with rye and pickles.  The perfect finish to the pre-flight dining is a selection of Mark Hix ice-cream, exclusively available in the bmi international lounge and onboard. Round off supper with a generous pot of either ‘Credit Crunch’ (caramel and honeycomb chocolate) or Blueberry and Dorset Honey flavours.  In addition, the bmi pub ‘The Local’ will be open, serving champagne, English rosé Wine, Pimms and Fullers London Pride, as well as brandies and whiskeys for a pre-flight nightcap. 

Once on board, customers can then either go straight to sleep without being disturbed – only being woken 30 minutes before landing or enjoy the Night-Time Supper menu in subdued lighting.  The Night-Time Supper menu  boasts light and comforting dishes such as duck and potato hash with gooseberry chutney or salmon fishcake with baby spinach and parsley sauce.  For those who would just like a sweet treat or a nightcap then Mark Hix ice cream will be available onboard or the ultimate comforter drink – hot chocolate served with marshmallows. 

7/1/2009 11:27:09 AM UTC    Comments 

Maintaining a company’s level of business travel is vital to the individual organisation and has far reaching implications for the state of the economy, according to research released today from the annual Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey.  The survey, now in its 13th year, polled more than 2,200 business travellers across the country, forming a comprehensive picture of the business travel landscape.

Three quarters of respondents (75%) stated that they expect to travel more or the same amount in 2009 compared to 2008 with 50 per cent, of those planning to travel more, citing planned business expansion in the UK (29%) or overseas (21%) as the reason.  The findings illustrate that whilst companies compete to survive and budgets are tightened face-to-face meetings and networking are seen as crucial to keeping businesses going, even if this incurs travel costs.  In addition, 85 per cent believe that face-to-face business meetings are more effective than using technologies such as video and web conferencing.

Market contraction has the worst effects on those organisations and individuals that are most exposed in terms of risk and debt. The converse of this is that small organisations and medium size enterprises in the beginning of their life cycle stand most to benefit from the current stimulus deal and interest rates and there is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the latter half of 2009.

It is vital that business people continue to travel not only because of the immediate effects of a contraction in the market but also because so many industries and businesses around the globe rely on revenue from business travellers.

Neil Radley, Managing Director of Barclaycard Commercial said:

“The travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s biggest employers with business travel playing a significant role in the industry.   The Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey is a positive indicator for economic recovery with a third planning to travel more in 2009 – this will have a knock-on effect on the economy and the parallel industries that survive because of it.  The fears of the recession have not deterred some businesses from expansion – whilst the media reports stories of businesses downsizing, the Travel Survey shows positive signs for business expansion in both the UK and more globally.”

With the Government’s confirmation in the Budget that the Airline Passenger Duty (APD) is going to rise in November 2009, results from the survey suggest that this is not set to dramatically affect business travel.  84 per cent of the survey’s respondents have not changed their travel plans due to the initial introduction of the APD and 53 per cent agreed that an additional environmental tax should be brought in on airlines.

Reflective of last year’s findings whilst business travel is on the up there are clear signs that businesses are making a conscious effort to cut back where possible.  Those staying in budget hotel accommodation has risen from 53 per cent to 55 per cent, between 2007 and 2008 and Flybe (ranked 4th with a one per cent increase in market share) now joins other low cost airlines easyJet (ranked 2nd) and Ryanair (ranked 3rd) in the top four airlines most used for business travel.  British Airways remains the most used airline for business travel (29%).   In contrast, travel in business and first class has increased by two per cent from last year (13% in 2008 compared to 11% in 2007).

The survey, now in its 13th year, polled more than 2,200 business travellers across the country, forming a comprehensive picture of the business travel landscape.  

6/29/2009 11:07:37 AM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air has introduced half price flights for children under the age of 12 years on all its services from London Heathrow. 

Until 27 July 2009, families booking with children will get 50% off the adult ticket price, adding to the reasons for holidaymakers to choose Gulf Air for their travels this year.   The offer is available on all travel taking place from now until 11 December 2009. All travel must be completed by 14 December. 

The airline has also introduced a number of unbelievable all inclusive return flight offers on services from London Heathrow to fantastic holiday destinations outside the expensive euro zone including Kuala Lumpur from £386, Bangkok from £390, Muscat from £245, Kochi from £330, Shanghai from £360, Bahrain from £330 and Dubai and Abu Dhabi from £247.  And don’t forget, KIDS GO HALF PRICE, a 25% saving on the normal Gulf Air children’s fare.

Gulf Air prides itself on recognising the needs of families travelling with them.  It was the first airline in the world to introduce the onboard Sky Nanny, a dedicated service for the individual needs of all its customers, no matter how young or old they are.  Sky Nanny takes the strain off parents travelling with young children and keeps the younger passengers amused during the journey making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for both parents and children.

Working on board all three of Gulf Air’s service from London, Sky Nanny offers help with boarding and disembarkation, gives parents that much-needed break during a long flight and generally provides a watchful eye on the little ones. 

Every Gulf Air Sky Nanny is specially trained for inflight childcare services so parents can be assured that children will receive the best care and attention every step of the way.

www.gulfair.com

6/27/2009 6:17:44 AM UTC    Comments 

The guest list read like a ‘who’s who’ of the Jewish community which gathered together on Tuesday 23rd June to celebrate EL AL’s 60th anniversary of flying to London. The reception was held at the Zabludowicz Arts Projects in Chalk Farm, which was decked out in blue and white and images of the history of EL AL over the last 60 years brought from the archives in Tel Aviv.

Members of the Jewish community, Jewish organisations, EL AL’s top frequent flyers, travel agents, tour operators and the media mingled together to celebrate 60 years of uninterrupted services between London and Tel Aviv.

From left to right. Uri Danor - EL AL GM UK and Ireland, Haim Romano - President and CEO EL AL, Amikam Cohen - Chairman EL AL , Pujo Zabludowicz - EL AL share holder and owner of the Zabludowicz Gallery.

Welcome speeches were given by Haim Romano, President and CEO of EL AL, Amikam Cohen Chairman of EL AL as well as one from Pujo Zabludowicz, who generously allowed EL AL to use the venue for the evening. On behalf of the guests Geoffrey Ognall, Vice Chairman of the UJIA gave a heart felt response highlighting the special ties between EL AL, the Jewish community in the UK and Israel.

6/26/2009 10:06:38 AM UTC    Comments 

From 1st November 2009 Air Malta will increase capacity on the London Gatwick – Malta route, with 2 flights per week during the months of November and March. This means that instead of a daily service to London Gatwick, Air Malta will operate 9 weekly flights. In addition the airline will increase 1 weekly flight for the Christmas travelling period, whilst larger aircraft will be deployed on all the daily Gatwick services in the remaining winter months.
 
Brock Friesen, Chief Officer Commercial said “This is line with the airline’s commercial strategy to extend the summer season and reduce the traditional traffic slowdown between the summer and winter months. The additional shoulder traffic will bolster the local tourism industry during this challenging period. Gatwick airport is one of most attractive London airports vis-à-vis leisure short break traffic that requires frequent and convenient schedules. Air Malta is committed to offer both all year round.”
 
The airline has also taken the decision to increase the Summer 2010 frequency from 12 to 14 weekly flights. These decisions are Air Malta’s first steps to ensure that Malta has sustainable seat capacity available to the London area for the next 18 months.
 
Air Malta is confident that through its strong relationship with bmi, the airline will be well positioned to sustain traffic growth from this London gateway as the global economy moves out of the economic recession. The code-share partnership with bmi, enables the Maltese airline to extend its sales and marketing reach throughout the United Kingdom.

The London capacity increase is further proof of Air Malta’s commitment to the local tourism industry and is the only airline that has supported continuously the major London routes throughout its 35 year history.
 
www.airmalta.com

6/24/2009 6:49:07 PM UTC    Comments 

Aer Arann has introduced connecting flights to Cork from Donegal, Derry, Galway and Knock Ireland West via Dublin. From as little as €45 one way including taxes, business and leisure passengers can now travel conveniently throughout Ireland, saving hours of additional driving time in the process.

Customers travelling to Cork from Donegal, Galway and Knock Ireland West can simply proceed directly to their onward departure gate. Derry passengers will need to follow the airport’s straightforward international transfer policy for travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

“These new flight services open up the possibility for short but important business and leisure trips that would otherwise involve lengthy and often frustrating car journeys” comments Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “By opting for a connecting flight rather than driving, customers can save significant travel time, as well as enjoying the added comfort of travelling with Aer Arann” he adds.

www.AerArann.com

6/24/2009 12:13:29 PM UTC    Comments 

Air New Zealand is increasing the checked and cabin baggage allowances for its Pacific Premium Economy (PPE) customers from June 2009.  Premium Economy passengers will now be entitled to the current Business Premier allowances and priority tags on Air New Zealand operated services.

For passengers travelling via the US the piece system applies and Premium Economy passengers can now check-in two pieces with a maximum weight of 32 kgs per piece. Premium economy passengers travelling on flights via Hong Kong will be able to check in one bag weighing up to 30kgs.

All customers with an Airpoints standby upgrade to a higher class will also be entitled to the Business Class baggage allowance.  This will apply to all checked and cabin baggage and priority bag tagging, regardless of whether the upgrade is awarded.

6/23/2009 9:11:01 AM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic, today celebrated its 25th birthday in style by recreating the very first flight to New York that departed on 22 June 1984. Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, was joined onboard by frequent travellers, travel trade VIPs and a host of special guests including leading fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, international cricketer Kevin Pietersen and his wife, former Liberty X singer Jessica, as well as Ian Botham and Christopher Biggins, who was a passenger on the very first Virgin Atlantic flight 25 years ago.

As part of the celebrations at Heathrow Airport before the historic departure, Sir Richard Branson was joined on the wing of the Boeing 747-400 Virgin Atlantic aircraft, named ‘Birthday Girl’, by acclaimed supermodel and icon, Kate Moss who came to personally wish the airline a Happy Birthday.

Speaking at Heathrow Airport, Sir Richard Branson, said: “I am so proud of what we have achieved in the last 25 years.  It is a tribute to the staff of Virgin Atlantic that we are in the leading position we are in today.  It seems a long time ago that we took that first flight in 1984, and so much has been achieved since then. We would like to thank the millions of travellers that have put their faith in us and the thousands of staff who have created such a great airline.”

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic said:
“Today’s milestone is a huge accomplishment for Virgin Atlantic.  In the last 25 years, our 8500 staff worldwide have helped us build a fantastic airline against all the odds, whether battling with our competitors or enduring the ups and downs of the aviation industry.   Since 1984 Virgin Atlantic has grown up a lot but thanks to the creativity, enthusiasm and hard work of our staff, we are definitely still red hot!”

The airline also received a special birthday message from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said:

“I’m delighted to congratulate Virgin Atlantic on your 25th anniversary. Britain is rightly proud of having the world’s most innovative and competitive airlines. Virgin Atlantic and Richard Branson’s vision and pioneering spirit have changed the global airline business over the last twenty-five years. People can now afford to fly to places they previously only dreamt of. Aviation underpins our economic well-being. Virgin Atlantic is now also at the forefront of developing new technologies to meet the challenge of climate change. May this pioneering spirit continue throughout your second quarter century.”

Today’s special birthday flight will be under the command of Captain Geoff Andreasen, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Boeing Pilot, and First Officer Niamh O’Connor. The Flight Service Manager on the flight operated the very first Virgin Atlantic flight in 1984.  Chris Morley, who has been with the airline for 25 years, will be leading the team of 18 cabin crew across the Atlantic.

During the birthday flight guests will enjoy a taste of the 1980s, with specially themed music and meals designed with an 80s twist.  Among the movies onboard will be ‘Airplane’, which was famously shown on the airline’s first ever flight.  Entertainers will also be onboard to ensure that everyone is in the party spirit.  Once in New York guests will be invited to the exclusive Virgin Atlantic Red Hot Birthday Party in Manhattan.

Over 65 million passengers have chosen to travel with Virgin Atlantic since its launch in 1984. The airline now flies to 30 destinations around the world, from its main bases at London Heathrow and London Gatwick, using a modern, young fleet of Airbus A340 and Boeing 747 aircraft.

www.virginatlantic.com
 

6/22/2009 10:52:41 AM UTC    Comments 

The low-cost airline, has announced that it plans to launch a new route between Cologne / Bonn and Manchester from October 2009. Introduced as a part of its winter timetable, the carrier will offer five services a week from its German headquarters, allowing travellers from Manchester to connect to destinations across Europe.

The announcement comes as a part of Germanwings’ ongoing focus on business travel. More than 40% of the airline’s customers are now made up of corporate travellers and it will look to build on this by adding Manchester, the UK’s fastest growing economy outside of London and the economic powerhouse of the North West, to its route network.

The news also reiterates the carrier’s commitment to the UK and Ireland. Germanwings already serves London all year round and Edinburgh and Dublin during the summer months, and is reviewing additional options within the market for future opportunities.

Commenting on the launch, Thomas Winkelmann, CEO of germanwings said: “Manchester is an important step for us. It has one of the fastest growing economies in Britain today, and is seen by many as the UK’s second city. By launching a service connecting it directly with Cologne / Bonn we hope to tap into a major business market which continues to grow rapidly.”

“At the same time we also expect the route to be extremely popular with leisure travellers in the North West, who will now not only be able to visit Germany’s oldest city, Cologne, but will also be able to connect to more than 60 other European destinations quickly and efficiently.”

www.germanwings.com

6/19/2009 9:35:44 PM UTC    Comments 

Malaysia Airlines has launched a ‘pay economy, fly business’ offer, giving passengers the chance to travel in the business class section at economy fares.

The offer is available on routes to Kuala Lumpur (prices from £1499), Bali (from £1539), Sydney (from £1889) and Auckland (from £1859) and ensures a luxurious start to anyone’s holiday.

Services available in business class include: spacious seats; a wide choice of food and drink; an amenity kit with pampering products; an in-flight shopping service offering designer brands; and the best multimedia in-flight entertainment system on the market. Over 100 hours of movies and TV, plus games and music are available on personal 10.4” LCD touch screen monitor and portable media player.

The offer is valid for bookings made before 30 June inclusive and on flights departing on or before 8 July, between 15 August to 9 December and between 16 January to 31 March 2010. Prices quoted above are inclusive of all fees and taxes, subject to availability at time of bookings.
 
www.malaysiaairlines.com.

6/19/2009 6:52:48 AM UTC    Comments 

Five Star Alliance member carriers - Austrian, Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and TAP – have moved from Terminal 2 to the refurbished Terminal 1 at London’s Heathrow Airport. They join Air New Zealand, Asiana, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, South African Airways, United and US Airways who were already operating from Terminal 1.

As part of this move, a common Star Alliance branded check-in area used by Austrian, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa and TAP has opened. This area features dedicated check-in counters for First, Business and Economy Class passengers as well as for Star Alliance Gold Card holders travelling on any of the five member carriers. A number of self-service check-in kiosks as well as a bag-drop area are also available. After check-in, passengers pass through a separate security line, which also features a fast track lane for top-tier customers.

Air New Zealand, Asiana, South African Airways, SWISS, United and US Airways each have dedicated check-in counters in the completely redesigned main hall of Terminal 1, with bmi offering a check-in zone conveniently located to both international and domestic departure gates.

Once airside, eligible customers have a choice of three different lounge facilities. bmi offers two lounges, one mainly for U.K. and Ireland departures and the newly opened international lounge – bmi Number One Heathrow - located next to the main international departure gates. In addition, the Star Alliance First and Business Class departure lounge is available to First and Business Class passengers, invited guests and Star Alliance Gold Card holders travelling on any member carrier from Terminal 1. The lounge features separate First Class and Business Class sections, food service areas, two business centres with computers, printers, faxes and Wi-Fi Internet access, shower facilities and a special area for children.

The relocation is part of Star Alliance’s ongoing “Move under one Roof” strategy, bringing airlines together to improve the travel experience for customers and create efficiencies for the member airlines.

Star Alliance now is the largest alliance operating out of the core Central Area at Heathrow. The Central Area is the only area at Heathrow that has direct access to the full range of public transport - Heathrow Express and the London Connect Service, Underground trains to Central London as well as local and regional bus services.

6/18/2009 2:41:07 PM UTC    Comments 

Qantas has introduced international online check-in and advance seat selection, expanding the range of services available to customers. Group Executive Manager Customer and Marketing, Lesley Grant, said the new services would ensure an enhanced travel experience for customers. “The ability to check-in online for international travel means customers can check-in at their leisure between 24 hours and two hours before their flight from their home, office or hotel,” Grant said.

“Customers who check-in online will enjoy a faster airport experience with dedicated online check-in counters for bag drop and necessary visa checks.

“And we are rewarding our top tier Frequent Flyers, (Platinum, Gold and Silver) with even more choice - the ability to choose their seat online.

“Immediately after making a booking, whether at qantas.com or through other booking channels, eligible Frequent Flyers are now able to request their seat for international flights.*”

“Our aim is to provide travellers with a wide range of services to ensure a seamless travel experience, and customers can expect to see even more enhancements to domestic and international customer services later in 2009.”

6/18/2009 2:35:38 PM UTC    Comments 

Eurostar has introduced single fares to all its destinations. The new fares start from the wholly inclusive price of £35 for London to Paris/Brussels.

As part of a commitment to greater transparency, Eurostar is helping travellers find better deals, by simplifying its fare structure. Travellers can expect more flexibility with the removal of “stay away” conditions such as Saturday Night Away, One Night Away, Midweek Day Return and Weekend Day Return.

Nick Mercer, Eurostar’s Commercial Director, commented: “We want to help travellers who are planning a tour of Europe or who need the flexibility to return by a different route, by making low priced single fares available. 

“We hope this greater range of fare options will allow travellers to make even more use of Europe’s high-speed rail network and exploit the environmental advantages of train over plane for seamless rail journeys.”

As part of the changes and in a move that more accurately reflects the product offering, Leisure Select fares have increased. The new lead-in fare for Leisure Select return travel from London – Paris/Brussels is £175 return. Passengers travelling Leisure Select benefit from more spacious seats, roomier carriages, a 3-course meal with wine*, complimentary newspapers and magazines, and excellent ‘at seat’ service.

Eurostar continues to offer its widely available lead-in return fare of £59 which has gone unchanged for over six years.

www.eurostar.com

6/18/2009 8:27:12 AM UTC    Comments 

Akbar Al Baker the CEO said that Qatar Airways will launch Australian services initially to Melbourne and the inaugural flight will take place on December 6.

Qatar Airways will begin operating three weekly services using a brand new Boeing B777-200 Long Range aircraft to be delivered to the airline later this year. Operations will quickly become daily early in the New Year.

Al Baker said that he has been waiting patiently for Boeing to deliver aircraft that Qatar Airways has on order to begin operating the first of its two planned routes into Australia.

“I know the travelling public is eager for us to begin serving Australia and I’ve had many people ask me about our direct routes to Melbourne and Sydney. We’re finalising some details with regulatory authorities in Australia, and once we’ve received the necessary aircraft from Boeing, we will be ready to operate.

“Qatar Airways already has 4,000 frequent fliers in Australia that are part of our loyalty programme, though the local market remains largely untapped. The Australian economy was one of the few in the world that grew in the first quarter of 2009, so this shows that the market there is still very strong, and we believe there is demand,” said Al Baker.   

The new operation will connect travellers from the United Kingdom and Europe to Australia with a one-stop service and a planned one hour connection time in Doha. From Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha, passengers can also link to numerous destinations across South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.   

Qatar Airways Senior Manager Europe Paul Johannes said that the prospect of European passenger traffic connecting to the Australian services from Doha was good news for travellers.

“Qatar Airways is a well-established brand in the UK and key points in Europe, so we already have a built-in market in this region that will feed into Australia which is an important destination for a lot of Europeans,” he said.

The Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft operating on the route will offer a two-class configuration of 259 seats. In Business Class, there are 42 seats with passengers able to enjoy comfort and space offering a pitch of up to 78 inches with each seat converting into 180-degree fully flat beds. With a 2–2–2 seat configuration, Business Class passengers are assured of either a window or aisle seat and plenty of space.

www.qatarairways.com

6/18/2009 6:05:59 AM UTC    Comments 

TAM, is offering its Business Class passengers a free 20 minute helicopter transfer service between São Paulo’s international airport at Guarulhos and the mid-town airport of Congonhas. A considerable time saving on the road transfer that takes an hour in normal São Paulo traffic and two hours or more in rush hour.

The courtesy helicopter transfer is being offered through August 31 subject to confirmation, availability and weather. After August 31 the cost of the one-way transfer will be R$829 (£260) if booked more than 24-hours in advance, and R$989 (£315) if booked less than 24 hours in advance. Passengers not flying in Business Class can book and pay for the helicopter transfer, while all TAM passengers are offered a free bus transfer between Guarulhos and Congonhas.

TAM operates the hourly helicopter service from 06.00 to 22.00 at Congonhas and from 06.30 to 22.30 at Guarulhos. Passengers can choose to have their luggage collected or delivered for them at any address in Greater São Paulo. São Paulo, along with New York, is considered the helicopter capital of the world with one of the largest helicopter fleets of any city and over 260 heliports.

Reservations for the helicopter transfer can be made with TAM in the UK on 020 8897 3700.

Passengers travelling in Business Class on TAM flights from London can also request a complimentary airport transfer service in a chauffeur driven Mercedes E Class, S Class or MPV Viano. The passenger(s) will be picked up from or dropped off at their home, office or hotel within a 65-mile radius of London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4.

To request the car transfer service, Business Class passengers should contact TAM’s Customer Service Centre 48-hours before their flight on 020 8897 3700.

TAM’s Business class passengers are also offered a courtesy chauffeur driven transfer to-and-from their hotel, house or office at a number of South American destinations including Buenos Aires, Lima, Montevideo and Santiago.

6/16/2009 9:36:57 PM UTC    Comments 

The Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of freedom and democracy since its inauguration in 1886. What is not a symbol of freedom and democracy is Air Passenger Duty (APD), especially as applied by the current UK government.

APD is a stealth tax that aims to rip off any traveller based in the UK or flying through the UK. The money raised does not go to improve the transport infrastructure, nor does it help environmental causes. Put simply the money goes into the government’s one large pot, that same pot that the MPs dipped into for their expenses or to buy the banks.

Potentially APD is a catastrophe for the UK travel industry, the travelling public and British airlines. We at TravelPlus urge every one of our readers to engage in defeating this unfair and unnecessary tax. You can read more about its implications on page 5 in our latest issue.

So what can we do to defeat APD and how do you get your voice heard?

In a way we are fortunate that a General Election has to be held in the UK before 3 June 2010 and that politicians have never been less loved. That means they will be looking at every which way to get our votes. We need to make it clear that any candidate that supports APD will not get our vote. It is that simple.

We ask all readers who have a vote in the UK to write to the candidates in their constituency and ask them what their position is on APD. We would also urge you to write a similar letter to both David Cameron and Nick Clegg to ask how they and their parties view APD. Make it clear that if they support it, they don’t get your vote. While Labour is committed to APD, we must not take it for granted that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats won’t over turn the tax if it wins them support. Both Cameron, Clegg, and in fact any MP, can be written to at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

If we don’t overturn this tax now we never will. The Dutch government has decided to reduce APD to zero while the British government plans to bleed travellers by up to £170 per person per trip while offering nothing in return. By next year the average £365 return fare from London to Los Angeles will consist of £319 in taxes with just £46 going to the airline, assuming any are still flying.

Join us on the barricades or don’t complain when you do have to pay through the nose to travel while the MPs put the cost of their APD down on expenses!

Simon Ward, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
 

6/16/2009 11:09:18 AM UTC    Comments 

The countdown is on to the official launch of MSC Cruises’s second flagship, MSC Splendida, on 12 July in Barcelona.

In an exciting first for MSC Cruises – and the first time this has featured on a European cruise ship - MSC Splendida will feature two innovative mini-bowling alleys in its high-tech Sports Bar.

Every aspect of these ten-pin bowling alleys has been carefully designed to provide the maximum entertainment, including a traditional-looking bowling surface that is actually made of a tough phenol compound which allows guests to join in the fun without having to change into special bowling shoes. 

The alleys are scaled down to work perfectly in a bar environment, to encourage people to mix and mingle. The bowling balls have been sized slightly smaller than usual, so they are manageable for youngsters while still presenting a challenge to older players.

Increasing the fun, there are two large LCD electronic screens featuring interactive videogame animations, with a choice of Ten Pin Tour and Turkey Shoot. And of course, surrounding the bowling alleys, you’ll find all the feature-rich facilities of the sports bar itself, with big screen TVs and a wealth of interactive sports games for solo and group play, making the Sports Bar the ideal place for a change of pace to meet friends old and new.

MSC Splendida is the twin sister to MSC Fantasia which was launched in December 2008. Together, they are the largest cruise ships ever commissioned by a European owner and set new standards in spaciousness, comfort, facilities, design innovation and refinement. Despite being sister ships, their themed areas feature many differences, such as the bowling alleys, which are unique to MSC Splendida.

MSC Splendida has a choice of six restaurants, including the a la carte Mediterranean L’Olivo, along with 18 bars and lounges, MSC Aurea Spa, solarium, shuffleboard, jogging track, sports centre, squash and tennis courts, five swimming pools and an incredible 19 leisure and entertainment venues, with a casino, theatre and 4D cinema – making every day different!

www.msccruises.com

6/15/2009 2:17:52 PM UTC    Comments 

The Spanish airline and its Australian oneworld partner signed an agreement over Madrid-Sydney flights via London and Frankfurt.

Starting on July 15 Iberia will offer its customers flights from Madrid to Sydney, under a new code-sharing arrangement with Australia’s Qantas airline. This is the first time the Spanish airline offers flights to Australia.                                                                               
Iberia passengers can choose among three daily options for the Sydney flight, two via Heathrow in London, and one via Frankfurt, Germany.

The arrangement extends the options of Iberia customers and strengthens relations between Iberia and Qantas which, as partners in the oneworld airline alliance, already honour each others’ frequent flyers points and share the use of VIP lounges, among other privileges.

6/15/2009 1:01:18 PM UTC    Comments 

Singapore Airlines launch their Exceptional Value sale, offering incredible fares to all. Customers who access the singaporeair.com website between the 13th and the 30th of June 2009 will be able to purchase flights to Singapore from as little as £295.00. For those who would like to experience the award winning Singapore Airlines Business Class, there has never been a better opportunity with the all new Simply Better Business fare for £1585.

Return fares are available from London Heathrow or Manchester Airport and are valid for outbound travel from the 1st of September to the 9th of December 2009 and the 16th of January to the 31st of March 2010.

“We are delighted to be able to offer these fantastic new fares to our customers,” said Joey Seow, General Manager of Singapore Airlines UK and Ireland. “We hope that many of our existing customers, and those still yet to experience flying with Singapore Airlines, will take this opportunity to enjoy our award winning service, fine dining and state of the art in-flight entertainment when travelling to Singapore and beyond."

*Singapore Airlines Simply Better Business fares are now available when two passengers travel together on all sectors from London Heathrow or Manchester Airport.

www.singaporeair.com.

6/12/2009 3:08:53 PM UTC    Comments 

This may be the 11th successive month of cutbacks in global airline schedules; however the rate of decline in seat capacity is lower than at any time since October 2008 according to OAG, as it releases its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. 

The world's airlines have scheduled 4% (104,216) fewer flights for June 2009 compared with the same month last year, with a 2% drop in seat capacity of 6.7 million fewer seats. The total number of flights scheduled to operate worldwide this month is 2.43 million, offering 297.5 million seats to travelers around the globe. 

Last month, the year-on-year global frequency and capacity figures were down by 5% and 3% respectively. Global year-on-year capacity reductions had remained at 3% every month since November 2008, apart from a sharp 7% decline in February this year.

David Beckerman, vice president OAG Market Intelligence, said, "As the Northern Hemisphere begins its summer holiday season, the airline community is curbing its capacity cuts in anticipation of a welcome boost in air travel.  However, we shouldn't assume that this is the start of recovery and growth; the outlook remains uncertain and figures are still down year-on-year, but it does indicate a glimmer of economic confidence."

6/12/2009 10:36:10 AM UTC    Comments 

As an official sponsor of the national Brazilian football team, TAM flew the players, coaches and accompanying journalists from Brazil to Johannesburg on June 11 to take part in the FIFA Confederations Cup. The tournament, a warm up for next year’s World Cup which begins on 11 June 2010, takes place in South Africa from 14-28 June and as well as Brazil includes the national teams of Spain, Italy, New Zealand, USA, Egypt, Iraq and South Africa.

The Brazilian team flew the “Magic Red Carpet” to South Africa aboard a specially painted TAM aircraft. The plane had been painted in the team colours that include the five gold stars that represent Brazil’s five world championships. The nose cone was painted to look like a football.

While global expectations are growing ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, there is already great interest in the 20th World Cup that will be held in Brazil in 2014. It will be the first time that consecutive World Cups have been staged in the Southern Hemisphere and the first World Cup to be held in South America since 1978.

FIFA recently announced the host cities for the 2014 World Cup. Given the size of Brazil a total of 12 cities, rather than ten, have been selected. The cities that will now become global household names thanks to the World Cup include Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.

As Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airline, TAM is the only major international carrier to fly to all 12 of the Brazilian cites that will host the games at the 2014 World Cup. TAM currently flies to 42 cities in Brazil, and serves another 37 through commercial agreements with regional carriers. It also offers flights to 18 international destinations, including a daily service to London utilising Boeing 777-300ERs.

As in 1950, the final of the 2014 World Cup will be played at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. In 1950 just 13 teams played in the 4th World Cup that was spread across the cities of Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. England played in Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro, while Uruguay famously won the championship by beating Brazil in the last game of the tournament.

6/12/2009 10:08:54 AM UTC    Comments 

Singapore Airlines will fly the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, on the Singapore-Hong Kong route from 9 July 2009. Hong Kong will be the fifth international destination and second Asian city which Singapore Airlines operates the superjumbo aircraft to. The Airline started operating the A380 in October 2007 to Sydney and subsequently added services to London, Tokyo and Paris.

"The operation of the A380 to Hong Kong shows our confidence in the demand for both business and leisure travel between Singapore and the famed ‘Pearl of the Orient’.  Hong Kong is a vibrant business hub and at the same time it has much to offer leisure travellers looking for great places to shop, eat and play,” said Mr. Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President, Marketing and the Regions.

Exclusively available on the A380 are the Singapore Airlines Suites. Each Suite customer enjoys a high level of privacy in his own cabin in the sky, behind sliding doors and adjustable roller blinds. The Suites come furnished with a luxurious and fully adjustable leather seat, upholstered by world-renowned Poltrona Frau, and a full-sized bed. For entertainment, customers can enjoy crystal-clear images on a sleek 23-inch high-resolution LCD monitor, mounted on the wall in each Suite.

The Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class is in a league of its own. Measuring 86 centimetres (34 inches) in width, the Business Class seat is one of the widest in the world and each has direct access to the aisle. Each seat can be converted into a comfortable wide bed, simply by folding down the seat back.  

Singapore Airlines’ new Economy Class seats offer customers unprecedented comfort and space. The ergonomically designed seat not only maximises knee and legroom, it also boasts intelligent features such as a non-intrusive reading light and height-adjustable leather headrests with side panels.

Customers across all three classes can enjoy a wide range of the latest movies, TV programmes and a library of CDs on KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. Come mealtime, delectable inflight meals, designed exclusively by world-class chefs like Matt Moran from Australia, Zhu Jun from China and Sam Leong from Singapore, are served and presented on exclusive Givenchy-designed service ware.

Singapore Airlines currently has eight A380s in service, a further 11 on firm order, and options on six more. 

6/11/2009 4:16:11 PM UTC    Comments 

Lufthansa will relocate its Heathrow passenger operation to Terminal 1 on Tuesday 16th June 2009.

The recently refurbished Terminal will provide Lufthansa passengers with a bright and spacious environment as well as greatly enhanced facilities. The £100 million refurbishment has transformed the terminal into a more open, clean and simplified facility. The overall passenger experience will be greatly improved thanks to a new check-in area, baggage reclaim and arrivals concourse which result in shorter walking distances from kerbside to check-in and to the improved departure gate area.

Announcing the move to Terminal 1 Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa General Manager UK & Ireland, said, “I believe this move will further enhance the Lufthansa travel experience for our customers. Our refurbished, Star Alliance-branded check-in area in Zone K is light and airy offering 17 check-in desks, 12 check-in machines and six quick bag drops to help speed up the overall check-in process. After checking in, passengers are able to proceed directly through a bespoke security facility located directly behind the check-in area of Zone K.

“For First Class customers, HON Circle Members, Senators and Star Gold Card holders, there is an exclusive First Class lobby at one end of Zone K. As well as four First Class check in counters. A furnished waiting area is available and the lobby provides direct priority access to the fast track security control. Frequent Travellers, Star Silver Card holders and Business Class customers will also be able to use this fast track using an alternative route around the First Class lobby.

Terminal 1 will also become home to many of Lufthansa’s Star Alliance partners. Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, SWISS and TAP Portugal will move from Terminal 2 with Lufthansa in June. They join Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, bmi, Lot Polish Airlines, South African Airways, United Airlines and US Airways which already operate out of Terminal 1.

Once the moves are completed, the 22 Star Alliance member carriers serving Heathrow will be nearly evenly split between Terminals 1 and 3, the core Central Area at Heathrow - the only part of Heathrow that has direct access to both the Heathrow Express and the London Connect Service, all Underground trains to central London and local and regional bus services.

www.lufthansa.com

6/11/2009 4:08:14 PM UTC    Comments 

Scandinavian Airlines System’s (SAS) Summer Sale kicks off 11 June - meaning great discounts on SAS flights from the UK to Scandinavia.  What’s more SAS offers child discounts – which makes a family holiday in Scandinavia an even more attractive proposition this summer.  Children qualify for a 25 per cent discount off all sale fares.

Example one way fares including taxes during the Summer Sale include:

• London Heathrow – Oslo from £61, saving £18 on the normal lowest fare
• Manchester - Oslo from £61 pounds, a saving of £36 on the normal lowest fare
• Birmingham – Copenhagen from £73, a saving of £10 on the normal lowest fare
• London – Stavanger from £61, a saving of £20 on the normal lowest fare

For a ten day period, ending 21 June, SAS fares will be discounted by up to 38% on a range of key routes.  These discounts apply for travel between 29 June and 31 August. 

SAS has a comprehensive network out of the UK into Scandinavia with direct flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick and London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to the Scandinavian capitals and beyond.

www.flysas.co.uk
 

6/11/2009 10:41:00 AM UTC    Comments 

Travel to the Far East in style and upgrade to premium economy for as little as £220 – saving up to 25 per cent off EVA Air’s premium economy Elite Class with the launch of exclusive online fares.
 
Return fares from London Heathrow to Bangkok start from just £706 and from £729 to Taipei including taxes. The standard starting price for a return airfare with EVA Air from London Heathrow to Bangkok in Elite Class usually costs from £890 and from £990 to Taipei including taxes.

Flights are on sale now until 15 July 2009 and are valid for travel until 9 December 2009 excluding the period 11 July – 27 August 2009. These fares are subject to availability and are only bookable online.

EVA Air’s award-winning Elite Class offers many of the comforts usually only associated with business class travel, at a fraction of the price. Forming just 20 per cent of the aircraft’s total seat capacity, the airline’s pioneering premium economy product gives passengers increased privacy during the flight.

Travellers benefit from a dedicated check-in desk and increased baggage allowance of 25kgs, as well as 18.5 inch wide ergonomically designed, memory foam seats with a generous 38-inch seat pitch.

EVA Air flies to Taipei via Bangkok six times a week from London Heathrow and offers passengers a choice of three classes of cabin service: Premium Laurel business class, Elite Class premium economy and Economy class.

www.evaair.com

6/10/2009 10:59:00 AM UTC    Comments 

SkyTeam have announced that the first level of its co-branded alliance lounge in Terminal 4 at London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) opened on 04 June 2009. The two-level lounge occupies more than 1,600 square metres and offers space for more than 300 passengers. Eligible passengers travelling through Terminal 4 on Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways operated flights can enjoy access to the first level of the co-branded SkyTeam lounge. Other eligible passengers will gain access once additional SkyTeam member airlines begin operating from Terminal 4.

www.skyteam.com

6/8/2009 8:06:12 AM UTC    Comments 

Swiss International Air Lines will be one of the first of the first Star Alliance airlines to move to London Heathrow Terminal 1 on 11 June 2009.
 
The improved lounges and facilities along with the bright and spacious check-in area will offer customers extra comfort and convenience.   The check-in area has been designed to create a more organised and less congested environment, which in turn will lessen waiting time and stressful queuing.
 
In addition, SWISS HON Circle and Miles & More Senator members, as well as First and Business Class passengers can enjoy the designated First or Business class areas in the new Star Alliance CIP Lounge. Both areas will feature private seating, complimentary food and beverages as well as shower facilities and the latest in business technology including Wi-Fi Internet access. The BMI lounge also welcomes Miles & More Frequent Travellers.
 
Gregor Koncilja, Country Manager UK & Ireland for SWISS commented: “We are very much looking forward to moving to our new home and are pleased and proud to be one of the first Star Alliance airlines to do so.  We are confident that Terminal 1 with improved facilities and lounges will offer an increased comfort and better travel experience to our customers even before they step on board.”
 

6/5/2009 11:20:32 AM UTC    Comments 

Air New Zealand has announced that they will be reducing flights on the London-Hong Kong route from seven services a week to five services a week.  NZ38/39 flights scheduled to depart on Wednesdays will cease effective from 23 September and NZ38/39 flights on Mondays from 12 October. Services between Hong Kong and Auckland are unaffected.

Scott Carr, Air New Zealand General Manager, UK and Europe, said: “As everyone is well aware the airline industry is facing exceedingly tough times at the moment and regrettably, the Asia markets have been hit hardest. It is in this context that Air New Zealand has taken the decision to reduce flights on the London-Hong Kong route”

He continues, “These are not easy decisions for any airline but we are confident that this is the right action for our business at this point in time.  However while times are tough overall we firmly believe we are well placed to deal with the current environment to deliver a great flying experience for our customers”.

6/5/2009 9:06:47 AM UTC    Comments 

A new early morning year-round flight is being introduced by Eastern Airways from Southampton International Airport to Newcastle, offering greater convenience for south of England business travellers.

The independent business-focused airline, which recently announced new services from Southampton to Liverpool starting in July, will launch the 7am timing to Newcastle along with a new 4.05pm Southampton departure from 6 July 2009.  Flights will arrive in Newcastle at 8.20am and 5.25pm respectively.

The new weekday flight will be offered along with the existing 7.05pm weekday Southampton to Newcastle departure and will replace the current 9.20am 4.25pm services.  Also, flights to Southampton will leave Newcastle at 8.50am, 2pm and 5.30pm.    

“We’ve responded to business traveller requirements as it was evident there was a gap in the market for early morning departures from Southampton to Newcastle,” said Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer.  “Adjusting the timings allows our Southampton passengers to arrive in Newcastle city centre before 9am and helps maximise their time in the north east.” 

Eastern Airways will start its new three times a day weekday service from Southampton to Liverpool on 6 July 2009 and also flies to Leeds Bradford and Aberdeen from the Hampshire airport.

www.easternairways.com

6/4/2009 8:50:20 AM UTC    Comments 

bmi, announces the opening today of its new international lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow.  The flagship lounge has been conceived with customer comforts in mind and provides a stylish environment in which to work, relax, dine and refresh.

bmi Number One Heathrow is the perfect stop for bmi customers connecting to any of bmi’s international destinations where they can choose to relax, refresh or rehydrate between flights and enjoy some homely British comforts.

bmi has created a new series of partnerships for the opening of the lounge that showcase Britain’s finest.  Mark Hix, renowned and award-winning champion of British food is exclusively featuring his new line of salad dressings and ice creams on bmi’s midhaul Business Class menus and in bmi Number One Heathrow. The Hix branded ice-cream will be stocked in a freezer where bmi customers can help themselves to Hix’s generous pots of either ‘Credit Crunch’ (caramel and honeycomb chocolate), Rhubarb Crumble or Blueberry and Dorset Honey flavours. What better way to spend an idle hour waiting for your connecting flight than enjoying a sweet treat in the comfort of bmi’s flagship lounge.

bmi Number One Heathrow is open to bmi Business Class, Diamond Club (Gold and Silver) and Star Alliance Gold customers travelling to bmi international destinations. Located above Gate 5 in Terminal 1, bmi Number One Heathrow has a unique layout.  It does not feature a reception desk – instead customers are welcomed inside by members of the Lounge Team.  The space is divided into informal zones that cater to the varying needs of the international traveller – the emphasis being on providing a sense of comfort and familiarity. 

Customers are welcomed in to bmi Number One Heathrow where style and comfort are paramount.  A range of different chair designs allow travellers to rest, work or even nap in daybeds.  Great views over the runway add to the experience. The Study offers a work oriented environment with desk seating as well as a boardroom-style table and free Wi-Fi is available.

The Café is centred around a stunning custom-made black Aga where steaming hot soup is available all day as well as a range of delicious food around the clock. From 1 July bmi will be launching their new dining-on-the-ground service for their evening flights where customers can choose to enjoy a tasty evening meal in bmi Number One Heathrow enabling them to relax and sleep once on board.

An informal, but sophisticated British pub environment  is created in The Local where customers can unwind around a welcoming leather-buttoned horseshoe shaped bar and enjoy a choice of branded beverages including Fullers London Pride ale and English rosé wine in keeping with the strong British theme. 

The new international lounge is the latest in a series of innovations from bmi. The airline recently launched its new Chauffeur Drive and Premium Check-in area at London Heathrow’s Terminal 1 to provide a fast and hassle free check-in service for Business Class and Premium Economy customers as well as bmi Diamond Club Gold and Silver card holders.

6/1/2009 1:16:49 PM UTC    Comments 

This month Virgin Atlantic celebrates 20 years of flying to Tokyo, they first launched flights between London and Tokyo in May 1989 and has since carried nearly 3m passengers on the popular route. Originally departing from Gatwick, the service moved to Heathrow in 1991.

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic said: “To be celebrating 20 years of flying to Tokyo is a real achievement for Virgin Atlantic and we are proud to have been offering passengers our excellent service on this route since 1989. “Twenty years on Tokyo still remains a very popular business and holiday destination, with an increasing number of passengers taking city breaks to the region for its diverse culture, great food and stunning city-life.
All of us at Virgin Atlantic thank the people of Tokyo for supporting us over the last 20 years and we are pleased to play such a key role in the Japanese Community.”

Red hot fares are available on this route. Return Economy fares start from £620, Premium Economy fares start from £1098 and Upper Class fares start from £2686. All these fares include taxes and charges. These fares to Tokyo are available from 1st May to 21st July and 26th August to 13th December.

6/1/2009 10:12:39 AM UTC    Comments 

Singapore Airlines commenced daily Airbus A330-300 services between Singapore and Nagoya, Japan, with effect from today. The daily services replace the Airline’s five times weekly Boeing B777 operations on the route. The inaugural A330-300 flight to Nagoya took off from Singapore’s Changi Airport at 0100 hrs this morning, arriving at Central Japan International Airport at 0830hrs (all times local). The arrival of the aircraft into Nagoya coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Airline’s operation of services into the city.

Nagoya is the first Japanese city to receive Singapore Airlines’ A330-300 aircraft. Osaka will be the second when the Airline replaces its daily B777 services to Osaka with A330-300 services in early 2010.
 
Said Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice-President Operations and Services, Mr Mak Swee Wah: “We are delighted to commence A330-300 services into Nagoya. We are confident that our Japanese customers will be happy with our latest product offerings, specially designed for regional and medium-haul routes. It also reaffirms our commitment to constantly enhance our product offerings to provide our customers the very best travel experience.”

6/1/2009 8:18:28 AM UTC    Comments 

Aer Arann has launched its summer schedule which will see the return of the airline’s routes to La Rochelle, Nantes and Lorient in France from Cork beginning on May 30th. The airline will also be re-introducing its flights to Jersey and Southampton from Cork on the day. Flights to Lorient in the beautiful Brittany region of France will also be available from Galway and Waterford airports. 

Fares to France from €60 and to Jersey and Southampton from €49, all one way including taxes. 

Commenting on the summer schedule Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs said “Our summer routes proved very successful in 2008 so we are delighted to be offering them to customers once again this year. The accessibility of Cork airport combined with our own convenient, pleasant service makes these destinations an ideal choice for people who want a holiday without the hassle”.

www.aerarann.com

5/29/2009 8:36:48 AM UTC    Comments 

With the goings on in the UK Parliament the decision to increase Air Passenger Duty (APD) has managed to slip by without too many complaints. This despite the fact that APD could be catastrophic for the UK’s travel industry with its value set to rise by up to 122% in 2010. This for a pure stealth tax that brings no benefit to transportation infrastructure or environmental projects.

From November the tax paid on flights departing the UK will fall into 4 bands, with passengers charged according to how far they fly and where the capital is located. For the US the APD will be £60 per passenger in economy from November 2010 (£120 in a premium cabin, including Premium Economy), regardless of if you are flying to New York or LA. For the Caribbean, South Africa, India, Mexico and Brazil the 2010 rates will be £75 (£150 in a premium cabin), while in the top band, which includes the likes of Australia, Argentina, Malaysia and Singapore, the rate will be £85 (£170 in premium).

For a family of four flying from the UK to Australia in Premium Economy that means a tax bill of £680. Ironically the decision was made at the time when the Dutch government has zero rated APD. Smart travellers living in the UK will, therefore, fly to Schiphol, paying the £12 short haul tax and then pick up their long haul ticket from a Dutch operator for a saving of  £632. The losers will be UK tour operators and the likes of British Airways, bmi and Virgin. It will also make it less appealing for foreign long haul carriers to fly direct to the UK.

customs.hmrc.gov.uk

5/26/2009 7:40:03 AM UTC    Comments 

Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is celebrating its seventh anniversary with plans to significantly expand its Central Asia network to include more cities in southern Russia and other neighbouring countries. The airline initiated this strategic programme with the recent launch of services from Almaty to Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan and Urumqi in western China. A fleet of new generation Embraer EM190 airliners have been selected to specifically operate on Air Astana’s expanding Central Asia network, with the first two leased aircraft scheduled for delivery in early 2011. Airbus A320 Family aircraft will operate these services in the interim.

“Over the past seven years, Air Astana has established itself as the industry leader in the CIS/ Central Asia region, with an outstanding reputation for providing safe, reliable and comfortable air services on both its domestic network and long-haul routes to major cities in Europe, Middle East and Asia,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. After detailed market analysis, we have identified enormous opportunities to expand further over next five years with a new network of services to neighbouring countries operated by a fleet of low cost, high comfort, Embraer EM190 aircraft.”

Despite challenging conditions in 2008, Air Astana continued to achieve growth and profitability, with available seat kilometers up by 16% to 7.5 billion compared to 2007. Passengers carried increased by 8% to 2.3 million.  Almost 28,000 scheduled passenger flights were undertaken, with an average load factor of 64%. The fleet grew to 21 all western aircraft  (2 Boeing 767 /4 Boeing 757 /10 Airbus A320 Family / 5 Fokker 50) during the year and will increase further to 28 aircraft by 2013.
 
www.airastana.com

5/22/2009 12:31:29 PM UTC    Comments 

Since 25 February, Iberia is using the remodelled Terminal 3 at London-Heathrow for all its flights to and from the English capital, including those operated by British Airways to/from Madrid and Barcelona and Clickair flights to other Spanish cities.

The move means that eight members of the oneworld airline alliance now use the same Heathrow terminal, facilitating connections between them. Joining Iberia at the terminal are Qantas, Finnair, Royal Jordanian, Cathay, Japan Airlines, and American Airlines. Most British Airways flights continue to operate from Terminal 5

.

Iberia’s check-in counters are in zone F of the building terminal, where four auto check-in machines are available, along with an Iberia ticket sales office, and a service counter for customers and unaccompanied minors. Iberia’s business class passengers and holders of the Iberia Plus frequent flyers Gold or Platinum cards will have access to the terminal’s VIP lounge.

5/21/2009 6:11:36 AM UTC    Comments 

Air Namibia is to suspend its twice weekly service between Windhoek and Gatwick. The last departure outbound from Windhoek will be 28 May returning out of Gatwick 29 May. The airline stresses that the London direct route has only been suspended, until further notice. It will continue to operate five flights per week from its well-established primary European gateway at Frankfurt, offering good connections from the UK. From Namibia it serves other Southern Africa destinations including Cape Town and Johannesburg.

www.airnamibia.com

5/10/2009 4:29:12 PM UTC    Comments 

Continental Airlines has introduced a daily Heathrow - Cleveland summer only service. Flights will be by a two-class Boeing 757. The flights will be operated by Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, seating 25 passengers in the award-winning BusinessFirst cabin and 149 in economy.

www.continental.com

5/10/2009 4:27:27 PM UTC    Comments 

There have been three routes introduced from Stansted Airport recently. Making a popular return is Jersey, which has been added as a 'same plane' service to the daily Guernsey flight by Aurigny. The return leg is direct.

Also new is Bodrum, on Turkey's Aegean coastline, with a Monday only service flight operated by Pegasus Airlines. And lastly, Air Arabia Moroc arrives with the new airline's first ever scheduled flight inbound from Casablanca. The carrier is part of the Air Arabia Group and will use Airbus A320s.

www.stanstedairport.com

5/10/2009 4:21:49 PM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Trains has smartly refurbished and significantly extended its First Class lounge at Euston Station. Open seven days a week the facility can be used by anyone with a valid First Class ticket from Virgin or First ScotRail. With capacity for 140, the first floor lounge offers an environment catering for both business and leisure travellers.

www.virgintrains.co.uk

5/10/2009 4:18:54 PM UTC    Comments 

Hertz has sliced 15% off daily rental rates to the UK, Europe, US and Canada, in a special offer, which makes car rental even more affordable. The special deal applies only for Hertz vehicles booked before 30 June 2009, for a minimum five day rental between 1 June and 31 August 2009.

www.hertz.com

5/10/2009 4:10:12 PM UTC    Comments 

Austrian Airlines has expanded its route network into the Middle East to 15 with the launch of a three times a week service from Vienna to Amman. The capital of the Kingdom of Jordan is a highly popular destination for tourists and business travellers alike, and flights there will operate using an Airbus A320 equipped with Austrian Premium Service. Every amenity required to create a comfortable and relaxed travel experience will be provided in the Business Class section of the aircraft, giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy a unique mix of Austrian hospitality and Oriental flair.

www.aua.com/uk/eng

5/10/2009 4:08:03 PM UTC    Comments 

Eurostar has unveiled a new look and feel for the onboard branding of “Leisure Select” - its first class accommodation for leisure travellers. 

The rich and colourful imagery of the new branding re-defines the Leisure Select experience by using pictures of cultural hotspots - particularly cafes, bars and restaurants - in London, Paris and Brussels that have been selected as offering great value for money. 

Leisure Select offers style, quality and value, and includes a choice of meals and drinks served at seat.  All-inclusive fares start from just £119 return for a weekend day return, or from £149 return for a Saturday night away, with no airline-style extra charges.

Uniquely, Eurostar offers three classes of services on its trains, including two first class products: “Business Premier”, “Leisure Select” and  “Standard Class”.

www.eurostar.com

5/10/2009 9:17:09 AM UTC    Comments 

Air France, Cityjet and VLM Airlines are to operate twice a day during the week and once a day on weekends to Nantes. The 100-minute flights will be operated by VLM Airlines' Fokker 50 aircraft and will offer a choice of Business and Economy Class services.

Passengers using this service can check in at London City Airport just 15 minutes prior to departure (hand luggage only - 20 minutes with hold luggage).

 www.flyvlm.com

5/3/2009 11:40:19 AM UTC    Comments 

London City Airport is now available on your mobile phone with real time flight status information, travel and airport information. Just text LONDON to 60707 and you will be sent a text message enabling you to access the airport’s mobile site. Texts cost £1 per message.

www.londoncityairport.com

5/3/2009 11:37:53 AM UTC    Comments 

Regional airline Air Southwest has started its new double daily service from London City Airport to Plymouth in Devon and Newquay in Cornwall. With a travel time of just under one hour the flights are priced from £29. “These flights fit the busy working lives of our business customers and are ideal for London City customers looking to visit friends and family or make the most of a short break in Cornwall and Devon without the high costs of the Eurozone,” said Peter Davies, Southest MD. He said that more than 5000 seats had already been sold since the routes were announced just a few weeks ago. The services are being operated using Dash 8-300 aircraft.

www.airsouthwest.com

5/3/2009 11:36:03 AM UTC    Comments 

British Airways is offering 5,000 return flights worth up to £15 million to help UK small and medium-sized enterprises win new business abroad.

The airline has teamed up with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and British American Business (BAB) to help SMEs fight the recession.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said: “SMEs are the backbone of the British economy and they are hurting badly, with 120 of them closing every week.

“We’d love to see other British businesses pulling together in order to help the UK out of the recession. We’ve put up the flights to allow the SMEs to travel to do business and we’d be delighted if other companies would join us by offering services and skills that will bring real value and benefit.”

BA said it will also announce further plans to benefit British business and travellers throughout the next six months as part of its campaign to get Britain moving again.

British businesses wishing to join BA and offer help to SMEs, should email business.development@ba.com.

5/3/2009 11:16:22 AM UTC    Comments 

EL AL, the national airline of Israel, has introduced its Business Plus loyalty reward scheme to the UK market.  Particularly appealing to SME’s, EL AL’s Business Plus benefits both the company business travel budget and the employees, as it awards frequent flyer points to both for the same trip.  Business Plus is the most generous travel reward and incentive programme on the London to Tel Aviv route.

The company accumulates points from each flight, which can be redeemed to benefit the travel budget, with bonus tickets and upgrades to premium classes.  The account is easily managed online and companies can authorise their Travel Agent or Travel Management Company to manage their Business Plus account. 

The individual employee also earns points for every flight, in any class, between London and Tel Aviv and these are allocated to a personal MATMID account.  These points can be used for bonus flights and upgrades including personal leisure use. 

Uri Danor, EL AL’s CEO, UK, Ireland and Northern Europe said: “Having recently launched a programme for families (family Flyers Club) we have now introduced Business Plus for the business market. We know that this will encourage more companies to fly EL AL to Israel for business and by rewarding the employees as well as the companies we know it will stimulate the individuals to fly with us for leisure as well.

“This announcement comes at the same time as EL AL adding a third weekly frequency from London Luton Airport that will start in May. The third flight provides business (and leisure) travellers further opportunities to get to Israel. The new flights are timed to connect with onward services South Africa and Asia.”

To celebrate the launch of Business Plus EL AL is giving companies that register online two complimentary passes for the King David lounge at Heathrow.

Any UK & Ireland registered company is eligible to join the Business Plus scheme free of charge – registration is online at www.elal.co.uk

4/27/2009 2:04:41 PM UTC    Comments 

During a trial period (15 April and 1 July), SAS passengers can experience the increased simplicity of travelling with Scandinavian Airlines between any of the following seven airports: Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Helsinki, London Heathrow, Oslo, Stavanger and Stockholm.

The service will be available to all passengers with mobile internet (WAP). Once checked in via SMS or the SAS Mobile Portal, all that is needed is one click to confirm flight details and a Mobile Boarding Pass with a 2D bar code will be displayed. The Mobile Boarding Pass contains the flight number, seat number, departure and arrival time.

The 2D bar code can be used when registering luggage at the SAS Self Service Kiosks, as well as for security, Fast Track security and lounge access.

www.flysas.com

4/19/2009 4:24:20 PM UTC    Comments 

Air New Zealand is doubling the number of Pacific Premium Economy seats available on its Boeing 777-200 ER fleet from 18 to 36, with the first of eight aircraft re-entering service this week after being refitted in Auckland.

Air New Zealand are introducing more legroom with seat pitch increased to 41 inches (from 38 inches) and a new self-service bar area for customers travelling in premium cabins.

It is the third Pacific Premium Economy capacity increase in two years, with Air New Zealand twice increasing the number of seats available on its Boeing 747-400 aircraft, now up to 39 Pacific Premium Economy seats.

www.airnewzealand.co.uk

4/19/2009 4:18:49 PM UTC    Comments 

Etihad Airways is now offering its most frequent customers the opportunity to upgrade their seats at the airport before they fly.

Members of Etihad Guest, the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s loyalty programme, can now use their Etihad Guest miles to upgrade from economy class to business class at any airport on the Etihad global network before they fly. Etihad Guest Gold members can redeem miles to upgrade from business class to first class.

Etihad passengers can also secure an upgrade up to 48 hours before their flight by using the Etihad Guest Service Centre.

www.etihadairways.com

4/19/2009 4:15:07 PM UTC    Comments 

Star Alliance has unveiled the next phase of its move to Heathrow Terminal 1.

Terminal 2 carriers - Austrian, Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and TAP – will relocate to T1 this summer.

Terminal 1 will have a new common and Star Alliance branded check-in area and a separate security line located directly behind the check-in area, which will also feature Fast Track for top-tier customers.

Passengers travelling on Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, bmi, South African Airways, SWISS, United and US Airways will also benefit from the new layout of Terminal 1, with check-in and ticketing facilities for these carriers located in the redesigned main concourse.

Bmi will launch a new lounge product in June as it relocates its international lounge closer to its primary gates.

Once the next phase of the move is completed, the 21 Star Alliance member carriers serving Heathrow will be nearly evenly split between Terminals 1 and 3.

www.staralliance.com

4/11/2009 9:46:35 AM UTC    Comments 

Flybe has announced its new Dusseldorf service. The new route, effective 22nd June 2009, will operate three times a day weekdays, daily on Saturdays and twice daily on Sundays, providing passengers with a convenient and affordable service to this key German destination. The new business-friendly schedule to the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia strengthens Flybe’s commitment to growing its presence at Gatwick.

Lead in fares from £29.99 one way including taxes and airport charges are available through 17th April.

www.flybe.com

4/9/2009 9:30:17 AM UTC    Comments