In April this year, the first of eight new Boeing 777 aircraft to be delivered to Air Canada this year will commence services from Toronto to London Heathrow. As further aircraft are delivered Air Canada will use them on their routes from Toronto to Frankfurt and Tokyo (beginning in June), Vancouver to Tokyo (beginning in July), and Toronto to Hong Kong (beginning in August).

In addition, effective Dec. 14, 2007, Air Canada will introduce daily non-stop service between Vancouver and Sydney, using its new 777 aircraft. Air Canada thus becomes the only airline offering non-stop service between Canada and Australia.

"The introduction of 777 service featuring Air Canada's new in-flight product on these key European, Asian and South Pacific routes places Air Canada on the forefront of North American carriers offering the highest quality of long-haul service and amenities," said Sean Menke, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer.

www.aircanada.ca

3/2/2007 5:30:48 PM UTC    Comments 

JetBlue Airways today announced it will connect two of America's biggest banking centers with the launch of new daily nonstop service from Boston to Charlotte, NC beginning May 1. In addition, the low-fare airline will connect the nation's capital to central Florida with the launch of twice-daily nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Orlando beginning May 1.

JetBlue also announced today that in response to customer demand it will increase service on routes between JKF and both Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, NC and between Las Vegas and Los Angeles/Long Beach, effective May 1. The award-winning airline will also add extra service to Portland, ME for the peak summer season.

In May the airline will also expand services to Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Aruba.

"Today we continue to 'connect the dots' on our growing route map, giving our customers more of the service they've been asking for," said

JetBlue Founder and CEO David Neeleman.

www.jetblue.com 

3/1/2007 4:17:09 PM UTC    Comments 

Westin Hotels & Resorts debuts a new signature social experience, Unwind… A Westin Evening RitualSM, featuring the tastes, sights and sounds of each destination. Designed to bring new energy to its hotels, the Westin Unwind events transform each lobby into a gathering spot, encouraging guests to socialise and combat the loneliness many travellers sometimes experience on the road.

From chocolate and wine pairings to live jazz and rotating art exhibits, the rituals feature a rich array of experiences.  In order to set the stage, the lobbies evolve from day to evening through a variety of subtle sensory cues from music, to scent, to lighting.  Westin partnered with eMusic, the world’s largest digital retailer of independent music, to develop the custom soundtracks for Unwind. Westin is rolling out the Unwind experience in all of its properties globally in the first quarter of 2007.

www.westin.com/unwind

3/1/2007 12:06:59 PM UTC    Comments 

Nok Air, the truly Thai low fare airline, dedicated to expanding the flying experience for all travelers, announces its relocation from Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Muang airport with all its flights operating in and out of Don Muang airport, beginning on 25 March 2007.

Nok Air has up to 7 daily flights to Phuket, 6 daily flights to Chiang Mai, 5 daily flights to Hat Yai, 3 daily flights to Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, up to 2 daily flights to Trang, 2 flights a week to Loei on every Monday and Saturday, and latest 2 daily flights to Krabi, operating on Boeing 737-400s, each with a capacity of up to 156.

3/1/2007 12:05:37 PM UTC    Comments 

New York-based designers, Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates, have been chosen to augment the Sheraton Stockholm’s distinctive Scandinavian design, with a refurbishment which is planned for completion by August 2007. Starting in September the hotel will launch a new Club Floor, where guests will be able to connect and interact in a private Club Lounge, as well as utilise a 120sqm Sheraton Fitness gym equipped with state-of-the-art fitness gear, stay in touch with the Link @ Sheraton, as well as have use of a 24 hour business centre.

www.sheraton.com/stockholm

3/1/2007 12:03:51 PM UTC    Comments 

Silverjet, the British, exclusively business class airline, today published its passenger statistics for the month of February, its first full month operating flights from their private terminal at London Luton airport to Newark, New York.

• Available seats from 1 to 28 Feb 07 were 5,100
• Total passengers carried were 2,911
• There was a 45% load factor

Lawrence Hunt, Chief Executive said: “These are outstanding results after only a full month of operation. We are extremely pleased to also announce that forward bookings and cash flow are substantially ahead of our initial expectations at yields in line with expectations, which gives us high confidence in future passenger numbers and yields."

"Customer feedback has been positive, with many commenting that the Silverjet proposition is changing business class transatlantic travel beyond recognition. We are focused on our customers and delivering them exceptional service including 30 minute check in times, a 6ft 3inch bed and an amazingly low fare of £999 return."

3/1/2007 9:56:51 AM UTC    Comments 

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts joins Saudi Arabian Airlines’ frequent flyer programme with effect from today. This means that Alfursan members will also be able to collect additional miles at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Members of the Alfursan Frequent Flyer Programme will be awarded extra miles whenever they stay at any of the 59 Mövenpick Hotels worldwide at standard rack rates. And, during a special promotional offer throughout June 2007, they will even be able to collect double miles every time they stay at one of the hotels in the Swiss international hotel chain.

Saudi Arabian Airlines is the sixth Frequent Flyer partner. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts already has successful co-operation ventures with Lufthansa (Miles & More), Air France & KLM (Flying Blue), Czech Airlines (CSA OK Club), Qatar Airways (Privilege Club) and Gulf Air (Frequent Flyer).

www.moevenpick-hotels.com

3/1/2007 9:46:16 AM UTC    Comments 

The hotel magnate, Lord Forte, has died at his home in London at the age of 98. A company spokeswoman said: "Lord Forte passed away peacefully in his sleep at 7am at his home in London." 

2/28/2007 2:58:29 PM UTC    Comments 

Tiger Airways, Singapore’s low fare airline, is adding more flights to its (Northern) Summer flight schedule for its Singapore – Shenzhen and Singapore – Guangzhou routes in response to strong demand for more low fare air travel on these popular routes.

Tiger Airways will be adding an additional two flights weekly to both routes from 25 March 2007. This will increase its weekly flights between Singapore – Shenzhen to five from three currently. At the same time, Tiger Airways will be beefing up service on its Singapore – Guangzhou route to daily flights from five flights a week currently.

www.tigerairways.com.

2/28/2007 9:46:29 AM UTC    Comments 

EVA Air, the Taiwanese airline has been awarded “Best Livery” in the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2007, for its quirky Hello Kitty jet.

Travel editor at Wallpaper* Jeroen Bergmans explained the decision: “Although airlines do try to be innovative in terms of design and luxury, often their first class lounges end up looking bland, corporate and at best like a modern furniture showroom. The food in first and business class may be Michelin-starred, the service of a very high standards and the seats my convert into flatbeds, but it is rare to come across a product that is fun and quirky. The EVA Air Hello Kitty Jet is camp, crazy and quintessentially Asian and will also keep those wailing children entertained throughout the flight!”

EVA Air’s two Hello Kitty jets have proved amazingly popular on routes from Taiwan to Japan, with flights booked up for months in advance and a huge demand for EVA Air, Hello Kitty memorabilia.

KW Nieh, EVA Air’s spokesperson commented: ”We are of course delighted to be honoured by such a prestigious and influential title. Our customers love the EVA Air Hello Kitty Jet and it is gratifying to be recognised internationally as an innovative airline.”

www.evaair.com
 

2/27/2007 1:31:45 PM UTC    Comments 

Long holidays or extended business trips in Bangkok could not be anywhere else, but at Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel…

Located away from the hustle and bustle of the city but with easy access to downtown, Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel lets you breathe more easily and makes you feel at home with excellent facilities, friendly and attentive staff, who will welcome and take care of you warm-heartedly from day one through to the last of your stay.

With a reputation for efficient and professional service, comfortable and well-maintained guest rooms, excellent business and leisure facilities, the hotel offers value for money and a homely home-from-home experience. The hotel’s full range of business facilities can cater to any corporate function that will ease the hassle of setting up events, meetings and conferences.

Stay for one month or more and benefit from the following:

• Special discounted monthly rates
• 3 items of laundry per day
• Special monthly broadband internet rates
• Complimentary Wi-Fi in the lobby lounge
• Complimentary morning and evening shuttlebus service to the nearest BTS/MRT station Mo Chit

For Information, www.amari.com/airport/

2/27/2007 1:27:36 PM UTC    Comments 

Singapore's grand old dame, Raffles Hotel, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.  Raffles Hotel opened in 1887 in a rather sombre-looking old bungalow known as the Beach House.  Today, it is one of the last great 19th century hotels in Asia.  

Declared a National Monument in 1987, the hotel has grown from strength to strength. It was named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. Over the years the hotel has evolved into one of the world's most beloved grand hotels and welcomed innumerable celebrities, writers and royalty such as Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad and Charlie Chaplin.

Raffles Hotel is also where the Singapore Sling was invented. The Singapore Sling was originally created by Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon.  The exact date is still in question, with some people claiming it was in 1915, some 1913, while the hotel itself claims that it was created sometime prior to 1910.  The original recipe was apparently lost sometime in the 1930s, and the drink that they currently serve at the hotel's Long Bar is based on memories of former bartenders, and some written notes that were discovered.

Today Raffles Hotel stands as a jewel in the crown of Singapore's hospitality industry, renowned and loved for its inimitable style.

2/27/2007 6:42:45 AM UTC    Comments 

Tiger Airways, Singapore’s low fare airline, has launched a pre-flight Seat Selection option for all flights on its Perth route. Passengers now have the option to pre-select their seats during the online booking process or via the call centre, for an affordable fee.

This easy to use system allows passengers the choice of selecting their seats prior to their flight, so that they can be assured of their flight seating arrangements.

Tiger Airways plans to roll out Tiger Seat Selector to its other Australian route in March 2007.

www.tigerairways.com

2/27/2007 6:41:56 AM UTC    Comments 

Tomorrow the first and only Icelandic Low Fare airline, Iceland Express, will celebrate its fourth anniversary.

The young and enterprising airline plays a pivotal role in the thriving Icelandic tourism industry and has contributed to the growth experienced over the last four years. In 2003, when Iceland Express introduced fares at up to 80% below the competition, this fascinating island suddenly became within the reach - both economically and in perception of proximity - to a far greater number of travellers.

Arnar Þór Hafþórsson, Marketing Manager, said " Since we first took off in 2003, the number of tourists visiting Iceland has grown by 16.5%. In the same period the Icelanders' frequency in traveling by air has grown by more than 35%". With its consistently good on-time performance and on-board service, Iceland Express has established itself firmly in both leisure and business travel markets.

Starting in Summer 2007, Iceland Express will consolidate its key position in Europe buy flying to 13 destinations. These are Alicante, Basel, Billund, Berlin, Eindhoven, Frankfurt-Hahn, Friderichshafen, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, London-Stansted, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm.

www.icelandexpress.com.

2/26/2007 6:12:42 PM UTC    Comments 

VLM Airlines has today broadened the choice of routes for travellers from the North West with the start of non-stop flights from Manchester to Rotterdam. The service will operate twice each weekday, and once on Sunday.

With the start of this new route, VLM Airlines is increasing the choice of direct services it offers from Manchester Airport, following the launch of its non-stop service to Antwerp in October 2006. The carrier also offers a frequent service to London City from Manchester, which will shortly be increased to nine flights each weekday, where passengers can make quick and convenient connections to other destinations on the airline's network.

2/26/2007 6:08:35 PM UTC    Comments 

Silverjet are offering passengers the opportunity to travel with a companion fee of charge when they book a flexible return ticket from Luton to New York before March 5th. Passengers must travel between May 1st and September 15th.

To book, call 0871 700 8520 and quote JETSET.

2/26/2007 4:42:00 PM UTC    Comments 

Beginning in November of this year, Air New Zealand will launch three non-stop flights a week between Vancouver and Auckland. This new service will operate between November 2, 2007 and March 28, 2008 to coincide with the peak travel season between the two destinations. It will also provide another alternative for Star Alliance passengers flying to New Zealand by code sharing with Air Canada.

The service, that will take around 14 hours, will be on Air New Zealand’s new fleet of Boeing 777-200ERs, which feature lie-flat beds, vast entertainment options and award-winning food and wine.  

www.airnewzealand.com 

2/26/2007 1:05:39 PM UTC    Comments 

The number of business trips taken by people in the UK to emerging markets in Asia has risen by as much as 167% to some destinations in the past 12 months, according to leading business travel provider Co-operative Travel Management.
 
The study shows a huge increase in travel to do business with Asia’s ‘tiger economies’. China leads the way with a 167% rise in business trips to Shanghai in 2006 while Mumbai in India saw an increase of 151%.

Co-operative Travel Management’s research backs up data from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual CEO Briefing survey, which reveals that 85% of business leaders are planning to expand their dealings with overseas markets over the next 12 months with Asia seen as a key target.

David Pitty, Director of Sales at Co-operative Travel Management, said: “Asia is considered to offer the greatest opportunities for business growth in 2007 and this is reflected in current travel trends. Rapidly expanding economies in South East Asia are proving to be a huge draw for local companies looking to open up new markets or establish supply agreements.

“With airlines looking to increase services to the East, and airport bosses keen to attract additional services to feed expansion, traffic growth to this region looks set to continue.”

FASTEST GROWING ASIAN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR UK BUSINESSES (2005/2006)

Destination                     % increase in business trips in 2006
Shanghai                                                167%
Mumbai                                                  151%
Shanghai Pu Dong                                    150%
Hong Kong                                               64%
Beijing                                                    55%
Bangalore                                                39%

2/23/2007 12:03:23 PM UTC    Comments 

From now until the end of March 2007, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) are offering 2 for 1 in their Business Class cabin on their flights from London to Kiev. UIA has a daily service from Gatwick with an additional weekly service from Heathrow.  There are plans to increase services from London Heathrow as soon as bi-lateral agreements between UK and UA allow.

www.fly-uia.co.uk  

2/22/2007 6:13:27 PM UTC    Comments 

For the summer 2007 season, starting on March 25^th, the Air France KLM Group will be increasing capacity on their long-haul routes, particularly to Latin America, Asia and North America with new routes and extra frequencies on existing routes.

On the medium-haul network, KLM is increasing flight frequencies from Amsterdam to Eastern and Northern Europe. At the same time, Air France is boosting capacity, mainly to North African destinations.

This summer KLM will replace their Boeing 767-300ER’s with new Airbus 330-200s and modifiy the MD-11 economy cabins with new seats. The second part of the cabin upgrade, which will begin this autumn, will entail replacing the current Business Class seats with new lie-flat seats.

www.klm.com       www.airfrance.co.uk

2/22/2007 6:01:25 PM UTC    Comments 

In July 2007 Accor will open its second Sofitel hotel in Dubai - Sofitel The Palace.

The property is situated at the heart of one of Dubai’s latest and most spectacular projects, The Old Town Island, which is part of the Downtown Burj Dubai development.

The Palace offers its guests a Guest Relation service on every floor, a Butler attached to each room and a limousine service to the airport or main shopping areas. All rooms feature Mybed, the Sofitel bedding concept, which aims to offer a more rejuvenating sleep and wireless internet access.

The Sofitel Palace offers its guests a business centre, secretarial and computer facilities, conference rooms for groups ranging from 12 to 300 people, and a 'Board Meeting Room’, which ensures confidentiality and efficiency for up to 16 people.

www.sofitel.com

2/22/2007 5:50:52 PM UTC    Comments 

Independent British airline Astraeus is to launch a new service between London-Gatwick and St John's, Newfoundland, Canada, in May 2007 - further extending its portfolio of niche market routes.

The route will be the only year-round direct flight between St John's and London, and will operate three times a week - Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday - departing St John's at approximately 8pm (local time) and arriving in London at 5am (local time) the following day. Return flights from London depart Gatwick at 4pm (local time) arriving in St John's at 630pm (local time). Tickets will go on sale early in February 2007.

Astraeus will initially operate a Boeing 737-700 configured to seat 129 passengers. The flight will be approximately six hours. The airline will sell seats direct, as well as through travel agents and tour operators.
Tickets will be priced from CAN$499.

www.flyastraeus.com

2/22/2007 4:36:07 PM UTC    Comments 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has announced the opening of Shuttle Launch Experience, slated for May 25, 2007. This authentic $60 million launch simulation will take visitors on their own journey with the sights, sounds and sensations of the space shuttle’s voyage to Earth’s orbit.  Designed in consultation with NASA and space shuttle astronauts, this unprecedented experience inspires visitors’ spirit of adventure and exploration of our final frontier. 

Shuttle Launch Experience will take visitors from around the world through the sensations of blasting into Earth’s orbit from the birthplace of U.S. space exploration – Kennedy Space Center.  A team of astronauts, NASA experts and renowned attraction designers conceived this authentic ride experience, deploying sophisticated motion-based platforms, special effects seats and high fidelity visual and audio presentations.  

www.KennedySpaceCenter.com

2/22/2007 4:27:26 PM UTC    Comments 

Norwegian, Scandinavia’s largest low cost carrier, today announced new routes from Oslo to Antalya and Istanbul in Turkey. The route to Antalya will be operated once weekly from the 5th of May and the route to Istanbul will commence the 2nd of June with twice weekly flights.

The routes to Antalya and Istanbul are a significant step in our network strategy, and also represents Norwegian’s first route outside Europe. We believe Turkey to be a growth area, and we shortly plan to increase the number of flights to the region, said Daniel Skjeldam, Norwegian’s Director of Network and Revenue.

Prices: One way fares from EUR 42 including all taxes

www.norwegian.no

2/21/2007 12:52:28 PM UTC    Comments