EL AL, the national airline of Israel, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at JFK Airport to celebrate the inaugural flight of the company’s new state-of-the-art Boeing 777 aircraft. Every aircraft in the EL AL fleet is named after a city in Israel. This newest 777, named to honour the town of Sderot, which is located in southern Israel, will be utilized on the non-stop New York-Tel Aviv route.

www.elal.co.il  

8/8/2007 2:22:21 PM UTC     

Vistors to London can now download an innovative new range of audio walking tour experiences available from Soundmap. The walks all feature well-known narrators giving the low-down on their neighbourhoods and immersing listeners through music, sounds and interviews.

Soundmap takes listeners on an audio journey around some of the most vibrant and exciting parts of the city such as Camden Town, Soho, King's Road, Brixton and Brick Lane. Users simply download the walk, transfer it to their iPod / MP3 player, then go to the start point and press play.

Over the course of each hour long walk, listeners are introduced to a range of local characters such as Jerry the Stitch, tailor to the notorious Kray brothers; Blacker Dread the renowned Rastafarian record shop owner; Norman Balon publican for 63 years of Soho's Coach & Horses and Michael Wojas, caretaker of the legendary members club, the Colony Room.

Three walks (Camden Town, Soho and King's Road) are available now, with Brick Lane and Brixton to follow soon.

www.soundmap.co.uk

8/8/2007 1:59:12 PM UTC     

Marriott is to launch its deluxe serviced apartment brand, Marriott Executive Apartments (MEA), in Kazakhstan later this year in Atyrau, the centre of Kazakhstan’s oil industry. The 21-story, 160-unit property will be located on Satpaeva Street in Atyrau and will be one the first internationally branded serviced apartments in the city.

The Renaissance Atyrau Hotel, also managed by Marriott International, is located approximately 800 meters from the site and the Atyrau International Airport is located approximately 15 minutes from the city centre, which is served by a number of regional carriers.

There currently are 15 Marriott Executive Apartments in key global cities such as Brussels, London, Prague, Dubai, Bangkok, Budapest, Mumbai, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. Additional Marriott Executive Apartments are scheduled to open in Gurgaon (India), Seoul, Cairo, Doha (Qatar) and Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) in the next 24 months.

www.marriott.com

8/8/2007 1:43:08 PM UTC     

Finnair flights to Bangkok will be boosted during the winter season in response to high demand. As of December 3, flights to Bangkok will operate twice daily as the peak season gets under way.

Finnair's other Asian destinations also include: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Delhi and Mumbai. Seoul in South Korea is to be added to the list in summer 2008.

www.finnair.com

8/7/2007 11:21:34 AM UTC     

Forty independent transportation companies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Italy, Scotland and Spain have announced the formation and launch of the world's largest door-to-door airport shuttle company, GO Airport Shuttle, Inc.

Serving 110 airports as geographically diverse as Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, Love Field in Dallas Fort Worth, London Heathrow and Edinburgh, GO boasts a fleet of 3,765 vehicles, carrying almost 29 million passengers annually.

The local companies, each of which formerly operated under a separate name, are currently converting their vans, motor coaches and sedans to a uniform green and white GO identity.

A key component of the new company's business model is a central, Web-based reservation system, which also launches today. Through it, customers can book transportation to and from both departure and destination airports, or they can call one phone number

John McCarthy, newly-elected president of GO Airport Shuttle and president of Continental Air Transport in Chicago, which operates GO Airport Express said, "Corporate travel managers, convention managers and travel companies tell us they want to do business with one supplier and one billing system. We believe that individual travellers also will appreciate the opportunity to have a single reliable source for airport transportation, regardless of destination”.

www.goairportshuttle.com  

8/6/2007 3:44:41 PM UTC     

EasyJet and Wizz Air have announced that they will start charging for each piece of checked baggage.

EasyJet will be charging £2.00 per piece of hold baggage per sector from October 1st. Previously, they did not charge for the first bag but levied £5.00 for each additional piece. Maximum weight per passenger remains at 20 kg.

Wizz Air too was charging only for additional pieces but said it will now charge €3.00 per bag at the time of the initial booking or €6.00 per bag if paid after the initial booking. The policy change is effective for travel from October 27th unless already booked. Wizz will continue to charge €8 for each kg. above the 20-kg. allowance.

www.easyjet.com www.wizzair.com

8/6/2007 11:31:35 AM UTC     

Christmas is a special time of year, and London is the special place to be. And Red Carnation is offering, It's a Wonderful Life package at their three five-star London properties: The Milestone, The Egerton and "41."

Available between 23 November 2007 and 6 January 2008, It's a Wonderful Life includes a minimum two night stay in luxurious accommodations plus a DVD of the classic movie
It's A Wonderful Life, full English breakfast daily tea for two with Christmas cake on one day, a bottle each of red and white wine with the hotel's compliments lunch or dinner for two on one day - with mince pies, of course and if you are staying Christmas Day, a stocking stuffed with seasonal goodies.
  
Rates are from: The Milestone Hotel - £600 for a Double and £1172 for a Suite; "41" - £560 for a Double and £857 for a Suite; and The Egerton - £560 for a Double and £852 for a Suite Rates quoted are based on double occupancy, inclusive of taxes, and subject to availability.

www.redcarnation.com  

8/3/2007 9:15:13 AM UTC     

The 59 all-suite Anantara Resort Seminyak in Bali, just a 30 minute drive from the international airport, is scheduled to open 15 December this year.

www.anantara.com

8/3/2007 8:53:48 AM UTC     

Etihad Airways' award-winning loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, has unveiled a series of spectacular promotions to celebrate its first anniversary.

The 'Birthday Bonanza' prizes include tickets to the Formula 1 grand prix in Belgium and Italy, which feature the Etihad-Aldar Spyker Formula 1 team, as well as a trip to the ' Boeing Experience' in Seattle, USA.

Members can win flights to Brisbane, holidays to Thailand, and a 'mega raffle' with prizes including shopping vouchers, ipods and diamond jewellery, plus hotel stays at the luxurious Shangri-La Qarayat Al Beri or the Emirates Palace.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' executive vice president marketing and product, said, 'The variety of prizes on offer during the 'Birthday Bonanza' promotion underlines the importance Etihad places on rewarding members of the Etihad Guest programme. We also anticipate many new members joining in order to take advantage of these fantastic prizes.'

Since the programme's launch in 2006 Etihad Guest has gained more than 170,000 members worldwide.

Etihad Guest has 60 global partners and more than 600 rewards. The latest additions include Millennium Hotels, Shangri-La, Banyan Tree and Etihad In-flight duty free shopping.

www.etihad.ae

8/2/2007 4:10:25 PM UTC     

This coming winter will see a massive increase in flights from the UK to Budapest from airports that have not previously served the city. The addition of 15 Ryanair services from Liverpool, Bristol, East Midlands and Glasgow Prestwick plus the services by EasyJet, Wizz Air, Malev and British Airways from Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow will boost both business and leisure traffic to Budapest.

8/2/2007 11:20:19 AM UTC     

Business and leisure travellers have been paying more for their hotel rooms so far this year according to a survey from Deloitte. The HotelBenchmark survey shows that European hotel rates have risen by 5.8% this year.

Visitors to the Americas Cup held in Valencia helped hoteliers increased average room rates by a staggering 33.4%. Istanbul hoteliers have benefited from increased demand from a range of conferences, trade shows and sporting events. Lisbon has continued to perform well with the city also hosting a number of conferences, including the biennial Alimentaria International Food Show in May, which attracted 40,000 visitors.

London did not disappoint either with business and leisure travel to the UK’s capital remaining strong. As a result London continues to achieve the highest occupancy in Europe at 80.5%. London also had the second highest average room rate at €185.00 with Moscow topping the list at €263.00.

The region continues to benefit from robust economic performance – particularly across the euro area – which is helping drive both business and leisure demand for hotels. The outlook for the rest of the year looks promising however concerns remain over continuing rising credit levels and the prospect of further interest rate rises, which would place pressure on consumers discretionary spending and dampen leisure travel.

8/2/2007 10:37:05 AM UTC     

Passengers on the ‘kangaroo route’ to Australia now have extra options as Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) add extra flights to Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth from Hong Kong this autumn.

Melbourne becomes a three-times-daily service from October 1, while flights to Adelaide will become a daily service, operating on a triangular routing through Melbourne. There will also be an extra flight to Perth every Sunday increasing the service to five-times-a-week service with effect from October 28.
 
The extra services coincide with the imminent arrival of the new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which will include the new three-class long-haul cabin product.

Cathay also fly 3 times a day to Sydney and once a day to Brisbane and Cairns. 

Cathay Pacific operates four non-stop flights a day from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Hong Kong International Airport.

www.cathaypacific.com

8/2/2007 9:52:30 AM UTC     

EasyJet is to fly from Glasgow International Airport to Paris Charles De Gaulle from October 29 with one ways fares from £21.99. The route is expected to be popular for business travellers as well as those taking a short break to the French capital.

EasyJet will also start services from Edinburgh to Paris (CDG) on September 10, Krakow on October 29 and Gdansk on October 30.

 

www.easyjet.com  

Transport
8/1/2007 1:52:07 PM UTC     

A code share agreement between Copa Airlines and AeroMexico begins today, August 1st, 2007.

“The agreement enables Copa Airlines to further expand the reach and scope of its Hub of the Americas in Panama City by providing us connectivity to some of Mexico’s most important cities”, said Jorge Garcia, Commercial VP of Copa Airlines.

Passengers travelling on these code share flights will receive a seamless travel experience, moving between the carriers with a single reservation, ticket and with luggage checked to their final destination. Also, passengers will be able to earn valuable miles, choosing between either of the airlines’ frequent flyer programs.

www.copaairlines.co.uk

8/1/2007 8:48:40 AM UTC     

Flybe has announced that all fares promoted across its website are now all inclusive, made up of the basic flight cost plus all fixed non-optional costs.

From today, all advertised fares will include all of the following costs:

•Government taxes including Air Passenger Duty
•Passenger Service Charge
•Security and airport charges

Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer Flybe comments: “Flybe is always mindful of the need to provide quality customer service and this move highlights our commitment towards ensuring that the customer is in full control of their booking, by knowing exactly what they are paying for from the start. With our transparent pricing policy, what you see is what you get.”

www.flybe.com

8/1/2007 8:33:24 AM UTC     

W Hotels of New York has partnered with Sheila Kelley's S Factor New York, and put a flirty spin on the ultimate girl's weekend getaway. Ladies are invited to grab their girlfriends and experience a New York weekend with attitude! W Hotels of New York Girls Getaway Weekend combines a sassy W experience with introductory classes to Sheila Kelley's S Factor, a groundbreaking movement technique that will help ladies discover a great new way to workout, inspired by yoga, ballet, striptease and pole dancing. 

The package is available until the end of the year at W New York, W Times Square, W The Court, W The Tuscan and W Union Square, from £174 ($349) and is based on double occupancy.

www.welcometowhotels.com/sfactor  

8/1/2007 8:25:41 AM UTC     

Lost your luggage? Don’t know what airlines charge for bags taken on the plane or put in the hold? Or don’t know what to do when baggage is lost? Then help is at hand.

With recent horror stories in the press of 20,000 missing bags at Heathrow Airport, UK flight price comparison website Cheapflights.co.uk, has publishes a new set of handy tips and guides comparing the baggage allowance and delayed luggage policy of leading airlines.

David Soskin, CEO of Cheapflights.co.uk, said “Baggage allowances and delayed luggage are two of the biggest headaches facing passengers today, and with airline policy constantly changing, the need for consumer champions like Cheapflights.co.uk to provide simple and accessible information to passengers is crucial”

www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips

7/31/2007 9:24:30 AM UTC     

Abu-Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has signed a three-year deal to be the main sponsor of English premiership rugby union team, Harlequins.

The ‘seven figure’ deal is Etihad’s first major sporting sponsorship deal in the UK and the biggest in Harlequins’ history. It will see the airline’s logo emblazoned on Harlequins’ famous quartered shirt as well as on the roof of their Twickenham Stoop stadium in south west London. Their East Stand will be renamed the Etihad Stand

James Hogan said, “This new partnership with Harlequins will provide Etihad Airways with an ideal international platform to connect with our customers in the UK and around the world.

www.etihad.ae

7/31/2007 8:39:03 AM UTC     

www.easyjet.com

7/27/2007 3:55:17 PM UTC     

SWISS has made it simpler than ever to book its flights online. The website sports a new look, and is even easier to use and navigate than before.

All the innovations are aimed squarely at customer convenience. Top priority has been given to presenting SWISS flight offers and the booking process as clearly and simply as possible. Indeed, the most attractive offers of all are now prominently displayed on the site’s home page.

The new look website permits visitors to book their SWISS flight by making just a few mouse-clicks on an interactive world map, eliminating the time-consuming switching between keyboard and mouse. It also gives greater emphasis to value-for-money considerations within the booking process.

www.swiss.com

7/27/2007 2:55:31 PM UTC     

Austrian Airlines are offering to take their Miles & More passengers that ’extra mile’. Well actually it’s from the lounge to the apron or their next long haul flight with car rental partner SIXT AG, but who’s counting.

The goal is to offer a relaxed experience that will also save time for HON Circle members, their families and one additional travelling companion when flying with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa or Swiss from Vienna.

www.aua.com

7/27/2007 8:47:42 AM UTC     

The Russian airline, KD avia, has further developed its hub and spoke operation at Kaliningrad Airport on the Baltic coast, with easy connections from a dozen European cities to 10 major Russian destinations, each with populations over 1 Million.

From the UK the Boeing 737-300 aircraft services are flown three times weekly from London Gatwick on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with easy connections and checked through baggage to Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Ufa, Volgograd, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Omsk and Kazan.

During June 2007 a new 30,000 sq feet air terminal was opened at Kaliningrad's Khrabrovo Airport which will easily handle 3 million passengers. With further development work already underway this capacity will be increased to 8 Million by 2008.
  
www.kdavia.co.uk   

7/27/2007 8:26:48 AM UTC     

Air India has taken delivery of its first 777-200LR (Longer Range) Worldliner airplane. This is the first 777 from Air India's order of 68 Boeing jetliners and they will receive 6 more 777’s this year.

Air India will use the 777-200LR to provide direct, non-stop flights between the United States and India. It begins service to New York's John F. Kennedy from Mumbai, India, on 1 August 2007 and will offer three classes with flat bed seats in first and business and larger economy seating.

www.airindia.com

7/27/2007 8:11:15 AM UTC     

As part of an $18 million make over the Eaton Hotel, Hong Kong has opened a new contemporary BizSuite, a suite customised for the modern business traveller. To celebrate, the hotel is offering a special introductory package of HK$2,000 (£125.00) per night in August 2007 and HK$2,250 (£141.00) in September, when staying for two nights or above.

The one bedroom suite incorporates all the must have state-of-the-art technology including integrated laptop docking station which turns the laptop into a powerful desktop with complimentary wired and wireless broadband internet, and a 4-in-1 multipurpose fax/scanner/printer/copier, a Bluetooth mouse and webcam. A total of three LCD screens are in both the living area and bathroom, and a DVD player and iHomeT are provided too.

The BizSuite Package includes complimentary extras ranging from one limousine transfer from airport and a 45-minute foot massage per night which is accumulative to E Club privileges of continental breakfast, two hours daily use of a boardroom, free dry cleaning and express check-in / out.

The special introductory package is subject to 10% service charge and 3% government tax, and is valid until 30 September 2007.

www.langhamhotels.com 

7/27/2007 8:00:19 AM UTC