Virgin Blue and its three year old New Zealand subsidiary Pacific Blue are gearing up to launch a new domestic airline for New Zealand in November, with fares from NZ$39.00.

Initially the carrier will fly on New Zealand’s key trunk routes Auckland-Wellington (5 daily return), Auckland-Christchurch (2 daily return) and Wellington-Christchurch (3 daily return) from 15 November 2007.

The internal flights will complement Pacific Blue’s existing international services, providing convenient connections from within New Zealand to Australia, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

www.virginblue.com www.flypacificblue.com

8/23/2007 8:58:47 AM UTC     

After three years of extensive renovations and revitalization, LaSource, a luxury spa resort, is set to open its doors on December 15, 2007.

Nestled along Pink Gin Beach on the Spice Island of Grenada, LaSource with just 100 rooms offers a personalised first-class, all-inclusive holiday experience that combines the best of an active holiday with a relaxed spa retreat.

Guests can enjoy a variety of land and water sports, which include snorkelling, waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, ocean kayaking and hydro-boarding. Certified divers are entitled to one complimentary dive per day during their stay.

Land activities include tennis, archery, fencing, aerobics and stretch classes and a nine-hole, par three executive golf course. LaSource also offers a range of holistic activities such as yoga, Tai’Chi and meditation.

To complement the holistic nature of the resort, Cuisine LaSource is globally influenced and designed for healthier eating without sacrificing flavour. There are buffet and a la carte dining options in the Garden Restaurant, the Great House Restaurant and Oscar's Beach Restaurant.  LaSource has three bars – The Terrace Bar, Beach Bar or Piano Bar – for a pre-dinner cocktail or evening nightcap.

www.theamazingholiday.com

8/22/2007 4:18:07 PM UTC     

Hertz has expanded its Green Collection of rental vehicles in the USA, to now offer almost 35,000 cars at 50 major airports.

For every vehicle rented from the Green Collection in America prior to 13 June 2008, Hertz will contribute US$1 to the National Park foundation.

www.hertz.com

8/22/2007 9:23:33 AM UTC     

The 92 room, 5-star Mövenpick Resort Bodrum in Turkey, located in the hill top location of Bitez and offering breathtaking views of Gumbet Bay and the Aegean Sea, has opened its doors following an 18 month construction process at a cost of US$12 million. The hotel is only a ten-minute drive from the centre of Bodrum and a thirty minute transfer from Milas-Bodrum airport.

Created in a stylish Mediterranean using the colours and characteristics of Bodrum, the emphasis has been placed on individuality and privacy and a chill out atmosphere.

A range of leisure facilities are available within the resort, including two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a wellness centre. The wellness centre offers a Turkish bath (hammam), sauna and treatments such as Thai, Shiatsu, anti-stress, sports and deep tissue massages, aromatherapy and hot stone therapy.

A business centre is also available and offers three rooms ideal for conferences and banquets for up to 100 people. State-of-the-art AV equipment also complements the hotel's in-room wireless LAN connectivity to offer business delegates the complete support package they need.

The new resort is a member of Great Hotels of the World's niche luxury romantic and business & incentive travel collections.

www.moevenpick.com

8/22/2007 9:17:19 AM UTC     

Hong Kong Express Airways is to launch flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok. Set to commence in early September, the new service will be the second of three scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Thailand that Hong Kong Express Airways will operate before the end of the year, Chiang Mai having been launched in June 2006.

Commenting on the new service, Hong Kong Express Airways President Mr. Guo said, “While we await the liberalisation of routes to promising mainland China markets, we decided to diversify our fleet capacity to popular points in South East Asia. As well as offering more options to passengers flying from Hong Kong, the introduction of flights to Bangkok and other destinations we plan to unveil over the coming few months will also create a network of connecting traffic from our existing mainland routes.”

Hong Kong Express Airways will expand its regional route offering with an additional five routes presently being planned for introduction later this year, which will include the airline’s third route between Hong Kong and Thailand – Phuket

www.hongkongexpress.com

8/22/2007 9:03:23 AM UTC     

In an effort to curb pollution in the build up to the Olympic games China has experimented by pulling 1.3 million cars off the streets of Beijing each day over a four day period in an effort to reduce emissions by 40%.

Experts said the air quality during the test was rated as ‘fairly good’. During the test 200,000 extra people used the city’s subway system.

It is also hoped that pollution and congestion in Olympic City will be eased further by the availability of 50,000 bicycles for rent at 230 outlets close to subway stations, commercial districts, Olympic venues, hotels and office buildings as well as in big communities.

Beijing Bicycle Rental Services has so far put 5,000 bikes for rent at 30 franchise outlets. Bicycles can be hired at one outlet and dropped off at another.  

8/21/2007 8:46:29 AM UTC     

Accor has opened its 20^th hotel in China, the Sofitel Wanda Beijing. The hotel is located on Jianguo Road between The World Trade Centre and Dawang Bridge with easy access to the China International Exhibition Centre, the city subway, major attractions and is only 30 minutes via airport expressway to Beijing Capital International Airport.

The 27-storey Sofitel Wanda Beijing has 417 rooms and suites, including 63 Club Sofitel rooms and a dedicated Club Sofitel executive lounge.

Business travellers are well catered for with free wireless broadband, an executive desk and top loading depository safe in every room as well as comprehensive business services.

There are Special Opening Packages where guests can enjoy Club Sofitel benefits when they book a Deluxe Premium Room and are valid until 30 November 2007, subject to 15% service charge.

www.accor.com

8/21/2007 8:20:09 AM UTC     

The Guild of Travel Management Companies has reported a 13% increase in the first 6 months of 2007 against the same period last year. By category air bookings were 7% ahead, hotel bookings 18%, rail 24% and car hire 11% ahead.

However, in percentage terms the biggest growth came in the ‘other’ category, which increased by 28%. These included such business trip elements as airport car parking, chauffeur-drive transfers, and passport and visa services.

www.gtmc.org

8/20/2007 2:31:20 PM UTC     

Air China has introduced “Air Express”, for passengers flying between Beijing and Shanghai. There are 20 scheduled daily flights (including 7 code-sharing flights) and the service includes, special check-in counters, baggage service, security inspection, and boarding channels.

Passengers can also benefit from using its 24-hour telephone call center in China (4008-100-999) for enquiries, or by using the Air China website to check in online.

As host carrier, Air China is also working to deliver excellent air transport services for the needs of the Beijing 2008 Olympics next summer and the Shanghai World Exposition in 2010.

Air China is the most frequent airline between Europe and China and serves Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Rome, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow and Madrid with non-stop service to Beijing or Shanghai.

www.airchina.co.uk

8/20/2007 2:04:00 PM UTC     

Leading Brazilian airline TAM is to operate four additional weekly frequencies to Germany, totaling seven weekly flights to that country. The company should start daily operations to Frankfurt by the end of the year.

In Europe, it already has direct flights to Paris (three flights per day, two from São Paulo and one from Rio de Janeiro); London (one flight per day) and Milan (one flight per day).

In the United States it flies to Miami (three flights per day, two from São Paulo and one from Manaus) and to New York (two flights per day).

TAM also serves various destinations within South America: Buenos Aires and Cordoba (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), and Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba (Bolivia).

The company has already announced the beginning of daily flights to Caracas (Venezuela) in September, Montevideo (Uruguay) in October, and Madrid (Spain) in December.

TAM has been the leader in the Brazilian domestic market since July 2003, and held a 50.6% domestic market share and 64.3% international market share at the end of July 2007.

www.tam.com.br

8/20/2007 7:59:40 AM UTC     

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is celebrating its 1st anniversary of ticket sales and the launch of three additional flights between Hong Kong and London  from 16 December 2007, bringing the number to 10 a week.

www.oasishongkomg.com

8/17/2007 9:01:30 AM UTC     

Singapore Airlines have announced that the auction of seats on its first commercial flight of their Airbus A380 will commence on August 27 and will run until September 10, with all proceeds going to charity.

Singapore Airlines will take delivery on Monday 15 October at a ceremony in Toulouse, France and the first commercial flight will be from Singapore to Sydney on Thursday 25 October.

While the Airbus A380 can hold over 800 passengers, Singapore Airlines' double-decker aircraft will be configured with 471 seats in three classes: Economy, Business and the new Singapore Airlines Suites.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chew Choon Seng, said the delivery would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry. “Everyone at Singapore Airlines is keenly anticipating the delivery of this new plane, and our people are working hard on final preparation for its entry into service. The first flight promises to be one of the most exciting occasions in aviation history.”

The auction will be for single, double and multiple seats in each class. All seats will be sold on a one-way basis, so people wanting to fly on both legs will need to bid twice.

www.singaporeairlines.com

8/17/2007 8:20:51 AM UTC     

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the re-design of SPG.com, the dedicated website for members of Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty programme.  The new look, new tools, features and downloads provide members with a personalised and customised on-line experience.

One of the highlights of the re-designed site is MY SPG, through which members can select which tools will appear in their portal every time they log on, including Special Offers, My Favourites, Award Quickfind, TheLobby.com and Starpoint Tracker, which helps members manage and keep track of their Starpoint balances and wish lists.

www.spg.com     

8/15/2007 3:10:55 PM UTC     

India's Jet Airways is to launch flights from Delhi to Toronto via Brussels, five times a week from September 5, 2007. Jet will operate the route with an Airbus 330-200 aircraft, with 30 seats in Premiere Class and 190 seats in the Economy Class.

This announcement follows on the heels of the start of daily flights from Mumbai to New York (Newark) via its European hub in Brussels using a brand new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft that accommodates 312 passengers in a three-class layout.

www.jetairways.com

8/15/2007 9:29:53 AM UTC     

Lufthansa and Air Astana have signed a cooperation agreement that will include code sharing and schedule coordination beginning next year and a linking of the carriers' loyalty programs that may begin as early as October. LH currently operates a daily Frankfurt-Almaty service with twice-weekly ongoing service to Astana.

www.lufthansa.com  www.airastana.com

8/15/2007 9:27:37 AM UTC     

Last month independent travel agents Travel Councellors launched a monitoring and lobbying website for travellers to voice their opinions and experiences of delays at UK airports.

As of Monday this week the site ranked Gatwick the worst with average delays of 45 minutes to clear security on the way out and 30 minutes to get through immigration on the way back. Stansted was second and Heathrow third.

David Speakman, Travel Councellors founder and Chairman who set up the site said. “Despite this summer’s outcry about airport standards, I’m livid that airports are still continuing to treat travellers with such distain.

“The airports have a 27 point list of performance standards they are supposed to uphold for airlines. But BAA has the audacity to ask for this set of standards to be put on hold for the opening of Terminal 5. With that lack of accountability passengers are going to be left completely in the lurch and we need to complain hard and fast to stop this happening.

“To make a difference we need to know from travellers the reality of what they are facing. I’ll take this information to politicians and airport authorities and will campaign hard to make a difference”.

www.ukairportdelays.co.uk

8/14/2007 9:26:54 AM UTC     

El Al has introduced a new micro site for the launch of their new Boeing 777 aircraft. It includes details of the new seats throughout the plane as well as information on new meals and in-flight entertainment system.

London passengers should be able to experience the new services from this summer depending on aircraft rotation. A more frequent service will be introduced during 2008.

www.elal777.co.il/eng/  

8/13/2007 3:43:45 PM UTC     

Earlier this year Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia announced they would be launching a long haul version called AirAsia X. Virgin has now confirmed that it will take a 20% investment in the new long haul airline.

AirAsia X has leased an Airbus 330 and already confirmed orders for 15 new A330-300s. It is expected to launch operations in the fourth quarter of 2007 including destinations in China, Australia, Europe and India.

Founder and Director of AirAsia X, Dato' Tony Fernandes, said, “AirAsia X aims to dramatically expand the market for long-haul, value-based travel – both leisure and business related, and reinforce Malaysia's status as a low cost aviation pioneer. AirAsia X will simplify the current long-haul product and provide highly affordable, value-for-money travel without sacrificing core passenger comforts essential over longer flight times.”

Sir Richard Branson commented on his investment in AirAsia X, “Tony Fernandes and his team have had phenomenal success with Air Asia on the short haul and we believe they will have the same success with AirAsia X on the long haul. I am thrilled to be able to support them in this venture and look forward to seeing low cost long haul travel being opened up from their base in Malaysia.”

www.airasiax.com

8/13/2007 3:13:00 PM UTC     

Etihad Airways is to boost its weekly flights from 564 to 716 from the winter season, which starts on 28 October. Most of the increases set to take-off in the GCC, Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

London flights rise from 14 to 19 a week, Dublin goes from four to six flights a week, Frankfurt will increase from seven to ten a week and Geneva moves from three to four flights a week

Flights from their base in Abu Dhabi to Bahrain double from 14 to 28 flights a week and Muscat jumps from seven to 21 flights a week. Etihad’s strong network across the Middle East will be strengthened further with increases on routes to Doha, from seven to 14 flights a week, Amman from six to daily and Damascus from five to daily.

The airline’s services to the Indian subcontinent will receive a significant boost, as Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, Etihad’s two Kerala routes, and the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, will all increase to daily flights.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said, “Customers will benefit tremendously with the extra number of flights and a much improved timetable which will see better, shorter and more frequent flight transfer connections at our Abu Dhabi base”.

www.etihad.ae

8/13/2007 2:15:23 PM UTC