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Virgin Atlantic 25th birthday Beat Off the Downturn Campaign

ben.hoffman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:24:00 GMT

2009 sees airline celebrate its 25 th birthday £6m campaign includes TV advert recreating the airline’s 1984 launch Virgin Atlantic, one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines, today unveiled a £6million campaign to beat off the credit crunch blues and highlight why it’s still red hot after 25 years of flying. The airline celebrates its 25 th birthday on 22 June 2009. At the centre of the new, optimistic campaign is a television advert, set in 1984, featuring glamorous Virgin Atlantic flight attendants...(read more)

Singapore Airlines Australia and Japan first countries for New SIA A330 fleet

ben.hoffman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:39:00 GMT

Singapore Airlines have announced thy will introduce new Airbus A330 aircraft on routes between Singapore to/from Australia and Japan, the full press release can be seen below: ...(read more)

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Celebrates 90 Years of Flying

ben.hoffman — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:57:00 GMT

The coming year will be a special one for KLM. On 7 October 2009, it will have been 90 years since KLM was first founded. This makes KLM the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. On 1 January, KLM will ring in the New Year with a festive flight — its Celebration Flight. The flight will be operated over the Netherlands' twelve provinces, weather permitting*. 'KLM is proud of its Dutch heritage,' KLM CEO Peter Hartman said. ‘This is why we're starting off our anniversary...(read more)

JAL to be first airline to trial flights with biofuel from energy crop

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:51:00 GMT

Japan Airlines is to be the first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using a sustainable biofuel refined from the energy crop, camelina. It will use a blend of half traditional kerosene and half biofuel on one of the four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines on a Boeing 747-300 on a special flight from Tokyo Haneda on 30 January. The biofuel will be a mixture of from camelina (84 per cent), jatropha (less than 16 per cent) and algae (less than 1 per cent)....(read more)

More awards for oneworld airlines

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:48:00 GMT

one world member airlines have taken four of the top awards in the latest Tested Awards from the US Global Traveler magazine and another four in the 2008 Business Traveler US Awards. In Global Traveler's awards, LAN was named Best Latin American Airline and Qantas Best in Australasia. British Airways was top in the Best Business Class category, and American won Best Airline for Domestic First Class for the third year running. BA also took six runners-up places - for World's Best Airline overall,...(read more)

BA to resume services to Saudi Arabia

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:46:00 GMT

British Airways is to resume flights to Saudi Arabia, with five services a week from its London Heathrow hub to both Jeddah and Riyadh from 29 March. It will serve Riyadh with Boeing 777s, and Jeddah with 767s. BA suspended operations to Saudi Arabia in March 2005 because of the poor commercial performance of its flights, but the country has remained on the one world network through flights by other member airlines. Royal Jordanian serves both Jeddah and Riyadh along with Dammam with Riyadh also...(read more)

Qantas adds Buenos Aires to its network

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:45:00 GMT

Qantas has launched its new service between its Sydney hub and the Buenos Aires base of one world affiliate LAN Argentina, making it the first airline to operate non-stops between Australia and South America. It is offering three round trips a week by Boeing 747-400s on the route. Qantas will continue to code-share on LAN's six flights a week between Sydney and Santiago via Auckland. It becomes the fifth one world carrier to serve the Argentine capital, alongside American Airlines, British Airways...(read more)

Dates confirmed for next oneworld terminal moves at London Heathrow

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:41:00 GMT

Dates for the next phase of oneworld relocations at London Heathrow have now been confirmed, following the completion of British Airways' move into its new Terminal 5 base. Finnair , which operates four daily round-trips between Heathrow and its Helsinki hub, will transfer from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 on 27 January. Iberia will transfer operations on 25 February from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3. The Spanish airline links Heathrow with Madrid eight times a day and with Barcelona four times a day. British...(read more)

American to link its Dallas-Fort Worth home with Iberia's Madrid hub

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:38:00 GMT

American Airlines is to link its Dallas-Fort Worth base with the Madrid hub of its one world partner Iberia from May with daily non-stop two-class Boeing 767-300s. Madrid will be the 34th international destination served by American and its American Eagle affiliate from their DFW hub. The airline already serves the Spanish capital from Miami and flies to Barcelona from New York JFK. American is also to resume seasonal flights between Boston and Paris CDG with daily Boeing 767-300s from 1 May and...(read more)

LAN Ecuador to launch domestic services

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:36:00 GMT

one world® affiliate member LAN Ecuador has gained rights to launch domestic services within Ecuador - adding more new destinations to the alliance's network. From the end of March, it will connect the capital Quito with Guayquil and link both cities with Cuenca and Galapagos, using Airbus A320 family aircraft on all routes. Cuenca (which has the three-letter IATA code CUE) and Galapagos (SCY) will both join the one world map for the first time. This new domestic network will complement LAN Ecuador...(read more)

Westin to enter Vietnam with the Westin Resort for Cam Ranh Vietnam

ben.hoffman — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:19:00 GMT

Westin have announced they will enter Vietnam with the signing of an agreement to develop a beach side resort in Cam Ranh Vietnam . The town of Cam Ranh is a 40 minute drive from the major beach resort town of Nha Trang Vietnam . Personally every time I visit Vietnam I spend a least a few days in this area the scenery is absolutely stunning, I know the Westin resort and spa Cam Ranh will be a welcome addition to the area. The full press release from Starwood can be read below: Westin Hotels &...(read more)

The Airbus A380 is too quiet Emirates Pilots and Cabin crew complain

ben.hoffman — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:37:00 GMT

Emirates pilots and cabin crews have been complaining that their new Airbus A380 planes are far too quite. Most passengers including myself would consider a quieter aircraft to be a plus, but it seems a quieter aircraft creates other noise issues ...(read more)

Etihad Airways voted World’s Best First Class Airline at World Travel Awards

ben.hoffman — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:10:00 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE , has been voted the ‘world’s leading first class airline’ at this year’s World Travel Awards. Votes for the WTA ceremony, which took place at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa, were taken from nearly 170,000 travel industry professionals from around the world, including more than 110,000 travel agents. The global accolade comes just months after the Abu Dhabi-based airline was awarded the regional title of ‘leading first class’ at the Middle...(read more)

United Airlines now offering full flat beds between Australia and the United States

ben.hoffman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:25:00 GMT

United Airlines now offering full flat beds between Australia and the United States...(read more)

Delta Announces 2009 SkyMiles and WorldPerks Benefits

ben.hoffman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Following on from Delta and Northwest's merger the new merged Company has announced an aligned Frequent Flyer Award structure, the full media release is below:...(read more)

QANTAS TO RESUME FLIGHTS TO BANGKOK

ben.hoffman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:50:00 GMT

Qantas have announced that they will be resuming regular flight to/from Bangkok starting Saturday 6 December, below is the full media release from Qantas...(read more)

Qantas and British Airways Considering Merger

ben.hoffman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:51:00 GMT

Overnight Qantas have released the below media release, confirming that Qatnas and British Aiways are exploring a potential dual listed company merger....(read more)

Emirates A380 flights commence from Dubai to Heathrow

ben.hoffman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Today Emirates started flying Dubai to Heathrow with their new Airbus A380, this 489 seat aircraft will fly on flight numbers EK001 Dubai to London and EK002 for the return flight....(read more)

Qantas Names Future Qantas A380 Aircraft

ben.hoffman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:56:00 GMT

If you had to chose a name for each of the 20 future Airbus A380 aircraft that Qantas was about to put into service, what names would you chose and what criteria would you use for choosing? Qantas has just completed its Qantas A380 naming program, where it asked members of the Australian public and aviation experts to help with the naming for all 20 of its future A380 fleet. As you can imagine its no surprise that the list released today by Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce contained and...(read more)

HTC Touch Pro Launch Event in Sydney Australia

ben.hoffman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:20:00 GMT

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the HTC Touch Pro PDA launch in Sydney Australia, and Wow what a device, the applications and functionality for the Business User are simply superb....(read more)

Delta to introduce First Class Shuttle Service

ben.hoffman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:58:00 GMT

Delta Airlines have announced they will from 1 December 2008 offer a two class shuttle service, by introducing first class to it MD-88 fleet. Passengers will be able to purchase seats on the new first class service if they are not lucky enough to get the complementary upgrade that will be available for SkyMiles Medallion members. The Full press release can be seen here: http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11163...(read more)

Judy Grimes Travel Writer on Saturday Night Live

ben.hoffman — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:15:00 GMT

Judy Grimes the Travel Writer does just kidding on Saturday Night live, with tips on how travel hassle free, a bit of a laugh for the end of your travel week....(read more)

Delta and Northwest agree to merge

ben.hoffman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:02:00 GMT

The Latest news from the airline world is that Delta and Northwest are to merge to create a Premier Global Airline, and will operate with Delta name and company branding....(read more)

Virgin America Awarded Best Business and First Class Domestic Carrier

ben.hoffman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:19:00 GMT

Virgin America has been awarded the best Business/First Class Domestic carrier in the US in the recent Conde Nast Traveler’s Business Travel Poll. I am hardly surprised that a carrier with non-US roots has taken out this award, I am hoping this type of pressure will force the entire US airline industry lift its game, providing benefits to the airlines and its passengers. The Full Press release from Virgin American can be found below: Virgin America, the California-based airline on a mission to make...(read more)

Qantas A380 to tour around Australia

ben.hoffman — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:13:00 GMT

Qantas A380 tour - For all Qantas, A380, & Aircraft fans out there, Qantas will be doing a series of A380 promotional and pilot training flights around Australia before she goes into service on 20 October 2008...(read more)