Air France has announced that it has expanded its services for La Premiere customers (First Class) at Singapore’s Changi Airport providing access to the exclusive JetQuay Lounge at the CIP (commercially important person) Terminal

More details can be read below:

Air France launches an exclusive personalized service, designed and conceived to ensure maximum comfort for La Première passengers departing from Singapore.

La Première customers can discover this new personalized service at JetQuay Lounge located at the CIP Terminal when they travel on Air France First Class, whether on departure or during a flight connection at Singapore Changi Airport.

This lounge offers 2,000 square metres of discreet intimate luxury and privacy with exclusive services which include:

• Personal welcome by dedicated staff who will provide assistance upon departure and transit with baggage check-in or retrieval and airport formalities.
• Enjoy five-star facilities including a business centre, meeting rooms, individual rest rooms, gym, spa and bistro.
• Be escorted to the boarding gate via an electric buggy to ensure smooth and comfortable boarding.

Sharad Khuller, AIR FRANCE KLM Country Manager Singapore says “This new dedicated service for our La Première passengers re-inforces our commitment to retain customer preference and positively enhances their  first class with Air France”

Emirates is to add another A380 to its London Heathrow route from 1st July this year, making the popular superjumbo experience more widely available to passengers.

The airline brought its own brand of double-decker, equipped with an Onboard Lounge and Shower Spas, to the British capital in December 2008.

In addition to the daily EK 001 from Dubai, the A380 will also be deployed on EK 003, which departs Dubai at 1415hrs and arrives in London Heathrow at 1840hrs.

Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation, said: "This is an important development for Emirates as this is the first route where we have made a long term commitment to double up on the double-decker."

Mr Obaidalla added: "London Heathrow was one of the key airports we had in mind when the A380 was first conceived and the new deployment allows more passengers travelling to and from the British capital to experience this remarkable aircraft."

The giant 517-seat aircraft offers 14 flat-bed First Class Private Suites with electrically operated doors, 76 fully-flat seats in Business Class - all with mini bars and aisle access, and 427 comfortable contoured seats in Economy - spread across four roomy cabins on the lower deck.

Passengers in all classes can lose themselves in the quietness of the aircraft and the much-enjoyed ice entertainment system. There are more than 1000 channels of on-demand entertainment including 200 movies from around the world, 100 TV channels, more than 500 audio channels, 100 video games and BBC news, sports and business headlines.

A personal satellite phone is fitted to each seat, which also carries a seat-back sms and email service, along with seat to seat calling and a "My USB" personal picture viewing facility.

Emirates, which has won more than 400 international awards for its products and services, is now operating eight A380s. In addition to London Heathrow, they fly to Toronto, Paris, Jeddah, Bangkok, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland.

Emirates operates 98 non-stop flights per week to the UK. As well as five flights a day to London Heathrow, it operates daily services to Newcastle and Glasgow, a double daily to Manchester and Birmingham and three flights a day to Gatwick.

On 28th March, the airline's 100-plus destination route network will be extended to Tokyo, followed by Amsterdam in May, Prague in July, Madrid in August and Dakar in September.

Doubling the double-decker offering to London Heathrow

EK001 departs Dubai daily at 0745hrs, arriving in Heathrow Terminal 3 at 1215hrs. The return flight, EK 002, departs Heathrow daily at 1415hrs, arriving at Dubai International at 0005hrs the following day.

EK 003 leaves Dubai at 1415hrs and arrives in London Heathrow at 1840hrs. Dubai-bound, EK 004 leaves Heathrow at 2040hrs and gets into Dubai at 0630hrs the following day (effective 1st July, 2010).

Emirates has opened its second UK lounge in 6 Months, this second lounge located in Birmingham, will offer Emirates First Class, Business Class and Skywards Gold Members the usual “The Emirates Lounge” Facilities, including:

• Food & Full Bar Service
• Shower Facilities
• Plasma TVs
• Luxury Leather Seating for Up to 117 people

The Emirates Lounge at Birmingham International Airport is located opposite departure gate 54 (Opposite the Airlines Departure Gate)

The full media release from Emirates can be read below:

DUBAI, U.A.E., 14th March 2010 - Emirates has doubled its regional lounge offering in the UK within the space of just six months.

A brand new luxury lounge has been officially opened in Birmingham, the first dedicated lounge to be offered by a long-haul airline at the city's international airport.

First Class and Business Class passengers, plus Gold Skywards members, travelling on Emirates’ twice-daily service from Dubai to Birmingham can now seek sanctuary in the 7,000 square foot facility. It is situated opposite the airline’s departure gate (number 54) in the new international pier in Terminal 1.

The Emirates Lounge offers the ultimate in comfort with luxury leather seating for up to 117 people, plasma TVs showing the latest news, a business centre with complimentary internet access and full shower facilities.

Guests to the lounge can also enjoy an extensive menu of complimentary hot and cold gourmet dishes – prepared by expert chefs, accompanied by a full bar service - all supported by a team of dedicated lounge staff.

Mohammed Mattar, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Services, who officially opened the lounge, said: “This significant investment to our operation at Birmingham further highlights our commitment to the region and the importance of our twice-daily service to the Midlands. We hope our premium customers will enjoy this new facility next time they fly with us and look forward to experiencing our trademark attentive service for which we are renowned.”

Paul Kehoe, the CEO of Birmingham International Airport, who was also present at Thursday's opening celebrations, added: “Emirates has been operating flights between Birmingham and Dubai for 10 years now and over this time it has provided a vital connection for the Midlands, not just to the Middle East, but onwards to all corners of the globe."

Mr Kehoe added: “We are therefore delighted to see the opening of this stunning new facility in our new International Pier, which signifies a long-term commitment by the airline to Birmingham and the wider region.”

In September 2009, the airline helped Birmingham International Airport celebrate its 70th birthday by sending one of its Airbus A380s in the first ever flight by the superjumbo to a UK regional airport.

Emirates has been operating to Birmingham for a decade and offers almost 800 seats a day on its two daily flights from Dubai. 

Birmingham is the latest facility to open in the airline’s AED 266 million worldwide lounge investment programme. A similar facility was opened in Manchester in October, while other Emirates' lounges in the UK can be found at London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

Elsewhere, the airline's premium passengers can enjoy lounges in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Dubai (x3), Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Mumbai, Munich, New York – JFK, Paris – Charles de Gaulle, Perth, Singapore, Sydney and Zurich.

Emirates has so far announced five new routes for 2010; Tokyo (28th March), Amsterdam (1st May), Prague (1st July), Madrid (1st August), and Dakar (1st September).

Emirates has announced that it recently opened its first ever Airline Lounge in India, the Emirates Lounge located at Mumbai International airport is also the first lounge opened/operated by an international carrier in India.

The full media release from Emirates can be read below:

DUBAI, U.A.E., 25th February 2010 – Passengers from Mumbai can now enjoy Emirates’ trademark service on the ground, as well as in the air, following the airline’s inauguration of its first dedicated passenger lounge on the Indian Subcontinent at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

The Emirates Lounge in Mumbai is the first to be opened by an international carrier in India.

Offering passengers the latest in convenience, comfort and luxury whilst on the move, the lounge will play host to all Emirates’ First and Business Class passengers as well as Skywards Gold members.

Mohammed Mattar, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President - Airport Services, who attended the opening ceremony, said; “This lounge is part of our commitment to provide world-class services to our passengers. With the exclusive Emirates lounge in Mumbai, combined with our trademark Chauffeur Drive Service, our First and Business Class passengers will enjoy greater comfort and convenience when travelling from their doorstep through to their final destination.”

Set over an area of more than 650 square metres, the lounge can accommodate 100-plus guests at a time, including 38 fine diners and seven in the business centre.

With Emirates operating five daily flights from Mumbai, the lounge will host passengers around the clock. Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the city’s busy international airport, passengers can quietly surf the internet using complimentary broadband at the Business Centre, use the telephone facilities available or just relax with a drink on the ergonomically designed leather sofas or massage recliners.

The Wi-Fi enabled lounge also boasts flat-screen televisions, designer bathrooms with shower facilities, including one exclusive provision for the physically challenged, and an extensive collection of international and local newspapers and magazines. Additionally, the Emirates lounge has two widescreen displays alerting passengers of their flight schedules.

Guests can treat themselves at the 24-hour buffet serving Indian, Arabic, Italian and Continental cuisine.

Emirates continues to offer First and Business Class travellers its renowned support on the ground, including complimentary chauffeur-drive services, exclusive check-in desks and priority baggage handling. 

Emirates operates 35 weekly flights from Dubai to Mumbai and an overall 184 weekly flights to 10 Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. 

Singapore Airlines & Marina Bay Sands have announced they will jointly fund and promote a global marketing campaign, in addition to providing value added rates & privileges to each other’s customers.

Singapore Airlines is the world’s first operator of the Airbus A380, and one of the worlds’s most awarded airlines.

Marina Bay Sands is Singapore newest Hotel opening its doors in April and will feature a 55 story triple hotel tower, each hotel tower linked at the top by a Sky Park. The Marina Bay Sands also features the islands first Casino.

The full media release from Singapore Airlines can be read below:

Singapore Airlines and Marina Bay Sands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the Integrated Resort as a destination for customers travelling to Singapore.

The agreement will see the two parties jointly funding publicity and promotional activities targeting trade partners, international media and overseas markets.

In addition, Marina Bay Sands joins the list of hotels available under SIA’s Singapore Stopover Holidays programme, bringing the number of partner hotels to 40. Singapore Stopover Holidays offers overseas customers special accommodation rates during their stay at Marina Bay Sands, complimentary airport-hotel transfers, as well as discounts on shopping, dining and selected attractions in Singapore. To add value to loyal SIA and Marina Bay Sands customers, Marina Bay Sands Premier Advantage members will earn KrisFlyer miles for each qualifying stay at Marina Bay Sands.

“With its central location, extensive entertainment offerings and state-of-the-art facilities, Marina Bay Sands is set to become an iconic landmark and attraction for tourists visiting Singapore. We are pleased to be working with this integrated resort to promote Singapore as a major convention and tourist destination, and Singapore Airlines as the carrier of choice for overseas visitors,” said Mr Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President Marketing and the Regions.

Located along Singapore’s scenic Marina Bay and in the heart of the central business district, Marina Bay Sands combines business and leisure in one unique destination. Visitors can eat cuisine created by internationally renowned chefs, enjoy entertainment in two theatres, along the waterfront event plaza and in a casino. That’s all under the same roof as Singapore’s largest convention venue, which can host more than 45,000 delegates in state-of-the-art facilities.

Its three hotel towers, soaring 55 storeys above the Marina Bay waterfront, will house 2,560 rooms and suites. Set atop the towers 200 metres above ground is the iconic Sands SkyPark, an architectural masterpiece and tropical oasis which offers visitors an unparalleled 360-degree view of stunning Singapore.

LAN Airlines have announced that flights from Chile to Sydney Australia following the devastating earthquake will resume on Saturday 6 March 2010.

The full media release from LAN Airlines can be read below:

LAN AIRLINES – AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

CHILE EARTHQUAKE - MEDIA UPDATE

FRIDAY 05 MARCH -  10.00am SYDNEY / 12.00pm AUCKLAND

LAN AIRLINES RESTORES FLIGHTS FROM CHILE TO AUSTRALIA

The first flight from Santiago, Chile, to Sydney, Australia since last weekend’s devastating earthquake in Chile will arrive tomorrow morning, Saturday 06 March.

Flight LA 801 is due to arrive at approximately 7:30am.

Friends and relatives of passengers and interested media should check the international arrivals link on the Sydney Airport website www.sydneyairport.com.au  or www.lan.com on Friday night or Saturday morning for updated arrival information. 

Subject to final confirmation, the return flight, LA 800, is scheduled to depart Sydney at 9:55am on Saturday, flying to Santiago, via Auckland. 

LAN has not operated flights to Sydney since Sunday, 28 February, because of earthquake damage to the international terminal at Santiago Airport, Chile.

The airline has now erected a large marquee at the airport as a temporary check in facility for passengers, and is using buses to ferry passengers to and from aircraft.

With operations now increasing through Santiago Airport, LAN’s main priority is to move the backlog of its passengers awaiting departure from Santiago, or stranded in other airports awaiting flights to Santiago.

The airline is confident of restoring the full schedule of six flights per week on the Sydney – Auckland – Santiago route by the end of next week.

The first flight to Auckland following the earthquake arrived yesterday NZ time at 6:10am, and departed for Santiago late yesterday afternoon.

Passengers ticketed to fly on LAN flights LA 800 (Sydney – Auckland – Santiago) or LA 801 (Santiago – Auckland – Sydney) are asked to call the airline in Australia on 1800 558 129 or in New Zealand on 09 308 3352

LAN management and staff would like to take this opportunity to thank passengers and their families and friends for their patience and understanding during this very challenging week.

Emirates has marked the countdown for its First Emirates flight from Dubai to Tokyo Japan on 28 March 2010 with an industry road show in Japan.

The road show was attended by over 450 of Japan’s leading travel industry professionals and included a working mock up of Emirates First Class Suites.

The full media release from Emirates can be read below:

Airline takes off for Japan’s capital on 28th March 

DUBAI, U.A.E., 19th February 2010: The countdown to the launch of Emirates’ non-stop flights to Tokyo began on Thursday in Japan’s capital city with the award-winning international airline hosting a road show for over 450 travel industry professionals.

Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Far East & Australasia, welcomed the guests at the road show, saying: “Just over seven years ago, Emirates became the first airline to link Japan with the Gulf region, since that date expanding direct services to Japan has been a high priority for us.
“Thanks to the revised air services agreement it is wonderful to be able to stand here before you this evening as we celebrate the countdown to the start of non-stop services between Tokyo and Dubai on 28th March, and begin a new chapter in the partnership between Dubai and Japan.”

Tokyo is the first of a number of exciting route launches in 2010 for Emirates, as the airline’s network expands across the six continents that it currently flies to non-stop from Dubai. Tokyo’s 28th March launch is followed by the start of services to Amsterdam on 1st May, Prague on 1st July and the Spanish city of Madrid on 1st August.

While Emirates uses it road show to reach out to the travel industry nationally; publicising Japan around the world as a destination is an ongoing commitment by the airline, which has invested US$14 million over the last two years promoting the country.

During the road show, a working model of the Emirates First Class Private Suite was unveiled to the audience; it is just one example of the on-board products that help to differentiate Emirates. There will be eight Private Suites aboard the Boeing 777-300ER that will be operating the route, with 42 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats.

During the journey, while passengers are enjoying the ice in-flight entertainment, which includes Japanese audio, television and movie channels, they can savour the delicacies served to them from the new Japanese menu, which will be unveiled shortly on the airline’s Japan services to celebrate the start of the Tokyo route.

Since 2002, Emirates has carried over 1.3 million people and 60,000 tonnes of cargo on its flights to Japan, which is set to grow with the addition of the five flights a week to Tokyo to the already established daily, non-stop flight to Osaka.

The new route will also strengthen the long standing partnership between Emirates and Japan Airlines, with code sharing on the Narita service, in addition to the existing code share on Emirates’ Osaka flights. 

The new service will bring a huge range of benefits, including the continuation of trade relations between Japan and UAE, which has grown by 300% to over US$57 billion in 2008 from US$14.5 billion in 2002, the year Emirates first began its flights to Osaka.  

With over 3,000 Japanese nationals currently living in Dubai, the new and existing Emirates route will offer a seamless connection between the two cities and for passengers from Japan, the routes will open up the Emirates network on six continents via Dubai.

Emirates inaugural EK 318 will depart Dubai at 02:50 hours and touch down at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 17:55 hours the same day. EK 319 will depart from Tokyo at 21:40 hours landing in Dubai at 04:35 hours the following day.

American Eagle Airlines have announced that it will from 2 July 2010 introduce a First Class Service on all of its CRJ-700 aircraft.

The full media release from American Eagle/American Airlines can be read below:

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Eagle Airlines, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will soon begin First Class service on all of its CRJ-700 jets. With the introduction of nine First Class seats, Eagle will offer customers a premium product with the same level of outstanding service customers experience on American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance. Customers may now purchase a First Class seat on any CRJ-700 flight for travel starting July 2.

American Eagle will offer a complimentary First Class dining service that includes a Continental breakfast with cereal or hot oatmeal and yogurt and a lunch or dinner that includes a fresh salad or a sandwich and dessert. First Class customers receive warm, cleansing towels and mixed nuts prior to their meals, which are served on china. On flights of shorter duration, beverage service will be accompanied by a gourmet snack mix.

"We’re pleased to introduce First Class service on our CRJ-700 aircraft," said Peter Bowler, President and CEO of American Eagle. "By July we will have our fleet of 25 CRJs converted by American Eagle mechanics to the new First Class and main cabin design, and we will have taken delivery of the first two of our 22 new CRJs that will also feature First Class comfort and amenities."

American Eagle will offer First Class service from its Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) hubs. From Chicago, customers will experience First Class service on flights to Atlanta, Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., Newark, N.J., George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Salt Lake City. From DFW, customers can fly First Class to Cleveland, Milwaukee, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville/Springdale, Ark., and Little Rock, Ark.

American Eagle worked closely with engineers at the plane’s manufacturer, Bombardier, to design new custom leather seating for the premium cabin. The new seat will include four-way adjustable headrests, ergonomically-contoured back and seat cushions, together with a unique articulated seat bottom, which will allow customers to recline with less impact on the legroom of passengers seated behind them.

In addition, Eagle’s 22 new aircraft will be delivered with a redesigned ultra-slim seat in the main cabin that will provide an additional inch of living space compared to the existing CRJ-700 seats, and will incorporate many of the features found on the new first class seat. After being reconfigured, the CRJ-700 will have either 54 or 56 seats in the main cabin and nine seats in First Class.

Eagle also will offer Priority AAccess on all flights offering First Class service, allowing premium customers to board at their leisure. In addition, Eagle will offer Premium Baggage service to its First Class customers, ensuring their checked bags are expedited to the baggage claim area after landing. Purchase your First Class experience on American Eagle at www.AA.com.

Emirates have announced that they intend to commence an Emirates A380 service from Dubai to Beijing from 1 August 2010.

The service will operate under flight number EK 306 and EK 307 for the return flight.

Details and timings of the Emirates A380 Service from Dubai to Beijing are as follows:

The full media release from Emirates can be read below:

DUBAI, U.A.E., 1st March 2010: The world’s most populous country, China, will fittingly receive the aviation world’s largest commercial aircraft with the start of Emirates A380 Dubai-Beijing-Dubai services on 1st August 2010.

The new service signals the first A380 operation to China, and follows an impressive series of A380-firsts to New Zealand, Thailand and Korea by the Dubai-based airline.

The 517-seater A380 will be deployed on the existing EK 306 service that departs Dubai daily at 04:10 hrs, touching down in the Chinese capital city at 15:10 hrs. Return flight EK 307 takes off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 23:55 hrs, landing at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport at 04:20 hrs the following day.

Tim Clark, President, Emirates airline noted: “Emirates was the first Middle Eastern airline to establish direct air links with mainland China over seven years ago. The link has proved very successful for both of us and we are strengthening it further with the launch of China’s first A380 service. This new operation bears testimony of our ongoing commitment to China; offering enhanced capacity to the world’s third-largest economy as it surges ahead with its international trade and development agenda.

“The A380 flight offers significant economic benefits to China by providing seamless connections between China and Africa, Europe and the Middle East via Emirates’ Dubai hub. Today China ranks as Africa’s second-largest trading partner with trade crossing US$100 billion. Equally, Africa is China's second largest engineering contracting market and deals for contract projects exceed US$126.3 billion.”

Mr. Clark continued: “Trade between Dubai and China is on a steady rise, recording an average annual growth of 36%. Also, the UAE is expecting a surge in incoming Chinese leisure groups after the Chinese government granted it ‘Approved Destination Status’ last year. Although our A380 will support the growing demand for air travel to/from China through capacity enhancements of almost 50%, it will not be sufficient. We believe China’s blazing economic growth justifies a further expansion in aviation links in the near future.”

Mr. Dong Zhiyi, Director & General Manager of Beijing Capital International Airport said: “We are very excited to welcome Emirates’ revolutionary A380 - the first scheduled A380 commercial jet to touch down on Chinese soil. This is an important milestone for the future of Beijing Capital and aviation in China. We have made major investments to prepare this airport for new and larger aircraft that will be the future of the airline business.”

The A380 is the world's most environmentally-advanced aircraft with significant reductions in noise, emissions and fuel burn vis-à-vis other comparable aircraft.

Emirates A380’s ground-breaking inflight product includes onboard shower spas in the First Class cabin featuring signature products by the airline’s premium spa brand, Timeless Spa. The onboard lounge for First and Business class customers mirrors the ambience of an executive club and includes a bar with a wide range of beverages and canapés.

With flat-bed massage-equipped private suites in First Class, a new generation of all-aisle flat-bed seats in Business class, mood-lighting, a second-to-none in-flight entertainment system featuring over 1200 channels of on-demand entertainment, and a more spacious Economy Class, the Emirates’ A380 introduces a whole new dimension to luxury air travel.

Currently Emirates operates double-daily services each to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and daily services to Guangzhou. 

United Airlines has applied to the Department of Transportation for rights to operate daily non-stop service from San Francisco to Haneda Tokyo Japan, under the Japan-US OpenSkies Agreement.

The full media release from United Airlines can be read below:

CHICAGO, Feb. 16, 2010 – United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA), today applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide non-stop air service from San Francisco to Haneda Airport in downtown Tokyo. United is applying for one of four pairs of daily U.S. to Haneda slots that are available to U.S. carriers under the recently approved US-Japan Open Skies Agreement.

“We have been an active supporter of open skies between the U.S. and Japan because we believe it benefits the customers and communities we serve,” said Mark Schwab, senior vice president for Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs. “United has long been a leader in trans-Pacific service, and we look forward to the opportunity to deliver new options and an improved level on convenience for customers traveling to and from Tokyo.”

United's proposed San Francisco-Haneda flight would be its first ever non-stop service between San Francisco and Tokyo's downtown airport, which has been a mostly domestic airport. San Francisco is United's primary U.S. gateway to Asia and is a popular, convenient hub for customers traveling to Tokyo from cities across the United States, Schwab said. At Haneda, passengers will benefit from United’s codeshare agreements with All Nippon Airways, which will provide connecting service opportunities from numerous cities in Japan and several cities in Asia.

United plans to serve the market with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with a three-class seating configuration, which will provide a high-level of customer options and comfort on these long-haul flights. The B777 also provides ample cargo capacity between San Francisco, United's cargo hub, and Haneda.

“Air travelers in San Francisco and the entire Bay Area enthusiastically welcome United Airlines' plan to add service from SFO to Tokyo's downtown airport,” said Gavin Newsom, mayor of the city and county of San Francisco. “The new daily flight will strengthen our historic business and tourism links with Japan's commercial center, adding real convenience and cutting the overall journey time for travelers throughout our region, California, and across the U.S.  We will add our voice in strong support of United's application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the opportunity to begin this important new air service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.”

With the first test flights of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner completed on 15 December 2010 United Airlines and Boeing has now formally agreed on the purchase by United of an additional 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with the total order valued at US $4.2 billion.

The development of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been plagued by issues in recent years pushing back the first delivery from May 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2010.

The full media release from United Airlines can be read below:

United to expand international service with fuel-efficient Dreamliner              

SEATTLE and CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2010 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and United Airlines [Nasdaq: UAUA] have finalized an order for 25 787-8 jetliners. The agreement includes the opportunity to purchase another 50 Dreamliners. 

“Boeing and United Airlines share an 80-year partnership,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “United, which launched the Boeing 777, now begins a new chapter with the 787 Dreamliner, the most technologically advanced commercial jetliner ever built.”

The order is valued at $4.2 billion at average list prices.

“United’s Boeing 787 order represents a substantial investment in our future and will enhance the significant progress we are making in improving the global competitiveness of our company while providing the opportunity to open new profitable markets and serve a broader range of international destinations,” said John Tague, president of United Airlines.

United expects to take delivery of the 787s at the same time it will begin to retire its Boeing 747s and 767s operating on international routes. 

The 787 Dreamliner, currently in flight test, will provide greater fuel efficiency, allowing airlines to add new, nonstop city pairs and the additional frequencies that passengers prefer.

The 787 also promises a more comfortable flying experience for passengers. Its innovations include a new interior environment with improvements in air filtration, higher cabin pressurization resulting in reduced physical fatigue, larger windows, more stowage space, improved lighting and other passenger-preferred conveniences.

The technologically advanced 787 will also provide airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity.

Including United Airlines, 57 customers around the world have ordered 876 Dreamliners, making the 787 the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history.

About United Airlines

United Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation (Nasdaq: UAUA), operates approximately 3,300* flights a day on United and United Express to more than 230 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which provides connections for its customers to 1,077 destinations in 175 countries worldwide. United's 46,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. United ranked No. 1 in on-time performance for domestic scheduled flights for 2009 among America’s five largest global carriers, as measured by the Department of Transportation and published in the Air Travel Consumer Report for 2009. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com. Follow United on Twitter@UnitedAirlines.

* Based on United's forward-looking flight schedule for January 2010 to December 2010.

Jetstar has announced that it launch a new fare and service option named Jetstar JetPlus which will give Jetstar customers on International Long haul flights “pre-packaged”  seating, food, beverage & entertainment options

Jetstar JetPlus will be available on flights from Australia to Bali, Thailand, Japan and Honolulu.

The full media release from Jetstar can be read below:

Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar will further expand its customer product offering with the launch of JetPlus, which combines fare flexibility with a meal and drinks package, entertainment and amenities on all Jetstar’s long haul international flights.

 In addition to existing consumer initiatives such as the recently launched Up Front Seating and Extra Leg Room, JetPlus economy fares are available across Jetstar’s fleet of A330 aircraft on all long haul international flights between Australia and Indonesia (Bali), Thailand, Japan and Honolulu (United States).

On international long haul flights, JetPlus passengers will receive entertainment via a portable Video On Demand unit, a meal and drinks package, 20kg of checked baggage, a comfort pack (containing a blanket and amenities kit) and no change fees for permitted name and date changes to the booking (a fare difference may apply).

Jetstar Executive Manager Commercial David Koczkar said “JetPlus was another way Jetstar was offering its passengers more choice”.

“JetPlus offers Jetstar passengers a great low fare, with the comfort and ease of having extras included,” Mr Koczkar said.

“The introduction of our new JetPlus fare product on selected Jetstar international flights is in direct response to what some of our customers have been asking for: a great low fare with the choice of including a meal and drinks package, all entertainment and amenities.

“It is yet another example of how our passengers can conveniently tailor their travel experience according to what they value,” Mr Koczkar said.

Passengers can select a JetPlus fare when booking at Jetstar.com or through the call centre on 131 538.

JetPlus joins Jetstar’s existing fare classes including JetSaver Light, JetSaver, JetFlex and StarClass. JetPlus fare can be purchased point of sale internationally (at Jetstar.com and Jetstar Telephone Reservations) excluding point of sale in Japan.

For fare options and JetPlus availability see Jetstar.com.

United Airlines has announced its schedule for its first ever non-stop flights to Africa. United will begin daily non-stop flights from Washington to Accra Ghana from 20 June 2010.

Flight details are as follows

The full media release from United Airlines can be read below:

United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) announced the schedule for the airline’s first-ever nonstop service to the African continent, with once-daily service linking Washington with Accra, the capital of Ghana, beginning June 20.

To celebrate the new service to Africa, United is offering special fares for travel between June 20 and August 29, 2010.  Sample discounted fares to Accra are each-way based on a required roundtrip purchase and tickets must be purchased no later than March 22, 2010. Additional taxes and fees apply.

• Washington Dulles – $706*
• San Francisco/Los Angeles – $879*
• Denver – $865*
• Chicago – $738*

United 990 departs Washington Dulles International Airport at 10:10 p.m., arriving at Kotoka International Airport in Accra the next day at 12:40 p.m. U.S.-bound service from Accra begins June 21 with the departure of United 991 at 11 p.m., arriving in Washington the next day at 6:25 a.m.

Flights to and from Accra are conveniently timed for connections at Washington Dulles, United’s principal trans-Atlantic gateway, to more than 70 cities in North America. As the largest airline in the nation’s capital, United offers nearly 300 daily departures from Washington Dulles.

“With the addition of service to Accra, United now offers customers nonstop service to points on six continents,” said Mark Schwab, United’s senior vice president of Alliances, International & Regulatory Affairs. “We look forward to offering service to Lagos – subject to approval by Nigerian officials – which will enable our customers to travel between Lagos and Washington more quickly and conveniently.”

Flight schedules are subject to change and are subject to government approval.

Singapore Airlines have announced that it will be introducing it new cabin on more routes specifically between Singapore the Middle East, West Asia & North Asia. Singapore Airlines new cabin will be implemented on Airbus A330-300 that will replace the Boeing 777 aircraft which normally operate these routes.

The Business class cabin will be configured in a 2-2-2 seat configuration with a lie flat seat designed specifically for regional and medium haul flights.

The Economy Class Cabin will be configured in a 2-4-2 layout and will feature the same seat which is implemented in Singapore Airlines award winning Airbus A380 aircraft.

The full media release from Singapore Airlines can be read below:

Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring the Airline’s latest product and service offerings, will soon operate on selected routes serving the Middle East, West Asia and North Asia.

 From 28/29 March 2010, the Airline will commence A330-300 services to Male, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Kuwait (the latter two points via Abu Dhabi). From 28 April, A330-300s will be deployed to Fukuoka and Taipei, and from 1 May the aircraft will serve Colombo.

 The services will replace the Airline’s Boeing 777 operations on the routes. Detailed schedules are listed in the Annex.

 A330-300 aircraft will also be progressively deployed on other regional and medium-haul routes later this year as part of Singapore Airlines’ ongoing product enhancement efforts.

 The Airline currently operates A330-300 services to and from three Australian cities, namely Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, and two Japanese cities, namely Nagoya and Osaka.

 The Singapore Airlines A330-300 is configured in a two-class layout with 30 Business Class and 255 Economy Class seats.

 The Business Class cabin is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration featuring a new seat specially designed for regional and medium-haul routes. The seat converts to an incline lie-flat bed and offers enhanced levels of comfort, privacy and functionality.

 The Economy Class cabin is laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. Featured are the new-generation Singapore Airlines Economy Class seats, currently also available on the Airline’s Airbus A380 and B777-300ER aircraft. They are ergonomically designed to provide customers an unsurpassed level of comfort, with more personal space and increased legroom.

 All seats feature the new KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, and in a world first, iPod and iPhone connectivity in every seat, including Economy Class.

 Singapore Airlines currently has nine A330-300s, with another 10 due to be delivered by the end of this year.

EW SCHEDULED A330-300 SERVICES (NORTHERN SUMMER 2010)

(All times indicated below are local)

From 28 March 2010*:

* As the Singapore-Abu Dhabi-Jeddah vv services operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the A330-300 services will commence on 29 March instead.

From 28 April 2010:

From 1 May 2010*:

* The Colombo-Singapore service will commence on 2 May.

LAN Airlines has release the following media release following the Chile Earthquake

LAN Airlines flight LA 800, from Sydney to Auckland and Santiago, Chile, departed Sydney on time this morning.

The aircraft arrived in Auckland this afternoon, but the onward flight to Santiago will be delayed until further information is available from our head office about the current situation in Chile.

Passengers due to board today’s flight in Auckland are being advised of this delay and will be updated as soon as possible.

Santiago International Airport is currently closed.

Our Saturday 27 February flight from Sydney and Auckland to Santiago arrived safely in Chile, but was diverted to an alternate airport.

We are currently awaiting advice re the operation of today’s scheduled LA 801 service from Santiago, which is scheduled to arrive in Auckland and Sydney early tomorrow, Monday 01 March.

We will provide updated information as soon as possible.

The Emergency Enquires Numbers for LAN Airlines is as follows:

In Australia: 1800 558 129   In New Zealand  0800 451 373. In the US 1-866-I-FLY-LAN (24 Hrs a Day)