BMI Looks to Add Frequencies to Saudi Arabia

London Heathrow’s second biggest carrier BMI has said that it is planning to increase its services to Saudi Arabia following bilateral talks between the UK and Saudi Arabian governments.

Under an agreement reached by the two governments, the number of weekly frequencies permitted between the two countries has been increased to 35. BMI intends to take full advantage of the opportunity this provides and will seek to add to its existing services from Heathrow to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Nigel Turner, chief executive officer of BMI said: “We congratulate the UK and Saudi Arabian governments in creating a more open market between the two countries and we are well placed and eager to take full advantage of the agreement.

“BMI has amassed a considerable amount of experience and expertise since we took over services from Heathrow to the Kingdom when they were abandoned by British Airways in 2005. We have committed significant investment in developing our sales and marketing and operational presence in Saudi Arabia and the ability to increase our services presents us with an ideal opportunity.

“Our route network to the region was further enhanced last October when we commenced services from Heathrow to a wide range of destinations throughout the Middle East and beyond.BMI now has a major presence in this part of the world with considerable experience and knowledge of serving these markets. We expect to be able to make an announcement shortly about improvements we will now be able to make to our schedules to Saudi Arabia from Heathrow.”

Official Press Release BMI dated 27th June 2008.

Northwest Airlines Announces Suspension or Cancellation of International Flights

Northwest Airlines announces suspension or cancellation of three international flights.
KLM’s Trans-Atlantic joint venture partner Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA), yesterday (June 27) announced a cancellation of flights between Detroit - Düsseldorf and Hartford - Amsterdam, effective October 1, 2008. As from the same date flights between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Paris will be suspended, to be resumed on March 28, 2009.

With oil reaching a record-breaking $140 a barrel yesterday, the reductions come in response to soaring fuel costs and decreased customer demand. Customers with advance bookings for these flights will be offered alternate KLM, NWA or SkyTeam alliance flight re-accommodations. 

Selective frequency reductions and aircraft type changes may also be implemented on additional trans-Atlantic flights, depending on oil prices and ongoing customer demand.

Official Press Release KLM dated 27th June 2008

KLM in Plea Agreement with U.S. Department of Justice

KLM has entered into plea agreement with U.S. Department of Justice
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today (26 June) announced that it has entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (”DOJ”) to resolve allegations regarding anticompetitive activities amongst several cargo carriers, including KLM Cargo, with respect to air cargo shipments to and from the US between May 2001 and February 2006.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, KLM has agreed to pay $ 140 million. This amount corresponds to the provision taken by the Company for the financial year 2007/2008.

Peter Hartman, President and Chief Executive Officer of KLM commented: “KLM is committed to compliance with all laws, including U.S. antitrust laws. We have taken thorough, additional steps across the organization to prevent recurrence, as KLM is committed to the highest standards of Corporate Governance.”

As reported previously, DOJ and other competition authorities began investigations of international air cargo activities in 2006. Last month, during the presentation of the annual results, Air France-KLM announced that it had taken a €530 million provision for the Financial Year 2007/2008 on the basis of the status of the cargo investigations by US and EU authorities. KLM wishes to reiterate that it is cooperating with the authorities concerned in the other pending investigations.

Official Press Release KLM dated 26th June 2008.

United Airlines Rolls Out the Red Carpet in Chicago

United customers traveling through Chicago O’Hare may receive red carpet treatment this summer with United’s first new Red Carpet Club® to open since 2000. The enhanced club that has more than doubled in size and has new furniture and a modern design now offers travelers a more pleasant environment to work or relax.

“Our guests tell us they want to be comfortable and productive when traveling, and United’s new Red Carpet Club at O’Hare offers both – more personal space and additional work areas with complimentary Wi-Fi service,” says Graham Atkinson, United Airlines – Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. “Whether our guests want to relax or finish a presentation, the Red Carpet Club will now give them more ways to get the most out of their travel experience.”

The new club includes power outlets accessible from nearly every seat and creatively designed work stations, enabling business travelers to be productive in a more casual environment and reflecting the current trend blending leisure and work. Enhanced food and beverage options in the club will include two serving areas, a bar and two self-service juice and soda stations.

The club is adjacent to gate B18 in O’Hare’s Terminal 1, and customers will be conveniently located near many of the international flights operated by United and Star Alliance® partner Lufthansa. The club is available to Red Carpet Club members and customers traveling internationally in United First® and United Business®, and any United customer may purchase a one-time pass for $50. These customers and members also receive complimentary Wi-Fi service powered by T-Mobile® HotSpot.

Official Press release (abridged) United Airlines dated 25 June 2008.

First Choice Airways Ready to Merge

First Choice Airways are due to merge with Thomsonfly. Both airlines are budget airlines that have now become one as Thomson Airways.
The first flights as Thomson Airways will begin running from May 2009. Using a fleet of 65 aircraft they will operate to more than 80 destinations from a total of 21 UK airports.
The changes will come in gradually and both airlines will continue to operate in 2008 separately. From May 2009 more and more gradual changes will take place over the next two years to make the transition as smooth as possible.

 

Enrique Olvera Joins Mexicana

Mexicana Airlines, Mexico’s leading airline, announced today that Enrique Olvera will be taking over as its new executive chef, effective as of the 1 st of July. Olvera, who is something of a culinary icon in Mexico, will be introducing a totally new in-flight meals concept that combines healthy eating with exquisitely presented dishes.

Chef Olvera spent more than five months traveling the routes served by Mexicana, from Canada to Argentina, to familiarize himself with local cuisines and incorporate elements of these in the carrier’s new business class menu, which features a selection of healthy meals prepared using only the finest premium ingredients.

Among the options Mexicana’s business class passengers can now enjoy are:

• Breakfast: cheese omelet or corn crepes, fruit of the season and a bread roll or pastry
• Lunch/dinner: selection of lettuces with panela cheese and olive dressing, Veracruz-style fish or chicken breast crepes au gratin and Tiramisu served with coffee sauce

This menu is served exclusively on flights departing from Mexico City, but one has been custom-designed for every destination Mexicana flies to, incorporating regional ingredients and the magical touch of Chef Olvera to produce the quality products Mexicana Airlines is renowned for.

“We are an airline focused on service and the quality of our in-flight meals is one of the main factors that differentiates us from our competitors on all the routes we operate, both on the domestic and international market. We reward our customers for their loyalty by creating an unbeatable travel experience for them,” said Mexicana Customer Service and Corporate Communications Sr. Vice President Adolfo Crespo at the launch ceremony.

The menus will be rotated monthly so that frequent flyers have the opportunity to sample the wide variety of dishes Chef Olvera has created.

Prior to being approved, each dish underwent a series of tests to guarantee optimum quality and freshness.

“This team effort is based on the concept of ‘less is more.’ The intention is not to complicate things for passengers, but to ensure they enjoy a balanced, healthy meal and a pleasant experience,” said Enrique Olvera.

Mexicana Airlines’ new business class menu positions the airline at the forefront of the industry in terms of passenger services, with a selection of healthy meals and an exclusive wine list to complement them, handpicked by our expert sommelier Sandra Fernández at Tierra de Vinos.

It was the audacity and simplicity of his world-class creations that made Enrique Olvera Mexicana’s first choice as the carrier’s new executive chef.

Official Press Release Mexicana Airlines dated 18th June 2008.

bmibaby Fly from Manchester

bmibaby, is celebrating the start of its new flights from Manchester to Madrid and Lisbon this week. In the first week of operating, the airline will carry over 900 passengers between Manchester and the Portuguese capital and over 500 people to the Spanish capital. The inaugural flight to Lisbon is 95% full and Madrid is 80% full, forward bookings are also extremely encouraging. 

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“The current economic conditions are not dampening people’s desire to travel.  We have seen an increase in the number of people travelling on short breaks from Manchester and our passenger numbers for Lisbon and Madrid are testament to this. In the first week we will carry over 1,400 passengers between Manchester, Lisbon and Madrid. Our combination of low fares to exciting destinations continues to drive demand.”

The new route to Lisbon will start with a two times a week service operating from Manchester on Tuesday and Saturday.  bmibaby is the only airline flying to the vibrant Portuguese capital city from the airport.  bmibaby’s new service to Madrid, another route that is currently not served from the airport, will operate on a Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Fares start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

For summer 2008 the airline will fly to 14 destinations from Manchester Airport: Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast (Intl), Bordeaux, Cork, Ireland West Knock, Jersey, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga, Newquay, Palma, Perpignan and Prague.  Fares start from just £18.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Official Press Release bmibaby dated 18th June 2008.

Alitalia Flight Improvement in First Four Months of 2008

These improvements are shown in the prestigious ratings issued by the Association of European Airlines (AEA).
During the first four months of 2008, Alitalia’s performance indicators showed a marked upswing in two important categories: flight punctuality and regularity.
In more detail, from January to April, Alitalia flights reported 83.1% punctuality on arrival within 15 minutes – considerably up compared to last year (78.8%), placing Alitalia above several major European airlines: Air France (82.1%); British Airways (58.6%); Iberia (80.4%); KLM (64,7%); Lufthansa (80.8%); AEA overall average (78.5%).
During April, when many flights were transferred to Fiumicino, punctuality was even better at 83.2%, well over the 2007 figure of 79.9%, and again above the AEA average of 80.2%.
Flight regularity also improved – this is especially important for customers since it shows the airline’s reliability (number of flights operated out of all flights scheduled). Compared to last year, there was a marked reduction in the number of cancelled flights, down by 26% during the first four months of the year.
The reduction in the number of cancellations was immediately reflected in the coefficient of operational regularity which sees Alitalia with 98.4% of flights operated regularly, ahead of other established airlines such as Air France (98.2%), British Airways (96.9%) and KLM (98.2%).
During April alone, the upward trend continued and Alitalia reached 99.4%, improving even on last year (98.9%), and well above major European competitors: Air France (98.3%), Lufthansa (98.9%), British (97.5%), KLM (99.2%), AEA average (99.0%).

Official Press Release Alitalia dated 13th June 2008.

Mexicana Airlines Initiates Flights on the New York to Cancun Route

Mexicana Airlines, Mexico’s leading domestic airline in terms of international flights and on the North American market, announced that it will begin operating direct flights between New York and Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the 1st of July. Passengers flying on this route will be privy to the world -class services that have set the carrier apart from others for the last 86 years, such as hot meals, courtesy drinks and in -flight entertainment, among others.

The addition of the Cancún– New York route will consolidate Mexicana’s position as the country’s leading airline, while tapping into a potential market of 1.9 million passengers with an estimated annual growth rate of 17%.

“We are proud of the steps Mexicana is taking to consolidate its position as Mexico’s most international airline. We know for a fact that this route will be extremely popular and are expecting an occupation factor in excess of 66%, just as we have achieved with all our other routes. We will also be offering attractive introductory fares and Frecuenta air mile promotions to motivate potential customers,” said Mexicana’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Isaac Volin.

The new route will appeal to a wide variety of potential customers, from holidaymakers visiting Cancún to business passengers and companies operating in the tourism sector. Likewise, New York and Cancún are both popular venues for congresses and conventions, equipped as they are with the infrastructure and services to cater to this market.

Mexicana’s decision to initiate flights on the Cancún– New York route is based on the fact that more than 20% of American tourists visiting Mexico come from the northwest region of the country, particularly New York, which accounts for 9.8% of the total market. In fact, Mexico receives more tourists from New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia put together than from the entire European continent, with per capita spending averaging 1,602 dollars per trip.

Services connecting the Big Apple and the popular holiday destination of Cancún will be operated using modern Airbus A319 aircraft, which can comfortably seat 12 passengers in Clase Ejecutiva and 108 in Coach Class. Flights will follow a convenient schedule, departing from New York’s JFK airport at 9:00 a.m. and arriving in Cancún at 12:10 p.m., with return flights departing from Cancún at 6:10 p.m. and arriving in New York at 11:00 p.m.

FK is one of the major airports in the United States, offering a wide range of connections to Europe, Asia and Africa. In light of its importance and in an effort to provide better passenger services, as of the 1st of June, Mexicana will be transferring its operations here from Terminal 4 to Terminal 8, which it will share with American Airlines, facilitating connections with this carrier and other international airlines. Aside from speeding up the handling of luggage on connecting flights, passengers will also benefit from more efficient customs and migrations procedures, and will not have to waste time changing terminals.

Mexicana is stepping up efforts to strengthen its presence on the North American market and continues to diversify its destinations in Mexico, giving its customers access to a network of routes and connections so extensive that there is no better travel option currently available.

Official Press release (abridged) Mexicana Airlines dated 12 June 2008.

Air New Zealand Inflight Entertainment News

Customers flying on Air New Zealand 777 and 747 aircraft can now enjoy their personal seat-back entertainment system from the moment they sit down till the moment the aircraft lands.
 
Previously the system could only be turned on once the aircraft was airborne and was turned off again early in descent to prepare the cabin for landing.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager International Airline Ed Sims says the enhancement provides on average an extra hour of viewing time per flight to enjoy more than 250 movies and TV programmes and extensive CD library.

“Customers can spend a significant amount of time in their seat prior to departure, especially with the time it takes to board a wide-body aircraft seating more than 300 people. There’s also up to half an hour prior to touch-down without access to the entertainment system.

“On short-haul flights across the Tasman or to the Pacific Islands where we sometimes use these aircraft, the impact of additional access time to enjoy the entertainment options is especially noticeable.”

“We have had the process in place for just a few days and the initial feedback from customers has been amazing. It also makes for a very quiet cabin prior to take off!

“There are very few, if any airlines that we’re aware of providing this service to their customers.”

Departure and arrival procedures have been reworked to accommodate safety briefings and in-flight announcements which pause the entertainment system, as well as other pertinent operational requirements including the few seats with in-arm video screens being stowed during takeoff for safety reasons.

From August, Air New Zealand’s short haul fleet of Boeing 767 and A320 aircraft will be progressively fitted with new on-demand touch-screen entertainment providing the same boarding to landing entertainment facilities.

As a result, by December all of Air New Zealand’s international short haul and long haul aircraft will have personal seat-back entertainment.

Official Press release Air New Zealand dated 11 June 2008.

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