Qatar Airways Launches Non-stop Flights To New York

Qatar Airways has launched direct flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from its hub in Doha. The route has been in operation since 26 Oct 2008 and is Qatar Airways’ second non-stop service to the United States, supplementing the airline’s existing daily flights to Washington DC.

 

Flight QR 83 departs Doha at 0820 hrs daily and arrives at 1600 hrs in New York. The return flight, QR 84, departs JFK Terminal 4 at 2235/2335 hrs, arriving at 0710 hrs the next day in Doha. With the new service, Qatar Airways’ 6 times weekly, 1-stop operation between Doha and Newark Liberty Airport, via Geneva, will be discontinued.

 

Qatar Airways will operate its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in a 2-class configuration with 42 Business and 335 Economy seats on the new route.

Starwood Opens W Hong Kong

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has officially opened the W Hong Kong, heralding the brand’s entry into China. Located at the heart of the city’s new commercial, entertainment and cultural West Kowloon district, the W Hong Kong features 393 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, including 42 suites offering guests views of the western Victoria Harbour and exclusive amenities.

 

The latest technological offerings from Sharp, Bang & Olufsen and KEF are featured in all guestrooms and suites. Guests enjoy the comfort of the W brand’s signature bed with a feather-top mattress, 350-thread count cotton sheets and goose down comforter. There is also an oversized desk, Tivoli clock-radio with CD/DVD player, MP3 docking station, high-definition 42 inch television and high speed internet connection.

 

W Hong Kong introduces Asia’s first Bliss Spa and boasts one of the city’s most highly elevated swimming pools, a modern fitness facility on the 73rd floor, 8,200 square feet of convertible meeting and event space, 2 signature restaurants and the W lounge experience. The hotel connects directly to the Elements luxury shopping mall and easy access to the City Golf urban driving range, al fresco restaurants, prestigious residences and the Pop TV Arena. It is the closest luxury hotel in Kowloon to central Hong Kong island and is within minutes of the International Commerce Centre and the Asiaworld-Expo.

 

The W Hong Kong joins 2 other W Hotels in Asia, located in the Maldives and Seoul.

Dragonair Launches New Service To Hanoi

Dragonair of Hong Kong today inaugurated its new daily service to the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, with a ceremony at Noi Bai International Airport. The route marks Dragonair’s entry to Vietnam and is the airline’s eighth new destination since becoming part of the Cathay Pacific Group in 2006.

 

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flight KA 295 departs Hong Kong at 0845 hrs, arriving in Hanoi at 0945 hrs. The return flight, KA 294, departs Hanoi at 1045 hrs for a 1335 hrs arrival in Hong Kong. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the flight departs Hong Kong at 1805 hrs and arrives in Hanoi at 1900 hrs before returning at 1955 hrs to land at 2250 hrs in Hong Kong. Flights are operated with Airbus A320 aircraft.

 

With the new flights, passengers flying Dragonair can connect to the airline’s network throughout the Asia-Pacific region as well as to its sister airline Cathay Pacific’s international network.

Starwood Set To Open First Four Points by Sheraton In Southeast Asia

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is on track to open its first Four Points by Sheraton property in the East Malaysian city of Kuching in early 2009. Located 2 kilometers from the airport and 5 kilometers south of the city centre, the 421-room Four Points by Sheraton Kuching will cater to business and leisure travellers, offering a complete range of services and facilities.

 

Each guestroom features the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, 32 inch LCD televisions, work areas, high speed internet access and a rainforest shower for guests. The hotel will also have 3 food & beverage outlets, an outdoor swimming pool, spa and 24-hour fitness center. Business travellers enjoy the convenience of a 24-hour business center and up to 8 meeting spaces.

 

The Four Points by Sheraton Kuching is the first of 6 Four Points by Sheraton properties planned for in Southeast Asia. Across the Asia-Pacific region, Four Points by Sheraton currently operate hotels in Australia, China and Taiwan.

Qantas Flies Inaugural A380 Service

Qantas Airways today became the first airline to operate commercial Airbus A380 flights between Australia and the US West Coast. Flight QF 93 departed Melbourne at 1115 hrs and is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles at 0730 hrs, where it will be met by Qantas Ambassador-at-Large John Travolta, actress Olivia Newton-John and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

 

The inaugural flight marks a new milestone for Qantas, which has been operating air services between Australia and the United States since 1954. The airline will follow up on today’s Melbourne-Los Angeles A380 flight with its first Sydney-Los Angeles flight on Friday, 24 Oct 2008. Following the inaugurals, the Qantas A380 will fly between Melbourne and Los Angeles on Mondays from 27 Oct 2008 and Wednesdays from 7 January 2009. Daily A380 services are expected to commence by the end of 2009, following the delivery of the airline’s eighth A380.

 

The Qantas A380 is configured with 450 seats in four cabin classes – 14 First, 72 Business, 32 Premium Economy and 332 Economy. The aircraft’s interior has been designed by renowned Australian designer Marc Newson, who is also Qantas’ Creative Director.

 

Currently, Qantas flies 47 times a week to the US from Australia, with daily extensions to New York.

Cruise West Announces Vietnam Itinerary For 2009

Cruise West has announced the reintroduction of its Vietnam itinerary for 2009. The company is deploying its flagship and most luxurious vessel, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, for the 12-day voyage from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Departing on 21 Nov 2009, travellers will cruise down the Vietnamese coast, sailing through attractions such as the Gulf of Tonkin, UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay and port calls to Da Nang, Hue and Nha Trang to experience the Vietnamese culture. Other highlights of the cruise include the opportunity to sample traditional Vietnamese cuisine, dance, puppet theatre and a private performance of the country’s ancient martial arts.

 

Onboard the Spirit of Oceanus, Cruise West’s Exploration Leaders and guest speakers will share their knowledge and expertise of the people and places visited throughout the itinerary, giving greater insight to travellers. In addition to the various excursions, there is also the option of a 5-day Cambodia/Angkor Wat add-on tour available to travellers.

 

Prices for the voyage start at US$ 5,649 for double occupancy rooms. Cruise West’s Single Share Programme is available for single travellers willing to share a room with another single traveller of the same gender, allowing both travellers to enjoy the double occupancy fare.

Emirates Terminal 3 Opens At Dubai International Airport

Emirates Airlines have commenced phased operations from the new dedicated Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport on Tuesday, 14 Oct 2008. The first flight to operate from the terminal, EK 843 from Dubai to Doha, departed gate 213 on time at 1415hrs.

 

Departing passengers were able to choose from more than 150 traditional counters and self service kiosks located around the terminal to check-in for their flights and the baggage system functioned smoothly ensuring no major problems. Staff from Emirates Airport Services and Dnata manned all operations and services in the new terminal and concourse, including concierge and porter services, information counters, check-in and all lounges.

 

Besides EK 843, Emirates Terminal 3 handled 5 other flights departing to Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait and Riyadh and received 8 flights from Jeddah, Doha, Houston, New York, Bahrain, Sao Paolo and Riyadh on its opening day. In its first phase of operations, the terminal will handle all Emirates flights to and from the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the Americas.

 

The second phase, to be launched soon, will see the rest of the airline’s Middle East and Africa flights moved to Emirates Terminal 3. Flights to and from Europe will be moved in the third phase, followed by the final phase for remaining Asian and Australian flights. A total of 269 flights are expected to operate from the new terminal daily following the last phase.

Jazeera Airways To Add Doha To Network

Kuwait and Dubai-based Jazeera Airways has announced it will begin flights to the Qatari capital, Doha, from Kuwait on 30 Oct 2008, making the airline the first Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) to operate the route. Jazeera will fly between both capital cities twice daily using Airbus A320 aircraft.

 

The morning flight, J9 402, departs Kuwait at 0705hrs, arriving in Doha at 0820hrs before returning at 0905hrs as J9 403 for a 1030hrs arrival in Kuwait. The evening flight, J9 462, departs Kuwait at 2300hrs for a next day arrival to Doha at 0015hrs. The return leg to Kuwait departs 0100hrs to arrive in the early morning at 0225hrs.

 

With the addition of Doha, Jazeera Airways flies to 24 destinations in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 To Make Final Call In North America

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) will make her 706th and final call to New York City next Thursday, 16 Oct 2008, marking an end to its service in North America. QE2 will arrive early morning flying a traditional “Paying-Off Pennant” marking her length of service to the Cunard fleet, which will be presented to the city as a commemorative gift. She will depart at 1700hrs under the escort of FDNY fireboats and a flotilla of pleasure craft for her 806th and final Transatlantic crossing. The liner will rendezvous with her sister ship, Queen Mary 2, at the Statue of Liberty to make the tandem crossing to Southampton, England.

 

Serving as flagship of the Cunard fleet for 35 years, QE2 has logged 5.9 million nautical miles, carried more than 2.5 million passengers and sailed 25 world cruises. In 1982, she was requisitioned by the British government for military service in the Falkland Islands. With a top speed of 32.5 knots, QE2 is the fastest passenger ship in the world.

 

After her final voyage to Dubai, QE2 will complete her service to Cunard. She will then be refurbished to become a luxury hotel, entertainment destination and floating museum in the emirate.

AirAsia Announces Flights Between East Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia’s AirAsia has announced that it will fly 2 new flights between Singapore and the East Malaysian cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. The announcement is the first from a low-cost carrier (LCC) following agreements to allow LCCs to fly between Singapore and East Malaysia. AirAsia will fly both routes daily using Airbus A320 aircraft.

 

Flight AK 6673 departs Kuching at 1840hrs and arrives in Singapore at 2010hrs before returning as AK 6674 at 2035hrs, arriving back in Kuching at 2155hrs. The second flight, AK 6273, departs Kota Kinabalu at 1840hrs, arriving in Singapore at 2055hrs. The return flight AK 6274 departs at 2135hrs for a 2350hrs arrival back in Kota Kinabalu. 

 

Both flights are open for booking from 9 Oct to 19 Oct 2008 for travel between 1 Nov 2008 and 31 July 2009. To celebrate the new routes, AirAsia will be giving out up to 5,000 free seats.