Westjet Offers New Services To Mexico

Canada’s Westjet has announced new seasonal non-stop services from Winnipeg to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. The once-a-week service is scheduled to commence on 6 January and 8 January 2009 respectively and end in late March/early April.

 

Flight WS 716 to Mazatlan departs Winnipeg at 0930 hrs every Tuesday and arrives in Mexico at 1258 hrs. The return flight, WS 717, leaves Mazatlan at 1345 hrs for a 1902 hrs arrival back in Winnipeg. The Puerto Vallarta flight, WS 718, departs Winnipeg at 0930 hrs every Thursday, arriving at 1422 hrs before returning as WS 719 at 1510 hrs and landing in Winnipeg at 1947 hrs. Both flights will be operated using Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with live seatback television.

 

Westjet is Canada’s second-largest airline and a low cost carrier flying to major Canadian cities. Internationally, the carrier offers flights to the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Lufthansa Italia Launched

Lufthansa has launched its new Lufthansa Italia brand in Italy. Based in Milan’s Malpensa airport, the new airline will begin operations in February 2009 using a fleet of 6 Airbus aircraft, following the application of its Italian air operator certificate.

 

Lufthansa Italia will offer connections to major european destinations from northern Italy, with an extensive route network planned. Flights to the first 2 destinations, Barcelona and Paris (Charles De Gaulle), will commence from 2 February 2009. These will be followed by Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest and Madrid from 2 March 2009. The airline also plans to fly to London (Heathrow) and Lisbon from end March 2009.

 

Lufthansa Italia will operate the Airbus A319 in a 2-class configuration, seating 138 passengers in Business and Economy classes. Passengers will be served by Italian crew and enjoy catering with an Italian flavour. On the ground, the airline will offer an improved lounge product and fast-track passage through security.

AirAsia X Announces London-Kuala Lumpur Route

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has announced it is to commence flights to London in March 2009 from its Kuala Lumpur base. The new route effectively opens up the Kangaroo Route to low cost competition, with the airline currently flying to 3 destinations in Australia.

 

AirAsia X will fly 5 times weekly on the route, using a 2-class Airbus A340-300 aircraft fitted with 30 premium and 256 economy seats. Depending on the day of operation, flights will arrive in London’s Stansted Airport in the morning (Tuesday), afternoon (Wednesday and Saturday) or evening (Thursday and Sunday). Arrival times for the return flights to Kuala Lumpur will allow passengers to connect to AirAsia’s network across Asia.

 

AirAsia X was introduced in January 2007 as the long-haul counterpart to AirAsia, covering destinations of between 4 to 8 hours flying time from Kuala Lumpur. The airline currently flies to Perth, Gold Coast and Melbourne in Australia and Hangzhou in China.

Qantas Begins Direct Sydney-Buenos Aires Flights

Australia’s Qantas Airways has launched nonstop services between Sydney and the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires. The inaugural flight, QF 17, departed Sydney at 1050 hrs, and is scheduled to arrive in Buenos Aires at 1100 hrs local time.

 

Qantas will fly the route 3 times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, using Boeing 747-400 aircraft in a 3-class configuration offering First, Business and Economy classes. The return flight, QF 18, will depart Buenos Aires at 1405 hrs, arriving back in Sydney at 1740 hrs the next day.

 

The new flights allow Qantas to grow business and leisure travel between Australia and South America. The airline had previously offered flights to Buenos Aires via Auckland, New Zealand, between 1998 and 2002. Qantas also codeshares on 6 times per week Sydney-Auckland-Santiago flights with its Oneworld partner airline, LAN.

Celebrity Solstice To Embark On Maiden Voyage Today

The much awaited Celebrity Solstice is set to embark on its maiden voyage today and will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a 7-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, calling at San Juan in Puerto Rico, Phillipsburg, St Maarten and Basseterre, St Kitts. Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, the first of its class, boasts 15 decks and can accomodate 2,850 guests in its 1,426 staterooms.

 

Each stateroom is up to 15% larger than those on Celebrity’s other ships, giving guests a sense of spaciousness onboard the Celebrity Solstice. All rooms are equipped with two beds convertible into a single Queen-sized bed, sitting area with sofa, LCD television, vanity table, wireless internet access and a private bathroom. To further enhance the cruising experience, 90% of the accomodation choices offer magnificent ocean views.

 

Guests on today’s maiden voyage will enjoy several industry-first facilities, such as The Lawn Club featuring a quarter hectare of real grass on the ship’s top deck with a 3-hole putting green and lawn bowling arena. Working with the Corning Museum of Glass, guests can witness art pieces created by professional glassblowers in the ship’s glass-blowing studio. Art afficiondos will be pleased to know that the Celebrity Solstice has more than US$5 million worth of art on display.

 

Other entertainment options onboard include two theatres and the more intimate Celebrity Central, designed with comedians and solo artists in mind, while the nightclub, Quasar, is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. Joining it are 9 other lounges, bars and clubs situated throughout the vessel.

 

Dining on the Celebrity Solstice leaves guests spoilt for choice. The formal dining room, The Grand Epernay, is helmed by a two-storey high glass wine tower, magnificent chandeliers and stunning ocean views. There are 4 specialty dining restaurants, serving up cuisines ranging from pan-Asian to Italian, in addition to the all-purpose Oceanview Cafe and Bar.

 

The Celebrity Solstice will sail in the Caribbean, before making a transatlantic crossing to the Mediterranean in 2009. Celebrity Cruises is a global cruise line with 9 ships currently in service and 4 under construction.

Independence Of The Seas Arrives In Florida

Royal Caribbean International’s newest Freedom-class ship, the 160,000-GRT Independence of the Seas, has made its debut in North America. Capable of carrying 3,634 guests, she shares the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister-ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.

 

Sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the vessel features industry-first amenities such as a surf simulator and water park equipped with interactive sculpture garden for families. The adults-only Solarium boasts cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean. Other facilities onboard include a full-size boxing ring, ice skating rink, rock-climbing wall and Broadway style entertainment. The Royal Promenade, an entertainment boulevard with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges, stretch the length of the ship.

 

Independence of the Seas offers 4 categories of accomodation onboard. Guests may choose from interior, outside or balcony staterooms, or from the various suites available, including the luxurious 14-person family suite. Every room offers a television, telephone, private bath and shower, in addition to other amenities.

 

From Port Everglades, the ship will alternate between 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailings. Ports of call for the Western itinerary include Belize City, Belize and the Mexican ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel. The Eastern itinerary will call at San Juan in Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, Phillipsburg, St Maarten and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti.

 

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise line based in Miami, Florida with 21 ships in service around the world and 2 under construction.

Upgraded Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Offers More For Guests

Located amidst lush tropical gardens and at the edge of the Andaman Sea, the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket resort has recently completed its refurbishment and facility upgrades. The 226 guestrooms and suites have been given a new look, whilst retaining the Dusit style combining Thai tradition with modern convenience, allowing guests a greater holiday experience.

 

Each guestroom or suite offers a spacious private balcony with either lagoon or ocean view, satellite television, hi-speed wireless internet, coffee/tea making facilities, in-room safe and a bathroom with full amenities. Guests may choose from a single King-sized bed or 2 Queen-sized beds, with connecting rooms available on request.

 

The Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket also offers 28 exclusive private pool villas, each providing guests with butler services and 292 sq meters of luxurious and stylish amenities. The entire first-floor is dedicated to a master and twin-Queen bedrooms, each with adjoining bathrooms and direct courtyard or beach access. Located on the second-floor is a functional kitchen, dining area and a patio while the roof deck features an outdoor shower and infinity pool.

 

As a part of the Laguna Phuket complex, guests at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket enjoy access to the many facilities available, including health and wellness centres, water sports and the championship 18-hole Laguna Phuket golf course.

KLM To Offer Extra Flights Between Amsterdam And Helsinki

KLM has announced it will increase the number of daily flights between Amsterdam and Helsinki from 29 March 2009. The Dutch airline will add an additional flight to the Finnish capital, bringing the total number of daily flights to four from the current three services daily.

 

Flight KL 1161 will depart Amsterdam at 1815hrs, arriving in Helsinki at 2145hrs. From Helsinki, the new flight, KL 1162 departs at 0910hrs and arrives in Amsterdam at 1050hrs. Both new flights will be flown using Boeing 737 aircraft configured in a 2-class configuration.

 

The new flights will improve flight connections for travellers flying between both cities or connecting to North America, where KLM flies to 13 destinations across Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Starwood Announces New Addition To Luxury Collection

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has added the Hotel Des Indes to its Luxury Collection portfolio of hotels and resorts. The 92-room hotel located in The Hague, Netherlands, overlooks the city’s main square, the Lange Voorhout. Originally constructed as a town palace, Hotel Des Indes opened as a luxury hotel in 1881, playing host to royalty, heads-of-state, aristocrats and celebrities.

 

Recently renovated by world-renowned architect Jacques Garcia at a cost of EUR35 million in 2006, the 92 guestrooms, suites and public areas have been restored to their original splendour. The hotel features 10 elegant salons, boasting refined amenities for events, functions and meetings for up to 80 guests. A luxurious health club with personal trainers is available for guests, complete with other wellness facilities such as a heated indoor swimming pool.

 

Since 1881, the Restaurant-Bar-Lounge Des Indes has welcomed royalty, world leaders and artists from around the globe. Helmed by Executive Chef Ben Hardeman, the hotel’s innovative menu was created in collaboration with Parisian chef Michel Rostang, carrying on the tradition with his epicurean creations.

 

The Luxury Collection is a selection of the world’s finest award-winning hotels, with 65 properties in over 26 countries. Each hotel and resort is a unique expression of its location and offer magnificent decor, impeccable service and modern conveniences to create an enriching experience for guests.

AirAsia X Launches Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne Flights

AirAsia X, the long-haul affiliate of Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia, has begun flights linking Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne. The inaugural flight, D7 2722, landed at 1140hrs at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

 

The airline will initially fly the route 4 times a week, with a planned increase to daily service next month from 18 December 2008 to 16 January 2009. Regular daily flights are scheduled to commence in March 2009. AirAsia X will utilize its newly-delivered Airbus A330 aircraft, equipped with 383 seats upholstered in black leather in a 2-class configuration. Passengers will also enjoy in-flight entertainment featuring innovative content and wi-fi access.

 

Melbourne is AirAsia X’s third Australian destination, with the airline also flying to Perth and the Gold Coast. Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou are also served by AirAsia X 5 times weekly.