Mexicana Joins Oneworld As Its 11th Full Member

Mexican airline Mexicana has joined Oneworld as its eleventh full member, with its subsidiaries MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink becoming affiliate members of the alliance. The 3 airlines bring forth an extensive Central American network to Oneworld, extending the alliance’s reach to almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries.

 

As part of Oneworld, members of the MexicanaGo frequent flyer program can now earn and redeem mileage awards on any of its partner airlines, with Conquer, Discover and Explore cardholders being accorded Oneworld Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby status respectively. The 100 million members enrolled in the frequent flyer programs of the other Oneworld member airlines will also be able to earn and redeem awards, as well as receive benefits on Mexicana and its subsidiaries.

 

To commemorate the joining, Mexicana has unveiled 2 aircraft, an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 717, in a special Oneworld livery at its hub at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport as part of a rebranding and marketing campaign. The airline will also have its logo added to the alliance and its member airlines’ marketing platforms, while featuring the Oneworld emblem on its aircraft, advertising, publications and stationery.

 

Together with its affiliates, Mexicana serves 67 destinations in 14 countries using a combined fleet of 105 Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Fokker aircraft from its hubs in Mexico City, Cancun and Guadalajara. The airline joins American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas and Royal Jordanian in Oneworld, which was recently voted the World’s Leading Airline Alliance at the 2009 World Travel Awards for the seventh year running.

 

For more information, visit www.mexicana.com and www.oneworld.com.

AirAsia X Begins Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu Flights

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has launched flights between its Kuala Lumpur hub and the Chinese city of Chengdu. The inaugural flight, D7 2622, arrived in Chengdu International Airport at 1340 hrs with 378 passengers onboard the Airbus A330-300.

 

AirAsia X will fly the route 4 times weekly with different flight timings depending on the day of operation. Every Tuesday and Saturday, flight D7 2622 departs Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0900 hrs, arriving in Chengdu at 1340 hrs. On Thursdays, flight D7 2626 will take off at 1800 hrs from Kuala Lumpur and arrive in Chengdu International Airport at 2240 hrs, while flight D7 2624 departs Malaysia at 1330 hrs every Sunday to arrive in the capital city of Sichuan province at 1810 hrs.

 

On the return leg, flight D7 2623 departs Chengdu at 1455 hrs, landing back in Malaysia at 1935 hrs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  The Thursday evening service, D7 2627, will take off from Chengdu International Airport at 2355 hrs, arriving back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0435 hrs the next morning. Every Sunday, flight D7 2625 will depart at 1925 hrs to land back in Kuala Lumpur at 0005 hrs the next day.

 

Chengdu is the 3rd destination in China for AirAsia X, after Hangzhou and Tianjin. The airline is promoting the city as a gateway to China’s western regions such as UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou and Tibet. AirAsia X’s short-haul affiliate, AirAsia, also connects Kuala Lumpur with Guilin, Haikou and Shenzhen.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

Garuda Indonesia To Reopen Jakarta – Amsterdam Service

Following a 5-year absence, Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe with the reopening of its flagship Jakarta-Amsterdam route, operated via Dubai, from June 2010. Amsterdam is the first of several European services planned by Garuda Indonesia, which was recently permitted to operate in the European Union following improvements to its safety standards.

 

Flight GA 088 departs Jakarta at 2100 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0209 hrs the next morning before departing again at 0315 hrs for a 0800 hrs arrival into Amsterdam. The return service, GA 089, takes off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 1000 hrs, landing in Dubai at 1830 hrs and departing for Jakarta at 1945 hrs, where it lands at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 0710 hrs the next morning.

 

Garuda Indonesia will operate a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with the airline’s latest cabin products. Passengers will enjoy 36 full-flat beds in Executive Class, while the Economy Class seats feature a 32-inch seat pitch and 6 inches of recline. Individual touch-screen monitors deliver audio-video on-demand entertainment in both classes.

 

The airline joins several airlines already established on the route, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Garuda Indonesia currently flies to 17 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

 

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.

In-Flight Internet Returns Onboard Lufthansa Flights

German airline Lufthansa is set to re-introduce its inflight broadband service FlyNet. From the middle of 2010, passengers will be able to enjoy communications options on-par with powerful wireless hotspots or upmarket hotels onboard the airline’s long-haul flights by logging on the network using their computers or GSM/GPRS-enabled devices from any point in the aircraft.

 

Partnering with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Lufthansa aims to install FlyNet on a major part of its intercontinental aircraft fleet within the first year of operation for the service. The improved FlyNet allows passengers to not only surf the internet wirelessly, but also send and receive emails, text messages and transfer data via their smartphones. Lufthansa is focusing on the high-bandwidth service to facilitate web surfing, file transfer and Virtual Private Networks (VPN), which will benefit business travellers who need to catch up on work whilst in the air.

 

Specific prices for the use of FlyNet has not yet been determined by Lufthansa, but the Cologne-based airline has plans to introduce different pricing models, ranging from an hourly rate to a monthly flat rate. Passengers may also be able to utilize their frequent flyer miles for the use of the service.

 

FlyNet was first introduced by the airline in January 2003, before being withdrawn at the end of 2006 by Lufthansa’s then-partner Connexion by Boeing. 69 of Lufthansa’s long-haul aircraft were fitted with the system, which had approximately 30,000 users each month. Lufthansa’s re-introduction of FlyNet follows similar services offered or planned by its competitors, including American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines and Virgin America.

 

Today, Lufthansa operates a fleet of Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 747 on intercontinental flights from Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich. The airline is set to take delivery of the double-deck Airbus A380 in early 2010.

 

For more information, visit www.lufthansa.com.

Oman Air Unveils First Class Product On A330-300s

Muscat-based Oman Air has unveiled its new First Class product to be fitted onboard its new 3-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The announcement follows the debut of the airline’s new Business Class and Economy Class seats with the delivery of its first A330-200.

 

Referred to as a “mini-suite”, the new seat measures 82 inches in length, with a seat pitch of 85.5 inches and a width of 25.5 inches. The backrest, legrest, seat depth, as well as an 8-point massage system, are electronically controlled, with the seat converting into an full-flat bed. The cabin is configured with 6 mini-suites, ensuring passengers enjoy high levels of comfort, space and privacy.

 

Content from the inflight entertainment system is delivered through a 23-inch personal monitor and wireless handset, with a power outlet and 2 USB ports for passengers that prefer to use their own electronic devices during the flight. The system is also built with provisions to accomodate full wi-fi and mobile communications connectivity upgrades.

 

The new A330-300 aircraft also features Oman Air’s Business and Economy Class products announced earlier. The airline will introduce 3-class service to a range of routes across Asia and Europe, including its flagship Muscat-London (Heathrow) service.

 

For more information, visit www.omanair.aero.

Finnair To Fly Helsinki – Delhi Daily

Passengers flying between Helsinki and Delhi can now enjoy greater flexibility when planning their travel. Finnair has increased frequencies from its base to the Indian capital to daily service, using a 2-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

 

Flight AY 021 takes off from Helsinki Vantaa International Airport at 1845 hrs, arriving in Delhi at 0400 hrs the next morning. The return flight, AY 022, departs Indira Gandhi International Airport at 0835 hrs in the morning and lands back in Helsinki at 1330 hrs.

 

Both flights offer ample connections with Finnair flights in Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea area and all of Northern Europe, with Delhi offering connections to the rest of India. Finnair first launched flights to Delhi, India’s main air transport hub, in October 2006.

 

For more information, visit www.finnair.com.

KLM Introduces Economy Comfort Zone

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced it will offer more space and comfort with a new Economy Comfort zone onboard its aircraft on intercontinental flights. The new zone supplements KLM’s preferred seats which are available at an additional charge.

 

Economy Comfort seats offer up to 10 centimeters more legroom and back supports that recline twice as far as standard seats. While cabin service will be the same as in Economy Class, passengers will be able to disembark the aircraft first with the zone located in the front of the Economy Class cabin. With effect from November 2009, Economy Class passengers will be able to reserve seats or upgrade to the new zone at the airport with self-service check-in kiosks for an additional charge, while passengers holding fully-flexible Economy Class tickets and Platinum members of its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme can do so for free. KLM will also offer a 50% and 25% discount to Flying Blue Gold and Flying Blue Silver members respectively.

 

The new Economy Comfort zone will be available on all aircraft onboard KLM’s intercontinental fleet, with the first aircraft already converted. Conversion of the remaining aircraft, including the Airbus A330, Boeing 747, 777 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11, is currently underway and expected to be completed in time for the Economy Comfort zone’s introduction in December 2009.

 

Netherlands-based KLM currently operate services to more than 90 destinations around the world from its base at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

 

For more information, visit www.klm.com.

Oman Air Receives First A330-200

Oman Air has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft this week. The twin-engined jet, registered A40-DA, was unveiled at Muscat’s Seeb International Airport on Wednesday, following a delivery flight from Toulouse where it was formally handed over to the airline.

 

The first of 7 A330s for Oman Air, the aircraft will form the mainstay of the airline’s long-haul fleet in support of its international expansion beyond the Middle East. The jet will initially be deployed on services between Muscat and Europe, flying to Frankfurt, London (Heathrow) and Paris (Charles de Gaulle). Oman Air currently operates 2 A330s leased from India’s Jet Airways on long-haul routes from Muscat.

 

Oman Air has configured the aircraft in a 2-class layout, featuring 20 Business and 196 Economy Class seats. Passengers will enjoy a full-flat bed, electrically-controlled backrest and legrest, ottoman and 17-inch personal monitor in Business Class, while a 34-inch seat pitch, adjustable headrest and footrest and individual 10-inch monitors await passengers in Economy Class. The advanced inflight entertainment system will offer live television, as well as access to e-mail and the internet onboard to every seat.

 

Muscat-based Oman Air currently flies to international destinations in Asia, Europe, Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and North Africa.

 

For more information, visit www.omanair.aero.

US Airways Unveil New Business Class Seat

Business travellers on US Airways can look forward to the airline’s new business class seat to be introduced later this year on transatlantic routes. The Envoy Suite promises greater comfort, privacy and amenities for passengers and represents a significant improvement over US Airways’ current business class products.

 

Configured in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, 20 fully-adjustable, forward-facing Envoy Suites will be offered in each aircraft. Each suite features direct aisle access and reclines into a 6.8-inch full-flat bed, with a seat width of 20.5 inches (armrest raised). Passengers will also enjoy the personal space offered by the raised side table or the easy-access tray table, while larger personal belongings can be stowed beneath the ottoman.

 

A technology panel incorporates the in-seat power supply, a USB port, headphone jack, personal reading light and the inflight entertainment controller, providing convenience to travellers who need to catch up with work during their flight. Passengers preferring to relax with the inflight entertainment system can do so through a 12.1-inch adjustable touchscreen monitor delivering on-demand movies, television programmes, music, games and Voyager, a real-time world map detailing the flight’s progress.

 

The Envoy Suite will make its debut in December 2009 on an Airbus A330-200, with the entire fleet receiving the new seats by summer 2011. US Airways will also fit the larger A330-300 with the Envoy Suite and installation is expected to be completed by summer 2012.

 

For more information, visit www.usairways.com.

Kingfisher Takes Off For Hong Kong, Singapore

Kingfisher Airlines has launched flights to Hong Kong from Mumbai yesterday, with a non-stop service to Singapore to follow later today. Hong Kong and Singapore are the latest destinations to join Kingfisher’s growing international network from India, which also includes Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Dubai and London.

 

Mumbai-Hong Kong

Flight IT 071 will depart Mumbai daily at 2255 hrs and arrive in Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 at 0805 hrs the next morning. The return flight, IT 072, will take off from Hong Kong at 1405 hrs, landing back in Mumbai at 1750 hrs in the evening.

 

Mumbai-Singapore

Flight IT 029 takes off from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport daily at 2305 hrs, landing in Singapore Changi International Airport at 0705 hrs the next morning. The aircraft returns to Mumbai as flight IT 030 at 1015 hrs, arriving back in India at 1305 hrs.

 

The flights have been scheduled to allow for greater connectivity with the airline’s extensive domestic network. Kingfisher will operate its 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft on both routes, . The twin-engined jet is configured with 30 Kingfisher First seats and 187 seats in Kingfisher Class, with premium travellers also enjoying the use of an onboard social area comprising a full bar and comfortable couches.

 

Bangalore-based Kingfisher Airlines is India’s only 5-star airline and currently operates a fleet of 71 aircraft to 65 cities in India and 7 international destinations.

 

For more information, visit www.flykingfisher.com.