New Business Lounge For Qantas Passengers In Hong Kong

Australia’s Qantas Airways has opened a new International Business Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. The new facility replaces the original lounge opened in 1998 and is the latest in a series of lounge upgrades for the airline, following Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Perth, Tokyo (Narita), Los Angeles and Honolulu.

 

To provide greater comfort and personal space for passengers, Qantas has rearranged the seating layout and furnished the lounge with a new furniture range. Plush armchairs, dining chairs and bar stools combining wood, leather and fabrics are paired with chocolate brown carpets, as well as designer elements such as Moooi lighting and an Akira Isogawa rug.

 

The food and beverage offering has been expanded to include a greater selection of hot and cold foods, beverages and snacks, while 11 bathroom and shower suites with Molten Brown bath amenities let passengers relax and freshen up before their flight. Complimentary internet access, power and data ports, as well as 14 individual workstations equipped with PCs support the needs of business travellers who need to catch up with work.

 

The Qantas International Business Lounge is open to all Business Class, Chairman’s Lounge, Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club members and eligible passengers travelling on Oneworld marketed or operated flights. Qantas is also upgrading and expanding its First Lounge in Hong Kong, due to reopen in early December 2009.

 

From Hong Kong, Qantas operates flights to Brisbane, London (Heathrow), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.  For more information, visit www.qantas.com.au.

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.

New Openings From Emirates Hotels And Resorts, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection

Travellers seeking both luxury and nature on their holidays now have an additional 2 new resorts to choose from. The much-anticipated Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in Australia welcomes its first guests today, while South Africa’s The Oyster Box Hotel reopens after a 2-year renovation and refurbishment.

 

Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

Located between 2 of Australia’s most prominent national parks and bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa is the country’s first luxury conservation-based resort. Rich in historical significance, the area has been visited by Charles Darwin in 1836 and the property’s homestead (which has been fully restored) dates back 177 years to 1832.

 

Developed and managed by Dubai’s Emirates Hotels and Resorts, the 4,000-acre resort is operated on the principles of the group’s award-winning Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, featuring 40 individual suites that are fully integrated into the natural environment. Each of the 83-square meter Heritage Suites are furnished with a luxurious bed, an ensuite bathroom with twin vanity areas, separate bathtub and shower with Babor bathroom therapies, LCD televisions with DVD players, iPod docking station and high-speed internet access. Guests can also experience the surrounding area with the 2 mountain bicycles provided, or take in views of the wildlife using binoculars from the comfort of their private, temperature-controlled swimming pool and garden.

 

The resort also offers the 2-bedroom, 201-square meter Wollemi Suites. In addition to standard amenities, the 3 suites feature a large living room, separate lounge and dining areas, thoughtfully arranged to provide families with sufficient area as well as private spaces. The most luxurious and exclusive accomodation at the resort, the 410-square meter Wolgan Suite, is set away from the main resort in its own self-contained lodge with an expansive living and dining room as well as a gourmet kitchen for cooking and entertaining. Adding to the exclusivity, service is never far away with guests taken care of by a dedicated team residing in private staff quarters at the suite.

 

Showcasing the culinary skills of Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager Dwane Goodman combined with organic local produce, Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa’s selection of dining venues serve exceptional Australian fare and epicurean experiences. The Country Kitchen is a relaxed all-day dining restaurant located in the main Homestead building offering light meals and snacks, while the Wolgan Dining Room serves a lavish 5-course dinner every night. Guests seeking seclusion can utilize the resort’s private dining service at the Creekside Room, which can accomodate 12 guests, or enjoy a meal in the comfort of their suite. The Valley Bar and Terrace encourages guests to relax over more than 300 different wines and panoramic views of the valley.

 

Throughout their stay, guests are assigned a personal field guide who will share interesting information and anecdotes as well as advise on outdoor activities tailored to their interests and abilities. Up to 2 activities can be chosen daily, including explorations of the reserve by foot or on horseback, mountain biking and wildlife safaris by 4-wheel drive vehicles. Following their day outdoors, guests can retreat to the Timeless Spa, where 6 treatment rooms allow them to indulge in the treatments offered using spa products exclusive to Emirates Hotels and Resorts.

 

For more information, visit www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/wolgan-valley/en/.

 

The Oyster Box Hotel

Situated on the ocean’s edge , The Oyster Box Hotel is conveniently located for quick and easy access to Durban’s city centre and the international airport. The iconic landmark, a member of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has been restored to offer guests a contemporary experience, whilst retaining its colonial charm and nostalgia of days gone by.

 

86 rooms, suites and villas accomodate the individual needs of each guest, making use of natural stone and timber complemented by calming colour tones. Each room features luxury bedding, spacious bathroom with L’Occitane bath amenities, flat screen satellite television with CD/DVD players, 2 direct-dial telephones with voicemail capability, complimentary high-speed internet access, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. In addition to the standard room amenities, the 8 Garden Villas and 450-square meter Presidential Villa afford guests greater space and incorporate a plunge pool, terrace and private lounge.

 

The Oyster Box Hotel offers guests a mix of dining options based on the principles of using the freshest seasonal produce affording local flavours. The Grill Room and adjacent Colony Restaurant boasts freshly caught seafood and a wide collection of South African and international wines from its wine cellar. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the aptly-named Ocean Terrace serves Indian cuisine and an extensive a la carte menu throughout the day, while The Palm Court Restaurant, set in an airy open courtyard is ideal for afternoon tea or catching up over cocktails. The Oyster Bar features fresh oysters plucked from the hotel’s own oyster beds, accompanied by chilled champagne, while The Chukka Bar and The Lighthouse Bar allow guests to unwind and take in the old world charm and panoramas of the Umhlanga beach over their favorite drinks.

 

Set amidst lush vegetation and landscaped gardens, the hotel has an air of peace and traquility that extends to the Oyster Box Spa. 6 modern treatment rooms, 2 hydrotherapy baths, a grooming lounge, authentic hammam, plunge and infinity pools, as well as a private fitness club provide guests with personal care and pampering. The hotel also offers outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing, diving, bird watching and horse riding, while guests preferring to stay indoors can catch a movie at the luxurious 24-seat movie theatre. Event and wedding planners have a versatile range of venues at their disposal. Each of the 4 banqueting rooms is individually decorated, while an intricate Victorian-style gazebo with a small amphitheatre is an idyllic setting for outdoor weddings and parties.

 

For more information, visit www.oysterboxhotel.com.

Singapore Airlines Inaugurates A380 Flights To Melbourne

Singapore Airlines has launched a daily A380 flight to Melbourne. The inaugural flight, SQ 227, departed from Changi International Airport Terminal 3 at 2101 hrs yesterday and arrived in Tullamarine International Airport at 0543 hrs this morning.

 

Melbourne is the second Australian destination and sixth city in the Singapore Airlines network to receive A380 service, after Hong Kong, London, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo. The airline currently operates 21 weekly flights between Singapore and Melbourne, using Boeing 777 aircraft.

 

Flight SQ 227 departs Singapore at 2100 hrs daily, arriving in Melbourne at 0610 hrs the next morning. The return flight, SQ 228, takes off from Tullamarine International Airport at 1550 hrs for a 2140 hrs landing back at Changi International Airport.

 

Singapore Airlines currently has 10 A380s in its fleet, with a further 9 aircraft on order. The airline is the second operator of the aircraft type in Melbourne, following Australian carrier Qantas, which flies the double-deck aircraft from Melbourne to Los Angeles.

 

For more information, visit www.singaporeair.com.

Taj Hotels, Resorts And Palaces Teams Up With Etihad Guest

The Indian Hotels Company has joined the award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer program of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as its latest hotel partner.

 

One of Asia’s largest hospitality groups, the group operates under the umbrella of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Through the Taj, Taj Premium and Gateway Hotel collections, the group comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India and 15 international hotels in Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Malaysia, Middle East, UK and USA.

 

Etihad Guest members will now be able to earn miles when staying at the group’s hotels. 500 miles are awarded for each stay at any Taj property, including the flagship Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai. Members will also earn 250 miles per stay at Taj Premium and Gateway Hotels.

 

The new partnership complements Etihad Airways’ continued expansion in India, where it currently operates flights to 6 destinations including Chennai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline will begin flights to Hyderabad later this year from November 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com or www.tajhotels.com.

Air Mauritius Returns To Sydney In 2010

Air Mauritius has announced it will resume flights from July 2010 to the Australian city of Sydney. The resumption of the once-a-week service, an extension of its Mauritius-Melbourne route, increases the airline’s Australian operations to 3 cities.

 

Mauritius-Melbourne-Sydney 

Beginning 5 July 2010, Flight MK 942 will depart Mauritius at 1945 hrs every Monday and arrives in Melbourne the next morning at 1140 hrs, before continuing to Sydney at 1255 hrs, where it lands at Kingsford Smith International Airport at 1420 hrs. The return flight, MK 943, takes off from Sydney at 0715 hrs on Wednesday mornings and lands in Melbourne at 0845 hrs. The aircraft continues on from Melbourne at 0955 hrs to Mauritius, arriving at 1525 hrs.

 

Mauritius-Perth

From 3 July 2010, Air Mauritius’ flight MK 940 will depart Mauritius on Saturdays at 2245 hrs, arriving in Perth at 0935 hrs the next morning. The return flight, MK 941, takes off from Perth at 0130 hrs on Monday mornings to arrive back in Mauritius at 0540 hrs.

 

Flights will be operated using Air Mauritius’ Airbus A340-300 aircraft and offer passengers connections in Mauritius to the airline’s other destinations in Europe, Kenya, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Rodrigues Island and South Africa. Port Louis-based Air Mauritius is the national airline of Mauritius and currently flies to 25 destinations around the world.

 

For more information, visit www.airmauritius.com.

Silversea To Sail Singapore – Sydney In December

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises has announced a series of voyages onboard the all-suite Silver Whisper from Singapore. On 3 December 2009, the vessel makes its way from the Southeast Asian city-state to Sydney, offering guests the opportunity to sail 4 short cruise segments ranging from 6 to 10 days.

 

The first leg of the journey takes passengers on a 3-day sailing to Semarang, Indonesia, where guests can visit the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Borobudur temple complex, before re-boarding the ship to continue their journey south. Silver Whisper will spend the next 3 days at sea enroute to Darwin and guests will be able to enjoy the luxurious facilities onboard.

 

From Darwin, the vessel will sail the next leg to Cairns, arriving on the morning of 13 December 2009 to spend the day in port, before meandering through the pristine waters of the Australian east coast and Great Barrier Reef to Brisbane. Along the way, Silver Whisper will call at the ports of Townsville and Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands group. The voyage concludes with a morning arrival in Sydney at 0800 hrs on the morning of 19 December 2009.

 

Silversea Cruises has lined up a series of shore excursions at each port for guests, ranging from private city tours to wildlife and nature experiences in the Australian outback. Guests will also be treated to the world-class accomodation, dining and facilities onboard the Silver Whisper, coupled with the highly personalised service from the crew.

 

Silversea Cruises is recognized as one of the world’s leading luxury cruise operators. The line currently operate 5 ships (Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Wind and the expedition ship Prince Albert II) and is due to introduce the Silver Spirit, a new 36,000-GRT, 540-guest ultra-luxury vessel in late 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

A380 To Debut Over Antarctica On New Year’s Eve

Australia’s Qantas Airways will operate a special A380 charter sightseeing flight over Antarctica on New Year’s Eve. The unique service marks the first commercial flight over the southern polar region by the double-deck aircraft.

 

Organized by Melbourne-based Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, the aircraft will take off from Sydney and fly via Melbourne to Antarctica. Passengers will reach the continent at midnight and be the first in the world to view the sun rise on New Year’s Day in 2010. While the aircraft will not land in Antarctica, it will fly a figure-of-8 routing that will take passengers over the polar icecap, the South Magnetic Pole, the french scientific base at Dumont d’Urville, rugged coastal cliffs, massive glaciers and the Trans-Antarctic Range before returning to Australia.

 

Onboard the flight, passengers will be accompanied by a panel of experts, including accredited Antarctic scientists, glaciologists, explorers, adventurers and mountaineers, who will share their personal experiences. A camera in the flight deck will provide a pilot’s eye view of the terrain and videos about Antarctic life and history will be screened over the inflight entertainment system. There will also be a live jazz band to help usher in 2010 with a party onboard the aircraft. 2 full international meals, as well as snacks and drinks will be available to passengers during the flight, which is estimated to take approximately 11.5 hours, including up to 4 hours above the continent.

 

Being the only aircraft flying over Antarctica on New Year’s Eve, the A380 will be able to select from 19 flight routes depending on the weather conditions and pilots will be able to request a change of course to maximize viewing opportunities. The aircraft will be permitted to descend to a minimum altitude of 3,077 meters above sea level or 615 meters above the highest terrain under strictly controlled conditions, affording passengers the best possible views of the landscape.

 

Together with Qantas, Antarctica Sightseeing Flights have operated 85 flights over the continent and taken more than 30,000 people to experience Antarctica since 1994. 2 other Antarctic flights are planned for the southern summer, with a second A380 service from Sydney on 24 January 2010 and a Boeing 747-400 flight from Melbourne on Valentine’s Day. All flights will be operated by senior Qantas pilots, with the captain-in-command required to have previously operated Antarctic sightseeing flights.

 

For more information, visit www.antarcticaflights.com.au.

Qantas Adds Fourth A380 To Fleet

Australia’s Qantas Airways has increased the size of its Airbus A380 fleet, taking delivery of a fourth aircraft today. The aircraft, registered VH-OQD and named Fergus McMaster in honour of one of the airline’s founders and first Chairman, landed in Sydney after a delivery flight from Toulouse.

 

With the addition of the jet, Qantas passengers can look forward to further expansions to the airline’s A380 flying schedule. Beginning 7 September 2009, Qantas will operate the double-decker jet 5 times a week on its popular Sydney-Singapore-London route and 4 times a week on its Sydney-Los Angeles services.

 

Sydney – Singapore – London

Flight QF 031 will now operate with the A380 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, departing Sydney at 1625 hrs and landing in Singapore at 2230 hrs, before taking off again at 2359 hrs for a 0640 hrs arrival the next morning. The return flight, QF 032, departs London at 1215 hrs and arrives in Singapore at 0810 hrs the next morning. The flight then continues to Sydney at 0940 hrs where it lands at Kingsford Smith International Airport at 1905 hrs.

 

Sydney – Los Angeles

Flight QF 011 departs Sydney at 1015 hrs every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Los Angeles International Airport at 0945 hrs. The return flight, QF 012, takes off from Los Angeles at 2230 hrs, arriving back in Sydney at 0615 hrs the next morning.

 

The Qantas A380 is configured with 450 seats in a 4-class layout (First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy). 2 more aircraft are scheduled to join Qantas’ fleet by the end of the year, after which Qantas will operate the Kangaroo Route daily with the A380 and increase Melbourne-Los Angeles flights to 3 times a week.

 

For more information, visit www.qantas.com.

V Australia Launches New Routes From Brisbane, Melbourne

V Australia has announced the next phase of its expansion with the unveiling of new routes to Phuket and Johannesburg, as well as services to and from Melbourne. Beginning in November 2009, the airline will introduce 4 new flights from Brisbane and Melbourne.

 

Brisbane – Phuket

Beginning 22 November 2009, V Australia will fly twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays from Brisbane to Phuket. Flight VA 023 will depart Australia at 0945 hrs and arrive in Thailand at 1540 hrs. The return flight, VA 024, takes off from Phuket at 1815 hrs in the evening every Thursday and Sunday, landing back in Brisbane at 0540 hrs the next morning.

 

Melbourne – Phuket

From 3 December 2009, the airline will also launch flights to Phuket from Melbourne, flying once a week on Thursdays. Flight VA 019 departs Melbourne at 1200 hrs and arrives in Phuket at 1640 hrs in the afternoon. The return flight, VA 020, takes off at 1925 hrs on Fridays for a 0800 hrs arrival back in Australia the next day.

 

Melbourne – Los Angeles

V Australia will also connect Los Angeles direct with a third port in Australia, with twice-weekly Melbourne flights commencing on 1 December 2009. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, flight VA 011 departs Melbourne at 1055 hrs, arriving in Los Angeles International Airport at 0625 hrs. The return flight, VA 012, takes off at 2230 hrs and arrives back in Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport at 0915 hrs 2 days later.

 

Melbourne – Johannesburg

The airline will also launch flights to Johannesburg in South Africa, a 15-hour long route, from 13 March 2010 in time for the FIFA World Cup tournament. Flight VA 015 will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, taking off at 1100 hrs and arriving in OR Tambo International Airport at 1715 hrs. The return flight, VA 016, departs Johannesburg at 1925 hrs and lands back in Melbourne at 1800 hrs the next day.

 

All flights will be flown using V Australia’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with 33 full-flat beds in Business Class, 40 seats in Premium Economy and 288 seats in Economy Class.

 

For more information, visit www.vaustralia.com.au.