This aviation wrap is full of sales, new products and even a couple of big milestones. Call it a fruit salad, if you will.

Cebu Pacific launches 48-hour flight sale

The Philippines’ largest airline, Cebu Pacific, has announced its 48-hour birthday bonanza seat sale, where Aussies can grab a flight to the Philippines from as low as $129.

The sales comes as Cebu Pacific celebrates its first anniversary for its Melbourne to Manila route, and its fifth birthday for the airline’s Sydney to Manila route.

One-way airfares from Melbourne to Manila start from $129, and Sydney to Manila from $139. However, those wanting to take advantage of the sale must book by Thursday 15 August for travel between 15 September 2019 and 31 January 2020.

American Airlines adds Premium Economy seats

American Airlines was the first US airline to introduce a Premium Economy experience three years ago, and once again it is the first North American airline to finish installing Premium Economy seats on its widebody fleet.

Customers who choose American have access to 3,025 Premium Economy seats – more than the other US carriers combined, according to the airline.

Located between Flagship Business and Main Cabin on long-haul international flights and behind Flagship First, Premium Economy is available on American’s 124 Boeing 787s and 777s, and Airbus A330-200s.

All services from Sydney and Auckland to Los Angeles have Premium Economy, which offers passengers more legroom, wider seats, extra recline, extendable foot rests and an elevated onboard dining experience compared to Main Cabin.

Singapore Airlines confirms fourth new aircraft for Perth

Singapore Airlines has confirmed that from 1 October 2019, customers travelling to and from Perth will have access to latest medium-haul cabin products, the newest inflight entertainment system and the most advanced aircraft in the sky on all four daily flights.

Currently operating two Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft, one Boeing 787-10 aircraft and one A330-300 aircraft to Perth, Singapore Airlines will complete the final upgrade of aircraft when SQ225/224 begins operating as a Boeing 787-10 from Tuesday 1 October.

The 787-10 is configured with 337 seats across two classes, featuring 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 301 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

Deployment of the 787-10 will deliver an increase in capacity for the flight of around five over the course of the year, with almost 38,000 additional seats added to the Singapore-Perth route on a return basis.

Alliance posts record profit for FY19

Alliance Aviation Services has reported a record profit before tax of $32.8 million for the year ended 30 June 2019 – up 25.7 per cent on the previous financial year. The airline’s net profit after tax for the same period increased by 25.4 per cent to $22.7 million.

Total revenue from Alliance’s operations grew 11.9 per cent to $277.1 million in FY19, and the airline’s total flying hours rose 9.9 per cent to 38,026.

Emirates brings spirit of Eid to all customers

Emirates is bringing the generosity and spirit of Eid Al Adha to all its customers with a special inflight offering, which commenced on 11 August and ends on 14 August.

Eid Al Adha is one of the most significant dates in the Islamic calendar, and one of the holiest celebrations. The name translates to ‘festival of the sacrifice,’ and it marks the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

To celebrate the getting together of family and friends, an Eid menu with a touch of Middle Eastern hospitality is being served on board the Emirates A380 lounge. This includes Arabic coffee, a date cake and a selection of Emirati pastries.

Chocolates in a specially designed Eid box from UAE- based gourmet chocolatiers, Forrey & Galland, is also being served to all customers in premium classes on all routes.

A special menu with Arabic flavours has been introduced during the celebrations for customers in all classes. Depending on the route, customers in Economy Class can sample Emirates’ signature dish, a Chicken or Lamb Machbous, and enjoy a date cake for dessert.

In First and Business Class, customers have the choice of Lamb or Chicken Ouzi, a rice dish popular in the Gulf where the meat is slow cooked with roasted nuts and raisins. A special Emirati-style King Fish with rice is also being offered select routes in Africa and Europe.

These mains are complemented with an Arabic salad and premium customers can also choose from various Arabic desserts including chocolate fondant with labneh ice cream, date and almond nammoura made from semolina, or khabees served with Arabic coffee sauce and pistachio cream.

South African Airways announces sale for Business Class fares

South African Airways has a Business Class airfare sale running until Thursday 15 August.

The fare is available on outbound and inbound flights from Australia from 23 August to 15 December 2019.

Fares to Johannesburg are as follows, including taxes and government charges:

• Melbourne to Johannesburg return (all-inclusive): $4,529
• Sydney to Johannesburg return (all-inclusive): $4,530
• Adelaide to Johannesburg return (all-inclusive): $4,534
• Brisbane to Johannesburg return (all-inclusive): $4,540
• Perth to Johannesburg return (all-inclusive): $5,123

There are also airfares available to 20 other destinations within Africa via South African Airways. For more information, contact the airline’s reservations team on 1300 435 972 or visit the website.

Air New Zealand celebrates its suppliers

Air New Zealand has celebrated its suppliers at its inaugural Tūhono Supplier Awards in Auckland overnight.

See below for all the winners…

Customer Commitment or Impact Award: Concentrix

Operational Excellence Award: Michelin Australia

Innovation Award: Flight Interiors

Sustainability & Ethical Practices Award: Ecoware

Regional Partnership Award: JNP Aviation

Best International Partnership Award: ST Engineering Aerospace

Best New Zealand Partnership Award: Villa Maria

Tūhono Award: Flight Interiors

Virgin Australia to save fuel and help the environment with new aircraft winglets  

Virgin Australia has become the first Australian airline to install and operate an aircraft with split scimitar winglets, which will deliver both economic and environmental benefits, after the first of its Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft fitted with the winglets took off to Fiji.

Split scimitar winglets improve the fuel efficiency of the aircraft by reducing the drag created at the end of the wingtip and by distributing the lift of the aircraft more evenly across the whole wing.

FlyArystan carries 200,000th passenger

FlyArystan has reported carrying more than 200,000 passengers in just over three months of operation. The airline also sold more than 280,000 seats during this time, with more than half of those sold costing just over $38.

Janar Jailauova, sales and marketing director at FlyArystan, said: “One of the main features of low-cost operations is higher aircraft utilisation, with a greater number of take-offs and landings each day, which means less time on the ground at airports.

“As a result, we managed to operate up to 14 flights per day with two Airbus A320 aircraft.

“After increasing the FlyArystan fleet to four aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2019, we plan to significantly expand the route network. This will mean even more low fares to more cities on more routes across the country.”