Looking for your week to truly take off? Start with this airline wrap. And no, we’re not sorry for the awful pun, we’re feeling a bit flighty today.

Delta, LAWA formally kick-off USD $1.86-billion project to modernise, upgrade and connect Terminals 2 and 3 at LAX

Delta Air Lines and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) have formally kicked off the Delta Sky Way at LAX project — the USD $1.86 billion plan to modernise, upgrade and connect Terminals 2, 3, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B).

Construction is expected to begin this fall. The project kick-off follows the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners’ (BOAC) recent approval of the largest tenant improvement award in its history, which cleared the way for the Delta Sky Way at LAX to begin.

Delta and LAWA also released new renderings of the facility today, which show the interior and exterior of the shared “headhouse” of Terminals 2 and 3; the interior, secured side of Terminal 3; and the connector between Terminal 3 and Terminal B, among other perspectives.

When completed, the modern facility will offer more security screening capacity with automated security lanes, more gate-area seating, and a world-class concession program in partnership with Westfield Corporation, in addition to all the amenities that Delta’s customers have come to expect at LAX, including the Delta ONE at LAX check-in space, new Delta Sky Club; and the integrated in-line baggage system.

Emirates to launch A380 services to Osaka, Japan

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will introduce regular scheduled commercial Airbus A380 services to Osaka (KIX) in Japan on 28 October 2018*. The deployment of the double-decker aircraft represents a capacity increase of 38 per cent, and means that travellers will enjoy the comfort of an A380 to and from two Japanese gateways, as the flagship aircraft already operates daily from Narita International Airport.

The Emirates’ Airbus A380 aircraft serving the Dubai-Osaka route will offer a total of 489 seats in a three-class configuration, with 399 spacious seats in Economy Class, 76 fully flat-bed seats in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites. Emirates flights to and from Japan cater to the needs of Japanese travellers with Japanese-speaking cabin crew on board.

Emirates award-winning entertainment system, ice, offers up to 3,500 channels of audio and visual entertainment, including live TV and more than 100 channels of Japanese content, movies, TV shows and music. Emirates customers can enjoy a generous baggage allowance, with 50kg for First Class, 40kg for Business Class and up to 35kg for Economy Class passengers.

First Class customers on Emirates flights to and from Japan can experience traditional Kaiseki (multi-course meal) cuisine and Business Class customers have the option of a traditional bento box. Emirates is the first Middle Eastern airline to serve Kaiseki-inspired meals on board. The Emirates A380 is also renowned for its First Class Shower Spas as well as the Onboard Lounge for First and Business Class passengers, the most popular social spot at 40,000 feet.

Cathay Pacific to fly new aircraft home using alternative jet fuel

Cathay Pacific is underscoring its strong commitment to eco-efficiency by planning to use a blend of alternative jet fuel to fly its new fleet of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft home to Hong Kong.

The airline has 20 of these technologically-advanced aircraft on order for delivery over the next four years. Its first A350-1000 will depart Airbus headquarters in Toulouse on 19 June. A further seven aircraft are due for delivery by the end of 2018.

Cathay Pacific operated the longest biofuel delivery flight at the time when taking delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft in 2016. 22 aircrafts of this type have so far been delivered with a 10 per cent blend of alternative jet fuel in their tanks.

Compared to traditional jet fuel, biofuel can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 per cent. Cathay Pacific’s A350-1000 delivery flights using blended biofuel are supported by its partners, Airbus and Total.

Air Tahiti Nui unveils new fleet of Tahitian Dreamliners

French Polynesia’s premier international airline Air Tahiti Nui has unveiled the striking look of its Tahitian Dreamliner, with the design and colours inspired by the beauty and richness of the Polynesian islands.

The first images of the new Tahitian Dreamliner show a design that centres around the blues that Tahiti is synonymous with, Air Tahiti Nui’s trademark tiare flower and a tattoo pattern representing a story of Tahiti and its people.

In a further nod to its Polynesian roots, the airline revealed the secret message that will form when the new Boeing fleet is complete. When the airline has received all four Dreamliners by September 2019, their registration codes will join together to say ‘the warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA)’.

Designed with space and comfort in mind, guests enter via a vast, welcoming entry way that evokes a sense of the sky while the cabin’s wide ceiling and walls offer extra shoulder and head room.  Inspired by “nui” (meaning grand or great) the Tahitian Dreamliner isn’t just a visual immersion in the islands, it has been designed to immerse guests in “mana” – the lifeforce of Polynesians – from the moment they board in the hope they will carry the positive energy with them long after their visit.

Emirates to launch third daily service to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport

Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, today announced it will start a third daily service between Moscow’s Domodedovo (DME) Airport and Dubai, commencing on 25th October 2018.

Emirates has been serving the Russian market since 1st July 2003 and already flies twice daily to Domodedovo on Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER and daily to St Petersburg (LED). Demand for travel has grown significantly over recent years, leading to the airline’s launch of this third flight to Moscow.

The new service will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER in a three class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy. This service will cater for leisure and business passengers, providing daily links for international tourism and trade opportunities both inbound and outbound.

From October 25, flight EK174 will depart Domodedovo at 10:40am and arrive in Dubai at 4:55pm, while the return flight EK173 will depart Dubai at 3:30am and arrive in Moscow at 7:50am. The departure time from Moscow and arrival time into Dubai is convenient for Russian travellers visiting Dubai.