Airline wrap: Jetstar flies to South Korea, Cathay Pacific amps up Aussie services, AirAsia’s #PlayYourWay travelogue + more!
Felt a little in the dark lately about what’s been happening in the world of commercial aviation? This airline wrap should provide all the illumination you need.
Jetstar announces low-cost direct flights to South Korea amid 15th birthday celebrations
Jetstar has announced Australia’s first low-cost fares service directly linking Australia and South Korea.
Taking off in December 2019, Jetstar, in a codeshare partnership with Jeju Air, will become the only low-cost carrier to fly direct to Seoul from Australia, with flights on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from the Gold Coast three times per week from 8 December 2019.
To mark its 15th birthday celebrations, Jetstar has has launched a low-fares party, with prices starting from as little as $37^ one way (Adelaide to Melbourne [Avalon], among others).
Jetstar’s birthday sale ends today at 23:59 AEDT, unless sold out prior. Fares and full conditions are available at jetstar.com.
*Fares are one-way; checked baggage not included.
^Things you need to know: prices based on payment by POLi, Jetstar voucher, Jetstar Gift Card, Jetstar Mastercard/Platinum Mastercard, or where the total flights booking is redeemed in Qantas Points Plus Pay through jetstar.com. For other payment options, a Payment Fee applies. See jetstar.com/fees.
Cathay Pacific hits the trifecta with upgrades on Sydney, Melbourne and Perth services
Cathay Pacific is upgrading its key city services to offer Australians a greener and quieter travel experience.
Paving the way in Victoria, Cathay Pacific will be first airline to launch the world’s most advanced aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, from Melbourne on 27 October 2019.
Hong Kong’s home airline will also commence operations with the latest wide-body aircraft from Perth on 28 October 2019.
The airline has also revealed it will commence A350-900 Sydney services from 28 October 2019 to replace A330s on CX111 and CX110 scheduled slots.
AirAsia releases interactive #PlayYourWay travelogue
AirAsia has launched #PlayYourWay, the first ever interactive travelogue of Bali and Lombok, which allows viewers to pick their preferred holiday experience in each destination alongside discounted fares from Perth to Lombok and Bali.
The travelogue features a total of 24 short clips, each making use YouTube’s ‘end screen’ feature, which allows viewers to customise and select their destination and activities.
Promotional fares from Perth to Lombok start as low as $99 and to Bali from $119. Bookings are available on airasia.com until 2 July 2019, for travel from 9 June until 30 September 2019.
Emirates announcements: Ramadan, Expo 2020 Dubai, and economy deals
Emirates expects to serve one million dates on board and on the ground in Dubai, and over 150,000 iftar boxes on board as Muslims around the world travel during Ramadan.
The airline’s Ramadan service coincides with the start of the Islamic Holy month. Flights will utilise a unique tool that calculates timings for imsak (the time to commence fasting) and iftar while in-flight using the aircraft’s longitude, latitude and altitude.
Emirates has also announced it will host The Emirates Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, taking visitors on a journey through the past and future of air travel.
Through a series of interactive exhibits, Emirates will help tell the story of what commercial aviation might look like for passengers in 2020 and beyond.
Furthermore, Emirates is currently offering competitive fares to more than 50 destinations worldwide when booked by 13 May 2019.
Economy Class highlights include fares starting from $1179 to Dubai, $1329 to Porto or Manchester, $1439 to Paris and $1489 to Rome. Business Class passengers can enjoy fares starting from $6949 to Dubai, $7219 to Barcelona and $7229 to Porto.
Australians travelling to and through Dubai before 31 August 2019 can take advantage of the My Emirates Pass, an offer that turns an Emirates boarding pass into an exclusive membership card providing travellers with special benefits and discounts, including up to 50 per cent off more than 500 leisure and retail outlets across the UAE.
Qatar Airways announcements: services to Rabat and Morocco, and new economy on-board experience
Qatar Airways will launch flights to the capital of Morocco, Rabat, on 29 May 2019. Qatar Airways has also announced its joint business agreement with Royal Air Maroc, to expand the number of services available.
In addition to launching travel to Raba via Marrakesh, Qatar Airways will also offer daily flights to Casablanca.
The airline will add a number of other new destinations to its route network in 2019, including Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Langkawi, Malaysia.
Qatar Airways has also revealed a new Economy Class on-board experience branded ‘Quisine’, designed to further elevate customers’ dining experience when they travel with the award-winning airline.
To begin their dining experience, passengers will now be presented with redesigned menu cards which will include a service timeline on all long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights, ensuring they can plan their journey without missing anything on offer.
A pre-dinner drinks option will also now be available on flights of more than five hours, with sparkling wine and cocktail snacks available prior to the main meal being served.
Food portions have increased by 25 per cent to 50 per cent, with a greater focus on the use of local, fresh and healthy ingredients that are in season.
Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer launches May campaign
Velocity Frequent Flyer is offering members the chance to earn up to 25 per cent bonus Velocity Points* by transferring their reward program points from participating card, flybuys and hotel partners to Velocity in the month of May.
In addition to a wide range of financial service partners, this year hotel loyalty programs Marriott Bonvoy, Le Club AccorHotels, Shangri-La’s Golden Circle, Hilton Honors and IHG Rewards Club are participating.
Members will receive a 20 per cent bonus on hotel reward program points transferred to Velocity during the month of May. All flybuys point transfers to Velocity will also receive 15 per cent bonus Velocity Points* as part of this May campaign.
* Velocity members will receive bonus Velocity Points when they transfer rewards points from participating partners to Velocity between 1 to 31 May 2019.
British Airways announces partnership with the Diana Award
British Airways is partnering with The Diana Award – an award established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better.
The Diana Award aims to recognise and inspire the next generation of young leaders who are creating positive social change in their communities.
British Airways will be flying Diana Award winners, who hail from around the world to London for the bi-annual Diana Legacy Award ceremony taking place in Autumn 2019.
The accolade celebrates the achievements of 20 outstanding young leaders, visionaries and role models from across the world, who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise new generations to serve their communities.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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