There’s only one thing we read on Tuesdays, and that’s this fab airline wrap. Well, that and scanning our bank account to double check how much we’ve spent on coffee this week.

Etihad Airways builds on partnership with born free and revamps popular child packs

Etihad Airways is reinforcing its partnership with leading wildlife charity, Born Free, by refreshing its popular ‘Etihad Explorers’ children’s packs, which now include an activity booklet developed with Born Free. The aim is to provide the airline’s younger guests with a greater understanding of animal welfare and how they can play a part in reducing man’s impact on fragile natural habitats, wildlife conservation and wild animal welfare.

First launched in September 2016, Etihad Explorers is the airline’s children’s brand, featured on activity packs and meal items. It aims to instil a sense of excitement and anticipation during their journey.

On inbound flights to Abu Dhabi, the collectable character bag contains the activity booklet, crayons, card games and a colour-in mask. The pack on flights from Abu Dhabi includes a unique suitcase board game which allows parents and children to play together, a foam version of Boo the Panda, colour-in postcards, crayons, and a handy waterproof travel wallet.

For nine to 13-year old children, a refreshed and more mature seascape-themed pack is now provided and includes Sudoku, mazes, lined notes and join-the-dot games. These packs also contain a pencil case, pencil, a dual-function bookmark and ruler, and a notepad.

Qatar Airways announces upgrade of five Airbus A350-900s to A350-1000s

Qatar Airways is delighted to announce that it has upgraded five of its current order of A350-900s to the higher-capacity A350-1000. The airline has already taken delivery of 30 A350 aircraft (27 A350-900 and three A350-1000) from the total order of 76 A350 XWBs.

The decision to upgrade the original order comes just eight months after the award-winning airline, which was the global launch customer for both A350 types, welcomed the first A350-1000 into its fleet. The strong performance of this state-of-the-art aircraft and the need for extra capacity on the world’s fastest growing airline are the key factors behind this latest announcement.

The A350-1000 is seven metres longer than its younger sibling and offers 28 per cent more capacity in the Premium class cabin. It also features the airline’s revolutionary Qsuite seat, which offers passengers a First Class experience in the Business Class cabin. The A350-1000 currently operates on the London and Frankfurt routes and will launch on the JFK service from 28 October 2018.

Emirates is the Middle East & Africa Airline of the Year at Aviation 100 Awards

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has won the Aviation 100 ‘Middle East & Africa Airline of the Year’, awarded by Airline Economics magazine. The Aviation 100 awards recognise aviation’s most outstanding performers, as well as the most innovative and successful finance and leasing deals closed in the last 12 months. The awards were held during the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Dubai 2018 conference gala dinner.

Emirates and its financing partners also won‘Deal of the Year for Innovation’, which resulted from a leasing transaction of five Airbus A380s. Nirmal Govindadas, Senior Vice President Corporate Treasury received both awards on behalf of Emirates earlier this week.

Winners of the Aviation 100 awards are decided by an industry-wide survey, a rigorous vetting process and editorial consideration. The Emirates Aviation 100 ‘Airline of the Year’ accolade was won based on the airline’s financial and revenue per passenger kilometres (RPK) performance, aircraft orders, as well as network and fleet expansion activity.

Cathay Pacific London on Sale

Cathay Pacific has launched an incredible promotion on fares from all Australian ports to London from just AU$1,066 return.

The sale period is from Friday, 5 October until Wednesday, 31 October 2018, to help Australian travellers kick-start their summer holiday preparations with travel between 5 October 2018 – 28 February 2019.

On all flights, passengers can experience Cathay Pacific’s award-winning Economy Class, which is designed to make the travel journey a comfortable and seamless experience.

Etihad Airways and No1 Lounges launch ‘The House’

Etihad Airways has launched a contemporary airport lounge brand in partnership with No1 Lounges. To be known as ‘The House’, the project is the result of a unique collaboration between the airline and the award-winning lounge provider, which will operate the new brand.

The project begins at London Heathrow, where Etihad Airways’ lounge will be rebranded ‘The House, home of Etihad Airways and other leading airlines’. The scope of the new lounge brand may be expanded to include other lounges.

No1 Lounges has worked closely with Etihad Airways to create a bold, contemporary and aspirational experience which will continue to deliver and exceed the service, hospitality and interior design expectations of the airline’s discerning customers.

British Airways announces British designer Ozwald Boateng will design new uniform

Savile Row tailoring expert, Ozwald Boateng OBE, is to be the next in an auspicious line-up of British designers to develop uniforms for the airline.

Boateng, who is known for bringing a modern contemporary twist to the classic British institution of tailoring, will be designing a collection for the airline’s 32,000 employees who wear a uniform as part of their role.

The new uniform will form an important part of the airline’s celebrations for its Centenary next year. Boateng, who launched his first womenswear collection this year, will be working closely with the airline’s employees throughout the development process, from shadowing them to understand their roles and how the uniforms need to perform, to design, testing and final delivery.

British Airways has worked with a number of famous names throughout its history to design its uniforms. These include Paul Costelloe, Roland Klein, Baccart Weatherall, Hardy Amies and Julien MacDonald, the designer of the airline’s current uniform.

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines welcome renewed regulatory approval for alliance

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines welcome the New Zealand Ministry of Transport’s decision today to extend authorisation of their joint venture alliance. The renewed New Zealand regulatory approval is the final step in enabling the two flag carriers to extend their alliance for a further five years until March 2024.

Since the launch of the alliance in January 2015, the two airlines have increased flight frequency on routes between New Zealand and Singapore, providing travellers with greater choice and convenience. This included a new Wellington-Singapore service via Australia in 2016, along with increased peak season services to Christchurch.

The alliance has increased seat capacity by more than 25 per cent between New Zealand and Singapore. The carriers will be launching a third daily service between Auckland and Singapore on 28 October 2018, boosting capacity by 40 per cent on the route, with more than 165,000 additional seats annually. It will also shorten connection times and improve connectivity to destinations in Europe, India and Southeast Asia through the Singapore hub.

During peak months, the airlines will jointly operate a total of 35 return services a week between New Zealand and Singapore, including services from Wellington and Christchurch.

Qatar Airways wins a host of awards in Asia Pacific

Qatar Airways continues its award-winning year by clinching the ‘Best Inflight Service’ Award at the 29th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2018. The airline was also named the ‘Best Middle Eastern/African Airline’ for the ninth consecutive year at the recent 2018 Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards.

Qatar Airways also won the ‘Best Inflight Service’ award, which recognises the airline for having the best product and services, most consistent and reliable network and schedule and also for having the best agency outreach programmes. Qatar Airways was once again recognised as a TTG Travel Hall of Fame honorary member after having been named ‘Best Middle Eastern’ airline 10 consecutive times.

The 29th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2018 is organised by TTG Asia, one of the region’s most trusted travel trade resources. The airline awards are decided based on votes cast by travel consultants, tour operators and destination management companies.

Etihad Airways to increase frequency to London for the festive season

Effective 15 December 2018 – 13 January 2019, Etihad Airways will increase its flights from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow, from three to four daily services, to meet peak demand this festive season.

The flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 787-9, featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats. The additional services will also provide more connecting opportunities for passengers travelling between London and key destinations on Etihad’s global network.

These services will operate in addition to Etihad Airways’ regularly scheduled 3 daily Abu Dhabi to London services which will continue to operate on 3-class Airbus A380 aircraft.

In addition to the seasonal increase of service to London, Etihad Airways has also recently announced seasonal frequency increases and aircraft upgrades on a number of key routes to meet increased demand over the peak winter period. This includes an additional capacity to Bahrain, Belgrade, Cairo, Istanbul, Medina and Kuwait.