Big Fat Airline Wrap
Our favourite thing about Tuesdays? This airline wrap! Oh, and the fact that it’s no longer Monday anymore. But that goes for the rest of the week too.
Emirates gives travellers a taste of home this Thanksgiving
Emirates is firing up its ovens for Thanksgiving celebrations on board and on the ground. The airline will offer customers special holiday menus across all classes on flights between Dubai and the US and in the respective airport lounges.
The Thanksgiving menu will be available to customers travelling between Dubai and the US from November 22 to 25. First and Business Class passengers can choose from appetisers including: a smoked duck salad, served with poached fig, pickled beetroot, green beans, plum chutney and hazelnuts; a creamy cauliflower soup; a pumpkin soup with toasted pumpkins seeds and chives; or a smoked ocean trout with crème fraîche, cocktail onions and caper berries.
Customers in First and Business Class can enjoy a Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey served with chestnut stuffing, cranberry jus lié, mashed potatoes or pumpkin mash. For dessert, passengers can choose a pumpkin tart with whipped cream, caramel fudge, chocolate quenelle and pistachios. On routes with the Emirates A380 aircraft, customers will also get a taste of Thanksgiving in the iconic onboard lounge with limited edition pumpkin cupcakes.
Finnair invests in customer comfort with new ATR cabins in 2019 and new Premium Economy class for long-haul as of 2021
Finnair has announced it will renew the entire cabin of its ATR aircraft and introduce a new Premium Economy cabin class for its long-haul fleet in a move that reflects the airline’s commitment to offering a high level of customer comfort and increased choice for its customers.
Finnair’s ATR aircraft are currently used for domestic flights in Finland, as well as on flights to the Baltics, Gdansk in Poland and to Stockholm’s Bromma airport. The flights are operated by Finnair’s partner Norra. The cabin renewal will include new seats, new carpets and a harmonised and fresh cabin interior design.
The first ATR aircraft with the renewed cabin is expected to be in operation in summer 2019, and the refurbishment of the 12 aircraft will be completed by the end of Q1, 2020.
Finnair will also introduce a new cabin class, Premium Economy, for its entire long-haul fleet from 2021. Located in its own cabin, the Premium Economy class will feature highly customised designs for Finnair and provide customers with increased space and comfort along with an enhanced service offering.
Changi Airport wants Aussies to ‘Pack Their Bags’ to win a trip
This November, Aussies are being urged to ‘pack their bags’ to stand a chance to win the ultimate holiday to Southeast Asia and S$5,000 worth of prizes. The Australian-wide promotion launches today at https://au.changiairport.com/packyourbags and closes on 18th December.
Over 1.08m Australian travellers visited Singapore in 2017, with the majority enjoying a multi-city stopover, twinning the tropical island of Singapore with one of 400 international city links available from Changi Airport.
To enter the game of chance, users will choose a dream holiday destination that can be reached via a stopover at Changi, the ideal gateway to southeast Asian hotspots – Surabaya, Indonesia; Luang Prabang, Laos; Koh Samui, Thailand; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They’ll then select their most appropriate travel persona that best reflects their travel needs; the Documenter, the Indulger, the Backpacker, the Thrill Seeker, the Rejuvenator and the Work Tripper.
The user will be given S$2,500 in virtual money to pack their empty ‘suitcase’, selecting from a wide variety of items and products from the iShopChangi, Changi’s e-commerce store, that best suits their chosen holiday destination.
Air New Zealand adds more flights Auckland-Gold Coast
Air New Zealand is using its brand new A321neo (new engine option) aircraft to increase the number of seats available on its Auckland-Gold Coast route by almost 60 per cent.
From February 2019, the airline will add a new Monday return service between Auckland and the Gold Coast on the A321neo and move existing Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday return services to the new aircraft.
Air New Zealand Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace says the aircraft has 214 seats – 46 more than the current international A320 fleet and the move to five days a week will be great for holidaymakers.
Air New Zealand’s first A321neo (new engine option) aircraft arrived in Auckland early last week after departing the Airbus facility in Hamburg. The aircraft is the first of 13 new Airbus neo aircraft to join Air New Zealand’s fleet and is expected to enter commercial service on 23 November operating flight NZ739 from Auckland to Brisbane.
Talking Italian at London City Airport
Everyone is talking Italian at London City Airport this week where British Airways is celebrating the launch of new flights to the capital city of Rome.
The year-round service is the fourth Italian city to be served by British Airways direct from the Docklands and will operate every day except Saturday. A special bust of one of Rome’s most famous forefathers, Julius Caesar, was drafted in to greet customers on the first flight.
The bust was welcomed on board the Embraer 190 jet by British Airways’ in-flight business manager and fellow Italian Marco Tagliaferri, one of 15 Italian cabin crew and flight crew who work on board flights to and from London City.
British Airways is investing £4.5 billion pounds for its customers over the next five years. This includes the installation of the best quality WiFi and power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline will also be introducing new Club World seat with direct aisle access next year.
Air Astana to launch a low-cost airline, FlyArystan
Air Astana is pleased to announce that it is to launch a low-cost airline in the first half of 2019. The airline will be called FlyArystan. It will operate a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft configured to an all-economy class of 180 seats. It will operate a classic LCC model, strictly following the examples of highly successful airlines such as easyjet, Indigo, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia.
It will offer low airfares – approximately half of what Air Astana offers today – on mostly domestic routes – but it is expected to expand onto regional international routes in the mid-term. It will operate initially four aircraft, growing to a fleet of at least 15 by 2022. FlyArystan will operate from multiple aircraft bases in Kazakhstan with routes and aircraft bases to be announced over the coming months.
FlyArystan’s management team has already been appointed and is drawn from Air Astana’s senior local managers, whom the airline has been developing for the last 16 years. The team will be led by Tim Jordan, a British-Australian national with more than 15 years’ senior LCC management experience at Cebu Pacific and Virgin Blue.
Although FlyArystan will be a low-cost airline, with very different service procedures to those of Air Astana, it is to be stressed that as a division of Air Astana, there will be no degradation of airline safety or reliability standards. All safety standards and regulatory processes to which Air Astana is subject will automatically apply to FlyArystan. Finally, and as usual with Air Astana, the project will be entirely self-funded. FlyArystan will require no capital from shareholders, no state subsidies or external financial support of any kind.
Emirates delivers a few sweet surprises in time for Diwali
Emirates celebrated the festive Diwali spirit by bringing together UAE residents with the simple joy of special treats aboard its Mithai truck to mark the start of the festival of lights. The special Emirates Mithai sweets truck surprised City Walk and Bollywood Parks Dubai visitors, and Emirates Cabin Crew distributed traditional Indian treats. Watch the Emirates Mithai Truck spread the festive Diwali spirit across Dubai.
Visitors of all ages, particularly children, also enjoyed creating a mini Rangoli, a spectacular Diwali pattern with colourful sand.
Emirates will be offering passengers on-board Diwali delicacies from 7 November to 10 November 2018 across all classes on all flights from Dubai to India. Customers travelling during Diwali can enjoy Motichoor Ladoos with all hot tray meals. The celebratory delicacy is made up of small flour balls deep fried in ghee and simmered in a cardamom and saffron infused sugar syrup, decorated with silver leaf and pistachio.
Business and First Class passengers can also enjoy Anjeer Chakkar- a sugar-free sweet, loaded with cashew nuts, almonds raisins, pistachio, walnut, and dried figs presented in a circular form.
SAP and Singapore Airlines collaborate to boost corporate travel visibility for enterprises
SAP SE and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have come together to forge a strategic collaboration to boost travel visibility for businesses. As the first Asia-based carrier to sign an agreement with SAP Concur organisation, customers utilising the Concur TripLink Web service will soon realise the benefits of their corporate travel programme when they make reservations with SIA outside of the Concur Travel solution.
Concur TripLink connects travellers, itineraries, and receipts across multiple channels, allowing businesses to apply their travel policies to direct bookings. It also makes it easier for businesses to quickly locate and communicate with employees in the event of an emergency.
By seamlessly identifying corporate bookings made through SIA’s website, SIA will be able to enhance the overall corporate booking experience through personalised products and services for businesses and their employees. The ecosystem of connected travel-related apps that Concur TripLink is part of and the collaboration with SIA ease potential inconveniences caused by expense reporting and alleviate compliance issues arising from out-of-policy travel spend.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
air new zealand changi airport emirates finnair FlyArystan london city airport singapore airlinesLatest News
Holland America Line gives agents the chance to visit Alaska on 11-day Famil
If you've ever wanted to see a Polar Bear (and who doesn't?), now is your time.
More than 65 luxury agents gather in Sydney for Best of the Best dinner
This looks like a fabulous do. We imagine there may be a few (or maybe 65) sore heads this morning!
Globally-renowned chefs gather for Vivid Food 2024
As a human, we agree that food is a fundamental part of the human experience. Some might say the most fundamental.
Air New Zealand returns to Hobart and Seoul
If you notice an uptick in Kiwis making their way through the Mona, you know why.
European Waterways targets multi-generational families with ‘floating villa’ deal
The jury is still out on whether spending a week on a 'floating villa' with family is a hell or a paradise.
Luxury Escapes launches ‘sail away’ sale
Rest assured, you'll be getting your 'sails' and 'sales' mixed up for the rest of the day.
Rex-owned National Jet Express adds weekly charter between Brisbane and Orange
This is for mining and civil contractors, so please, put your holiday attire away.
Let the games begin. Viking introduces eye-watering benefits for the industry’s top 10 advisors
Did someone say 'trip to Venice'? Hold my coat, this one is far too good to miss!
Best friends or frenemies? What is the REAL relationship between sales and marketing?
We can all stop fighting over the corner office because our mothers were right - we are all important in our own way.
The Walshe Group Announces Two Key Appointments
What we really want to know is whether they got joint or separate welcome parties.
FAMIL: Agents explore the delights of Mauritius on 7-day tour
Go green with envy as you read this fabulous itinerary! Time to book that second honeymoon.
Hamad International recognised as world’s best airport at 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards
Hamad airport is so good it is almost considered a destination in itself. Ballina, up your game.
Saudi Arabia highlights tourism investment opportunities at global investment event
Now is the time to start looking at Saudi Arabia if you are not already. There's big things to come.
“Rampant” – Aussies warned as dengue fever cases spike in Bali
Worried about Bali belly? Now you have something else to worry about.
TTC Tour Brand reveals slew of deals across operators including Trafalgar and Contiki
Everybody loves a bargain and you could do lot a lot worse than check out these deals from TTC!
Fiji Airways partners with Porter Airlines in US growth bid
Any initiative that gets more people visiting the delights of Fiji is a good initiative.
Flight Centre launches CruiseHQ – a marketplace exclusively for agents
The cruise industry has surpassed pre-Covid levels so this isn't one to miss!
Feeling festive? Wendy Wu tours unwraps Christmas collection
Get the Christmas hols booked now and avoid spending it with that elderly relative with dubious political views.
OPINION: In a world of screens, we crave experience
If you get feelings of deep shame and regret when you see your screen time, don't worry - you're not alone.
Sun Princess: High-end dining and world class entertainment awaits
If you are a foodie and you are not currently on the Sun Princess, we really have to ask - what are you doing?
YouGov: 2 in 5 Aussies would pay more for a sustainable hotel
If you want to be REALLY sustainable you can go camping. You just might lose the will to live.
“Can planes swim?” – Planes become boats as Dubai Airport is savaged by severe storm
Unfortunately, "can planes swim?" is a real life question and not an opener to a really bad joke...
Explora journeys reveals bespoke outdoor furniture designed by Matteo Nunziati
This is making your plastic table and chairs look really bad now, isn't it?
Bangkok Airways targets growth with renewed Sabre deal
Two stories abut Sabre's growth in one week and its only Wednesday! Watchout world.
PR agency Example wins pitch for InterContinental Sydney
We also went in for the contract but they said that a 'Be Our Guest'- themed TikTok was unoriginal! The cheek.
Norwegian Cruise Line reveals culinary experience aboard Norwegian Aqua
Once again, this TW journalist REALLY regrets writing this before getting lunch.
Signature Queensland hosts luxury tourism event
Known for its tropical beaches and unique wildlife, Queensland also offers luxury.
Capella Sydney recognised in prestigious Travel + Leisure’s 2024 ‘it list’ of best new hotels
You know that 'it girl' at school who everyone wanted to hang out with? Capella is the hotel version of that.
Rex launches 72-hour fare sale with NO school holiday blackout so you can take your kids (if you want to)
Sadly, leaving your children at home whilst you go on holiday is generally frowned upon.
Adventure World offers chance to connect with “heart and soul” of the US
I mean who hasn't dreamed of a road trip around the US?! Go with Adventure World and you're less likely to get lost.
Fiji’s family-owned luxury resort Likuliku Lagoon launches its own app
We were relieved to find out that having a "concierge in your pocket" referred to an app on your phone.
Hawaii: The US’ laid-back front door for Australians
If you needed another sign that you should definitely head to Hawaii - this is it!
Sabre targets Asia Pacific growth with latest hire
Call the Avengers! Sabre continues its bid for world domination with latest hire.
Air New Zealand signs its largest EVER deal for sustainable aviation fuel
Air New Zealand makes huge step towards sustainable travel. We bet it recycles its rubbish properly too.
IHG Hotels & Resorts continues regional growth with Sunshine Coast Holiday Inn
This Holiday Inn looks considerably flashier than some of the ones we have stayed at in our time.
Budget carrier Scoot welcomes first of 9 E190-E2 aircrafts
Here at TW we would like to offer Embraer E190-E2 a warm welcome! It's not easy being the first of the fleet.