Happy Hump Day! It’s time to roll on into the weekend.

And when you do, you’ll be feeling a bit like this:

But before we get there, we’re rounding up all the latest airline news. Some light lunchtime reading for you while you snack on your wrap!

Dance on, Chandler Bings – we’re almost there.

Airnorth update

Airnorth is currently operating four direct, daytime services per week between Townsville and Darwin during the busy Darwin Dry Season. They have extended these four services until the September 27 2015, at which time they will revert to three weekly services in line with our seasonal schedule.

Another of the busy season services have also been extended. Airnorth’s Friday overnight service to Kununurra from Darwin has been extended until the end of October 2015. The Saturday morning return of this service ( departing Kununurra at 0900am each Saturday ) provides a convenient connecting schedule to most state capitals from Darwin.

Get refreshed in the Revival Lounge

Upper Class and Flying Gold Club passengers travelling from New Zealand to London Heathrow, can benefit from additional services and greater value at Virgin Atlantic’s Revivals Lounge.

Open from 5.00am to 1.30pm, seven days a week, the Revivals Lounge encompasses a full range of business facilities including, hot power showers, clothes pressing and mending services, a delicious cooked breakfast menu, WiFi and mobile phone chargers. A dedicated concierge team are also on hand to assist with travel reservations and printing.

The Revival Lounge can be found above Terminal 3, just a five-minute walk from arrivals, past customs and baggage claim.

For further information or to book a flight, please visit www.virginatlantic.com.

Etihad to implement ‘Amadeus Fare Families’ tool

Amadeus today announced that Etihad Airways will implement the Amadeus Fare Families tool in the indirect channel, to support its merchandising strategy.

Through Amadeus Fare Families, Etihad Airways will brand and differentiate its products and services by showing the full value of each packaged fare on all its retailing interfaces for all customer segments and worldwide points of sale.

With clear descriptions on service characteristics and terms and conditions, both travellers and travel agents benefit from greater transparency in the shopping process. In doing so, travel agents will be better equipped to advise their customers and proactively upsell from one fare family to the other, based on the traveller’s needs and preferences.

Bon voyage with Emirates earlybirds

With 38 European destinations to choose from on the Emirates network, the airline has launched highly competitive Early Bird airfares for 2016 to ensure Australians travelling to the continent next year have more money in their travel budget to plan their trip.

Economy Class Early Bird airfares start from $1,576 to Amsterdam, $1,576 to Copenhagen, $1,718 to London, $1,576 to Madrid, $1,712 to Manchester, $1,619 to Paris, $1,593 to Rome and $1,586 to Zurich. Early Bird Business Class airfares begin from $6,986 to Amsterdam, $6,981 to Copenhagen, $7,293 to London, $6,986 to Madrid, $7,295 to Manchester, $7,095 to Paris, $7,003 to Rome and $6,996 to Zurich.

Bookings are available for a limited time only and must be complete by 11^th of November 2015. Early Bird fares are available for travel between 1 – 22 March and 4 – 24 May 2016 and fare levels vary during this period.

Air NZ goes green

Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon

Air New Zealand has today launched a new Sustainability Framework as part of its commitment to helping supercharge our nation’s success.

The airline’s new Sustainability Framework sets out how it will contribute to supercharging New Zealand’s success.  The economic, social, and environmental pillars of the framework are supported by six key focus areas – the airline’s people; the communities it operates within; carbon, nature and science; tourism and trade and enterprise.

CEO Christopher Luxon says Air New Zealand recognises that to be successful in its sustainability journey the airline requires advice from global experts.  It has formed a Sustainability Advisory Panel made up of New Zealand and international experts with specialist knowledge.

Etihad expands with financials

Etihad Airways, its airport services business and five of its equity partners have today successfully completed an innovative new platform financing transaction, raising $500 million on the international markets.

Etihad Airways, Etihad Airport Services, airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia and Jet Airways have together taken a new step forward in their strategic business development through this unique fund-raising initiative.

At a series of roadshow meetings, held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London, the shared vision and strategies of the airlines were laid out to financial institutions. These highlighted the growing network coordination and revenue development initiatives, coupled with joint procurement and business synergy projects, across the airlines.

The transaction marks the first time that Etihad Airways and its partners have raised funds together.  To date, Etihad Airways has already raised in excess of US$11 billion from more than 80 financial institutions, to help fund its expansion strategy.