ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Air To Include Manchester In Extending Brussels Flights

Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise will start serving Manchester in northern England from December, adding a second U.K. destination months before Britain is due to quit the European Union and 45 years after the carrier began flying to London Heathrow.

The service from Addis Ababa will operate four times weekly using a Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner jet in a two-class layout, initially as an extension of the carrier’s existing Brussels route, Ethiopian Air said in a statement Monday.

Ethiopian, Africa’s largest airline by passenger traffic, has developed a network that links 67 major global cities with almost 60 African destinations via its hub in the capital.

About 400,000 people living within a two-hour drive of Manchester currently travel to Africa each year, according to the airport.

Tewolde GebreMariam, the airline’s chief executive officer, said in an interview that the initial flights are being tacked on to the Brussels route in order to test the market and that direct services should begin some time next year.

The route will boost trade, investment and tourism in both directions, according to the CEO, who added that he has no concerns that Brexit will affect demand.


Tourism Observer

BAHRAIN: Gulf Air Acquires First 787 Dreamliner

Boeing and Gulf Air celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The airplane also debuts the carrier’s new livery.

This delivery is a historic moment for Gulf Air and Bahrain and yet another important step in our strategic direction towards furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process and supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies, said Kresimir Kucko, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air.

The 787-9 Dreamliner orders will ensure we maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region while building upon our award-winning reliability, on time performance and product and service standards, Kucko said.

Gulf Air is set to take delivery of four more Dreamliners this year.

The airline plans to introduce the 787 on its twice-daily service between Bahrain and London Heathrow before deploying the long-range efficient jet on other routes.

Gulf Air joins the growing number of airlines operating the 787 Dreamliner across the Middle East, said Marty Bentrott, Vice President, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Africa.

The demand for the Dreamliner underlines the operational efficiency and travel experience that the airplane brings to the airline and its passengers.

Boeing has delivered more than 670 787s since deliveries began in 2011.

The 787 fleet has flown more than 240 million passengers while saving over 23 billion pounds of fuel and enabling airlines to open more than 180 new nonstop routes around the world.

The first Gulf Air 787 painted in the airline’s new livery recently flew a special mission to the airline’s home base to perform a fly pass over the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Formula 1 race fans were treated to a dramatic aerial display prior to the start of the championship race.


Tourism Observer

CHINA: China Southern Airlines Doubles Flights From London Heathrow To Guangzhou From 1 June 2017.

China Southern Airlines, Asia’s largest airline, will double its daily departures from London Heathrow to Guangzhou from 1 June 2017.

Introduced in response to the popularity of the route, the new daily service will be serviced by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft acclaimed for its fuel efficiency, spacious interior and lightweight construction.

Dreamliners have also proven popular with travellers for their lighting and environmental systems that minimise jet lag – a welcome feature for this eleven and a half hour journey.

The year-round service currently operates once per day from Heathrow’s Terminal 4.

The later departure time of the new service, also from Terminal 4, will provide shorter transfer times to many of the airline’s network of over 120 destinations in China, Japan & Korea, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand from their Guangzhou hub.

Nick Newman, Commercial Manager for UK & Ireland, said: “Our mission is to make diverse destinations like China more accessible for UK travellers, so we’re thrilled to be able to add a second daily flight from London to Guangzhou.

“The new flight frequency brings our total weekly departures between Western Europe and China to 41 and firmly signifies our continued expansion.”

A proud member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, the 4-star airline is the 4th largest in the world, flying to more than 200 destinations across 40+ countries.

The new flight schedule will operate at the following times:

CZ604: Departs London Heathrow 12.35, arrives at Guangzhou 07.10

CZ304: Departs London Heathrow 22.35, arrives Guangzhou 17.05

CZ603: Departs Guangzhou 00.55, arrives London Heathrow 06.35

CZ303: Departs Guangzhou 09.30, arrives London Heathrow 15.05

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines will boost services to Thailand with the introduction of non-stop flights to Phuket. Istanbul – Phuket (HKT) – Istanbul flights are planned as 4 flights per week and will be launched as of July 17, 2017.

Phuket Island is the gateway to the southern part of Thailand making it easier for people to expand their travels to Khao Lak, Phang-nga, Koh Samui, Trang, as well as Krabi and Koh Lipe. Known for its abundance of white, sandy beaches and easy access to the Andaman Sea for world class diving, Phuket has grown in popularity as an international destination, welcoming more than six million visitors to the island in the first five months of 2015

Turkish Airlines executive in Thailand, Abdullah Ahmet Tuğcu, told journalists that the first expedition from Istanbul to Phuket will be on July 17 and there would be four flights a week. He also noted that Turkish Airlines offered 14 flights a week to the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, and two flights a day.

Tuğcu said passengers could also fly the Bangkok-Saigon line via Turkish Airlines.

The abolition of tourist visas between Turkey and Thailand in 2012 had considerably boosted passenger traffic.

“As of November, we scheduled two flights in a day in the winter season for the first time,” Tuğcu added.

USA: United Airlines Takes Over Pan Am’s Pacific Routes

Three decades ago, an ailing Pan Am was looking for a solution to its financial woes. In order to raise cash to finance the acquisition of its Airbus A320s (order placed in 1984) and the A300s and A310s that were delivered, as well as still reeling from the failed merger with National, “The Chosen Instrument” as it was called opted to cut off its profitable left arm, selling its Pacific division to United Airlines on April 22, 1985.

The deal included all Pan Am routes and assets in the region (except Hawaii), 18 aircraft, which included Pan Am’s Boeing 747SPs and Lockheed L1011-500s, and 2,700 of its employees in the airline business, all for $750 million in cash (equivalent to almost $1,7 billion in today’s figures).

Though the routes were profitable for Pan Am, the airline felt that the upgrade cost to modern equipment would be prohibitive. On the other hand, United, which became the first airline to serve all 50 U.S. states in 1984, was in a favorable financial position and the deal , which came in effect on February 7, 1986, was the onset of its transformation as a global carrier. Prior to the purchase of the routes, United’s only transoceanic services were to Tokyo via Seattle which began in 1983. Since then it has continued to build the most comprehensive route network of any U.S. carrier, offering the most trans-Pacific service. For the United, these routes have been consistently profitable, even during the post 9/11 crisis years.

For Pan Am, it was the beginning of the end. After half a century of pioneering experience in the Pacific, the distinctive Clipper service was gone for good in Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, China, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, leaving an enormous gap in its once massive route network. In the following years, Pan Am would shed other company jewels like London Heathrow to United in 1990 and then most of its European network with the exception of Miami to Paris, in 1990-91. Marred with operational, financial and reputational setbacks, Pan Am was finally forced to declare bankruptcy on January 8, 1991 and ceased operation forever on December 4, 1991.

Etihad Airways Opens New Premium Lounge

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways officially opened the airline’s First and Business Class Lounge at JFK International Airport. The new lounge is the second in the United States to join the airline’s collection of premium lounges offered worldwide for its guests.

Conveniently located close to the gate area after the security checkpoint in JFK’s International Terminal 4, the new lounge offers guests a unique travel environment reflecting twenty-first century Abu Dhabi modernism and embodies the highest levels of luxury and comfort for discerning travelers accustomed to world-class air travel experiences.

Mr. Hogan said, “The opening of Etihad Airways’ new First and Business Class Lounge at New York’s JFK International Airport reinforces our commitment to investing in the travel experience and providing our guests with the highest levels of comfort, luxury and world-class hospitality at every point in their travel journey – on the ground and in the air.”

The airline’s new JFK lounge – which enhances its global lounge facilities in Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Sydney and Washington, D.C. – is designed with the “Facets of Abu Dhabi” brand theme and exclusively offers guests of Etihad Airways a series of signature moments of discovery and relaxation throughout the space. The lounge is adorned with the brand’s geometric design concept and uses a color palette that reflects the varying hues of the landscape of the UAE, from the darker sands of Liwa to the lighter colors seen in the Northern Emirates, designed by Chicago-based architect firm Gensler and global brand consultants Landor Associates. The new JFK lounge opening expands upon the airline’s strategic lounge development plans.

Amenities in the JFK lounge include a sculptural showcase bar and lounge with an extensive and bespoke cocktail and mocktail offering developed in partnership with a leading London-based beverage consultancy, Fluid Movement – underpinning Etihad’s commitment to culinary innovation and world class food and beverage. In the lounge’s dining area, guests can select from a choice of a la carte and international buffet options.

The lounge is appointed in custom furnishings by Boss, offering a range of distinct seating styles throughout the extensive seating areas available within the lounge. Further features include luxurious restrooms with showers and changing rooms, dedicated male and female ablution and prayer rooms, a library and luggage storage.

Etihad Airways guests travelling in The Residence by Etihad™, First Apartments or Business Studios have access to the lounge pre-flight. A private lounge is accessible exclusively to guests travelling The Residence by Etihad™, complementing the private luxury offered with this service in-flight.

Etihad Airways’ A380 featuring The Residence by Etihad™, First Apartments, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats commenced service between Abu Dhabi and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 23, 2015. The daily A380 service replaces a Boeing 777 and complements a second B777 daily flight between the two cities (operated by Etihad Airways on a Jet Airways-branded aircraft).

Etihad Airways commenced services to New York’s JFK Airport on October 26, 2006 and today offers twice daily non-stop flights to Abu Dhabi. Additionally in the United States, Etihad offers daily service between Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as service three times a week to Dallas/Fort Worth.

MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines To Scrap Amsterdam, Paris Flights

Malaysia Airlines is to terminate all European operations, save for London Heathrow, with effect from January 2016.. The Malaysian carrier said in a statement that its final flights to Amsterdam and Paris CDG are scheduled for January 25 and 26 respectively.

As such, Malaysia Airlines will continue to serve Europe albeit under codeshare with Emirates Under the recently signed agreement, Malaysia Airlines will add its code to Emirates flights to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas while in return, Emirates will place its code on domestic Malaysia Airlines flights as well as regional services to South East Asia and select cities across the Asia Pacific region.

Malaysia Airlines is in the midst of a massive turnaround programme which, among other aspects, has seen a drastic revision of its route network.

Under the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah's plans for the airline, Malaysia Airlines will place greater emphasis on regional Asian operations using aircraft better suited to that end.

As a result, the carrier is reportedly planning to reduce capacity on its daily flights to London substituting the current A380-800s with smaller A350-900s once the later begin arriving in late 2017.